Chapter 277

Li Zhuiyuan ignored Zhao Yi's gaze full of need and withdrew his hand.

He stood up, walked to the side and sat down again, placed the mountaineering bag in front of him as a desk, took out paper and pen, and began to draw.

Zhao Yi's hand hung in mid-air, a self-deprecating smile appearing on his face.

Himself, actually able to be naive enough to want to seek comfort from the young man?

No, from the other party's perspective, did the posture he just revealed look very stupid?

Perhaps, he even left him some face, restraining himself from showing an expression of disgust.

Lowering his head, his hands hanging down, Zhao Yi looked at the ground under his feet. His ears were filled with the heartbeat that hadn't yet stabilized, while his eyes were filled with confusion and fear.

Lighting a lamp and walking the river, putting life and death aside—this was not an empty phrase.

Those who could face life and death directly were already not ordinary people. The more times they faced it, the more they would naturally gradually get used to it and slowly become numb.

But Zhao Yi had truly died just now.

It wasn't that he had walked before the Ghost Gate; if it were like that, not only would he not be afraid, but he would also feel very excited and satisfied.

Being lightly hooked on the Book of Life and Death, to the peach blossom on his chest withering and falling—although it was only for an instant, what you experienced was a kind of near-permanent loneliness and sinking.

If he hadn't "lived" again, then dying would be dying, but precisely because he "lived" again, he had to endure that damn aftertaste!

Runsheng stood in the distance, leaning on the Yellow River shovel. He had been seriously preparing for defense, but didn't expect the attack to unfold in that form.

The "commander of the miscellaneous brigade" was just a joke; no one would really think Zhao Yi's strength was not good, but even he, in fact, hadn't withstood this stick of incense.

It was fortunate that he had taken it in advance; if it were anyone else, they wouldn't have had the slightest chance of surviving.

Actually, everyone was clear that Zhao Yi had acted as a shield for everyone except Xiaoyuan and Mengmeng this time.

The Liang sisters walked over. They didn't rush to check on Zhao Yi's situation, but wanted to go and ask the young man whether their own boss could survive the next two sticks of incense.

They felt very uneasy in their hearts and wanted to get a slightly clearer answer.

Zhao Yi, who was currently discouraged, showed a flash of anger and impatience on his face.

He wanted to take this time to be quiet, whether negative or decadent, to take advantage of the opportunity to be emotionally extravagant for a while, but this pair of twins insisted on forcing him to raise his head at this moment.

What is the point of you asking the one surnamed Li?

He had no reason not to help himself block the next two sticks of incense with all his heart. If he couldn't hold on, the third stick of incense might randomly choose one of his subordinates.

The inquiry at this time was of no use to the matter; it was just meaningless emotional venting.

When the Liang sisters passed by his side, Zhao Yi grabbed their hands.

Raising his head, all the negative expressions were restrained, replaced by a disguised depression and a little bit of detachment.

"I'm fine, don't disturb him, be obedient."

The Liang sisters looked at each other, gave up on asking, and then the two turned around, intending to sit beside Zhao Yi, expressing that they were by his side, willing to accompany him and give him confidence and encouragement.

A flash of red appeared in the depths of Zhao Yi's eyes.

He was clear that although the sisters were a bit eccentric in their actions and liked to show off their personalities, they also understood the urgency of the situation and knew which side they were standing on.

Their approach was really not wrong.

But he, at this moment, truly didn't need this kind of care and concern that had no practical use. Their behavior, instead of having a beneficial effect on him, made him have to divert his attention to take care of their emotions.

Sometimes, the care and concern you think is good for you makes you even more tormented and irritable.

Zhao Yi now really wanted to scold someone, wanted to lose his temper, wanted to let them get lost, wanted to be quiet and empty for a while, but what he showed was a "natural smile" forced out:

"Let me think and reflect alone for a while, there are still hurdles to overcome next."

The Liang sisters heard this, didn't continue to sit down, but walked further away.

Zhao Yi finally managed to lower his head again, gritting his teeth, his eyes crazy, his expression twisted.

It was unknown whether his emotions had been interrupted halfway, or if the lingering fear after death was still continuing to spread, but in short, he was now even more uncomfortable than just now.

Tan Wenbin moved his gaze away from Zhao Yi, lit a cigarette, and looked at the beautiful scenery outside.

His left hand touched the side pocket of the mountaineering bag, where the incense was placed.

