Word Count: 3,271 Words
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Mang Tian Chi let out a soft sigh, his voice carrying undisguised envy. As a member of the Lei Clan, he understood perfectly well just how crucial a Divine Grade bloodline was to an ancient clan.
Hun Ya and Hun Li both wore expressions of utter shock. They knew that unlike Hun Feng and Hun Yu's Divine Grade Bloodlines, Xun Er's was purely natural, not acquired later!
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan couldn't help but swallow hard as a single thought echoed in his mind. I won't be subjected to domestic violence in the future, will I?
His face turned somewhat pale, though whether from exhaustion or panic was hard to tell. If Xun Er ever decided to hit him, he wondered if kneeling would spare him a few blows…
Gu Qing Yang with his Grade 9 Dou God Bloodline was already this powerful. A Divine Grade one would be absolutely terrifying!
Xiao Yan was no fool. He understood the vast chasm that separated Grade 9 from Divine Grade. The greatest difference wasn't merely in talent or combat strength. It was in foundation!
If he himself possessed a Divine Grade Bloodline, it wouldn't actually mean much beyond faster cultivation. After all, the Xiao Clan was already gone, their Dou God legacies lost to who knew where. He would be left with a Divine Grade Bloodline and nothing to show for it.
Just imagine: Gu Qing Yang could unleash such power with the God Seal Technique using a Grade 9 bloodline. What, then, could someone with a Divine Grade bloodline achieve!
Moreover, Xiao Yan knew that within the Hun Clan, the Emperor Soul Technique created by Emperor Hun required at least a Grade 6 Dou God Bloodline just to cultivate the upper scroll, while the lower scroll demanded Grade 8 or even Grade 9 bloodline.
Yet the complete Emperor Soul Technique was merely a High Tian Class Soul Training Method. Could a technique created by Emperor Hun truly be only High Tian Class? Xiao Yan wouldn't believe that even if he were beaten to death.
He was certain there was more to it. The true Emperor Soul Technique could likely only be cultivated by the Clan Head, or rather, only by those with a genuine Divine Grade bloodline, because it was a Qi Method that transcended the Tian Class!
While he didn't know about the other Dou God Clans, he was sure that at the very least, the Hun and Gu Clans possessed God Class Qi Methods and Dou Techniques. These were methods beyond the reach of ordinary people; even Gu Qing Yang couldn't cultivate them.
A Divine Grade Bloodline represented something far too significant. It represented being the sole heir to the entire legacy of a Dou God Clan!
Xun Er already possessed the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame. What else would the Gu Clan possibly deny her!
Xiao Yan's Flame Mantra was powerful, his Angry Buddha Lotus Flame was formidable, and his Heavenly Flame techniques, Dragon Phoenix Ancient Armor, Ancient Phoenix Wings, and the incomplete Flame God Seal were all exceptionally strong. But compared to a true Dou God legacy, they simply couldn't measure up.
'Thankfully I beat Gu Qing Yang...' Xiao Yan thought with a surge of relief. He currently wasn't Xun Er's match—or rather, he wasn't a match for Xun Er backed by a Dou God's foundation—but he had surpassed all his romantic rivals. That made all the difference, didn't it!
He was the only one!
The thought made him grin foolishly.
Still, he didn't belittle himself. He was merely inferior for now. Once he could evolve the Flame Mantra to High Tian Class, or perhaps even beyond, it would be another story entirely. When that happened, the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame would evolve into a God Class Dou Technique!
'Could this Flame Mantra actually be some Dou God's legacy?' Xiao Yan rubbed his chin, a new suspicion taking root in his mind.
Unfortunately, Venerable Yao, the one who had given him the Flame Mantra, was already gone. There was no one left to ask.
The golden pillar of light pierced straight into the heavens. It lingered for a long moment before finally beginning to fade, transforming into a wisp of golden radiance that drilled back into Xun Er's body. Only then did she slowly open her beautiful eyes. The surrounding silence stirred no surprise in her; instead, she fixed her calm gaze on Elder Tong Xuan, whose face burned with fervent excitement.
Gu Qing Yang and the other generals felt a bitter tang fill their mouths. Not everyone shared Xiao Yan's courage to challenge a Dou God Bloodline. Gu Qing Yang, for one, openly admitted he lacked the nerve to defy a Divine Grade one.
They had harbored suspicions earlier, but seeing those guesses turn real still proved hard to swallow. After all, a Divine Grade bloodline hadn't appeared in the Gu Clan for a thousand years.
