Hearing this, Xiao Yan had a faint inkling. Since his ancestor had said as much, his words could not have been empty. "Could it be..."
Xiao Xuan nodded slightly. "When I made my attempt back then, I left behind a sliver of bloodline power. After I failed, I remained in the Heavenly Tomb, waiting all these years for a descendant of the Xiao Clan to come. Now that you're here, no one is better suited to absorb it."
With a flick of Xiao Xuan's finger, a pool appeared before the hall. Its water was so clear that a single glance told Xiao Yan it was no ordinary water.
A drop of blood essence appeared at Xiao Xuan's fingertip and flew into the pool. In the blink of an eye, the crystal-clear water turned into a thick scarlet liquid. Rich blood-red light surged skyward, bathing the entire hall in crimson.
There was no need to ask. Within the pool lay the last of the Xiao Clan's Dou Di Bloodline, preserved by Xiao Xuan.
Yet after releasing that drop of blood essence, Xiao Yan clearly saw Xiao Xuan's jet-black hair lose its luster. A deathly gray-white spread rapidly from the roots. His once-profound eyes dimmed as well, betraying exhaustion and weakness he could not hide.
"Ancestor..." Xiao Yan's heart clenched at the change in Xiao Xuan.
He immediately understood that drawing out and awakening this last remnant of the bloodline had taken a tremendous toll on his ancestor, who was now only a remnant soul.
Xiao Xuan waved a hand, his movements still steady. "All these years, I kept this bloodline alive for one reason: to wait for a descendant of the Xiao Clan like you and pass on this final hope."
As Xiao Xuan watched the blood pool churn, the memory