Chapter 137: Bloodline Resonance

Chapter 137: Bloodline Resonance

Within the secret realm, even the flow of time was under Chi Yu's control.

He could have temporarily stripped Xie Xiyi of his ability to use forbidden spells, but in the end, he only suppressed the dark mist.

Perhaps it was because Xie Xiyi felt too unfathomable—not long ago, he had snatched the divine artifact, the Haotian Mirror, from the hands of ten Tribulation Stage experts in Wanqiongzhou.

Chi Yu dared not push him too hard. If Xie Xiyi were driven to desperation and destroyed the secret realm, the cost would far outweigh any gain.

Chi Yu: "Brother Xuan Ji, have you truly not remembered anything?"

Xie Xiyi chuckled softly, his gentle, pleasant voice tinged with a faint, sinister edge. "Are you in such a hurry? In what way am I inferior to Xuan Ji?"

"..." Chi Yu said, "Brother Xuan Ji, you *are* Xuan Ji. You've merely lost your memories. Why be jealous of yourself?"

Xie Xiyi smiled. "You're lying again—if you genuinely believed I was Xuan Ji, why would you insist on me regaining my memories?"

Chi Yu paused, then spoke honestly. "Because memories are the bonds of emotion. Without them, you can only love me based on instinct. But instinct can be restrained or defied, which is why you often wish to kill me."

"..." Xie Xiyi's laughter faded slightly. "I haven't killed you."

Chi Yu said, "You killed me twice before."

Xie Xiyi: "..."

A familiar, dull ache surged through him, and he instinctively pressed a hand to his chest. Previously, the pain had seemed to lack a source, but now this sharp agony clearly emanated from his not-yet-fully-formed heart.

His heart beat more violently, pumping out a scorching, magma-like heat that seared his internal organs. Strangely, he wasn't particularly bothered by this burning sensation.

Chi Yu didn't notice his discomfort and continued, "I don't think you need to be so resistant to recovering your memories. Those are undeniably yours, and it's precisely for that reason I am by your side—because you are undoubtedly my Brother Xuan Ji, and never anyone else."

Xie Xiyi wanted to say "liar," but the words dissolved on his tongue.

He stood up silently, preparing to leave.

"Brother Xuan Ji." Chi Yu also rose and called out to him.

Xie Xiyi said, "No need for further words."

With that, he vanished from the spot.

Chi Yu looked down at Phantom Lightning, still nestled in his arms, and asked softly, "Has he changed a bit?"

Phantom Lightning wasn't particularly concerned and continued to hum like a puppy in his arms, as if seeking affection.

Chi Yu chuckled softly and said nothing more.

*

Two more days passed.

Xie Xiyi didn't attack the secret realm again but remained out of sight.

Chi Yu was anxious, but he reminded himself that even if many days passed within the secret realm, only one night would have passed outside, which somewhat calmed him.

Phantom Lightning, as if brimming with endless energy, kept nuzzling against him. Chi Yu absentmindedly stroked it while sensing the subtle movements within the secret realm.

Soon, he found Xie Xiyi.

He was sitting cross-legged on a mountain peak, not in meditation but with his back ramrod straight. In one hand, he held a glowing Spirit, occasionally kneading it, eliciting shrill screams of agony.

Chi Yu: "..."

Well, no matter the circumstances, Brother Xuan Ji never denied himself.

A few more days passed, and Chi Yu grew calmer.

He even started playing Go with Xue Yi.

Xue Yi said, "I didn't expect your Go skills to be so average."

Chi Yu smiled. "I only took a few months of hobby classes. I'm embarrassing myself in front of a senior."

Xue Yi said, "You always say things I don't quite understand but find impressive." After a pause, she added with a smile, "Perhaps that's one of your unique traits."

Chi Yu picked up a piece, about to continue the game, when Xue Yi suddenly vanished.

Chi Yu was taken aback. He lifted his thin eyelids and scanned his surroundings, eventually spotting Xie Xiyi's figure in the distance.

He waited a moment until Xie Xiyi approached him.

"Brother Xuan Ji." Chi Yu called out softly, his golden eyes shining brightly with faint hope, like dazzling meteors.

Xie Xiyi sat in the spot where Xue Yi had been and chuckled lightly. "Who were you playing against?"

Chi Yu said, "A senior."

He gazed at Xie Xiyi, his heart pounding fiercely. Unable to help himself, he called out again, "Brother Xuan Ji." After a pause, he asked, "Have you remembered anything?"

Xie Xiyi's voice was melodious. "You sound like you're asking, 'When will you die?' Your husband is truly heartbroken."

Chi Yu: "..."

Why are you so troubled, when it's all you?

In truth, over the past few days, Xie Xiyi had changed. Many memories had surfaced—memories from his childhood in this body.

