Above Destiny

Chapter 710 My Family and Me
It turns out that the Chopra family has absolutely no manners.

Ji Jue had done such a big favor, yet Bogio didn't even say thank you. Instead, he got angry and slammed his fist on the ground several times...

Put yourself in their shoes. Imagine you've just walked in, had a meeting, and suddenly all your friends and family members, whether alive or dead, are lying on the floor. Anyone would find that hard to accept.

The fact that he didn't immediately draw his sword as Ji Jue had hoped already showed his remarkable composure.

For a fleeting moment, it seemed as if they were about to perish together, but then her anger vanished instantly. After giving Ji Jue a cold look, she let out a soft sigh.

"Mr. Ji really went to great lengths to seize the Chopra family's business through trickery and cunning."

"you flatter me."

Ji Jue solemnly shook his head and corrected him, "Take it by trickery. There's really no need for that. As for plundering it by force? That's even less likely... It's not that difficult or troublesome."

They make no attempt to conceal their intentions, and are even too lazy to use flattery or sophistry.

His wolfish ambition is obvious.

But it was precisely that open and honest demeanor that caused Boggio to fall into a brief silence.

What else can be said?
At this point, words are useless; the real test will come down to actions.

For a fleeting moment, however, he actually felt a pang of jealousy and resentment towards Minkler, this good-for-nothing he had never taken seriously before…

Why?
He suddenly wanted to ask Ji Jue, "Why is it Minkler?"
I can talk to you. We've signed a contract, and we've even shaken hands and taken photos together. What do you want? Can't I give it to you?

Asking this kind of question is pointless.

The moment a choice is made, the two sides are already adversaries.

Even if Ji Jue might represent the Federation, he would never give it up so easily.

After giving Ji Jue a deep look, he turned and left.

Leaving behind the chaos.

"what happened!"

"What on earth happened... Someone come quick! Someone come quick!"

"Beat this guy out of here!"

"Absolutely outrageous!"

"Sixth Uncle, Sixth Uncle, please say something, waaaaah..."

The sounds of crying, shouting, cursing, and denouncing were incessant. After the rare silence was broken, only the quacking of ducks remained. Unfortunately, besides the futile crying, nothing was done.

Throughout the entire process, Ji Jue remained oblivious, calmly sipping his tea.

"What a big battle."

Lou Feng, who arrived late, looked around and, after seeing a pile of scraps, raised an eyebrow: "This is really unlike you."

Ji Jue was amused. "Do you think I'm some kind of virtuous person who practices vegetarianism and chants Buddhist scriptures?"

"If you're a good person, then what am I? A living Buddha?"

Lou Feng scoffed.

He had seen Ji Jue act ruthlessly before, and he had witnessed Ji Jue committing murder and arson quite a few times. The Coastal Industry security team had also openly gone to the wilderness to help people cancel their accounts.

That bastard is cunning, ruthless, and vicious. He looks kind and harmless, but how many people who have truly offended him are still alive today?

Only this time...

“It’s rare to see someone act so openly and honestly,” he said. “It’s truly uncommon.”

"The timeframe is too short, and the demands are too great. Given the situation, we have to be more efficient." Ji Jue sighed, "Otherwise, who wouldn't want to play the long game?"

Fishing is so much fun!

Just squat down and dig a hole, and a steady stream of material will come to you. Isn't that much better than working yourself to death pumping water, clearing silt, and pulling nets?

Unfortunately, they had too few cards to play and no time to hide behind the scenes and wait for the right moment to act.

Just a slight test of the water temperature and depth was enough to create ripples.

You can't catch fish at all.

It's okay if you can't catch fish.

The same applies to directly frying fish.

Sure enough, with the size of the business now different from the past, there are more options available, and the risks and pressures that can be borne are also much greater.

Before they even finished their warm-up exercises, the whole bunch of chickens and dogs were already lying down.

Ji Jue used to have to wait for the right moment to act, but now he can stir up trouble in the Seven Cities on his own. And this is all done in the open... You have to understand, destroying the Seven Cities is much easier than taking them over.

"Why are they all things that can't be brought to light?"

After turning around, Lou Feng frowned slightly, unable to suppress his contempt.

No matter what, the Federation is still the Federation. Even in a remote place like Haizhou, there is no room for a major evil like Wulou Temple to show its face.

As a result, after arriving in the Thousand Islands, these shady characters were able to become honored guests in the lord's hall. Judging from the way Minkler's relatives were crying their eyes out, they had obviously thrown many parties together and had a deep bond.

However, in terms of quantity...

It was far less than expected.

Given the size of Chopra's house, it's hardly attracted enough flies. Even a small fishpond is still a pit, and a net cast only yielded about ten fish fry...

There isn't even a big one?
"This means the pond is bigger than we thought, and the water is deeper than we expected." Ji Jue looked at the palaces stretching into the mountains and sighed, "Maybe the worst one hasn't come out yet."

Lou Feng remained silent for a moment, then turned and left: "I'll go prepare first."

