Chapter 826: Tong Bo Receives the Mandate: Jiuli Are Also Human Lineage (4/5, Request Subscription)

"Alright, since heaven wills it, then follow your plan."

Tong Zhen sighed deeply and accepted this fate.

In truth, the Tong clan, as a lineage capable of communicating with heaven and earth, held divine will in the highest regard.

Now that they knew heaven intended for the Tong clan to emerge, most of the clan, after silence, chose to support it.

Heaven and earth were the Tong clan's faith.

Seeing Tong Zhen agree, Yin Xiu and others sprang into action, burning incense and praying to the heavens: "We humbly address the Heavens: Our Tong clan has long been blessed by your grace, yet we have grown complacent... Now we vow once more to uphold your will, to guide humanity back onto the righteous path. We beg your sanction."

As he spoke, the incense sticks were planted into the censer.

Smoke curled upward, straight toward the sky.

The incense smoke rose unbroken into the heavens.

Upon the altar, the Tong clan waited for heaven's judgment—when suddenly, he felt an overwhelming lightness; his true qi, once drained by heaven's backlash, surged back rapidly, nourishing his flesh.

Like rotten wood touched by flowing qi, his body gradually regained vitality.

His aura visibly transformed.

From near death, he became brimming with life.

"I'm healed!"

"Indeed, heaven intends for the Tong clan to emerge."

Tong Zhen leapt up like a carp clearing the dragon gate, stood, and walked solemnly to the altar, took another incense stick, and pledged once more to heaven, planting it firmly.

When the incense burned out, Tong Zhen felt even better—what had once been veiled by mist now lay utterly clear before him.

The energy of heaven and earth lay open before him; with a single thought, he could draw it in, transforming it into true qi and magic power.

"Bo'er, since you've received this fortune and are now the one among us with the greatest destiny, you shall lead the Tong clan's emergence."

Tong Zhen turned to Tong Bo, his gaze sharpening, filled with awe.

This destiny was too strong.

Even scanning all the destinies of mortals, he could find no one whose fate surpassed Tong Bo's.

"Me?" Tong Bo was startled and quickly refused, "Father, I'm still young—I'm unfit for such a burden. You should lead."

"Age is no issue," Tong Zhen waved off. "During the time I was crippled by heaven's backlash, weren't you managing well? Besides, with those immortals guiding you, you'll surely do better than I ever could. Don't refuse."

"But I don't even..."

Before he could finish, Tong Zhen cut him off: "Do you no longer recognize yourself as a member of the Tong clan?"

"Of course not," Tong Bo shook his head.

Tong Zhen insisted: "Then it's settled. My wounds have just healed—I'll rest now. You and Tong Zhan must plan together. Tong Zhan, assist your elder brother well."

Tong Zhen said firmly, "Since that's the case, then it's decided. My injuries have just healed, so I'll go rest first. You and Tong Zhan work out the strategy. Tong Zhan, properly assist your elder..."

With Tong Zhen restored, Tong Zhan's admiration for Tong Bo reached new heights—he offered not a single word of protest.

Once Tong Zhen left, Tong Bo stared blankly: "Brother, how could you agree to that?!"

"Big brother, you have immortals behind you—you're truly the best choice," Tong Zhan smiled. "Don't refuse. First, ask the immortals for their opinion."

Tong Bo sighed and reluctantly agreed.

"Big Brother, with immortals backing you, you really are the best candidate." Tong Zhen said with a smile, "Big Brother, stop declining. Go ask the immortals for their opinion first."

Tong Bo: "Following Dao Jun's method, Father was saved. But now, the plan for the Tong clan's emergence has fallen on me."

Zhu Wushi: "Isn't this great? It shows the Tong clan has great faith in your abilities. If only Father had trusted me like this back then."

Tong Bo: "But I have no experience! Besides, I'm not even a Tong clan member—leading them feels illegitimate."

Zhu Yuanzhang: "What illegitimacy? You have immortals guiding you, and you were raised within the Tong clan—no one will oppose you. You're the most legitimate heir now."

Bao Zheng: "Exactly. Brother Tong, don't be modest. Take up the responsibility. Compared to others, you have the chat group—you'll do far better."

