Corpse Retriever.

Chapter 359

The biggest difference between the Dragon King's Clan and other powerful families is that they possess a spirit.

This "spirit" floats between heaven and earth, unrestrained and even unworshipped.

It is like the will of Heaven, an affirmation of the contributions made by the Dragon Kings of all ages in suppressing evil spirits in the martial world.

Therefore, rather than saying it was "ancestral blessing," it is more accurate to say that Heaven opened a special channel in this way to provide some protection for the Dragon King's descendants.

They do need it.

After all, even though the Dragon King could suppress his own era, he did not seek immortality and respected lifespan. After the Dragon King's demise, his enemies would inevitably seek revenge, and their methods of revenge would be truly all-encompassing.

What Ming Yuwan couldn't understand was that the Yu family was already in such a state. Logically speaking, the spirits of the Dragon Kings of the Yu family throughout the generations should have at least fought against and protected them.

Back then, when her elders discussed the changes in the Yu family, they generally believed that the Yu family's closure for sixty years was related to the special nature of the Dragon King's family.

Therefore, these spirits can dissipate, can wither, but they should never... remain intact.

Ming Yuwan: "Why is this happening?"

The spirits of the Dragon Kings of the Yu family throughout the generations seemed to completely ignore the changes in the Yu family.

Ming Yuwan's three servants were surveying their surroundings.

Along the way, unlike other areas of the ancestral home that had been damaged and ravaged by monsters, the Yu family ancestral hall was well protected and kept very clean.

This is not hard to understand, because these monsters also use the banner of Dragon King Yu and claim to be his successors, so they naturally wouldn't destroy their own "ancestral values".

Meanwhile, on either side of the ancestral altar of the Yu family, there are two other altars, each with a red string hanging from it, arranged in a unique way to correspond with the main altar. Instead of ancestral tablets, these altars hold various relics.

Some were old rubber balls, some were broken dolls, some were blankets, some were pendants, and some were simply dirty nests.

These were all the companion monsters that accompanied the successive Yu family dragon kings from their journeys across the river to their suppression of the martial world.

They are not human, but are governed by the rules of Heaven, so they cannot openly write their names on the tablets and place them next to the Dragon King's tablet. However, the Yu family has clearly not forgotten their contributions.

They would treat their favorite personal items as another kind of "memorial tablet" and enshrine them in their own ancestral hall, so that they could continue to accompany their owners.

These personal items were mostly gifts that the Dragon King gave to his young companion beasts when he was a child. They were not expensive, but they showed deep affection and were all the more precious.

Ming Yuwan: "Dibei, do you know what's going on here?"

When she asked that question, the shock in Ming Yuwan's eyes had faded, replaced by a burning passion.

Because a tremendous opportunity, visible to the naked eye, is right before our eyes.

The spirit of Dragon King Yu has not dissipated, and since Yu Dibei is worshipping himself, it is equivalent to him receiving the blessing of the fortunes of the two Dragon King families on the river.

Ming Yuwan was certain that this was an absolutely unique case among all those who had traveled across the river throughout history!

Furthermore, the spirit of Dragon King Yu can also bless the Dragon King Ming family, so it is a huge boost not only for himself but also for the entire family, which is equivalent to adding many more generations of Dragon Kings out of thin air in the family's history.

"Dibei?"

Yu Dibei didn't respond to Ming Yuwan. Instead, he walked to the large offering table on his own, and the little yellow dog in his arms jumped out and climbed onto his shoulder.

The young man bent down and pulled out an exquisitely carved black box from under the offering table.

The box had a very complicated mechanism lock, and Yu Dibei didn't know how to open it, but when he touched it, the patterns on the box began to rotate rapidly, and then it opened.

Inside was not some rare treasure, but a memorial tablet.

The name written on the memorial tablet is: Yu Tiannan.

As Yu Tiannan's birthday approached, he took his dog and left the Yu family to find a burial place for himself.

But this memorial tablet wasn't carved at that time; it was carved much earlier, back when he had just become the Dragon King and was still at his peak.

The allure of immortality is equal for everyone. It doesn't make you special just because you're the Dragon King. On the contrary, it's precisely because you're the Dragon King and have enjoyed the sense of dominance that makes you want to prolong that time.

Setting up a memorial tablet for yourself early on is a way of reminding yourself that the end of your life is already determined.

Yu Dibei reached out and wiped away non-existent dust.

The little yellow dog on the shoulder looked at the name on the memorial tablet, its eyes slightly moist.

A man and his dog fell into an eerie silence.

Ming Yuwan walked over, glanced at it, and said:

“This has nothing to do with him. He is worthy of the title of Dragon King.”

Yu Dibei shook his head and said:
"He is a sinner, and everything started because of him."

Ming Yuwan frowned slightly. As darkness fell and the concentration of demonic resentment increased, it became increasingly difficult for her to control her emotions. Yu Dibei first ignored her instructions and then contradicted her, which made her very uncomfortable.

Yu Di turned his head to the north and looked at the little yellow dog on his shoulder. The little yellow dog stuck out its tongue and licked his face.

"The Yu family has a rule: when a member of the Yu family dies, the accompanying demon beast must be buried with him. Even the Dragon King is no exception."

Yu Dibei turned around, looked around, and continued:
"There are actually many incredibly powerful demonic beasts here who were ordered to commit suicide by the Dragon King before his lifespan was about to end."

The reason it wasn't mentioned to suppress or kill is because it wasn't necessary.

Historically, there have been instances of companion beasts betraying their masters, but if humans and beasts cannot be of one mind and face hardships together, it is impossible to eventually embark on the path of the Dragon King.

As long as the Dragon King gives the order, their monsters will immediately obey.

Anyway, they're just taking the first step. If there's another world, they can be the first to arrive there, just like when they were little kids in the various breeding pens of the Yu family, their little paws scratching at the fences, eagerly waiting for the boy and girl who would become their companions.

Ming Yuwan: "Di Bei, what did you mean by what you just said?"

Yu Dibei: "Yu Tiannan, he softened his heart and broke the rules; breaking the rules naturally comes at a price."

Ming Yuwan: "Dibei, do you know something else? Why didn't the old man in your village tell us about this?"

