Xiao Yan and the others followed Xiao Xuan once more as they flew deeper into the celestial tomb, eventually coming to a halt. Around them now stretched an endless, ink-black expanse, with the surrounding light dim and faint. Standing here felt as though they were in a realm of pure emptiness, evoking a sense of bewilderment and unease. "This is the deepest part of the celestial tomb," Xiao Xuan said calmly, then pointed to an ancient stone stele standing alone in the midst of the blackness. Lonely and serene, it seemed to have existed eternally. "This is my tomb estate." Xiao Yan followed Xiao Xuan's gaze, gazing at the ancient stele. Though countless years had passed, an indescribable aura still emanated from it—gentle yet profound, stirring an unyielding shiver within the soul. "You four, simply practice outside the stone stele. Here, the energy is the most concentrated within the Heavenly Tomb; the other energy bodies dare not enter this area, so there's no need to worry about safety..." Xiao Xuan glanced at Gu Qingyang and his three companions, speaking calmly. At this, Gu Qingyang and his three companions exchanged glances, only able to nod with a wry smile. Before this former peak-level master, all they could do was fully and completely obey. "Xiao Yan and the young lady from the ancient clan, come with me..." After casually arranging for Gu Qingyang's group, Xiao Xuan turned his gaze to Xiao Yan and Xun'er. With both hands resting behind his back, he slowly walked toward the stele. When his body finally touched it, he swiftly faded, until he completely vanished. Seeing this, Xiao Yan exhaled gently and extended his palm toward Xun'er, smiling. "Let's go then..." "Hmm." Gazing at Xiao Yan's smile, Xun'er's lingering nervousness gradually faded, and with quiet obedience, she extended her soft, delicate hand and placed it gently into Xiao Yan's palm, allowing him to lead her slowly toward the stone stele. "Xiao Yan, take good care of Xun'er!" As Xiao Yan and Xun'er approached the stele, Gu Qingyang bowed deeply and spoke with steady resolve. They knew that Xiao Yan and his companions would likely spend a considerable amount of time within the tomb estate. "Take care yourselves as well..." Xiao Yan nodded warmly, then reached out and lightly touched the stele. Instantly, a sense of deep connection surged from the stele, radiating outward in a circle of luminous light that enveloped both of them. When the glow finally subsided, their forms had completely vanished. Upon seeing Xiao Yan and Xun'er disappear, Gu Qingyang and the others exchanged glances, only to offer a quiet, wistful sigh. "Well, with Master Xiao Yuan's capabilities, I'm certain he won't do anything to Xun'er. We'll just wait quietly here for them to emerge..." Gu Qingyang shook his head, then casually found a stone platform and settled into a meditative posture, gradually entering his state of cultivation. Seeing him do so, Gu Zhen and the other two followed suit, nodding in agreement and each finding a suitable spot to begin their own cultivation... "He heard the faint footsteps behind him and sighed softly. "Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan hesitated slightly before finally saying plainly, 'The Xiao clan has vanished entirely. What remains is only a fading Xiao family.'" As he finished speaking, he went on to recount in detail the various changes and developments within the Xiao family over the years. When Xiao Yan's final word fell into place, Xiao Xuan slowly nodded, his face showing little else but steady composure. "I had anticipated the decline of the Xiao clan, indeed, but at least there has been a lingering flame—so we have not yet reached the point of utter despair," Xiao Xuan's voice was gentle, almost magical, helping Xiao Yan, who had been slightly moved by the memories, regain his composure. "Do you have any questions?" Xiao Xuan asked, smiling warmly. "Is the ancestor truly still alive?" Xiao Yan hesitated, saying, "If Xiao Xuan truly can continue to exist in another form, then the Xiao clan's prosperity is surely within reach. With such a peak powerhouse, even the Hun clan would have to carefully assess their own standing." Xiao Xuan gazed steadily at Xiao Yan, then slowly shook his head after a moment, saying, "What you now see is merely the residue of my soul. When I perished, I specifically instructed that my body be transported into the Heavenly Tomb, where only then could I transform into my current form and await your arrival. However, this remains limited to the Tomb—once I step outside, I shall vanish instantly." "Finally... I still failed, and after my attempt to reach the Emperor's rank, I was suddenly attacked by the Spirit Clan, suffering a severe injury and ultimately falling...” Hearing Xiao Xuan’s somewhat self-conscious sigh, Xiao Yan remained silent for a moment, then softly said, “That was the last resort. If the bloodline strength continues to wane, the Xiao Clan itself will inevitably face decline. The Xiao Clan will not blame you for this.” “But if the bloodline strength does wane, then why did I develop the clan mark?” Xiao Yan suddenly touched his brow, expressing his confusion. “Because the Xiao Clan’s mark isn’t bestowed by others—it is cultivated through one’s own practice.” Xiao Xuan smiled and said, “The Three Great Transformations of Heavenly Fire—I can sense it within your body. It was created by me, and I didn’t expect you to have inadvertently inherited it. I remember giving it to Burned Flame Valley back then. Indeed, the concept of destiny and fate is truly elusive.” "Heard this, Xiao Yan was utterly astonished. After a moment, he suddenly recalled the name he had seen during the transmission of the Tianhuo Sanxuan Transformation in the Burned Flame Valley back then. 'Xiao Xuan? It turns out that the Xiao Xuan from that valley is none other than the ancestor of the Xiao family! The world truly is full of surprises...' 'Of course, your current practice of the Tianhuo Sanxuan Transformation still lacks the final step. It is precisely this missing step that has prevented you from fully cultivating the clan seal until now,' smiled Xiao Xuan. "Since it's called a clan seal, it naturally must draw its power from bloodline energy..." Xiao Xuan nodded slightly, observing the sudden dimming in Xiao Yan's eyes, then smiled. He stepped into the pool and walked to its center. Raising his hand, the water began to rotate gently. As the water spun, a series of crimson glimmers slowly radiated from within Xiao Xuan's body, flowing steadily through his palms and fully entering the pool. And as those strange blood-colored glimmers gradually merged into the pool, the clear, transparent water began to slowly turn blood red, appearing as though it were a pool of blood. At the same time, Xiao Xuan's black hair began to grow pale, and his face grew increasingly aged. Staring at Xiao Xuan, whose body was growing increasingly aged yet whose eyes had grown ever more gentle, Xiao Yan felt a pang of emotion in his heart. He could sense that this ancestor, once who had stunned the entire Xiao clan with his exceptional talent, had carried an immense burden for the entire race. "Among these ancestral energies, there are some that I sealed during my lifetime. My descendants... I hope you will fulfill the promise I made to the people of the Xiao clan back then!"