Patriarch Eight introduced them to Lu Li one by one. What was surprising to Lu Li was Second Patriarch, Third Patriarch and Patriarch Four looked younger and they appeared to be only of 40 or 50 years old. Also, their breaths of life seemed young as well. The other patriarchs were advanced in ages, though.
Patriarch Eight pointed to Lu Li and said after the introduction, "This is Lu Li. He says… he is Lu Renhuang’s son."
The several Patriarchs’ eyes kindled. Lu Li looked too much alike Lu Renhuang. If Lu Li was a bit older, more hard-edged and appeared to be more elegant and mighty, he would be identical to Lu Renhuang.
Three of the Patriarchs were excited while Second Patriarch Lu Fenghuo and Third Patriarch Lu Liantian frowned. The two looked at each other and Third Patriarch said, "Lu Li, you say that you are Lu Renhuang’s son. Do you have any proof or token?"
Two more Patriarchs frowned. Lu Li was at such a low realm. If he really was Lu Renhuang’s son, how could this be? Also, why did he come back so late? Nevertheless, Lu Li’s identity must be determined before they could move on.
"Proof? Token?"
Lu Li was taken by surprise. Where would he get any proof? If he could get the proof, he wouldn’t have been chased by the Song Family.
Of course, he really was Lu Renhuang’s son. He believed that he could make a clear point about it. Lu Li said after some thoughts, "When I was born, my parents went missing and they didn’t leave anything behind. Um… there is a token of the Lu Family but it was taken by my sister who is at the Cyan Plains now."
What Lu Li said made no difference. There was no proof. More Patriarchs frowned. Patriarch Eight asked, "Lu Li, have you awaken the King Kong Bloodline? If so, then there is no more question."
"Um… no, I didn’t awake the King Kong Bloodline!" Lu Li shook his head. If it were not for the animal tooth pendant, he would have awakened the King Kong Bloodline.
"So…"
Those patriarchs looked at each other, growing more suspicious. If Lu Li really was Lu Renhuang’s son, how come he couldn’t awake the King Kong Bloodline? Almost all the disciples of the Lu Family could succeed, apart from the one or two with extremely bad luck.
If it were not for the fact that Lu Li looked like Lu Renhuang and he didn’t use any disguise, he would have been thrown out.
Third Patriarch Lu Liantian asked again after a moment, "Then how can you prove that you are Lu Renhuang’s son?"
Lu Li was stunned. He thought that he could reclaim his origin as soon as he got back to the Lu Family, but he was faced with an incredibly difficult problem. He could not prove that he was Lu Renhuang’s son.
Seeing that Lu Li couldn’t give an answer, Lu Liantian continued, "How about this? Is there anything left behind by your father? Anything belongs to him will do. Or did he ever tell you any confidential information of the Lu Family?"
"Things?"
Lu Renhuang only left behind that animal tooth pendant which disappeared. It must have become the silver dragon mark on his Soul Pond. As for confidential information about the Lu Family, how could he know when his sister didn’t tell him anything?
All the patriarchs were growing unpleasant seeing that Lu Li could not present anything or say anything. If Lu Li could not prove anything, they would have to treat Lu Li as an imposture.
"Right!"
Lu Li thought of one thing. He said, "I know the War God Album. But I only know the first section. My sister said that it was left behind by our father."
"War God Album?"
Patriarch Eight and other Patriarchs were slightly relieved. Patriarch Eight said, "Then recite it."
Lu Li recited it after some thoughts. There were only dozens of words of the first section of the War God Album. Lu Li had memorized it and he had been using this as a cultivation methodology. He recited it out easily.
"Yes, that is the War God Album."
Patriarch Eight was relieved. The War God Album was unique to the Lu Family. Since Lu Li could learn it, then he should be who he said he was.
"Actually, that is not much of a proof…"
Second Patriarch, Lu Fenghuo, who hadn’t said anything, spoke, "You all know that dozens of years ago, there were two traitors in the Lu Family. What if the two traitors taught others about this? Besides, Lu Li only know the first part. There are five more."
The other patriarchs nodded in agreement and they threw Lu Li stern looks as if they were trying to see through Lu Li’s soul to determine whether he really was a disciple of the Lu Family or some spy.
Seeing that Patriarch Eight didn’t even speak, Lu Li made up his mind and said, "Patriarchs, I am without a doubt the son of Lu Renhuang. Where is my grandpa? I want to see him. I think he will be able to determine whether I am telling the truth or not."
The patriarchs faces grew cold and a glint of coldness flashed through their eyes. Second and Third Patriarch even emitted some killing intent.
Patriarch Eight was just about to say something when Second Patriarch Lu Fenghuo said in a cold voice, "Our Family Patriarch has been in closed door training for many years. Nobody can see him unless he comes out on his own."
"Closed-door cultivation?"
Lu Li was surprised and then he grew suspicious. If it was really just closed-door cultivation, how come those patriarchs reacted so strongly?
Lu Li said nothing. He was shocked. What was he coming back to the Lu Family for? He was here to ask powerful warriors of the Lu Family to save his father from the Ice Abyss.
He should have told the patriarchs about Lu Renhuang’s whereabouts and then asked powerful warriors to go there and save Lu Renhuang which would prove Lu Li’s identity.
However—
Lu Li felt really unsettled. He sensed that some of the patriarchs of the Lu Family were treating him nicely but some were hostile to him. It was not shown. Everything looked normal on the surface but he still felt uneasy.
Therefore…
He could not decide whether he should tell the patriarchs about the whole story. If his grandpa was here, he would not withhold any information. The problem was he could not get to see his grandpa.
Lu Li kept silent. The patriarchs’ lips moved as they were sending voices through minds to discuss. After a while, Third Patriarch Lu Liantian finally said, "Lu Li, you can tell us about your father. Tell us all you know and we will know if it’s true."
"Right!"
Patriarch Eight nodded and said, "Lu Li, speak. Tell us everything and then we will be able to determine your identity."
Lu Li still said nothing. Lu Liantian’s question made Lu Li more alarmed.
Lu Renhuang travelled far to the Northern Desert, pursue by powerful warriors and it had been 10 years but the Lu Family never sent anyone to search for him. Now, Lu Li’s grandpa was in closed-door cultivation? Lu Li felt he had to be vigilant. He could not take any risks.
"Speak, Lu Li. How can we prove who you are if you don’t speak?" Patriarch Eight was getting impatient.
"I don’t know much!"
Lu Li decided to hide some information after some thoughts. He continued, "My father and mother went missing after I was born and I don’t know where they went. My sister was only four years old then and she only told me that my father is Lu Renhuang, I am one of the disciples of the Lu Family and that I should figure out a way to get back to the family. My sister must know more but she is taken away to the Palace of Goddess of the Cyan Plains. How about… you send someone to rescue my sister. I am sure that she knows a lot and she has the token of our father on her."
The patriarchs said nothing in reply. Again, Lu Li’s words were empty. They could not derive any useful information from him, which consequently meant they could not be sure of Lu Li’s identity.
"I have an idea!"
Patriarch Eight suddenly said, "We can throw Lu Li into the Blood Pond of God. Disciples of the Lu Family have a strange kind of Bloodline and all disciples can absorb the blood in that Blood Pond of God. Even if Lu Li only has a hint of owning our Bloodline, he can still absorb some. If he cannot, then he is not a disciple of the Lu Family."