Unlike Qin Moyu and Shen Mo's rapidly developing relationship, the Fen family clearly sensed that their ancestor had been in a bad mood lately.
As a powerful being who has lived for so long and reached the Tribulation Transcending stage, Fen Qi's descendants have long since passed down to who knows how many generations. Although they are called descendants, many members of the Fen family never see him even once in their entire lives.
But this low-profile ancestor, who had been in seclusion, suddenly appeared in the clan recently and gathered the clansmen to receive a "treasure" that he had created through incineration.
Although they didn't know what the treasure was for, the Fen family wouldn't neglect even a single leaf given to them by Fen Qi, as their ancestor was an omnipotent being in their hearts.
They never considered that the burning of the city, which they regarded as their support, was the real disaster.
Chapter 79. Some roads, once taken, are gone forever...
"Thank you, Ancestor!" A seven or eight-year-old boy with a pigtail looked at the incense burner in front of him with eyes full of admiration, holding a bamboo plaque in his hands and bowing to express his gratitude.
Fen Qi smiled and patted his head gently, asking tenderly, "Do you like it?"
The child clutched the object tightly in his hand, his eyes filled with affection for his elder: "I love it! I love anything that my ancestor gives me!"
"I'm glad you like it." Fenqi lowered his eyelids, concealing the emotions in his eyes, and spoke a few more words to him in a gentle tone before letting the child leave.
As soon as the child left, He emerged from behind the screen.
"This is the last one, isn't it?" He looked at the tightly closed door and asked calmly.
“Yes, the last one.” Fenqi played with the thing in his hand—it was the “talisman” he had given to his clansmen these past few days—actually just a bamboo plaque engraved with an array, but the bamboo plaque in his hand was dark red, exuding an ominous aura.
He stroked the smooth surface of the bamboo plaque, his unusually expressionless face, like a lifeless statue.
The Heavenly Dao became wary of Fenqi's unusual behavior. Looking at Fenqi, it said coldly, "Don't tell me you regret it."
Fen Qi acted as if he hadn't heard, simply looking quietly at the bamboo plaque in his hand, and replied irrelevantly, "That child looks somewhat like me, which is quite rare."
"Burn!" Heavenly Dao drawled, his voice becoming shrill, like a desperate villain revealing his vicious true nature. "Don't tell me your laughable compassion has resurfaced at a time like this. You know this is our last chance!"
He suddenly lunged at Fenqi, ripped off the black veil, and stared intently at Fenqi with his featureless face, as if trying to see right through his soul: "I am the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao, they cannot destroy me, but what about you? What about you! If the Demon Lord knew what you did for me, do you think you could survive!?"
Fenqi's eyes remained lifeless, but when Tiandao mentioned the Demon Lord, he suddenly leaned back in his chair and stared at Tiandao for a long time.
It was only after a long time that even the Heavenly Dao began to feel uneasy that he finally revealed his usual smile.
—It was a nonchalant smile that seemed very gentle, but after looking at it for a while, it sent chills down your spine.
This smile was like a signal, allowing Heaven to regain some of its rationality.
He knew that his only remaining trump card was the incineration of the flames, and he could not rush things.
So He softened His tone and earnestly persuaded, "Now we have no way out. You and I are in the same boat. You have helped me for so long, are you willing to let all your previous efforts go to waste? Moreover—the entire Fen family prospered because of you. As long as you help me successfully transform into human form, it will be easy to create another Fen family after I ascend. At that time, all the sacrifices will be worthwhile!"
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
After a long while, Fenqi chuckled softly.
“Yes, I can create another Fen family whenever I want.” Fen Qi curled his lips with utter sarcasm. Only now did he realize one thing.
No matter how much the Heavenly Dao takes on a human form, it is not human. Beneath its human skin lies only endless resentment.
"Let's go." Fen Qi closed his eyes and took a long breath, as if he were discarding all his reluctance and last shred of conscience with that breath.
When he opened his eyes again, there was no joy or sorrow in them.
Fen Qi explained to the head of the Fen family that he would be announcing something very important the next day, and asked all the clansmen to bring bamboo tokens, regardless of age or cultivation level, and that no one should be missing.
Out of reverence for bloodlines, the Fen family has always advocated endogamy. This is why they are a hidden family in the Four Continents. Once their bloodline becomes diluted to a certain extent, they no longer acknowledge themselves as members of the Fen family. Moreover, in order to better nurture the next generation, they all live very close to each other.
Now, Fenqi has issued an order, and all the members of the Fen family recorded in the family genealogy have gathered together, all wondering why their ancestor has summoned them.
With so many people, it was inevitable that there would be a commotion. Even when the clan leader stepped in to maintain order, he could not stop the chaotic situation. But when Fen Qi walked onto the specially built platform, a simple shushing gesture was enough to silence all the Fen family members below.
Reverence, worship, filial piety...
Countless eyes were fixed on Fenqi, all of them placing the utmost trust in this ancestor they had never met.
Didn't we know this day would come?
Fenqi looked down at the vast crowd below, opened his clenched right hand, and in his palm was a cluster of dancing flames.
"Please help me one last time."
He murmured softly, numbly tossing the flame in his hand downwards—
The crowd watched the flames fall from the sky with curiosity, even crowding together to get a better view, until...
"ah--"
A scream pierced the sky. The man who had caught the flames with lightning speed hadn't even lost his smile before he was engulfed in flames, screaming in agony.
Before the people next to him could react, they were caught in the spreading flames and screamed in agony.
The flames, like a hungry tiger smelling blood, swept through the dense crowd.
It wasn't that no one realized they needed to use their spiritual energy to block it; rather, they were horrified to discover that their prized spiritual energy was utterly ineffective against the strange flames, and they could only watch helplessly as the flames engulfed them.
In an instant, the originally joyous gathering turned into a human tragedy, with screams and cries of agony filling the air.
The head of the Fen family never expected this to happen. Even now, he has no doubts about Fen Qi. The moment the flames spread, he rushed into the flames to try to save people, but found that he was also helpless against these strange flames.
He endured the excruciating pain of the flames burning his skin, pleadingly looking towards the high platform, still trying to call for help from the fire spirit—