Gu Clan Trial: Heart Lotus Body Tempering and Past Life Bonds

The Heavenly Ancient Mountain Range, the sacred ground of the Gu Clan, was wreathed in mist, and the Ancient Spirit Heart Lotus Pond atop the main peak shimmered with a faint cyan glow. When Xiao Feng and his two companions arrived, Gu Yuan was already waiting there with the Gu Clan elders. His gaze fell upon the unconscious Xun Er, and his brows furrowed slightly. "To think Xun Er was injured so severely... Hun Dan is truly ruthless."

"Senior Gu Yuan, I implore you to lend us the Ancient Spirit Heart Lotus." Xiao Feng knelt on one knee. "My brother and I must refine the Emperor Flame to stand a chance against the Soul Clan."

Gu Yuan stared at the youth before him, then let out a long sigh. "When I fought alongside Xiao Xuan against Hun Tiandi, he once used the Emperor Flame to extend my life. Today, I shall consider this a repayment of that debt." He waved his hand, and a cyan lotus, a zhang in height, rose from the center of the pond, its petals swirling with ancient runes. "The Heart Lotus can refine the soul and help you suppress the backlash of the Emperor Flame. Whether you succeed, however, depends entirely on your own fortune."

Xiao Yan entrusted Xun Er to a Gu Clan handmaiden and stepped into the Heart Lotus alongside Xiao Feng. The moment the lotus closed, the two felt a cooling sensation pour into their crowns, suppressing the burning agony of the Emperor Flame by seventy percent. Xiao Feng channeled the Burning Heaven Technique, and as the Emperor Scale markings resonated with the cyan light of the lotus, a crystal-like membrane formed over his skin.

"This is the 'Soul-Tempering Membrane' of the Ancient Spirit Heart Lotus," Gu Yuan's voice echoed directly into their minds. "It will protect your souls. Remember, you must face your inner fears during the refinement, or you will be trapped in an illusion forever."

Xiao Feng nodded, exchanged a glance with Xiao Yan, and simultaneously unleashed their Heavenly Flames. The Fallen Heart Flame and the Flame Emperor Fire collided within the lotus, the resulting ripples of energy staining the pond water in shades of purple and crimson. Gu Yuan was startled; though he knew the Xiao brothers were exceptionally gifted, he had not expected them to control two different Heavenly Flames simultaneously.

In the illusion, Xiao Feng returned to his laboratory on Earth, his white coat stained with bright red reagent. He reached out to touch a test tube, but instead of liquid, he saw Xiao Zhan's soul tablet floating inside. "Third Brother, save me..." A familiar voice came from behind. He turned to see Xiao Yan pinned to a cross by Soul Clan secret arts, his body entwined with Soul-Devouring Insects.

"Little Yan!" Xiao Feng cried out, the Emperor Flame surging instinctively, only for him to realize his Dou Qi was as sluggish as mud in this place. He suddenly understood that the illusion was magnifying his fear—the fear of losing his kin, the fear of being unable to protect the Xiao Clan.

"Third Brother, wake up!" Xiao Yan's voice pierced through the illusion. "This is the test of the Heart Lotus!"

Xiao Feng snapped his eyes open to find his hand pressed against Xiao Yan's shoulder, their Dou Qi having merged without them realizing it. He took a deep breath and channeled Soul Movement Three Thousand, his soul power slicing through the illusion like a blade to reveal the Ancient Spirit Heart Core at the center of the lotus.

"Strike together!" Xiao Yan shouted. His Heavy Xuan Ruler, wreathed in Flame Emperor Fire, smashed into the core, followed closely by Xiao Feng's Fallen Heart Flame. The core shattered with a roar, and within the erupting cyan light, scenes of a battle between a young Xiao Xuan and Gu Yuan appeared.

"Xuan, be careful!" In the vision, Gu Yuan swung his sword to block an attack from Hun Tiandi. "The Emperor Flame is not yet fully mastered; do not fight him head-on!"

"Yuan, today is the end of the Soul Clan!" Xiao Xuan's body burned with chaotic-colored flames. "Even if I fall, I will carve out a path of survival for those who come after!"

The moment the vision dissipated, Xiao Feng and Xiao Yan felt their consciousness tremble as a profound Dou Technique flooded their minds—it was the "Dual Emperor Sky-Breaker," a combined attack technique created by Xiao Xuan and Gu Yuan.

Ding! Host has passed the Gu Clan trial, obtained the "Dual Emperor Sky-Breaker" legacy, and reached the mid-stage of Dou Zong!

Xiao Yan has obtained the "Heart Lotus Soul-Cleansing" effect, and his Flame Emperor Bloodline compatibility has increased to 60%!

The Heart Lotus bloomed once more, and Xiao Feng and Xiao Yan stepped out into the air, their Dou Qi surging like a tide. Gu Yuan's eyes widened in shock; the aura of the youths before him was already no weaker than that of the Dou Zong elders under his command. "What fine sons of the Xiao Clan! If Xiao Xuan had possessed such an opportunity back then, he would surely have become a Dou Di!"

