Chapter 227: Back!

"I say we shift our focus and attack Qingzhou directly."

A demonic figure suggested in a deep voice, "If a major battle breaks out at Dragon City Mohe, our plans to invade the Great Yu Dynasty will be delayed again. Now that the Merit Treasury has appeared, those Mohe rivers are under the control of the Great Yu Dynasty. We rarely pay attention to those rivers, so we definitely won't be able to beat them to it."

"Our only chance is to strike quickly!"

"With Hei Shan Huang Shen there, that old man from Qiandao Palace won't dare to come out easily, or the Imperial Capital will surely fall!"

"Hmph, that's easy for you to say, Holy Palace. But our Great Elder from Dragon Gate is still inside," said a demonic figure with a gloomy expression.

"What do you think, Dragon King?"

The master of the Holy Palace spoke up, turning to the leader of Dragon Gate beside him.

Due to the absence of the Candlelight God, this secret meeting only involved the two factions making a decision, without the involvement of any Void Realm demonic beings.

The Void Realm demons had repeatedly requested their help, pleading for them to rescue their master... But without the Candlelight God, they didn't take the other Void Realm Demon Kings into consideration.

Moreover, with the young man having slain seven Demon Kings, the Void Realm had suffered heavy losses. If the Candlelight God did not return, the Void Realm would no longer be among the top demonic powers, and they would naturally be divided and devoured.

For those who refused to submit, there would only be a dead end!

"Let's wait one more month."

After a moment of silence, the Dragon King spoke in a low voice, "If he doesn't come out within a month, we will launch a swift attack on Qingzhou and wipe out the Li family!"

Seeing this, the master of the Holy Palace nodded slightly and did not argue further.

...

...

In the vast wilderness of the sky.

In a peak valley filled with miasma, a figure sped through the air and landed on a mountaintop. Suddenly, his palm felt warm, and a golden light appeared.

"Hmm?"

This figure was none other than Li Tiangang, who had been in pursuit.

His battle armor was damaged, and he looked weary, but the injuries inflicted by Li Xiaoran had already healed.

At that moment, as he saw the golden paper appear and the message that leaped out from it, he was stunned.

Merit Treasury?

He was puzzled. What was this?

After glancing around, he quickly found a hidden crack in the rocks. With a thought, he probed into the Merit Treasury.

Soon, Li Tiangang's consciousness withdrew from the Merit Treasury, his face filled with shock.

This Merit Treasury was a real treasure!

"Who is this 'Bug the Second'? How did he manage to obtain ten thousand merits all of a sudden?"

Li Tiangang was amazed inwardly as he thought about the Four Establishments cultivators he knew. However, only a few of them were from the martial arts world, and their whereabouts had long been unknown as they pursued a higher path of martial arts.

"What a strange name, without a surname. He's probably not from one of the older generations in the other Shenjiang Fu, or else revealing his surname would have brought great fame to his family, with numerous benefits."

"The Merit Ranking is also a ranking of good deeds, where the virtuous gain renown."

Li Tiangang's eyes flickered as he realized the extraordinary significance of this Merit Treasury to the Great Yu Dynasty.

"It seems that the fortune of my Great Yu Dynasty has arrived. I never expected that such a thing was hidden within the Mohe River. It's bizarre and mysterious. Perhaps no one had accumulated enough merit before to truly understand the benefits of the Mohe River."

Li Tiangang thought to himself.

The secrets of the Mohe River, which had remained hidden for thousands of years, had finally been uncovered today.

He couldn't help but admire and wonder about this person known as Bug the Second.

How did this person accomplish what the Wang family had failed to do for hundreds of years?

Moreover, before the activation of the Merit Treasury, no one knew about it. Aside from the Wang family, not many people would be willing to take the risk of passing through a Youdu-grade Mohe River.

How challenging and dangerous must it have been?

"This senior must also be a kind and benevolent person." Li Tiangang thought to himself.

Without any apparent benefits, this senior ventured into the Mohe River and successfully passed through, indicating that they had the ability to destroy the Mohe River and escape from it easily.

However, this senior chose the most challenging path, which was truly admirable!

"We'll know who this person is when I return. His Majesty will surely bestow great honors upon him, granting him titles and ranks!"

"But now that the Merit Treasury is open, the Mohe River will likely become a target. As for the Wang family... perhaps they'll be able to free up their hands."

"Perhaps when I return, His Majesty might discuss with me the redistribution of power in the Great State. A small portion of the military power will likely be ceded, returning what the Wang family had lost to them..."

