Heavenly Tomb, Third Layer

"This... I actually survived? Then who on earth saved me?" Xiao Yan slowly woke up and found himself still within the Heavenly Tomb. He muttered to himself.

"I really envy you, Mister Xiao Yan. You truly are a winner in life. Even in a perilous trial ground like the Heavenly Tomb, all you need to do is enjoy your sweet little world with your beloved. And if anything happens, someone will handle it for you." Yao Ling turned around and looked at Xiao Yan expressionlessly. Yet no one noticed the fleeting trace of delight in her eyes.

"Uh, then I really have to thank you, Sister Yao Ling. I owe you my life. For such a great kindness, I, Xiao Yan, will surely find a chance to repay you." Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan understood what had happened after thinking it over briefly. He scratched his head and gave an embarrassed smile.

"Mm, I owe Sister a life as well. We should continue down this road together, the three of us. If something happens, we can look after one another." Xun'er also smiled awkwardly. Though she did not particularly want things to turn out this way, the Heavenly Tomb truly was fraught with danger. Having such a powerful helper was undoubtedly a good thing. Besides, both she and Xiao Yan owed Yao Ling their lives.

"Mm, let's go. The entrance to the third layer is not far ahead." Yao Ling's tone still carried no emotion whatsoever.

Although the three traveled together, perhaps because of awkwardness or guilt, they remained silent all the way. Before long, they saw a massive, solidified Energy Crystal Wall standing before them. In front of the crystal wall stood more than a dozen figures with formidable auras.

"Miss Xun'er, we have been waiting here for quite a while. I didn't expect you to arrive so late. Did you encounter some trouble on the way?" Gu Qingyang's eyes were filled with surprise when he saw the three traveling together. He did not think Xun'er would tolerate such a situation.

"The two of us were both tricked by those two bastards from the Hun Clan. We only survived this time thanks to Miss Yao Ling saving us." Xun'er spoke viciously, her tone brimming with killing intent. Like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, she told Gu Qingyang everything that had happened. At the same time, Yao Ling spotted a familiar figure and frowned.

"Yao Bei? Didn't I tell you not to run around? The last two layers are dangerous. Didn't I tell you to stay in the first layer and cultivate properly? Why are you here?" With a flash, Yao Ling appeared before the boy whose childishness had not yet fully faded. Hands on her hips, she questioned him.

"Sister, Brother Qingyang and the others said that our Yao Clan and Gu Clan have always been on good terms, and they were willing to take me deeper into the Heavenly Tomb." Seeing Yao Ling grow angry, Yao Bei pouted and spoke aggrievedly. "Besides, Brother Qingyang and the others have always treated me well. They even let me absorb the Energy Cores they obtained first."

"Uh, I don't think they took care of you for that reason. More likely, they wanted to use you as a hostage to restrain me." Yao Ling spoke coldly. As she spoke, she cast a distinctly unfriendly look at Gu Qingyang. Gu Qingyang gave an awkward smile. He had indeed considered using Yao Bei to restrain Yao Ling, but judging from what Xun'er had said today, he had clearly judged a gentleman's heart with a petty mind.

"No, Sister, I believe Brother Qingyang and the others definitely don't think that way." Yao Bei widened his eyes and defended Gu Qingyang. As soon as he said this, Gu Qingyang and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, Yao Ling's face gained a few more traces of helplessness. This child was simply too innocent and adorable.

"Sister Yao Ling, I also believe Brother Qingyang and the others must have done this out of good intentions." Xiao Yan hurriedly tried to smooth things over. The Heavenly Tomb was not a good place for internal conflict.

"Fine, fine, fine. I believe you. The energy in the Heavenly Tomb's third layer is several times richer than in the first two layers. We should go in early. Also, Commander Qingyang, since you have all looked after this child for so long, I'll have to trouble you to continue taking care of him from now on." Yao Ling frowned and spoke lazily.

"Mm, thank you for your trust, Miss Yao Ling." Gu Qingyang paused before replying slowly. At the thought of bringing along such a little ancestor who knew nothing of the world, his head began to ache.

"Great! Brother Qingyang, let's go!" Yao Bei cheered joyfully. Compared to Yao Ling, who always wore a cold expression and was exceedingly strict, he preferred traveling with the courteous, gentle, and easygoing Gu Qingyang.

At those words, Yao Ling's face was full of helplessness. Even the six clan members from the Shi, Lei, and Yan Clans nearby turned to look at Yao Bei. Repeatedly undermining the Young Clan Leader in front of so many people—this child really seemed to be missing a screw.

