Chapter 108: Chapter 91: True Dragon Struggle [Second Update]_2
After all, most commoners occasionally become displaced, and after a long time, their family records are lost, leaving them no choice but to accept it as such.
Only those that could be called “noble families” retained fairly complete genealogies and heritages, with ancestors clearly and distinctly recorded.
“Tiangang, heard you were fighting demons in Northern Yan, how many did you kill?”
A light chuckle transmitted through the air.
Li Tiangang looked up and saw it was his third uncle Li Xuanyin.
His heroic spirit was still in the prime of youth, around thirty years old, handsome and as splendid as jade.
Li Tiangang’s gaze fluctuated slightly, as when he was younger, his third uncle was his favorite, but regrettably, his uncle died young.
The generation of his father was six brothers, yet three had died in battle, leaving only the second uncle, the fifth uncle, and the fourth uncle, who had been away for many years.
Both his father and sixth uncle had passed away.
And the heroic spirits of his father and sixth uncle had yet to return, trapped in the Mo River and unable to escape.
In the past century, frequent demonic calamities had occurred, and their defense of the frontier pass had been so sacrificial that they could not attempt a rescue.
And even if they had the spare strength, it would be difficult to achieve, because it was a ghostly level Mo River. To rescue them, one must clear the entire river.
Even for someone in the Four Stands Realm, this would be hard to achieve, unless several powerful individuals worked together.
“Nephew has seen third uncle.”
Li Tiangang first performed a salute, then said, “Those who crossed Yanzhou have been almost entirely wiped out.”
“Good!”
Li Xuanyin laughed heartily, as he held deep hatred for demons, his beloved had perished at the hands of one, leading him to loathe them intensely.
“Where’s Qingqing, why didn’t you bring her?” Li Xuanyin inquired.
Li Tiangang’s complexion changed subtly, and he replied softly, “She’s gone.”
Gone… Li Xuanyin paused momentarily, about to ask further when he noticed Li Hao beside him. He immediately stopped, and with fluctuating energy, he whispered:
“Did she leave?”
Li Tiangang, with an unchanged expression, whispered back, “Yes.”
Li Xuanyin couldn’t help but show a trace of regret on his face. He was quite pleased with that niece-in-law, whose status was also commendable. Indeed, he was the first to jump out in support back then.
“You rascal, are you going to reminisce endlessly? Wasn’t he supposed to discuss important matters?”
At this moment, a scolding voice came from above Li Xuanyin’s head.
Li Xuanyin’s neck shrank, and he turned his head to see his father, and couldn’t help but smile sheepishly, saying:
“Dad, Tiangang is still here, and his son too. Can’t you give me some face?”
“I think you’re asking for a beating. We deplete some energy each time we awaken. If you want to waste away, that’s your business, but to make all our ancestors deplete their energy as well, I damn well want to kick you!”
“Dad…” Li Xuanyin’s head drooped in an instant, looking a bit wronged.
Li Hao watched, dumbfounded.
The man who had just been acting like a senior, seemingly dignified and suave, was suddenly being scolded like a grandchild.
Oh, one should say like a son.
But then again, this great-grandfather seemed to have quite a temper.
“What are you shouting for? Xuanyin has only spoken a few words. What’s wrong with catching up? If it’s just a little energy, and you can’t afford it, you can roll back first!”
At that time, the scolding great-grandfather’s head bore the phantom of an elder with white hair and beard, who spoke displeasedly.
The recently enraged great-grandfather suddenly trembled and, turning his head reluctantly, said: “Dad, this kid just needs to be disciplined…”
“I think it is you who needs to be disciplined,” Gao replied with a cold snort.
“All you youngsters, shouting and making a fuss. Do you even resemble elders? Hurry up and get to the point, I want to go back to sleep,” another voice commanded.
Gao’s expression changed slightly; he quickly nodded while giving his son another stern look.
