Word Count: 2,902 Words
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"Xun Er…"
Xiao Yan's voice was low and rough as he gazed at the woman in his arms. The near-transparent silk of her robes clung to every curve of her exquisite form. Their lips met again, this time with a deeper, almost desperate urgency.
Xun Er's delicate fingers traced the powerful lines of his shoulders, then slipped lower along the contours of his back. She had climbed onto his lap in the warm water, long legs coiled tightly around his waist. Ripples fanned out from their entwined bodies as her soft chest pressed against him and her breath spilled hot against his neck. The inner fire smoldering in Xiao Yan's heart threatened to burn away his reason entirely.
The wet silk outlined Xun Er's perfect figure with maddening clarity. Xiao Yan's hand slid to the sash at her waist, fingers working clumsily at the last barrier between them.
"Nngh…" Xun Er's lashes fluttered shut, her lips parting in breathless anticipation.
They were one heartbeat away from completely forgetting their Dou Saint agreement when a wave of Spiritual Strength rippled in from outside the tomb mansion.
"Ahem. The Heavenly Tomb is about to close." Xiao Xuan's voice, preceded by a pointed cough, drifted in through the stone door.
The sound jolted Xiao Yan and Xun Er apart like startled rabbits. For an instant, they only stared at each other, hearts pounding wildly as if they had been caught in the middle of a crime. Their breathing came fast and chaotic.
Xun Er scrambled from the pool, her cheeks burning. The Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame flared from her body, evaporating every droplet and drying her soaked, disheveled robes in a blink. Xiao Yan quickly stepped out as well. A thread of flame surged through his clothes, drawing out the moisture. After tugging his robes back into order, he called toward the entrance, "We're coming out now."
When the pair emerged from the tomb mansion together, Xiao Xuan nodded slowly. Opening new branches and scattering leaves for the Xiao Clan… did not seem to be a problem at all.
"Ancestor." Xiao Yan bowed deeply.
"Mm. Take these." Xiao Xuan waved his hand, and two special marks floated down from the void, hanging in mid-air.
"What are these?" Xiao Yan studied the hovering sigils, curiosity flashing in his eyes.
"Though the Yan Clan has their own methods, erasing the marks I left within those Heavenly Flames isn't so easy. These two imprints can resonate with the Red Lotus Karmic Flame and the Eight Wasteland Destruction Flame. They'll make it easier for you to refine them. As for whether you want to take those Heavenly Flames back from the Yan Clan, that's for you to judge," Xiao Xuan said evenly.
In his view, Xiao Yan's collection of Heavenly Flames had already far surpassed anything he had imagined. Moreover, the Yan Clan and Xiao Clan had once been on good terms. Xiao Xuan was truly dead, and the Xiao Clan had been almost completely wiped out. Legacies that had drifted into other hands could no longer be claimed as inevitably and solely the Xiao Clan's.
How to act… would be Xiao Yan's decision alone.
Xiao Yan inclined his head. If the Yan Clan moved against him, he would not hesitate to reclaim what was his with interest. But if the Yan Clan showed goodwill, he could adopt a softer approach, such as trading medicinal pills.
A low hum sounded as the Yin-Yang Twin Flame appeared. The two imprints sank down slowly and branded themselves onto the foreheads of the revolving fish.
After recalling the flame, Xiao Yan's expression grew serious. "Ancestor, I still haven't been able to decipher the Dou Technique 'Breaking Through the Heavens.' What level of technique is it, truly?"
Xiao Xuan's face became grave, his gaze hardening with uncharacteristic seriousness. "God Class."
!!
"But that is all I know. This technique was left behind by our clan's Dou God before his disappearance. He left only a single line: 'Breaking Through the Heavens is hope.'"
"'Breaking Through the Heavens is hope…'" Xiao Yan murmured.
"Sigh. I never managed to cultivate it either." Xiao Xuan shook his head faintly. "Whenever I tried, it always felt off, as if my strength simply couldn't answer the technique's demands. Perhaps it was because, even then, our clan's Dou God Bloodline had already begun to dry up. Without a Divine Grade Bloodline, cultivation might have been impossible."
