We Don't Have Any Ancestors. What, Are We Supposed to Steal Them?! Huh?!
"Ancestor in a coffin, what does that mean?"
Upon seeing this line of small print, countless people present showed expressions of surprise.
"Unexpectedly, we actually received a new notification."
Someone spoke up, surprised yet filled with emotion.
Others looked puzzled and said:
"Shouldn't the Emperor Road be something everyone relies on themselves for? Why then does it involve the Ancestor?"
Or perhaps...
As he spoke, a look of indignation appeared on his face, and he added:
"Isn't that a bit too much of a bullying tactic?"
Others, however, were relatively calm, simply shaking their heads and saying:
"As expected, I knew it. There's no such thing as fairness in this world."
"One generation plants the trees, another enjoys the shade; humph. It seems even in a place like the Emperor Road, it's hard to escape this custom."
As the discussion unfolded, most of the people seemed to understand the situation.
Their many reflections stemmed simply from witnessing these things so directly.
However, everyone knows very well that this is how things really are.
The stronger the ancestor, the stronger their foundation must be. With such a foundation, how could they possibly be weak later on?
In this world of cultivation, it's not entirely about individual effort.
"If that's the case..."
The discussion didn't last long before many people's attention shifted away.
"What kind of ancestor would that be? Can't we just find any old master?"
As soon as someone finished speaking, someone else reminded them, saying:
"Then you need to find someone stronger than yourself."
"The predecessors planted the trees so that the successors could enjoy the shade. The ancestor you found isn't even as strong as your own. So, who planted the trees and who enjoys the shade?"
When this topic came up, some people in the room showed troubled expressions.
Some of them even clenched their fists slightly, with a hint of helplessness, and even sighed softly.
They were the most outstanding descendants in their family over the years, and through hardships and with little help from their family, they finally managed to forge their own path on the road of cultivation.
But now, how can they possibly find an ancestor who can provide them with shelter from the sun?
"Why."
Someone sighed and Human Dao around them,
"In this world, what good is any amount of effort? If you're born at the wrong age, then every step you take will be a step behind."
"Now they want to find an ancestor stronger than myself? Where am I supposed to find one? I certainly don't have one at home. Am I supposed to steal one?"
"Hey!"
Upon hearing this, the man next to him suddenly brightened up and said,
"That's a good idea."
"The predecessors planted the trees so that the successors could enjoy the shade. As long as the Emperor Road guards aren't too strict, it doesn't matter whose ancestor gets the shade, right?"
"Um?"
Hearing this, the person who had just been sighing also changed his expression.
"Yeah, even if it's not very useful, bringing one in won't take up much space."
"If we don't try it secretly, we won't have any chance. But if it works, then we've made a profit."
After saying that, the two looked at each other and then said, "Let's go, let's go."
Immediately afterwards, the two quickly left the place.
At this moment, quite a few people in the crowd also chose to get up and leave.
For a moment, a bustling scene began to emerge from the crowd.
"These Rogue Cultivator..."
Somewhere, the leader of a powerful faction snorted coldly and Human Dao around him:
He's always up to no good; he's either stealing or robbing.
As he spoke, he gestured to someone next to him and said:
"Take some men back and thoroughly inspect the place in the house where the ancestral spirits are kept. Make sure there are no oversights, lest others have an opportunity to take advantage of the situation."
Upon hearing this, the man looked slightly surprised and said:
"Patriarch, are you worried that these Rogue Cultivators will steal from our ancestor?"
Several people nearby also looked over.
The leader of this force shook his head and said:
"These Rogue Cultivator are naturally nothing to fear, but the real concern is that they're not the only ones harboring such thoughts."
As he spoke, he pointed to a line of small characters in mid-air and said:
"It doesn't specify how many descendants can enjoy the shade. If it's only for one, even with our size, our ancestor probably wouldn't be able to provide enough."
"Since the Emperor Road has given such a suggestion, then naturally the more the better."
As he spoke, he turned to look at the others and gestured:
"You understand what I mean, right?"
The group immediately nodded and said:
"I understand, of course I understand. It's about increasing revenue and reducing expenditure, but just reducing expenditure isn't enough. If the Lineage wants to increase revenue..."
Where are we going to steal?
There are quite a few people or groups who hold similar views.
In an instant, a tacit understanding was reached:
The more the merrier; better to steal than to use.
Somewhere in the crowd, hearing the loud, secret plot, an elder's expression changed slightly, and he quickly said:
"Go home quickly and tell them to be on guard to avoid falling victim to outsiders."
As he finished speaking, the people beside him did not move, but exchanged glances with a mixture of surprise and helplessness in their eyes.
At this moment, the man said again,
"What's wrong with you? Why aren't you moving?"
At this moment, someone tentatively said:
"Patriarch, do you remember that during the great battle with the Beast Race, our ancestral tombs were already..."
The person didn't say anything more.
Because he clearly saw the patriarch's face suddenly tremble, and then his expression turned into one of gritted teeth, almost as if he was about to stomp his feet and curse.
After several breaths, he finally managed to squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth:
"That damned thief who stole the ancestor's things!"
Their power may not be considered very strong now, but it has a long history.
For many years, nothing major had happened at the ancestral mausoleum until recently, when thieves somehow broke in and nearly looted everything belonging to the ancestors inside.
Furthermore, he vaguely remembered that the other party not only robbed their ancestor, but also released him as a bomb!
This is a blatant insult to their ancestors.
He couldn't even imagine how he would explain himself to these ancestors if he were to meet them again after his death.
He even tried his best not to remember, but somehow the connection was made again.
No sooner had the patriarch been stolen from and then released than the Emperor Road now offers the reminder: "One generation plants the trees, another enjoys the shade."
This is ridiculous!
After a long while, he finally put aside his anger and frustration, took a deep breath, and said:
"Then let's go back and create more loopholes in the ancestral tomb."
"You all get down and lie down. If anyone dares to lay a finger on our ancestral tomb again, you all swarm them! No one's leaving until they hand over their ancestor!"
Upon hearing this, the group, who had initially felt somewhat helpless, all showed joy in their eyes and exclaimed almost in unison:
"The master of the house is wise!"
"See? See?"
After demonstrating several unguarded discussions among the crowd at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, the figure spoke up:
"The Emperor Road is still the Emperor Road; look at its influence! The Ancestor is no longer just a status symbol, but a valuable commodity, a highly sought-after item!"
"With the opening of the Emperor Road imminent, we at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion understand the eagerness of all cultivators. We will soon be launching Myriad Treasures Pavilion 'Coffin-Encased Ancestor.' Any cultivators who are interested should feel free to contact the nearest Myriad Treasures Pavilion branch for inquiries. Quantity is guaranteed, and prices are competitive—satisfaction is assured."