"It truly is a Divine Grade bloodline… It really is!!"
Under Xun Er's steady gaze, Elder Tong Xuan muttered excitedly to himself a couple of times before gradually regaining his composure. He offered her a smile, then his expression turned solemn. With both hands extended respectfully, he gently grasped at the empty space before him.
As his palms closed, a dragon pen shimmering with seven-colored radiance materialized in his grasp. The instant this pen appeared, reverence swept across the faces of every Gu Clan member.
Mang Tian Chi gazed at the pen gleaming with seven-colored light and exhaled softly before murmuring, "The Rainbow Heavenly God Pen… This relic the Gu Clan hasn't used for a thousand years… is finally being unsealed?"
Elder Tong Xuan cradled the Rainbow Heavenly God Pen with profound respect, his heart surging with excitement. The Gu Clan's millennium-sealed treasure was about to be wielded once more!
He gripped the Rainbow Heavenly God Pen tightly and turned his gaze to Xun Er, as if seeking her permission. She gave a slight nod, then gently closed her beautiful eyes.
With her approval secured, Elder Tong Xuan's expression grew grave. A tremendous aura erupted from his body, surging outward in an overwhelming tide. His hand clutching the Rainbow Heavenly God Pen tightened abruptly, and his arm began to dance through the air. Mysterious trajectories took shape swiftly beneath his strokes, and as the pen moved, a seven-colored Clan Mark emerged one deliberate line at a time upon Xun Er's smooth forehead.
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed as he watched Elder Tong Xuan's Dou Qi drain away at an alarming rate. This so-called Rainbow Heavenly God Pen likely surpassed even Gu Qing Yang's Silver Dragon Battle Halberd in tier. Though not a weapon, its rarity probably exceeded that of Grade 9 treasures!
'It must be a Dou God artifact.'
Under the watchful eyes of all present, Elder Tong Xuan finally completed the seven-colored Clan Mark. By the time it was done, even this high-level Half-Saint's face had paled slightly.
The seven-colored radiance endured only a moment before retracting fully into the Clan Mark on Xun Er's forehead. With a subtle ripple, the mark gradually vanished from sight. Such Clan Marks remained hidden in everyday life, appearing only when deliberately summoned by their bearer.
Paying no heed to the surrounding stares, Xun Er strode straight back to Xiao Yan's side. She stood before him with her hands clasped playfully behind her back, a spark of pride gleaming in her eyes. Leaning forward, she blinked teasingly. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, what do you think?"
Xiao Yan rolled his eyes at her attitude, as if she were a student showing off a perfect score. Then, he reached up and stroked her silky hair. "I suppose from now on, I'll just have to hide behind you whenever we run into bad guys."
Xun Er covered her mouth and giggled. "Perfect! This time, it's Xun Er's turn to protect Xiao Yan ge-ge."
With that, they both rose to their feet. The show had ended, so naturally it was time to leave. Xun Er linked her arm intimately with Xiao Yan's, and they strolled away from the ceremonial plaza, chatting and laughing together.
Their affectionate display made countless onlookers green with envy, many of them pounding their chests and stamping their feet in frustration. But recalling Xiao Yan's terrifying strength from moments before, they could only stew in silent jealousy, not daring to utter a word.
Even with Xun Er's incomparably noble Divine Grade Bloodline, the stubborn elders of the Gu Clan had all fallen silent. No matter how precious her bloodline might be, it would stabilize upon reaching the Dou Saint realm. Surely they didn't expect her to remain unwed forever!
…
The evening sun slanted low, a pale luminous orb hanging at the horizon's edge and casting the last of its warmth across the land. Xiao Yan now understood that this sun was artificial, demanding vast reserves of Dou Qi at regular intervals to sustain its glow.
A soft creak sounded as Xun Er eased open the door to the small house. She stepped inside lightly and met Xiao Yan's eyes, which opened at that very moment. A tender smile curved her lips. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, are your injuries feeling better?"
"Nothing serious, just overexertion." Xiao Yan's eyes sparkled with warmth. "With your Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame aiding me, how could anything go wrong?"
Xun Er cast him a charmingly coy glance. She carried a basin of water to his bedside, wrung out a towel, and began to gently wipe the grime from his face.
"If we'd been at the same level, the fight wouldn't have dragged on so hard." Xiao Yan sighed. "Even a peak 9-star Dou Venerate should have gone down easier."
Real combat never considered age or cultivation level. There were no such things as convenient 'ifs.' His victory under those conditions already defied expectations.
