Chapter 731 Entering the 3rd Floor

The moment Xiao Yan's fingertips touched the ancient storage ring, he subconsciously sent a wisp of Dou Qi into it. The next second, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he even paused for a beat.

What was inside the storage ring was not "some" energy cores, but rather a densely packed cluster of lustrous light clusters. Pale silver and light gold halos intertwined and flowed within the ring. Even the lowest-ranking ones were six-star energy cores, and among them, more than a dozen with a rich, deep blue halo were eight-star energy cores that he had previously found difficult to even touch!

The quantity and quality of this were worlds apart from what he had painstakingly saved up over half a month.

"This..." Xiao Yan's Adam's apple bobbed, his heart churning with shock. When he looked up at Xiao Ling and Xun'er, his eyes were filled with tremor.

He quickly composed himself, held the storage ring in both hands, and solemnly bowed to the two of them. His waist and abdomen slumped slightly, and his tone was full of undisguised gratitude and determination: "Thank you, cousin, and thank you, cousin Xun'er! I will remember this help."

He clenched his fist tightly around the storage ring, his palms slightly warm from the force, and his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.

"Next, I will definitely find a safe place and devote all my efforts to refining these energy cores, so that your efforts will not be in vain. When we meet again, I will have broken through the bottleneck and will no longer be like this, without even the strength to go to the third level. At that time, I will definitely surprise you!"

Xun'er looked at the sharp light in his eyes, nodded slightly, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips.

Xiao Ling raised an eyebrow, patted his shoulder, and said with a hint of expectation, "Okay, Xun'er and I are looking forward to the day we see you again. We expect your performance to amaze us."

He didn't say anything more, but just as Xiao Yan turned around to move, Xiao Ling's voice came from behind him, his tone more serious than before: "Wait, there's something else I need to tell you."

He took a half step forward, his gaze sweeping over the still-swirling thick fog around him, and said in a deep voice,
“There are many high-level Dou Zun-level energy bodies hidden deep within this second level, as well as some remaining ancient restrictions. It’s too dangerous for you to act alone. What I mean is, you should retreat to the first level first. The energy bodies there are weaker, and the others who entered the Sky Curtain should have already entered the second level. It’s more suitable for you to cultivate in peace.”

After a pause, Xiao Ling added,

"Furthermore, the energy storms in the Heavenly Tomb never come out of nowhere. Once they sweep over, even Xun'er and I have to take cover. If you were to run into one with your current strength, you might not even be able to protect yourself. From now on, whether you are traveling or cultivating, you must pay close attention to the energy fluctuations in the air. If you notice anything unusual, find a place to hide immediately and don't be reckless."

Xiao Ling remembered that in the original timeline, a violent energy storm erupted on the second level of the Heavenly Tomb. The storm was so dangerous that even a Seven-Star Dou Zun would have to exert all his strength to barely withstand it, let alone Xiao Yan, who was only a Five-Star Dou Zun at the time.

If we were to actually run into one, forget about refining the energy core and breaking through; even surviving would be a problem.

The reason he insisted on having Xiao Yan retreat to the first level was both to avoid this potential life-or-death crisis and because the energy bodies on the first level were gentler and less disturbed by the geniuses from other forces, making it more suitable for Xiao Yan to calm down, hone his cultivation, and digest those energy cores.

After all, for Xiao Yan right now, steadily improving his strength is far more important than adventuring in the second level.

If Xiao Yan can retreat to the first level in advance and avoid the energy storm three days later, the subsequent risks will be greatly reduced.

He remembered that Xiao Yan carried a Heavenly Demon Puppet with him. Although the puppet's combat power was not comparable to that of a top-tier Dou Zun, it still had the strength of a nine-star Dou Zun, which was enough to deal with the low-level energy bodies of the first level and most of the energy bodies of the second level.

With this puppet by his side for protection, and the already safe environment of the first level, Xiao Yan should not encounter any more troublesome dangers during his time focusing on refining the energy core.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded emphatically, his tone full of conviction: "I understand, cousin. Don't worry, I'll head to the first level right away, settle down and refine the energy core, and strive to break through as soon as possible."

In fact, Xiao Yan originally had a plan in mind: to find a relatively secluded place on the second floor, settle down and absorb energy bodies to cultivate in peace. He felt that he had the Heavenly Demon Puppet with him, which was more than enough to deal with the energy bodies around him.

But then he thought again, Xiao Ling has always been meticulous and rarely makes mistakes in his judgment. Since his cousin specifically instructed him, it must be to avoid risks for him. There is no reason for him not to listen to advice.

