Chapter 724 The Curtain Will Open

Just as Gu Yuan's figure disappeared into the thin mist, and before the clouds atop the green peak had completely cleared, a graceful figure drifted in like a firefly in the forest.

Her white skirt brushed against the mossy stones covered in morning dew, and with a few light flashes, she landed steadily in front of Xiao Ling. It was Xun'er who had rushed over.

Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her beautiful eyes revealed a hint of worry and curiosity. She scrutinized Xiao Ling's face, afraid that he might show the slightest embarrassment.

"Brother Xiao Ling, did my father make things difficult for you just now?" Xun'er took a half step forward, her tone urgent, her fingers unconsciously clenching the hem of her skirt.
"If he says anything harsh or shows any dissatisfaction with you, Xun'er will definitely confront him later!"

Seeing how protective she was of him, Xiao Ling's smile deepened. He gently brushed a wisp of mist from her hair, his voice filled with warmth.
"Don't worry, your father didn't make things difficult for me. Besides, what kind of father-in-law would make things difficult for his son-in-law?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "father-in-law," and seeing Xun'er's ears instantly flush red, he continued...
"He not only treated me kindly, but also personally approved of our relationship, only instructing us to prepare well for the Heavenly Tomb."

Hearing Xiao Ling's teasing, Xun'er's ears turned red instantly, her cheeks flushed, and she gently punched his arm, her reproachful expression showing no real annoyance.

But when she heard that her father not only did not object, but even thought highly of the relationship between the two, her previously tense shoulders suddenly relaxed, her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down, and even the worry in her eyes turned into a bright smile.

She never really cared about the gossip of the elders or the grudges among the younger members of the clan. The only thing that mattered to Xun'er was her father, the clan leader who was responsible for the rise and fall of the ancient clan.

Now that even the person she cares about most has nodded in approval of her feelings for Xiao Ling, the mountain breeze seems to have become gentler, and the remaining minor obstacles are nothing in the face of this steadfastness.

“Brother Xiao Ling, let’s go back first.” Xun’er gently took Xiao Ling’s hand, feeling the soft touch on her fingertips. Her eyebrows curved, and a smile appeared in her eyes. “Your and Cousin Xiao Yan’s spots in the Heavenly Tomb have been reserved. In two more days, we can go in together.”

Upon hearing this, a genuine look of joy flashed across Xiao Ling's eyes, and the worry that had been weighing on his mind finally came to an end.

His biggest worry was that the elders in his clan who harbored resentment towards him would find excuses to prevent him from entering the Heavenly Tomb. He was even more afraid that even if he managed to secure a spot, Xiao Yan would be blocked from entering, which was not the outcome he wanted.

He had already made plans to use Xun'er's influence in the ancient clan or sacrifice some cultivation resources to win the two Heavenly Tomb slots that should have belonged to the Xiao clan.

Hearing Xun'er say this now, it's clear that the matter has already been properly resolved, relieving him of some burden.

"Thank you, Xun'er." Xiao Ling gently stroked the soft, jade-like hand in his palm, his voice full of tenderness.

He knew better than anyone that if it weren't for his feelings for Xun'er, the conservative elders in the clan would never have easily given up those two precious spots to them.

Upon hearing this, Xun'er's smile softened even more. With a gentle twist of her slender waist, she leaned her blushing cheeks against Xiao Ling's shoulder, her beautiful eyes half-closed, greedily inhaling the warm scent emanating from him that brought her peace of mind.

"This is also Father's wish, Brother Xiao Ling, you don't need to thank me."

Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of seriousness, "Besides, Brother Xiao Ling, you are excellent enough. You have proven your strength and deserve these opportunities."

Looking at the soft, warm person in his arms, Xiao Ling felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He gently wrapped his arms around her slender, boneless waist, buried his head in her smooth, dark hair, and smelled the faint fragrance of her hair.

At that moment, it seemed as if the clouds and mist in the mountains became the backdrop between the two of them, and all the unpleasant things in the world quietly dissipated in the warmth of their embrace.

In the void above the summit of Qingfeng, a faint ripple suddenly appeared in the clouds, and Gu Yuan's figure quietly emerged.

He stood with his hands behind his back in the void, his gaze falling on the two people embracing on the mountaintop. Looking at the completely relaxed smile on Xun'er's face, a complex emotion flashed in his eyes, which finally turned into a barely audible sigh.

The next second, the space around him slightly distorted, and his figure in the plain-colored robe vanished as if merging into heaven and earth, leaving only a sigh of helplessness and relief, which drifted away gently on the mountain breeze.

