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Chapter 3 - Chapter Two: The Legacy

Time passed silently, and a week went by in the blink of an eye. Outside the city of Jiu Li, a towering figure crossed the Desolate Sands. This newcomer was none other than the Jiu Li envoy, Li Zhuo, who had left the Oracular Hall of the Silver Skies.

Gazing at the imposing city walls and the Azure Dragon banners fluttering above, Li Zhuo sighed, unsure whether it was in relief or worry.

The two guards at the gate straightened upon seeing him, respectfully saluting:

"Master."

Li Zhuo was a candidate for the chieftainship of the Jiu Li clan, the commander of the Jiu Li Dragon Riders, and also the father of Li Ao. With a slight nod to the guards, Li Zhuo passed through the open city gates and entered the city.

Preoccupied with his thoughts, Li Zhuo headed straight for the ancestral hall at the city's center. The townspeople, recognizing him and sensing his urgency, quickly stepped aside to avoid causing any delays.

Pushing open the doors of the ancestral hall, Li Zhuo glanced around the empty hall before heading towards the back. He traversed the long corridor, finally finding his uncle in a room, and let out a breath of relief.

The old chieftain, dressed in simple cloth with graying hair, was like a stabilizing anchor for Li Zhuo's turbulent heart since he descended from the Zacchana Ro Mountains.

"Back already?" The old chieftain's warm voice broke the silence as Li Zhuo's footsteps ceased.

Taking in his dusty, hurried nephew, the old chieftain gestured to the square table in the center of the room and pulled out a chair, sitting down first.

Li Zhuo followed suit and took a seat as well.

The table was set with tea utensils, and the water had just been boiled. The old chieftain effortlessly poured the tea, and without any apparent movement, two streams of tea poured from the spout, landing precisely in the cups. The rising steam carried a soothing fragrance.

Passing a cup to Li Zhuo, the old chieftain fixed his eyes on his nephew, who was about to speak:

"Have some tea first, and then we'll talk."

"Alright."

Taking a sip of the steaming tea, Li Zhuo felt his anxiety subside, and his thoughts became clearer. His expression grew serious as he began to speak:

"Uncle, the Holy See has grand ambitions. Kloth even showed me their sacred scripture. They want to gather all heritages to achieve what they call the 'fusion' mentioned in the prophecy…"

The old chieftain sipped his tea slowly, his deep eyes fixed on the teapot as he listened quietly.

When Li Zhuo finished, the old chieftain set down his cup:

"What do you think of the Holy See's scripture?"

"The Holy See has been trying to unify the western continent for thousands of years. They have a history of plotting against our Dragon Rider ancestors and seizing our heritage. I believe the prophecy from two thousand years ago is just a ruse to take our clan under their control."

Li Zhuo stroked his beard in frustration as he spoke.

The old chieftain, listening to Li Zhuo, recalled the clan's records. In the golden age two thousand years ago, when gods walked the earth and star diamonds were abundant, the knighthood rose to prominence. The Holy See considered the seven dragon riders who ascended to heaven as thorns in their side, repeatedly scheming against them. Eventually, the seven dragon riders perished while escorting the Holy See's saintess back from the Demon Realm.

After the riders' deaths, the Holy See swiftly seized two of the Dragon Rider families' heritages, claiming to protect them. Over the next two thousand years, the Holy See continuously targeted major powers across the continent.

Of the seven original Dragon Rider families, three were exterminated, two allied with the Holy See against the apocalypse, and one handed over their heritage and went into hiding. Now, only the Jiu Li clan remained, struggling to survive—truly a lamentable situation.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, the old chieftain nodded, then shook his head:

"The Holy See's ambitions are clear to the entire western continent. However, the Holy See has always had prophets. There might be some truth to the prophecy."

Pausing, the old chieftain remembered another matter:

"Speaking of the apocalypse, two thousand years ago, the Demon Prince and Fallen Knight, Wan Qi Xun, said before his death that the fallen legacy is the key to saving the world. The prophecy might be real, but the Holy See's so-called fusion is indeed untrustworthy. Besides, the term 'fusion' itself is ambiguous and vague."

Li Zhuo listened attentively to his uncle's analysis, nodding in agreement before hesitantly voicing his concern:

"Uncle, do you think the Holy See might try to seize our heritage as well?"