He had already decided that if Zhao Yi couldn't hold on and died completely in the next stick of incense, then for the third stick of incense, he would learn from Zhao Yi's previous behavior and take the initiative to accept it.

If someone had to die, then people had to be filled in.

When exhaling smoke rings, Tan Wenbin pretended to look at the Liang sisters over there inadvertently.

He wasn't that he hadn't considered using the Liang sisters' lives to fill in; he wasn't a Bodhisattva—well, Bodhisattvas seemed even more ruthless.

Being able to use an outsider's life was always better than choosing from his own people.

But this seemed to require him to take the initiative to accept it. Without sincerity, without his own willingness, the incense wouldn't fall on your head.

In that case, calculating the Liang sisters was meaningless.

Moreover, if Zhao Yi died, then the Liang sisters' river-walking would be declared over. They would likely not choose to continue walking to avenge Zhao Yi and should exit directly.

In this way, the selection range for the third stick of incense would only be left with himself, Runsheng, and Ayou—three choose one.

Here among his own people, voting was not allowed, seniority was not allowed, and it was not allowed to rank by team value, nor could Brother Xiaoyuan come out to specify, as these would all destroy the team atmosphere. So it had to be proposed by oneself, taking the initiative to sacrifice.

Thinking of this, the hand Tan Wenbin used to hold the cigarette also began to tremble.

It wasn't because of fear, but rather quite excited, even a bit eager to try.

Lin Shu You leaned over: "Brother Bin."

Tan Wenbin rolled his eyes at Lin Shu You. This kid destroyed his self-moving feeling that was full of tragedy.

"Hmm?"

"It's my first time seeing Three-eyes like this. Is death really that scary?"

"You can ask the Tongzi, he died."

"I asked the Tongzi, he said it's different. He said after he died, his soul first turned into a fierce ghost, inheriting his consciousness. He also said that Zhao Yi's way of dying just now was an extremely thorough extinction."

Tan Wenbin exhaled a smoke ring: "Then you go ask Three-eyes."

Lin Shu You: "He doesn't seem to want to talk to people now, just now the Liang sisters..."

Tan Wenbin: "You are different."

Lin Shu You: "I..."

Li Zhuiyuan, who was drawing, stopped his pen and looked at Zhao Yi.

Seeing that Zhao Yi was still sitting there digesting his emotions, the young man frowned slightly.

He knew that ordinary death wasn't that scary, like falling asleep. Zhao Yi had just been removed from the Book of Life and Death and cursed to death in an instant, which counted as death by a thousand cuts.

But there wasn't much time left. According to the rhythm of the first stick of incense, the phantom wearing official robes would soon reappear, and the countdown for the second stick of incense had actually already begun.

The young man wanted to help Zhao Yi survive, but Zhao Yi's current state would reduce his survival rate.

Li Zhuiyuan looked at Lin Shu You, who was standing there talking to Tan Wenbin.

Lin Shu You noticed Brother Xiaoyuan's gaze and pointed at himself.

Li Zhuiyuan looked at Zhao Yi again, then lowered his head and continued to draw.

Tan Wenbin: "Look, Brother Xiaoyuan is letting you go comfort Three-eyes."

Lin Shu You: "But I don't know how to comfort..."

Tan Wenbin: "The scenery here is good, you go carry him on your back, walk around here, blow the wind, and look at the scenery."

Lin Shu You: "Ah?"

Tan Wenbin: "Forget it, you and Three-eyes have a grudge after all."

Lin Shu You: "Grudge is grudge, but I don't want him to die, and in this way."

Tan Wenbin smiled. He actually had always understood why Zhao Yi would look at Ayou differently.

Lin Shu You walked toward Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi sensed the footsteps walking toward him, and the repulsive emotion appeared instinctively.

But before he could raise his head, and before the emotion had time to transform, his feet had already left the ground and he was carried on his back.

Ayou didn't speak, just carried Three-eyes and began to run.

At first, Zhao Yi was stunned, then speechless, and then couldn't help but laugh.

He was extremely familiar with Ayou's back; back then at Yulong Snow Mountain, he had basically spent the whole time on Ayou's back.

A young man's back couldn't be considered very broad, and a martial artist's bones were hard, which was quite uncomfortable.

But his back had always given people a sense of peace of mind, because you knew that once he carried you, he would never drop you halfway.