Yu Dibei: "Ordinary people can make mistakes and make amends; but the Dragon King's mistakes are unforgivable."

Ming Yuwan: "You mean, the changes that happened to the Yu family back then were related to Yu Tiannan's companion demonic beast?"

"Wang."

The little yellow dog started barking.

Yu Dibei lowered his head, and when he raised it again, the solemnity on his face and the seriousness in his eyes had disappeared, and he had returned to being that naive and immature young man.

Ming Yuwan: "Speak up! What do you know? Tell me now!"

Yu Dibei squatted down, clutching his head with both hands:

"I don't know, just now in my head, it felt like someone was talking, like I was having a dream..."

Ming Yuwan reached out, grabbed the young man's arm, and lifted him up:

"Tell me quickly, this is very important. If we don't find out the final secret of the Yu family's downfall soon, and let those old guys continue to kill indiscriminately outside, in the end, we will all die, we will all die!"

"Wang! Wang! Wang!"

The little yellow dog barked at Ming Yuwan, baring its teeth.

The dog's barking made Ming Yuwan's eyes redden, and her rationality was overwhelmed.

She took out a talisman, drew it in front of her, and then stuck it on Yu Dibei's forehead:

"I'm telling you to wake up, wake up!"

The moment the talisman was placed on his forehead, Yu Dibei felt as if countless silver needles were piercing his entire body, and a look of pain immediately appeared on his face.

The little yellow dog pounced on Ming Yuwan.

Ming Yuwan flicked her toe, releasing a burst of force that sent the little yellow dog flying, crashing into the offering table.

The little yellow dog got up again, blood spilling from its mouth, but there was no fear in its eyes. Instead, it stuck out its tongue and licked its mouth, wiping the blood back up.

"Huff... Huff..."

Something seemed to awaken at this moment; the heavy, oppressive breathing brought a sense of unease and unease.

Ming Yuwan released Yu Dibei from her grasp and ordered, "Be on guard!"

"boom!"

The ancestral hall doors were closed, and everything—the floor tiles, the offering table, and so on—began to tremble.

For any normal martial arts family, the most heavily fortified place is definitely the ancestral hall.

There are no monsters here, so when the old guys joined forces to break in earlier, they didn't force their way in.

After all, what is enshrined in the ancestral hall is often the most precious thing in the family, but useless in the eyes of outsiders.

When she entered earlier, it was completely unobstructed. Ming Yuwan thought that she had benefited from Yu Dibei's influence. As the only successful successor of the Yu family, she would naturally receive special treatment when entering the ancestral hall.

The sudden change here quickly calmed Ming Yuwan down. Her first thought was that her terrible attitude towards Yu Dibei had displeased the Dragon King Spirit here.

“Di Bei, you know I have problems. Sometimes, I can’t control my emotions.” Ming Yuwan softened her tone and began to explain, reaching out to help Yu Di Bei up.

"Wang!"

The little yellow dog pounced again and bit Ming Yuwan's wrist.

The pain was nothing, but the redness fading from Ming Yuwan's eyes suddenly became even more intense.

He grabbed the little yellow dog by the neck and slammed it to the ground. He drew his sword and pinned the dog to the ground.

"woo woo woo woo……"

The little yellow dog let out a dying whimper.

Yu Dibei, slumped on the ground, stared blankly at the little yellow dog lying in a pool of blood in front of him.

As far back as he can remember, this little yellow dog has been by his side. It has a long lifespan and seems to never grow up.

Both Lion and Tiger sighed, saying that the little yellow dog was an excellent potential monster. If it were in the old Yu family, it would have been able to receive a lot of resources to help it grow. But the village didn't have the resources, so it could only be delayed.

In the gradually blurring eyes of the little yellow dog, Yu Dibei saw his own face.

At this moment, all sorts of memories began to flood his mind.

In my memory, during the same age period, the wooden houses in the village became towering buildings, the quiet old oxen in the fields became galloping monsters, and Tiger and Lion became two huge monsters, crawling in front of me.

Yu Dibei's self-perception gradually became distorted under the onslaught of these overwhelming memories.

Anger, however, does not require reason, and it is precisely at times like these that people are more likely to follow their instincts.

Blood-stained fur, a slowed heartbeat, the poor little yellow dog... When the little yellow dog closed its eyes, Yu Dibei completely erupted, clenching his fists and slamming them hard on the floor in front of him.

"boom!"

"Boom!"

The array and restrictions of the Yu family ancestral hall were fully activated, and the red blood light rose upwards, transforming into a pillar of light that shot straight to the top of this underground world.

"you……"

Ming Yuwan didn't know what to say, because she herself didn't know why she had nailed the little dog to death with a single sword stroke.

In the past, her problems would only lead to emotional outbursts, such as saying things she shouldn't have said or showing expressions that should have been hidden. Many of her elders had this problem, especially her grandmother.

Therefore, conflicts often erupt within the Ming family. They would often argue loudly during meals or meetings, but everyone would stop there and no one would do anything irrational.

Why is this happening?

Even if my problem is serious, it can't be more serious than my grandmother's now, right?

Ming Yuwan took a deep breath and reached out to grab Yu Dibei again.

“Dibei, I’ll explain to you later. Right now, we need to get out of here quickly.”

But even though the hand had been stretched out far, it still couldn't reach the young man who was right in front of it.

When Ming Yuwan looked down, she noticed a black line between herself and the young man, and the line was growing larger, making the distance between them grow further and further.

Not only that, she also discovered that the same situation had occurred between her and the three waiters. The floor tiles under their feet seemed to have turned into screens on a pond. They had been gathered together before, but now they were drifting apart, and the true size of the pond was gradually being revealed.

Ming Yuwan recalled her sword, leaped into the air, and headed north towards Yu. She entered this pitch-black place, where the lack of direction and senses did not frighten her. She had experienced similar scenes not only when she was walking along the river, but also when she was a child at home, where she had received similar training.

She quickly made a hand seal by bringing her left middle and ring fingers together, then swept it across her face before her eyes, allowing her senses to return.

She saw Yu Dibei ahead again. Yu Dibei was still in the same position as before, motionless, but she could hear his shouts in her ears.