So far, Xie Xiyi had changed bodies twice. Even now, within the dark mist was the first body from which he had extracted the spine.

But no matter how many times he changed, his current body had emerged and detached from the previous one, much like a snake shedding its skin.

Thus, his flesh, blood, and bones were, in essence, all Xuan Ji's.

With the heart now formed, memories from the body continuously surged forth, gathering in that fully shaped heart.

For any living being, emotions and personality stem from experiences and memories.

Even Xie Xiyi, now controlled by the Demonic Heart, was no exception to this rule.

He could have used forbidden spells to block these changes, but... he couldn't bear to disappoint Chi Yu or watch the hopeful light fade from those beautiful eyes.

He had become so soft-hearted.

Yet, he truly couldn't bring himself to kill Chi Yu, who had changed him so profoundly. So, he could only watch helplessly as his cold, beast-like self was gradually overtaken by Xuan Ji's essence.

The bloodline resonance finally took effect, and he found himself unable to resist a compelling attachment to the family of this body.

Something was driving him to act, making his blood simmer faintly.

Xie Xiyi detested this change but couldn't muster the resolve to cut off its influence.

He simply smiled and said to Chi Yu casually, "I need to go out."

Chi Yu naturally replied, "No way, I can't release you."

Xie Xiyi said, "I have something to do."

Chi Yu asked, "More killing? I'm sorry, Brother Xuan Ji, I can't let you out for now. At least in this secret realm, time doesn't flow as fast."

Xie Xiyi said with a low chuckle, "I'm going to save the Xie clan—isn't that what you hoped for?"

Chi Yu was stunned, then his eyes lit up, "Brother Xuan Ji, have you... did you remember?"

Xie Xiyi denied it, "No, it's just that you're being too obvious."

He picked up a chess piece from the table and crushed it into dust, "I'm bored in this secret realm. Killing some people is better than staying here doing nothing, wouldn't you agree?"

Chi Yu looked at him suspiciously.

Xie Xiyi didn't say anything, allowing him to scrutinize him.

After what felt like ages, Chi Yu said, "All right."

Xue Yi's voice reached his ears, "You need to think this through. Once you let him out, it will be very difficult to trap him again."

This secret realm has a flaw: it requires the other party to willingly enter the city to be considered within the realm's domain.

The first time Xie Xiyi fell for this trick might have been to toy with Chi Yu, but he would definitely not enter a second time.

Chi Yu replied, "At this point, I can only trust him. Moreover, I feel that Brother Xuan Ji, who is usually dominated by the Demonic Heart, wouldn't use words like 'save.'"

Seeing that Chi Yu had made up his mind, Xue Yi said no more.

Chi Yu closed the secret realm, and the surroundings suddenly changed.

Without another word, Xie Xiyi disappeared right then and there.

"Brother Xuan Ji—"

Dammit, Chi Yu was exasperated. You could at least take me with you!

*

On the other side, the cultivators chasing Xie Xiyi soon noticed that his energy signature had returned and was moving toward them.

Someone exclaimed in disbelief, "What is he doing?"

"Coming after us?"

A laugh burst out suddenly and then just as abruptly ceased.

Perhaps because Xie Xiyi was too unpredictable, even Tribulation Transcension Stage cultivators felt uneasy. Two of them panicked, "Xie Xiyi knows too many forbidden spells. Although we are at the Tribulation Transcension Stage, we are not disintegrated immortals. We've only touched a trace of ascended immortal energy—how can we possibly deal with him? It's better to retreat to Wanqiong Continent and make plans later."

"I agree. Let's retreat to Wanqiong Continent first and team up with the immortal sects to form a plan."

Zhan Kuanglan snorted contemptuously, "Everyone, let's be clear: Xie Xiyi is a disaster your great families brought upon yourselves. You wanted to keep all the benefits, and now that something has gone wrong, you're dragging us immortal sects into sharing the blame? There's no logic in that. Moreover, the Haotian Mirror was lost because of you. Running away without fighting would make Wanqiong Continent lose face. Please lead by example and don't let cultivators from other continents in the Haoyuan Realm look down on us."

"You—"

"Enough, stop arguing. Since this kid dares to come to us, why don't we set up a formation in advance and catch him like a rat in a trap?"

"Last time, the formation not only failed but also allowed him to take away three Tribulation Transcension Stage cultivators. Without the Haotian Mirror to back us up this time, I'm afraid we're not up to the task."

"Let's just return to Wanqiong Continent..."

"Enough!" the most powerful Tribulation Transcension Stage cultivator barked authoritatively. "We are only one step away from ascending to the immortal realm. Each of you is a prominent figure in Wanqiong Continent. If we retreat like this, do you think anyone will still respect us? Even if we are outmatched, we must not flee. Kill Xie Xiyi!"

The others exchanged glances, their spirits grudgingly lifted somewhat.