Hearing his nephew's worry, the old chieftain's expression turned uncharacteristically grave. Such matters could not rely on the enemy's mercy; they had to prepare for the worst, especially given the Holy See's nature:

"We must be vigilant. Go and arrange the defenses, and have the Dragon Rider guards ready."

Bowing in response, Li Zhuo stood up to leave.

"By the way, bring Xiao Ao here. I need to talk to him."

Just as Li Zhuo was about to exit, the old chieftain's voice called out again.

Hearing his son's name, a flash of emotion crossed Li Zhuo's eyes:

"Alright, I'll bring him here."

After a week of rest, Li Ao had regained his spirits. Seeing his father return home, he greeted him joyfully:

"Dad, you're back!"

Li Zhuo's stern expression softened slightly at the sight of his son, but with urgent matters at hand, he couldn't spare time for pleasantries:

"Xiao Ao, the chieftain wants to see you."

"Okay."

Noticing his father's serious demeanor, Li Ao realized the gravity of the situation and composed himself, though he felt a pang of disappointment.

Li Zhuo patted his son's head affectionately, a doting smile appearing on his face:

"Good boy. When I get back, I'll take you to Baxian House for a feast."

Hearing the name Baxian House, Li Ao's earlier gloom vanished, and he couldn't help but swallow at the thought of the delicious food there.

"Dad, you better not go back on your word."

"Let's pinky promise. Break it, and you're a puppy."

Their pinkies hooked together, and Li Ao burst into laughter.

Seeing his son so happy, Li Zhuo smiled warmly as well. Pulling Li Ao closer, he straightened his clothes and, after a careful look, felt even more satisfied.

"Not bad, you've grown taller," he remarked, then fell silent.

Li Ao looked up in confusion, only to find his father lost in thought, staring at him. Tentatively, he asked:

"Dad, shall I go now?"

"Hm? Oh, yes, go ahead," Li Zhuo replied, snapping back to reality.

Receiving his father's permission, Li Ao cheerfully ran towards the door.

Watching his son's retreating figure, Li Zhuo suddenly felt an urge. Raising his arm, he called out:

"Xiao Ao."

Li Ao halted just before exiting and felt his father's strong arms wrap around him from behind. His father's voice came softly in his ear:

"Take care of yourself."

Sensing something unusual in his father, Li Ao didn't think much of it. He turned, grinned, and said:

"Don't worry, Dad. I'll be fine."

Li Zhuo released him after hearing this, patting his shoulder:

"Go on, don't keep the chieftain waiting."

Li Ao nodded and ran off towards the ancestral hall. He crossed the training grounds and pushed open the hall doors. At the far end of the council room, the old chieftain sat in the chief's seat with a bundle beside him.

Seeing Li Ao enter, the old chieftain smiled kindly and beckoned him over:

"Xiao Ao, come sit beside me."

Without hesitation, Li Ao walked past the rows of seats and sat next to the chieftain, his eyes drifting to the bundle.

Noticing this, the chieftain didn't keep him in suspense. Once Li Ao was seated, he handed the bundle to him. As Li Ao accepted it, the chieftain's expression turned serious, and his tone grew grave:

"Xiao Ao, calamity is approaching. I entrust this legacy to you. Your task is to survive this ordeal. Do not seek revenge until you have sufficient strength."

The chieftain's eyes held a glimmer of pride as he looked at his talented grandnephew.

Li Ao weighed the bundle in his hands. It wasn't heavy and didn't seem to contain much. Just then, his grandfather's words reached his ears, leaving him momentarily stunned. He wasn't sure what was about to happen, but his father's earlier behavior had already given him a sense of foreboding.

"Grandfather," Li Ao hesitated, but seeing the expectant look in the old man's eyes, he gritted his teeth and resolutely said:

"Rest assured, Xiao Ao will not fail."

The old chieftain's eyes crinkled with a smile. He grasped Li Ao's hand, reminiscing about the past with his favorite grandson:

"Two thousand years ago, we were one of the seven great Dragon Rider clans. Due to betrayal, the seven Dragon Riders perished far from home, and the honor of the knights fell. But our legacy remained unbroken. We rebuilt our home in this desert, and now those vile people wish to steal our heritage."

Li Ao listened quietly, not interrupting his grandfather's story.