In any case, Ming Yuwan would never let Yu Dibei escape her control. She was still convinced that Yu Dibei was the key to her obtaining the greatest opportunity from the Yu family on this trip, although some twists and turns were inevitable.

"Dibei, Dibei..."

The distance was quickly shortened.

"Wang!"

The little yellow dog blocked Ming Yuwan's way.

Ming Yuwan asked in disbelief, "You're not dead?"

Her first reaction was surprise; the dog was still alive, which could mend the rift between her and Yu Dibei. But soon, when she lifted her sword and saw the bloodstains on the blade, she realized that things were not so simple.

Within his sword lies a natural malevolent energy; if it pierces any living creature, it will violently sweep away all the life force within its body.

Previously, his sword had been stuck inside the little yellow dog for a long time. Not to mention ordinary demonic beasts, even a powerful demon would have been drained of its life force.

"What exactly are you? What is your purpose in hiding by Di Bei's side all this time?"

The little yellow dog's eyes no longer held any trace of a small animal's spirit; instead, they exuded an air of someone who had long held a high position.

It was tiny, but Ming Yuwan felt as if she was craning her neck to look at it.

"You could have escaped this catastrophe by hiding in the village, but you dared to come back. You're practically courting death!"

Ming Yuwan raised her sword in a sweeping motion, transforming it into a sharp, cold light that slashed towards the little yellow dog.

What appears to be a test is actually a well-concealed killing move.

The little yellow dog neither dodged nor avoided the attack. Just as the cold light was about to touch it, a white figure appeared, raised its paw, and effortlessly blocked the blow.

It turned out to be a dog, a small white dog that was exactly the same size as the little yellow dog.

However, when the little white dog turned to face Ming Yuwan, its size increased at a visible speed, and within a few breaths, it had the physique of an adult tiger.

There is a Buddhist mark between its eyebrows, and scriptures are flowing within the white stripes. When it raises its claws towards Ming Yuwan, the claws turn golden.

"boom!"

It is both a claw and a large handprint.

Ming Yuwan parried with her sword, and although she managed to break through the handprint, she was still unable to stop herself from falling backward.

"A Buddhist dog?"

Behind them, the little yellow dog silently flipped its little paws over.

The array effects of the Yu Family Ancestral Hall have further intensified.

As soon as Ming Yuwan landed again, she sensed a tremendous force suppressing her. She immediately held her sword horizontally in front of her, her palm tracing the blade. With a swing, a dark red halo spread around her, forcefully stopping the power of the formation.

However, she could do it through sheer ability, but her three waiters weren't so lucky.

Ming Yuwan saw that in three areas "far away," three large white dogs were attacking her three separated subordinates.

This means that the big white dog in front of him has split the original body into four parts, and what he is facing is only a quarter of it.

"Buddhist Dharmakaya clones?"

This is a genuine Buddhist secret technique; how could a dog possibly know it?
If a team is broken up, its strength will inevitably decline sharply. And those three subordinates were already fleeing in panic from the big white dog's attack. Now, the effects of the ancestral hall's formation are descending rapidly once again...

Almost without a doubt, the three of them, one after another, died in the claws of the big white dog.

One was blasted into dust by the giant handprint, another had his internal organs shattered by the sonic boom, and yet another, after hearing the scriptures chanted by the giant dog in front of him, immediately knelt down with his hands clasped together and committed suicide.

Ming Yuwan knew that this was no match for her. It was far more terrifying than the old things outside... no, even the old things weren't as terrifying as it!
After the other three large white dogs finished off their opponents, they began to dissipate, while the large white dog in front of Ming Yuwan grew even larger.

Now, it can easily look down at the woman in front of it.

Ming Yuwan: "I want to survive, it's up to you."

A blue flame rose from the woman's body; her eyes closed and then opened again.

It was the same person, but only the change in her eyes made it seem like a completely different person. Ming Yuwan spoke:

"Rely on me? It'll be very difficult to survive."

With her sword drawn, Ming Yuwan did not choose to flee, but instead launched an attack on the big white dog.

She was repeatedly repelled, yet she kept getting back up. She used many methods and unpredictable movements. Although she would suffer severe injuries after each round of attacks, she continued to persevere.

The fundamental qualities of a legitimate successor of the Dragon King lineage were fully revealed at this moment.

The big white dog didn't deliberately hold back, but each time it could only hurt her but couldn't kill her.

However, this kind of almost self-destructive attack was destined to be unsustainable, but Ming Yuwan was waiting for an opportunity.

"Wow..."

In the next attack, the sword broke, and a streak of light flew out, severing all senses of the surroundings.

Ming Yuwan's figure darted to one side, her body twisting and contorting, displaying strange fluctuations. She was attempting to break through the formation of the Yu family ancestral hall in this way, hoping to find a chance to escape.

Everything that had happened before was paving the way for this escape.

The little yellow dog had been watching all this calmly from behind, but its expression changed slightly when Ming Yuwan used this move.

Because this woman actually has a chance of escaping.

Three plumes of mist rose from the spot where the three servants died, instantly coalescing and then exploding, resembling the shadowy figure that appeared when the sword broke earlier. This was to continue to obscure the senses of the pursuers.

The little yellow dog lowered its head, stuck out its tongue, and licked its paw.

The Ming family members are still the same as before, easily angered.

It still remembers that its owner once met a member of the Ming family. When they sat down to eat together, that person would get into two arguments with others.

But that person was very clear-headed when making decisions, and the more critical the moment, the more like a different person they became, demonstrating strength and skill that exceeded all expectations.

Just like Ming Yuwan in front of me.

The master said that this problem was caused by the Ming family's cultivation method.

Ming Yuwan is much stronger than the Ming family member that the master encountered back then.

Not just her...

As it lay in Yu Dibei's arms, it surveyed all the river-crossing teams that entered the village and discovered that their overall quality, talent, and other aspects were stronger than those of its master's generation at the same time.

If the person in question had lived in this era, they would likely have faced even fiercer competition.

Although the Dragon King's throne will ultimately belong to the master, the experience of traveling the river should make the master feel more excited and interesting.

Gradually, Chen Xiyuan's image appeared in the little yellow dog's eyes.

This generation, even the Chen family has produced a genius.

