[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-name-that-echoes-through-eternity":3,"chapter-the-name-that-echoes-through-eternity-the-name-that-echoes-through-eternity-chapter-36":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Name That Echoes Through Eternity",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2282585,4466,"Chapter 36: Ancestor's Rules","the-name-that-echoes-through-eternity-chapter-36",36,"\u003Cp>“I can joke with you, but I’d never dare joke with our ancestors.” Li Muxiu said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elderly man with long eyebrows furrowed slightly, thinking it true—though Second Brother was usually reckless, he was always strictly proper in this ancestral hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked: “Could this child be small for his age? Is he nine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eight?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elderly man with long eyebrows froze, his eyes rippling with shock: “You mean he’s already completed the Zhou Tian cycle at eight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxiu spoke calmly, then walked to the cushion before the golden statue and knelt down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hao, come here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three full prostrations, he knelt and called softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hao immediately walked to his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kneel down and bow to our ancestors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hao obeyed, kneeling on the cushion and bowing to each ancestral tablet in turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxiu looked up and whispered: “Descendant Li Muxiu today brings this young one to listen to the teachings of our ancestors. We humbly ask the ancestors to bestow their legacy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, the many ancestral tablets above seemed to tremble slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing his bows, Li Hao looked up and saw faint shadows emerging before each tablet, seated in midair—some in Confucian robes, some clad in heavy armor, others missing half their bodies, wrapped only in tattered battle flags.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, these were the ancestral spirits of the Li family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk, another promising seed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Tian complete, bones still young, barely eight—more talented than that brat twenty years ago!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who would’ve thought our Li family’s fortune in the past century has grown so prosperous? We must warn these brats not to grow arrogant—otherwise, that child will be their lesson.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ancestral shadows murmured among themselves, each offering opinions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Hao entered the ancestral hall, he had temporarily suppressed his Ten Thousand Phenomena attribute. Though he didn’t know if these ancestral spirits could bypass its concealment, it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This child’s talent is sharp—I won’t interfere. You give it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only the ancestors and you few are qualified to bestow such talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some discussion, many ancestral shadows gradually dimmed and returned to their tablets, leaving only four still hovering above—their gaze fixed silently on Li Hao, without a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I—” One shadow, wielding a spear, was about to speak, when suddenly the golden statue at the center of the tablets glowed fiercely, as if revived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other shadows turned to look, then bowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All other tablets trembled faintly, emitting nearly uniform voices: “We pay homage to our ancestor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the golden statue sat the translucent figure of a middle-aged man, tall and broad-shouldered—his form noticeably more solid than the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was identical to that of the golden statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you uphold my vow, you shall receive my legacy.” The middle-aged man looked down at Li Hao, his expression calm and serene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hao felt the old man beside him trembling slightly, clearly moved—and recognized this spirit: Li Tianyuan, the founding ancestor of the Li family. “We pay homage to our ancestor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Man Li Muxiu bowed his head in prostration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hao followed immediately, mimicking him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In my youth, I marched with Emperor Da Yu, conquering the Eight Wastelands of Dong Huang, subduing countless demons and tribes. I swore two vows before the Emperor, securing a thousand years of glory for our Li family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spirit of Ancestor Li Tianyuan spoke slowly: “The first vow: All Li family members must vow to protect the Li family with their lives, sharing life and death together!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The second vow: To defend the Da Yu Dynasty with our lives, sharing its fate as one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you uphold them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Tianyuan fixed his gaze on Li Hao below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hao paused. Protect the Li family? Did that mean certain people—or everyone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ancestral hall fell silent. All eyes seemed fixed on the child, waiting for his answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long pause, Li Hao whispered: “Ancestor, forgive this humble descendant’s ignorance—I have a question.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak.” The spirit of Li Tianyuan remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you say ‘protect the Li family,’ does that include all branches, even the collateral lines?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hao asked cautiously: “Does ‘protection’ mean I must shield them—or that I must not harm them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only direct bloodline descendants,” Li Tianyuan said. “Since it is protection, you must not harm them. If you chopped off their limbs but left them breathing, would that still count as protection?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hao asked: “What if a direct descendant is a traitor—or plots against me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such scoundrels may be handed over to those who have not inherited spirits in this hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if such a scoundrel attacks me unexpectedly, must I only flee?” Li Hao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who inherits my spirit shall be invincible in the same realm, except against the imperial family!