Li Tiangang's thoughts grew deeper, and his mind gradually wandered.

However, as a fierce beast-like roar echoed from the distant horizon, he snapped back to his senses.

He was still in the Great Wilderness Sky.

"We'll discuss these matters later. The most important thing right now is to find Hao'er."

Li Tiangang quickly regained his focus, gathered his thoughts, and temporarily set this matter aside.

...

...

In the vast skies of the Great Wilderness, within the domain of the Ji family.

As the notification of the passage through the Mohe River ended, Li Hao's wandering thoughts returned to the present.

He guessed that there might be repercussions in the Great Yu God Dynasty because of this, but he didn't have the energy to care. Fame, to him, was nothing but a burden.

After all, even though he had become famous and shone brightly, his life hadn't improved much since then.

While others pursued fame, he only desired a peaceful life.

"Let's go."

Ji Yunguo had already flown ahead, eager to return.

Li Hao hurried to catch up and asked, "Senior, now that the Mohe River is gone, can you return to the Ji family's ancestral shrine?"

Thinking of his blood-related grandfather, he could only sigh inwardly.

Even though he longed to go home, he could only catch a glimpse.

That single glance would never be enough to fill the void of regret and reluctance.

"I can go back, but just like your grandfather, I've been deeply affected by the Mohe River over the years, and now that it's gone, I'll also fade away."

Ji Yunguo smiled lightly, his tone carefree and unfettered as he said, "But I'm stronger than your grandfather, so I can hold on a little longer and stay a bit longer... at least long enough to see my old brothers and friends again."

With that, he didn't linger but waved farewell and stepped through the air, creating a ripple like a wrinkle in the air.

Li Hao followed suit, but as he touched the ripple, he felt a slight warmth, and the Red Vine Ring on his wrist was blocked.

"Oh, it seems I can't go in..."

The Red Blood Vine Demon King floated a tendril, looking anxious and wronged.

The ripple parted slightly, revealing a small crack, from which Ji Yunguo's voice echoed, "Come in now."

Li Hao quickly extended the Red Vines Ring towards the crack, and his body passed through without hindrance.

He felt something soft and watery brush past his body, and the scene before him transformed completely.

Divine aura filled the sky, and a majestic sacred mountain loomed before them, surrounded by several floating islands with towering palaces that seemed to defy gravity, creating a veritable celestial paradise!

Li Hao was stunned by the sight of the floating mountain and islands. How was this even possible?

Ji Yunguo's figure was already ahead, calling out, "Come quickly."

Li Hao dared not delay and hurried after him.

Before the sacred mountain was a long staircase that resembled the spine of a white dragon, stretching for dozens of li and leading to the edge of the Ji family's territory that Li Hao had just passed through.

At the end of this staircase stood an awe-inspiring dragon gate.

The gate was crafted from strange stones, with dozens of dragons coiled around each other, appearing to be made from the remains of countless dragons, creating a formidable and intimidating sight.

Standing guard before this dragon gate was a squad of young men dressed in peculiar clothing, with ancient ink characters etched on their chests—Ji!

As they saw Li Hao and Ji Yunguo approaching, these Ji family guards were taken aback.

The two were obviously members of the Ji family, comfortable with entering the mountain gate, but their faces were unfamiliar.

"A-are you Elder Ji Yunguo?!?"

One of the older guards suddenly recognized Ji Yunguo and couldn't hide his excitement.

"It's me."

Ji Yunguo smiled gently. In the past, he would have ignored these youngsters, but now, returning to this place, every detail felt precious and nostalgic.

After all, he wouldn't be able to see it for much longer.

"We pay our respects to Elder Ji Yunguo!"

The other guards also recognized him and quickly bowed respectfully.

Ji Yunguo turned to Li Hao and said, "Your identity is unique, so wait here for a moment while I go and speak with my old brothers."

"Okay."

Li Hao agreed and then gazed at him, bowing slightly, "Farewell, Senior."

Ji Yunguo's eyes flickered as he understood the true meaning behind Li Hao's words.

It was a farewell and a final goodbye.

His eyes softened, and he smiled, "Child, it's a pity I won't be able to witness the moment you become the pride of the Ji family, but it's enough. With you returning, the Ji family will surely rise to prominence once more and awe the other sacred clans!"

He laughed softly, reaching out to gently pat Li Hao's shoulder, his eyes filled with kindness.

Without further delay, he transformed into a beam of green light and sped away, rushing up the towering staircase.

During his decades of imprisonment by the Mohe River, driven by his obsession, he had spent every day building this mountain.

