Judge by Deeds, Not Intentions

"Hmm, perhaps I've been dead for too long. I can no longer remember clearly what happened between the Yao Clan and our Xiao Clan." Seeing the change in Yao Ling's expression, Xiao Xuan guessed much of the truth. "No matter what, judge by deeds, not intentions. If the Yao Clan had not offered such timely aid, you would not have grown so quickly, and many things would not have gone so smoothly."

"I will certainly remember this kindness." Hearing Xiao Xuan's words, Xiao Yan understood most of it as well. No matter what, the Yao Clan had indeed treated him with courtesy, and Clan Leader Yao Dan had even regarded him as his own son. That alone was enough. As for their reasons for helping him, he truly did not care all that much.

"Of course, no matter what, the sons of the Xiao family must still walk their own broad path independently. The Yao Clan's aid in our hour of need will be remembered by the Xiao Clan. If the Xiao Clan prospers again in the future, we will never mistreat the Yao Clan. But if you merely wish to use the Xiao Clan to accomplish something, you would do well to abandon such thoughts as soon as possible," Xiao Xuan added calmly.

"Yao Ling understands. Once I leave the Heavenly Tomb, I will convey Senior's words to my clan's Clan Leader as soon as possible," Yao Ling hurriedly said. Though Xiao Xuan's tone remained gentle, she did not dare treat such words with the slightest disrespect. She did not wish to leave any bad impression on such a towering figure.

"Ancestor, are you still alive in this world?" Unable to suppress the excitement in his heart any longer, Xiao Yan asked directly. If Xiao Xuan still lived, then whichever of the Ancient Eight Clans wished to harm the Xiao family would have to think it over very carefully.

"No. I merely remain in this world in the form of a fragmentary soul, waiting for your arrival. All these years of bitter waiting, and everything I was capable of doing, were solely for the purpose of giving you the final remnant of the Xiao Clan's Bloodline power." For the first time, a trace of self-reproach appeared on Xiao Xuan's face. "Now that things have come to this, I only hope you can do better than I did."

"Restore the glory of the Xiao Clan—our generation cannot refuse this duty!" Although Xiao Yan felt somewhat disappointed, his eyes were filled with determination. From this day onward, he bore the heavy responsibility of reviving the Xiao Clan upon his shoulders. A man must be broad-minded and resolute, for his burden is heavy and his road is long!

Xiao Xuan smiled and nodded slightly before stepping into the pool of clear water before him. Streams of blood-red light surged from his body and entered the water. His face began to grow increasingly aged as well.

"Xiao Yan, enter the pool and inherit the Xiao Clan's final Bloodline power," Xiao Xuan said hoarsely when he saw the shock on Xiao Yan's face. "There is no need to worry about me. I have stood watch here for so many years only to pass the Xiao Clan's final portion of Bloodline power to you. Today, I am content. Even in death, I shall have no regrets."

"I will obey Ancestor's teachings!" Xiao Yan no longer hesitated and stepped into the blood pool. The moment he entered, the Bloodline power within the pool began forcing all his ordinary blood out of his body. The pain made every hair on his body stand on end. He endured the agony and gritted his teeth through the cleansing. This endurance lasted half a month.

Within the blood pool, Xiao Yan looked no different from a skeleton. Seeing this change, Xiao Xuan immediately formed a seal with both hands and shot a streak of blood-red radiance into the pool. As the radiance entered, threads of energy slowly flowed into Xiao Yan's body. His skeletal frame gradually began to recover.

"The darkest hour before dawn has passed. The only thing the three of us can do now is wait." Xiao Xuan looked at the two anxious girls and spoke softly. "Anxiety is useless. While we wait, I shall teach you some of the Xiao Clan's secrets."

"Thank you, Senior!" The two girls were overjoyed. As the foremost of the Ancient Eight Clans in its heyday, the Xiao Clan surely possessed secrets worthy of being called clan treasures. With Xiao Xuan personally imparting them today, they would certainly be of enormous help to their cultivation.

"Xun'er, I'll teach you some things first." Seeing Yao Ling pout, Xiao Xuan said with a smile, "There is not much I need to teach her, so I'll have to trouble you to wait for a while. Rest assured, I won't play favorites between the two of you."

"You jest, Senior. How could Yao Ling possibly see you that way?" Though she said so, Yao Ling's expression brightened considerably.

"After a Dou Zun reaches the peak, they must undergo nine transformations before becoming a Saint. With every transformation, one must circulate Dou Qi through the Meridians throughout the body and condense it until it reaches a liquid state. Back then, in order to prevent the Xiao Clan's decline, I studied this process and discovered that if certain Meridians are opened in advance and the circulation route of Dou Qi is altered, the nine transformations can be completed much faster." Xiao Xuan smiled gently. "Today, I shall open these Meridians for you."

"Thank you, Senior." Xun'er clasped her fists in salute. The time required for the nine transformations to become a Saint was often longer than advancing from Half-Saint to Dou Saint. If that time could be greatly shortened, it would certainly be an immense aid to cultivation.

Xiao Xuan placed his hand on Xun'er's back. Waves of energy slowly entered her body, then began circulating rapidly within her, constantly striking against her Meridians and making those Meridians throughout her body even tougher.

The process continued for three days. By the time Xiao Xuan removed his palm from Xun'er's back, the method by which she circulated Dou Qi had become completely different from before. Though this instruction had not raised Xun'er's strength to a terrifying level, it had paved a bright road for her future cultivation.

"I demonstrated once how to gather Dou Qi in the most efficient manner. I hope you gained something from it." Xiao Xuan smiled. "One transformation is complete. Eight remain. Keep up the effort."

"I will never forget Senior's great kindness." After bowing in thanks, Xun'er hurriedly entered a cultivation state and began condensing the energy Xiao Xuan had sent into her body. This time, she directly advanced from the middle stage of Nine-star Dou Zun to the peak of the first transformation. If she did not condense the excess Dou Qi, such rapid advancement would instead harm her future cultivation.

"Now it is your turn." Xiao Xuan spoke to Yao Ling. "Advancing from High-level Half-Saint to Dou Saint is a rather difficult process. The hardest part is comprehending the Dao that connects heaven and earth. Though you are already a High-level Half-Saint, you are ultimately still lacking something compared to the realm of a Dou Saint, who can freely command the energy of heaven and earth."

"Senior speaks the truth, but to comprehend the Dao, one needs more than theory. One also needs practical experience, does one not?" Yao Ling asked curiously. "What does Senior think?"

"I will provide you with an opportunity to comprehend the Dao. How much you understand will depend on your own aptitude." With a wave of his arm, Xiao Xuan enveloped Yao Ling in vast Soul power. "Remember these four lines: Live as long as heaven, and endure as long as earth. Heaven and earth are born with me; all things are one with me."

"Live as long as heaven, and endure as long as earth..." Yao Ling silently recited the four lines, her brows tightly furrowed as she entered a wondrous spiritual world. Once she began wandering within that spiritual world, half a month passed.