The Heavenly Tomb is a place where departed souls reside, inherently lonely. In its deepest reaches, a lone stone tablet stands, as if this part of the world exists because of it.
At this moment, the ancient stone tablet was different from usual. A misty radiance enveloped it, and within, there was another realm entirely.
Within the simple and unadorned stone tablet was an ancient palace. The grand hall was very spacious, with only a pool of crystal clear water in the center. By the pool water, a man in a green robe stood with his hands behind his back.
Seeing Xiao Yan kneel, Xiao Xuan reached out and gently lifted him. He was indeed the ancestor of the Xiao Clan, but after a thousand years, someone from the Xiao Clan had finally come to the Heavenly Tomb again. Without asking, he knew the root cause, and that root cause was precisely because of himself.
"Xiao Yan, a good name, a good child. You are very good. Can you tell me about the current situation of the Xiao Clan?"
The feeling of bloodline connection couldn't be faked. Xiao Xuan was very satisfied with this junior named Xiao Yan. After a slight hesitation, he asked about the matters he had been concerned about.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he honestly said:
"The Xiao Clan is no more. What remains is just a declining Xiao Family."
After saying this, he organized his thoughts and recounted in detail the various changes the Xiao Family had undergone over the years.
Xiao Xuan glanced at Xun'er beside Xiao Yan with a half-smile. With his experience, coupled with their behavior along the way, how could he not see that they had a relationship?
Of course, he didn't interrupt. Only after Xiao Yan finished speaking did he say:
"I had long anticipated the Xiao Clan's decline to this extent, but at least the remaining incense is still there, so it hasn't reached the most desperate point."
He had indeed anticipated it, and he could even understand, or rather, feel fortunate for the Gu Clan's actions, which allowed the Xiao Clan to survive.
After all, those who were targeting the ancient Xiao Clan were enemies who were also ancient races, while those targeting the Xiao Family were just a few families in Wutan City...
To be honest, when he entrusted Gu Yuan with the care of the Xiao Clan, he had already prepared himself for the Xiao Clan to become a vassal or even descendants of the Gu Clan. In the current situation, the Xiao Family is at least independent. Whether it's kindness or enmity, it's easy to handle.
Xiao Xuan's voice was gentle, as if possessing a touch of magic, which calmed Xiao Yan down again. On the other hand, in his memory, although the Xiao Family was vastly different from the glory he later learned about, it was actually quite good in the Jiama Empire. Regardless of age, everyone had something to rely on, so he didn't have much feeling about the family's decline.
Moreover, he felt that the rise and fall of a family was actually an inevitable outcome.
He nodded gently, changed the subject, and said:
"My master also existed in soul body form in the world and later regained a body through special means, resurrecting again. Looking at ancestor's appearance, it seems similar to my master. I wonder if it's possible to resurrect again?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xuan was slightly surprised, but he still shook his head and said:
"What you see now is merely my soul remnant. When I fell back then, I specifically instructed someone to send me into the Heavenly Tomb, only then could I transform into my current appearance and wait for your arrival. But this is only limited to the Heavenly Tomb. If I leave here, I will dissipate instantly..."
Xiao Yan seemed to have caught some information. His eyes lit up, and he asked:
"The Heavenly Tomb? Ancestor, what kind of existence is this Heavenly Tomb? Is there a power that surpasses the Heavenly Tomb that can take you away from here?"
Xiao Xuan was stunned when he heard Xiao Yan's words, which could be considered ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. Then he chuckled softly:
"You are quite thoughtful, but the Heavenly Tomb is peculiar. To possess such means, perhaps only a Dou Di existence can try. But how incredibly difficult is it to become a Dou Di?"
As he spoke, his expression was a little trance-like. How heroic he was back then, even ambitious, wanting to break through to Dou Di with the strength of the entire clan. But the result was his own body dying and Dao disappearing, and the vast Xiao Clan fell overnight, becoming what it is today...
"Only need to be a Dou Di?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan murmured in a state of relief.
He truly felt a sense of ease. After more than ten years of spreading the teachings, and having someone like Hun Tiandi by his side, although there wasn't much communication, even just a small amount of information was enough for Xiao Yan to confirm that the visitor from another world, who was like himself, definitely surpassed the Dou Sheng realm.
