Chapter 207: Past Events

"Soul Sovereign? Could it be the Soul Sovereign of the Soul Temple? Then the Xiao Clan is..." Xiao Yan's expression turned grave; he seemed to have uncovered something monumental.

Before Xiao Yan could ponder further, another man spoke up immediately: "The Soul Sovereign is arrogant and brazen, clamoring to seize the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade from the other seven clans, and even dares to mock our Xiao Clan's dwindling bloodline—how openly shameless, truly detestable."

The man in pale green robes seated at the head lowered his eyes slightly but remained silent.

Xiao Yan pondered briefly; the "Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade" mentioned by that man sparked an idea in him, and he had not forgotten that Hun Xu Zi had originally come to the Xiao Clan seeking something.

"Clan Leader, our Xiao Clan stands at the brink of life and death. If we continue like this, absorption by the Soul Sovereign is inevitable. Only if you break through to Dou Di will our bloodline survive."

The elder seated beside the green-robed man spoke in a deep, solemn tone.

Hearing the elder's words, the others trembled visibly, their worry plain on their faces.

Xiao Yan's heart jolted too—he had indeed heard of his clan's bloodline before. During the Trial in the Soul Dao, that man named Hun Yu Cun had claimed he wished to activate his Dou Di Bloodline to strengthen himself!

"Did our family once produce a Dou Di?! But why are we now so fallen?" Xiao Yan murmured softly.

"Elder, have you considered the consequences of failure?" the middle-aged man who had first denounced the Soul Sovereign's treachery asked the elder in a low, stern voice.

"If we succeed, the Xiao Clan will produce another Dou Di, and our bloodline will endure. If we fail—whether we become useless shells or die—what difference does it make from being slowly devoured by the Soul Sovereign? Better to die fighting for our clan's future than become their slaves," the elder, called Great Elder, stroked his white-and-gray beard and spoke with stern authority.

"The Great Elder is right. Our Xiao Clan stands at the edge of annihilation. Whether we succeed or fail, we can bear it," others chimed in unison.

Yet no matter how loudly those present shouted, the green-robed man at the head remained still, his eyes half-closed.

"Only your strength has any chance of breaking through to Dou Di. You are the hope of every single person in the Xiao Clan—Xiao Xuan!" the Great Elder cried out.

"So his name is Xiao Xuan," Xiao Yan said, gazing at the middle-aged man before him, who appeared like a projection.

Suddenly, the man named Xiao Xuan snapped his eyes open—his piercing gaze met Xiao Yan's directly, and Xiao Yan's heart jolted.

Though Xiao Yan knew this was unreal, for an instant the man before him seemed to come alive—as if he had crossed countless ages of time to lock eyes with Xiao Yan.

"Allow me a few more days to think," Xiao Xuan said in a low voice.

Suddenly, the entire scene vanished. After a whirl of shifting stars and earth, the view shifted to another setting.

"Brother Xiao Xuan, why have you brought so many of your clan members to the Heavenly Tomb? What is your purpose?" said a handsome, elegant man, bowing slightly.

Xiao Xuan replied: "Brother Gu Yuan, though all eight clans possess Dou Di Bloodline, the passage of time has caused our bloodlines to wither. You know well that our Xiao Clan's bloodline has decayed the most. Thus, we have resolved to cast aside all retreat—to pool our entire clan's bloodline strength to help me break through to Dou Di."

When speaking of his clan's desperate gamble, Xiao Xuan paused slightly, yet his voice rang strong and resolute.

Xiao Yan frowned inwardly: "Gu? I recall Xun Er's surname is Gu... and this man's appearance bears some resemblance to hers."

Hearing Xiao Xuan's words, Gu Yuan was shaken to his core. His gaze shifted from Xiao Xuan to the Xiao Clan members behind him—their eyes were firm, their expressions resolute. He sighed inwardly.

"Why choose the Heavenly Tomb to attempt your Dou Di breakthrough?" Gu Yuan regained his composure and asked.

"Naturally, the Heavenly Tomb contains ancient Source Qi sealing arrays. Once activated, they greatly increase the success rate of the ascension ritual."

Gu Yuan nodded, then mused: "Using Source Qi arrays to aid ascension is indeed a sound strategy. Brother Xiao Xuan, the Heavenly Tomb lies at the border between our two clans' territories—it is shared by both. Though you have done great favors for the Gu Clan, the Heavenly Tomb is sacred ground. Some among us may object. If you give us the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, I can represent the Gu Clan and permit your clan to enter the Heavenly Tomb to perform the ascension ritual."

"Very well. The Xiao Clan will bestow the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade upon the Gu Clan—but only after the ascension ritual," Xiao Xuan declared firmly.

"If we fail, I beg you, Brother Gu Yuan, to care for our Xiao Clan."

Seeing this, Xiao Yan's heart had already sunk. He understood the outcome—if they had succeeded, the Xiao Clan today would not be so diminished.

As expected, the next scene shifted—and disaster struck.

A white-robed man, gentle and scholarly in bearing, with a refined, handsome face, appeared before Xiao Xuan. Behind him, black mist surged, and countless figures clad in Soul Robes emerged from the swirling vortex.

Seeing the Soul Robes, no introduction was needed for Xiao Yan—the main villain had arrived.

"Hun Tian Di, what do you want?" Xiao Xuan demanded.

"Of course, I've come to witness the Xiao Clan Leader's ascension to Dou Di—and to claim the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade," Hun Tian Di said with a calm, elegant smile on his beardless face.

A graceful, composed smile.

"Each of the eight clans holds one shard. Do you think I'd surrender ours so easily?" Xiao Xuan replied coldly.

Facing Xiao Xuan's refusal, Hun Tian Di merely smiled without changing expression. He had known from the start that Xiao Xuan would never surrender the "Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade" lightly. He spoke in a coaxing tone: "Do you know why no one on the Dou Qi Continent has ascended to Dou Di for so long?"

Xiao Xuan said nothing, only stared coldly at Hun Tian Di.

"Huh? No one has ascended to Dou Di for so long? Is there no Dou Di on the Dou Qi Continent now?" Such beings as Dou Di were far beyond Xiao Yan's reach—even Dou Sheng and Dou Zun were invincible to him.

He had always assumed Dou Di existed only in Zhong Zhou. Now he learned there were none on the entire Dou Qi Continent.

Hun Tian Di continued on his own: "Because the Dou Qi Continent lacks Source Qi—and Source Qi is the key to ascending to Dou Di!"

"I know your Xiao Clan intends to gamble everything. But have you considered this: the Dou Qi Continent has no Source Qi left. Even if you pool your entire bloodline and fight to the death, you will achieve nothing," Hun Tian Di said softly, his voice seductive as he glanced at the bustling Xiao Clan members in the distance.

"Xiao Xuan, are you willing to doom your entire clan to death with you?"

Xiao Xuan sneered. "Do you think I don't know the secret of Source Qi? Our clan's current state leaves us no retreat. We must gamble everything."

Hun Tian Di shook his head repeatedly, his face filled with sorrow. "How can you be so stubborn? If you give me the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, once I collect all eight shards and open the Dou Di Ruins, the primordial Emperor Qi and Imperial Grade Embryonic Pill within will help both of us ascend to Dou Di. Why risk the lives of your entire clan?"

(End of Chapter)