Lord Zhu knelt before the ancestral tablet, lost in reverence before it for a good while. Only after Wen Yan had also paid his respects did he finally leave, satisfied, with Wen Yan in tow.

Wen Yan, watching Lord Zhu's behavior, found it somewhat amusing. More than that, however, he began to understand Old Zhu's standing in the hearts of the members of Old Zhu's Family.

Back in the tea room, Lord Zhu affectionately pulled Wen Yan close, nearly reaching the point of swearing brotherhood, when Wen Yan hurriedly brought out another item.

"I have another item here and would like to ask Lord Zhu to appraise it for me. It was given to me by someone else, intended as a long-life gift for Lord Zhu. They said it was the Great Ancestor's own sword, but when I looked at it, it was so new, it could very well be a fake. If I were to present that, I would surely lose face. Fortunately, I happen to have a piece of Tiger Bone, which is more suitable."

Wen Yan took out the hilt. Lord Zhu did not touch it, merely frowning as he looked at it.

The hilt appeared very new and was extremely well-maintained, its surface slick and shiny without a speck of rust.

"It looks convincing, and the inscription resembles..."

Lord Zhu reached out, attempting to lift the hilt, but retracted his hand the moment he touched it.

"No need to look further. It's indeed genuine."

Lord Zhu looked at the hilt with a complex expression, sighed, and patted Wen Yan on the shoulder.

"This hilt... Cai Heizi gave it to you, right?"

"Huh?" Wen Yan was startled. Good heavens, he could guess even that?

He blinked, saying nothing, neither denying nor confirming.

Lord Zhu took Wen Yan's arm, speaking earnestly as if educating a junior of his own family. "Xiao Wen, you must be more cautious.

"Cai Heizi is not a good man. He just wants to use you to get this hilt into my hands. After all, among Old Zhu's Family, I'm the only one who has awakened. As for the few Emperors you are familiar with, they probably have no chance of revival. This hilt... for it to be wielded by someone from Old Zhu's Family, and a Nether Soul at that, would be most fitting.

"Does Cai Heizi really think I know nothing? He has offended many people, and naturally, not a few are willing to talk about him. Did he tell you he bought this hilt abroad?"

Wen Yan just managed an "Ah..." and said nothing more.

Lord Zhu chuckled. "Heh, when he was young, his heart wasn't just dark; his temper was explosive too. He thinks few know about this, but some who operated with him back then are still alive—and he has offended them too.

"This item was originally in the hands of a bishop from the Church, who had collected it. Cai Heizi is thoroughly wicked. He somehow spread false information, tricking a Witch Group into stealing the hilt. Then he beat them half-dead and spent just one pound to buy several items. His actual target wasn't this hilt; it was something else. But seeing the hilt clearly belonged to our lands, he took it as well.

"Those from the Witch Group could only suffer in silence and endure the humiliation. They couldn't complain openly, as doing so would mean offending the bishop from the Church. That's how he brought the item back. Only after a long period of verification did he finally realize this hilt belonged to Old Zhu's Family."

"So what is this?"

"It's the sword used when Hu Yuan was dealt with."

"Can you elaborate?"

"Before Old Zhu's Family's uprising, Hu Yuan was the one who stirred up the most trouble. In those chaotic times, amidst widespread killing and death, he was the most active. After the Great Ancestor ascended the throne and established his dynasty, the first one to be dealt with was Hu Yuan. It's a pity that fellow was naturally extraordinary; even after dying once, he could revive again. After being killed that time, he simply vanished. Later, somehow, he emerged in Nanwu County. He ran to such a godforsaken place; who could find him back then, without satellites?

"Actually, dealing with Hu Yuan was just incidental, a way to start things, a pretext. Afterward, all sorts of ghosts and monsters across the land who had taken advantage of the chaotic times to devour people and wreak havoc were dealt with. A great many were killed in one fell swoop, terrifying everyone.

"Finally..." At this point, Lord Zhu sighed.

"What happened finally?"

"In the end, the Great Ancestor felt that in this age of The Last Dharma, while the various mountain sects and factions were merely clinging to a threadbare existence, their situation was somewhat understandable. But those ghosts and monsters might not willingly accept the grand tide of events. They would stir chaos in the world, feeding on human essence and blood, and absorbing Yang Energy to forcibly sustain themselves. This would mean prolonged torment with no end in sight, causing the people to suffer for who knows how many years. It was better to cut through the mess decisively.

"Thus, the Great Ancestor severed the Dragon's Pulse of the world. He floored the accelerator on the path of The Last Dharma, pushing it to its absolute end in one go. From then on, all deities and Great Demons had to clear out. That moment marked the true beginning of The Last Dharma Decline Era. Spiritual Energy dispersed, vitality waned, and it grew colder year by year—what you would call the Little Ice Age Era. This continued until a few decades ago, when Spiritual Energy began to show signs of revival, finally bringing that period to a close."

Lord Zhu pointed at the hilt. "This is the very sword that witnessed the entire process, the one used to sever the Dragon's Pulse.

"Now, what do you think Cai Heizi is scheming by giving this to me? Isn't he hoping I'll emulate the Great Ancestor and take up this sword again? Setting aside his black-hearted nature, he truly overestimates me. I am now merely a Nether Soul; what qualification do I have to wield this sword? Even if only the hilt remains, it's not something I can touch.

"That idiot thinks I've only just awakened and don't know about these things. How could I possibly be unaware? I just never spoke of it."

Lord Zhu clutched Wen Yan's arm, advising him earnestly, "I urge you to return this item to Cai Heizi. That man is thoroughly sinister. This sword carries a huge pitfall that no ordinary person can withstand.

"Even the Great Ancestor said this sword was ominous. After its purpose was served, it shattered. He then sent it away to bring misfortune to others. Cai Heizi, that fool, actually brought it back. Isn't he just setting a trap for others?"

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