Xun Er smiled warmly and nodded. "At the same level, even Xun Er might not match Xiao Yan ge-ge."
"Oh? Why do I find that hard to believe?" Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow playfully. He caught her hand and gently intertwined their fingers. Then his expression sobered. "By the way, when does the Heavenly Tomb open? I heard our Xiao Clan ancestor Xiao Xuan has a tomb inside. Is that true?"
It was no wonder he was impatient. After witnessing the true power of the God Seal Technique, his desire for the 'Breaking Through the Heavens' technique burned even hotter. If he wasn't mistaken, it was very likely a God Class Dou Technique left behind by the Xiao Clan's Dou God, one that required the Dou God Bloodline to unlock.
A God Class Dou Technique would secure his path! He just wondered if ancestor Xiao Xuan had left any legacy for him.
"The Heavenly Tomb opens in about two days. I'll definitely secure a spot for Xiao Yan ge-ge." Determination gleamed in Xun Er's eyes. She knew those elders kept inventing excuses, unwilling to restore the Xiao Clan's rightful quota.
Xiao Yan smiled and gently traced a finger along the bridge of her nose. "Not even married into the family yet, and you're already handling your husband's affairs?"
Xun Er's lips formed an adorable pout at his teasing. "This spot belongs to the Xiao Clan by right. Besides, Xiao Yan ge-ge only wants one. Refusing even that would be outrageous."
Her eyes flashed with cold resolve. "If they truly deny it, I'll get it for Xiao Yan ge-ge."
Some lines could not be crossed. This was her absolute boundary.
"Thank you, Xun Er," Xiao Yan said softly. His thumb caressed the smooth, jade-like skin of her palm.
Xun Er smiled sweetly. Her slender waist shifted with a subtle twist as she leaned against his shoulder. A delicate blush spread across her cheeks. She closed her beautiful eyes and breathed in greedily, savoring the comforting warmth of his presence that soothed her heart.
Tenderness swelled in Xiao Yan's chest as he gazed at the jade-like beauty in his arms. He gently encircled that supple, seemingly boneless waist and buried his face in her silken hair, inhaling its subtle fragrance. In that instant, the fatigue of recent days melted away entirely.
Of course, neither knew yet that Xiao Yan's decisive victory over Gu Qing Yang had already locked in his Heavenly Tomb spot well ahead of time.
Once she confirmed his injuries had stabilized, Xun Er didn't linger. Her new seven-colored Clan Mark demanded nurturing and cultivation.
Alone at last, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged to meditate. His mind replayed the day's battle.
'The Flame God Seal isn't fully formed, and the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique's level is still too low.' He recalled how, during the Flame God Seal's activation, the heavenly phenomenon had diverged from his usual beast spirits. Those five colossal figures resembled bizarre creatures with beast heads and human bodies.
Take the blood-red lion from the Ten Thousand Beast Flame: in the sky, it had appeared as a lion-headed humanoid seated cross-legged on a red lotus, forming a strange hand seal.
The appearance of those beast spirits had carried a somewhat demonic feel, and their eyes were tightly shut. This was because, just like with the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame, he needed a vast amount of Spiritual Strength to stabilize the Flame God Seal. That alone proved the technique was not yet truly complete.
'Perhaps the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique itself should be modified… The Heavenly Flame beast spirits could be changed… Ugh, my brain is itching. Am I finally growing one?' Xiao Yan shook his head vigorously.
He had long nurtured the idea of the Flame God Seal. Xun Er had given him the God Seal Technique long ago, telling him to study it carefully. Today, its emergence had been a stroke of fortunate coincidence.
Perhaps the ability of the Mysterious Yellow Flame was to enhance such 'fortunate coincidences,' allowing him to unleash the Flame God Seal at this most crucial moment.
It could only be described as 'good luck'.
But now, without that spontaneous feeling, using it again would prove difficult, let alone perfecting it into a complete Dou Technique.
'One step at a time, starting with the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique. I'll need to consult Elder Yao back home; he might offer insights.' Xiao Yan waved a hand dismissively and resolved to pass the task to Venerable Tian Huo instead.
A Venerate Ascension Spirit Pill should convince him. As the saying went, a good pill could make even ghosts turn the millstone!
…
Time passed swiftly, and two days vanished in the blink of an eye.
No Gu Clan members disturbed Xiao Yan during this interval. He relished the tranquility, yet such calm could not endure forever. As the third day's morning light spilled from the horizon, a peculiar atmosphere spread through the mountain range and enveloped everyone within it.