"In any case, I could never see through it. I only know that this Dou Technique, or perhaps one should call it a Secret Technique, is extremely important."
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed. Something left behind by a Dou God would, of course, stand at a realm far above ordinary Dou Techniques. Many such inheritances required a powerful Dou God Bloodline merely to get started.
'Maybe Divine Grade isn't the end. If I refine the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame and then use the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change to raise my bloodline again… could I surpass Divine Grade?' The idea sent a surge of heat through his chest. With eleven Heavenly Flames, he could already temporarily elevate the Xiao Clan's bloodline to the Divine Grade. If he added the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame to that, just how high could it rise?!
Xiao Xuan observed his descendant lost in thought and smiled faintly. After a moment's silence, he said softly, "By my count, it's about time you left the Heavenly Tomb."
Xiao Yan lifted his head and nodded.
Xiao Xuan let out a quiet sigh but said nothing more. For a time, the air around them turned heavy and still.
Both Xiao Yan and Xun Er felt their hearts tighten. To remain here forever, never seeing the sky again… might well be worse than dying.
Yet Xiao Xuan only smiled and shook his head. He clapped Xiao Yan's shoulder. "You don't need to worry about me. Though there's no daylight in the Heavenly Tomb, now I have something to look forward to. Xiao Yan, I'll be waiting for your return. When that day comes, don't let me down."
"Rest assured, Ancestor! Next time, I will definitely bring our clansmen to pay their respects and fill this place with life and laughter!" Xiao Yan cupped his fists, his promise solemn and resolute.
"Hahaha! Good, good! Liveliness—I've always liked liveliness!" For the first time in countless years, hearty laughter burst from Xiao Xuan's lips. He could no longer remember when he had last laughed so freely.
Xun Er watched the two in silence. After a long moment, she said in a soft voice, "Xiao Yan ge-ge, time's almost up."
The two men's conversation trailed off. Xiao Yan remained quiet for a breath, then bowed deeply again, hands clasped before him.
"The future of the Xiao Clan rests entirely on you now."
Xiao Yan nodded hard. Just as he was about to speak, the space around them began to shake violently. An irresistible suction welled from every direction, as if the void itself meant to swallow him whole.
"Ancestor, take care! I will definitely find a way to set you free!"
Feeling that intense pull, Xiao Yan knew the three-year period inside the Heavenly Tomb had come to an end. The tomb was forcibly ejecting all intruders. His words had barely fallen when the space around them split open with a tearing sound. A massive rift yawned wide, and the suction force erupted like a dragon surging from the deep, swallowing Xiao Yan and Xun Er in a single gulp.
With that, their journey into the Heavenly Tomb came to a perfect close.
…
Three years in the Heavenly Tomb equaled only half a year in the outside world. Half a year later, within the Gu Realm, above a lush and verdant mountain range, many figures hovered in the sky with their gazes fixed upon a patch of twisted space ahead.
"Elder Tong Xuan, today should mark three years inside the Heavenly Tomb, yes?" a Half-Saint expert from the Shi Clan asked.
Tong Xuan stroked his beard and nodded. "Hehe, today is indeed the day they should emerge."
"I wonder who gained the most this time."
"Hard to say. But your Gu Clan's Divine Grade bloodline must have reaped quite a harvest."
"Hehe, let's wait and see."
As the elders chatted idly, the sky suddenly distorted. A spatial rift like a black hole yawned open, and several figures shot out one after another.
It was, naturally, the Yan Clan's Huo Xuan and Huo Zhi, the Gu Clan's Gu Qing Yang, the Yao Clan's Human Medicine, and the others.
The Half-Saint elders could only shake their heads helplessly as their respective clan heirs appeared. The results were acceptable, but not particularly surprising.
