Xiao Yan and the others followed Xiao Xuan once again, flying towards the depths of the Heavenly Tomb. After some time, they finally began to gradually come to a halt. The surroundings were filled with an ink-like darkness, where the light was extremely dim. Standing in this place felt like being in an empty void, evoking a sense of confusion and panic.
“Here is the deepest part of the Heavenly Tomb…” Xiao Xuan said with a faint smile. He then pointed to an ancient stone monument standing solitary in the dark expanse, isolated and timeless. “This is my tomb…”
Xiao Yan looked in the direction Xiao Xuan indicated, at the ancient stone monument. Even after countless years, it still emitted an indescribable aura that, though not strong, caused a shiver through one’s soul.
“The four of you should cultivate outside the stone monument. The energy here is the most concentrated in the Heavenly Tomb. Other energy entities dare not enter this place, so there’s no need to worry about safety.” Xiao Xuan looked at the four of them and said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyang and the others exchanged glances and could only nod with a bitter smile. In front of this former peak powerhouse, all they needed to do was submit completely.
“Xiao Yan, and that lass from the Gu Clan, come with me…” After casually settling the four, Xiao Xuan turned his gaze to Xiao Yan and Xuner. With his hands behind his back, he slowly walked towards the stone monument. When his body touched the stone, it quickly faded until it disappeared entirely.
Gazing at Xiao Xuan’s smiling face, the anxiety in Xuner’s heart dissipated. She obediently extended her soft hand, placing it in Xiao Yan’s palm, allowing him to lead her slowly to the stone.
“Xiao Yan, take care of Xuner.” Gu Qingyang cupped his fists and said solemnly as he watched Xiao Yan and Xuner head toward the stone monument. They knew that Xiao Yan and the others would likely spend a considerable amount of time inside the tomb.
“Take care, all of you,” Xiao Yan nodded with a smile. He reached out and touched the stone monument. Instantly, a sense of familial connection spread from the stone. A circle of luminosity emerged from the stone, enveloping Xiao Yan and Xuner. When the light dissipated, their figures vanished.
Seeing the disappearing figures of Xiao Yan and Xuner, Gu Qingyang and the others exchanged glances and could only sigh with a bitter smile.
“Never mind. Given Senior Xiao Xuan’s capabilities, I’m sure he won’t let any harm come to Xuner. We’ll wait here quietly for them to emerge.” Gu Qingyang shook his head and found a random platform, sitting cross-legged and entering a state of cultivation. Seeing this, the other three also nodded and found their own spots to begin cultivating…
The luminous light gradually dissipated, and Xiao Yan and Xuner slowly opened their eyes, looking at the ancient hall before them with a dazed expression. They hadn’t expected such a strange place to be hidden within the simple and unremarkable stone monument—truly the work of a Dou Sage.
In the center of the hall, Xiao Xuan stood with his hands behind his back. Before him was a pool of clear water, with blue lotuses floating on its surface, emitting a faint, sweet fragrance.
“Can you tell me about the current situation of the Xiao Clan?” Hearing the faint footsteps behind him, Xiao Xuan sighed softly and asked.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment before honestly replying, “The Xiao Clan has fallen. All that remains is a dilapidated Xiao Family.”
With those words, he gathered his thoughts and detailed the various changes and tribulations the Xiao Family had experienced over the years.
When Xiao Yan finished speaking, Xiao Xuan nodded slowly, his face showing no other emotions. “I had foreseen the decline of the Xiao Clan, but at least, there are still remnants. It hasn’t reached the point of total despair.”
Xiao Xuan’s voice was gentle, almost enchanting, helping Xiao Yan to calm down after recalling these sad events. “Do you have any questions?”
“Is the ancestor truly still alive?” Xiao Yan asked, hesitating. If Xiao Xuan could indeed survive in another form, then the revival of the Xiao Clan was possible. With such a peak expert, even the Soul Clan would have to reconsider their plans.
