Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Martin was, after all, their maternal family line
"Consolidating Cloudview County starts with taking down Michael," Ethan muttered as he clicked his mouse.
He ignored a message that popped up: [Your temple guardian beast is requesting a 'good enough' name.] Instead, Ethan clicked on Olivia's avatar, intending to have her oversee the big picture.
But there she was, transformed again, now pushed by a maid formed from an AI Bionic Robot.
"What's happened to her now?"
Previously, Olivia had reverted to her youthful self, a young girl of eighteen. Now, she had aged again, appearing as a mature woman of charm, pausing by the mountains and lakes.
[Your descendant Olivia is contemplating the power of the world's mountains, rivers, and lakes, undergoing a natural decline.]
[She is currently understanding the third layer of the 'World Scripture', focusing on landscapes.]
[Olivia kindly asked Dennis for guidance and received fragments of ancient wisdom, gaining a partial understanding of fate.]
[She has spent decades of her life communicating with the Endless Forest, asking for a sliver of fortune to rejuvenate Blackwood.]
Ethan thought he saw a faint purple light from the Endless Forest heading towards Blackwood. Above Olivia's head, he noticed storm clouds; every few moments, a wild spirit would be extinguished under them.
Having reached the Competent Force stage, Ethan still didn't quite grasp the concept of fortune. He had heard that a family's prosperity and wealth were tied to it, and many were obsessed with cultivating 'fortune trees.'
"Did you go... to seize fortune?"
Ethan's scalp tingled, no wonder Olivia had aged again!
A Psychic Position emerged.
Olivia's eyes sparkled with joy, though her expression remained unchanged, "Forebearer, I've realized it! Cloudview County hasn't produced a Basic Mastery in over a hundred thousand years because it lacks fortune! In the struggle for supremacy, it's not just about fighting for treasures but also for the world's fortune. "
"Without it, there are no more opportunities, no favor from the cosmos. Please rest assured, Forebearer, I will use all my strength to slowly reclaim our fortune."
"..."
Ethan was silent for a moment, still not fully understanding this concept. He had intended for Olivia to return home and take charge, but now he had to let that plan go.
He sent Olivia a 'Forebearer's Caress' and left a message [Take care of yourself, no need to force things], then switched the screen.
"Yes, Forebearer!"
Olivia looked at the cards that had returned to normal, squinting slightly at the storm clouds in the sky.
"Nicholas, I'm sorry, your great-grandmother has been too fierce these years, not knowing you had already resigned yourself to fate."
"Just be at peace in the cycle of reincarnation. When your great-grandmother takes control of the cycle of life and death, I'll restore an eternal Blackwood for you, where you can roam freely!"
[Your temple guardian beast, please give it a random name.]
"..."
The event tab popped up again with a message from the Exploding Sky Serpent. Ethan stroked his chin, assuring himself that it wasn't out of spite for the serpent condensing his several hundred words into a few, after all, people from Blackwood aren't petty.
Ah, this will do...
[The Primordial Blood Tree reports to you that your descendants, Julian and the third generation of Blackwood, taking advantage of Amelia's absence, want to retaliate for the previous tattling incident while it rests. Please allow it to teach them a lesson.]
"Agreed."
Ethan seriously clicked on the Exploding Sky Serpent's avatar, solemnly consulted his clan, and then gave it a resounding name.
He then promptly switched the screen to the Blackwood Hall.
At this moment.
The Blackwood family at home was discussing the affairs of Cloudview County. After Nicholas, the family hadn't appointed a new head. Nathan said that from now on, all family matters would be decided collectively by those at home. After strategizing, if it was a major issue, they would consult the Forebearer.
Suddenly, the Blackwood folks looked outside, baffled.
"Ha ha ha, I have a name now! Call me Charlie Crackle, ha ha ha."
"Oh!"
"Enemies, tremble before me, Charlie Crackle!"
The corners of everyone's mouths twitched as they recognized the ecstatic roar of the Exploding Sky Serpent... no, Charlie Crackle.
They didn't see little Katie proudly lifting her head.
She would never tell the clan that just now the Forebearer had shown his powers, asking her to give the temple guardian beast a formidable nickname, signifying his approval of her!
No one would ever know...
Suddenly, Katie froze as the elders' gazes simultaneously fixed on her.
"..."
Katie tilted her head and scratched it. Was it that obvious?
The Blackwood folks were just about to teach Katie a lesson to prevent more such disgraceful incidents, their faces darkening.
Over at the Primordial Blood Tree.
"Help!"
"You sneaky tattletale old tree, don't think you're something special, just you wait!"
"Ha ha ha, I've finally waited for this day! Eight jerks, old and new scores to settle!"
"..."
Outside, branches swayed and roots entwined, flinging eight big guys around like windmills, while inside the Blackwood Hall, the folks darkened their faces and simply used a magic circle to block out the noise.
When they turned back, they couldn't help but smile.
The people of Gratitude Village, lined up to pay their respects, also looked towards Blackwood, hearing these shouts and couldn't help but laugh.
Maybe... no, definitely.
What they were protecting was just like this.
...
Back in the hall.
Nathan sat back in the main seat, sipped his tea, and looked around at the few people present; George, William, and Justin had gone to Druid to scavenge. He then said, "Martin is ultimately under the empire, we need to act, but not overtly, and certainly not let our Blackwood name be associated with this."
"Grandfather, don't worry."
Daniel sat stiffly, "Aunt Dawn has already handed over to me, these days I've had Dawn's assassins watching Martin, none will escape. Now that Cloudview County's major powers have reemerged, they are willing to follow our Blackwood lead, grandfather, we have plenty of ways to deal with Martin."
Amelia casually said, "If the demon cultivators make a move, then it's none of our Blackwood business, after all, demon cultivators are capable of anything."
"Edward, Betty, Joseph, Katie, what do you think?"
As Nathan asked, everyone looked towards Edward's family.
Martin was, after all, their maternal family line.
The family was expressionless. Katie had no feelings for Martin; after she was born, she only knew her grandfather had sent people to kidnap her, wanting to marry her off at a tender age. Even in her twenties, they still tried to arrange a marriage for her. She had heard some of the past stories and couldn't understand how such a shameless Duke could come from the Duke's Mansion.