Chapter 191: Entering the Heavenly Tomb and Meeting Xiao Xuan
"Very well. The debt between our two clans is settled."
In the Gu Realm, within Gu Yuan's residence, the patriarch's confirmation brought a faint smile to Xiao Tiance's face. This was the primary purpose of his visit.
For years, the Xiao Clan had owed the Gu Clan a significant favor. While Xiao Tiance had avoided clashing directly with Gu Yuan due to this, he found the Gu patriarch's increasingly underhanded tactics intolerable. Now that the matter was resolved, there was no longer any reason to hold back.
Xiao Tiance's Warning
Xiao Tiance nodded slightly and said, **"Since Brother Gu has spoken so plainly, I now consider this matter closed.
"But let me offer some advice think carefully before making your next move.
"Now, I shall take my leave. May our next meeting not find us as enemies."**
With that, Xiao Tiance's figure flickered and vanished into thin air.
Even Gu Yuan, a peak Nine Star Dou Sheng, couldn't perceive how Xiao Tiance had departed or confirm if he'd truly left.
"Such an eerie technique," Gu Yuan muttered, his expression growing increasingly grave.
Yan Jin, the Yan Clan patriarch, stepped forward. Seeing Gu Yuan's troubled look, he sighed.
"Brother Gu, at this point, should we truly continue to oppose him?"
Gu Yuan clenched his fists but said nothing.
He'd once believed that, at worst, he could stall Xiao Tiance in battle. Now, however, he realized that such a thought had been laughable. Xiao Tiance's power vastly exceeded his expectations.
Furthermore, the Xiao Clan had more than just Xiao Tiance. Xiao Qing, Tian Luo, and even the fearsome Sky Demon Puppet a peak Nine Star Dou Sheng level artifact were assets that the Gu Clan could not hope to match.
Unless the Gu Clan were willing to submit to the Xiao Clan, extinction was inevitable.
After a moment, Gu Yuan calmed himself and said, "Brother Yan, let us allow our clans to recover from their recent battles before deciding our next steps."
Yan Jin nodded, bowing slightly before leading his people away.
Once the Yan Clan departed, Gu Yuan turned to Gu Lie. His expression softened as he said, "Elder Gu Lie, you should rest as well. I need time alone to speak with Xun'er."
Gu Lie bowed and left without protest, leading the Gu Clan's members out of the hall.
A Father and Daughter Reunite
With everyone gone, Gu Yuan turned to his daughter, Xiao Xun'er, his face finally showing a hint of relief.
"My child, you're finally home."
"Father!"
Xun'er rushed into Gu Yuan's arms, embracing him tightly.
After some time, Gu Yuan gently pulled away and asked, "Xun'er, tell me everything. From the moment our clan's men came to fetch you from the Jia Nan Academy, to how you encountered Xiao Tiance, and everything you've seen and heard in these days."
Xun'er nodded obediently and recounted her journey in detail how she left the academy, the ambush by Xiao Tiance, and her eventual return.
Gu Yuan listened intently, his expression shifting between relief and frustration. When she finished, he sighed.
"It's unfortunate that our men could not be found, but your safe return is all that matters."
Xun'er gave a small smile and said, "Father, you look exhausted. Why not rest for now? Once you're refreshed, we can talk more."
Gu Yuan nodded, appreciating her concern. "Very well. Rest in your chambers as well, my child. Everything remains as you left it."
Xiao Tiance's Second Objective
Meanwhile, Xiao Tiance had not actually left the Gu Realm. Hidden by an intricate array, he had only feigned his departure.
This trip had two purposes:
To return Xun'er and settle the Xiao Clan's debt to the Gu Clan.
To enter the Heavenly Tomb.
The Heavenly Tomb was a mystical realm created to house the souls of deceased experts. Xiao Tiance had trained there in the past alongside Xiao Xuan, the legendary ancestor of the Xiao Clan.