Yin Meng, with a preserved plum in her mouth, walked to Tan Wenbin's side and watched Lin Shu You, who was carrying Zhao Yi and running wildly down the slope.

Zhao Yi deliberately leaned back and released his hands.

Lin Shu You was afraid he would fall, so he had to exert force with both hands to make him stick tightly to his back.

"Oh!"

"Don't shout."

"I lived, I didn't die!"

"Don't move around, hold tight!"

Yin Meng: "Ayou is really quite good at comforting people."

Tan Wenbin: "Ayou has matured a lot in recent years, but the foundation hasn't changed."

Yin Meng: "Do you want a preserved plum?"

Tan Wenbin: "Eat."

Yin Meng picked up a preserved plum and handed it to Tan Wenbin.

Tan Wenbin didn't take it, but asked: "Is there a newly opened bag?"

Yin Meng: "It's not like I made the preserved plums. Has it reached this point for me?"

Tan Wenbin: "You don't look at where we are heading in this wave."

"Oh, that's right, understand." Yin Meng took out an unopened bag from her pocket and handed it to Tan Wenbin.

The Liang sisters also walked over at this time. The two looked at their boss, who was shouting and laughing on a man's back below and was like a different person from before, and their eyes became a bit complicated.

Tan Wenbin asked: "Eat preserved plums?"

Liang Yan: "Don't eat."

Liang Li: "Already very sour."

Tan Wenbin: "Your boss has lacked a sense of security since he was a child."

Liang Yan: "Sense of security?"

Liang Li: "We also lack it, for him."

Tan Wenbin shook his head: "He could have let you go light the incense, but he didn't."

Others couldn't force these two sisters to light the incense willingly, but Zhao Yi could. These were his own subordinates, and he was very good at deceiving women.

The two sisters were silent.

Yin Meng spat out the pit and glanced at Tan Wenbin. Their ship-head hawker was really busy, not only maintaining the atmosphere of their own team, but also moonlighting as ideological construction for the neighboring team.

Tan Wenbin stepped on the cigarette butt on the ground. Regardless, Zhao Yi was helping him carry the load now.

The movement below came to an abrupt end.

Everyone on the slope, except Li Zhuiyuan, looked down collectively.

Lin Shu You carried Zhao Yi to the small river at the bottom of the slope.

His idea was very simple: play with water, splash water, which could make people happier.

Then, that figure wearing official robes appeared in the water.

It was two meters away from them, lowering its head, holding an incense burner, with only two sticks of incense left in the burner, and the shorter one had already burned one-third.

After a while, the figure disappeared in front of them.

Lin Shu You asked very straightforwardly: "Three-eyes, you are going to die again."

Zhao Yi: "Yeah."

Lin Shu You: "Then go die."

Zhao Yi: "You said that too early. I still have a little time, enough for me to write several suicide notes. Just ask if you are afraid?"

Lin Shu You didn't blush for the first time, just silently carried Zhao Yi back.

Zhao Yi: "You kid, don't be so tragic, is it you comforting me, or me comforting you?"

Lin Shu You: "Doesn't matter."

Zhao Yi: "Good."

Lin Shu You originally intended to carry Zhao Yi back to his original position, but at Zhao Yi's request, he still carried him to Brother Xiaoyuan.

Zhao Yi rubbed his wrists and touched his heart, surprised:

"Hey, my life-and-death gate crack has changed."

The life-and-death gate crack, stimulated by the true life-and-death transformation, became different from the past.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Now is not the time to consider the harvest. If you die, everything will be in vain."

Zhao Yi stabilized his mind. After a while, he opened his hands, looked at his palm prints, and then placed both hands on his face to touch his bones.

"In my body, it seems something has been left behind. I need some time to do a careful probe to see what it is."

"Then what were you dazing for just now."

"Surnamed Li, not everyone is like you, able to be heartless and desireless."

Li Zhuiyuan looked up at Zhao Yi, then lowered his head, crumpled all the paper in front of him into a ball, sandwiched a piece of yellow paper in the middle, and lit all the paper after it burned spontaneously.

"Don't!" Zhao Yi bent down in a hurry, reluctant to use his feet to step on it, and directly used his hands to extinguish the flames on top. "I was wrong, okay? I shouldn't have said that about you!"

The rescue was timely. Although the edges were all burned, most of what was drawn on them was preserved.