And his great-grandfather, somewhat helpless, turned his head and glared fiercely at Li Xuanyin.
Li Xuanyin wore an awkward expression, squeezed out a smile at Li Tian Gang, and dared not speak anymore.
Seeing this scene, Li Hao could hardly contain his amusement, and nearly laughed out loud.
Gathering hundreds of generations of ancestors together was truly a lively affair.
The ancestors of the Li Family had established merit and fortune alongside the founding emperor, establishing a thousand-year noble house. However, this noble house had not merely existed for a thousand years but had spanned over three thousand years already, and was one of the two oldest of the five Divine General Mansions.
The Dayu Dynasty had a history of over three thousand and five hundred years, which is why it was now approaching its twilight years.
What a pity that awakening these ancestral souls consumed energy; otherwise, someday, I’d have to introduce them to mahjong… Li Hao mused secretly.
Just the thought of it brought him joy.
“You scoundrel, dare you to cheat your grandfather?”
“A winning hand from heaven? You dare to draw a tile that was meant for your ancestor—I won’t let you live!”
“You dare to claim my tile? Somebody, whose brat is this? Come take care of him…”
Imagining these scenes, Li Hao found it hard to suppress the grin tugging at his lips.
“Alright, let’s discuss the matter at hand.”
A voice from an ancestor above spoke.
Li Tian Gang nodded respectfully, his expression grave as he said, “Tiangang presents himself today to request the decision of our ancestors regarding the True Dragon nomination.”
“First, tell us about the current generation,” said an ancestral soul.
Li Tian Gang nodded, and immediately relayed the information he had learnt from his sister-in-law over the past two days.
“So it seems this generation doesn’t have many qualified heirs. However, your son’s talents are indeed monstrous, stronger even than us in our youth, truly one in his own league,” remarked one of the ancestors.
“If there’s no doubt about it, there really isn’t any need to drag this out, especially since he has already started his cultivation.”
“But we can’t just hand it to him; we need to see his temperament, and others must be persuaded. The selection will proceed as usual, but we can schedule it a bit earlier, say, two months from now. That gives everyone else some time to prepare,” another suggested.
After a brief discussion, the ancestors quickly came to a decision.
Li Tian Gang nodded his head once more and respectfully kowtowed again.
Li Hao, seeing this, followed suit and kowtowed as well.
“Boy, keep a close eye on your son and don’t let him become the next Jun Ye,” an ancestor from many generations ago advised as they were leaving the ancestral hall.
Li Tian Gang quickly nodded in agreement.
The other ancestral Divine Souls also gradually faded into silence.
“Let’s go.”
Li Tian Gang said, ready to take Li Hao away.
Li Hao looked at Gao and asked, “Can I stay here and keep Gao company for a while?”
Li Tian Gang gave a slight start, frowned, and said, “Gao doesn’t have time to keep you company. The True Dragon nomination is in two months, and there’s still much you need to prepare for. Even though you’re top in natural talent, you can’t fall behind too much in other aspects, lest it gives rise to unnecessary gossip.”
Li Qingzheng smiled and said, “With Hao Er’s talents, who would dare to argue? Tiangang, you’re worrying too much. But I won’t hold Hao Er up; you’ve just come back, so you father and son spend some time together.”
Li Tian Gang nodded, gave a bow to him and took his leave.
Seeing this, Li Hao could only wave his hand and say, “Then Gao, I’ll come to keep you company next time.”
“Off you go,” Li Qingzheng said with a smile, waving his hand.
Then watched as the father and son duo walked away.
In the quiet ancestral hall now left in silence, there were only countless silent ancestral tablets and the solitary chessboard in front of Li Qingzheng, as well as himself sitting alone.
After some time, he slowly withdrew his gaze, looked at the chessboard before him, thought for a moment, then picked up a white piece and placed it on the board, murmuring,
“Your move.”
A moment later, he reached for a black piece from another chess kit and thoughtfully set it down.