"That's right. With only the first transformation of the Celestial Fire, my cultivation has already surged dramatically, reaching its current level."
"As for my father, he has already cultivated to the second transformation of the Celestial Fire. Although he cannot yet be called invincible across the Martial Sacred Land, there are very few who can rival him."
"As for our ancestor, the Bow Emperor of old, he reached the third transformation. At the third transformation, even the Ancient Elves of that era regarded him with great wariness. He was the true pinnacle of his generation — invincible under heaven."
"My father told me that if I can claim the title of Strongest Young Generation, he will help me unlock the second transformation. Once the second transformation is successfully unlocked, I won't dare promise anything else, but I will at least step into the realm of Martial Emperor." As he said this, Zhang Tianyi's face was filled with anticipation.
"Step directly into the Martial Emperor realm? What a wondrous technique." Hearing this, Chu Feng couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. To have one's cultivation skyrocket simply by unlocking a transformation — it was almost too miraculous.
"Actually, the technique itself isn't that wondrous. What's truly impressive is our ancestor." Zhang Tianyi shook his head.
"Oh? How so?" Chu Feng asked.
"The three transformations of the Celestial Fire grow progressively harder. Cultivating them is like climbing to the heavens. Back then, our ancestor was extraordinarily talented — he cultivated step by step to the third transformation, earning himself the title of Emperor."
"As for his descendants, we've merely been riding on his coattails." Zhang Tianyi said.
"Riding on his coattails? Did your ancestor do something?" Chu Feng asked.
"That's right. Although the ancestor cultivated the third transformation of the Celestial Fire, he was well aware of how difficult it was. In order to allow his descendants to successfully cultivate the third transformation, he used a special method to pass down his own power through our bloodline."
"That power, when combined with the third transformation of the Celestial Fire, allows descendants to break through rapidly. It's incomparably easier than cultivating from scratch." Zhang Tianyi explained.
"So that's how it is. Your ancestor was truly a man of foresight." Chu Feng nodded.
"Indeed. With his power, the ancestor could have lived for ten thousand years or even longer. But in order to preserve his power for the benefit of future generations, he died before reaching even a hundred years of age." Zhang Tianyi said.
Hearing this, Chu Feng's expression shifted. The Bow Emperor's actions were clearly a selfless sacrifice for the sake of his descendants — a spirit that was truly admirable.
"Furthermore, the ancestor left behind an ancestral decree. To ensure that our clan would continue to prosper, anyone who managed to cultivate the third transformation must, at the peak of their power, use the same method to preserve their own strength for the benefit of future generations." Zhang Tianyi continued.
"This…" Chu Feng didn't know what to say. While the Bow Emperor's spirit was admirable, this demand placed a truly heavy burden on his descendants.
A person could endure anything for themselves, but forcing others was never right.
Moreover, anyone who cultivated the third transformation of the Celestial Fire would possess the power to become an Emperor. Who would willingly sacrifice themselves at the peak of their power for the sake of others?
"Then… did anyone after him manage to cultivate the third transformation of the Celestial Fire?" Chu Feng couldn't help but ask.
"Although the ancestor left behind the method of inheritance, only the most talented members of the clan have the chance to receive that power. That is how I came to be the eighth-generation successor."
"However, the third transformation of the Celestial Fire is simply too difficult. Even with the ancestor's sacrifice, most descendants only managed to cultivate the second transformation."
"Since the ancestor's death until today, across eight generations of successors including myself, only one predecessor managed to cultivate to the third transformation of the Celestial Fire."
"What a pity, though — that predecessor was born at the wrong time. He may have cultivated the third transformation and gained power equal to the ancestor's, but he happened to live in the era when the Azure Emperor rose to prominence."
"The Azure Emperor?" At the mention of those two words, Chu Feng's expression changed.
"Yes, that Azure Emperor — the one hailed as the most powerful Emperor. No one dared call themselves Emperor before him." A hint of regret flickered across Zhang Tianyi's face.
Chu Feng's heart stirred as well. He could guess who Zhang Tianyi's predecessor was — most likely the one who had left behind the imprint in the Sealed Village.
"The Azure Emperor's power is only a matter of rumor. How can you be so certain that your clan's predecessor was inferior to the Azure Emperor?" Chu Feng asked.