Chapter 257: The Observing View
"Is there really no other way?" Wang Xiangru asked, her face pale as she sat below.
Her husband, Li Fenghua, had returned from Cangzhou with his troops. He had nearly perished in the previous battle to defend Qingzhou and was now gravely injured, looking pallid and weak.
Li Xiaoran shot her a cold glance, ignoring her, and instead looked at Li Tiangang.
Li Tiangang's face was grim. He hadn't expected that in just over a month, the Li family would be driven to such a dire situation.
"I will go and request the ancestor's blood sacrifice!"
Li Tiangang bit his back teeth slightly and stood up.
He glanced at Li Xiaoran, wanting to say something to his fourth uncle, but the latter's eyes were cold, looking at him as if he were a stranger, causing a stabbing pain in his heart.
He knew the reason.
When he returned with his wife Ji Qingqing, he had confessed everything about Li Hao, admitting that he had failed to bring Li Hao back and that Li Hao had died because of him.
This news stunned Li Muxiu and Li Xiaoran. That night, angry roars erupted in the God General Mansion, several rooms in the Mountain River Courtyard were smashed, except for the one where the boy had lived, which remained intact.
The next morning, Li Muxiu seemed to have aged ten years overnight and no longer spoke to Li Tiangang. Li Xiaoran also looked at him coldly, as if he were an outsider, causing Li Tiangang great pain.
Li Tiangang moved forward, and Li Xiaoran stepped aside without a word.
Everyone else was silent, having become accustomed to the cold interactions. Li Xiaoran only sought out Li Tiangang for battle reports from Liangzhou, and his tone was always icy.
The night they learned of Li Hao's death, the events in the Mountain River Courtyard were still vivid in everyone's minds. The most hot-tempered elder, who had the deepest affection for Li Hao, disregarded the Li family's ancestral oath and gave Li Tiangang several heavy slaps, coughing up blood himself.
This showed how deep the elder's affection for the boy was, as he was willing to disregard the big picture out of grief.
Many in the mansion felt the same sorrow, though Li Hao wasn't their own child. He was still of Li family blood, a part of their honor. Misunderstandings had led to a tragedy that could never be undone.
"This time, when the ancestor's blood calls, we'll see if your precious children come back!" He Jianlan sneered at Wang Xiangru, her eyes cold.
In the past, she would have considered her status as the head wife, avoiding rumors of bullying other wives. Additionally, the other wives' families held positions in the court, making it a sensitive issue.
But after learning of Li Hao's death and the situation in Qingzhou, He Jianlan's long-suppressed anger could no longer be hidden.
Reflecting on past events, she believed the true culprit wasn't Liu Yuanyong, but Wang Xiangru's indulgence of her children.
Wang Xiangru's overindulgence led to her children's lack of connection with Li Hao, Li Yuanzhao, Li Zhening, and others of their generation, causing a lack of proper upbringing. This eventually led to the conflict where her daughter was slapped by Li Hao, and her tearful complaint escalated the conflict, pushing father and son apart.
This resulted in the fateful duel and ultimately the suffering of the defenseless boy.
Reflecting on this, He Jianlan often wept with regret, wishing she could have prevented it all.
However, the events were so sudden, one leading to another, that no one could foresee the outcome.
Hearing He Jianlan's icy words, Wang Xiangru's face turned pale. Since the news of Li Hao's death, her status in the God General Mansion had plummeted, akin to that of Liu Yuanyong, who was imprisoned. She had to endure constant hostility, fueling her simmering anger.
"Sister-in-law, what do you mean? My children, Jiang Ying and Ru Meng, if they feel the ancestor's call, will surely return, unless something prevents them," Wang Xiangru retorted angrily.
He Jianlan sneered, "Let's wait and see."
Wang Xiangru, feeling the sarcasm in her words, angrily replied, "Sister-in-law, are you hoping they'll come back to die? In this situation, they're not even at the Heavenly Man realm. Even if they return, what can they do?"
Her words caused the other wives to frown coldly at her.
After the Li Hao incident, they all realized Wang Xiangru's children were part of the reason for the tragedy. Her indulgence had led to the boy's estrangement and eventual departure.
He Jianlan's eyes were icy. "If everyone thought like you, all soldiers could just leave. You can go too."
"Li family bloodlines live and die together; it's not about cultivation level," Xiao Yujing remarked coldly.
"Xian'er, as a member of the royal family, is willing to stand with the Li family until the end. It's not about cultivation," Gao Qingqing added, though more gently.
Jiang Xian'er was Li Junye's fiancée, who had vowed to remain unmarried for life. Despite Li Muxiu suggesting she leave for safety, Jiang Xian'er refused.
Hearing this, Wang Xiangru's face darkened, realizing her mistake.
