Grand Ancestral Bloodlines

Himari smiled when she saw Ryu's mood was a bit better. As for what Elena had left in the ring, she didn't check nor did she ask about it. Matters between husband and wife should be kept as such. After all, she had no intention of ever telling Ryu about sweet nothings she and his father whispered to one another, so why expect different?

Soon, the pair had made it to the Shrine. But, to Ryu's surprise, it was the Lightning Shrine, but was rather the Tribulation Shrine.

Ryu's expression couldn't help but flicker, sighing internally.

Due to Mistress Holy Wing, his grandfather had never been able to succeed in the test of the Tribulation Shrine, something that was a great humiliation to him. His Grandpa Kunan was a jokester, but he was pure of heart and righteous in purpose. In fact, among all his grandparents, his Grandpa Kunan was likely the only one who could truly be considered a good person.

Ryu wasn't a fool and he had the ability to be objective about how he viewed the world. Nothing would ever stop him from loving his grandparents, but as cultivators, he was certain they had all done terrible things in their pasts to reach the level of power they had now. All except… his Grandpa Kunan.

That was why what Mistress Holy Wing had done was so infuriating to him and his extended family. It was a sort of mark they all knew would never leave Saint Kunan for a lifetime.

Not only did Mistress Holy Wing's action make a man like him forsake his wife to lay with another woman, but it also gave him a child that he wasn't allowed to see or raise.

Saint Kunan doted on Himari with everything he had, but often Ryu's mother could feel that he was going above and beyond. Normally, a child would be thrilled by this. But when Himari matured enough to learn of the matters of the past, it almost put a stain on all of her memories with her father.

As much of a grudge as Ryu had with Mistress Holy Wing, his mother and his grandfather, not to mention his Grandma Kunan, all had far more of a right to reap her life than he did.

"HAHA! Is that my grandson?"

Before Ryu could react, a robust man brimming with vitality appeared before him, lifting him up by his armpits as though he was still a child.

Saint Kunan was nothing more than a spirit, but judging by how much life he was brimming with, it was almost impossible to tell. He looked solid and real. If it wasn't because his touch was so cold, Ryu, without his Heavenly Pupils, would have been completely fooled.

Ryu could do nothing as his grandpa lifted him over his right shoulder, forcing him to sit on it as though he was still a toddler. Even with how robust his grandfather's figure was, one of Ryu's thighs still angled off the side, being held up by his grandfather's bicep.

Toward such a scene, even Himari could only be speechless. But, her silence soon gave way to bell-like laughter. This was just like her father, even in his final moments, he refused to allow anyone to see him go with a frown on their faces.

"Ah, my baby girl is here too. This old man happens to have another shoulder, don't look down on me!"

Himari found herself hoisted up as well, the mother-son pair smiling through tears that threatened to fall.

Saint Kunan proudly turned, carrying them into the Shrine. Their weight on his back made him feel like he was a young man again, a young man with still the strength to protect his family.

The Tribulation Shrine was unlike what one would expect. Above, rainbow colors clouds fluttered, a sun of pinks, violets and blues radiating its light for the world to see. Lush greenery painted the ground like a canvas, taking root as all sorts of fanciful herbs, plants and trees.

Unlike the other Shrines, the Tribulation Shrine was especially special. That was because it reflected the heart of its owner. When unclaimed, it was nothing but a barren wasteland. When controlled by a tyrant, it would be dark and sinister. When controlled by someone who was in love the air would be filled with a heavy fragrance and even standing here might make one feel as though they were in a minefield of aphrodisiacs.

However, if controlled by a man with a pure heart… It would look just like this.

"You see this, Little Ryu, Little Himari? This is the product of this old man's hard work. Even after this old man died, I didn't give up, and I finally got this damnable Shrine to accept me!

"When this old man is finally gone, don't remember me for my mighty bow or my sure arrow, remember me as the man who didn't give up even after hundreds of billions of years!"

Saint Kunan's voice boomed, the skies above radiating with an even more blinding light as though to respond to his words.

Ryu's heart trembled to the cadence of his grandfather's words. He remembered it well. Even during the short span of his first life, he lost count of the number of times his grandfather had challenged this Shrine, trying again and again to overcome the demon in his heart.

A lesser man, a man who was fleeting with his love and uncaring with his seed would have gotten over what Mistress Holy Wing had done long ago. But, it was this kind hearted grandfather of his that allowed it to sink so deep into his soul and fester for such a long time.

It was often the kindest people that suffered the most heartache, the more pure of souls that faced the worst tribulations.

Ryu wasn't a good person, nor was he a kind person. If he had faced the situation his grandfather had faced, he would have slaughtered his way through the Holy Wing Clan and killed the mother of his child to take back his seed regardless of how this child would feel. By then, whatever heart demons he had would vanish with the wind.

But, his grandfather had taken a different path, a much harder path.

Ryu placed his two grandfather's on the same level of talent and power, but the truth was that this was his conclusion after taking into consideration his Grandpa Kunan's Heart Demon. If he had never faced such a thing… Ryu had no idea the kind of monster his Grandpa would have become. Maybe then, the rulers of Sacrum wouldn't be the Tatsuya Clan, but rather… The Kunan Clan.

Saint Kunan's vitality burned bright but it faded just as quickly.

Ryu knew he had done this on purpose. If his grandpa wanted, he could have extended their final moments to several hours. But, just like his Grandma Tatsuya, they both wanted to go out in a blaze of glory.

His grandma's final feat was to display her majesty to her grandson, to stamp her final bit of pride on the world.

But, his grandpa's last action was far more simple… He just wanted to carry his grandson and daughter on his shoulders one last time.