"Come, fire." Yao Ling waved her arm, and a stream of blue-white Wind Flame surged from her sleeve. She gently pointed at the Energy Crystal Wall again, and a Wind Flame a hundred zhang wide howled as it slammed into the wall, fiercely scorching it. After the Wind Flame dispersed, a hollow roughly several zhang wide and a hundred zhang deep appeared in the solid, sturdy Energy Crystal Wall.

"Sister Yao Ling, has your strength really improved so much in just these past few months?" Xiao Yan was stunned by the sight before him. Everyone else also focused their gazes on Yao Ling. An Elementary Half-Saint absolutely could not casually cause such destruction with a mere gesture!

"Brother Xiao Yan, of course it was all thanks to the Four Symbols Primordial Spirit Pill that you and I refined together. Otherwise, why would I have saved you?" Imitating Xun'er's tone, Yao Ling smiled sweetly and spoke in a coquettish voice. The moment Xiao Yan heard this, he immediately felt thorns pressing against his back. The others' expressions became extremely vivid as well. There seemed to be some hidden implication behind her words...

"I, Yao Ling, am not someone who repays kindness with resentment, but there is no love or hatred in this world without cause. Mister Xiao Yan, I hope you truly understand that." Yao Ling's voice returned to its usual cold clarity. "Friends, let's go. I'll open this passage myself, so everyone can save some time."

Everyone nodded. Without another word, Yao Ling took a few light steps and appeared at the deepest point of the newly opened tunnel, using Heavenly Flames to burn through the Energy Crystal Wall. Before long, another hollow roughly a hundred zhang deep appeared. Seeing this, everyone followed behind her and waited for her to burn through the wall. Yao Ling did not disappoint them. In only half an hour, she burned straight through the Energy Crystal Wall.

"This time, we must thank Miss Yao Ling. We shall take our leave first and find a place rich in energy to meditate and cultivate." The two members of the Shi Clan cupped their fists and spoke in deep voices.

"You're welcome. The Clan Leader asked me to give these two invitations to you." Yao Ling poured two invitations from a Medicine Gourd hanging at her waist. "If you truly wish to thank me, then after this journey through the Heavenly Tomb ends, come visit my Yao Clan. Our Yao Clan has always been hospitable and will not treat you two poorly."

"Mm, thank you for your kindness, Miss." Recalling what Shi Gandang had told them some time ago, the two roughly understood the situation. They actually dropped to their knees and performed the grand rite of three kneelings and nine kowtows. "Please accept these Energy Cores as our return gift, Miss."

Yao Ling did not stand on ceremony and placed all the Energy Cores into the Medicine Gourd. After hesitating for a moment, the members of the Lei Clan and Yan Clan also took out several Energy Cores and handed them to Yao Ling before taking their leave.

"What do you all plan to do?" After seeing the others leave, Yao Ling asked casually. "You've already reached the third layer. You don't need me to escort you any farther, do you?"

"Miss Yao Ling, we all wish to investigate Xiao Xuan's Tomb Mansion." After hesitating for a moment, Xun'er hurriedly said, "So please continue traveling with us for now. My Gu Clan will certainly not treat you unfairly. Whether it is Dou Techniques, cultivation methods, or Heavenly Flames, after you leave the Heavenly Tomb, you may follow Xun'er and choose whatever you like. Xun'er will definitely satisfy you."

"We'll follow Xun'er as well." The remaining four members of the Gu Clan spoke in unison without hesitation. "Before entering the Heavenly Tomb, we were all assigned to protect Xun'er."

"Alright, I understand." Yao Ling thought for a moment before speaking solemnly. "If we encounter energy beings at the Half-Saint level or even the Dou Saint level, do not provoke them lightly. Try to go around them. I only recently advanced to a High-level Half-Saint, and I am not confident I can kill Saint Stage energy beings without injury. I do not wish for any unnecessary losses."

"Yes!"

One month later, in the second layer of the Heavenly Tomb, Hun Ya and Hun Li looked at the Energy Storm behind them, then at the seemingly indestructible Energy Crystal Wall before them, and fell into despair. Even a peak Dou Zun expert would have no chance of survival if swept into that Energy Storm. Now, they had nowhere left to hide.

"Hmph, let's give that bitch a surprise!" Hun Ya came back to his senses and spoke viciously. He forcibly swallowed a black key-shaped object. Then, gritting his teeth, he bit through his tongue and actually began burning even his soul.

Seeing this, Hun Li followed suit without hesitation. Before long, the bodies and souls of both men dissipated within the Heavenly Tomb. A wave of energy rapidly passed through the solidified Energy Crystal Wall and entered the bodies of many sleeping energy beings in the third layer. Several energy beings with exceedingly powerful auras slowly awakened...