Chapter 736 Xiao Xuan

The heavy pressure emanating from the stone tablet washed over her like a tide, even the air seemed to freeze. Xun'er's fair fingertips curled up unconsciously, her breathing became lighter, and the light in her eyes that had been burning with anticipation was now covered by a layer of tension.

This was the awe that instinctively flowed from the depths of her soul when faced with the aura of a true supreme being who looked down upon all ages. Even she, at the half-saint level, could not completely resist it.

Xiao Ling took in her subtle reactions, gently tightened his grip on Xun'er's slightly cool, soft hand, and even lightly rubbed his fingertips against the delicate skin on the back of her hand, as if silently conveying warmth.

He turned his head, his azure eyes filled with an unyielding gentleness, leaving only a reassuring smile, and his voice was extremely soft: "Don't be afraid, I'm here. After all, I am one of the few members of the Xiao clan who have been stranded on the Dou Qi Continent, so I think our ancestors will not make things difficult for us."

As he finished speaking, he deliberately raised their clasped hands, gently pinching her knuckles with his fingertips, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

Feeling the strength and warmth from Xiao Ling's palm, and meeting his open and gentle gaze, Xun'er's panic caused by the pressure gradually dissipated.

She nodded gently, her previously tense shoulders gradually relaxed, and even her gaze towards the stone tablet regained a sense of calm.

The two continued walking side by side towards the stone tablet without stopping.

The dark brown stele stands out even more clearly in the void, and the weathered lines seem to shimmer with a subtle light, as if silently telling the story of the long-forgotten years.

But just as they were less than ten steps from the stone tablet, a very faint ripple suddenly appeared in the void ahead, and an aged yet powerful male voice rang out from nowhere, carrying a hint of sighing regret, slowly echoing in this deathly silent space.
"Hehe, you little rascal are quite quick-witted. You were able to keep your mind steady under the pressure I left behind, and you were also able to take care of the people around you. You are more composed than I was back then. If I had been as quick-witted as you back then, perhaps... I wouldn't have ended up like this now."

The sound didn't seem to come from a specific place; rather, it seemed to blend into every breath of air around it. It carried the vicissitudes of time, yet also possessed an indescribable ethereal quality, sending a chill down one's spine.

Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Ling and Xun'er raised their eyes almost simultaneously, their gazes sweeping across the void ahead like two sharp blades, precisely locking onto the direction from which the voice came.

Under their watchful eyes, the void not far in front of them suddenly rippled with pale golden light, like a stone breaking the surface of a calm lake.

The next second, a figure dressed in a light blue robe slowly emerged from the ripples. There was no earth-shattering fluctuation of battle aura, no roar that tore through space, and not even the hem of his robe fluttered. Yet, he seemed to be born and blended into this world.

Yet this seemingly ordinary figure, standing there quietly, gave people a strange feeling, as if this vast emptiness could not withstand his casual punch or kick, and even the surrounding darkness was quietly receding, not daring to envelop it in the slightest.

The figure slowly raised his head, revealing a face that was not strikingly handsome, but possessed a unique charm that came from years of experience.

Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders without any restraint, with a few strands clinging to her cheeks, adding to her casual charm.

What is most striking are his eyes, as black as ink, deep like a black hole that devours everything, yet hiding within them are tiny glimmers of light, a light full of wisdom that sees through the world, clearly carrying a detached air of looking down on all living beings, yet exuding a charm that makes people unconsciously fall into it.

When his gaze fell upon Xiao Ling, it seemed to pierce through the torrent of time, carrying a scrutiny that transcended eternity, yet also concealing an indescribable intimacy deep within.

The moment that gaze met Xiao Ling's, Xiao Ling's body suddenly trembled slightly, and a strange fluctuation surged out from the depths of his bloodline. The fluctuation was not a violent battle aura, but rather as gentle as melting snow in spring, yet it carried a sense of familiarity etched into his bones and blood.

The throbbing of his blood became increasingly turbulent, like a stream that had found its source and was surging endlessly. As Xiao Ling looked at the pale blue figure in front of him, the last trace of doubt in his heart completely disappeared.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and two words escaped clearly from his lips.

"Xiao Xuan..."

"You recognized me?" Xiao Xuan looked at Xiao Ling, a faint smile playing on his lips. His tone was unreadable, but his deep eyes held a hint of understanding.

"But judging from your tone, it doesn't sound like the reverence one should have for ancestors; instead, it sounds rather calm."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Ling's expression, his fingertips lightly rubbing his cuff, a hint of self-mockery creeping into his voice.

"Is it because you resent my actions in life, feeling that I failed to lead the Xiao clan back to its peak and instead suffered such a fate, causing the clan to wander from place to place?"

With Xiao Xuan's experience, he could naturally detect from Xiao Ling's tone and expression a calmness unlike that of an ordinary junior.

He guessed it was because the other person harbored resentment towards his actions during his lifetime, but there was no anger in his eyes, only a trace of melancholy that transcended the years.

When Xiao Ling came to his senses, he saw a hint of melancholy in Xiao Xuan's eyes and immediately understood that this ancestor had misunderstood his attitude. He swallowed hard, unsure how to explain himself.