Arriving at the tomb's outskirts, Xiao Tiance examined its protective barriers. With a flick of his fingers, he formed a compact spiritual array, allowing him to blend seamlessly into the barrier without alerting anyone.
Once the array was complete, he stepped through the barrier silently and entered the Heavenly Tomb.
A Journey Through the Tomb
Inside, Xiao Tiance moved quickly, bypassing the first layer of the tomb with ease. Despite the lingering traces of ancient souls, the first layer posed no challenge to him.
Upon reaching the second layer, he noticed that the once vibrant soul forms were now weak and diminished. Years of hunters seeking their power had taken a toll.
Not lingering, he pushed forward to the third layer, where Xiao Xuan's spirit resided.
As soon as he stepped into the third layer, a powerful spiritual force locked onto him.
"Who goes there?"
A commanding voice echoed. It belonged to Xiao Xuan, the Xiao Clan's greatest ancestor, whose soul had reached the peak of the Empyrean Realm.
Xiao Xuan's gaze scanned the area, but he could see nothing.
Then, a familiar voice rang out.
"It's been a thousand years, Brother Xuan. How have you been?"
A figure emerged from the shadows.
"Xiao Tiance?"
Xiao Xuan's eyes widened in disbelief. The Heavenly Tomb did not permit Dou Shengs to enter. Yet, standing before him was Xiao Tiance, who had already been a high level Dou Sheng before Xiao Xuan's passing.
"It's me," Xiao Tiance confirmed, smiling as he stepped forward.
Xiao Xuan's confusion turned to joy. He opened his arms, and Xiao Tiance embraced him tightly.
Xiao Xuan, though existing only as a soul, had retained a form nearly identical to his physical self, allowing him to embrace Xiao Tiance.
"Tiance, is it really you? How did you manage to get in here?" Xiao Xuan asked, his tone filled with disbelief. The idea of meeting Xiao Tiance in the Heavenly Tomb had seemed impossible until now.
Releasing his embrace, Xiao Tiance smiled and replied, "If I want to enter, I enter. It wasn't too difficult. Brother Xuan, it's been over a thousand years. I've missed you."
"And I've missed you too."
The two sat down, and Xiao Tiance observed Xiao Xuan closely. He could sense that Xiao Xuan's soul carried traces of the Heavenly Tomb's energy, deeply intertwined with his essence.
"This is unbelievable. Tiance, you've grown more and more inscrutable," Xiao Xuan remarked, a mix of astonishment and pride in his voice.
Even though Xiao Tiance was right in front of him, Xiao Xuan couldn't gauge the depths of his strength. This realization, while surprising, filled Xiao Xuan with relief and satisfaction.
"Haha, after over a thousand years, I had to make some progress. Otherwise, I'd have no face to meet you, Brother Xuan," Xiao Tiance chuckled.
"You rascal," Xiao Xuan laughed heartily. "To have reached a point where even I can't fathom your strength means you've surpassed me. Tell me, how is the clan? I imagine you're now the perfect leader for the Xiao Clan. They must be thriving under your guidance."
Xiao Tiance nodded. "The clan is doing very well. The Xiao Clan has grown stronger than ever, now the most powerful among all the Emperor Clans."
"Impressive. I always knew I made the right choice entrusting the clan to you. You've proven me right," Xiao Xuan said, a satisfied smile lighting up his face.
Hearing this, Xiao Tiance also smiled. In front of Xiao Xuan, he still felt like the younger brother who had been cared for and guided.
"At least I haven't let you down, Brother Xuan. That's the only reason I can face you now."
The Xiao Clan, under Xiao Tiance's leadership, had become multiple times stronger than it had been in Xiao Xuan's time. While the Xiao Clan under Xiao Xuan had been formidable, they had struggled against the Soul Clan. Now, however, the Xiao Clan could easily face both the Soul and Gu Clans simultaneously without fear.
This accomplishment gave Xiao Tiance a well earned sense of pride.
"Tell me more about the clan," Xiao Xuan said with a warm smile.
Xiao Tiance began recounting everything that had happened since Xiao Xuan's fall.
