The Name of Eternals

Chapter 226: Returned!

"I think we should directly attack Qingzhou."

A demon suggested in a deep voice, "If the Dragon City River of Demise erupts into a great battle, our plan to attack the Dayu Divine Dynasty will be delayed again. Now with the Merit Treasury appearing, those Rivers of Demise are under the control of the Dayu Divine Dynasty. We've always paid little attention to those Rivers of Demise, so we definitely can't compete with them for it."

"Only by seizing the initiative can we have a chance!"

"With the Black Mountain Wild God present, that old thing from Qiandao Palace won't dare to come out easily. Otherwise, the capital will fall!"

"Hmph, that's easy for you from the Holy Palace to say, but our Grand Elder from Dragon Gate is still inside," a demon said gloomily.

"What do you say, Dragon King?"

The palace master from the Holy Palace spoke, but he was looking at the leader of the Dragon Gate.

Since the Candlefire God was not present, no Void Realm demon was involved in this secret discussion. It was a decision-making meeting between the two factions.

The Void Realm demons had repeatedly asked them to rescue their sect master. However, without the Candlefire God, they didn't care about the other Void Realm demon kings.

What's more, the recent battles had caused significant losses to the Void Realm demons. If the Candlefire God could not return, the Void Realm would no longer be the top demon force and would be divided and devoured. Those unwilling to submit would face only death!

"Let's wait for another month."

After a long silence, the Dragon King spoke in a low voice, "If there's no news in a month, we'll attack Qingzhou and exterminate the Li family!"

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

...

...

In the vast Desolate Heaven.

In a valley shrouded in miasma, a figure was rapidly advancing. As soon as he landed on a mountain peak, he felt a sudden heat in his palm, and a golden light appeared.

"Hmm?"

This figure was none other than Li Tiangang, who had been pursuing him.

His battle armor was damaged, and he looked travel-worn, but the superficial injuries from being beaten by Li Xiaoran had healed.

At this moment, seeing the golden paper appear and reading the message on it, he was stunned.

Merit Treasury?

He was somewhat surprised. What was this?

After a quick scan of his surroundings, he found a hidden crevice in the rocks and used his divine sense to explore the Merit Treasury.

Soon, Li Tiangang's divine sense withdrew from the Merit Treasury, and his face was filled with shock.

This Merit Treasury was simply a treasure trove!

"Who is this Chong Er, to earn one hundred thousand merits in one go!"

Li Tiangang was amazed, thinking about the powerful Four Pillars Realm experts he knew, most of whom had long gone into seclusion, seeking higher martial paths.

"A strange name without a surname. It shouldn't be someone from the other Divine General's Mansions, or else they'd proudly display their surname for the glory and benefits."

"The merit rankings are also a list of the benevolent. Good deeds bring a good reputation."

Li Tiangang's eyes flickered, realizing the significance of the Merit Treasury to the Dayu Divine Dynasty.

"It seems our nation's fortune has arrived. Who would have thought the Rivers of Demise hid such a secret, mysterious and bizarre, revealed only when someone accumulated enough merit to unlock its benefits."

Li Tiangang pondered.

For thousands of years, no one had uncovered the hidden secrets of the Rivers of Demise, but today someone had.

He couldn't help but admire and be curious about this Chong Er.

Even the Wang family hadn't managed this in centuries. How did this person do it? Moreover, before the Merit Treasury was activated, no one knew about it. Few, other than the Wang family, dared to attempt clearing a Nether City-level River of Demise.

How difficult and dangerous must that be?

"This senior must be a kind-hearted and benevolent person," Li Tiangang thought.

In the absence of benefits, risking oneself to clear it, and succeeding, indicated that the person had the power to destroy the River of Demise and could easily escape.

Yet, they chose the hardest path of clearing it, which was truly commendable!

"I'll find out when I return. His Majesty will likely bestow great honors upon this person, perhaps even confer a noble title!"

"But with the Merit Treasury open, the Rivers of Demise will become sought-after, and the Wang family might be able to spare their resources."

