The End of His Life Was Near?

At that, the old ancestor drew a deep breath and swiftly formed hand seals with both hands.

The vigorous blood and qi that had shone over him like the rising sun began to withdraw and lie dormant at a speed visible to the naked eye.

His skin grew withered and slack again, and his black hair once more turned gray and sparse.

Even his straight back slowly began to stoop.

In just a few short breaths, the spirited middle-aged man was gone, replaced once more by the lifeless old man who looked as if he might breathe his last at any moment.

To make his act even more convincing, Zhang Tianzheng had even used a Secret Art to force up a mouthful of stagnant blood and hold it in his throat.

That made his complexion look even more ashen.

"Cough, cough..."

Zhang Tianzheng coughed violently twice. His voice was hoarse and muddied, enough to make anyone's heart skip a beat. "Good grandson, what do you think of Great-Grandfather's acting? Even if that old dog Wang Zhenyue from the Wang Family were standing right in front of me, do you think he'd spot anything amiss?"

Zhang Chen gave him a thumbs-up. "Absolutely incredible. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I'd have thought everything that just happened was an illusion."

"Enough. It's late. You should head back."

Zhang Tianzheng waved a hand. "I also need the whole night to get used to this young body and my new power. I'll be sure to crawl out in time for tomorrow's Naming Ceremony."

Zhang Chen cupped his hands and took his leave. "Then I'll go back and get ready. The curtain's only rising on this grand performance tomorrow."

By the time Zhang Chen left Dao Seeking Peak, night had fallen deep.

Yet he felt lighter than ever.

He made his way through the corridors and returned to the Side Courtyard.

Inside, Lin Qingxue was already fast asleep.

She lay on her side, one hand resting lightly on the edge of the cradle. Even in her dreams, she held the posture of a guardian.

In the cradle, the two little ones slept soundly, their tiny mouths twitching now and then as if they were still drinking milk in their dreams.

In the dim moonlight, Zhang Chen watched the scene in silence.

A warm current welled up in his heart.

This was his home, the greatest bond tying him to this life after two lifetimes.

"Don't worry."

He reached out and gently touched his son's chubby cheek, then tucked his daughter's blanket around her. In his heart, he made a silent promise.

"Dad will give you the best future."

The next morning.

A deep, long toll of the bell shattered the quiet of the Zhang Family Courtyard.

But unlike its usual rousing peal, this toll carried the heavy feeling of twilight, like an old man's final sigh at sunset.

A voice, weak to the extreme, was carried by Spiritual Power.

It traveled fitfully to every corner of the Lineage.

"This old man... has emerged from seclusion."

When the Zhang Family clansmen heard the voice, their hearts sank.

It was so feeble, like a candle guttering in the wind.

It seemed it might be extinguished completely in the very next moment.

The eyes of many elderly stewards reddened at once.

They could tell that the old ancestor had not emerged from seclusion with a breakthrough in his cultivation.

Instead... his time was almost up.

The Zhang Family's Assembly Hall.

The hall had been decorated with exceptional grandeur for the occasion, with red carpets covering the floor and incense burning in golden censers.

But no one looked particularly happy. Instead, they all wore furrowed brows, and the atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.

The Family Head, Zhang Yunshan, stood at the foot of the hall. His eyes were shadowed, his expression anxious.

He had been so happy the day before that he'd lost his head. Only after he'd calmed down did he remember the old ancestor's condition.

Now, hearing that voice, his heart sank halfway to the bottom.

"The old ancestor has arrived—"

At the shout from the attendant outside, everyone's eyes turned toward the doorway in unison.

Two maids came in, carefully supporting Zhang Tianzheng.

The old ancestor walked slowly, each step as if he were dragging a thousand-jin burden.

His face was waxen and his eyes sunken. The once imposing Nascent Soul Great Cultivator now looked like a Mortal old man on the verge of death.

Before he had even reached the seat of honor, he stopped and broke into a fit of violent coughing.

"Old Ancestor!"

Zhang Yunshan cried out and hurried forward to support his father.

At his touch, he felt nothing but skin and bones, cold as ice.

Zhang Yunshan's heart sank to rock bottom.

"I'm fine... not dead yet..." Zhang Tianzheng said weakly, waving a hand.

With his son's support, he trembled his way into the grand chair symbolizing the highest authority in the Lineage.

He swept his gaze over the clansmen below, his eyes cloudy and reluctant to part with them.

Even Zhang Chen, standing beside him, couldn't help silently marveling at the performance.

If he hadn't seen the old ancestor swallow the Longevity Pill whole last night, he might have believed it himself.

"What are you all standing around for?"

Zhang Tianzheng caught his breath and forced himself to speak with some spirit. "Today is a great day for our Zhang Family. Put some smiles on those faces! Do you expect this old man to give his great-grandson a name while you all wear funeral faces?"

At his words, everyone could only force out smiles more dreadful than tears.

"Bring them over."

Zhang Tianzheng beckoned to Lin Qingxue, who stood to one side.

Lin Qingxue wore her finest clothes today. Though she was still weak after giving birth, her noble bearing was more striking than ever.

She and the wet nurse each carried a swaddled infant and walked up to the old ancestor.

Trembling, Zhang Tianzheng reached out with both hands and first took the baby boy.