As for the unpredictable energy storms in the Heavenly Tomb, he kept them in mind and resolved to always pay attention to this aspect, whether he was traveling or cultivating.

The two briefly explained a few things to note before saying their final goodbyes.

Xiao Yan didn't linger. He took a deep breath, his fighting spirit surging slightly. He stomped his foot on the black stone, and his figure instantly transformed into a crimson afterimage, rushing towards the first level of the Heavenly Tomb.

The figure moved with incredible speed, sweeping past the jagged rocks in an instant and gradually merging into the thick fog around it. The pale red aura of battle qi flickered a few times in the fog before disappearing completely, leaving no trace.

Xiao Ling and Xun'er stood there, gazing in the direction Xiao Yan had left, until the fog completely enveloped the area before slowly turning their gaze away.

Xun'er gazed at the direction where Xiao Yan's figure had completely disappeared into the mist, her fingertips gently brushing against the strands of hair at her temples, her tone carrying a hint of gentle approval.
"Cousin Xiao Yan's temperament has become more and more stable. If it were any other young prodigy in the ancient clan, they would probably still be determined to follow him to the third level in his situation. But now he can clearly see the situation and listen to advice. This ability to judge the situation is very rare."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling's lips curved into a faint smile, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of his sleeve.

"What's most admirable about this kid is his ability to know when to advance and retreat, his composure, and his willingness to focus. He knows what to do right now and doesn't rush into things. Just based on this calmness, plus the tenacity in his bones, he might really bring us some surprises after refining those energy cores this time."

He paused, then added, "Besides, the Xiao clan will still be in this kid's hands in the future. If I didn't think highly of him, why would I value him so much and give him so much care?"

When Xun'er heard Xiao Ling directly say that Xiao Yan should take over the Xiao clan in the future, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. She then covered her mouth and smiled, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

"Brother Xiao Ling, you actually planned to make Cousin Xiao Yan the patriarch of the Xiao clan all along? Such high regard for him is beyond Xun'er's expectations."

She leaned forward slightly, her tone carrying a mixture of curiosity and seriousness.
“But Brother Xiao Ling, why don’t you consider taking on this responsibility yourself? Whether the Xiao Clan can return to its peak as soon as possible and how far it can go largely depends on your future achievements. With your talent and temperament, if you are willing to be the clan leader, the Xiao Clan will definitely be able to gain a foothold more quickly.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling tapped his palm lightly with his fingertips, his tone casual and nonchalant.
"The head of a clan has too many trivial matters to manage: internal strife, resource allocation, dealing with other forces... those are things I don't want to get involved in. It's perfect to hand them over to that kid Xiao Yan. With his resilience and shrewdness, he can certainly shoulder this responsibility." As soon as he finished speaking, a sly smile suddenly appeared on his lips. Before Xun'er could react, he reached out and gently grasped her fair wrist. When his fingertips touched that delicate, slightly cool skin, he pulled her closer to his arms.

Xun'er was caught off guard and leaned on Xiao Ling's shoulder, her nose filled with his faint, cool scent, and her ears instantly turned a light red.

Xiao Ling looked down at the reddened earlobes of the person in his arms, his voice soft and gentle, carrying a hint of coaxing.
"Besides, all I want to do from now on is spend every day with my Xun'er. If I really become the clan leader, I'll be so busy with trivial matters that I won't have time to take you around the entire Dou Qi Continent. Xun'er, don't you think that makes sense?"

Xun'er's ears turned even redder at his blunt yet teasing words. She raised her hand and gently punched his chest, her voice full of coquettishness: "Brother Xiao Ling is making fun of me again!"

Despite this, she didn't push him away. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, her eyes filled with a faint smile, and gently tugged at his sleeve with her fingertips, showing a touch of girlish charm.

The two frolicked on the spot for a while, the mist gently swirling around their clothes, even the surrounding silence was tinged with a touch of warmth.

As the laughter subsided, Xiao Ling gripped Xun'er's hand tightly, the warmth from her fingertips bringing them both a sense of calm.

A sharp glint returned to his eyes as he looked towards the depths of the second level: "It's time to go. The entrance to the third level is waiting for us."

Xun'er nodded gently, and a faint golden battle aura quietly rose around her.

The two leaped into the air hand in hand, their figures like two light streaks of light, skimming over the jagged black rocks, breaking through the swirling mist, and speeding towards the deeper part of the second level of the Heavenly Tomb, leaving only a fleeting afterimage as they gradually disappeared into the thick fog...

……

On the vast and desolate land, thick energy mist seeped from the ground, like crumpled silver gauze covering the endless wilderness. Even with each breath, one could feel the heavy energy texture in the air, and with each inhale, it felt as if tiny energy particles were penetrating into the lungs.

