Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Dawn was breaking
Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Dawn was breaking
Soon after, Dennis arrived with the three Blackwood kids, along with Betty, Joseph, and another woman. Nicholas rolled up his sleeves, showing off his muscular arms, and flashed a big, white grin.
"Sacred Tree, look at me, I'm a real man now. I've died many times in the Dire Death Coffin, faced numerous demon-possessed fighters, and kept pushing myself in the Thunderfire Demon Cave. I'm no coward anymore."
"Right, Nicholas is soon to be a man, ready to marry his sister," said Helen, who had been promised to Nicholas since they were children. She patted Nicholas on the head, just like in the old days, her appearance unchanged over the years.
Nicholas, who had learned a bit about the birds and the bees from the demon-possessed, blushed deeply, but he was determined to follow family rules and not mess around like his older brother.
"Ha ha ha, right!" Dennis laughed heartily. "The Cloudrise Oceanview Pavilion can be yours now!"
"Grandpa Dennis," Nicholas and Helen said, bowing their heads, a hint of reluctance in their eyes.
Years ago, Dennis had told them his time was coming—an unavoidable fate that nearly all Psychics eventually face.
Seeing the sadness in the kids' faces, Dennis said nonchalantly, "Come on, you think I, Dennis, haven't calculated my own fate after all these years? I'm not afraid to admit it, but it's all for the Cloudrise Oceanview Pavilion to keep existing. That's why I've worked so hard for Blackwood."
"Now my goal is achieved. Helen, Nicholas, you need to ensure the Cloudrise Oceanview Pavilion lasts for a thousand, ten thousand, even a hundred thousand years. Let the people of the Pavilion always remember that I, Dennis, was the first master here, proof that I once existed."
The three kids, who had grown up under Dennis's care, didn't fully understand but seemed to grasp some deeper insight, nodding at Dennis.
And on the screen, Ethan also showed a slight smile. Indeed, everyone has different talents and opportunities, and facing the end is something all Psychics must deal with. But at least Dennis had lived a splendid life, and now he was about to pass on peacefully, his legacy enduring, which is what many Psychics hope for.
Under the moonlight, more wrinkles appeared on Dennis's face, but the old man was still smiling kindly.
He might not be a great man, but he would forever live in the memories of future generations.
Dawn was breaking.
That day, Nathan lay back in his coffin, Olivia walked the earth again, and Marcus sobered up and returned to the Sky Sect. Dennis, along with the three kids, Lady Betty, and Joseph, headed back to the Duke's Mansion.
Dennis was on his way back to Blackwood, ready to silently wait for his final moment at the Cloudrise Oceanview Pavilion.
Suddenly, Stephen, the former master of the Azure Cloud Pavilion, blocked his path with a beaming smile.
"Dennis, we meet again. Do you want to live?"
Under the sun, it seemed to record the traces of Blackwood people walking on earth, along with the memories of Blackwood companions.
Cloudview County was as peaceful as ever, with the scattered Blackwood kids all hustling to hone their psychic powers. That day, when Nathan and Olivia sent out letters warning of the impending war, every Blackwood felt the urgency. They knew homecoming day was fast approaching.
Back at the screen, Ethan was still dealing with kids caught in crises—like Justin from Black Tortoise, who nearly died, Larry who was duking it out with two demon kings in the Swamp Forest, and William, whose half-baked assassination attempt nearly got him killed...
These troublemakers were more of a headache for Ethan than other descendants.
Luckily, Lisa had whipped up some chicken soup today, giving Ethan a bit of a breather. Setting his bowl outside, Ethan smiled as he looked towards the duke's mansion. Inside one of the Psychic Sanctuaries, Edward finally emerged from seclusion!
[Blackwood for 100 years!]
[Your descendant Nicholas has advanced past the Emerging Ability phase, shedding his Metal Psychic Constitution for a pure Water Psychic Constitution!]
[Your descendant Donna has advanced past the Emerging Ability phase, ditching her Earth Psychic Constitution for a dual Water-Fire Psychic Constitution!]
[Your descendant Edward, has advanced past the Emerging Ability phase, shedding his Earth-Wood Psychic Constitution for a Metal-Water Psychic Constitution!]
With the massive resources of the duke's mansion, their breakthroughs took even longer, and Edward even received special care from the mansion.
Duke Michael glanced at them from afar. He wanted to praise them, but seeing his daughter excitedly running to meet Edward, he turned away with a scowl, wishing he could hang a sign at the front door: "No Entry for Edward and Dogs."
Especially that Joseph. At nine years old, already as tall as Edward's chest, this kid was not only handsome but also exceptionally bright and thick-skinned.
Seeing the elders emerge, he immediately reached out his hand, expecting gifts just like when he met any elder, as his grandfather had taught him.
But what could Edward and the others give? They used to have some treasures, but after their trip to the Thunderfire Demon Cave, those demon-infested jerks had either conned or stolen everything, leaving them penniless.
After a tough search, Joseph looked bewildered at the struggling elders and the three nails they reluctantly placed in his hand. He burst into tears, "I'm sorry, I didn't know our elders were this broke. Wait here, I'll bring you all the good stuff!"
Moments later, Joseph returned with a pile of gifts from various festivals given by others.
[Your descendants Edward, Donna, and Nicholas received gifts from Joseph: three top-tier psychic equipment pieces, one basic psychic device, forty nine-to-eight-grade talismans, and various pills...]
"Father, uncle, aunt, just wait!" Seeing the elders' baffled faces staring at the pile of gifts, Joseph felt even more convinced that his family elders were dirt poor, probably why they were always out of sight, likely doing what his grandfather said about robbing to support the family.
Thinking of this, his eyes reddened, and he gritted his teeth, "I'll go to grandfather's treasury and bring you all the good stuff!"
This made the three elders' faces change. Donna quickly grabbed Joseph, "Little Joseph, our family elders have said we mustn't steal from our own people. Aunt knows the duke's mansion is wealthy, but we Blackwoods are proud even in poverty; we must never steal, we always ask."
"But... but these gifts..." Nicholas looked at the gifts in the young boy's hands. He remembered the elders saying that as long as the origins of the gifts were clean and the conscience clear, they could accept them. Although it was embarrassing to take things from a junior, it wasn't entirely out of the question.
Donna frowned, handing the gifts back to Joseph, "We'll accept your gifts, but take your sentiment back."