Journey to the Heavenly Tomb

"Clan Leader Yao Dan, what do you mean by that? Xun'er's mother fell ill and died within a few years after giving birth to her. It was precisely because I hoped she could have a happy and complete family while I was in seclusion that I sent her to the Xiao Clan to retrieve the ancient jade," Gu Yuan said without changing expression.

"You're right. Your Gu Clan puts on such grand airs, weighing Eighth-grade Pills by the dou whenever you buy them, yet you couldn't even save a mere Dou Zun?" Yao Dan sighed helplessly. "Let us set that matter aside. You are a dignified Nine-star Dou Sheng, the publicly acknowledged strongest person on the Dou Qi Continent. Do you really need an all-female guard unit to protect you?"

"Yao Dan, some things are best understood in your own heart. And some words, even between friends, cannot be spoken carelessly." Gu Yuan's face darkened as he spoke slowly.

"Of course I understand. But since you yourself enjoy the blessings of having multiple women, don't apply double standards to the children. Let the children decide their own affairs." Yao Dan sighed. "Back to the main matter. The Clan Leader of the Yao Clan cannot beg others, but as your friend of many years, I will ask you this once. If Hun Tiandi makes a move against my Yao Clan, I beg you to stop him."

"That is no difficult matter. I promise you. But iron must be strong before it can be forged. If your Yao Clan cannot stop even Nihility Devouring Flame with the strength of the entire clan, then I fear the Yao Clan will not escape the same disaster that befell the Ling Clan." Gu Yuan nodded heavily. "As for the children, I will stop worrying blindly. When the rain must fall, it falls; when a daughter must marry, she marries. What is meant to come cannot be avoided."

A month ago, the gates of the Heavenly Tomb slowly opened. The young geniuses selected by the various clans were all eager to enter the Heavenly Tomb.

"Brother Xiao Yan, once we enter the Heavenly Tomb this time, Xun'er must stay by your side the whole time." Xun'er's pretty face reddened. "I don't want some bad woman stealing Brother Xiao Yan's heart away."

"Mm, of course." Xiao Yan gave a bitter laugh and seemed to casually glance toward a beautiful figure not far away. Naturally, he understood what Xun'er meant. "Let's go. I wonder how much our strength can improve through this journey into the Heavenly Tomb?"

With that, the two swiftly darted into the Heavenly Tomb.

"Sister Yao Ling, is something troubling you? Why are you staring blankly at the Heavenly Tomb?" A voice that had not yet fully shed its childishness rang out. Its owner was Yao Bei, the genius youth the Yao Clan had chosen to enter the Heavenly Tomb alongside Yao Ling this time. Though he was only nineteen, his strength had already reached Six-Star Dou Zun. Such talent was exceptionally outstanding even among the Ancient Eight Clans.

"Child, mind your own business." Yao Ling shifted her gaze to Yao Bei and spoke irritably. The words Xiao Xun'er had said to her a few days ago had stirred ripples in her heart. What young girl did not yearn for love? Unfortunately, Xiao Xun'er's words truly made a great deal of sense. Seeing the two so deeply in love today left her even more disheartened.

Forget it, forget it! Mr. Xiao Yan, whatever trouble you encounter in the future, do not come looking for me. From this day forth, we are through. Yao Ling clenched her teeth and silently thought to herself.

"Brother Xiao Yan, the Heavenly Tomb has three levels in total, and Mr. Xiao Xuan's cave abode lies at the deepest part of the third level. With our strength, the energy bodies we can obtain on the first and second levels will not help our cultivation much. So, we should enter the third level as soon as possible," Xun'er said sweetly.

That journey lasted for more than three months. During that time, the two eliminated quite a few energy bodies and obtained many energy cores. But given their strength, those energy cores were not particularly useful to them...

"Brother Xiao Yan, the entrance to the third level is not far ahead," Xun'er said. "There are many powerful energy bodies on the third level. Even Dou Sheng energy bodies are not particularly rare. For now, it would be better to wait until the members of my Gu Clan who entered the Heavenly Tomb with me arrive, then enter the third level together."

