Shen Tang didn’t know what exactly happened between them, but everyone lives in their own life, experiencing their own stories.

Gong Yao listened to Shen Tang’s sincere words, her lips trembling slightly, but in the end, she couldn’t say a word and just shed tears.

So... is that how it is?

"You and the child are both people he loves, the ones he cannot let go of the most in this world."

Shen Tang gently wiped away the tears on her face and said softly, "Take good care of yourself, both for your sake and for the child. He certainly hopes you and your child are safe and sound."

Gong Yao nodded vigorously, holding back her tears, "I understand, thank you, Your Majesty."

Before a month had passed, Gong Yao started to go into labor amidst a bout of pain.

In the swaddle was a tiny pink wolf cub, like a wrinkly little meatball. Because it was born prematurely, it was smaller and weaker than an average newborn wolf cub, still covered in a thin layer of amniotic membrane, motionless, as if lifeless.

Even the attending doctor felt pessimistic; the survival rate for a premature child in such a condition was too low!

Though weak, Gong Yao acted on instinct and love, transforming into her true form, tenderly licking the newborn to clean away the blood and membrane from its surface.

"Awuu..."

Soon, the little wolf cub let out a faint whimper.

Everyone, who had been holding their breath, finally relaxed!

It’s alive!

It’s a little male wolf.

The doctor quickly placed the little wolf cub into an incubator.

Once the child’s condition stabilized, everyone was overjoyed.

This child truly had a tumultuous fate, born prematurely by over ten days after surviving a great battle. But fortunately, both mother and child were safe in the end, and the birth was successful, leaving everyone relieved.

The elderly head of the Yun Family, who had been waiting anxiously outside, was so moved by the good news that tears streamed down his face. His face, which had grown old and weary overnight, seemed to suddenly look ten years younger.

"Quick! Let me see my grandson!"

Yun Hong quickly entered the room and looked at the little wolf cub in the incubator, tears falling as he seemed to recall things from many years ago.

"This is that brat’s child! It looks exactly like it did when he was born!"

Once Gong Yao and the child were stable, the elderly head of the Yun Family took mother and child back to the Yun Family, taking great care of them and announcing to the world their identity as important members of the Yun Family.

...

The forgotten ruins lay silently in the desolate yellow sands.

A massive winged beast perched at the entrance, raising its head to look into the distance upon hearing a sound.

In the vast yellow sand not far away, a tall and slender figure gradually emerged.

That person had fiery red long hair, an enchanting and stunning appearance, with a smile as gentle as the spring breeze, appearing cheerful to everyone, "Long time no see, little brother."

Ji Ming lazily lifted his eyelids and angrily swished his tail, leaving a large pit in the ground.

Shen Li agilely dodged, suddenly realizing, "Ah~ so it’s little sister, growing more beautiful by the day."

Ji Ming yawned and closed his eyes, falling back into slumber.

It was as if he permitted him to enter.

Shen Li walked through the gates, once again arriving at the Blood Clan ruins.

He carefully examined the complex and damaged murals, gradually piecing together the content.

He stayed there for nearly two months.

Shen Li successfully restored all the Blood Clan murals and, from them, gleaned much information not even recorded in the prophecy book.

Most importantly, he learned about the existence of a group called the "Contract Star Clan."

Back then, the Blood Clan ancestors did not come to the Beast World Continent through the Star Gate; rather, they paid a great price, reaching an agreement with the mysterious "Contract Star Clan," carving out a tiny segment of the Star Gate light path as a channel before successfully completing a secret migration of the entire clan.

Following the guidance of the murals, Shen Li eventually returned to the dry Blood Pool, gazing at the dimly suspended blood bead above.

He focused for a long time before squatting down on one knee with a smile, "Perhaps, I should call you brother."

"You and I met by fighting, and this is what fate has decreed."

In the past, Shen Li absolutely wouldn’t have thought he shared such a connection with this Blood Race Leader; he would have probably found it utterly filthy. But now, his state of mind has changed completely, and he knows his true lineage.

He spoke as though addressing the blood bead or talking to himself in the air, "Over twenty years ago, the Blood Clan people captured to lift the seal included my mother."

"So this is the truth father always wanted to hide; it’s a pity I found out anyway."

Shen Li spoke intermittently for a long time, finally standing up slowly, dusting off himself, and stepping out of the Blood Pool.

He looked down, staring at the repetitive patterns on the ground, softly murmuring, "The Blood Clan ancestors foresaw their extinction; how could they willingly face death? They set their tomb here; there must be deeper secrets hidden." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Shen Li knelt halfway on the ground, his fingers brushing over the carved patterns, as if he could feel the lingering, mysterious power of the Blood Clan within.

Beneath here, there seemed to be buried even deeper secrets!

Shen Li’s right hand transformed into a sharp blade, slicing open his left palm.

Blood gushed forth, seeping into the Blood Clan patterns, quickly filling the dried grooves.

Instantly, the blood-colored patterns spread inch by inch.

But besides that, nothing else changed.

And Shen Li’s face quickly turned pale from the blood loss.

So... it still doesn’t work?

Even though his mother was a pure Blood Clan, Shen Li had half Blood Clan lineage, but the Blood Clan blood was special, merging with other races leads to assimilation.

Strictly speaking, he’s not truly a Blood Clan person...

Yet having come this far, just one step away, Shen Li was not willing to give up.

He continued to hold on, letting his blood fill the entire pattern. His face turned as white as paper, cold sweat seeping from his forehead, and his vision darkening.

So much so that he failed to notice the blood bead flicker slightly in the air.

Suddenly, the ground pattern burst into dazzling light, as if revealing a massive array!

Below the ground, a passage slowly emerged!

Shen Li’s breath hitched.

It’s succeeded!?