44: Bloodline Awakening and the Undercurrent of Return

At the core of the Illusory Spirit Palace, the Starry Sky Altar.

The moment that precious drop of Dou Di Bloodline split into two and merged into the foreheads of the young Xiao Chen and Xiao Yan, the entire Starry Sky Altar was enveloped by an indescribable, vast energy. Golden light, like a tangible liquid, completely engulfed their figures.

“Boom—!”

Xiao Chen felt as if his soul and body had been thrown into a boiling furnace! An energy far more vast, more primordial, and more overbearing than when he absorbed the Wind Soul inheritance earlier, erupted within him like the genesis of the universe! This energy was not simply Dou Qi or soul force, but a primal life force originating from the deepest part of his bloodline, containing fragments of Dou Di rules and supreme majesty!

His blood boiled; every drop seemed to transform into scorching golden lava, surging and roaring through his veins! His bones emitted a dense, crackling sound like popping beans, and under the washing of that golden energy, they became even more crystalline, their density greatly increased, with faint golden patterns emerging! His internal organs, meridians, acupoints, and even every single cell were undergoing a complete reshaping and strengthening!

The most significant change occurred on his forehead. A burning sensation spread from his glabella, and beneath the skin, a complex and profound pale golden clan mark was slowly emerging and condensing! Although it was still blurry and faint compared to the complete Xiao clan mark Xiao Yan would have in the future, this undoubtedly signified that the long-dormant Xiao Clan bloodline within his body was truly being awakened!

“Ding! High-concentration primordial energy detected injecting! Xiao Clan Dou Di Bloodline initially awakened!”

“Host’s physical attributes have been comprehensively and significantly improved! Soul origin and physical body compatibility enhanced!”

“Energy pool limit increased to 20,000 units! [Energy Absorption] efficiency increased to 1 unit/day!”

“Bloodline talent unlocked: [Dou Di Bloodline] (Primary): All attribute amplification, increased resistance to pressure, minor increase in cultivation speed.”

“Warning! Energy is too vast, Host must fully guide and digest it to avoid the risk of body explosion!”

The system’s urgent notification sounded. Xiao Chen dared not delay in the slightest, fully operating the Spirit Nurturing Art and the recently comprehended True Meaning of Wind, guiding this vast energy to circulate orderly within his body, transforming it bit by bit into his own foundation. His aura surged wildly at a visible speed; although his Dou Qi cultivation remained at zero, his life level and soul foundation were undergoing a qualitative leap!

On the other side, Xiao Yan’s experience was even more intense. His cultivation was originally lower, but the Heavenly Flame and the Dou Di Bloodline seemed to produce a wonderful resonance; crimson flames and golden bloodline power intertwined, forming a red-gold bi-colored light cocoon around him, with even more violent aura fluctuations. The clan mark on his glabella seemed to condense faster, faintly emitting a terrifying flame law fluctuation.

Hai Bodong, Ya Fei, and Mo Chen stood not far away, feeling the two terrifying auras that were constantly rising, their faces filled with shock and relief.

“Dou Di Bloodline... Is this the true foundation of the Xiao Clan?” Hai Bodong murmured. Even though he was a Dou Ling, he felt his own insignificance before this primordial power originating from a Dou Di.

Blood Axe Xiao Chen (Sloppy Old Man) looked at the two juniors undergoing transformation, tears and hope flickering in his ancient eyes. “Big Brother... did you see it? The Xiao Clan... still has hope! And, it’s a dual star shining!” He guarded them, his powerful Five-Star Dou Ling aura spreading out to protect them, ensuring no one disturbed them.

The entire inheritance process lasted a full day and night.

When the golden light on the Starry Sky Altar gradually receded, Xiao Chen and Xiao Yan opened their eyes almost simultaneously.

Xiao Chen’s eyes were deeper; the edges of his originally dark pupils faintly shimmered with an imperceptible golden luster. His Spirit Movement Late-stage soul realm was completely stabilized, even touching the threshold of the Spirit Realm Soul! He felt his body was as light as the wind, yet contained explosive power, and his perception and control of the surrounding energy reached a new height. The pale golden clan mark on his forehead quietly receded, but he could feel that it contained a powerful force that could be activated at critical moments.

Xiao Yan’s changes were more external; his cultivation directly broke through to the Fighting Master level, his surrounding flame Dou Qi was incredibly condensed, and a clear flame-shaped golden clan mark on his glabella slowly receded. He was like a sharp sword unsheathed, its brilliance fully revealed!

