The core of the Heavenly Tomb's fourth level had become a forbidden land, ravaged by surging energy.
Time seemed to lose all meaning in a clash of this magnitude. For five days and five nights, Xiao Xuan had wielded Xiao Yan's body with the power of a single remnant of his soul, holding his own against two opponents.
"Xiao Xuan, that remnant soul is the last thread keeping you in this world. Keep this up and your soul may scatter to the winds. Why not surrender? It would be better for both of us, wouldn't it?" Gu Yuan sent the message even as they fought.
All of them had spent a great deal of strength, both their true selves and the three bodies serving as their vessels.
In Gu Yuan's judgment, Xiao Xuan's obsession ran too deep for him to give up unless matters reached their worst possible end. He had no hope of persuading Xiao Xuan with a few words; he only wanted to test how much strength Xiao Xuan had left. After five days of deadlock, Gu Yuan's own soul power had begun to waver. Xiao Xuan, who was fighting two opponents alone, had to be a candle guttering in the wind, even if his strength was not yet exhausted.
But Xiao Xuan was no ordinary man. He had once attempted to break through to the Dou Di realm, and no one could be certain he had no trump card hidden up his sleeve.
For years, Soul Heavenly Emperor and Gu Yuan had known that his remnant soul remained within the Heavenly Veil. Though deeply wary of him, neither had ever come to investigate. Their wariness of Xiao Xuan was also why they had sent only projections of their souls this time rather than coming in person.
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