Every person in the paintings was himself. Various patterns appeared on his body, and a common characteristic was that there was a black dot between his brows.

Zhao Yi closed his eyes immediately, his hands formed a seal, and the life-and-death gate crack opened. The speed was beyond Zhao Yi's estimation.

But Zhao Yi had no mind to care about these at this moment, just lifted his hands upward, and a black mark appeared between his brows. The specific pattern couldn't be seen, like a drop of ink, exactly the same as the figure drawn by the young man.

"What is this?" Zhao Yi rubbed with his right hand and calculated with his left hand, "It is, it is, it is..."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Puppet mark, the name in the Yin Office should be 'Replacing Death to Return to Life'."

Zhao Yi: "You saw it long ago?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Actually, you could also have seen it long ago."

"I can't remove it, it's like it's identified with me. It shouldn't be. In such a short time, how could it be possible to leave this thing on me? And..."

Zhao Yi's gaze condensed, and he began to urge it. The black dot between his brows kept deepening and then shallowing, as if flickering.

"... there is a response, a very strong connection. How did they do it? It's impossible."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Book of Life and Death."

Zhao Yi: "But my name has already been hooked out."

Li Zhuiyuan: "But you didn't die."

Zhao Yi: "Then how can the response be so obvious, as if it's specifically targeting and binding me? Does the Book of Life and Death only record my name?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "A group of names are there, you are very inconspicuous, but whoever is wiped out is instead the most eye-catching one."

Zhao Yi: "So, the next stick of incense is a puppet? Wanting to turn me into a puppet?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Originally couldn't guess it, could only randomly choose from the elimination method, but you died and lived again, which instead confirmed the form of the second stick of incense."

Zhao Yi continued to flip through those paintings. The paintings were all methods of breaking the situation deduced by the young man earlier. Recalling the young man's act of burning paper earlier, it was clearly not because he was angry at his own teasing.

"No, surnamed Li, you deduced so much, and all of them failed?"

"Hmm."

"What are you doing!"

"Hmm?"

"You aren't capable, you aren't powerful? As a result, you now clearly know what I am going to face next, but you can't deduce a way to break the situation?

Also, the methods drawn on these papers, I think they are all quite good, can't we try them?"

"Trying will lead to death, no meaning."

"You..."

"Have you forgotten how fast everything came when the first stick of incense burned out?"

"Remember."

"When everything can be instantaneous, any advance arrangement will appear very pale. Another thing is, others who get this puppet technique really have a chance for remedy and breaking the situation.

Pre-controlling the limbs, sealing the consciousness—even if you become a puppet and are controlled, you can still confront them.

But your consciousness, because of the life-and-death gate crack, I don't have the confidence to seal it; you might not even be able to do it yourself.

And you, if controlled, and the opponent orders you to commit suicide, even if your limbs can't move, you still have too many choices to complete self-destruction.

In short, according to my deduction, if it follows the intensity of the first stick of incense, advance arrangement will become useless, and remedy after the fact will be too late."

Zhao Yi: "Another dead end? Is he that powerful?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Not him, but them. Didn't we confirm it? There are six."

Zhao Yi: "But this is also too outrageous. In this way, wouldn't they be able to kill whoever they want, and whoever they want to die must die?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "The King of Hell calls you to die at the third watch, who dares to keep you until the fifth watch? Isn't it very appropriate?"

The young man paused and continued: "Another thing is, we can't fall into a thinking trap. They are unable to leave Fengdu and can't come out, but the intensity of the methods they perform has not decreased because of this, and there are six standing behind. This technique intensity... has long been seriously exceeded."

This kind of gap, they look at us, just like we look at ordinary people.

We have countless ways to make an ordinary person unable to resist and die quietly.

Similarly, they are the same to us."

Zhao Yi: "Then why go to Fengdu, the gap is so big?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "It's not that I want to go actively."

Zhao Yi: "My meaning is, what is the significance of going to Fengdu?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "There is. The gap is clearly so big, yet they are still stopping us from going to Fengdu. Isn't that even stranger?"

Zhao Yi: "Sigh, alright, I can't see it. After you see it, hehe, don't forget to tell me in the family sacrifice..."

Li Zhuiyuan: "The deduction failed, but the method was found."

Zhao Yi: "... my son." Li Zhuiyuan stood up and looked at the waste paper he had discarded: "When the strength gap is too big, simple deduction will not work. No matter how good an ant's kung fu is, it cannot be a human's opponent."