The master once lamented that the Chen family member he faced could not fully unleash the Dragon King Chen's domain, making it impossible for him to seriously fight against the legendary Chen family Dragon King who could crush an entire generation upon birth.

The Chen family member was quite easygoing; when he couldn't win, he admitted defeat and, after lighting the lamps a second time, stayed to have a meal of wild game before leaving.

Then, the images of Runsheng, Tan Wenbin, and Lin Shuyou appeared in the little yellow dog's eyes. Only after they appeared did the boy appear in the middle.

In a team navigating a river, it's common for the main trunk to be weak and the branches weak. The leader should possess overwhelming strength that crushes the rest of the team, but this team is strange.

Either it's a weak main branch fostered by powerful background forces, or this seemingly weak "trunk" is actually much thicker than one imagines.

In addition, it has a vague sense of familiarity with the boy, but it cannot pinpoint the exact source of this feeling.

It was an old dog, and occasionally it would feel confused and lost. In order to firmly remember its inner plans and the little things between it and its owner, it had to keep giving up other things.

Its evil magic is not omnipotent.

No wonder the master said when he suppressed it that although "it" had existed for a long time, it definitely hadn't lived that long.

Master, you are right.

Time is the poison of memory.

It cannot grant immortality; it can only trap you in a memory, constantly weakening you until the final poison erupts. You will no longer be yourself; you will become someone else... another dog.

Finally, what appeared in the little yellow dog's eyes was Zhao Yi.

I don't know why, even though I don't remember him, I felt disgusted with him the moment I saw him, and my body ached slightly.

It seems I'm really past my prime; I even have to forget such an important "enemy."

The little yellow dog lowered its paws and tilted its head back.

My own time is really running out.

Fortunately, everything is beginning to unfold as I had anticipated.

Ming Yuwan had already rushed to the gate of the ancestral hall, and was only one step away from escaping. She had indeed pushed herself to the limit.

The little yellow dog closed its eyes.

Heh, you could have escaped if you hadn't run into it.

Ming Yuwan opened the door to the ancestral hall, and there stood the big white dog, facing her.

He can see through all his physical forms, perceive all changes, possess a strong Buddhist nature, and master various Buddhist secret methods.

Ming Yuwan finally guessed its identity:

"Listen carefully?"

The big white dog raised its paw and slapped her mercilessly.

……

The Yu Family Ancestral Hall still has the same floor tiles and the same offering table. If it weren't for the three pools of blood on the ground that are still shocking, it would seem as if nothing had happened.

With a numb expression, Ming Yuwan knelt before the offering table, next to Yu Dibei, whose gaze remained dazed even after his outburst of anger.

The little yellow dog sat on the armchair in front of the two people, and a huge white dog lay on the steps below the chair.

The big white dog gently raised its tail and carefully placed it on the armrest of the armchair.

The little yellow dog stretched out its paw and occasionally touched its white tail.

The big white dog looked pampered and very content.

Now, as a dog, it has also started keeping dogs.

The little yellow dog stretched out its other paw and waved it gently in front of it.

A halo appeared around both Yu Dibei and Ming Yuwan.

The woman's underwear was red, while the young man's underwear was black.

The little yellow dog pinched the big white dog's tail with its paw.

A beam of Buddhist light emanated from the big white dog's eyes and shone above the two of them.

It was clear that above Yu Dibei, the black fog was so thick that it was almost impossible to see the top, while above Ming Yuwan, the sky was bright with sunshine.

However, several streams of black liquid are flowing from the north of Yudi towards Ming Yuwan.

But it's too small, like a trickle.

The little yellow dog got up, jumped off the armchair, stepped on the big white dog, and continued walking.

I've already paid homage to the Dragon King, but the karmic burden still can't be properly passed on.

The little yellow dog came to Yu Dibei's side. Yu Dibei's eyes were unfocused, as if he couldn't see his beloved dog coming back to life.

You're actually resisting the explosion of the memories I left inside you?

you,
How dare you?

The little yellow dog raised its paw and pressed it against Yu Dibei's forehead, then closed its eyes.

When the little yellow dog opened its eyes again, it found itself on the roof of a wooden house.

Looking around, less than one percent of the village remains. Opposite the wooden house is the village's ancestral hall, and next door is the three-story building where Grandpa lived.

However, the three-story building and the village road in the middle were crowded with people and animals.

Outside, there is a view of the Yu family's ancestral home.

From a high altitude, it looks like a small piece of architecture and scenery that is completely out of place in the Yu family's ancestral home, appearing extremely abrupt.

The little yellow dog looked behind it and saw Yu Dibei sitting there, burying his head in his knees and sobbing incessantly.

Even now, he still doesn't want to forget the villagers and animals, the place where he has lived since childhood. Although it's not big and he can't leave, it is his whole life at this moment.

The little yellow dog raised its paw towards the sky.

"Roar!"

A giant dog's head looms overhead.

"Ahhh!"

Yu Dibei's emotions became out of control, and his last line of defense was about to collapse.

The little yellow dog did not react to this.

You were chosen by me to be the vessel for my memories.

Do not resist, accept your destiny.

This is your honor as a member of the Yu family...

The giant dog head in the sky continued to press down, constantly swallowing up the environment of the village below.

Finally, the wooden house disappeared, the village road disappeared, and Grandpa, the Lion King, the Tiger King, and all the villagers and animals also disappeared.

Behind him, the young man's crying stopped.

He slowly raised his head, his eyes completely blank, like a sheet of white paper.

The little yellow dog smiled.

Now, let my memories cover you up.

In the real-life Yu Family Ancestral Hall, the little yellow dog opened its eyes, stepped on the belly of the big white dog, and sat back down in the grand master's chair.

Now, the invisible black mist above Yu Dibei's head is pouring into Ming Yuwan at an increasingly frantic speed.

Worship the Dragon King to establish karmic connections.

Girl, you made this choice yourself.

……

The Ming family ancestral home. By the pond, an old woman is sitting, feeding the goldfish in the pond.

"First the Yu family, then the Liu family."

Liu Yumei, next time, I won't send anyone from my family. I'll come to your door myself and smash everything in your Liu family to pieces.

