Chapter 523: Six Thousand Years

"Brother Xiao Yan." Xun Er's expression was tense and worried.

"Don't worry, I won't be harmed." Xiao Yan gently patted Xun Er's jade hand.

As his words ended, Xiao Xuan turned his hands behind his back and slowly walked toward the stone tablet; when his body touched it, he rapidly faded until he vanished completely, and Xiao Yan followed him into the tablet.

Inside the massive stone tablet lay another world; the dazzling light filling the space slowly dissipated, and as Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, an ancient palace appeared before him—he was no longer surprised by the Sage Emperor's ability to carve out a void little world.

At the center of the grand hall ahead, Xiao Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from Xiao Yan; before him was a pool of crystal-clear water, upon which floated lotus blossoms, exuding a faint, sweet fragrance.

Hearing the faint footsteps behind him, Xiao Xuan gazed at the pool, where his reflection rippled on the surface, and said gravely: "You carry the Soul Sovereign's Dou Di bloodline."

Xiao Yan felt no surprise at Xiao Xuan's words—he had already seen the answer in the eyes of Ancestor Xiao Xuan.

He knew Xiao Yan carried the Soul Tribe clan mark and the Dou Di bloodline.

Xiao Xuan was not asking a question, but stating a fact—yet within those words lay an inquiry.

Xiao Xuan was also asking Xiao Yan: As the Young Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, why did you join the Soul Sovereign?

Before arriving, Xiao Yan had considered how to answer—whether to conceal some truths and weave a lie from partial honesty.

But later, Xiao Yan realized there was nothing worth hiding.

Xiao Yan walked beside Xiao Xuan and looked down at the pool, where their reflections mirrored each other—as if time had been crossed, showing the Xiao Clan Clan Leader of a thousand years ago and the Xiao Clan Young Clan Leader of a thousand years later.

Gazing at the still water, Xiao Yan spoke calmly: "Before I joined the Soul Palace, the strongest in our clan was my father—a Five Star Da Dou Shi."

As Xiao Yan's words fell, the previously calm water suddenly rippled, as if a small stone had been cast into it.

Though Xiao Xuan's face remained expressionless, Xiao Yan clearly sensed a ripple in his spiritual soul.

It was hard to imagine that a man dead for countless years, whose emotions and consciousness had long faded, once a pinnacle of the continent's Imperial Soul, could still show emotional disturbance.

Hearing this, Xiao Xuan slowly closed his eyes, and a single tear of soul drifted from his corner.

Da Dou Shi—that was the peak of power in Wutan City, enough to be called the city's Baba—but for the ancient Xiao Clan, for Xiao Xuan, he had nearly forgotten what a Da Dou Shi even was.

Below Sage Emperor was Dou Zun, below Dou Zun came Dou Zong, Dou Huang, Dou Wang, Dou Ling, and only after them came Da Dou Shi.

In Dou Emperor Families, those descendants without any bloodline mutations, merely by practicing any cultivation method, reached Da Dou Shi strength by adulthood! And in the Xiao Realm, these people were the lowest laborers, tasked with tilling Pill Fields and harvesting Medicinal Materials—numbering hundreds of millions.

Yet a thousand years later, the once-dominant Xiao Clan on the Dou Qi Continent had its strongest member reduced to a Da Dou Shi!!

Xiao Yan's answer was clear: the Xiao Clan had truly vanished—these two Xiao Clans were not the same thing. He had joined the Soul Palace by accident, and before joining, he had not even known of the feud between the Xiao Clan and the Soul Sovereign.

To Xiao Yan now, the Soul Sovereign's Dou Di bloodline was merely another form of power, like the Dragon Phoenix bloodline.

And the Xiao Clan could not offer him these.

Xiao Yan turned his head toward this middle-aged man who had waited alone in the Heavenly Tomb for clan members to enter and inherit the legacy—he did not know how Xiao Xuan felt hearing this news.

Empathy was false; even if Xiao Yan reached Imperial Soul Force, he could never truly feel what Xiao Xuan felt.

One year outside, six years inside the Heavenly Tomb.

Xiao Xuan had waited alone in the Heavenly Tomb for six thousand years!!!

Six thousand years! He had waited six thousand years in this hellish place! How could Xiao Yan possibly claim he understood?

Yet Xiao Xuan's emotional disturbance quickly subsided again—whether due to the Heavenly Tomb's influence or because he was naturally composed and calm, no one could say.

"The Xiao Clan's decline to this state was something I anticipated long ago—but at least, a spark of our lineage still remains," Xiao Xuan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze once again deep and profound.

"The Dou Di bloodline within our clan has vanished entirely—I am the only anomaly. I founded the Yan Alliance, allied with several factions on the continent, and the Xiao Clan now hides within it. Though far from regaining Dou Emperor Family status, our clan members live in peace and prosperity," Xiao Yan said calmly.

"Is that so? Then at least it hasn't reached the worst possible state," Xiao Xuan nodded faintly.