"Miss Xun'er, you will soon no longer need to worry about such matters." A cold voice came from the void. Along with it, two black-clothed figures emerged in the air. "One is the Gu Clan's holy maiden, and the other is an extraordinary man carrying six Heavenly Flames. If the two of you were to fall together in this Heavenly Tomb, even the Gu Clan would feel some heartache, wouldn't they?"

"Just the two of you?" Xun'er sneered. She recognized at a glance that the two black-clothed figures were Hun Ya and Hun Li, two experts of the Hun Clan. Both possessed strength around the peak of Eight-star Dou Zun. Though such strength was not weak, it was nowhere near enough to kill the two of them.

"Hehe, if it were only the two of us, we certainly would not dare act rashly." Hun Ya gave a cold laugh. "But, Gu Xun'er, do not forget that Xiao Yan's ancestor once fought fiercely with our clan's predecessors within this Heavenly Tomb. There are still many remnants of the souls of our Hun Clan elders here! Seniors, come forth!"

As soon as his words fell, more than ten energy bodies emerged from the darkness. These energy bodies all possessed strength around Eight-star Dou Zun, while the two at the front had even reached Nine-star Dou Zun!

"Hun Ya, why are you in such a hurry? There are still quite a few immensely powerful senior experts on the third level. Wouldn't it be safer to have them act?" the leading energy body asked curiously.

"Elder, the third level is, after all, where Xiao Xuan's tomb abode is located. Dealing with the two of them there may cause some unnecessary trouble." Hun Li spoke respectfully. "That Xiao Clan brat has some strength. Otherwise, the two of us would have acted ourselves on the first level and would not have needed to ask you to intervene, Elder Hun Gua."

"An Eight-star Dou Zun is not weak. But before so many of us, it is not much to look at." The leading energy body spoke indifferently. "Attack. The longer we delay, the more trouble may arise..."

"Xun'er, their target is me. I can hold them off for a while. Hurry and leave," Xiao Yan said in a deep voice, seeing that the situation was dire.

"Brother Xiao Yan, Xun'er will never leave you for all eternity. If we die, then we die together. Besides, they have sealed off all our escape routes. We have no path of retreat." Xun'er gave a bitter smile. "Only by fighting can we have a sliver of hope."

"Mm." With a thought from Xiao Yan, six Heavenly Flames immediately surged forth and slowly gathered in his hand...

"Elder, that Xiao Clan brat is preparing to fight with his life on the line." Seeing this, Hun Li spoke gravely. "Eliminating him first is the proper course."

Hun Gua smiled faintly and waved his hand. More than ten Dou Techniques shot toward Xiao Yan. With that kind of power, even a half-Saint expert would struggle to take them all head-on.

Xiao Yan sneered and did not dodge at all, forcibly taking the dozen or so Dou Techniques with his body. He gave a muffled groan, spat out a mouthful of blood, and fainted. In the second before he lost consciousness, he used the last of his strength to launch the Fire Lotus. The Fire Lotus exploded, forming a flame storm thousands of zhang wide that tore a gap through the encirclement by force.

Before the flame storm had fully dispersed, a figure rushed out from within it. It was none other than Xun'er!

Brother Xiao Yan, Xun'er will definitely survive and avenge you! Xun'er forcefully held back her tears as she silently vowed. Before she had time to think further, three black-clothed figures appeared in front of her.

"Miss Xun'er, since we have already acted, how could we possibly let you escape so easily?" A mocking smile curled across Hun Li's lips as he jeered. "For the Gu Clan's holy maiden with a Divine Grade Bloodline to fall here... just thinking about it is quite exciting. This merit will all be credited to me."

"Your Hun Clan truly is outrageously bold." A clear, cold female voice rang out. When Hun Li and Hun Ya heard it, their expressions changed.

"Miss Yao Ling, this is a matter between the Hun Clan and the Gu Clan. We hope you will not interfere or obstruct us. Consider today's matter a great favor owed to you by the Hun Clan. There will surely be a generous reward in the future."