The worst thing Brother Qin ever did in his life was marrying you.

You are a jinx, a single person who brought about the downfall of two powerful families.

Hehehehe~~~

The old woman's laughter was very exaggerated, and she didn't seem to care about being seen.

The Ming family members and servants outside the courtyard were already used to this.

The old lady's temper was notoriously unpredictable.

Ming Qinyun threw away all the food in her hands, clapped her hands, picked up the teacup next to her, and took a sip.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The goldfish in the pond burst open one by one, their blood and scales flying everywhere.

Meanwhile, at the Ming family's ancestral home, many people who had secluded themselves there in an attempt to find a breakthrough experienced a series of unexpected events. Some coughed up blood, some collapsed, and others rushed out of their seclusion, cursing and laughing loudly, clearly having gone mad.

Elders clinging to life, sick children—all choices that lay between "yes" and "no," left to fate, were decided with a "no" at this moment.

An elderly man who had been bedridden for many years finally passed away; a child suffering from a strange illness who was expected to be cured and develop a special constitution stared wide-eyed, lifeless.

Many members of the Ming family were either talking to themselves, weeping bitterly, rolling on the ground, or even fighting each other.

The Ming family's secret technique has extremely obvious side effects. Many people managed to avoid the effects by sheer luck, but now, they have all erupted.

Ming Qinyun moved swiftly through the crowd, while her sons and a group of Ming family elders had already begun to inspect the situation in various places.

Before him, a member of the Ming family was burning his soul, not melting it, but recklessly setting himself ablaze.

As Ming Qinyun passed by him, she patted him on the back, and the flames on his body disappeared, causing him to collapse to the ground.

"Madam Xie..."

After saying that, he closed his eyes.

He was already beyond saving, but Ming Qinyun ended his suffering prematurely.

The sound of the zither comes from the Ming family ancestral hall, which is built against the mountain and is located at the highest point.

When the younger generation of the Ming family and the servants responsible for cleaning and guarding the ancestral hall saw the old lady arrive, they hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects. Before they could even kneel down, a wave of energy knocked them over.

Ming Qinyun entered the ancestral hall, looked up, and saw the ancestral tablets of the Ming family's Dragon Kings on the offering table.

They are still there, still safe and sound, still peaceful.

Along the way, not only did their own fish die suddenly, but many members of the Ming family went mad, the potted plants symbolizing good fortune withered, the murals symbolizing the prosperity of their descendants fell off, and the white clouds that lingered on the mountainside of the Ming family's ancestral home also turned gray.

Without even needing divination, one could tell at a glance that the Ming family's fortunes had plummeted in an instant.

This was devastating news for any family, and even more unbelievable for the Dragon King's clan.

But things were already happening and getting worse, yet the Dragon King tablet on the altar didn't do anything, not even a warning.

Ming Qinyun's eyes revealed anger and dissatisfaction, but since they were in the ancestral hall, she dared not point at the ancestral tablets and curse them directly.

Take the incense, light it, insert it, step back, and bow.

When she looked up again, Ming Qinyun's expression had returned to that of a dignified old lady, and she spoke:

"I respectfully inform all my ancestors that a great change has occurred in my Ming family."

Her voice echoed continuously within the solemn and majestic ancestral hall.

But the memorial tablets on the altar still did not respond.

Ming Qinyun had no choice but to speak again:
"We humbly beseech our ancestors to protect our Ming family!"

The incense and candles burned normally, and the ancestral hall was calm and undisturbed.

Ming Qinyun closed her eyes, her chest heaving, and finally walked straight out of the ancestral hall.

Once outside, she could no longer contain herself and shouted:

"My Ming family was clearly attacked, why are you standing idly by!"

As Ming Qinyun descended the steps, her eldest son and an elderly man with white hair and beard came up.

"Mother."

"Mistress".

"Mother, there was some trouble in all the courtyards, workshops, and seclusion areas of the house, but it has been calmed down and dealt with."

"Mistress, I have just dared to divine the secrets of heaven and discovered that the fortunes of my Ming family have suddenly begun to crumble. I am powerless to do so, and although I do not know why, if this continues, I fear that my Ming family will soon be on the path of decline."

Ming Qinyun looked at the white-haired old man and asked in return, "You don't know why?"

The white-haired old man hesitated for a moment, then remained silent.

Ming Qinyun's gaze turned cold and sharp: "Now, outside, there is only one person who is qualified to bind my Dragon King Clan with his own personal connections."

"Mother, are you talking about Wan'er?"

"Who else could it be but your good daughter? Hehe, my granddaughter is truly capable. She has probably brought all the calamities of the Yu family to her own doorstep. How generous of her!"

"Mother, Wan'er certainly didn't mean it."

"Unintentional, foolish, and exploited."

"Mistress, the most important thing right now is to ask the spirits of our ancestors to protect our Ming family and temporarily avert this calamity, giving us time to make further plans."

"Go ahead and beg, I can't get anything out of you!"

Ming Qinyun turned around, looked at the majestic Ming family ancestral hall behind her, and gritted her teeth, saying:

"Our ancestors, our ancestors, whose ancestors are they?!"

……

"It's done!"

Liu Yumei smiled and spread her hands, indicating to the two old sisters to calculate the score.

She loses money every day, but that doesn't mean she can't win. She might win a few hands to satisfy her craving, and then deliberately lose a few rounds, as long as she keeps it within limits.

Liu Yumei had no turn in the next round. She had just picked up her teacup and taken a sip when she saw Aunt Liu walking over hurriedly with a letter in her hand and a smile on her face.

Liu Yumei did not get up, but remained seated, took the letter, and opened it to read.

The top forces in the martial arts world will all arrange for people to keep an eye on each other.

During the last wave of the Dream Ghost incident, Li Zhuiyuan provoked the Emperor of Fengdu to take action. As a result, before Li Zhuiyuan even returned home, Liu Yumei received the news, and she knew more details than he, the person directly involved.

Every Dragon King's residence was a key focus, except for the Qin and Liu families, because their ancestral homes were already empty, and their servants and outer gatekeepers had long been cleared away by Liu Yumei.

When your population is small enough, you can settle anywhere, and the world becomes vast and unpredictable.

