Chapter 296: The Ancient Emperor's Inheritance
Xiao Tian extended his hand, and the Alchemy Ring brought the Emperor-Tier Fledgling Pill into his grasp. After securing the Emperor-Tier Fledgling Pill, Xiao Tian turned to Zhu Kun and said, "Father-in-law, let's go obtain the Ancient Emperor's inheritance now!"
"Alright!" Zhu Kun withdrew his gaze from the Emperor-Tier Fledgling Pill and nodded. Although the pill contained a vast amount of Emperor Qi, it did not guarantee a breakthrough to Dou Emperor. In contrast, the inheritance of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor would definitely help one achieve that level. Moreover, a Dou Emperor who achieved the rank through inheritance would be more powerful than one who broke through using a pill.
Zhu Kun approached the statue and tried to obtain the inheritance by touching it. However, after several attempts, he failed.
"Break!" Zhu Kun punched the statue, but a powerful force rebounded, sending him flying. He steadied himself and smiled bitterly, "This statue is protected by the Emperor's origin; it can't be opened."
Xiao Tian said, "Father-in-law, you keep trying while I refine my soul realm." He then sat down cross-legged and began to refine Hun Tiandi's soul. As he refined, his soul power rapidly increased, and the pressure emanating from him grew more intense. After completing the refinement, a massive soul body, thousands of feet tall and almost solid, emerged from Xiao Tian. The soul body looked like a gigantic version of Xiao Tian, with thunderous breaths, flowing hair like waterfalls, and an aura that dominated the heavens.
Zhu Kun looked at Xiao Tian and nodded with a smile, "Impressive, an Emperor-level soul!"
Xiao Tian retracted his soul and asked, "Father-in-law, did you obtain the inheritance?"
"I can't open the inheritance," Zhu Kun shook his head.
"Haha!" Xiao Tian laughed, throwing the Alchemy Ring and the Emperor-Tier Fledgling Pill to Zhu Kun. "The inheritance can only be received by someone who practices the same technique as the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor. This Emperor-Tier Fledgling Pill is for you."
With that, Xiao Tian approached the statue's heart. "Whoosh!" A beam of light, formed from various Heavenly Flames, shot into the statue's heart. "Buzz!" Instantly, ripples appeared on the statue's surface, and a stone cavity opened in its chest. As the cavity appeared, a radiant light burst forth.
"Thud!" Zhu Kun's face turned pale, and he almost collapsed under the immense pressure. "It seems this inheritance is indeed meant for you," Zhu Kun said, looking at Xiao Tian, who remained unaffected in mid-air. Still, with the Emperor-Tier Fledgling Pill in hand, Zhu Kun considered himself fortunate.
Instead of entering the cavity immediately, Xiao Tian used a spatial gate to open a passage. He said to Zhu Kun, "Father-in-law, I'm going to break through to Dou Emperor. Please take care of the Heavenly Court."
"Rest assured, leave it to me," Zhu Kun nodded, then returned to the Star Realm with the Emperor-Tier Fledgling Pill.
After Zhu Kun left, Xiao Tian manipulated the space, bringing the Heavenly Flame Plaza into the Heavenly Tomb. Inside the Heavenly Tomb, six days passed for every day outside, making it ideal for retreat and cultivation.
Xiao Tian went directly to the third layer of the Heavenly Tomb, where Xiao Xuan sensed his arrival. Xiao Tian bowed and said, "Greetings, Ancestor!"
"Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint, Emperor-level soul, and possessing the Devouring Void Flame, Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, and other Heavenly Flames..." Xiao Xuan, with eyes deep as the starry sky, scanned Xiao Tian and marveled, "You have exceeded my expectations, accomplishing far more than I imagined!"
Xiao Tian said something astonishing, "Ancestor, I came to the Heavenly Tomb to break through to Dou Emperor!"
"What? Break through to Dou Emperor?" Xiao Xuan was taken aback. He had failed to achieve that even after gathering the bloodline power of the entire clan. Could Xiao Tian truly succeed?
Xiao Tian explained, "Ancestor, I opened the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's mansion, which contains the Ancient Emperor's inheritance!"
"The Ancient Emperor's inheritance?" Xiao Xuan looked at Xiao Tian, "You obtained all eight pieces of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade?"
"These were collected by the Soul Clan. I only took the seven pieces from them," Xiao Tian briefly explained the situation.
"I can't believe that the Spirit and Stone Clans of the ancient eight clans have been annihilated, and the Yao Clan nearly destroyed," Xiao Xuan said, looking at Xiao Tian with surprise. "However, to have killed Hun Tiandi, your strength surpasses even my peak!"
He laughed heartily, "With the Ancient Emperor's inheritance, you will surely become a Dou Emperor, and our Xiao Clan will rise again. You've done excellently!"
Xiao Tian assured, "Ancestor, once I break through to Dou Emperor, I will find a way to revive you. If Dou Emperor is not enough, I will surpass that level!"
Xiao Xuan waved his hand, "You don't need to worry about that. I am just a sinner of the clan, unworthy of such efforts."
Xiao Tian persuaded, "Ancestor, the past is behind us. You don't need to blame yourself forever."
Xiao Xuan chuckled, "Young one, focus on receiving the inheritance and breaking through to Dou Emperor. I want to see a true Dou Emperor!"
"Yes." Xiao Tian responded, taking out the Heavenly Flame Plaza and entering the stone cavity in the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor statue's chest. As he passed through a thin layer of light, a scan swept over him. This scan revealed everything within him, except the spatial gate, making him feel exposed. The light did not reject him, and in a flash, he found himself in a magnificent sea of flames.
This sea of flames was filled with various Heavenly Flames, from the second-ranked Devouring Void Flame to the twenty-third-ranked Xuan Huang Flame. As Xiao Tian stepped forward, the flames gathered around him.
"My inheritor, you have arrived..."
A deep voice echoed as a giant flame bud in the distant sea of flames bloomed, revealing an old figure. The figure, wearing a dark robe with multicolored hair, was the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor—though only a remnant or residual soul.
"Junior Xiao Tian greets the Ancient Emperor!" Xiao Tian bowed respectfully.
"Sit." The Ancient Emperor waved his hand, and a seat made of Heavenly Flames appeared.
"Thank you, Senior!" Xiao Tian sat cross-legged.
The Ancient Emperor also sat down and asked with a smile, "Has there been a new Dou Emperor on the Dou Qi Continent?"
"Since you became an Emperor, no new Dou Emperor has emerged," Xiao Tian replied.
"As expected..." The Ancient Emperor nodded, understanding why. He continued, "Since you are here, you are the one most suited to receive my inheritance. If you complete the inheritance, you will step into the Dou Emperor realm."
"Thank you, Senior!" Xiao Tian said gratefully.
(Chapter End)