Moreover, Xiao Yan wasn't stupid. His experience of spreading the teachings for more than ten years easily reminded him of the country he once belonged to, and he vaguely understood what Zhao Li was seeking. He believed that if that day of success truly came, he could probably quickly climb to the peak of the continent.
Even if he took a step back and said he couldn't do it himself, as long as he asked for help, his Grandmaster would most likely not refuse.
Xiao Yan knew what he was doing, but his indifferent murmur frightened Xiao Xuan, causing him to re-examine this junior. If he was too frivolous, even with good talent, he couldn't bear the responsibility of revitalizing the family.
"Xiao Yan, I see that you are now only one step away from Dou Sheng. Such talent, even during the peak of the Xiao Clan, would be considered a Heavenly Talent. But don't think that just because you are a Half-Saint, or even a true Dou Sheng, you will necessarily become a Dou Di..."
Saying this, he paused, with a hint of recollection and regret, and said:
"Back then, I broke through all the way with irresistible force, but I was stuck at the Peak Dou Sheng for two hundred years. Seeing the Xiao Clan's bloodline power becoming increasingly thin, I had the thought of an all-or-nothing gamble. I thought that with the strength of the entire clan, I could strive for Dou Di, but in the end, I still underestimated that great chasm..."
A touch of self-mockery also appeared on that face, which wasn't handsome but was very reassuring, as he spoke. This made him seem to have more of a mortal aura, as if only at this moment was he still a person seeking the Dao.
However, while he hoped his failure could serve as a warning to his junior, he didn't want the junior to lose confidence because of it. He spoke again:
"With my strength back then, I was fully capable of truly attempting to break through to Dou Di. However, every time I was about to break through that barrier, a feeling of emptiness would surge from the depths of my soul. This feeling of emptiness made me realize that in the process of attempting to break through to the Dou Di level, I seemed to be lacking something. This something is extremely crucial. If I could obtain it, breaking through to Dou Di should not be empty talk."
Although Xiao Yan had some understanding of past events, to be honest, it was just something he had heard from others. Now, hearing it from the person involved, it was truly full of twists and turns.
Of course, he also keenly noticed the change in his ancestor's expression. After a little thought, he understood the purpose of his words. He wanted to explain, but when he opened his mouth, he didn't know how to articulate it for a moment.
Nothing else, the changes in the Dou Qi Continent over the past few decades have been too great. Leaving aside other things, just the past ten years he had experienced since leaving Great Li could be described as changing with each passing day, not to mention the Great Li that had been operating and arranging for a hundred years...
It could be said that the Dou Qi Continent a hundred years ago and today can even be considered two different worlds!
However, since he understood Xiao Xuan's intention, Xiao Yan quickly expressed his stance to avoid worrying his elder:
"Ancestor, please rest assured. I know the principle that there are always people better than you, and heavens beyond the heavens. I will not be arrogant, but this unworthy junior needs ancestor to stay in the Heavenly Tomb for a while longer. In the future, I will definitely welcome you back to the Xiao Clan."
Xiao Yan and Zhao Li could both be considered transmigrators. Naturally, they had the fantasy that they were the protagonists and would inevitably reach the peak. Looking back on the past, he was indeed worthy of being the protagonist of his own life. This thought became even firmer. Dou Sheng was definitely not his end.
The difference between him and Zhao Li was that Zhao Li knew there was a peak above the peak and a Great Thousand World outside the Dou Qi Continent. So, for a long time, Zhao Li was very restrained until he achieved Enlightenment and took an Alternative Path to Emperor, only then did he release himself...
For some reason, Xiao Xuan actually had the thought that what Xiao Yan said would definitely come true. This time, he didn't say anything more. He nodded slowly and said:
"I had originally prepared something, but now it is no longer needed..."
Bloodline power, before Dou Sheng, was definitely a help, but after Dou Sheng, it was a hindrance. With Xiao Yan's current realm, he truly no longer needed it.
Because he knew how the Xiao Clan would be surpassed by other ancient races after the bloodline depletion, he understood even more how difficult it was for Xiao Yan to achieve his current accomplishments without the blessing of bloodline power. And perhaps, this was also the reason why he had a strange confidence in Xiao Yan
-----------
Machine Translation by: beta.randomtranslator.com
Read 1400+ original & fanfic translations and Translate for Free at: www.randomtranslator.com