However, the Ming family is clearly not included in this category.

The location of the Yu family was afflicted by a calamity-inducing energy that moved northeastward and landed at the ancestral home of the Ming family, Wancui Mountain.

Liu Yumei laughed.

Liu Jinxia: "Sister Liu, who sent the letter?"

Liu Yumei: "I used to keep in touch with my husband a lot when he was still alive, but after he passed away, we rarely kept in touch."

Wang Lian: "Look, sister, you're smiling. What's the good news? Tell us so we can share in your joy."

Liu Yumei: "It's not exactly good news. There was a woman who wanted to date my husband. She even took off her clothes and lay on the bed, but my husband just threw a piece of clothing at her and told her to get lost."

Later, every time this woman met me, she would use foul language.

And now, something bad has happened to her family.

Knowing that I had a falling out with her, my old friends all wrote to me, trying to cheer me up.

Ugh,
"These are all old, forgotten things. My husband has been gone for years, and I'm getting old too. Tell me, who would care about this anymore?"

Flower Granny: "You slut, you deserved it!"

Wang Lian: "That's really shameless, without any sense of decency."

Liu Jinxia: "Tomorrow I'll draw a spell for Sister Liu, wrap a paper figure, and help you continue making paper offerings..."

Liu Yumei reached out and pressed down on Liu Jinxia's wrist:
"Xia, I appreciate your kind words, but we'll just vent our anger and not actually do anything like that."

Liu Jinxia: "Sister Liu, you have the kindest heart."

Liu Yumei smiled. It wasn't that she was kind-hearted, but rather that Liu Jinxia's skills were merely superficial. If she were to actually make paper figures of the Dragon King's gate, then the old sisters would have to go to her house for a feast tomorrow.

Liu Yumei got up, walked around to stretch her body, and came to the edge of the dam. She wanted to look at the flowerbed that Qin Li had planted by hand to make her feel even better.

Who knows,

The flowers in the flowerbed... have all been cleared out, leaving only small mounds of earth.

Ah Li, holding a small shovel, squatted at the other end, shoveling up the flowers and burying them at the bottom, then adding herb seeds and filling the hole.

The girl was using her grandmother's favorite flowers as fertilizer to help the medicinal seeds sprout, and then transplanting them to the medicinal garden under the peach grove.

You can't scold your own precious granddaughter, of course.

Liu Yumei: "Xiaotiantou is asking for trouble, he actually dared to teach Ali to make fertilizer from my flowers?"

Aunt Liu: "He definitely wouldn't dare to teach this. It must have been our Ah Li who learned about herbs from him and figured it out on her own."

Actually, my daughter Ali is really a lot like Xiaoyuan; she learns everything very quickly.

Liu Yumei shook her head: "It's different. Xiao Yuan not only learns things quickly, but his temperament is also calm and steady, as if he was born with it."

The two of them stood in silence as the wind blew through them.

After a short while, Aunt Liu finally couldn't help but ask:
"Mistress".

"Ah."

“Our family’s spirit is gone, but the Ming family’s spirit is still there. How could it have been rushed in by the calamity energy so easily, without even being able to resist?”

Liu Yumei: "Do you know why I had Ali carry the lantern across the river instead of you?"

Aunt Liu: "It's easy for Ali to cross the river. The Qin family has always crossed the river alone. I... am not suited to be alone."

Liu Yumei: "Because of you, A-Ting, you can't become the Dragon King."

Aunt Liu: "Yes, I know."

Liu Yumei: "Although Ali is a bit slow and doesn't have the blood of the Qin family, he is very much like a real member of the Qin family."

And you, you're even more petty.

Aunt Liu: "It's my fault."

Liu Yumei: "It's not your fault. Our families have changed. You've been through thick and thin with me since you were little. You only have eyes for me, Ali, and Ali. What you want to protect is this family. But the Dragon King has to protect the entire Jianghu."

So, you ask why the Ming family's spirit is still there, yet they remain unmoved?
Heh, at our last meeting, those old guys talked a good game, about sect responsibilities, unavoidable duty, and mutual support, but we all know what they were really thinking. They just wanted to divide up the Yu family's heritage and resources to replenish their own.
Yes, big fish eat small fish, and small fish eat shrimp; this has been the rule of this world since ancient times.

That's why the Dragon King of each era is so precious.

When the dragon spirits of the Ming family saw that the calamity energy was being transmitted from the Yu family, they deliberately did not try to stop it, preferring to let their own family share the burden of the calamity energy with the Yu family.

This is true mutual support and an inescapable duty.

remember,

The Dragon King's court is the Dragon King's court, and the Dragon King is the Dragon King.

……

"Little brother, is it not appropriate for us to rush to the Yu family ancestral hall now?"

"Ah."

Li Zhuiyuan felt that Chen Xiyuan had learned from her previous mistake of rushing to the museum to see the excitement.

In fact, Chen Xiyuan really wanted to go to the Yu family ancestral hall to see what had happened there.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Before a situation emerges where everyone can put aside their internal conflicts and work together to deal with the situation, don't rush to places where people tend to gather or rush to watch the excitement. You might get burned."

Chen Xiyuan nodded.

Li Zhuiyuan was playing with the three-colored gourd. It was no ordinary gourd that could survive under the white lava, but after careful observation, Li Zhuiyuan could not find out its specific use.

Chen Xiyuan: "Little brother, how about I take a look? I've seen a lot of treasures."

Li Zhuiyuan handed the gourd to Chen Xiyuan.

Chen Xiyuan turned it around twice, touched it, and said, "Little brother, this is a nurturing gourd. It's of very high quality. My grandfather also has one. He usually uses it to hide wine from my grandmother."

The boy then realized why he hadn't been able to figure out how to use the gourd earlier—because the thing that could be used with the gourd wasn't here.

Chen Xiyuan: "Could it be that this nurturing substance was consumed in the magma?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "No, most likely, when the inheritor of his family planned to go to the river and made the division of the sect's property in advance, he gave the nurturing item in the gourd to the person going to the river, but the gourd was kept as sect property."

Chen Xiyuan: "So he brought this useless gourd to the Yu family... his purpose was to use this gourd to sense his own Jiangzhe who had a nurturing object on his body?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "That should be it."