"Ancestor Xiao Xuan, are you truly still alive? Is there any way to revive you? I am still an Alchemist," Xiao Yan hesitated, then asked.

If Xiao Xuan could be revived like the Heavenly Flame Master, it would be terrifying—if true, the revival of the Xiao Clan might yet be possible.

Xiao Xuan stared directly at Xiao Yan, then slowly shook his head: "What you see now is merely my soul information—merely a fragment of my soul carved into the Heavenly Tomb before death. Once you leave the Heavenly Tomb, I will vanish into nothingness. Even the Yao Clan, with countless geniuses and prodigies, could never revive an energy entity within the Heavenly Tomb."

Hearing this, a flicker of disappointment passed through Xiao Yan's eyes; he chuckled bitterly: "Then it seems the Xiao Clan can only rebuild slowly."

Xiao Xuan looked at Xiao Yan and said: "Since you've obtained the Yin-Yang Twin Heavenly Flames, you've seen the soul memories I left behind—you should know some things by now."

Xiao Yan nodded—he knew fully well how the Xiao Clan's Dou Di bloodline had dried up, and how Ancestor Xiao Xuan and all clan members had made a final desperate gamble, failing to break through to Dou Emperor and being annihilated by the Soul Sovereign.

"Did you obtain the secret cultivation method of Heavenly Flame Three Transformations from the Burning Flame Valley?"

"Yes."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xiao Xuan could not help but sigh: "I never imagined—back then, that fool Burn Flame pestering me for the first half of Heavenly Flame Three Transformations would eventually forge such a good fortune."

Xiao Xuan had never expected Xiao Yan to obtain the secret method of Heavenly Flame Three Transformations from the Burning Flame Valley; his legacy was meant to guide Xiao Clan descendants to the Ancient Realm and enter the Heavenly Tomb to find him.

Because the Xiao Clan and the Gu Clan had once made an agreement—a pact of alliance. If one side fell, the other would take custody of the Heavenly Tomb, and the custodian bore the duty to protect the other's clan members and help them enter the Heavenly Tomb to receive the legacy left by their ancestors.

In ancient times, super-strong members of various clans had placed their legacies within Tomb Mansions, so that if their clans ever truly declined, they would still have a backup plan—a chance to rise again.

Thus, the Heavenly Flame Three Transformations in the Burning Flame Valley was never part of Xiao Xuan's plan.

"Heavenly Flame Three Transformations is a supreme secret technique I created; the so-called 'three transformations' are merely its preliminary method—only after mastering the three transformations can one cultivate the true Heavenly Flame Three Transformations."

Speaking of Heavenly Flame Three Transformations, Xiao Xuan's eyes gleamed with pride: "The true Heavenly Flame Three Transformations are not used to enhance cultivation realm—they use the power of Heavenly Flames to temporarily elevate the rank of Dou Di bloodline!"

Hearing his Ancestor's words, Xiao Yan's eyes darkened with gravity—only a technique capable of elevating Dou Di bloodline rank could possibly be a Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade secret technique!

Xiao Yan had fully witnessed the strength of Dou Di bloodline these past days—it was pure divine favor, a legal cheat code!

Compared to opponents of equal or lower cultivation, the effect might not be obvious—but if a Dou Zun possessed a ninth-rank or Divine-grade bloodline, the enhancement was utterly envy-inducing, with zero side effects!

"After mastering Heavenly Flame Three Transformations, our Xiao Clan's clan mark can be carved using Heavenly Flames—no need for an Imperial Brush."

Xiao Yan licked his lips; the clan mark was the key to unlocking Dou Di bloodline—if Heavenly Flame Three Transformations could temporarily elevate the bloodline's rank, then Xiao Yan could wield the power of the Xiao Clan's clan mark!

The Soul Tribe's clan mark enhances Soul Force; the Gu Clan's enhances Dou Technique power—what special effect did the Xiao Clan's Dou Di bloodline possess?

Sensing Xiao Yan's excitement, Xiao Xuan slowly turned to look into his eyes and said seriously: "Xiao Yan, will you protect the Xiao Clan?"

Xiao Yan smiled, his gaze locked firmly on Xiao Xuan's eyes: "Ancestor, reviving the Xiao Clan has always been my mission. I cannot promise to avenge you—declaring war on the Soul Sovereign would plunge the current Xiao Clan into utter ruin. As Young Clan Leader, I cannot gamble my clan members' lives. But I, Xiao Yan, swear: As long as I live, the Xiao Clan shall rise! When I die, I shall become a ghostly deity to guard the Xiao Clan's descendants!"

Seeing Xiao Yan's sincerity, Xiao Xuan—the man who had not smiled in six thousand years—finally wore a smile again.

"Good! You have more responsibility than I did," Xiao Xuan laughed loudly, clapping Xiao Yan's shoulder heavily—if only he had not chosen to challenge the Dou Emperor realm, perhaps things might have turned out differently.

Of course, the outcome was likely unchanged—if the Xiao Clan's bloodline dried up, either the Soul Sovereign would crush them, stripping them of Dou Emperor Family status and exterminating them entirely, or they would be absorbed into the Gu Clan, and the Xiao Clan would slowly vanish from history, becoming merely a branch of the Gu Clan.