Zhao Yi: "Brother, can we be more specific?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Remember how you survived the first stick of incense?"

Zhao Yi: "Should have been thick-skinned and asked for one more."

Li Zhuiyuan: "This curse was blocked for you by it. You are very clear that even if it is willing to give more, the same person cannot give a second flower... and precisely because of your particularity, that flower could truly play a role."

Zhao Yi touched his nose and said slowly: "I seem to be able to understand some of your thoughts. Instead of making a fuss at the method level, it is better to..."

Li Zhuiyuan: "It is better to find a high destiny directly and let a tall person help you top it."

Zhao Yi: "Damn, my Zhao family ancestor's spirit is not on me. Should have secretly dug up my own ancestor's grave before the family split."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Not on you?"

"You mean it?"

Zhao Yi flipped his palm, and a string of copper coins fell into his palm, turning into a sword with a flick.

Li Zhuiyuan: "This is Zhao Wuyang's sword. Not only does it have blood stains left by Zhao Wuyang when he killed demons and eliminated demons back then, but it also has Zhao Wuyang's essence, Qi, and spirit."

Zhao Yi: "But the ancestor is already dead, unlike the one beneath the peach forest who is still alive. Even if this sword is an object used by the ancestor back then and has the ancestor's traces, if the ancestor doesn't stimulate it personally, where does this destiny come from?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I can be your ancestor."

Zhao Yi: "Hmm?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I have a way to disguise Zhao Wuyang's aura. Although not much, I think it should be enough."

When using the Twelve Decrees of Fengdu, in order to enhance the power of the technique, Li Zhuiyuan would use the Liu family's Qi-Observing Technique to disguise some Great Emperor aura for himself.

He was the successor of the Great Emperor, so he could pretend to be like him.

Similarly, thanks to Zhao Yi constantly moving Zhao family techniques to himself, he also learned the Zhao family's main inheritance, which was the inheritance left by Zhao Wuyang.

And if there were no accidents, he should know more than most people surnamed Zhao.

Zhao Yi: "What else do I need to cooperate with?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Hmm, need you to give me..."

Zhao Yi: "No matter what you want, as long as I have it, I will give it to you!"

Li Zhuiyuan:

"Give me a kowtow."

The development of things had exceeded the imagination of the others present.

When there were two extremely smart people present, they could solve most problems by pondering themselves. Others, even if they brought their brains, could only be a burden that increased weight.

For example, now, everyone didn't understand, why would it be like this?

Runsheng was asked to take out the simple prefabricated small offering table from the mountaineering bag.

After lighting incense and candles, Li Zhuiyuan sat upright behind the offering table, while Zhao Yi stood in front of the offering table, first performed the ritual of the Zhao family gate to the elder, then knelt down and truly began to kowtow, and shouted loudly:

"Ancestor is above, please accept the ritual of the descendant!"

Li Zhuiyuan sat upright, and Zhao Yi kowtowed meticulously.

The ritual ended.

Zhao Yi stood up, and Li Zhuiyuan sensed the slight trembling of his eyelids.

Zhao Yi was one of the very few people in the clan who could read Zhao Wuyang's notes. Therefore, with Zhao Yi's identity and his extremely "intimate" relationship with his ancestor Zhao Wuyang, others receiving his ritual really had to worry about not having the fortune to enjoy it.

Fortunately, Li Zhuiyuan's identity on the surface was prominent enough, which was enough to suppress it.

In order to survive and walk the river, a set of empty rituals was nothing; no one would feel awkward in their hearts.

Zhao Yi: "Surnamed Li..."

Li Zhuiyuan raised his eyes and looked at Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi immediately lowered his head and bowed: "Ancestor, next, I will rely on you."

The play hadn't started yet, so this field had to be kept hot until the opening.

Li Zhuiyuan needed Zhao Yi to provide himself with higher legal status, so that in critical moments, he could better disguise Zhao Wuyang's aura.

The young man beckoned to Zhao Yi, and Zhao Yi immediately trotted over and offered the copper coin sword.

Li Zhuiyuan shook his head and pointed to Zhao Yi's chest.

Zhao Yi understood, dismantled the sword, and stuck all the copper coins to his heart position.