"I didn't mean that. I just thought Sister-in-law was implying ill will towards my children. As a member of the Li family, I'll face death with everyone. Why make things difficult for me?" Wang Xiangru gritted her teeth.
The others looked at her but remained silent. Words were easy, but true loyalty was shown through actions. From her indulgence of her children, it was clear she didn't genuinely consider herself a part of the Li family.
Her children were closer to her maiden family than the Li family, largely due to her influence.
"Marrying the wrong wife curses three generations," Li Xiaoran snorted, glancing at the silent Li Fenghua, knowing his position was difficult.
His wife's words were reasonable, making it hard for him to defend her. Defending her made him look unreasonable, not defending her made him seem weak. It was a lose-lose situation, leaving him in silence.
Hearing Li Xiaoran, Wang Xiangru's face turned ugly. He was an elder, and she dared not retort.
Li Xiaoran had not sworn allegiance to the ancestral shrine, his reputation high and authority respected.
"Unfortunately, that boy will never return… and rightly so. Even if he were alive, he'd have no reason to return after being treated so poorly," Li Xiaoran remarked, looking towards the ancestral shrine, his eyes dim.
The others fell silent, acknowledging that even if he lived, he shouldn't return, facing two True Peace Dao demons.
The ancestral blood summoning was to gather all Li family members, not to find one who could match a Dao realm. It was to unite their strength, supported by the Li family's sacred treasures, for a final stand.
These treasures, unused, would only benefit the demons.
This battle would be fought until the last drop of Li family blood, consuming all their resources.
Together, these resources might match a True Peace Dao realm.
This was the power of a three-thousand-year legacy!
Soon, a blood array rose from the ancestral shrine, covering half the God General Mansion.
All with Li family blood felt their blood boil, a call from within.
The wives, not of Li blood, could not feel it but saw the divine flames around Li Xiaoran, his powerful aura reacting to the call.
In the hall, the previous anger gave way to a deep sorrow.
They felt the aura of every Li family member, like fireflies, lighting up the mansion.
This was their last light.
"The ancestor is calling…"
In the courtyard, Li Yuanzhao and Li Zhening looked up, seeing the blood array from the ancestral shrine.
They felt the call in their blood, placing their hands over their hearts, their eyes determined.
Like them, many Li family members in various courtyards looked up, understanding the family's critical moment.
...
Wuliang Mountain, Pure Land of Brahma.
Majestic peaks rose, shrouded in mist, like a heavenly sanctuary.
In one of the grand peaks,
"My body…"
"Father said, this is the ancestor's blood call, the ancestor is calling me…"
"Is the family in trouble?"
In the inner disciple peaks of Wuliang Mountain, several Li family descendants felt their bodies heat up, a call and a pull.
"I must go home!"
"Master, I must descend the mountain!"
These descendants, though not as talented as the main branch, were geniuses among the inner disciples of Wuliang Mountain, potential future masters.
They quickly headed to their masters, explained their urgency, and prepared to leave.
In the spiritual realm of Wuliang Mountain, the residence of the Buddha Lord,
On a lofty peak, a young figure sat cross-legged, draped in white robes, serene and devout.
Suddenly, his eyes opened, feeling his heart heat up.
"This is… a blood call?"
The boy was startled, his face changing. What had happened to warrant an ancestral blood call? He quickly rose and ran to the temple at the mountain's peak.
Reaching the temple, he requested to see the Buddha Lord. Before the guards could announce him, the Buddha Lord's voice invited him in.
Li Qianfeng rushed inside, kneeling before the Buddha Lord. "Master, my family is in trouble, I must descend the mountain."
The Buddha Lord's expression was compassionate. "Protector Li, do not worry. Though you have reached the peak of the Heavenly Man realm, in this calamity, your strength is insufficient. Returning would only add to the dead."
Li Qianfeng trembled. He knew an ancestral blood call meant great danger. His strength could only offer minor help.
"Master, please help my family!" Li Qianfeng pleaded.
The Buddha Lord spoke gently. "Your family's fate is not yet sealed; there is hope. Stay here and cultivate."
Li Qianfeng looked up, confused. "But my family…"
"If your heart is not calm, how can you transcend?"
The Buddha Lord said, "At twenty, you've achieved great heights through hard work. As long as your bloodline remains, the family will not fall. This crisis is your opportunity. After it passes, you will inherit the True Dragon position and lead the family's revival."
Li Qianfeng thought of a figure. "But my mother…"
"I will send Bodhisattva Pujie to bring your mother here and aid in resolving the crisis."
The Buddha Lord said kindly, "Your focus should not be here. To achieve transcendence, you must let go of all distractions. Remember, everything is fleeting, like a dream, like lightning, like a shadow. View it as such."
Li Qianfeng was silent, feeling his blood cool. He spoke softly, "I understand, Master."