Before he could finish, a thunderous roar echoed from the borders of the Gu Clan territory. A Gu Clan scout stumbled toward them. "Patriarch! The Soul Clan army is pressing in, and leading them... are Dou Zong puppets!"

Xiao Feng looked toward the horizon, where, amidst the sky-obscuring banners of the Soul Clan, several Dou Zong puppets wreathed in the black mist of the Soul Burial Abyss were stepping through the air. Hanging from the chests of the puppets were the bone tablets of Xiao Clan members—they were "Soul Corpses" created by Hun Dan using the power of the Soul Burial Abyss!

"How is Lady Xun Er?" Xiao Yan asked urgently.

"She has taken the Soul-Returning Pill and is out of immediate danger," the Gu Clan handmaiden replied. "But the system energy within her is eroding..."

"Repel the enemy first!" Xiao Feng clenched his fists, the Emperor Scale markings glowing with golden light. "Little Yan, let's try our new combined technique!"

The two rose into the air on their swords, their Dou Qi forming a Yin-Yang pattern around them. Seeing this, Gu Yuan drew his sword and joined the fray. "In this battle, the Gu Clan and the Xiao Clan stand together!"

Though the Soul Clan puppets lacked consciousness, they possessed Dou Zong-level destructive power, each strike whipping up hundred-zhang waves of black energy. Xiao Feng and Xiao Yan exchanged a look and simultaneously unleashed the "Dual Emperor Sky-Breaker"—a purple and crimson beam of light shot into the sky, blasting the foremost puppet into dust!

"Kill!" The Gu Clan elders charged out, their Ancient Spirit Cold Flame intertwining with the Xiao Clan's Heavenly Flames to carve the Soul Clan army into pieces. Hun Dan stood on a Bone Dragon in the distance, watching his puppets crumble, a look of malice flashing in his eyes. "Xiao Clan, Gu Clan, do you think you've won? The true power of the Soul Burial Abyss..."

Before he could finish, the earth suddenly split open, and countless bone hands reached out from the pitch-black mist, tearing through the Gu Clan's protective mountain formation. Xiao Feng's pupils contracted; the energy contained within that mist was even more oppressive than the Emperor Flame!

"It's the 'Nine Nether Bone Mist' of the Soul Burial Abyss!" Gu Yuan exclaimed. "This mist can corrode Dou Qi, retreat quickly—"

Before he could finish, the bone mist was upon them. Xiao Feng instinctively spread his Emperor Flame shield, only to watch it dissolve rapidly within the fog. Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and forcibly burned his bloodline, his Flame Emperor Fire surging three zhang high, temporarily pushing back the bone mist.

"Third Brother, take the clansmen and go!" he roared. "I'll hold them off!"

"Nonsense!" Xiao Feng lashed out with a wave of Heavenly Flame. "Mother died to protect you back then; if I let you risk your life today, how could I face our ancestors?"

At the critical moment, Xun Er's figure suddenly appeared before the mountain gate. She held the restored Progenitor Ancient Jade, which emitted a soft green light that blocked the bone mist. "Xiao Yan, Xiao Feng, use your combined technique to strike the source of the mist!"

Xiao Feng understood, and together with Xiao Yan, he unleashed the "Dual Emperor Sky-Breaker" once more. The beam of light pierced through the bone mist and struck Hun Dan in the distance. The Bone Dragon let out a mournful cry, and though blood spilled from Hun Dan's lips, he grinned hideously and tossed out a black jade slip. "Even if I die, I will drag you down with me! Soul Burial Abyss, open!"

The jade slip erupted with brilliant light, the ground split into even deeper fissures, and a massive bone hand reached out from the abyss, cradling a pitch-black fragment of the Ancient Emperor Jade—it was the "Nether Chapter" held by the Soul Clan!

System notification sounded:

Ding! Detected Ancient Emperor Jade: Nether Chapter, triggering "Bloodline Resonance"!

Warning! The seal of the Soul Burial Abyss has been completely broken; it is recommended that the host evacuate immediately!

Seeing this, Gu Yuan made a swift decision. "Xun Er, activate the Gu Clan teleportation array! Young Master Xiao, take Xiao Yan and go; I will handle the aftermath!"

Xiao Feng gritted his teeth, hoisted Xiao Yan onto his back, and leaped into the teleportation array. Before the light faded, he saw Gu Yuan swing his sword at the bone hand, only to have his ankles ensnared by the bone mist as his figure was gradually swallowed by the darkness...

When the light of the teleportation array died out, Xiao Yan gripped Xiao Feng's wrist tightly. "Third Brother, Senior Gu Yuan, he..."

Xiao Feng gazed at the starry sky outside the array, the Emperor Scale markings pulsing violently with his rage. "Hun Dan, Soul Burial Abyss... no matter what schemes you have, the Xiao Clan will tear you to pieces!"

System notification sounded:

Ding! Host has obtained information on the Ancient Emperor Jade: Nether Chapter fragment, unlocking the "Explore the Soul Burial Abyss" mission.