Chapter 264: The Arrival of the Xia Clan Ancestors

Dongjiu Warship directly entered the Xihuo World from the spatial rift and soon arrived at Xihuo Palace.

Xiuxiuxiu…

Palace Master Chen retracted Dongjiu Warship, and a group of Xia Clan demigods landed one after another.

“Those affiliated with the Blood Blade Tavern and Earth Temple are not allowed inside, apologies,” Palace Master Chen said, then led a group of Xia Clan elders into an unassuming hall of the Xihuo Palace. The armored guards carried Dongbo Xueying inside as well, with Jing Qiu following closely.

Six others remained outside without any resentment. After joining the Blood Blade Tavern and Earth Temple, they had long accepted this reality. Once they joined these two factions, most of them prioritized the Blood Blade Tavern and Earth Temple over the Xia Clan. After all, if their contributions were sufficient, even if they perished, great existences in the Divine World would guide their souls and reshape their physical forms, allowing them to continue living.

This was the hope of resurrection after death.

Of course—

Only a very few were eligible to have their souls guided and bodies remade. Most souls were simply led into the Divine World to live on indefinitely, without the great cost of remaking their physical forms for continued cultivation.

Though their souls lived on without physical forms, cultivation was hopeless. Still, the demigods who chose to pledge allegiance were willing, for at least they lived, right?

As for the Xia Clan? Ultimately, the Xia Clan was merely a race from a mortal world. Although many ancestors of the Xia Clan had ascended to godhood, none had ever achieved the ability to guide souls and reshape physical forms for rebirth. Thus, once the Xia Clan’s transcendents died, they were truly gone, even their souls could not survive.

The transcendents of the Xia Clan believed—

Living without a physical body, though still existing, was merely a life of eternal devotion until their souls aged and perished. This kind of life was not what the Xia Clan transcendents desired!

What they wanted was a glorious, unrestrained life!

They refused to be bound by anything!

They preferred a single, unrestrained lifetime followed by soul dissolution, rather than being controlled and devoted eternally even after their souls were guided.

Most transcendents who managed to ascend were naturally proud and defiant at their core. Thus, even though they came to understand the benefits of the Blood Blade Tavern and Earth Temple as they grew stronger, only a minority ultimately pledged allegiance. The Xia Clan did not mind this, after all, everyone had their own aspirations. As long as they did not betray the entire race like the selfish transcendents of the Demon God Assembly, the Xia Clan would tolerate them.

“Boom~~~”

The hall doors shut.

Inside this hall were placed numerous statues. These statues were all of the Xia Clan, each exuding a unique aura—some unrestrained, some cold and arrogant, some peaceful and calm, others radiating boundless dominance…

These were the ancestors of the Xia Clan who had ascended to godhood in history!

However, some statues were placed at the edges—those placed at the edges were the ones who had ceased communication with the Xia Clan after ascending. This was somewhat disheartening for the descendants of the Xia Clan. However, since they had ascended to godhood, the Xia Clan still sculpted statues for them. Those placed in the central positions were those who still cherished their homeland, and the descendants of the Xia Clan were grateful for that.

Though originally two hundred statues stood in the central rows, now most no longer exuded any aura.

Because…

They had perished!

Even reaching godhood was merely a beginning in the vast Divine World. They too had to fight and struggle in the Divine World, cherishing their homeland, yet some fell forever in the process of striving and battling.

Now only fifty-two statues remained, exuding auras, each containing a spatial mark left by them.

The fifty-two living divine beings of the Xia Clan who still cherished their homeland!

Among them, three possessed the strongest auras!

“Ancestor Yunhai, we descendants of the Xia Clan seek your aid!” Palace Master Chen bowed respectfully. At the same time, the other demigods present, including Jing Qiu, also bowed respectfully, each one doing so from the heart.

Emperor Yunhai.

One of the three strongest among the fifty-two living divine beings of the Xia Clan.

“What is it?”

The statue of a long-haired man in white robes suddenly spoke.

“Within our clan, we have a young prodigy named Dongbo Xueying,” Grandmaster Chen gestured toward the motionless figure lying beside them, his body frozen like a metallic statue. “He has fallen victim to the venom of the Wraithblade, and our arts are powerless against it. We beseech you, Ancestor Yunhai, to grant him the mercy of salvation.”

(Note: “巫神剑” is creatively translated as “Wraithblade” to maintain the mystical/fantasy tone while conveying its sinister nature. The phrasing emphasizes the solemn plea and the gravity of the situation, fitting for a high-stakes fantasy context.)

“The Sword of the Witch God? The Witch God?” The statue of Emperor Yunhai shifted its gaze toward Dongbo Xueying.

