"So, young friend, you have come back from a thousand years in the future?"
Jiang Xuanwu's expression remained calm, showing no surprise at Ling Feng's appearance.
Ling Feng rubbed his temples, trying to process the overwhelming information.
A thousand years ago?
The Blood of the Emperor?
The Heaven-Patrolling Clan?
Author’s note: (PS: For those who forgot, the Heaven-Patrolling Clan was mentioned back in Chapter 157 during the discussion of the Devil's Love-Forgetting Art. Feel free to revisit that for a refresher.)
Is all of this mere coincidence or something predestined?
What does my Blood of the Emperor truly signify?
"Your thoughts are quite chaotic," Jiang Xuanwu said softly. He lightly pressed down on Ling Feng's forehead sending in an immense, star-like energy into him, calming his mind and bringing a sense of tranquility.
"You seem to have many questions," Jiang Xuanwu continued with a gentle smile.
"No matter where this is, I want to know... What exactly is the Blood of the Emperor?" Ling Feng pondered for a moment before finally voicing his question.
"It cannot be described, nor can it be easily explained," Jiang Xuanwu replied, his gaze steady on Ling Feng. "The Blood of the Emperor is the most powerful bloodline in existence, belonging to the most formidable race. It is also the greatest enemy of the Heaven-Patrolling Clan."
With a mysterious smile, Jiang Xuanwu added, "This is all I can tell you. Under the Heavenly Dao, all are as insignificant as ants. As an ant, how can you speak of the Heavenly Dao?"
Ling Feng rolled his eyes. These mystical sages all seem to have the same cryptic way of speaking.
In the Misty Ghost Forest, the spiritual manifestation of the Tianbai Emperor also refused to divulge any details about his true self, always saying something like "the secrets of heaven cannot be revealed."
Jiang Xuanwu had mentioned something about the Ninth Heaven and countless divine kingdoms bowing to the Heaven-Patrolling Clan.
Although Ling Feng didn't fully understand what he meant by the Ninth Heaven or the countless divine kingdoms, it seemed that the Heaven-Patrolling Clan and the child of the Heavenly Dao were mortal enemies, and the Heaven-Patrolling Clan ultimately emerged victorious.
This suggested that while his Blood of the Emperor was immensely powerful, it also came with significant danger.
This might explain why his grandfather feared the awakening of the Eye of the Emperor, and why his parents suddenly vanished...
Countless thoughts raced through Ling Feng's mind. The things Jiang Xuanwu spoke of felt like a colossal mountain pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.
He suddenly understood why Jiang Xuanwu chose not to reveal everything to him. Just knowing a little had already placed immense pressure on him. Learning the full truth might completely shatter his resolve.
In the next moment, Ling Feng's eyes cleared and regained their focus.
No matter who his opponents were or how terrifying his enemies might be, the only thing he could rely on was his own strength!
"You're no doubt the child of the Heavenly Dao; such wisdom and clarity," Jiang Xuanwu said with a nod, stroking his long beard.
"Senior, can you tell me how to return to my own time?" Ling Feng asked, taking a deep breath.
"Traveling through time isn't your ability," Jiang Xuanwu explained with a faint smile. "It's your bloodline that activated the space-time power within the treasured blood of the Xuanwu. You haven't truly come back to this time; only your spiritual consciousness has traveled here.
"When the space-time power of the divine beast's treasured blood dissipates, your consciousness will naturally return to your own time."
"And when will that be?" Ling Feng asked, feeling a bit frustrated. If Jiang Xuanwu wasn't going to tell him anything useful, staying here seemed pointless.
"You will return when it is time."
Jiang Xuanwu sat down at a nearby stone table and continued, "Could you tell me about the fate of the Jiang family a thousand years from now?"
Ling Feng hesitated, then smiled, "Only if you tell me a bit more about the child of the Heavenly Dao. Just a little."
Jiang Xuanwu neither nodded nor shook his head. He simply smiled at Ling Feng.
Feeling uneasy under Jiang Xuanwu's gaze, Ling Feng finally huffed, "If you don't tell me, I won't tell you either!"
"With my abilities, I could easily read everything in your heart with a simple technique. Do you think you can hide anything from me?" Jiang Xuanwu retorted calmly.
"Fine, you win!" Ling Feng's mouth twitched in frustration. "A thousand years from now, the Jiang family still lives in seclusion in Xuanwu Village. Unfortunately, they were massacred by a demon wearing a ghost mask. But they weren't wiped out completely. My good friend Jiang Xiaofan is still alive and will surely avenge them."
"Is that so?" Jiang Xuanwu's eyes showed a hint of sorrow.
"Flourishing and then declining, and from the depths of despair, a new rise—that is the cycle of the Heavenly Dao," Jiang Xuanwu sighed deeply, rising and walking to the Xuanwu Wall. With a wave of his sleeve, six large characters were imprinted onto the wall.
The characters read: "Millennium Calamity, Xuanwu Emerges!"
"Damn!" Ling Feng was stunned. So the Jiang family ancestor could foresee the future because he himself told it to him!
This was beyond belief!
Ling Feng was overwhelmed. Had he shaped the history of the Jiang family? Was his friendship with Xiaofan predestined?
Ling Feng felt a sudden wave of nausea.
What does this all mean?
Ling Feng took several deep breaths to calm down. "Senior, the Millennium Calamity has already occurred. What does Xuanwu Emerges mean?"
"Millennium Calamity, Xuanwu Emerges," Jiang Xuanwu repeated, smiling faintly. His body began to burn spontaneously until nothing was left but a single drop of blood suspended in the air.
"If you can, give this last drop of the Xuanwu blood to the descendants of the Jiang family..."
His voice faded away, leaving only the drop of blood hovering before Ling Feng.
Ling Feng took the blood into his hand and felt the immense energy it radiated which almost drove him to madness.
"The blood of a divine beast!" Ling Feng's hands trembled slightly.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted. If he refined this drop of Xuanwu blood, wouldn't he, as Despicable Donkey mentioned, be able to attain the Xuanwu Battle Body? With it, he could potentially rival emperors and great rulers with just his physical strength.
But this blood was meant for Xiaofan. It was a legacy from his ancestor...
After a brief internal struggle, Ling Feng relinquished the thought of taking the treasured blood for himself.
As precious as it was, Ling Feng would not betray his friends.
In truth, Ling Feng had just narrowly escaped death.
Jiang Xuanwu had placed a hidden safeguard in the Xuanwu blood. If a Jiang family descendant received the blood, it would guide them and help them grow stronger. However, if Ling Feng had taken the blood for himself, the residual spirit within it would have destroyed his spiritual consciousness, leading to mutual annihilation.
Luckily, Ling Feng wasn't greedy.
After a short moment, the Xuanwu Wall lit up, reopening the temporal passage. It pulled Ling Feng back into it...