The entire Chopra household was thrown into chaos and hustle.

On one hand, the living guests were leaving in fear, on the other hand, the dead guests needed to be rushed to the morgue, and on yet another hand, the task at hand was already heavy enough.

Every servant I saw was rushing around, extremely busy, and looking tense, as if afraid of making a mistake.

Preparations for ancestor worship and the holding of ceremonies...

No matter how urgent or early the event, the necessary rituals and procedures cannot be omitted. In addition, more offerings and sacrifices, as well as painstaking efforts and performances, are required to demonstrate the filial piety and piety of the descendants.

"Are they preparing to worship their household gods?"

Ji Jue looked at Minkler, who had just returned, and could not hide his surprise. He had originally prepared for the best outcome to be muddying the waters, but he did not expect that Minkler could achieve his goal in one fell swoop.

Unfortunately, Minkler showed no joy or pride whatsoever; his expression was stern.

"I haven't even put in any effort yet."

His face fell: "It's Bogio. He went to great lengths to advance the selection of the household god... and he's hoping I'll be cannon fodder outside to help him attract attention."

Realizing the threat posed by Minkler, Bogio decided to end the conflict quickly.

Unexpectedly, Minkler was faster than him.

That's ridiculously fast.

It's like pressing the accelerator button.

They showed up yesterday at noon, dealt with the Venom fleet in the afternoon, and quelled the Sukarno family's retaliation and backlash in the evening. Then, they came knocking on our door the next day.

If it had been a day later, no, even half a day or a few hours later, Bogio might have already bypassed Minkler, completed the selection of the family god, assumed the position of the new family head, and then informed the seven cities.

When the dust settles and the legitimate authority is in hand, the situation will immediately change drastically.

Next, the one attacked by the seven cities and killed by the Thousand Islands was Minkler, who was proven to be a traitor and colluding with outsiders.

only……

Where did he get his confidence from?

Ji Jue pondered, recalling the way Bogio left. For a moment, he seemed to see something behind Bogio.

Who else was following?

dance to tune.

"Put away the holy oil and the ledgers."

In his own reception room, Bogio looked at his assistant and said, "After the ceremony, I won't contact you. Don't show your face."

"Master..."

The assistant was stunned, incredulous. Not shocked by the difficulty of the task, but worried about Bogio's behavior and the possibilities it symbolized.

Is it really possible that we will lose?

"Don't worry, it's just to be on the safe side."

Bogio puffed on his cigar, expressionless: "The Federation's military strategy is to consider defeat before victory. Minkler's backing is a bit abnormally stiff; we must always be prepared."

"If we really lose, he won't hand over the sacred oil, he won't hand over the account books. I want to see how he can be the head of the household if he can't command the household gods or manage the assets!"

"clear."

The assistant nodded, not daring to ask any more questions, hurriedly packed his things, picked up his suitcase, and left.

As the footsteps faded into the distance, a strange, aged face appeared and disappeared in the smoke, sighing like a ghost: "You child, you are still too cautious. With such thorough preparations, how could anything go wrong? When necessary, even the Dharma King Shanzhu in the lower monastery will support you."

There's no need to care about the old women from the Heavenly Heart Society; someone will deal with him. As for Minkler, there will be plenty of opportunities to make a move after the ceremony begins.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Grandpa."

Bogio bowed respectfully: "Establishing a business in the Thousand Islands is no easy feat. From now on, the Chopra family will have to rely on the guidance of the masters of the Abhirati Temple."

A faint laugh rose and then faded away.

That face vanished along with the smoke.

After a flurry of preparations, the Chopra family's rites began in the afternoon.

Just like all large-scale ceremonies, meticulous attention to detail is paramount. Every aspect is scrutinized and refined to perfection, and no mistake, no matter how meaningless, is tolerated.

It's even more troublesome now that we no longer have to prioritize simplicity and speed...

For ordinary families, ancestor worship involves gathering the entire family to burn incense, bow, or kowtow before the portrait of the deceased. But the Chopra family's commotion wasn't just about making a scene for themselves; the entire Elephant State was involved.

In this vast city, the port is closed and transportation has come to a standstill.

Silence must be maintained everywhere. No music, drinking, or merrymaking are allowed. All entertainment venues must be closed. In some cases, everyone must stand up and bow to the mountaintop in unison with the broadcast.

The reason why we don't need to kowtow is that the vast majority of people don't even have the right to kowtow.

Now, Ji Jue finally understood why the tyrants liked Thousand Islands so much. Who wouldn't like it? They could do whatever they wanted behind closed doors, and under the power of the strong, they could do whatever they wanted without any obstacles.

Even a local tyrant is still an emperor, and even more so.

The entire ceremony was lengthy and complicated. All members of the Chopra family gathered densely in front of the family temple at the highest point of the mountain, arranging themselves according to bloodline and status, and worshipping their ancestors according to a chaotic array of rituals and customs.

However, the layout and style of this temple...