However, regardless of which, for the Xiao Clan at that time, neither was acceptable, which was why that all-or-nothing decision was made.

"Originally, cultivating the ultimate Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Changes requires three kinds of Strange Flames. I left guidance within the Yin-Yang Twin Flames, which will help you find the two Strange Flames I sent away with my Self-Detonation. An ordinary person cannot possess three Strange Flames at once, but I left methods on the Strange Flames that will allow you to coexist with them."

"However, it seems you have obtained a very special Cultivation Method that grants you the ability to possess Fused Strange Fire."

Xiao Xuan naturally saw through it. He had originally been worried that if a Xiao Clan junior did not have three Strange Flames, it would be very troublesome, as the true effect of the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Changes could not be fully unleashed. So he deliberately left many Black Jade Pieces to guide Xiao Clan juniors into the Life and Death Gate to obtain the Yin-Yang Twin Flames, then guide them to seek out the other two Strange Flames, raise their strength, and then come to the Ancient Realm.

However, the Qi Circulation and potential Xiao Yan possessed were even greater than he had imagined; Xiao Yan completed all of this on his own.

Hearing the Ancestor's words, Xiao Yan immediately frowned, because the Yin-Yang Twin Flames had not given Xiao Yan any indication of other Strange Flames. He sought out Strange Flames not because of the Xiao Clan's inheritance, but because the Burning Art required it.

"Ancestor, I want to ask you, what are the other two Strange Flames you sealed?" Xiao Yan frowned and asked with some confusion.

Hearing Xiao Yan's question, Xiao Xuan also lightly furrowed his brow and said, "The Red Lotus Karma Flame, ranked eighth on the Strange Fire Ranking, and the Eight Wastelands Destruction Flame, ranked sixth."

Xiao Yan sighed; he had roughly guessed it. Given Xiao Xuan's strength and status, only the top ten Strange Flames were worthy of him. If the Yin-Yang Twin Flames had not been so perfectly suited to the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Changes, Xiao Xuan probably would not have used them.

"Although I cannot be certain, I have heard that the Yan Clan possesses the Red Lotus Karma Flame and the Eight Wastelands Destruction Flame."

"The remnants of my clan have been divided up among the seven clans." Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Xuan helplessly. The two Strange Flames you left behind have most likely been intercepted, and some of the Xiao Clan's legacy Secret Realms have long since been carved up.

Xiao Xuan's face immediately darkened. Back then, once he conceived the idea of the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Changes, he began searching the entire Dou Qi Continent for Strange Flames. After enduring all manner of dangers, braving peril in two fierce lands, he finally Refined the Eight Wastelands Destruction Flame and the Red Lotus Karma Flame.

Moreover, Xiao Xuan had already traveled across the entire Dou Qi Continent and roamed through Space, yet failed to find a second one — not even an infantile one. For the Yan Clan to suddenly have two identical adult Strange Flames—

Back then he had discovered the Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Fire in its infantile stage, which was how he came to know Fenyan Gu Zu. However, he did not obtain any of these infantile Strange Flames.

In the end, Xiao Xuan searched the entire Dou Qi Continent and could not find a second Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame or Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Fire, so he chose the Eight Wastelands Destruction Flame and the Red Lotus Karma Flame as the Strange Flames for his Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Changes.

"If it is the Yan Clan, it is indeed possible they forcibly broke through the methods I left behind and claimed the Strange Flames for themselves." Xiao Xuan deliberated. The Yan Clan's strength was not weak, and they also possessed the Emperor Inheritance — truly masters of playing with fire.

"However, fortunately, you possess a great fortuitous encounter and obtained a Cultivation Method capable of fusing Strange Flames."

Sometimes man's calculations cannot compare to heaven's. The methods Xiao Xuan left behind were broken by others, but Xiao Yan himself obtained the Burning Art and gathered even more Strange Flames!

"The Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Changes can elevate the grade of the Dou Di Bloodline, but it cannot elevate it infinitely — it still requires the foundational support of a Dou Di Bloodline."

Xiao Xuan stepped into the pool of water before him, then walked to the center of the pool. With a flick of his palm, the pool water began to slowly rotate. Along with the rotation of the pool water, streams of blood-colored light slowly emanated from within Xiao Xuan's body, finally flowing through his palm and merging into the pool water.

"The Xiao Clan's Dou Di Bloodline!" Xiao Yan's heart jolted. That Soul Sovereign body contained a trace of the Soul Sovereign's Dou Di Bloodline, and to preserve its consciousness from life, the Dou Di Bloodline was essential. If it lost the Dou Di Bloodline, after lingering in the Heavenly Tomb for too long, it would become a mindless walking corpse!

And as those streams of peculiar blood-colored light merged into the pool water, the crystal-clear pool water gradually turned blood-red, looking like a pool of blood. At the same time, Xiao Xuan's black hair began to gradually turn white, and his face grew aged.