"Xiao Yan ge-ge, the Heavenly Tomb opens today." Xun Er stood before the bamboo house and knocked gently. A soft smile colored her voice.
Creak…
Xiao Yan pushed the door open. A light breeze lifted Xun Er's silky hair, which cascaded to her slender, willow-like waist. The sight stole his breath.
"Xiao Yan ge-ge, let's g—mmph!"
Before she could finish, Xiao Yan drew her into his embrace by the waist and claimed her lips in a deep, possessive kiss. One day apart felt like three autumns, and it had already been two!
Xun Er had missed him just as fiercely. She melted into his arms, and they lost themselves in the embrace.
"Xiao Yan ge-ge, stop being such a rogue." She murmured at last, her cheeks flushed crimson, her beautiful eyes hazy with longing. Her breathing came in soft pants as she reluctantly pushed him back. "We'll be late if we don't leave now."
"Hehe, how is kissing my own wife being a rogue? This is called showing affection." Xiao Yan grinned shamelessly, his skin as thick as a city wall.
Xun Er took a step back, feigning exasperation though her eyes still sparkled with shyness. With a graceful wave, she summoned a Void Heavenly Horse Beast and pulled him up behind her. Together, they soared toward the Heavenly Tomb.
"Xiao Yan ge-ge, the Heavenly Tomb's entrance lies deep within the Gu Sacred Mountain Range," Xun Er explained as they flew. "That area is normally forbidden territory for the Gu Clan. Only when the Heavenly Tomb opens do they permit entry."
"Mm." Xiao Yan tightened his arms around her from behind as he listened, his chin resting lightly on her shoulder.
"The Heavenly Tomb holds many dangers. Countless ancient experts are buried there. Though their souls have long dissipated, the tomb's miraculous nature has transformed their lingering energy into replicas of their former selves. These energy bodies possess formidable offensive power and retain knowledge of the Dou Techniques from their lives, making them quite difficult to handle." Her expression grew serious. "So if you encounter an overwhelmingly powerful energy body, it's best to avoid it. Supposedly, some who were exceptionally strong in life retain a degree of intelligence even as energy bodies. They've essentially become a type of strange creature…"
"Oh? Creatures born from the dead?" Xiao Yan mused. Their immense power in life, combined with the Heavenly Tomb's mystical properties, had birthed this odd phenomenon.
"The Heavenly Tomb has three layers. The energy bodies on the first layer are mostly Dou Venerates below three stars. They wander mindlessly and aren't too difficult to deal with. The second layer holds Dou Venerates from three to eight stars. As for the third layer…" Xun Er's voice turned grave. "That's where peak Dou Venerates reside, along with elite experts who reached the Dou Saint realm in life. Generally, unless one is absolutely confident, few dare venture into the third layer. It's far too dangerous."
"Is my ancestor Xiao Xuan's tomb also on the third layer?" Xiao Yan asked.
"It is said to be in the innermost region of the third layer," Xun Er replied helplessly. "But even among my Gu Clan, very few dare go there. I'm afraid quite a few energy bodies of former Dou Saints lurk in that area."
'Dou Saints… that's rather troublesome.' Xiao Yan's brow furrowed slightly. He might manage a fight against a Half-Saint's energy body, but a powerful Dou Saint would pose extreme danger. Even as mere energy remnants, Dou Saints remained Dou Saints. He wasn't certain he could handle one.
'Cross that bridge when we come to it. First, enter the Heavenly Tomb.' With this thought, his heart eased considerably. He resumed questioning Xun Er about the tomb.
The Void Heavenly Horse Beast carried them deeper into the mountain range as they chatted intimately. Along the way, they encountered others heading in the same direction. Upon spotting Xun Er and Xiao Yan, these people would bow respectfully from afar before hurrying on.
The two of them arrived dead last, practically sliding in at the final moment.
"Could you two possibly be any later? What were you doing?" Mang Tian Chi huffed, blowing through his beard in irritation.
Shortly after their arrival, the surrounding world began to tremble violently. A vast, primordial aura seeped slowly from the void. Under this ancient presence, a sense of reverence welled up from the depths of everyone's souls.
"The Heavenly Tomb is opening…"
A massive celestial gate materialized in the void. The ancient aura poured out from within.
'So this is the gate to the Heavenly Tomb!' Xiao Yan's heart blazed with anticipation as he gazed at the colossal portal. Inside lay his Xiao Clan's only remaining legacy!
The Tomb of Xiao Xuan!