Chen Xiyuan looked around at the pitch-black environment and said, "We really made the right choice in bringing them. They really know how to navigate the river."

Being able to sense the location of one's own younger relatives here is already a major advantage.

Once its temporary use is known, the method becomes clear.

Li Zhuiyuan: "You mean, this gourd is of very high quality?"

Chen Xiyuan: "Yes, very high."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Then what nourishes it?"

Chen Xiyuan: "It's definitely not an ordinary product. The kind my grandfather used to hold wine is an exception."

Li Zhuiyuan took out an incense stick, lit it, and inserted it into the mouth of the gourd. The incense immediately turned black, and the rising smoke was not white but red, with a very clear direction.

Chen Xiyuan said excitedly, "So, are we going to find that old Taoist priest's junior now and snatch the nourishing substance from this gourd from him?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I need to go find him and ask him clearly why the nourishing substance in my gourd ended up on him."

Chen Xiyuan smiled knowingly, clenched her fist and waved it, saying:
"Yes, let's catch the thief!"

Previously, Chen Xiyuan didn't have the need to steal things, so she couldn't experience the joy of stealing.

Now, she's starting to enjoy it and is completely absorbed in it.

Behind them, Lin Shuyou gently nudged Tan Wenbin: "Brother Bin, why do I feel like Brother Xiaoyuan is really teaching Miss Chen how to cross the river?"

Tan Wenbin: "Oh, really?"

Lin Shuyou: "Yes, I've been observing carefully for a long time and finally discovered the clue."

Tan Wenbin: "Isn't this something that's been obvious all along?"

Lin Shuyou: "..."

Tan Wenbin: "Our team leader Chen seems a bit naive, but she's overflowing in every other aspect. All she needs is a little guidance from our Xiao Yuan."

Lin Shuyou: "Captain Chen?"

Tan Wenbin: "Ah, Three-Eyed is the former captain. After all, the Zhao family of Jiujiang is gone now, and he can't squeeze any more money out of her. But Captain Chen is different. She has the real Dragon King's family behind her."

As Chen Xiyuan gradually integrated into the group, the marching formation changed. Runsheng walked in front, Chen Xiyuan and Li Zhuiyuan walked alongside, and Tan Wenbin and Lin Shuyou followed behind.

Having set a specific goal, Li Zhuiyuan didn't plan to spend much time elsewhere. After all, it was better to focus on finding someone who was looking for a successor than to search for one himself.

During the journey, we saw many buildings with small flags of different colors or fingerprints carved into them, leaving behind very obvious traces.

Chen Xiyuan: "Are these markings used to mark territory?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Yes, after those old bastards stormed into the Yu family's ancestral home, they slaughtered the monsters inside while marking their own territory to divide up the Yu family's heritage and foundation after things were completely settled."

Chen Xiyuan: "Why does it feel like a dog urinating everywhere to mark its territory?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Sometimes, people are more like dogs than dogs."

Chen Xiyuan suddenly stopped.

This action made Runsheng and Lin Shuyou, who were standing in front and behind, tense up and immediately became on guard.

Li Zhuiyuan raised his hand and pressed it down to indicate that he was alright, and explained:

"She had an epiphany."

Tan Wenbin looked surprised, and at the same time reached out and patted Lin Shuyou on the back of the head, whispering:

"Look at other people's children, and then look at yourself!"

Lin Shuyou shrank back, looking at Tan Wenbin with a somewhat aggrieved expression: "Brother Bin, how can this be compared?"

Tan Wenbin retorted, "What's there to compare? She's a genius from the Dragon King Chen family, and you're a top-ranking official genius. Aren't you both geniuses?"

Lin Shuyou: "The town's top scholar and the provincial top scholar are both top scholars."

Tan Wenbin: "Hey, how come your mind is so sharp right now? Why don't you calculate how long she's been with our Xiao Yuan, and how long have you been with her?"

Lin Shuyou: "Brother Bin... how long have you been following Brother Xiaoyuan?"

Tan Wenbin glared at Lin Shuyou, which startled Lin Shuyou so much that he immediately closed his eyes, fearing that Brother Bin might intimidate him in his anger.

At this moment, Chen Xiyuan looked somewhat dazed, her lips moving slightly.

She was indeed having an epiphany, but it wasn't about techniques, domains, or realms; it was about her way of thinking.

She looked at Li Zhuiyuan with a blank expression and asked:

"But we're also fighting and grabbing... Aren't we just like dogs?"

Li Zhuiyuan knew that since she had followed him, her views had changed in many ways, but the core contradictions with her personality had not yet been resolved.

She was immersed in this new experience and different perspective, but her underlying nature remained kind.

Li Zhuiyuan: "At the museum, they wanted to kill you, but I saved you; in front of the soup shop, the people from the Four Mysteries Sect came to kill you, but I saved you again. Behind the stone gate, after Zhou Yunfan discovered the traces of martial arts on Runsheng's body, he began to plot to kill the Qin family. Those two old bastards came here because they were chasing after the two generals Zeng and Sun I sent out, and they also wanted to kill us."

From beginning to end, I only killed those who wanted to kill me, and what I picked up were the very things they originally intended to use to kill me.

Chen Xiyuan: "But, following the guidance of this incense stick..."

Li Zhuiyuan: "When he sees me holding this gourd, he won't be able to resist attacking me first."

"boom!"

A booming sound echoed in Chen Xiyuan's mind, the confusion in her eyes vanished, and her entire demeanor became somewhat ethereal, a playful smile appearing on her lips:

"I understand now. I finally know how to cross the river. Thank you, little brother."

Li Zhuiyuan knew that in the subsequent waves of her life, those evil spirits or opponents would face an even more terrifying existence.

However, this is a good thing for Li Zhuiyuan.

It would be best if both she and Zhao Yi could continue to grow and improve. Clearing up the river alone would be too slow. With the two of them advancing on the other two lines at the same time, the efficiency would be greatly improved.

Those who are not part of the group should leave the table as soon as possible, so that the area around the card table can be cleared out quickly.

Therefore, when Grandma Liu introduced the Dragon King to herself, she used the term "conquered." When the river reaches the surface and everyone except you is someone who believes in you, it means that the river has finally come to an end.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Let's keep going."