Zhan Kuanglan watched this scene, finding it utterly ironic.

Truth be told, if they were the ones pursuing Xie Xiyi, they might have shown boundless courage.

But now, Xie Xiyi's energy signature was defying all expectations, rapidly approaching them. This undoubtedly signaled one thing—even with only his Spirit remaining, Xie Xiyi had regained his strength and dared to turn the tables and pursue seven Tribulation Transcension Stage cultivators.

In just over ten days, Xie Xiyi had recovered his strength, further demonstrating the power of the forbidden spells he mastered.

How could this not cause fear and panic?

Those who cultivate to the Tribulation Transcension Stage are only one or two steps away from ascending to the immortal realm, so they cherish their lives all the more. Faced with such a situation, it's no wonder they want to flee.

The most powerful Tribulation Transcension Stage cultivator took command of the arrangements and quickly organized the other six to set up their ultimate formation, waiting for Xie Xiyi to fall into their trap.

Before long, Xie Xiyi's figure indeed appeared.

One Tribulation Transcension Stage cultivator gasped in astonishment, "His cultivation is still at the Golden Core Stage, and his body and Spirit are perfectly integrated. It's not Soul Possession."

"He actually reconstructed his body? How did he do that?"

"Is this also the power of a forbidden spell? How many forbidden spells does he know?"

These Tribulation Transcension Stage cultivators are not cowards. Their desire to retreat and flee is purely because Xie Xiyi is too frightening.

Those from Wanqiong Continent understand all too well that so-called forbidden techniques are actually celestial or divine arts.

Cultivators like them, even at the Tribulation Transcension Stage, are still essentially mortal as long as they haven't ascended to immortality.

Only immortals can use immortal techniques.

Those who are not immortals or divine beings must pay a steep price to use immortal or divine techniques.

This is common knowledge among the top noble families and immortal sects of Wanqiong Continent.

Yet, this Golden Core Stage cultivator before them can use forbidden spells so freely and without any side effects. What an incredible marvel!

One well-informed cultivator murmured, "No, this isn't right. It defies common sense. The barrier between the Haoyuan Realm and the immortal world is so formidable that even we can only barely use forbidden spells with the help of our immortal ancestors. But he uses them so freely, even rebuilding his body with forbidden spells in such a short time. There can only be one reason—"

"What?"

"That there's something wrong with his bloodline itself."

*

On a mist-shrouded, radiant mountain peak, a female cultivator stood gazing into the distance.

A maid behind her said softly, "Princess, it's time to return."

This female cultivator was Xie Qingning.

Xie Qingning covered her chest and laughed softly, "I can feel Big Brother. He has appeared."

The maid's eyes widened, "Princess, you mean..."

Xie Qingning said, "Big Brother is back."

After five hundred years of absence, it wasn't until today that Xie Qingning sensed the distinct rhythm unique to Xie Xiyi through the resonance of their bloodline.

*

In the vast imperial palace, a young man whose face was deathly pale opened his eyes and spat out a mouthful of blood.

A clear, melodious bell rang out as a strikingly handsome man lifted the bed curtain and snapped his fingers, cleaning away the bloodstains. "Hey, take it easy. Over the years, you've consumed plenty of miraculous pills and elixirs. If this mouthful of blood were collected and sold to mortals, it could give them an extra hundred years of life."

"Your Highness," the young man spoke, his voice hoarse and strained from long disuse, "His Highness is back."

"What? Then what about Brother Aotian?" the handsome man, Du Ya, asked urgently.

"I don't know," the young man replied weakly before closing his eyes again. "Brother Aotian…"

He fell back into unconsciousness.

"Hey?" Du Ya nudged him but failed to wake him.

Xiao Jingyu approached and asked softly, "How is he now?"

Du Ya replied, "It's just a final flash of consciousness, but thankfully, he hasn't rotted away on my hands. He said his Highness has returned."

Xiao Jingyu asked, "That Xuan Ji?"

Du Ya said, "Exactly. We need to find him quickly. I can't let this one die on my watch—it would make it hard to collect payment."

Xiao Jingyu chuckled softly.

Having spent so many years together, he understood deeply that Du Ya just talks tough. Over the past five hundred years, Du Ya had gathered all the main ingredients for the Longevity Pill and refined the only Longevity Pill in existence.

This young man has been hanging on this long thanks to that Longevity Pill.

If it were merely about charging for cultivation resources, neither Xuan Ji nor Long Aotian would likely be able to repay the debt.

"If that Xuan Ji can't repay the debt, make him get you a single spirit root instead," Du Ya grumbled. "He's definitely capable of it. Back then, he was holding out on me, thought I couldn't pay. Now that I'm his creditor, he'll have to get it for you. Otherwise, I'm not giving him back."

Xiao Jingyu gave an indulgent smile. "Mm."