But it wasn't until he met Li Hao, shattered the sacred mountain he had built, rescued him from the Mohe River, and brought him back to the true sacred mountain before him.

"Great Yu, your third brother is back!"

"Old Fourth, Old Sixth, are you still there?!'

"I, Ji Yunguo, have returned!!"

The green light rose into the sky, and Ji Yunguo's voice reverberated throughout the entire sacred mountain.

This also caused countless people within the Ji family's sacred mountain to look up in surprise, initially bewildered by the bold declaration, but when they heard Ji Yunguo's name, they were stunned.

One of the Ji family's Three Great War Gods had actually returned?!

"Third Brother?!"

"Is it really Third Brother?!"

After a brief pause, several figures rushed out from the most majestic and grand palaces in the sacred mountain, their voices filled with excitement.

When they saw Ji Yunguo's soul shadow in the air, their pupils constricted, and their faces revealed a mix of excitement and sorrow. They hurried over.

"Third Brother!!"

"Third Brother, why did you take so long to come back? We've been searching for you everywhere..."

The three surrounded Ji Yunguo, and when they saw his faint soul shadow, their eyes filled with sadness.

They had already held a funeral for Ji Yunguo after his death in battle.

They had also retrieved and buried the parts of his body that had been torn apart.

However, despite their efforts to find him, they had been unable to locate Ji Yunguo's soul, preventing them from welcoming him back to the ancestral hall. Now, they could finally meet again!

"Being dragged away by the Mohe River, what bad luck..."

Ji Yunguo smiled and offered an explanation, though he knew that his brothers would likely guess the reason even without it.

Aside from being detained by the Mohe River, there was no other explanation, though there was also a possibility that he had been defeated and his body and soul eradicated by another ancient sacred clan.

But he wasn't that weak.

As Ji Yunguo's voice echoed, more and more powerful members of the Ji family appeared, rushing over to join the gathering.

When they saw Ji Yunguo's soul, they were filled with excitement and emotion, some unable to hold back their tears.

"Xiao Mu..."

"My child..."

Ji Yunguo looked at the crowd, and among them, a figure rushed forward, overcome with emotion. It was his wife.

Even though they had been married for many years, he still called her by her nickname, and though their hair had turned gray, in his heart, she was still Xiao Mu.

The Xiao Mu who had accompanied him in battle for half his life.

Beside her, several voices called out excitedly, their fathers' voices filled with emotion.

"Grandfather..."

A young, innocent voice piped up, belonging to a girl exuding a Heavenly Man realm aura. With bright eyes and white teeth, she stood by her mother's side, a mix of tension and curiosity on her face.

And her mother, Ji Yunguo's daughter-in-law, looked on with a mix of excitement and joy, though she remained relatively restrained.

"This is my granddaughter?"

Ji Yunguo's eyes widened slightly as he beheld the young girl, feeling as though he were seeing the younger versions of Ji Qingqing and her sisters.

"Yes, Father, this is your granddaughter, Ji Nian'ge."

A tall and burly man beside them spoke excitedly.

Ji Yunguo was taken aback, Ji Nian'ge, in memory of Nian'ge...

His heart stirred, and he reached out to pat his son's shoulder, his voice trembling slightly, "You've endured much hardship."

"Father, it wasn't hard. It's enough that you're back."

The burly man quickly said, "I'll take you to the ancestral hall now, so you don't waste your soul power here."

"Yes, yes, make way! Let's get Third Brother to the ancestral hall!"

The elders who had arrived earlier hurriedly agreed.

The elderly woman who had thrown herself into Ji Yunguo's arms, her eyes red from crying, also composed herself, wiping away her tears as she said to Ji Yunguo, "The children have been waiting for you for a long time. It's good that you're back, it's really good..."

Ji Yunguo had wanted to say that it wasn't necessary to go to the ancestral hall and cause a fuss, as his physical body's dissipation was only a matter of time, and even the ancestral hall couldn't change that.

But seeing how emotional everyone was, he decided to wait for their feelings to settle down before bringing it up.

Moreover, now that he had returned, he wanted to pay his respects to his ancestors.

So, accompanied by the crowd, he made his way towards the Ji family's ancestral hall.

"I never thought that Elder Ji would be able to return. It truly is heaven's blessing on our Ji family!"

A large group surrounded Ji Yunguo, and aside from his direct relatives, who were especially emotional, the others also wore joyful expressions.

Before they even reached the ancestral hall, a figure rushed over, exclaiming, "Third Brother!"

"Tianchao!"

Ji Yunguo's eyes warmed at the sight of the person, and he called out excitedly.