"A daughter is like a tree that grows up and leaves home; this girl has finally grown up..."

……

The clear waters of Qingfeng flow around the green mountains, and the breeze carries the refreshing scent of grass and trees. The worries of the past few days seem to be completely washed away by this beautiful scenery. Two days slipped away quietly in this tranquility, as quickly as a wisp of cloud passing through the mountains.

For the past two days, no one from the ancient clan has bothered Xiao Ling and his group, and this rare peace and quiet has made everyone feel exceptionally comfortable. Xiao Ling and Xun'er haven't deliberately focused on cultivation either; instead, they've completely relaxed their tense minds.

Xiao Ling would sometimes tease the lively little Yan Ji, deepening his bond with the adorable little one, and sometimes sit side by side with Xun'er on the pavilion, talking about the trivial things that had happened during their years apart, melting all the longing he had accumulated into the time they spent together.

But this tranquility was ultimately short-lived.

As the dawn broke through the sky on the third day, and golden rays of light fell upon the Green Peak Mountains, an unusual atmosphere suddenly permeated from the depths of the mountains. The atmosphere carried an ancient weight and a hint of restlessness, which even Xiao Ling and Xun'er, who were sitting quietly in the courtyard, could clearly sense...

"Today is the day the Heavenly Tomb opens." Xun'er stood on the open-air pavilion on the top floor of the building, her fingertips lightly brushing against the cool morning breeze. She turned to Xiao Ling beside her and smiled, her eyes filled with anticipation for the unknown.

Xiao Ling nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the scattered figures moving along the mountain path in the distance. His tone was somewhat urgent: "It seems that everyone else has set off as well. Let's not delay and get there as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Xun'er raised her hand and softly called out towards the direction of the forest. In an instant, a snow-white figure sped out from the lush forest. It was the unicorn full of spiritual energy, its four hooves carrying a faint spiritual light as they stepped on the dewy grass.

After the two summoned Xiao Yan, who was already prepared, the three of them easily leaped onto the broad back of the unicorn. With a clear whistle from Xun'er, the unicorn's wings suddenly unfurled, creating a gust of wind, carrying the three of them rapidly towards the Heavenly Tomb in the eastern part of the mountain range. The buildings and trees behind them quickly became blurry afterimages…

……

"Cousin Xun'er, could you tell me about the Heavenly Tomb? As the host, you must know some special information that others haven't heard of, right?" Standing on the broad back of the unicorn, Xiao Yan looked at the clouds passing by and couldn't help but ask Xun'er beside him, his eyes full of inquiry.

Xun'er's black hair was lifted by the mountain breeze, brushing past her slender waist. She turned her head and patiently explained, "The Heavenly Tomb is located deep in the Ancient Sacred Mountains. It was originally a forbidden area of ​​the ancient clans, and clansmen were strictly forbidden to enter it on ordinary days. It will only be open to the public for a few days when the Heavenly Tomb is opened."

Speaking of the interior of the Heavenly Tomb, the smile on her face faded a bit, and her tone became more solemn: "The Heavenly Tomb hides many dangers. Countless ancient powerhouses are buried there. Although their souls have long since dissipated, the Heavenly Tomb is too magical, causing their energy from their lives to condense into their original form. These energy bodies are not only extremely powerful in attack, but they can also use their fighting techniques from their lives, making them very difficult to deal with."

She paused, then added, "So it's best to avoid encountering a powerful energy entity. It's said that those top-tier powerhouses in life even possessed some intelligence in their energy entities, and could even be considered a kind of strange creature, not just a simple 'dead thing'."

"A creature formed from the energy of the dead..." Xiao Yan murmured, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing his sleeve, lost in thought. "He was strong enough in life, and with the special nature of the Heavenly Tomb, he was actually able to create such a peculiar life form."

"The Heavenly Tomb isn't just one area; it's divided into three levels," Xun'er continued, clarifying the key information one by one.

"The energy bodies on the first level are mostly Dou Zun below three stars, wandering aimlessly, and are not too difficult to deal with; the energy bodies on the second level are Dou Zun from three to eight stars, which will be much more troublesome; as for the third level, there are not only peak Dou Zun, but also super strong people who reached the level of Dou Sheng in their previous lives. Generally speaking, no one dares to enter the third level without being absolutely sure, because the danger there is far greater than the first two levels, and if you are not careful, you may lose your life."

After hearing Xun'er's introduction, Xiao Yan couldn't help but shiver, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

"Is the Heavenly Tomb really this dangerous? With my current strength, I'm afraid I can only stay on the first level at most, and I won't even be able to touch the threshold of the second level, right?"