The Soul Clan's Decline
When Xiao Tiance reached the part about the Soul Clan being forced into hiding, Xiao Xuan's eyes widened with astonishment.
"The Soul Clan is in hiding? Is that true?"
"It's true, Brother Xuan. A few years ago, we clashed with the Soul Clan. In that battle, I severely injured Hun Tiandi and crippled the Soul Clan. Unfortunately, due to a certain fool, Hun Tiandi managed to escape, and we couldn't completely destroy the Soul Clan. It's a pity," Xiao Tiance explained, his tone tinged with regret.
"A fool? What do you mean by that?" Xiao Xuan asked, confused. "Who was this fool? A strong opponent?"
Xiao Tiance burst out laughing. "Haha, Brother Xuan, 'fool' is a slang term for someone stupid. If it weren't for Shi Zhongtian, that fool, Hun Tiandi and the Soul Clan would have been wiped out. In my anger, I crushed Shi Zhongtian to death."
"Shi Zhongtian… the Stone Clan's patriarch? You killed him? Didn't the Stone Clan retaliate?" Xiao Xuan was stunned.
The thought of killing an Emperor Clan patriarch seemed unimaginable, even for him. Despite his unparalleled confidence during his prime, Xiao Xuan had never dared to act so boldly.
"Haha, Brother Xuan, there's no need to worry about the Stone Clan. They're insignificant in my eyes. And besides, just a few days ago, both the Stone and Spirit Clans were annihilated," Xiao Tiance said with a smirk.
"What?! That's impossible!"
One shocking revelation after another left Xiao Xuan speechless. While the Stone and Spirit Clans had always been the weakest of the eight Emperor Clans, destroying them entirely was no small feat.
Xiao Tiance explained the events leading to their annihilation and how the Xiao Clan had orchestrated it from behind the scenes. By the time he finished, Xiao Xuan sat in stunned silence.
After a long pause, Xiao Xuan finally spoke. "I knew entrusting the Xiao Clan to you was the right decision. But, Tiance, you've truly exceeded all expectations. To manipulate entire Emperor Clans like pawns on a chessboard… Even I couldn't dream of achieving that. Tiance, you're stronger than I ever was."
These words caught Xiao Tiance off guard. Xiao Xuan, known for his dominance and pride, had never admitted inferiority to anyone. Not even to his predecessor, the previous Xiao Clan patriarch. Hearing such praise from Xiao Xuan was both humbling and surreal.
"Brother Xuan, if you keep praising me like this, I might get conceited," Xiao Tiance said, scratching his head sheepishly.
"Hahaha! You have every right to be conceited. Anyone who earns my respect deserves to be proud," Xiao Xuan laughed. "But tell me, you didn't come all this way just to see me, did you? If there's anything you need, just say the word. If it's within my power, I'll help you."
A Bold Proposal
Xiao Tiance's expression grew serious. "I'm here to take you out of this place, Brother Xuan."
Xiao Xuan's eyes widened in surprise. "Take me out? Tiance, you must be joking. You may not know this, but "
Before he could finish, Xiao Tiance interrupted him. "Brother Xuan, you should know me well enough by now. I wouldn't make such a claim without absolute confidence."
Xiao Xuan's initial shock turned to contemplation before his expression darkened. "And if I leave, what then? The Xiao Clan has you. My presence won't make a difference."
Xiao Tiance smiled faintly. "Don't you want to pursue the Dou Di realm once more, Brother Xuan?"
Those words struck a chord deep within Xiao Xuan. Becoming a Dou Di had been his lifelong ambition, an unfulfilled dream that had consumed him even in death.
For a moment, Xiao Xuan's eyes burned with renewed determination. But then, his gaze dimmed. "Even if I wanted to, I'm nothing more than a lingering soul. It's impossible. And besides, the Heavenly Tomb Spirit won't allow me to leave."
"Leave the Heavenly Tomb Spirit to me," Xiao Tiance said confidently.
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