"Perhaps when I return, His Majesty will discuss redividing the provinces, possibly redistributing some military power to the Wang family to return what was taken from them..."

Li Tiangang's thoughts deepened, gradually becoming lost in thought.

But with a distant roar of a fierce beast, he snapped back to reality.

This was still the Desolate Heaven.

"These thoughts can wait. The most important thing now is to find Hao'er."

Li Tiangang refocused, temporarily pushing these thoughts aside.

Thinking of Li Hao, he remembered his father's dying cry, feeling a twinge of sadness.

But quickly, his gaze hardened, and he flew out, navigating the miasma, rushing towards the Ji family, hoping it wasn't too late.

...

...

Desolate Heaven, Ji family territory.

After the prompt about clearing the River of Demise ended, Li Hao refocused his thoughts.

He guessed that the Dayu Divine Dynasty might be shaken by this, but he didn't care. Fame, to him, was a burden.

After all, despite his fame and glory, his life hadn't become any better.

People pursued fame, but he only wanted to live a quiet life.

"Let's go."

Ji Yunge had already flown ahead, appearing impatient.

Li Hao hurried to catch up and asked, "Senior, with the River of Demise gone, can you return to the Ji family shrine now?"

He thought of his grandfather, feeling a silent sigh for the longing to return home, only to glimpse it for a moment.

A glance that could never fill the void of longing and sorrow.

"I can return, but like your grandfather, I've been deeply affected by the River of Demise. Now that it's gone, I too will dissipate."

Ji Yunge smiled, speaking lightly, seemingly carefree: "But I'm stronger than your grandfather, so I can last a bit longer, spend a little more time, at least see my old brothers and friends..."

With that, he moved forward, waving his hand.

A ripple appeared in the air ahead.

He stepped through it.

Li Hao followed, but his wrist touched the ripple, and it felt slightly hot. The red vine bracelet was blocked.

"Uh, I seem to be unable to enter..."

The Redblood Vine Demon raised a tendril, looking nervous and aggrieved.

The ripple opened slightly, creating a small gap, and Ji Yunge's voice came through: "Now come in."

Li Hao immediately extended the red vine bracelet through the gap and stepped through himself.

He felt something soft like water pass over him, and the scene before him changed completely.

Celestial light filled the sky, with a majestic holy mountain ahead, surrounded by floating islands with towering palaces, truly like a paradise! Li Hao was stunned by the sight, with floating mountains and floating islands. How was this done? Ji Yunge's figure was ahead, urging, "Hurry up."

Li Hao didn't hesitate and followed quickly.

Ahead was a long staircase, like the spine of a white dragon, stretching dozens of miles to the edge of the Ji family territory.

At the end of the stairs was a towering dragon gate.

The gate was carved from strange stones, with dozens of dragons coiled and connected, as if the bodies of numerous dragons had been forged into a gate, exuding immense power and awe.

Before this dragon gate stood a group of young guards in peculiar uniforms, with the ancient character "Ji" on their chests.

Seeing Li Hao and Ji Yunge flying up the stairs, the guards were stunned.

To enter the mountain gate so freely, they must be from the Ji family, but Ji Yunge and Li Hao were strangers to them.

"Are you... Elder Yunge?!"

Suddenly, one of the older guards recognized Ji Yunge and couldn't help but be excited.

"Yes, it's me."

Ji Yunge smiled slightly. Normally, he would have ignored these youngsters, but returning here, every mountain and stream felt precious and nostalgic.

After all, soon he would see them no more.

"Greetings, Elder Yunge!"

The other guards recognized him and hurriedly bowed in respect.

Ji Yunge turned to Li Hao and said, "Your identity is special. Wait here. I'll go speak to my old brothers."

"Alright."

Li Hao nodded, then bowed slightly: "Take care, Senior."

Ji Yunge's eyes softened, understanding what Li Hao meant by this farewell.

It was both a farewell and a final goodbye.

