Chapter 424: I Had a Dream—A Dream About You
"Xiao Xuan!"
The two Soul Clan members, Hun Diao and his companion, stared in disbelief and fear at the familiar face before them. Although they were exceptionally powerful, the man before them had once stood at the very peak of the Dou Qi Continent. Only a handful had ever rivaled him.
"Xiao Xuan may be strong, but he's still bound by the Heavenly Tomb's restrictions. He cannot leave the tomb freely—only once every ten years. The cycle isn't up yet, so he shouldn't be able to appear in person!" Hun Diao took a deep breath, suppressing his terror.
"So… what we're seeing is merely a projection?" the other grey-robed elder asked, eyes flashing.
"It's likely just an image," Hun Diao muttered coldly, emboldened now. Even Xiao Xuan couldn't possibly scare them off with a mere illusion.
"You've got decent eyes," the man in the azure robe smiled faintly. His deep black pupils calmly studied them. "But you overestimate yourselves. Two mere 1-star Dou Saints don't even qualify to speak in my presence."
With that, he slowly raised a hand and gently clenched his fingers.
"Shatter."
As the word left his lips, space within a thousand-meter radius around him collapsed. A colossal black, ethereal hand formed in the void and descended upon Hun Diao and his companion with terrifying ease.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The monstrous black hand fell lightly, but the ground shook like a devastating earthquake. Massive cracks spread like serpents beneath their feet, stretching endlessly into the distance.
Elsewhere in the tomb, powerful energy bodies sensed the commotion. But when they recognized that familiar presence, their expressions changed. All hesitated, then concealed their presence, fading into the earth.
"Impossible…"
The two Soul Clan elders stared blankly at the collapsing space. Even at the height of their lives, they could never have withstood that attack.
"Run!"
Feeling death's chill encroaching, they turned to flee, abandoning any pretense of composure.
BOOM!
But their speed wasn't enough. Under the crushing power of that colossal hand, space itself disintegrated. Before they could escape a hundred meters, the hand arrived.
BOOM!
The black hand didn't even touch them. The mere force of its wind pierced space and struck their bodies directly. They didn't even have time to scream before they exploded into nothingness.
RUMBLE!
The hand crashed into the earth, creating a dust storm that lasted several minutes. When it cleared, a deep abyss over a thousand meters wide had formed, too dark to see the bottom.
"Hiss…"
Xiao Yuan drew in a cold breath. That kind of destructive force… it was terrifying.
"This demon is still as merciless as ever," muttered the Bloodblade Saint, swallowing hard. But then he felt a surge of gratitude—for once, he was glad he'd agreed to be Xiao Yuan's guide.
Floating in the sky, the man in azure—Xiao Xuan—turned at last, ignoring the Bloodblade Saint. His gaze landed squarely on Xiao Yuan.
Under that gaze, Xiao Yuan's blood surged, resonating in his veins. He looked up, black eyes meeting black eyes. They stared for a long while.
Finally, Xiao Xuan's face softened into a smile. Not wide, but it carried a warmth that stirred Xiao Yuan's very soul.
"The Xiao Clan… has finally sent someone. My long wait wasn't in vain."
Xiao Xuan stepped across the void, arriving before Xiao Yuan, his tone gentle with relief and pride.
"Unworthy descendant Xiao Yuan pays respects to our ancestor!"
Unable to contain his emotion, Xiao Yuan knelt midair and performed the Xiao Clan's most solemn bow.
"Xiao Yuan, is it? I've been expecting you."
Xiao Xuan smiled, helping him up with a pat on the shoulder. "I sensed your presence the moment you entered the Heavenly Tomb. You've done well to make it here."
Xiao Yuan scratched his head in embarrassment. To earn praise from such a legendary figure felt unreal.
"You may return now. You have my blessing to remain in the Heavenly Tomb."
Xiao Xuan glanced at the Bloodblade Saint and spoke lightly.
