Eternal Sacrifice and the Secret of Pure Blood
Xue Lin stood on the peak of Shadow Mountain, purple energy surrounding her body like a storm. In front of her, the **Last Dragon** moved its metal claws, each movement creating cracks in the air. Meanwhile, the **Qingyang Sect** army formed a circle, their poisonous swords pointing at the trio.
"Do you think you can fight fate?" The Last Dragon roared, his voice breaking the clouds. "The Forbidden Blood must be erased from history!"
Xue Lin stared at him, her red and blue eyes flashing incongruently. "We *are* the fate you don't understand."
---
**Three-Way Battle**
Attacks came from all directions. The Last Dragon breathed fire that burned oxygen, while the Qingyang Sect threw poisonous needles. Xue Lin dodged nimbly, her purple energy swords cutting through the poison and deflecting the flames.
Luo Yan and Li Feng took cover behind a rock. "We have to help them!" Luo Yan shouted, holding the pendant that was now only a crystal fragment.
"Wait," Li Feng held Luo Yan's arm. "Look at your blood!"
Luo Yan's injured hand was bleeding—not red, but **glittering gold**. The blood fell to the ground, creating a pattern of light that made the Last Dragon suddenly stop attacking.
"*Pure Dragon Blood…*" the Last Dragon whispered, his eyes widening. "You… are the descendant of the *true guardian*?"
---
**The Secret of the Golden Blood**
A flash of memory struck Luo Yan:
*A silver-haired woman—resembling Shen Li—stood on an ancient altar, her golden blood healing the wounds of the wounded dragon. "My descendant will be the bridge between humans and dragons,"* she whispered before her body disintegrated into dust.*
"I… am the last guardian?" Luo Yan muttered, confused.
The Last Dragon approached, his voice no longer threatening. "Your blood is the key to peace. But the Forbidden Blood has ruined everything."
Xue Lin suddenly screamed. Her body shook violently—Xiao Lin and Xue were fighting for control. "Luo Yan… *destroy us!*" Xiao Lin's voice shouted.
---
**Last Choice**
The Qingyang Sect was not to be outdone. Their leader cast a **Soul Net**, trapping Xue Lin in an energy net. "The Forbidden Blood will be ours!"
The Last Dragon growled, his tail slamming against the net. "No one can grasp this power!"
In the chaos, Luo Yan leapt into the middle of the field. His golden blood flashed brightly, forming a **bridge of light** between Xue Lin and the Last Dragon.
"Xiao Lin, listen to me!" he shouted. "You are not a curse! Our blood… can heal!"
Xue Lin trembled. Inside the split soul, Xiao Lin and Xue looked at each other.
"This is the only way," Xiao Lin whispered to Xue's shadow. "Sacrifice ourselves… for them."
Xue grumbled, but eventually nodded. "Foolish… but perhaps this is a worthy end." ---
**Sacrifice and New Beginning**
Xue Lin dashed toward the Last Dragon, her purple sword stabbing into the dragon's heart. Luo Yan's golden blood flowed through the bridge of light, enveloping Xue Lin and the Last Dragon in a burst of white light.
"No!" Luo Yan screamed.
When the light subsided, all that remained was a purple-gold **dragon egg**. The Last Dragon and Xue Lin were gone.
The Qingyang Sect retreated in fear. "This isn't the end!" their leader threatened before disappearing.
Li Feng picked up the egg. "They… became one?"
Luo Yan cried, her golden blood forming a protective circle around the egg. "Xiao Lin… Xue… we'll protect you."
---
**Shadow on the Horizon**
In the darkness of a remote cave, the real **Xue**—now only a shadow—smiled behind a mask. In her hand, the contaminated Jiuyinlong fragment throbbed.
"Their sacrifices were in vain. I still exist… and *the egg* will be mine."