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Tianyuan said coldly: “To avoid conflict is easy. If you face someone of higher realm, simply flee—do not attempt retaliation.” “What if they die before my eyes and I do nothing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must intervene to save them—even if they are scoundrels,” Li Tianyuan said. “But if they are executed by justice, you may choose not to be present—then your vow remains unbroken.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hao considered it. That did seem like a way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But… doesn’t this seem unfair?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a prodigy, he’d have to hide from fellow Li family members in the same realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they were in danger, he had to help? It seemed unreasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t speak nonsense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxiu’s face darkened and he whispered sharply to Li Hao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Tianyuan’s spirit showed no anger—only a calm look at Li Hao, then slowly spoke: “It is indeed unfair. But do you know why I demand such sacrifices from prodigies who qualify to inherit spirits here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Li family had this ancestral hall and many ancestral spirits, not every Li descendant was qualified to inherit here—these spirits held very high standards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hao shook his head: “I do not know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is for continuity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Tianyuan spoke slowly: “The first vow prevents our prodigies from becoming arrogant, disregarding the lives of ordinary family members—or after rising through family resources, abandoning the clan entirely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thus, this restriction may seem unfair to prodigies—but at worst, it’s only a small inconvenience. The benefit? It ensures the clan’s survival, generation after generation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hao thought it over. From the ancestor’s perspective, it made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And our Li family has endured a thousand years without drawing imperial suspicion—because of the second vow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Tianyuan said calmly: “When I marched with the Emperor, there were twelve divine generals. Now, the Da Yu Divine General Hall holds only five—two of which are recent rises. The descendants of the original generals have long since vanished, their lineages extinguished. The rest have vanished into obscurity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These two vows—though they seem like chains—are meant to preserve our bloodline!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Otherwise, after a thousand years of war deeds, our influence, generals, and military prestige—how could the imperial court have dared to grant us power? How could they have refrained from using imperial arts to weaken and destroy us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Li Hao froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this ancestor’s perspective, it had indeed worked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The benefits outweighed the costs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thousand years of divine generals—such a simple phrase, yet the difficulty was unimaginable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the imperial court knew that the Li family’s greatest prodigies inherited spirits here under these two vows—and that was why the Li family had risen to its current glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that you understand, will you swear the vow?” Li Tianyuan asked calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hao hesitated, still undecided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt these two vows were like a curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they preserved a thousand years of glory, weren’t they also iron shackles? Generations of glory—nine sons of the previous generation died in battle; how many in each generation died peacefully?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, ordinary family members were mostly protected, living out their days in comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prodigies… in the Li family, seemed to be the unlucky ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they bore the weight of the entire clan! In that case, it would be better to inherit at the Martial Temple—far easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Tianyuan seemed to sense Li Hao’s hesitation. His eyes grew slightly cold, then his figure faded slowly, leaving only a lingering echo:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This child’s talent is rare, but his will is weak. Let him think further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other tablets trembled slightly, as if bidding farewell to the ancestor, then fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxiu stared blankly, then sighed helplessly at Li Hao. He said nothing more in the ancestral hall, rose, bowed deeply, and led Li Hao out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Li Hao felt an unexpected relief and followed Old Man Li Muxiu out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they left, his peripheral vision unconsciously caught the chessboard. It wasn’t his fault—possessing the Chess Heart, as Jian Wudao had once said, those who love swords see the sword first among a thousand weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was merely affection. How much more so when it’s embedded in the heart?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among ten thousand objects, Li Hao could spot the chessboard instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old man, Black’s seventh line, thirteenth point—wins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Li Hao followed Second Uncle out of the ancestral hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, a light rain had begun, fine and persistent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Muxiu sighed. This was the best time for fishing—the lake’s new waters drew out fish spirits to breathe—but now he had no heart for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t overthink it. Think it over yourself,” Li Muxiu said. He knew Li Hao’s playful nature, his aversion to restraint—he couldn’t persuade him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The child was too young; occasional stubbornness was inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Hao nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man himself had inherited spirits in the hall—so despite his carefree demeanor, he truly cared for the Li family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the hall, the long-browed elder withdrew his gaze. He didn’t know Li Hao well and didn’t care what he thought—he’d return eventually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes returned to the chessboard. His fingers pinched a piece, about to move—then he let out a soft “Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1656,"2026-06-20T02:15:40.176Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c50c193994175cf1ff5fcd0bfb0900a754759eb36d8292281ac519ed6ff6161e","the-name-that-echoes-through-eternity-chapter-37","the-name-that-echoes-through-eternity-chapter-35",929,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-name-that-echoes-through-eternity-cover.jpg"]