The desolate and ruined Holy Hall.

A middle-aged man with a scraggly beard sat here in solitude.

His hands and feet were shackled, the chains piercing through his clavicles.

On his back, he bore a heavy ancient stele, inscribed with the writings left by the Overlord Body.

This scene appeared somewhat desolate, somewhat lonely, and made one's heart feel a bit sour.

If not for witnessing it with his own eyes, Jun Xiaoyao would never have believed that the person before him was a Desolate Ancient Sacred Body.

Yet the kind of resonance that arose from his bloodline assured Jun Xiaoyao beyond a doubt.

This person was indeed a Desolate Ancient Sacred Body.

He was a middle-aged man, with ordinary features, wearing slightly old-fashioned gray cloth garments, with a scraggly beard, and cloudy eyes, his black hair in disarray.

He looked just like a down-and-out middle-aged man drowning his sorrows at the edge of a market.

No one would think that he was a Desolate Ancient Sacred Body.

A Desolate Ancient Sacred Body, no matter how fallen, gives off an impression of surging vitality and an aura capable of suppressing star rivers.

Yet the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body in front of him looked like a disheartened, downtrodden middle-aged uncle in the mundane world.

"Uncle, we brought you something delicious. We'll roast chicken soon!" Xiaoxuanxuan approached, holding a cleaned Spirit Feather Chicken in her hand.

The man smiled, a look of affection appearing in his eyes.

His large, rough hands stroked Xiaoxuanxuan's small head.

"Uncle, this little brother is also a Desolate Ancient Sacred Body. He's really powerful and can help us!" Ning Chen also showed excitement.

"Sir, a new Sacred Body has finally arrived." Ning Defa cupped his hands toward the middle-aged man, a look of respect in his eyes.

Even though the middle-aged man appeared so down-and-out, their words were full of respect.

The middle-aged man turned his gaze to Jun Xiaoyao.

Jun Xiaoyao also looked at the middle-aged man.

Jun Xiaoyao could feel that the middle-aged man's realm was not weak.

At least Saint Master Realm.

The Saint Master Realm, compared to Supreme Venerable, might not seem like much.

But it's important to know that Desolate Ancient Sacred Bodies are restrained by the world itself, making cultivation extremely difficult for them.

In recent history, even a Desolate Ancient Sacred Body at the Saint Realm is rare.

A Desolate Ancient Sacred Body at the Saint Master Realm is already extremely exceptional.

The Fallen Sacred Body Jun Xiaoyao obtained earlier was only at the Saint Realm.

As for Jun Xiaoyao himself.

He is an anomaly, having signed on to a Sacred Body that was naturally free of shackles, and doesn't count in this measure.

This middle-aged man before him, though a Desolate Ancient Sacred Body at the Saint Master Realm.

Jun Xiaoyao could sense that his qi and blood were withering, his vitality was dried up, incomparably weak, as if nearing life's end.

The chains and the ancient stele were both eroding the qi and blood inside the man.

"I have something to say to this little brother." The middle-aged man spoke, his voice slightly hoarse.

Ning Defa nodded in understanding, taking Xiaoxuanxuan and Ning Chen by the hand, saying, "Come on, let's go roast this chicken."

"Oh, roast chicken!" Xiaoxuanxuan giggled.

Ning Chen also wiped drool from the corner of his mouth.

Watching the backs of the brother and sister as they left, the middle-aged man's cloudy eyes held an affectionate look.

Only then did Jun Xiaoyao speak, "It seems senior cares deeply for this brother and sister, even going so far as to bestow upon them your remaining Sacred Body Essence Blood."

Upon hearing Jun Xiaoyao's words, the man was not surprised, but calmly began.

"I just thought, even if I fall one day, I would still want the Holy Body Lineage to have a spark left behind."

"These two children are born with extraordinary talents, more Sacred Blood within them than any other descendants of the Palace Guardian lineage; they are the spark that can ignite the heavens in the future."

The man's tone was calm, without any bitterness about his own plight.

