Island Questioning Journey

"Is it time for the Island Questioning Journey again?"

Seeing the ship's sails, Ailin temporarily set aside his thoughts. He had not released his Divine Sense, so naturally, he could only notice them once they came into view.

Before long, the enormous Grand Ship stopped a short distance from the island without approaching it directly.

Aboard the Grand Ship, the sails snapped loudly in the wind as the crew hurriedly lowered them. Even the weakest of these crewmen were Level Seven Warriors. In an empire, they would have been qualified to serve as military commanders.

Yet here, they were merely ordinary crewmen. Only Level Nine experts could become figures akin to captains.

At the bow stood more than a dozen people. Leading them were an elderly man and two middle-aged men. All of them were core members of the Duncan Family.

Their reason for coming was the Duncan Family's ancestral worship tradition—the Island Questioning Journey.

Every hundred years, the family crossed the boundless seas to visit Ailin Island. Their purpose was to deliver various "items" for the Old Ancestor's use, while also following custom by "reporting" on the family's circumstances and praying for his protection.

This was the Island Questioning Journey.

Of course, all of this could only be done outside the island. They had no right to set foot on it, and all items could only be placed in the designated area outside. As for having a chance to meet Ailin, that was even more impossible.

Even though they could not meet Ailin, the once-in-a-century Island Questioning Journey was the matter the Duncan Family valued most.

The elderly man at the lead had just been about to follow protocol by questioning the island and placing the offerings when, in the next instant, he saw Ailin standing beside the island. Once he clearly recognized Ailin's appearance as identical to the portrait in the family, he immediately understood. He dropped to his knees, his voice filled with excitement and reverence. "Alash pays respects to the Old Ancestor!"

Old Ancestor?

The others behind the old man also saw Ailin, though not all of them were qualified to view his portrait. Was that young man the Duncan Family's Old Ancestor?

Though they were puzzled, they reacted quickly and knelt behind Alash. "We pay respects to the Old Ancestor!"

Even the crewmen addressed him the same way.

None of them had expected to see Ailin in person on this journey. It was enough to give them bragging rights for the rest of their lives.

Ailin watched the group outside the island without any change in expression.

The Duncan Family was not descended directly from him, but consisted of bloodline members from the family he had belonged to. From the time he became a Saint Domain Archmage until he reached the Mid-level God realm, the Duncan Family had grown from a minor family into one of the foremost families on the Brinia Continent.

However, after he was hunted into the Plane Prison, the Duncan Family naturally declined. Because it had provoked a High-God, it had even vanished from the Brinia Continent for a time.

It was only after he emerged from the Plane Prison, slew his enemies, and became the strongest on the Brinia Continent that some hidden bloodline members of the Duncan Family dared reveal their identities. With his support, the family rose again.

Because of this, Ailin became the Duncan Family's "Old Ancestor."

Nearly a million years had passed. The structure of power across the Brinia Continent had changed hundreds of times, yet the Duncan Family had only grown stronger and stronger.

By now, the Duncan Family had become the undisputed "number one family" on the Brinia Continent.

Even without Ailin, as long as the present-day Duncan Family did not provoke other God-level experts, the experts it currently possessed would be enough to ensure its long-term stability. Even the emperors of the great empires took pride in being able to marry women from the Duncan Family.

Whenever the Duncan Family held its Island Questioning Journey and ancestral rites, every major force on the Brinia Continent sent representatives. This alone showed the influence the Duncan Family wielded today.

Looking at the position occupied by the "old man" before him, Ailin seemed to notice something. His brows lifted slightly. Then, as though he had thought of something, he gave a light wave of his hand, and the divine power barrier around Ailin Island vanished.

Then Ailin's voice rang out clearly. "Come ashore."

Alash was overwhelmed with excitement. He truly had not expected to have the chance to see the Old Ancestor in person. Had they known this beforehand, how could it have been his turn to lead the group here? Even the family patriarch, perhaps even the hidden elders, would likely have come personally.

Being able to see the Old Ancestor was not merely his own honor. It was tremendous news for the entire family.

The last time a family member had been fortunate enough to see the Old Ancestor had been a hundred thousand years ago. Over such a long period, quite a few forces on the Brinia Continent had begun making covert moves.

Among them were families with God-level experts.

If not for their fear of the Old Ancestor, the family likely would not have remained so stable. And now that the Old Ancestor had appeared, it served as a deterrent to the other families.

Still lost in his thoughts, Alash suddenly heard Ailin's voice and froze. Come ashore?

Then he understood, and ecstasy flooded him. The Old Ancestor had actually invited him onto the island? He would have the chance to meet the Old Ancestor in person? Although some family members had been fortunate enough to see the Old Ancestor before, none had ever had the chance to set foot on the island!

Not daring to hesitate, Alash hurriedly replied with utmost respect, "Yes."

Then Alash immediately made arrangements. "Everyone, unload the goods at once. All direct members of the Duncan Family, follow me off the ship to meet the Old Ancestor and request his inspection."

Alash was not the only one who had heard Ailin's words. The others had heard them as well, and they were naturally just as excited. Over the past nearly million years, Ailin's deeds had already become legend.

Very quickly, all the goods aboard the Grand Ship were unloaded.

They were not particularly precious items, merely practical things—various books, wine, food, seeds, and so on. According to the family records, these were the things that had to be prepared for the Island Questioning Journey. They were also the items Ailin had requested the family to deliver after tacitly approving the Island Questioning Journey.

A million years had passed, yet they were still sending the same things. Of course, if they happened upon rare treasures, they would send those as well.

Outside the small courtyard lay an open space planted with many types of vegetation, along with several areas for temporary rest. Ailin sat at a stone table as Alash led the group carefully toward him.

As they approached Ailin at close range, Alash and the others could not help but feel their hearts race. After all, this was the legendary figure of their family.

"Alash, seventy-first-generation descendant of the family, pays respects to the Old Ancestor."

Alash forcibly calmed himself and led the clan members in a salute.

"Enough. Rise."

Ailin waved his hand casually.

"Thank you, Old Ancestor."

Alash carefully rose, but he still did not dare lift his head to look directly at Ailin.

Ailin did not speak immediately, nor did he pay much attention to Alash and the others. Instead, he casually glanced toward the Grand Ship, then asked gently, "How many people came with you on this journey, and how strong are they?"