Xiao Yan has only recently broken through to the Dou Zun realm, and is currently only at the two-star Dou Zun level.

Not to mention the terrifying beings on the third level who are guaranteed to be at the peak of Dou Zun, or even those who possess Dou Sheng energy bodies, the energy bodies of three-star to eight-star Dou Zun on the second level alone are far beyond his ability to handle.

Whether it's the three-star to eight-star Dou Zun energy bodies of the second layer, or the peak Dou Zun or even Dou Sheng energy bodies of the third layer, Xiao Yan would not only be suppressed by their cultivation level, but would also be at a disadvantage in terms of Dou techniques.

After all, as Xun'er had said before, the energy beings in the Heavenly Tomb were all top experts from various ancient races in their previous lives. The profound secret techniques and fighting skills passed down from their races were what they cultivated back then. Even when they were transformed into energy beings, the power of their moves was far beyond that of ordinary Dou Zun.

With Xiao Yan's current strength as a two-star Dou Zun, if he rashly enters the second or third level, he would probably be defeated by the energy body as soon as he meets it, without even having a chance to fight back.

"Don't overthink it. There's always a way out."

Xiao Ling raised his hand and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, his tone full of certainty.
"After that, you will come with me and Xun'er to enter the Heavenly Tomb. We'll go in first and then talk about other things. Since I've brought you along, I certainly won't let you leave empty-handed this time. Just wait and see what benefits I'll give you."

"Hehe, since my cousin has said so, I'll follow your arrangements from now on!" Hearing Xiao Ling's words, Xiao Yan's worries were greatly relieved, and he couldn't help but laugh.

He thought about it again and realized that made perfect sense. With Xiao Ling, the powerful protagonist of destiny, protecting him, and Xun'er, the young lady of an ancient clan with divine bloodline, by his side, what great danger could he possibly face by following them?

He only needs to follow behind the two and enjoy the benefits. He doesn't need to worry about planning anything. With two experts in front of him, he won't have any trouble. Even if he encounters a dangerous situation that they can't handle, he won't be able to do anything with his own strength. Thinking about it now is pointless.

"By the way, there's one more thing. Is the tomb of my ancestor Xiao Xuan also on the third level of the Heavenly Tomb?" Xiao Ling suddenly turned to look at Xun'er, his tone becoming more solemn.

Upon hearing this, Xun'er frowned slightly and pondered for a moment before replying softly, "This... according to the clan's records, it seems to be in the deepest part of the third level. However, even within our ancient clan, very few people dare to easily step into that area. If we want to go there, it will probably be extremely difficult."

You could hear a hint of helplessness in Xun'er's voice. Although she and Xiao Ling were already quite strong, there were already Dou Sheng-level energy bodies inhabiting the third level, and Xiao Xuan's tomb was hidden in the deepest part. They didn't know how many dangers they would encounter along the way.

Thinking of all these obstacles, Xun'er felt that it was really unrealistic to expect to reach the tomb smoothly.

Hearing the concerns in Xun'er's tone, Xiao Ling understood her worries, but he didn't say anything more, only a trace of determination flashed in his eyes.

He wasn't underestimating those Dou Sheng-level energy bodies, but he knew that as long as he and Xiao Yan's Xiao Clan bloodline aura got close, their ancestor Xiao Xuan would definitely sense it and personally come out to guide them.

With Xiao Xuan's strength back then, even in the Heavenly Tomb, apart from special beings like the Heavenly Tomb Soul, no other energy entity could do anything to him.

It could be said that, in the eyes of outsiders, the third layer, filled with Dou Sheng-level energy bodies, was the most dangerous place in the Heavenly Tomb, but for Xiao Ling and his group, it became the safest place.

After all, with the protection of their ancestor Xiao Xuan, any dangers along the way could be easily resolved.

Upon hearing the mention of Xiao Xuan, Xiao Yan became curious about the past of this ancestor of the Xiao clan and immediately joined the conversation, frequently asking about the scattered rumors about his ancestor from back then.

As the three of them chatted and traveled, the unicorn carried them deeper into the mountains.

Occasionally, you can encounter figures heading towards the Heavenly Tomb along the way. Most of them are powerful individuals from the other six races, but some ancient clan disciples are also mixed in.

Although they exchanged glances, neither stopped talking. Only the members of the ancient clans, upon seeing Xun'er's figure in the distance, would respectfully bow before hurrying past, not daring to linger. (End of Chapter)