All I can say is that the stitching is ingenious; half of it resembles the ancestral hall of a large federal family, and the other half resembles the sanctuary of some sect in the Empire. The rest is a dense array of island-style decorations, with one main element being the stitching.

It can be either extreme closed-off and extremely ignorant, or extreme open-minded and extremely piecemeal.

Even household gods, as a product of the Ascension lineage, originated from the empire's household worship and the federation's ancestor worship.

Moreover, it has mixed in a lot of strange traditions and rituals among the islands, and has eventually grown wildly into what it is today.

Through sacrifice, ancestors are transformed into deities.

But these so-called gods... are no different from evil spirits, and even more ferocious in their consumption!
Deep within the ancestral temple, a flame that had burned for hundreds of years shone so brightly, its pure white color appearing incredibly sacred, and the veil of perception separated two completely different worlds.

Ordinary people cannot hear the thirsty cries and howls, or even the venomous roars, coming from within, nor can they see the endless stream of soul fragments and spiritual matter being poured into it.

Times are progressing, everything is changing, and even the household gods are having a much better time.

Decades or even centuries ago, a large number of livestock had to be slaughtered in advance for each sacrificial ceremony, and even large-scale live sacrifices were sometimes carried out. Now, after the seven cities formed an alliance, the council began to vigorously promote modernization. With hospitals, public cemeteries, nursing homes, orphanages, and slums in Elephant Continent, things have become much easier.

It's just a few old people, homeless people and children dying. They'll die sooner or later anyway, so why not let them die in a more meaningful way?
Besides, it's not like he died on the spot.

Even without bleeding.

"It's really spectacular."

At this moment, as a guest observing the ceremony, Ji Jue turned around and looked outside the ancestral temple.

In the city below the mountain, wisps of white mist rose like a tide, reaching towards the sky...

During the ceremony, the more the fire burned and burned, the darker the sky became.

It felt like a downpour was about to begin.

Above the overcast sky, in the deepest darkness of the clouds, a huge and eerie hollow face, seemingly obscuring the entire city, appeared and disappeared.

At this moment, as it was called, it gradually emerged, opened its mouth, and swallowed all the spiritual essence offered by hundreds of thousands of lives in the entire city, becoming even more thirsty.

Suck greedily.

Each suckle dims the fading light in the hospital or slum, and each exhale ravages the dying candle in the wind.

Gradually, a dazzling flame, just like the fire in a house, appeared in the empty pupils.

The household gods are awakening.

Throughout the entire ancestral temple, everyone felt a terrifying power rising from the ancestral fire.

In the past, Minkler would have had to side with the servants, but things are different now. Through his own efforts, the betrayal of his biological father, and the affection of his adoptive father, he has finally risen to the forefront of everyone.

They can even sit in a chair.

Enjoying the pleas and requests from family members to stay.

"...It's not too late to give up now, Minkler."

Bogio whispered solemnly, "The Federation people are insatiable, and that Ji guy is utterly untrustworthy. If you fall into his hands, you'll gain nothing but lose everything."

You're basically asking a tiger for its skin!

Throughout, Minkler stared at the fire in his house, his expression calmer than he had expected, unmoved by Bogio's earnest advice, promises, and pleas.

"That's strange, Boggio."

He asked, puzzled, "The tiger you mentioned saved my life, stood by my side, and helped me survive until now."

And the family you speak of, they actually wish for me, their brother, to die quickly, as if I had never existed... If you were me, who would you believe?

“A family is a family, Minkler, and we all have to make sacrifices!”

Things are different now than before, but no matter what, we will always be one family.

If you don't trust me, I can even sign a blood pact with you, a pact of life and death. As long as I'm alive, you'll be the general of the family, the rising star of the seven cities!

“Keep the promises to your so-called family, Bogio.” Minkler shook his head. “Your family has never included me, nor have I ever had that honor.”

Boggio then fell silent.

His expression gradually turned cold, and a murderous intent rose within him.

It wasn't out of anger or embarrassment, but in that instant, he finally understood: why Ji Jue chose Minkler, and why that bastard Minkler was so insane!

"Minkler, do you hate this family that much?!"

"What are you talking about, Fourth Brother?"

Minkler finally turned around, looked at him, and smiled as he assured him, "Of course I love my home, from the bottom of my heart, more than anyone else!"

"Then why..."

"But it wasn't until a few days ago that I discovered my home was gone."

Those dark eyes, still bloodshot from a sleepless night, seemed like a cruel flame, spreading silently.

There was no warmth left.

He said, "Decades ago, my family was drowned in the pond by your own hands."

boom!
A sound like a roar came from the house fire.

Pale flames erupted from the firewood like a waterfall. Within the flames, eerie, shifting outlines gradually emerged.

Responding to the call of their descendants, countless disordered souls merged into one, transforming into a chaotic and frenzied entity. In the darkness following this brutal flame, a colossal creature, as large as a mountain, gradually rose.

Its mere appearance caused a storm throughout the entire Xiangzhou!

It opened its eyes.

The household deity has descended!

(End of this chapter)