Take Huo Xuan, for instance. He had entered as an early 8-star Dou Venerate. After three years in the Heavenly Tomb, his cultivation had climbed to peak 8-star. He was very close to 9-star, but he had not grasped any truly great opportunity.
In terms of the outside world, half a year's time had produced such improvement. Even for the descendants of Dou God Clans, this was already extremely astonishing. It was just that, in comparison to the Heavenly Tomb's reputation, the outcome felt somewhat flat.
The others' performances were about the same. Gu Qing Yang, who had entered as a One-Change Dou Venerate, had reached peak One-Change. Gu Zhen, who had been at peak 7-star, had broken through to 8-star. As for Human Medicine and those who had entered at 7-star Dou Venerate, their gains were even smaller.
Everyone's improvement hovered around that same line.
Of course, the main reason was most likely the second layer's energy storm, as well as being scammed by Xiao Yan in the Heavenly Tomb passage. After all, every energy core, including the level-nine ones, had landed in Xiao Yan's hands. This left everyone else just one breath short of a breakthrough, stuck at their own peak bottlenecks.
Gu Qing Yang and the others emerged, quietly sensed the extent of everyone's improvements, and could only sigh and shake their heads. Their group might well count as one of the weakest harvests in the Heavenly Tomb's history.
Huo Xuan and the rest exchanged looks. They realized that Hun Ya, Hun Li, Xiao Yan, and Xun Er had not yet appeared.
Before long, the space rippled again. A man and a woman stepped out side by side, treading the void. Under everyone's gaze, they appeared in the open sky.
"It's Xiao Yan and Xun Er."
"First General Qing Yang, can you sense their cultivation?" Gu Zhen asked, curiosity plain on his face.
"Sense, my ass. Xiao Yan's soul has already reached the Heavenly State, and Xun Er carries a Divine Grade Bloodline. If they want to hide their strength, even elders won't be able to see through them," Gu Qing Yang said helplessly. You're looking far too highly on me!
I'm just a pitiful fellow who got beaten up. o(╥﹏╥)o
Under countless gazes, the two slender figures stepped calmly from the void and came to a steady halt in mid-air, standing shoulder to shoulder. A light breeze tugged at their robes and dark hair, making them look for all the world like an immortal couple.
'Thank goodness Xun Er is safe.' Tong Xuan finally let the stone in his chest drop. Then his eyes roamed up and down Xiao Yan. The moment he concentrated on the young man, his eyelids twitched hard.
Though he couldn't sense Xiao Yan's exact cultivation, he had a distinct premonition that the youth's improvement over these three years was far more terrifying than they had imagined.
Many of the Half-Saint elders from the Dou God Clans felt the same way. They traded glances and saw deep shock mirrored in each other's eyes.
"He should have reached Xiao Xuan's tomb mansion and obtained the Xiao Clan's final inheritance," Tong Xuan murmured.
Everyone nodded in silent agreement.
"Hehe, Brother Xiao Yan! I truly didn't expect that after only two years apart, you've already grown so much stronger," Huo Xuan called with a laugh, leading Huo Zhi over with a cupped-fist salute.
"Brother Huo Xuan's progress hasn't been slow either," Xiao Yan replied with a smile. He could clearly see that Huo Xuan's cultivation had reached the point where he was on the verge of entering peak 8-star Dou Venerate.
"Compared to you, I'm far behind…"
As Huo Xuan chuckled self-deprecatingly, Xiao Yan's gaze shifted to Huo Zhi beside him. Now that he knew of the Red Lotus Karmic Flame, he took a closer look. Her cultivation matched Huo Xuan's; both stood at the peak 8-star Dou Venerate stage.
The only thing he couldn't see was her face. A thin veil covered her features, revealing only a pair of clear, autumn-water eyes. Even so, the outline of her cheeks and chin hinted that beneath the gauze lay a stunningly beautiful countenance.
Her loose, plain robes did nothing to hide the perfection of her figure. Even the wide sleeves and hem couldn't conceal her fullness. Her tall, slender frame, willow-like limbs, and graceful silhouette all pointed to one obvious conclusion: she was a great beauty.
