The Ancestral Ritual

In the main hall.

"It really is Old Fourth's token. Is he doing well?"

The Eldest Master looked at the middle-aged man's 'token' with an expression of intense excitement.

"He's doing well. He is nearly at the threshold of Sequence 4. He's currently on a mission to earn merit."

"You are a Demigod, so you should understand how precious the potion materials for Sequence 4 are."

The Eldest Master nodded in deep agreement, then let out a hearty laugh.

"My family's Old Fourth has been talented since he was a child. Back then, the Old Master said that among us brothers, he would certainly be the most successful."

"Sure enough, he was later scouted by Headquarters and became a Baleful Star. Otherwise, this position of Bureau Chief wouldn't have fallen to me."

The Eldest Master spoke with a face full of emotion. After a moment's thought, he looked at Yin Yang again.

"But Old Fourth hasn't contacted the family for nearly twenty years. Why did he suddenly send you this time? Did something happen to him?"

Hearing this, the Second Master also looked toward the middle-aged man.

He had been skeptical of this person's identity from the start; after all, the timing of his arrival was far too convenient!

The middle-aged man's expression turned solemn. He looked around cautiously before whispering.

"Are Chi Zhu and Ming Yang nearby?"

Hearing those two names, the Eldest Master's expression shifted slightly, but he shook his head.

"No."

Only then did the middle-aged man continue.

"After the news of the Li family being invaded by a god reached Headquarters, Mo Xiang found out. Chi Zhu and Ming Yang have some friction with him among the Baleful Stars."

"Knowing that they were the ones sent here, Mo Xiang sent me to the Li family to oversee things and prevent them from taking the opportunity to seek revenge."

Hearing about revenge made the Second Master nervous. He leaned in and interjected.

"Are they mortal enemies with my fourth brother?"

"Not exactly mortal enemies, but if there were an opportunity for retaliation, both sides would definitely take it."

The Eldest Master and Second Master were both convinced. After all, the logic held up.

Right at that moment, the Third Master walked in, leading the dazed Third Young Master.

The Eldest and Second Masters instinctively frowned upon seeing the Third Young Master. The Eldest Master spoke up immediately.

"Old Third, why did you bring him in? There are many guests outside. If he pulls some stunt, what will happen to the Li family's reputation?"

The Third Master gave him a flat look.

"Did you forget what Dad said before? He is joining us for the ancestral ritual this year."

The Second Master's expression also soured.

"Isn't it a bit early?"

"This is Dad's wish!"

Hearing this, the Eldest and Second Masters fell silent. The Third Master turned his gaze toward the middle-aged man.

"And this is?"

The Eldest Master instantly perked up and introduced the middle-aged man's identity.

The Third Master narrowed his eyes after listening.

"A friend of Old Fourth? That's a rarity."

The middle-aged man smiled and adjusted his cuffs.

"Is the one behind you your son?"

"Yes."

"You use Soul-Dazing Incense on your own son?"

The Eldest and Second Masters were surprised, but the Third Master gave a light chuckle.

"The boy likes to make trouble. This keeps him quiet."

"Brother, the time for the ritual is almost here. Let's get ready."

"Fine."

The Eldest Master stood up and glanced at the middle-aged man.

"Old Second, you stay and accompany Mr. Yang. I'll go check on things in the front."

"Sure, go ahead, Brother."

The Eldest Master and Third Master walked out of the hall. Before leaving, the Third Master looked back at Yin Yang with eyes full of suspicion.

Once they were gone, the Second Master relaxed a bit and looked at the middle-aged man with a smile.

"Is Mr. Yang also a Baleful Star?"

"No, I am a liaison for the Baleful Stars at Headquarters. You can think of me as Mo Xiang's exclusive clerk."

The Second Master nodded, then spoke with a look of anticipation.

"Then, can I talk to my fourth brother? You know, we brothers haven't seen each other in nearly twenty years."

"No!"

Yin Yang's refusal was curt. He continued with a serious expression.

"Mo Xiang is currently on an extremely dangerous mission. It's a matter of life and death; nothing can be leaked."

"Even the fact that I am here must be kept secret by you all."

"I'm sure you understand that becoming a Baleful Star means erasing one's past."

"If Headquarters finds out that Mo Xiang sent me here to watch over things because he was worried about you, both he and I will be punished."

Seeing the middle-aged man's stern face, the Second Master quickly said, "Haha, I was just joking. Just a joke."

The middle-aged man shook his head.

"Sir, that is not funny."

"I understand, I understand. It won't happen again."

The two chatted for over half an hour before Wang Bo walked in again.

"Second Master, Mr. Yang, the ancestral ritual is about to begin. The Eldest Master sent me to inform you both to head over."

"Understood."

The Second Master stood up first.

"Mr. Yang, let's go."

"Very well."

...

Outside the Li family ancestral hall, a massive crowd had gathered. Anyone called out at random was a person of status.

There were even some who had built their lives in other cities but made the special trip back just to attend the Li family's ritual.

Even if they weren't part of the Li family, they wanted to forge some connection with them.

"The hour has come!"

"Open the clan hall!"

A chanting elder specifically invited for the occasion shouted in a booming voice!

Following his voice, the doors of the clan hall slowly swung open.

The Eldest Master, Second Master, and Third Master together supported an old man as they slowly walked forward.

The old man had snow-white hair and wrinkled skin. The phrase 'senile and decrepit' was the perfect description for him.

However, everyone around them fell silent, looking at the old man with awe and fear.

Especially those who had heard the legends—they knew just how decisive and ruthless this old man had been in his prime!

"Offer incense!!!"

As the chanting elder spoke, several servants approached carrying long sticks of incense. The Old Master took the incense with trembling hands and placed them into the large incense burner in front of the clan hall.

"Eldest, Second."

"Dad."

"Dad."

The Eldest and Second Masters hurried forward. Even though the Old Master was aged, he still held immense authority over them.

"In a moment, have Old Third and the third boy come inside. I have some words to say to him privately. No one else is allowed in. Do you understand?"

"This..."

"Do you understand?"

"Yes."

The Eldest Master agreed, though his expression toward the Third Master was one of dissatisfaction.

It had always been like this since they were children—doting on Old Fourth, spoiling Old Third, while ignoring him and Old Second.

And now, even that little bastard who only knew how to cause trouble had caught the Old Master's eye.

"Let's go."

The Old Master finished speaking and started to head inside, but at that moment, a burst of laughter reached his ears.

"Hehehe, Grandpa, how could you have the ritual without calling me? No matter what, I am the eldest son of the eldest grandson!"

The voice was somewhat raspy, but hearing it made the Eldest Master's entire body tremble.

He whipped his head around and saw a figure in black walking out from the back of the crowd.

The person was completely shrouded in a cloak, but his face was exposed. It was clearly his own son!

"Da Jiang!"

The Eldest Master instinctively took two steps forward, but then he immediately realized something was wrong.

His son was dead. His body had been blown in two. Who was this person in front of him?

No, that wasn't right.

He had never personally seen his son's corpse. All he had seen was a headless body. Could it be that his son was fine, and everyone had been lying to him?

Just as he thought of this, his daughter also stepped out from the crowd.

"Dad, I'm in so much pain."