Li Zhuiyuan reminded: "This method can only be used once. The price of you using it to save your life is that you will never be able to sense Zhao Wuyang's spirit again, if he left it behind."

Zhao Yi didn't care: "The ancestor has already walked his path. Next, I should walk my own path. You... doesn't your family also not leave a spirit?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "There is one more thing. If you haven't died in the second stick of incense, then what the third stick of incense is can also be basically determined."

Zhao Yi: "They will use the safest way to finish."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Hmm."

The first stick of incense was a curse from the Book of Life and Death, and the second stick was a puppet technique of replacing death to return to life, both of which were high-end and mysterious things.

It was very like Old Lady Liu back then, in her home in Nantong, holding a sword to stir the Feng Shui weather and destroying the inheritance of a Taoist temple in Dujiangyan.

This kind of method was indeed refreshing, revealing a high-and-mighty elegance, but it was easy to have accidents and could not achieve thorough clearance in time.

When Li Zhuiyuan and others entered that Taoist temple back then, there were still survivors inside.

For the six who set the trap behind the scenes, they couldn't allow themselves to have set up such a layout and not have killed a single person.

Two sticks of incense without results was the last limit they could maintain their dignity. Then what the third stick of incense was, it was self-evident.

Zhao Yi: "Need to find a carrier? The Judge, Ghost Commanders, and Ghost Generals on the beach that night were all that kind of descent method."

Li Zhuiyuan looked around: "Hmm, so, you really chose a good place."

Zhao Yi: "I didn't think of this when I got off the car. I remember you teased me when I got off the car... Could it be that you thought of it at the time?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "I am not a god."

Zhao Yi: "Phew, scared me."

Li Zhuiyuan: "However, I did feel that stopping at a place that might have a big tomb would be inappropriate."

Zhao Yi: "Then Ancestor, why didn't you let me change to another place? We change now, it's still in time."

Li Zhuiyuan: "No need. Threats are still better placed in visible places. Later I will go set up a formation, just targeting the things that might jump out of those two high-spec tombs."

Zhao Yi: "If we really changed to a place that looked absolutely clean, then we really wouldn't know what they would rub out from underground."

Zhao Yi: "The third stick of incense is the hardest."

Li Zhuiyuan: "I will do my best to help you block it. I won't be willing to let them die for you, but I can accept using all my trump cards."

Zhao Yi: "That's enough, Ancestor, I can feel your great kindness."

Young Master Zhao was very clear that for the one surnamed Li to be willing to do this, it was truly impeccable.

This was gambling that after these three sticks of incense ended, there would be no more waves on the road to Fengdou, so that the subordinates would have time to recover and heal. Otherwise, a group of old, weak, sick, and disabled people sitting in the car, if not careful, would be buried by an accident.

Li Zhuiyuan reminded: "Those two sisters, after the second stick of incense passes, you go comfort them again."

My people won't be willing to risk their lives for you, your people, you do as you please.

Zhao Yi: "Try my best."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Are you, advancing by retreating?"

Playing the emotional card at this time, one must avoid excessive force. Freeing them and thinking for them might make them more willing to risk their lives for you.

Zhao Yi: "I... Ancestor, I discovered my conscience."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Oh."

Zhao Yi: "Ancestor look, I didn't even deceive them to come and light the incense for me. Look at me, how much I have changed. I want to build my team well, I have turned over a new leaf, really."

Li Zhuiyuan: "You want to pull chestnuts from the fire. Actually, you have already gained great benefits. It's just that you didn't expect it to come so fiercely."

Zhao Yi: "Ancestor wronged me."

At this time, the official-robed phantom appeared again, and the second stick of incense in the incense burner only had one-third left.

Li Zhuiyuan stood up specially, leaned over, almost face-to-face with the official-robed phantom, carefully watching the burning of that stick of incense.

The young man was calculating the time, because only by successfully launching at that instant could he give Zhao Yi the possibility of surviving. A bit early or a bit late wouldn't work.

The official-robed phantom disappeared.

Li Zhuiyuan didn't like this feeling of coming without a shadow and leaving without a trace. It was almost clearly indicating that it was targeting you, but you were powerless against it and could only passively endure it.

Zhao Yi teased deliberately: "Ancestor, do you need me to pound your legs and knead your shoulders for you?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Lie there."

Zhao Yi: "Alright."

Zhao Yi found a flat place and lay down.