Two figures slowly appeared, stepping on the jagged pebbles. Their dark robes and pale gold skirts were damp with a little mist. They were Xiao Ling and Xun'er, heading deeper into the second level.

The two stopped and looked ahead at the same time. They saw a barrier of energy that stretched across the sky and stood in the mist. A pale golden halo flowed across the surface of the barrier, and fine energy patterns moved like living things. It looked quite similar to the barrier between the first and second levels.

A slight sense reveals the difference; the aura emanating from this light barrier is several times stronger than the former, with a heavy energy pressure sweeping over you, even causing the surrounding mist to slightly disperse.

It's easy to guess that to penetrate this light barrier and enter the third level, the required level of battle qi cultivation must be far higher than before.

Xun'er's fingertips brushed against the energy ripples emanating from the light barrier, her eyes showing no sign of seriousness, but rather a hint of ease: "This light barrier is strong, but it still can't stop us."

"In that case, let's go straight in." Xiao Ling raised his hand to brush away the mist droplets clinging to his sleeve, his gaze falling on the energy barrier, his tone carrying a hint of anticipation.

"After traveling for so long, we've finally reached the third level. The energy bodies on the first and second levels are of very limited help to us. Even the nine-star energy core can only have a negligible effect. The cultivation effect is far from what we expected."

Xun'er nodded slightly, her body already subtly circulating with pale golden battle aura. As her fingertips brushed against the light barrier, one could clearly feel the profound energy contained within.
"Indeed, the energy density of the second level can no longer keep up with our cultivation needs. Only the third level can have a real opponent that can make us go all out. Only a higher level of energy body is worthy of our needs for the next stage of advancement."

The two exchanged a glance, quickly adjusted their stance, and the moment their hands clasped, Xiao Ling's dark battle aura and Xun'er's pale golden battle aura quietly merged, forming a faint energy shield. Without further hesitation, the two stepped side by side toward the energy barrier, their figures quickly disappearing into the flowing golden light.

As soon as they entered the light barrier, a powerful repulsive force rushed towards them. The heavy energy squeezed their protective shields like a tidal wave, as if trying to force them out.

Xiao Ling's eyes remained unchanged, and his fighting spirit suddenly surged in his palm, instantly solidifying the dark protective shield and firmly withstanding the energy pressure: "Follow me and keep your balance."

Xun'er nodded gently, and also injected a wisp of battle qi into her fingertip to maintain the protective barrier with him. The two of them moved in unison toward the other side of the light barrier.

The initial sense of oppression was the strongest, with even the surface of the shield rippling slightly. However, as one went deeper, the repulsive force gradually weakened.

After walking for about half an incense stick's time, light suddenly appeared ahead. The two quickened their pace, and the next second they were completely...
In an instant, a rich energy of heaven and earth rushed towards me, far purer and more profound than the second layer. I could feel the comfort of my meridians as I inhaled it.

The two looked up and saw that the surrounding fog had thinned considerably, and in the distance they could even see the outline of a majestic ancient architectural complex. Clearly, they had successfully entered the third level of the Heavenly Tomb.

As soon as she regained her footing, Xun'er's beautiful eyes suddenly narrowed slightly, her gaze locking onto the depths of the thick fog on her right, her tone carrying a hint of coldness: "Someone is spying on us."

Before she finished speaking, she casually waved her jade hand, and crimson-gold flames suddenly condensed in her palm, transforming into an incomparably sharp blade of light. The blade of light was wrapped in the scorching aura of the Golden Emperor's Burning Heaven Flame, and its speed was so fast that it left only a blur. In an instant, it swept across a hundred feet and pierced straight into a certain place in the mist!
"Pfft!"

A soft bang rang out, and the thick fog a hundred feet away suddenly churned violently. A phantom figure was forced to reveal itself, but before it could react, it was struck directly by the crimson-gold light blade.

The intense heat of the Golden Emperor's Burning Heaven Flame instantly engulfed it. The phantom didn't even have time to scream before it was reduced to fragments of energy under the scorching flames and completely dissipated into the world.

Xun'er watched the illusory figure completely disappear, her brows furrowing slightly, her tone tinged with annoyance: "What an annoying thing. It seems to be the work of those two guys, Hun Ya and Hun Li, leaving them here as spies to keep watch."

Xiao Ling brushed his fingertips across the lingering energy ripples on his sleeve, his gaze darkening: "Their movements are faster than expected; they've already stepped into the third level before us."

He looked up into the depths of the third level, a cold glint in his eyes. "Since we're here, we'll probably run into them soon. Good, saves us the trouble of searching." (End of Chapter)