Tong Bo: "Since everyone says so, I'll give it my best shot."

Su Xiao: "Everyone, I have a question—since the Tong clan descends from Chiyou, how can they guide humanity forward?"

Ye Hei: "What nonsense! The Jiuli lineage is also part of humanity—not just Huang Di's line counts as human!"

Zhang Taixuan: "Ye Hei is right. Su Xiao, you've read too much history and think only Huang Di's line is human. In ancient times, there were many Huaxia tribes: Huang Di's tribe was one branch of humanity, Jiuli was another. The dragon totem of humanity? It's a fusion of many tribal emblems!"

Tong Bo: "Exactly. It seems later generations, especially Huang Di's tribe and the Confucian scholars of the Central Plains, grew so dominant that Miss Su thinks only Huang Di's line counts. But that's wrong—this land has always been a melting pot of tribes."

Su Xiao: "Alright, it's not that I've read too much history—it's that I've read too many ancient web novels! In those, Jiuli is always the enemy. I never thought—Jiuli is one of us."

Ye Hei: "Yes, ancient web novels always cast Jiuli and other tribes as villains, while the protagonist inherits Huang Di's legacy."

Wang Chao: "I remember reading a news story once. A netizen loved Yue Fei as a child, only to later realize the Jin he fought were his own ancestors! Su Xiao's thinking isn't so far off."

Tong Bo: "Indeed. It seems the later generations' Huang Di tribe was too powerful, and the Central Plains Confucians were too strong as well, so Miss Su felt the Central Plains only had the Huang Di clan. Actually, that's not right..."

Zhang Taixuan: "Totally normal. In any civilized society, most people admire justice. The Jin descendants admire Yue Fei because they, too, value justice and despise invasion."

Su Xiao: "So maybe I'm not so wrong after all. By the way, Tong Bo, what are you planning to do?"

Tong Bo: "I was just about to ask you all!"

Bao Zheng: "It's simple. I've observed your world—it's not high in martial power. First, cultivate. Once your strength is sufficient, whether against the immortal Yin Zhong or..."

Wang Chao: "I remember seeing a news story before. A netizen loved Yue Fei as a child, but later realized that the Jin he resisted was actually his own people!"

Su Xiao: "This kind of thinking isn't that far-fetched."

Hu Yifei: "My enemy is myself?!"

Zhang Taixuan: "It's perfectly normal. In a normal society, most people lean toward justice. The descendants of Jin admire Yue Fei precisely because they too yearn for justice and despise aggression."

Su Xiao: "If that's the case, then maybe I'm not so unreasonable after all. By the way, Tong Bo, what are you planning to do?"

Tong Bo: "I was just about to ask everyone for advice!"

Bao Zheng: "This is actually simple. I've observed your world — its combat power isn't high. First, cultivate. Once your strength is sufficient, whether it's the immortal Yin Zhong or..."

Bao Zheng: "This is actually simple. I've seen your world—its martial strength isn't high. Start cultivating first. Once your strength is sufficient, whether it's the Undying Man Yin Zhong or…"

The imperial court's reforms can all be decided by you.

Tong Bo: "Thank you for the reminder."

Su Xiao: "The cultivation techniques and elixirs are all in Shangcheng—you can take a look."

Tong Bo: "Alright."

Tong Bo: "Wait, how come Shangcheng has Dragon God Art? And it grants immortality? Is my Dragon God Art fake?!"

Zhang Taixuan: "The one you cultivate is certainly not fake. The Dragon God Art in Shangcheng is what I synthesized from many martial arts—it resembles yours in outward form, but its core is probably different."

Isn't it?"

Tong Bo: "Thank you, Dao Jun, for clarifying. I'll sell some techniques first, then see if I can buy that Dragon God Art."

Su Xiao: "Even if you don't have enough points, we can lend you some."

Tong Bo: "I appreciate everyone's kindness, but I'll try to gather what I can first—if it's still not enough, we'll talk again."

PS: Thank you to Bu Xia Xue De Liu Yue for the push updates, and thank you, big boss, for your support!