His eyes gentle, he smiled: "Child, it's a pity I don't have much time to witness your moment of becoming a top genius of the Ji family, but it's enough. Bringing you back, our Ji family will surely be renowned again in the Desolate Heaven, intimidating other sacred clans!"

He chuckled, gently patting Li Hao's shoulder, his eyes kind.

Then, without further delay, he turned into a green light, soaring over the dragon gate, along the stairway to the sky.

For decades imprisoned in the River of Demise, under the influence of his obsession, he built a mountain in his mind.

A holy mountain that could never be reached.

But meeting Li Hao had shattered that imaginary mountain and led him out of the River of Demise, bringing him to the real holy mountain.

"Tiancao, Third Brother has returned!"

"Fourth Brother, Sixth Brother, are you still here?!"

"I, Ji Yunge, am back!!"

The green light rose, and Ji Yunge's voice echoed over the entire holy mountain.

This shocked countless people on the Ji family's holy mountain, who looked up in surprise. Initially puzzled by the bold voice, they were stunned to hear Ji Yunge's name.

One of the three war gods of the Ji family had returned?!

"Third Brother?!"

"Is it really Third Brother?!"

After a brief pause, several figures rushed out from the grand palaces atop the holy mountain, shouting excitedly.

Seeing Ji Yunge's spectral form in mid-air, their pupils contracted, their faces showing both excitement and sorrow as they rushed over.

"Third Brother!!"

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

They surrounded Ji Yunge, their eyes filled with sadness at seeing his thin, ghostly form. They were thrilled to reunite but pained by his condition.

"Carried away by the River of Demise, just bad luck..."

Ji Yunge laughed, offering a brief explanation. He knew they could guess the reason without him saying much more.

Besides the River of Demise, there was no other explanation, unless he'd been defeated by another sacred clan.

But he wasn't that weak.

As Ji Yunge's voice spread, more and more Ji family members appeared, rushing over.

Seeing Ji Yunge's ghostly form, they were overjoyed and emotional, with some unable to hold back tears.

"Xiao Mu..."

"Kids..."

Ji Yunge saw a figure rushing towards him, none other than his wife.

Though they had been together for many years, he still called her by her nickname. Both had gray hairs at their temples, but in his heart, she was still Xiao Mu.

The one who had accompanied him through half a lifetime of battles.

Next to her were several voices calling out "Father!" excitedly.

"Grandpa..."

A tender voice came from a young girl exuding a Heavenly Human Realm aura. She stood by her mother's side, with bright eyes and white teeth, looking both nervous and curious.

Her mother, Ji Yunge's daughter-in-law, looked more reserved, allowing her child to call out while she stood by excitedly.

"Is this my granddaughter?"

Ji Yunge looked at the girl, his eyes widening slightly, reminded of young Ji Qingqing.

"Yes, father, this is your granddaughter, Ji Niange."

The burly man beside her said excitedly.

Ji Yunge paused, the name meaning "commemorating a song."

His emotions stirred, he patted his son's shoulder, his voice trembling: "You've all worked hard."

"Father, it's not hard. We're just glad you're back."

The burly man said quickly, "I'll take you to the ancestral shrine now to save your soul energy."

"Yes, let's get moving. Let our third brother go to the ancestral shrine."

The powerful elders urged.

The elderly woman who had been crying on Ji Yunge's shoulder also wiped her teary eyes and said:

"The children have been waiting for you for so long. It's good you're back, it's good..."

Ji Yunge wanted to say it wasn't necessary, as his soul's dissipation was inevitable. Even at the ancestral shrine, it wouldn't help.

But seeing their excitement, he decided to wait until their emotions calmed before speaking.

Besides, returning home, he should visit the ancestors.

Accompanied by the crowd, they headed to the Ji family shrine.

"I didn't expect Elder Ji to return. It's truly a blessing for our Ji family!"

Surrounded by the crowd, Ji Yunge's immediate family was particularly excited, while others also smiled brightly.

Before reaching the shrine, a figure rushed over, shouting excitedly: "Third Brother!"

"Tiancao!"

Seeing the man, Ji Yunge's eyes welled up, calling out with emotion.