Chapter 1469: He Is Not (Part 1)

The two characters were written in an ancient script, devoid of any significant power or special qualities. From a distance, they appeared to have been scrawled by a child just learning to write.

However, a closer look revealed a peculiar power embedded within them. It felt as if one could traverse time, peer into the future, or send one's consciousness tens of thousands of years into the past, like undergoing a profound spiritual cleansing.

"What is this place?" Zhang Xuan asked in surprise.

"This is where Zhang Clan disciples activate their bloodlines!" Zhang Wuchen explained. "As long as you're a member of the Zhang Clan, your bloodline will automatically ignite upon entering, leading to a qualitative leap in both your strength and your chosen profession!"

"Activate their bloodline?" Zhang Xuan murmured, a sudden realization dawning on him. No wonder those two simple characters evoked such a feeling in him. Given that the Zhang Clan's bloodline allowed for the manipulation of time, the place where it was activated would undoubtedly involve the true essence of time.

"Master Zhang, would you be interested in going inside and taking a look?" Zhang Wuchen asked with a smile.

"Go in? I can enter?" Zhang Xuan quickly waved his hand, surprised. Was it truly possible for an outsider to simply enter such an important location?

"The Zhang Clan's Blood Pool is only effective for those with Zhang Clan blood," Zhang Wuchen explained, nodding. "Outsiders entering won't be affected or cause any damage. There's no harm in looking around. Many powerful cultivators, drawn by its fame, come here specifically to observe." The Blood Pool was, in truth, a forbidden area for the Zhang Clan. Even family disciples had to meet specific qualifications to enter. Zhang Wuchen's casual invitation was solely to allay Zhang Xuan's doubts.

"In that case..." Unaware of Zhang Wuchen's true intentions, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up at the prospect of free entry. A place capable of activating the Zhang Clan's bloodline was certainly extraordinary. Getting a glimpse inside might offer him a deeper understanding of the clan, which would prove useful if he ever found himself in opposition to their young genius.

"Let's go!" Seeing that Zhang Xuan harbored no suspicions, Zhang Wuchen breathed a sigh of relief. He took a few steps to the sealed entrance, pulled out a token, and pressed it gently. With a low hum, the large door slowly swung open.

Zhang Xuan carefully observed Zhang Wuchen's actions before stepping inside. As he passed through a shimmering light membrane, his body quivered. He immediately sensed that the flow of time around him had altered, becoming distinctly different from the outside world.

"This is..."

"This is a folded space left by our ancestor," Zhang Wuchen explained. "It contains the true understanding of time, where time flows erratically, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, in a free-flowing state. When a Zhang Clan bloodline merges with it, they immediately enter the river of time. One month outside equals one year inside, granting them much more time to comprehend their profession and cultivation. Of course, this comprehension occurs only in a soul state, and their actual physical strength doesn't change."

"One month outside, one year inside?" Zhang Xuan gasped in astonishment. Even if it didn't directly enhance his cultivation, experiencing such an extended period in a soul state was still incredibly potent. A twelve-fold difference between a month and a year meant that Zhang Clan members who activated their bloodline could learn and cultivate for twelve times longer than ordinary people while inside. It was no wonder the Zhang Clan produced so many geniuses, far surpassing the Luo Clan. This Blood Pool alone was a coveting treasure that countless families dreamt of but could never achieve. If he had been able to enter this place earlier and cultivate continuously, he might have reached his current level in less than a month.

"Eye of Insight!"

After the initial shock, countless patterns shimmered in Zhang Xuan's eyes as he scrutinized his surroundings. The folded space before him was indeed unlike anything he had seen. Under the gaze of his Eye of Insight, it appeared in layers, like a shimmering rainbow. As he moved forward, he could feel that the flow of time around him subtly differed from other areas. However, these 'rainbows' were intangible; they couldn't be grasped or touched. Without careful observation, they were imperceptible, let alone something one could merge with to alter the flow of time.

As Zhang Xuan slowly advanced, Zhang Wuchen followed discreetly, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper in quiet observation.

"There's no anomaly about him at all. Could he... not be the one?" The Great Elder and he had previously suspected that Zhang Xuan might be connected to the vanished individual, which was why they had deliberately brought him to the Blood Pool for a test. But now, it seemed there was no reaction whatsoever. Normally, any Zhang Clan disciple who had never entered the Blood Pool would have their bloodline activated upon entry, immediately falling into a comatose state as their primordial spirit learned and cultivated within the unique temporal flow. Yet, there was no reaction from Zhang Xuan at all. It seemed not only did he lack the Zhang Clan bloodline in his veins, but he also had no significant connection to the family whatsoever. It seemed all their previous suspicions were mistaken.

"Wait, his primordial spirit..." A thought suddenly struck him. For any Zhang Clan disciple, even if their bloodline showed no immediate reaction, their primordial spirit and soul could still resonate with the Blood Pool's power, as the soul remained constant from birth to death.

With this in mind, Zhang Wuchen stepped forward and offered a slight smile. "Master Zhang, to truly perceive the essence of time within the Blood Pool, one needs to use their primordial spirit. Why don't you try and see if you can discern anything?"

"Primordial spirit?" Zhang Xuan nodded. "Very well!" Although he had cultivated the techniques of a Witch Soul Master and possessed a massive primordial spirit, his comprehension of the Heaven's Path of Void Manipulation allowed him to alter its form at will. Even if the other party were a Zhang Clan elder, it would be difficult for them to discern anything unusual, so Zhang Xuan had nothing to hide. Besides, he himself wanted to thoroughly study the true essence of time present in this place and unravel its mysteries.

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Zhang Xuan concentrated, and his primordial spirit emerged from between his eyebrows. To his primordial spirit's perception, the surroundings were vastly different from what his physical eyes saw. It was as if he had entered a snowy landscape, with countless snowflakes drifting all around him. Knowing that these 'snowflakes' were the very threads of the true essence of time, he reached out to grasp them.

*Whoosh!*

The temporal threads simply passed through his palm.

"His primordial spirit carries no trace of the Zhang Clan's aura..." Watching this unfold, a clear sense of disappointment emerged in Zhang Wuchen's eyes. If Zhang Xuan were truly a Zhang Clan disciple, his primordial spirit, upon entering this space, would have certainly been able to grasp and integrate the temporal threads into his soul. Yet, his touch elicited no reaction whatsoever, leaving only one possibility... His soul had absolutely no connection to the Zhang Clan!

"Master Zhang, please leave now!" Having understood, Zhang Wuchen's demeanor turned cold. He waved a dismissive hand, and his voice carried a distinct chill.

"Leave?" Zhang Xuan paused, startled. His primordial spirit promptly returned to his body, and he stood up.

"Yes, this is a forbidden area of the Zhang Clan," Zhang Wuchen replied. "I brought you here with a time limit. You may leave now..."

"Well..." Seeing Zhang Wuchen's impassive face, Zhang Xuan felt utterly speechless. He hadn't even wanted to come in the first place; Zhang Wuchen had dragged him here, only to kick him out less than five minutes later. The Zhang Clan members truly seemed to have peculiar quirks.

"Farewell!" Seeing that Zhang Wuchen didn't even bother to see him out, Zhang Xuan saw no reason to linger. He turned and walked away. If they didn't want him to see it, he didn't care to. It was no big deal.

"I must report to the Great Elder immediately..." As Zhang Xuan departed, Zhang Wuchen quickly exited the Blood Pool. After sealing the entrance, he flew directly towards the Great Elder's residence. He departed too quickly to notice that the very laws and true essences within the entire Blood Pool seemed to have encountered something terrifying. They shivered uncontrollably, not daring to make a single movement.