258
Chapter 258: The Return of the Ancestors' Call
Yunzhou, Tianzhao God General's Mansion.
Wang Family, Pingchuan Courtyard.
In a secluded, elegant courtyard, only a few old servants were attending, making the place extremely quiet. Birds perched on tree branches were startled by an urgent voice from the house, flapping their wings and flying away.
In the main hall of the courtyard, siblings Li Jiangying and Li Rumeng were anxiously looking at the elder in front of them.
"Grandfather, we just sensed the call of our ancestors. Something has happened in Qingzhou!"
"Please, you have to save our parents."
Both were pleading with the elder before them, their grandfather, Wang Zhenping, the sixth master of the Wang family.
Earlier, while practicing in the courtyard, they suddenly felt their blood stirring, sensing what seemed like distant ancestor calls, urging them to return.
They knew this was the Li family's emergency blood summoning technique, used only in dire situations by sacrificing an ancestor's heroic soul.
When the blood call activates, those with Li family blood would sense it and gather.
Wang Zhenping's face was grim. He had already heard about the troubles in Qingzhou from family intelligence but hadn't realized the situation was so dire that it would necessitate the blood call—an absolute last resort.
Moreover, the Wang family was a million miles away from Qingzhou, far too distant. Even if they dispatched troops, by the time reinforcements arrived, the outcome would already be decided.
Although the Wang and Li families were related by marriage, the great distance between them meant infrequent contact, and in times of trouble, help was hard to come by. Distant relatives couldn't compare to nearby neighbors, especially when they were on opposite sides of the Great Yu Dynasty.
Thinking about his beloved daughter in Qingzhou, his heart clenched. He had opposed her marriage to Li Family's Eighth Young Master, but she insisted. After marrying, she often wrote letters home, complaining about her unhappiness, which pained him.
Divorce wasn't an option in these times, especially from a God General's Mansion, where her husband was a military governor. Complaining about her husband's frequent deployments would bring ridicule to the Wang family, turning them into a laughingstock.
With children already grown, they could only endure.
But now, with Qingzhou in crisis, his daughter might be forced to accompany the fall.
"This Li family is utterly incompetent!" Wang Zhenping's face darkened. He looked at his grandchildren, suppressing his anger, and said:
"Sending the Wang family army now would be too late. I will go personally to retrieve your mother. Hopefully, it's not too late."
Upon hearing their grandfather agree, the siblings were overjoyed, bowing in gratitude.
Seeing his grandchildren so considerate, Wang Zhenping's anger subsided slightly. Only these two sensible children brought him some comfort over the years.
"Grandfather, let us go with you," Li Rumeng said after bowing.
Wang Zhenping's face changed, and he said firmly, "You stay here. Do not go anywhere."
"But this is the ancestor's blood call. If we don't go, in the future..." Li Jiangying said fearfully.
Wang Zhenping took a deep breath, knowing that if distant relatives didn't respond, it was understandable. But as direct descendants, if they didn't show up, they would have no face to return in the future.
"Your mother might not survive. If she doesn't, you will be the last of the Li family bloodline. With your current cultivation, going there would be pointless."
He continued, "If the Li family survives, I will personally visit and explain. Considering the situation, I doubt they would deny you."
The siblings looked at each other, their faces pale. Li Rumeng clenched her fingers nervously, full of worry.
Li Jiangying suddenly said, "Grandfather, why don't we go to the Nether River first?"
Wang Zhenping paused, realizing he had overlooked this. If they went to the Nether River, even the ancestor's blood call would be blocked. It wasn't easy to get out, either. There would be an explanation.
His eyes lit up as he looked at Li Jiangying and said with a smile:
"Good grandson, you're smart. I'll have your Uncle Xianzhou take you to the Nether River. I'll also adjust the records of your entry."
He said, then hurriedly left, leaving the siblings in the care of his steward.
The siblings exchanged a worried glance, uncertain if their grandfather could save their mother.
"Too bad that madman died. We never got a chance to catch up," Li Jiangying murmured, watching his grandfather leave.
As part of the Li family's generation, since that boy's meteoric rise two years ago, they had lived in his shadow.
His brilliance was blinding, overshadowing even the Buddha Lord's disciple, let alone them.
As a young man, how could he not feel anger and jealousy?
They heard about the events in Liangzhou, knowing the gap had widened. But thanks to the insect demon, the merit treasury appeared, giving them hope and a chance to catch up.
Though the boy had gone far ahead, reaching the Fourth Realm would halt his progress.
Like their elders, who reached the Fourth Realm in their thirties, then stayed there for decades, centuries, until they died without further breakthroughs.
Higher realms slowed progress. Falling behind initially didn't mean they couldn't catch up.
The merit treasury and their maternal family's resources were their biggest hopes now.
"He was too arrogant. Even the heavens couldn't tolerate him. Do you think the family's trouble is because his arrogance in Liangzhou angered the demons, and they vented on us?" Li Rumeng gritted her teeth, eyes flashing with hatred.
"Maybe, but those demons should attack Tianmen Pass, not us. There must be another reason," Li Jiangying said, eyes filled with killing intent. "I wanted to accumulate merit, get the ultimate cultivation, and duel him, returning the slap he gave you. But he's dead. If mother dies, I won't forgive him. I'll find his soul in the Nether River and make him beg for death!"
Hearing her brother, Li Rumeng's eyes filled with worry. "Mother will be fine, right? Grandfather will be on time. He's a master, not weaker than our second uncle."
"It's too far..." Li Jiangying's eyes showed concern.
...
...
The ancestor's blood call from Qingzhou reached across the Great Yu Dynasty.
"It's the ancestor's call. The family is in trouble!"
"Is this real? The Li family reached this point? What happened in Qingzhou?"
"Father, aren't we surnamed Zhao? Why do we feel the call?"
"Your grandmother was a Li, married into our Zhao family. Your blood is thin but still Li. We owe your grandmother's connections for our successful business in Yunwu City."
"Should we go?"
"Of course. That's your grandmother's family. The Li family protected the Great Yu for centuries. How can we not go?"
"Master, are you going?"
"Yes. Disciples, wait here. If I don't return, your senior brother will take over."
"Great-grandmother, you too?"
"Yes, bring my horse."
Across the nineteen provinces, in cities, towns, and villages, those feeling the blood call were stunned. Some hesitated, but many chose to head to Qingzhou.
Like scattered stars converging into a river, they headed for the demon-infested land.
It was their ancestral land, the God General's Mansion that bore three thousand years of glory, the place they looked to in memory.
Their departure alerted all forces in the Great Yu Dynasty. The God General's Mansion's bloodlines were widespread. As they moved, everyone learned of Qingzhou's plight.
This included major forces like Tianji Tower.
Some were Li family bloodlines, elders, or leaders, now using their power to aid Qingzhou.
This was the deep-rooted power of the God General's Mansion.
They traveled in groups, some on fast horses, some flying.
From famous mountains, they descended, treading lightly with swords, heading tens of thousands of miles away.
From grand towers, they emerged, soaring into the sky, resolutely heading forth.
The sacrifice of an ancestor's soul called countless bloodlines to the demon-ravaged province.