Chapter 350: Chapter 166 Great Divine Power (Subscribe Please) Chapter 350: Chapter 166 Great Divine Power (Subscribe Please) Snowflakes drifted across the nightti sky.
Kyoto Prefecture felt the onset of winter earlier than in past years; under a sky oppressed by gloomy clouds, even the street lanterns seed dimd.
Sparse snowflakes fell, leaving only a blurry glimr of light.
Despite this, the common folk from the two counties found it difficult to sleep, let alone the nobility residing near the Imperial City.
“The Southern Barbarian army is pressing down; I fear South-Garrison Pass may not hold.”
“Master, isn’t the leader of the Southern Barbarian Sect the wife of Prince of the Southern Garrison? Why has a war suddenly erupted?”
“We expected the demons outside Beixiong Pass to move south first, but the thunder was loud yet the rain was little—a few Little Demons are even less than this flurry of snow.”
“My lady, the conflict with the Southern Barbarians isn’t as simple as it appears.”
“Do you know that it’s not just Barbarians there? I heard that Great Demons from the Northern Demon Court have also appeared, terribly fearso indeed.”
“Heavens! Have they resolutely decided to break through?!”
“More than that…”
After every household closed their doors, conversations typically wouldn’t have optimistic tones; everyone inclined to assu the worst.
But no one thought this inappropriate, given the alarmingly shocking news previously received.
—The Southern Barbarian Sect amassed an army of seventy thousand of the Barbarian Clan and a host of demons, overwhelmingly outnumbering the guards at South-Garrison Pass.
Plus, with thirty-six Great Demons from the Demon Court appearing, everyone felt a deep sinking sensation in their hearts.
But neither the intensive battles at the South-Garrison Pass nor the falling snow could cast a complete gloom over everyone in Kyoto Prefecture.
Duke Jingye Mansion.
The usually quiet mansion was now uncommonly lit by nurous lanterns.
Large red lanterns hung everywhere—main building, porches, pavilions, radiantly illuminating the pristine snow, creating a glowing and crystalline appearance.
Especially in the ancestral hall at the backyard, where the light from candles shone as if it were daylight, casting brightness throughout the premises through the windows.
The once-splotched wall paint had been specifically touched up, dark and glossy.
New window papers were pasted, using the finest Zhu Yu paper, even the wooden grills of the doors and windows had been repaired.
“Cough, cough.”
Zhou Tiance hunched over in the center of the ancestral hall, in front of a brazier while coughing and burning joss paper.
Candleholders around along with the brazier illuminated the plaques on the offering table.
The topmost plaque was that of Zhou Family’s founding ancestor, Zhou Fu, who established the Wei Dynasty’s territories alongside the Wei Family.
Then descended to the second, third generations… more plaques appeared at each level.
However, at the lowest three rows, the number of plaques abruptly increased.
Especially in the penultimate row, where the plaque nad “Zhou Guanwu” was densely flanked by dozens of others.
Below it were just three plaques—calculating from the birth and death dates, all were children who died prematurely before the age of three.
“Ancients, it is under my watch that our family has declined…”
Zhou Tiance’s grizzled beard stuck to his face, his already clouded eyes now even more obscured.
“I’m a sinner!”
His mumbled lant sounded trapped in his throat, hoarse and choking, yet carried hints of regret and helplessness.
As he spoke, Zhou Tiance suddenly threw a stack of joss papers into the brazier, causing the pale flas to surge, rendering the surrounding plaques even more visible.
The light from the candleholders brightened as well.
As a trace of vitality erged, a faint shadow flickered over the ceremonial items on the offering table.
The shadow appeared majestic sitting cross-legged mid-air, hovering above the many plaques.
It was vaguely visible that he wore bright yellow armor, his facial expression stern but commanding.
He looked down at Zhou Tiance, eyes brightening slightly, and slowly said:
“Everything is predestined.”
“For our Zhou Family to have lasted a thousand years is already a stroke of imnse fortune; do not bla yourself, nor should you be blad.”
As the voice fell, the plaques started to sway gently, as if agreeing with his words, yet seed like a dissenting rebuttal.
“Destiny?”
Zhou Tiance looked up at the shadow, his purple-tinged lips trembling, childishly protesting in front of an elder:
“Why must such a fate befall our Zhou Family? Are the Pang, Xu, Chen, and Wang families, who are also Marquis defending against the Demon Court, not sufficient?”
“Particularly the Chen and Wang families, they alongside our Zhou Family are noble families with martial honors fighting against the Demon Court.”
“Why is it not their families who perish first, but instead our Zhou Family must decline?”
“Do you still rember Guan Wu? He was practically raised under your watch, so extraordinarily gifted; why did he end up defeated and dead?”
The shadow sighed, not responding to his words, as if also mourning the loss of the descendant.
“Regardless of talent, strength, disposition, or wisdom, Guan Wu far surpassed the likes of Chen Taiping.”
“He had done everything to perfection, yet t such an end…that’s not destiny!”
“And I don’t believe in destiny!”
Zhou Tiance, sowhat agitated, stood up, his gaze fixed on the hovering shadow, his posture erect as he declared:
“Therefore, they must pay a price!”
Just then, another shadowy figure erged nearby, thin and sinister of face:
“Well said.”
“Good grandson, just go forth with all your might. They may disagree, but your second ancestor supports you!”
Zhou Tiance, upon hearing this, brightened even more, as if grasping his last straw, said:
“Second Ancestor, I have acted, I’ve done sothing trendous!”
“They say Guan Wu conspired with the Demon Court, what a joke, an absolute joke.”
“But since they said so, then I, as a father, shall accept it on behalf of my son.”
“Second Ancestor, do you know? Today, just today!”
“The Barbarian Clan has already started assaulting South-Garrison Pass, and it will soon be breached!”
“Hahaha…If heaven wants to destroy my Zhou Family, then I shall pierce this very heaven!!”
Laughing as he spoke, Zhou Tiance suddenly began to cry again, sobbing, “I am the sinner of the family…”
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