The Ancient Clan members who had yet to enter the formation all collapsed to the ground beneath this overwhelming pressure, not daring to raise their heads.
Beyond the Ancient Realm, Xiao Yan hovered quietly in the void, his gaze piercing through layer upon layer of space to land on the Blood Altar.
He watched the Ancient Clan experts bound by blood-red chains, wailing in agony, and Gu Yuan, whose aura was surging wildly. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Sacrificing the bloodlines of your own people in exchange for a brief boost in power..."
Xiao Yan shook his head, a hint of disdain in his tone.
"The Ancient Clan is nothing special after all."
He recognized this method, of course.
Back then, Xiao Xuan had sacrificed the bloodline power of the entire Xiao Clan in an attempt to break through to the Dou Emperor realm.
Hun Tiandi of the Hun Clan had also sacrificed the souls and bloodlines of his clansmen to fight Gu Yuan and Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan had always disdained this way of feeding on one's own people—a reckless attempt to quench one's thirst with poison.
Power had to be cultivated, fought for, and comprehended through one's own efforts.
How was plundering the bloodlines of your own people to strengthen yourself any different from acting like a beast?
"However—"
A glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes, and a playful smile curled his lips.
"I'd like to see what tricks you, Gu Yuan, can pull."
He did not intervene to stop him.
Not because he couldn't, but because he disdained to.
With his strength now, let alone Gu Yuan forcibly raising himself to Dou Emperor through a bloodline sacrifice—even if a true Dou Emperor descended, Xiao Yan would not take him seriously.
Nine Wu