Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Secrets Unveiled Part 1
"Since we're brothers in arms, no thanks are needed." Nathan smiled, his anger from old grievances gone. He pulled out two rank-eight blood psychic fruits and various herbal powders from his pocket, handing them to Dennis.
Even a beginner psychic device was among the gifts.
"Mr. Nathan, what's this?" Dennis asked, puzzled.
"It's a betrothal gift. Didn't you say you wanted to tie the knot with Blackwood? My family has a young child, just a baby. He could easily hide away at Cloudrise Oceanview Pavilion under a different name. You can decide later if this arrangement suits you," Nathan explained softly.
"Does Mr. Dennis perhaps disdain Blackwood?"
In a moment, Dennis's eyes reddened, perhaps from years of friendship mixed with ulterior motives. Maybe for profit, he might make selfish choices. But he couldn't deny his respect for the people of Blackwood.
He looked up to the sky and sighed, "What kind of man do you take me for, Mr. Nathan? Everyone says I'm a lowlife, cunning and deceitful, but your Blackwood... it's worth being capricious for once. I'll accept this marriage proposal!"
That day, Dennis left with a child in his arms, not even knowing which Blackwood youngster it was. A group of Blackwood daughters-in-law cried as they handed the child over to him.
As he flew away on his sword, carefully shielding the child with his psychic power, he laughed when the baby in his arms cried loudly, "Little Nicholas, huh? Must be one of your family's seven bears who named you. Don't be scared, from now on you're my kin, and I at Cloudrise Oceanview Pavilion will find you the prettiest bride, alright?"
The baby cried louder, distressed by the unfamiliar surroundings.
...
Nathan and his wife chatted leisurely for a long time. Soon, they headed to the Forebearer's temple with the Blackwood family descendants. They all knelt before Ethan's Forebearer Cards.
Even the rebellious William came along with George. This was the first time this quirky kid had visited the family temple built in the Silver Ironwood Forest, and his first encounter with the "Death Coffin" and various Blackwood secrets, which dazzled him momentarily.
As everyone entered, the Forebearer Cards shone brightly. "Huh? Is that a psychic device?" William stared blankly at the Cards.
George glared at his brother and gestured for him to be quiet. He dared to bring William here because their great-grandparents didn't recognize William. Their great-grandfather was even more of a mystery.
It was said that in his early years, he killed his wife and ate children daily. Whenever sword light shone in the depths of the Silver Ironwood Forest, another child was devoured by their great-grandfather. George knew these stories were exaggerated; a child would last at least three days.
As for their grandfather, Julian, he was known to have seen him as a child. Julian was said to forge iron all day, fierce, with a silver arm—rumored to have been chopped off by their great-grandfather. Unable to defeat him, Julian vented his frustration through his blacksmithing.
"George, what are you looking at?"
Noticing George's gaze, Lucas turned his head. Despite years of sword training, he tried to appear gentle, but his slightly messy hair and the cold look in his eyes, which seemed to merge with his sword, still frightened George.
George tried to keep a well-behaved appearance. "Nothing, nothing, great-grandfather truly is... a divine being."
Lucas frowned. "Flattery is unnecessary; do not continue this in the future."
"Yes, great-grandfather, George won't dare again!" George quickly turned his head and pushed down William's head, who was still staring at Lucas. The two brothers knelt before the Forebearer's tablet.
Only Daniel took an extra look at William. Although William had grown a lot, Daniel still faintly remembered his madness but chose to ignore it, thinking to himself, "These foolish boys, still not grown up, thinking they can hide their cultivation levels with secret techniques."
At the forefront, Nathan, seeing all the family members had arrived, bowed deeply. "Forebearer, your child understands what the divine tree said, next year the land must be dyed red in Cloudview County. Forebearer, this time, your child must be unfilial!"
In front of the screen, Ethan had already recovered from the anger of the Pig Demon King's death and the anxiety of the Blackwoods facing a powerful enemy.
He took a deep breath, and though the Purple Thunder Solar Python was not present, he still had a way to express warmth.
"Forebearer sends warmth, one hair per person!"
The Forebearer's Cards transformed into psychic power, inscribing a word in front of the Blackwood people.
[Approved!]
If the descendants of Blackwood were all cowards, that would be the greatest unfilial act!
He was relieved, the descendants all had courage!
...
Half a month later.
Inside the screen.
The people of Blackwood once again emerged from the Forebearer Hall, this time taking with them all the precious things inside.
Their eyes no longer held the sorrow of half a month ago, only suppressed anger and fearlessness towards the future.
"The sacred tree, sorry to trouble you."
Nathan, holding top-notch psychic gear, approached the Primordial Blood Tree.
The Primordial Blood Tree opened its crimson eyes, somewhat reluctantly.
[The Primordial Blood Tree is used to rooting in Blackwood. It feels this will be a long separation and is asking if it can stay alone at the family residence to guard everything. It is willing to give its life for this.]
"What time is it now? You're such an old tree, stop being homesick."
Ethan unhesitatingly chose 'No'.
After the denial.
The word 'approved' appeared above the Primordial Blood Tree's head, learned from who knows where, making it look very imposing.
Then came the Psychic Sanctuary of the Silver Iron Woods, which were directly taken back into the Storage Ring.
Dozens of psychic beasts from the Silver Iron Woods gathered under Mary's Demon King Blood Pill.
About a hundred psychic beasts, including four peak psychic beasts, were each taken into the psychic gear map.
At this moment, the psychic gear map had become an ancient scroll, depicting an ancient sky-reaching tree filled with psychic beasts on its branches, which were dynamically moving around, causing the branches and leaves of the Primordial Blood Tree to shake irritably.
Everything within the family that reached grade eight or above was taken into everyone's possession.
George and William followed along.
William was somewhat better, his mouth agape as he watched the elders take things away.
George was different, nagging the elders all the way, not afraid of them getting angry now.
"Ah? Grandpa, I've never been able to enter your forging hall, only now do I know what's inside."
George gritted his teeth, "Grandpa, thirty grade eight psychic puppets, equivalent to thirty Emerging Ability peaks. And there, six Transcendent Seed stage strength psychic puppets. My God, isn't that the legendary Forebearer-gifted War AI Bionic Robot? How come it has a Developing Skill aura?"
"Didn't you tell me back then? You said our family wasn't strong enough, never to provoke others, and to take good care of my younger siblings, right?"
"I really believed it, poor me, I've worked hard all my life, painstakingly keeping my siblings from causing trouble, afraid they'd provoke someone else. I got scolded by the neighboring Developing Skill family's Foundational Energy eighth layer, and I didn't even talk back, all because I was afraid our family couldn't handle it?"
"With this strength, what am I still afraid of? Grandpa, you've kept me in the dark for so long!"