"Thank you, Senior Xiao Xuan!" the Saint responded with joy. That single sentence was worth more than any treasure. From now on, no energy body—no matter how strong—would dare lay a finger on him.
With a bow to Xiao Yuan, he turned and vanished into the distance.
"Let's go to the tomb chamber. Due to the nature of the Heavenly Tomb, I can't leave it. What you see now is merely a projection."
Xiao Yuan's heart shook. Just a projection, yet capable of destroying two 1-star Dou Saints like swatting flies…
"You must have many questions. Come. I've waited too long for this moment."
Xiao Yuan nodded eagerly, following Xiao Xuan deeper into the tomb.
They stopped eventually in a region cloaked in inky blackness, where light barely existed. It was like standing in a void.
"This is the very heart of the Heavenly Tomb."
Xiao Xuan pointed ahead. A solitary ancient stone tablet stood silently in the gloom.
"That… is my tomb."
Even after countless years, an indescribable aura still emanated from the stone—faint, yet enough to make one's soul tremble.
"Come."
Xiao Xuan placed his hand upon the stone and slowly faded.
Xiao Yuan took a deep breath and touched the tablet. Immediately, a wave of bloodline connection surged through him. Light erupted from the stone, engulfing him. When it faded, he had vanished.
Inside, Xiao Yuan opened his eyes to find himself in an ancient palace. At its center was a clear pool dotted with floating green lotuses, their fragrance faint but pure.
"Tell me… what has become of the Xiao Clan?"
Xiao Xuan, hands behind his back, stared into the pool.
Xiao Yuan hesitated. Then, truthfully:
"The Xiao Clan no longer exists. Only a fallen family remains."
He explained everything. Xiao Xuan listened quietly.
"I expected as much. But as long as one bloodline endures, it's not the end."
His voice, calm and magical, soothed Xiao Yuan's aching heart.
"You must have questions," Xiao Xuan asked, turning to smile.
"Can you… come back to life?" Xiao Yuan asked, hope in his voice.
Xiao Xuan shook his head.
"What you see is just a remnant soul. Before my death, I ordered my remains sealed here. That's the only reason I exist like this. But I can't leave. If I do, I'll vanish."
Xiao Yuan's gaze darkened, but he didn't protest. "The Xiao Clan is too weak now. Without our bloodline power, we can't compete. My brother Xiao Yan and I are rare exceptions."
"I knew our Dou Emperor bloodline would eventually run dry. Before my death, I convened the elders. We made one desperate decision."
Xiao Xuan's eyes reflected distant memories.
"We gathered most of the clan's bloodline power… and gave it to me. I carried everyone's final hope."
His voice trembled with sorrow.
"But I failed. After failing to reach Dou Emperor, I was ambushed by the Soul Clan and died."
Xiao Yuan fell silent. Then softly said:
"If you hadn't tried, we'd have died anyway. No one blames you."
"But if the bloodline failed, why did I awaken the Emperor's bloodline—and the clan crest?"
Xiao Xuan smiled.
"Because our clan crest isn't inherited. It's awakened through training."
"You've practiced Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations, haven't you? I created that technique myself and gave it to Blazing Flame Valley. Fate is strange indeed."
"You're missing the final transformation, though. But your bloodline is even purer than mine was. That's why you managed to manifest the crest."
Xiao Yuan's heart surged with excitement.
"Don't worry. I've waited all these years to pass everything on to you. That includes the final step of the Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations."
He grinned warmly.
"As for your bloodline awakening... that was my doing too. You know the Ancient Emperor Jade of our clan was split in two, right? That was me."
"And that mysterious Five Qi Core Art you trained? I left that for you as well."
Xiao Yuan gasped.
"I found it in an ancient ruin," Xiao Xuan said casually. "At the time, most of our clan could still cultivate Dou Qi, so I dismissed it. But it seemed to hold secrets of reaching Dou Emperor."
"Then, on the eve of my final breakthrough attempt… I had a dream."
"A dream… about you."
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1