Li Zhuiyuan picked up the paper and pen again, preparing to seize the time to draw the formation map, so that Tan Wenbin and the others could help him set it up.

Under normal thinking, the formation should target a corner of the engraving. It would be best if the opponent came out, and the formation could cause an effect on them.

But if set up like this, the power of the formation would drop a lot. Li Zhuiyuan also felt that with the intensity of the third stick of incense, it was impossible to give himself a chance to be distracted.

Then, choose one of two, only target one place, and also bet on this tomb.

Touching his pocket, there were no coins. Too lazy to open his mouth to ask, Li Zhuiyuan simply placed his small compass.

Those two high-spec tombs were exactly on the east and west sides.

After placing the compass, the young man pressed his finger against the needle and used a little force to flick it. The

But if it were arranged this way, the power of the formation would drop significantly, and Li Zhuiyuan also felt that, given the intensity of the third stick of incense, it was impossible to give himself a chance to be half-hearted.

Then, it's a choice of one out of two; focus only on one spot, and bet only on this one grave.

He felt his pockets, but there were no coins, and he couldn't be bothered to ask for any, so Li Zhuiyuan simply set out his own small Luo Pan.

Those two high-spec graves happened to belong to the east and west sides respectively.

After setting up the Luo Pan, the young man pressed his finger against the needle and gave it a slight flick, causing the needle to spin rapidly.

After it stopped, it pointed steadily due west.

Is it that one? Then let it be this one.

Li Zhuiyuan put down the Luo Pan and picked up his brush to draw the formation diagram, but just as the tip was about to touch the paper, the young man looked down at the Luo Pan again.

His Luo Pan had a margin of error.

Following the direction corrected for the error, Li Zhuiyuan stood up to observe, and there happened to be a small grave in this direction.

Generally speaking, people buried in high-spec graves have higher status and are more likely to accumulate karma; after death, whether they become zombies or dead-risers, they are often more powerful.

After hesitating for a moment, Li Zhuiyuan made his final choice: ignore those two high-spec graves and focus the formation entirely on that small grave.

Since it's a gamble on luck, then trust in his own current fortune.

The diagram was drawn, and because time was running out, the finishing touches were a bit sloppy, but Tan Wenbin should be able to understand it.

"Brother Binbin."

"Hey, Brother Xiaoyuan."

"Take this and distribute the setup tasks."

"Understood!"

Tan Wenbin turned his head to look at Zhao Yi, who was lying nearby, and encouraged him: "Hang in there, brother."

Zhao Yi: "It's fine, I trust my ancestors."

Tan Wenbin: "Mm, don't worry, your ancestors definitely won't let you down; after all, your ancestor is my brother."

Zhao Yi: "No, at a time like this, you actually have the mood to come over and say a few sarcastic remarks?"

Tan Wenbin: "I'm just afraid that if I miss this chance, there won't be another. Do you want me to organize everyone now, while you're still alive, to line up and pay their respects?"

Zhao Yi: "Sure, but don't just pay respects; according to the funeral customs in the village, you have to kowtow."

Tan Wenbin: "Since when is there a rule for elders to kowtow to their juniors?"

When Brother Xiaoyuan handed the diagram to him, Tan Wenbin knew clearly that Zhao Yi would definitely survive the second stick of incense, because this formation was definitely not set up for the second stick—there simply wasn't enough time.

Tan Wenbin went to do the subcontracting, and the Liang sisters were also called over by Tan Wenbin to be assigned tasks.

In terms of understanding the formation, these two sisters were actually much better than him and the others; they could even use formations to assist and amplify during combat.

The Liang sisters looked at Zhao Yi lying there.

Tan Wenbin said: "Get to work first, it's fine. If you keep staring, not only will you feel bad, but it will also affect his state of mind."

The Liang sisters didn't hesitate anymore and took the formation diagram to plant the flags.

Beside Zhao Yi, only Li Zhuiyuan remained, while the others had all gone to the hillside, quite far away.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Do you find it too lonely?"

Zhao Yi reached out and touched the copper coin sword on his chest: "I only feel grounded."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded and closed his eyes.

Zhao Yi also closed his eyes.

A brief moment was split into extremely rich, fine segments at this moment; every breath could be felt from beginning to end.

Finally, the phantom of the official robe appeared again.

This time, it stood on the other side of Zhao Yi.

The incense in the burner was almost burned out.

According to previous experience, there was still a tiny bit of time left.