“How do you feel?” Blood Axe Xiao Chen asked with concern.

“Better than ever before!” Xiao Yan clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within him, his excitement evident.

Xiao Chen also nodded, feeling the transformation of his soul and body, and said in a deep voice, “Thank you, Ancestor, for your benevolence! Thank you, Big Brother Xiao, for protecting us!” He said this to both Blood Axe Xiao Chen and Xiao Yan; if Xiao Yan hadn't yielded, the essence blood might not have split into two.

Blood Axe Xiao Chen laughed heartily with satisfaction, “Good! Good! Since both of you have received Big Brother’s inheritance and awakened your bloodlines, your future is limitless! Now that the matters of the Illusory Spirit Realm are concluded, this space is about to collapse, we should leave.”

He waved his large hand, collecting the black giant axe phantom (his Blood Axe Battle Soul) on the altar and the jade slip wrapped in chaotic airflow. “This jade slip records some secrets of the Illusory Spirit Realm and some of Big Brother’s insights. I’ll explain in detail after we get out.”

Everyone nodded, and under the lead of Blood Axe Xiao Chen, they returned along the way they came. Passing through the spatial door, they returned to the Inheritance Hall, only to see that the hall was already shaking, with rubble falling from the dome.

“Go!” Blood Axe Xiao Chen took the lead, his Five-Star Dou Ling power forcefully tearing open a spatial passage, leading everyone to leave quickly.

A few days later, in a secluded valley near Black Flame City on the edge of the Black-Corner Region.

Xiao Chen, Xiao Yan, Blood Axe Xiao Chen, Hai Bodong, Ya Fei, and Mo Chen were all gathered here. Xiao Yan had already decided to follow Blood Axe Xiao Chen to a secret location for special training, to fully control his newly acquired powers and Heavenly Flame. As for Xiao Chen, he had his own plans.

“Young friend Xiao Chen, are you really not coming with us?” Hai Bodong asked. After the trip to the Illusory Spirit Realm, he had already come to regard Xiao Chen as an equal, or even a partner with greater potential.

Xiao Chen shook his head, looking into the distance: “Thank you for your kindness, Old Hai. But my path may require solo tempering. The Black-Corner Region is chaotic, but also full of opportunities. I plan to train here for a while, and then... perhaps I will go to Jia Nan Academy to take a look.” He thought of that place known as the continent's top academy, where there might be the knowledge and resources he needed.

Ya Fei’s beautiful eyes sparkled, and she handed over a token: “This is my Mittel Family’s guest elder token. You can use some resources at various Mittel Family establishments in the Black-Corner Region. Brother Xiao Chen, take care.”

“Thank you, Sister Ya Fei.” Xiao Chen took the token and carefully put it away.

Blood Axe Xiao Chen patted Xiao Chen’s shoulder and handed him a soul jade slip: “Kid Chen, this jade slip contains a Soul Imprint of mine. In times of crisis, you can crush it, and I will sense it. Remember, you are a member of my Xiao Clan. Act with a clear conscience, and if you encounter trouble you can’t solve, I’m still here!”

“Thank you, Ancestor!” A warm current flowed through Xiao Chen’s heart. With this Five-Star Dou Sheng (though his physical body was not at its peak) as his backer, he felt much more confident in his actions in the Black-Corner Region.

Finally, everyone parted ways. Xiao Yan and Blood Axe Xiao Chen left, while Hai Bodong, Ya Fei, and Mo Chen returned to Black Flame City to handle follow-up matters. Xiao Chen, alone, stepped into the deeper, more chaotic lands of the Black-Corner Region.

He did not know that shortly after they left the Illusory Spirit Realm, news about the Illusory Spirit Palace’ inheritance being obtained by a mysterious young man and a descendant of the Xiao Clan had spread like wildfire among the high-level forces in the Black-Corner Region. Among them, the description of “Xiao Chen,” who possessed a Spirit Realm Soul and was suspected of having obtained the ultimate wind-attribute inheritance, particularly attracted the attention of certain individuals.

A pair of cold eyes, hidden in the shadows and belonging to the Soul Hall, had quietly locked onto the direction he left.

A new journey, accompanied by greater opportunities and dangers, thus began. What kind of legend would Xiao Chen’s path of copying all things unfold on this wider stage? Could he establish a foothold in the man-eating lands of the Black-Corner Region and ultimately uncover the mystery of the system and his transmigration? Everything awaited his exploration.

(Volume 4: “Winds and Clouds of the Black-Corner Region” Concluded)