He could only sense this place through the spatial mark, allowing him to ‘hear’ and ‘see,’ but this method of perception was very crude.

“Is the Witch God Sword the blade wielded by the Witch God?” inquired Emperor Yunhai.

“Yes,” the armored guard quickly replied.

“Then I certainly cannot assist,” declared Emperor Yunhai. “The Witch God, revered by the Demon Orc Clan, is a being of unparalleled talent, particularly masterful in the arts of hexes and poisons! I possess no expertise in such dark arts and thus cannot possibly cure it. Within our Xia Clan, the one who has reached the pinnacle of medicinal mastery is none other than Emperor Zi Lei. He has now been enlisted by the Blood Blade Divine Court, dedicating himself entirely to the study of healing arts, and his cultivation in this field is profound beyond measure. If you seek to save this young warrior, Dongbo Xueying, only Emperor Zi Lei’s intervention may hold the key to his salvation. Should even he fail… then all hope is lost.”

“We understand,” Palace Master Chen replied quickly.

Emperor Yunhai nodded slightly, and his statue returned to normal.

Palace Master Chen immediately activated the spatial mark of Emperor Zi Lei’s statue again. In the distant Divine World, Emperor Zi Lei, who was deeply immersed in studying herbs, sensed the call and immediately extended his awareness through the endless distances and obstacles of countless worlds, directly entering the statue.

“Ancestor Zi Lei, we descendants of the Xia Clan seek your aid,” Palace Master Chen bowed respectfully, and the others also bowed.

“You have a request?”

Emperor Zi Lei appeared as an exceedingly benevolent elder, his two wisps of mustache lending him an almost endearing charm. In his mortal days, he had been a healer, dedicating his life to mending wounds and saving lives. Later, he awakened the ancient bloodline of the Tyrannical Thunderbolt, yet through profound cultivation, he grasped the True Essence of the Violet Lightning—harnessing its power not to destroy, but to heal. Unbeknownst to him, this path led to his ascension to divinity. Even upon entering the Divine World, he remained unassuming at first, a humble presence amidst the celestial splendor.

Among the ancestors of the Xia Clan, some like Emperor Chi Yun were once brilliant and valiant, advancing swiftly, though some stagnated in power, and some even perished.

Emperor Zi Lei, however, surpassed them all, eventually becoming one of the three strongest divine ancestors of the Xia Clan. He was even recruited by the Blood Blade Divine Court, promising a bright future.

“Our clan has a young prodigy named Dongbo Xueying, who was poisoned by the Witchgod’s Blade…” explained Palace Master Chen.

“You wish for me to save him?” Emperor Zi Lei gazed upon the unconscious Dongbo Xueying. “This Wushen Sword poison—was it truly from the personal blade of the Wushen, wielded by a demigod of the Monster Orc Clan?”

“Yes,” replied Palace Master Chen. “The Sword of the Witch God is currently in the hands of the Grand Elder of the Monster Beast Clan.”

“The Sword of the Divine Sorcerer must have been the blade wielded by the Divine Sorcerer during his godly ascension,” Emperor Zi Lei declared. “The Divine Sorcerer is a supreme being at the Realm God level. Once one attains the status of a Realm God, the weapons they command could never be wielded by a mere demigod. Had the Divine Sorcerer’s current weapon pierced this youth, he would have perished instantly. Yet, even the Sword of the Divine Sorcerer from his earlier days was his personal blade during the zenith of his divine power. Tempered through countless eons, its might is undoubtedly unparalleled. I must manifest an avatar to inspect him in person.”

“We are deeply grateful for your aid, Ancestor Zi Lei,” Palace Master Chen said, excitedly.

Whoosh—

The space within the hall subtly twisted, and this distortion began to resonate with Emperor Zi Lei’s location in the distant Divine World. The mighty divine power of Emperor Zi Lei forcefully pierced through the countless spatial barriers and the barriers of the material world, descending into this hall. An image of an old man began to take shape.

A World Projection!

Actually, descending a World Projection was quite a costly endeavor, yet Emperor Zi Lei did not hesitate for a moment. To him, the Xia Clan’s world was his home, his roots.

“Ancestor Zi Lei,” the Xia Clan demigods present were filled with excitement. They had never seen a divine ancestor of the Xia Clan descend a World Projection before. It was entirely normal for a demigod to never witness such an event in their entire life. Without important matters, the descendants of the Xia Clan would not disturb their ancestors, nor would they ask them to pay the great cost of descending a projection.

“Step aside, let me examine this young one,” Emperor Zi Lei walked directly to Dongbo Xueying’s side. Although his aura was suppressed by the World Will, his mastery of rules, profound insights, and other aspects remained unaffected.

He gently extended a hand.

A streak of purple lightning entered Dongbo Xueying’s mouth.