The old chieftain suddenly laughed heartily, dispelling the somber atmosphere:

"Hahaha, but what they don't know is that the Jiu Li clan's greatest legacy is not the Dragon Rider's heritage."

He patted Li Ao's shoulder, his eyes full of trust and hope:

"Xiao Ao, you will be the hope of Jiu Li, the last ember of the Dragon Riders. I entrust this greatest legacy to you."

"Grandfather, what should I do?"

Li Ao asked, feeling the weight of the seemingly light bundle in his hands grow heavier, making it hard for him to breathe.

Li Ao's eyes were already brimming with tears, but he stubbornly held them back, refusing to let them fall. He wasn't clueless; in fact, Li Ao understood a lot. He knew that the enemy his grandfather mentioned was the Holy Church, the most powerful force on the Western Continent.

He also recognized that his grandfather's words sounded like a final testament, and the thought of becoming homeless filled him with sorrow. If Jiu Li were to fall, there would be no place in the world where he could feel at peace. And without peace of mind, how could any place be called home?

Seeing the tears in the boy's eyes, the old chieftain paused for a moment. Despite his wisdom and foresight, he found himself at a loss for words in this situation. Words seemed pale and powerless.

After a brief silence, the old chieftain decided to change the subject and address Li Ao's question:

"If the Holy Church truly intends to seize our heritage by force, leaving the city now might lead you directly into the enemy's hands. First, take some water and food and hide in the secret chamber. Once everything is over, head north to the Oasis Sanctuary and retrieve the ancestral relics we have stored there."

"Xiao Ao, remember, once you leave this city, don't look back. The farther you go, the better…"

The old chieftain wanted to say more, but in the end, he couldn't find the words to comfort his grandnephew. He simply waved his hand and said in a low voice:

"Go, and don't look back."

Li Ao gazed at his grandfather for a long moment. His expression shifted from sorrow to determination, and he turned to leave the council hall.

As he watched the boy's retreating figure, the old chieftain murmured to himself:

"Child, you are about to face a colossal force standing at the pinnacle of this continent. Your future path will be filled with thorns, but I believe that as the greatest talent of the Jiu Li, you will be able to overcome all obstacles…"

Li Ao's body trembled slightly upon hearing his grandfather's words. He didn't stop or look back, but as he trembled, tears began to roll down his cheeks, falling to the ground and creating tiny splashes.

The old chieftain continued to speak, his steady and powerful voice echoing through the hall:

"Child, keep moving forward, even if your hands are stained with blood, even if the world turns against you. Do not give up, for one day, you will stand at the pinnacle of this world, overlooking everything."

Li Ao quickened his pace, finally breaking into a run. He pushed open the grand doors of the ancestral hall with all his might.

Daylight poured in, and the boy's figure disappeared from the old chieftain's sight.

...

Outside Jiu Li City, on the other side of a series of winding sand dunes, Kuchaz and his troops lay prone in the yellow sand.

Kuchaz himself was carefully observing the magnificent city in the distance. Thinking about what was about to unfold, a cruel smile crept across his lips.

He was the vanguard captain of the Third Legion of the Judgment Army, a peak-level Gold-ranked warrior. His mission was to infiltrate Jiu Li City from the flank once the battle began and strike directly at the heart of the Jiu Li clan.

Now, he was waiting for the signal to attack. Only when the main battle commenced would he seize his opportunity.

The Judgment Army and the various forces of the Church were directly under the Pope's command. Their recruitment standards were exceptionally high; one had to reach Silver rank just to enlist. The entire army consisted of six legions, each with nine combat regiments, totaling sixty thousand elite soldiers, known as the Black Armored Army.

The leader of the Judgment Army was of Divine Blessing rank, and each legion was commanded by a Star Diamond-ranked general. Each legion also had three deputy commanders, all of Platinum rank or higher.

A horn sounded, breaking the desert's silence.

Hearing the signal, Kuchaz's expression became excited. After waiting a moment longer, he drew his sword and swung it forward.

With a rustling sound, over ten thousand figures emerged from the dunes.

These soldiers were clad in heavy black armor, with standard swords at their waists and lightweight kite shields in their hands. The armor was adorned with gold and silver stripes, giving them a noble and solemn appearance.

These stripes converged on the left breast, forming a pattern of a silver scepter set with gemstones, crossed by swords.

This symbol, representing divine authority, was the emblem of the Holy Church's Judgment Army.