"These few drops of Sacred Body Essence Blood, they are yours, right?" Jun Xiaoyao took out the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body Essence Blood he had acquired from an auction.

The man's expression remained calm as he nodded slightly.

"Why not resist?" Jun Xiaoyao questioned.

To him, this Sacred Body should not be someone who would live ignominiously, fearing death and clinging to life.

Yet he willingly endured this shameful bondage.

"I am the last Hall Master of the Desolate Ancient Sacred Hall, the final Sacred Body. My talents are limited, having broken only five shackles, reaching at most the Saint Master Realm, where I can advance no further."

"I have already let my ancestors down, and I do not wish to implicate the Palace Guardians who have sworn to follow the Holy Body Lineage."

"I originally intended to die in battle, but at one moment, I saw this brother and sister, as if seeing a spark of hope."

"I must live on, even if it means enduring humiliation, to protect that village and ensure the continuation of this spark…"

The man raised his head to gaze upward, his eyes still bright.

Residing in darkness, heart set on light.

He can die.

But before death, he must see with his own eyes that the brother and sister grow up, to continue the glory of the Sacred Body.

At this moment, even as detached as Jun Xiaoyao was, he couldn't help but feel a slight tremor in spirit.

He came to understand why Xiaoxuanxuan would say that Uncle was a great hero protecting them.

"May I know the senior's revered name?" Jun Xiaoyao's tone also carried a slight but tangible respect.

"My name is Wu Hu." The man named Wu Hu spoke, his voice hoarse.

His name fitting his nature.

Hu, representing guardianship.

It is thanks to his guardianship that the Holy Body Lineage still has a spark.

"Senior Wu Hu, since I'm here, no tragedy shall occur."

"The Desolate Ancient Sacred Hall and the lineage of the Palace Guardians will not fall into decline!" Jun Xiaoyao's tone was firm.

"May I know the little brother's name?" Wu Hu smiled slightly, removing himself from that desolate mood.

"I am Jun Xiaoyao." Jun Xiaoyao said.

"Jun Xiaoyao... surname Jun... could it be…" Wu Hu seemed to think of something, surprise flashing in his cloudy eyes.

"Could it be that Jun…" Wu Hu said, astonished.

"That's right, I come from the Desolate Ancient Royal Family." Jun Xiaoyao said.

Wu Hu's body trembled fiercely, an unprecedented golden light shooting from his eyes.

His dormant blood seemed to come alive, his gaze upon Jun Xiaoyao like that upon a rare treasure.

The Desolate Ancient Royal Family, Wu Hu naturally knew.

That was a terrifying family inheriting across countless epochs of the Immortal Realm.

Even at the height of its power, the Desolate Ancient Sacred Hall would not dare to underestimate the Jun Family in the slightest.

To ordinary Immortal Influences, the Desolate Ancient Sacred Hall wouldn't even pay heed.

But facing the Jun Family, even the powerful Desolate Ancient Sacred Hall would have to treat them with respect, not daring any disrespect.

Wu Hu would never have imagined that this generation's Desolate Ancient Sacred Body would come from the Jun Family.

With such a powerful background, perhaps there truly was a chance for the Desolate Ancient Sacred Hall and the Palace Guardian lineage to rise again!

However, before Wu Hu could express his joy.

Jun Xiaoyao once more released his own aura.

That aura made Wu Hu's expression instantly freeze, his pupils contracting, sensing something he could hardly believe!

"This... how is this possible, in your bloodline's aura, there is no feeling of being repressed, is it..."

Even with Wu Hu's disposition, he couldn't help his voice from trembling.

Jun Xiaoyao calmly said, "I am a complete Desolate Ancient Sacred Body, having shattered ten shackles."

Bang!

His words were like thunder, crashing through Wu Hu's mind, causing his entire body to tremble involuntarily.

Then, he suddenly burst into hearty laughter, his robes soaked with tears.

His emotions were so intense they were beyond control.

What he saw in Jun Xiaoyao was the hope for the rise of the Holy Body Lineage!