After advancing for a while in the darkness, Li Zhuiyuan noticed that the red smoke on the gourd was fluctuating slightly.

Chen Xiyuan noticed and asked, "Is he fighting?"

"Ah."

Following the directional signs, they walked a distance further. This time, although they couldn't see anything, they could hear the sounds of battle.

It was intense, even brutal.

There were angry roars and howls from people, and sharp hisses from cats.

Slow down and continue to explore and move forward.

As the lanterns gradually came into view, the scenes beneath them also became clear.

This must be a livestock enclosure.

The battle took place in an open area outside the animal enclosure, where a young Taoist priest was fighting a disheveled old cat demon with four of his subordinates.

The old cat demon was covered in wounds, likely from being severely injured by those old things before, because even now it could still fight the Taoist team to a standstill.

Chen Xiyuan: "Shall we just watch from the sidelines and wait for them to decide the winner?"

Li Zhuiyuan hummed in agreement and then set up a temporary array to isolate the aura.

Just then, the young Taoist priest Li Jun summoned a peach wood sword, which sparked and struck the old cat demon. The old cat demon roared and seized control of the peach wood sword.

Li Jun shouted in a deep voice, "Rise!"

The flames on the peach wood sword shot up, illuminating the surroundings.

Chen Xiyuan: "The old cat demon deliberately didn't hide; she was afraid..."

Li Zhuiyuan looked at the beast enclosure behind the old cat demon. Through the fence, he could see a group of kittens playing inside. They were completely unaware of what was happening outside and were instead excited by the firelight.

These little kittens are only a small part of this animal enclosure; the rest of the enclosures are occupied by a group of naked people crawling on the ground...

This is no animal enclosure; it's clearly a human enclosure.

These people were mostly young men and women, each with a nail driven into their head, kept here like livestock. Some were lying by the empty feeding trough, patting it with their hands and making indistinct sounds to indicate that they hadn't been fed that day.

They are all members of the Yu family.

Judging by their age, they've all just come of age.

Previously, the Yu family's demonic beasts liked to be controlled by perching on the heads of Yu family members. They were all kept as "mounts" and waiting to be chosen.

The people in this beast enclosure must have been selected by the demonic beasts and are of average aptitude.

As for those with excellent qualifications, and those who were once core members of the Yu family, they would be matched with younger demon beasts with purer bloodlines, just like the Yu family used to select companion demon beasts.

Just like Yu Miaomiao, whom I met back then, there was a "Miss Yu" soul inside her, not in terms of status, but in terms of bloodline.

Li Jun discovered this weakness of the old cat demon, so all of his and his team's attacks were aimed at the beast enclosure. If the old cat demon didn't block these attacks, they would collapse and set the beast enclosure behind it ablaze.

The old cat demon was probably one of the survivors who escaped the first wave of attacks from the elders of each family. It wanted to escape from the Yu family with its group of disciples and grand-disciples, protecting its own descendants.

As for the Yu family members who make up the vast majority of the animals, no one treats them as human beings.

That young Taoist priest couldn't possibly be unaware of the situation inside the animal enclosure.

Chen Xiyuan: "Little brother, I'm here to save the Yu family."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Them too."

Chen Xiyuan: "Can the nails in their heads be removed?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I can."

Li Jun's situation suddenly improved. Under the successive fierce attacks, the old cat demon finally couldn't hold on any longer. He staggered and stumbled backward into the beast enclosure. All the kittens around him gathered around the old cat demon.

Li Jun affixed a purple talisman to the peach wood sword, and blazing flames rose. With his next move, he intended to end the battle completely, burning the old cat demon and everything around it to ashes.

He didn't need to worry about the people in the animal enclosure, because they all looked like beasts, and he couldn't remove the nails from their heads while preserving their lives. Therefore, burning them to death was actually a way of freeing them, and the consequences wouldn't fall on his head.

Li Zhuiyuan held the gourd in his hand up to Chen Xiyuan and looked at her.

Chen Xiyuan took the gourd and then tossed it to Runsheng.

Chen Xiyuan: "Runsheng, go tell him that you can save the Yu family members inside."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded.

Runsheng grabbed the gourd and rushed out.

Chen Xiyuan spoke:

"Not everyone can go; it would be too much of a fuss and make it inconvenient for that Taoist priest to act according to his own wishes."

You can't go, little brother, because you might really get burned to death.

"I can't go myself. This Taoist priest knows me. Even if I show up alone, he'll immediately become very kind and upright."

Li Zhuiyuan: "He tried to kill you in the museum before, so you have a reason to take revenge on him now."

Chen Xiyuan: "But if I go through the process like this, I'll be able to kill him more easily later."

Li Zhuiyuan: "We can strive for even greater perfection."

Chen Xiyuan: "Hmm?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "You sent Runsheng away too early. His final sword strike wasn't fully charged yet. We need to charge it up until the most critical moment when he can't finish this spell before letting Runsheng appear. That way, we'll be completely safe."

Chen Xiyuan: "Oh right, so what should we do?"

Li Zhuiyuan tapped his forehead.

Chen Xiyuan: "Hehe."

Li Jun's final sword strike was complete, the blinding flames about to burst forth. At that very moment, Runsheng, carrying the three-colored gourd, ran out of the darkness and shouted:

"Stop! I have a way to save the people inside!"

you!
This shout made Li Jun break out in a cold sweat. It meant that he could no longer strike without hesitation. He couldn't save them; burning them would be their release. But now he could save them…

Li Jun glanced at Runsheng, who suddenly rushed out, and immediately noticed the three-colored gourd in Runsheng's hand.

Why is this gourd with you? Shouldn't it be with Peak Master Hong Sheng? Did something happen to the Peak Master here, and he picked up the gourd?
There's no time for hesitation or overthinking. This sword must strike, either leaving an empty spot or aiming at a specific target.

Li Jun made a decision, pointing the peach wood sword in his hand at Runsheng.

He angrily said:
"You fiend, how dare you take human form and disrupt my Dao heart! Die!"

In the darkness behind.

Li Zhuiyuan gently waved his right hand forward and calmly said:
"Let him die."

(End of this chapter)