Xiao Xuan stared straight into Xiao Yan’s eyes and, after a moment, shook his head. “What you see now is merely the remnant of my soul. When I fell, I instructed someone to send me to the Heavenly Tomb, thus transforming into this form and waiting for your arrival. However, this existence is limited to the Heavenly Tomb. Outside, I would vanish instantly.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yan’s eyes flashed with disappointment. “The current Xiao Family is too weak. Without the support of our bloodline, we cannot stand against the other ancient races. People like me are already the exception among exceptions.”
“I sensed the imminent exhaustion of the Xiao Clan’s Dou Emperor bloodline when the Xiao Clan was still thriving. You know, if the bloodline power were to dry up, the Xiao Clan would likely be destroyed by adversaries waiting in the wings.”
Xiao Xuan raised his head, his eyes filled with nostalgia. “The only way to replenish the Dou Emperor bloodline was for another Dou Emperor to appear, but this was too difficult. However, in my arrogance, I believed I wouldn’t be stopped before reaching Dou Emperor. After discussing with the elders, we decided to risk it all.”
“We used a secret method to transfer most of the clan’s bloodline power to my body. I knew this was the last hope for all the clan members.” Xiao Xuan took a deep breath, and a look of pain appeared on his face. He had let down all the Xiao Clan members.
“In the end, I failed. After my attempt at Dou Emperor failed, I was ambushed by the Soul Clan and severely injured.”
Hearing Xiao Xuan’s self-blame, Xiao Yan fell silent, then softly said, “That was the last option. If the bloodline power had dried up, the Xiao Clan would have met its end. No one blames you.”
“But if the bloodline power was exhausted, why did I develop the clan symbol?” Xiao Yan, puzzled, touched his forehead.
“Because the Xiao Clan’s clan symbol wasn’t given by others; it was formed through one’s own cultivation,” Xiao Xuan smiled. “The Three Mystic Transformations of Heavenly Fire, I can sense it in your body. It was created by me, and I never expected you to acquire it by chance. I remember giving it to the Burning Flame Valley. ‘Fate’ is truly unpredictable.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yan was stunned. After a moment, he recalled the name he had seen during the transmission of the Three Mystic Transformations of Heavenly Fire in the Burning Flame Valley.
“Xiao Xuan? The Xiao Xuan there referred to the ancestor of the Xiao Clan! This world is truly unbelievable…”
“Of course, the Three Mystic Transformations of Heavenly Fire you practice lacks the final step. It’s because of this missing step that you haven’t been able to manifest the clan symbol,” Xiao Xuan said with a light smile.
Hearing this, a surge of excitement rose in Xiao Yan’s heart as he gazed at Xiao Xuan with eager eyes.
“Hehe, don’t worry. I’ve waited alone for so long, and it’s all for you. I will, of course, teach you the final step of the Three Mystic Transformations of Heavenly Fire,” Xiao Xuan said with a smile as he saw Xiao Yan’s reaction.
“But even if you manifest the clan symbol without the support of bloodline power, it’s hard to truly bring it to its peak,” Xiao Yan mused.
“If it’s called a clan symbol, it must naturally have the bloodline power as its source,” Xiao Xuan nodded slightly, smiling at Xiao Yan’s darkening eyes. Stepping into the pool, he waved his hand. The water began to swirl, and as it did, bloody rays of light seeped from Xiao Xuan, flowing into the pool through his feet.
As the strange, bloody light merged with the water, the clear pool gradually turned crimson, resembling a blood lake. Simultaneously, Xiao Xuan’s black hair turned gray, and his face aged.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan’s expression changed, and just as he was about to speak, Xiao Xuan in the pool shook his head with a smile. “Back then, I used all my strength to preserve some of the Dou Emperor bloodline and sealed it with various methods. The purpose was to enable the creation of another clan member with the power of the bloodline…”
“I am now just a remnant soul, confined to this Heavenly Tomb. Reviving the Xiao Clan is beyond my reach, but fate has not abandoned my clan. I believe you will do better than I ever could.”
Looking at the increasingly aged Xiao Xuan with his increasingly gentle eyes, Xiao Yan felt a pang in his heart. He could sense the immense burden this ancestor, who once astounded the entire Xiao Clan with his talent, carried for the sake of the race.
“Among these bloodline powers are some energies I sealed before my death. I hope my descendant, you will fulfill the promise I made to the Xiao Clan!”
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