"Hum!"

The sound of the incense extinguishing.

The ink dot on Zhao Yi's forehead appeared, and the heart-palpitating blackness almost instantly engulfed Zhao Yi's entire body.

With no ability to resist, Zhao Yi lost control of his own body; his mouth opened, his muscles trembled, his entire body's meridians prepared themselves, and even his heart prepared for its final beat, welcoming the crispest explosion to come.

Li Zhuiyuan opened his eyes.

Around him, the power of Feng Shui swirled rapidly.

At this moment, what surfaced in the young man's mind was the stone tablet behind the temple in the deep mountains; the text on the tablet clearly stated that this sword was left for the descendants of the Zhao clan to eliminate demons and defend the Dao.

Yet when he, a non-descendant of the Zhao clan, approached, the stone tablet still cracked open and bestowed this extremely precious copper coin sword upon him.

Perhaps because there were many Long Wang spirit tablets in his own family, and he had experienced many traces left by the Dragon Kings of the Qin and Liu families early on, the young man could actually empathize more with the Dragon Kings in certain aspects.

The Zhao clan's fundamental technique began to circulate; the young man lifted his chin, spread his hands, and turned his palms downward.

Before him, it seemed as if one high mountain after another appeared, all towering into the clouds, causing despair; those were the brilliant and talented individuals who had stood in front of Zhao Wuyang in that generation.

He acknowledged them, admired them, and also believed they were indeed stronger than him, but his footsteps did not stop because of this; instead, he continued to move forward firmly.

Some mountains collapsed on their own;

Some mountains were mirages;

Some mountains were climbed over by him.

Until finally, he became the most towering and majestic mountain in the eyes of everyone of that generation behind him.

Born in the wilderness, neither humble nor arrogant, proving great fearlessness with a great heart—this is Zhao Wuyang!

At this moment, although he was disguising himself as Zhao Wuyang, Li Zhuiyuan's inner heart also received a sense of solace; Fengdou, the Great Emperor, and even any one of the six who attacked this time, were all towering mountains to him at this moment.

But these mountains only exist in the present.

He can continue to move forward, while they can only stay in place, unable to move.

Scary as they may be, in the end, that is all they can do.

Zhao Yi's body arched; his suicide entered its final stage.

Li Zhuiyuan's palm fell, and he said in a deep voice:

"Break!"

The copper coins placed on Zhao Yi's chest instantly strung together into a sword, the tip pointing directly at Zhao Yi's heart.

"Snap!"

This dense blackness seemed to be pierced, and the remaining despair-inducing blackness all swarmed toward this copper coin sword.

The copper coin sword first turned black, then brittle, and finally... completely turned into powder; before it could fall and gather, it was blown away by the wind without a trace.

Li Zhuiyuan felt a tightness in his chest, blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and he staggered back several steps before barely stabilizing his figure.

Zhao Yi woke up faintly.

He had experienced the feeling of death once again, but this time, he detached from that emotion extremely quickly—not because practice makes perfect, but because when he sat up, he discovered the copper coins... were gone.

They were all gone; not a single copper coin was left for him, cleaned out completely, not even a scrap or a speck of dust remained!

This was the most precious ancestral relic, which he had exchanged for the Zhao family treasury, but this sword hadn't even warmed up in his hands yet.

"First... Brother Xiaoyuan, there is one thing I think we need to discuss again."

"Not happening."

"You can't do this, you Li!"

Li Zhuiyuan swallowed the blood in his mouth and then opened a can of Jianlibao and began to drink.

Zhao Yi slapped the ground with both hands, unwillingly saying:

"Do you know, this will make me look very stupid; I didn't get anything, and I also wasted..."

"It was used to save your life."

"But, even if I didn't trade with you, even if that sword was still in your hands, you would still use it to save my life; you wouldn't be reluctant, and you wouldn't even hesitate."

"Mm, indeed."

"So, ancestor, can you..."

Li Zhuiyuan put down the drink can and said seriously to Zhao Yi:

"Zhao Yi, between you and me, there is not only the grudge of stealing the sword but also the resentment of destroying it.

Although I come from a fallen family, I am not willing to be humiliated by you like this!

Today, I, Li Zhuiyuan, swear to heaven here:

This debt will definitely be settled with you, the Jiujiang Zhao, in the future!"

Zhao Yi: "..."

(End of chapter)