Huo Zhi felt Xiao Yan's gaze linger on her and her brows knitted faintly. She had no idea what exactly this man was looking at.
"Xiao Yan ge-ge…" Xun Er whispered beside him. I know you're examining the Heavenly Flame, not the person, but at least don't stare so blatantly!
"Ahem, I was only curious about the Red Lotus Karmic Flame." Xiao Yan coughed lightly and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Then he asked, "I wonder if your Yan Clan would consider selling a Heavenly Flame. I'd be willing to trade medicinal pills for it."
That Heavenly Flame had been passed down through the Yan Clan for over a thousand years. If he suddenly declared that it once belonged to the Xiao Clan and demanded it back on that basis alone, they would probably think him insane. Even if he produced proof, that was a matter from a millennium ago.
Back when Cai Lin had wanted to reclaim the Green Lotus Core Flame, hadn't Xiao Yan refused as well? He had insisted he had obtained it through his own strength, angering Cai Lin so much she had nearly fought him on the spot.
Huo Zhi blinked, a little stunned by his question, and a spike of annoyance rose in her heart. Am I actually less valuable than a Heavenly Flame?!
"Hahaha, Brother Xiao Yan is truly amusing. The Red Lotus Karmic Flame is a Heavenly Flame my clan has inherited for a thousand years. I'm afraid we can't sell it," Huo Xuan said with a laugh, shaking his head.
"Er… not even for a tier 9 pill?"
The moment the words left Xiao Yan's mouth, Huo Xuan's laughter cut off abruptly. Even the Yan Clan's Half-Saint elder standing nearby froze mid-breath.
There was no such thing in this world as a deal that couldn't be made, only a price that wasn't high enough. A tier 9 pill was clearly a weighty bargaining chip. Moreover, Xiao Yan hadn't specified whether he meant a Treasure Pill, a Mysterious Pill, or a Golden Pill.
A Treasure Pill might not be enough for the eighth-ranked Heavenly Flame. If it was a Mysterious Pill, things became harder to judge. As for a Golden Pill… no alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent had yet stepped forward and publicly claimed the ability to refine one.
"You can refine tier 9 pills?!" It wasn't the Yan Clan members who shouted; it was Human Medicine of the Yao Clan who shrieked so loudly everyone's ears rang.
All eyes swung toward Xiao Yan with naked shock. You can refine tier 9 pills?!
If Xiao Yan was truly a 9th-tier alchemist, then aside from Xun Er, there was no one present whose status surpassed his.
Even a genuine Dou Saint would have to treat him with utmost reverence.
Xiao Yan gave an embarrassed smile. "Not yet. But I will be able to in the future."
The crowd deflated at once. The Yao Clan girl beside Human Medicine sniffed disdainfully and muttered under her breath, "The future… who knows what will happen then?"
She conveniently forgot that she herself couldn't even refine a tier 8 pill that attracted seven-colored Pill Lightning.
Huo Zhi fixed her gaze on Xiao Yan, pearly teeth biting into her red lips as she huffed, "Not for sale! Not even for a Golden Pill!"
He was trying to steal her Heavenly Flame!
Xiao Yan only chuckled, not pressing the matter. His main target remained the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame. If he could obtain the third-ranked Heavenly Flame, then the Flame Mantra truly had a chance of advancing to the God Class.
After reaching Intermediate Tian Class and refining the Three Thousand Burning Flame, the Flame Mantra hadn't leveled up, but it wasn't far from High Tian Class. If he refined the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, that final step might very well be within reach!
Roughly a quarter of an hour later, the Heavenly Tomb's exit slowly sealed shut. Aside from the Hun Clan's Hun Ya and Hun Li, everyone else had returned.
The Hun Clan's elder could no longer remain seated. The Heavenly Tomb would forcibly eject everyone within it. The tomb was a living thing; neither the living nor corpses could remain inside forever.