Opportunity…
Yu Songnian silently stared at the Bloodline Box.
Could that be the opportunity he had been waiting for?
"Go ahead and open it," the Tian Po Sword said. "It's quite simple. A direct blood relative of the creator just needs to drip their blood onto the box."
It really was simple.
Yu Songnian took out a small blade, cut his finger, and let a drop of blood fall onto the box. The blood seeped into the carved grooves and began to flow slowly.
Though it had started as just a drop, the blood flowed more and more until it completely filled the intricate patterns of the box.
Click.
The Bloodline Box opened.
Even the Tian Po Sword tilted its blade slightly, curious to peek inside.
Lying silently within was a pitch-black stone.
Beside the stone rested a jade slip.
Yu Songnian picked up the jade slip first.
He sent his spiritual consciousness into it.
The jade slip floated into the air, and a figure appeared above it.
This was...
Yun Jin glanced cautiously at Yu Songnian's expression and immediately understood.
It was most likely Yu Songnian's father, the former head of the Yu family.
"Father," Yu Songnian called softly, his eyes reddening.
But he quickly realized this was just a recorded image. Embarrassed, he glanced at Yun Jin.
Yun Jin politely looked away, pretending not to have seen anything.
The figure hovered calmly, gazing gently into the distance. "Songnian, if you're seeing this, it likely means I'm no longer in this world. I'm sorry I couldn't be with you longer, but I had no other choice."
The projection sighed. "You probably still don't know the truth about your origins. Your mother was not of the human race. She was a member of the outer-realm Stone Clan, who fled from the far south. Their people worship the power of spirit stones and cultivate using special stones. They appear identical to humans in daily life, but when their bloodline is activated, they can enter a petrified state, greatly enhancing all aspects of their strength."
"As expected, Stone People," the Tian Po Sword commented, nodding with satisfaction.
Truly, he was an unremarkable genius when it came to naming things.
"Years ago, a civil war broke out among the outer-realm races. Some fled to the Central Plains, hiding their identities and living among humans. That was how I met your mother. We fell in love, and then we had you.
But none of us expected that the clash of our different bloodlines would cause such disastrous consequences. Originally, you would have been born petrified, never able to awaken. It was your mother who used all her energy to suppress the outer-realm bloodline, allowing you to survive. You probably remember her as always frail and sickly, don't you? The truth is, she was constantly using her own life force to nourish your meridians and suppress your bloodline."
Yu Songnian's mind went blank for a moment.
So that was it.
His mother hadn't truly been sick…
She had become weak like that… for his sake.
"I won't hide it. I once tried to persuade her to stop," the image said. "I loved her deeply, but I was selfish. I feared losing both of you. Your bloodline conflict couldn't be solved by simply suppressing it, and eventually, you would turn to stone forever. If she had stopped, maybe I could have kept her."
The man exhaled heavily. "But she refused. She always believed this situation was her fault and insisted on protecting you no matter the cost. Day after day, she gave everything. Eventually, her life force was exhausted, and she passed. Before she died, she left behind her life-bound spirit stone, the one you see in the box. Your mother was royalty among the Stone Clan. That stone is the royal stone, imbued with immense power. Even after all her years with it, she had only barely tapped into its strength.
She said that once you reach the Unity stage, you will be able to fully absorb the royal stone. At that time, the two bloodlines may completely fuse, and your affliction may finally be cured."
"But… reaching Unity in your condition is almost impossible." The figure's face showed a trace of despair. "After losing your mother, I tried everything I could to keep you alive. I gave you countless rare treasures and medicines, but it was no use. The petrification started occurring more frequently, the intervals growing shorter. I knew… at this rate, you would be taken from me too.
Recently, I learned that a rare treasure had appeared on the mountain near Lin City. Its light was dazzling, and its spiritual energy overwhelming. Many cultivators went there one after another… but none of them came back.
If I could retrieve that treasure, perhaps I could suppress your bloodline for a few more years. So I made my decision. I would go and claim it. The journey is filled with danger. I may not return. If I succeed, we father and son may still share a few more years together. But if I fail…"
A faint smile appeared on his face. "Then I will finally be able to see her again."
The recording went silent for a long while.
Eventually, the man looked ahead with an indescribable gaze.
There was no one there, but everyone knew exactly who he was looking at.
"I… I resented you, for a time," he said quietly. "If you had never been born, she would still be alive."
Yu Songnian's shoulders trembled faintly.
Then the figure smiled again. "But… your mother loved you more than life itself. And I loved her more than life itself. So, I love you, more than life itself as well. Songnian, no matter what, live on. As long as you live, there is hope."
The voice faded, softer and softer, until it vanished completely.
The room felt empty once more.
Yu Songnian stared quietly at the black stone. Then, with great care, he picked it up.
The royal stone.
This was the only thing his mother had left him.
Yun Jin let out a breath.
But in her heart, she felt a wave of unease.
This stone might be the solution to Yu Songnian's condition, but… it could only be used at the Unity stage.
Given his current state, how could he possibly reach Unity?
This path felt like a dead end.
The Tian Po Sword, however, chuckled. "A human bloodline mixed with that of the outer-realm. This boy is quite interesting. Young Master, you don't have to worry too much. With me here, I can keep him alive for three more years. Once the hidden vault of the Wushuang Sect is opened, we might be able to retrieve a secret technique that can fuse bloodlines. Even if it can't solve the problem entirely, it might help suppress it. If he can hold out until Unity… this boy might soar to the heavens."
Yun Jin's eyes lit up. "Senior, there really are such techniques in the Wushuang Sect's vault?"
The Tian Po Sword snorted coldly, looking smug. "What kind of techniques doesn't the Wushuang Sect have? Just wait and see. I guarantee you'll be stunned speechless when the time comes."
Yun Jin's curiosity had now been completely ignited.
In her past life, the storyline had ended without ever touching on the Wushuang Sect. This mysterious sect had never appeared on the stage.
But this time…
Everyone would finally get to see the true brilliance of the world's number one sect.