It wasn't really an excuse; he didn't have many special feelings for this "nominal family patriarch" that went beyond blood ties.

Xiao Ling came to the Heavenly Tomb with a clear purpose: first, to borrow Xiao Xuan's power to help him break through the bottleneck of Dou Sheng, which was his most urgent cultivation need at present.

Secondly, it was to plot against the even more precious Heavenly Tomb Soul deep within the Heavenly Tomb. If he could refine it, his soul power might break through to the Emperor Realm in one fell swoop, and his talisman master skills would undoubtedly be significantly enhanced.

“Ancestor, you have misunderstood. I have absolutely no resentment towards you.”

Xiao Ling shook her head, looked up at Xiao Xuan, and her gaze became much more sincere.
"I know a little about what our ancestors did during their lifetime. Although the Xiao clan did suffer a heavy blow as a result, I was not involved and have no right to make any judgments from my current perspective."

"Given the difficult circumstances of those days, everything you did, ancestor, must have been for the sake of enabling the Xiao clan to go further and live better. I will always respect that intention."

"Enough, enough." Xiao Xuan slowly raised his hand, his sleeves fluttering lightly in the void, as if to sweep away all the dust of the past. A soft sigh contained the vicissitudes of a thousand years.
“Those old stories are over a thousand years old now, and bringing them up again would only add to the regret, so there’s no need for them.”

His gaze returned to Xiao Ling, the melancholy in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by genuine relief, and even his voice softened considerably.

"However, from what you just said, I can tell that you still cherish some of the glory of the Xiao clan."

"The Xiao clan has declined for a thousand years. I originally thought that the bloodline inheritance had long since faded away, but I never expected that there would still be such an outstanding descendant as you." He nodded slightly, a glimmer of light seeming to flash in his deep eyes, his tone full of expectation.

"I am already very pleased to see you. Perhaps... after so many years of silence, the Xiao clan can truly find hope for revival in you."

As a powerful figure who once stood at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent, and who was connected to Xiao Ling by blood, Xiao Xuan could see through Xiao Ling's cultivation level with just one glance.

His gaze swept over Xiao Ling for a moment, and a hint of surprise flashed across his deep eyes. This young man was so young, yet his cultivation had already reached the threshold of Dou Sheng. His progress was even comparable to his own back then.

What surprised him even more was Xiao Ling's soul power. Although the spiritual fluctuations hidden within him were not outwardly displayed, they could not escape his perception. They were already approaching the threshold of the late stage of the Heavenly Realm, which could only be described as exaggerated.

Xiao Xuan sighed inwardly. Even he himself at the same age back then would probably find it difficult to match the junior in terms of soul power, and he even felt a little ashamed of himself.

Faced with Xiao Xuan's praise, Xiao Ling did not show the slightest smugness on his face. He neither pretended to be modest and declined, nor did he follow up on the topic.

This calm and composed demeanor deepened Xiao Xuan's admiration. Among the younger generation, those with talent are easy to find, but those who can maintain their integrity beyond talent are truly rare.

“From the moment you stepped into the Heavenly Tomb, I noticed you.” Xiao Xuan spoke slowly, his gaze seemingly able to pierce through the void. “’Xiao Ling’ is indeed a calm and composed name.”

"And that junior named Xiao Yan, I also sensed something about him. Although that child is far inferior to you, he does have some talent, but his strength is still somewhat weak."

“Before entering the Heavenly Tomb, Xiao Yan’s cultivation had barely broken through to the second-star Dou Zong level.” Xiao Ling spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of consideration. “The energy bodies in the third level of the Heavenly Tomb are at least at the eight-star Dou Zun level. With his strength at that time, entering was tantamount to putting himself in danger.”

"So I let him stay on the outskirts of the Heavenly Tomb to hone his cultivation and solidify his foundation with those low-level energy bodies. It won't be too late to make further plans once he is strong enough to deal with the dangers of the middle level."

Xiao Ling paused slightly, looked up at Xiao Xuan, and a hint of understanding in his eyes.

"But now that I think about it, with my ancestor's extraordinary abilities, seeing him would have been just a matter of a thought."

"Your considerations are quite thorough, taking into account both kinship and avoiding reckless actions." Xiao Xuan nodded slowly, his tone showing more approval.
"That little fellow has a decent temperament, and I will keep a closer eye on him in the future. When his cultivation has improved and the time is right, I will give him some pointers, so as not to waste the bloodline of the Xiao clan."

As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze slowly shifted and landed on Xun'er beside Xiao Ling.

In an instant, a slight ripple appeared in Xiao Xuan's deep eyes. He raised an eyebrow and spoke with a hint of certainty.

“This bloodline aura…you are a member of the ancient clan, right? The bloodline power in your body is pure and mellow, somewhat similar to the aura of that guy Gu Yuan when he was young.”

Xun'er quickly stepped forward, slightly curtsied, and said in a respectful and gentle voice, "Junior Gu Xun'er greets Senior Xiao Xuan."

She lowered her eyes, a hint of barely perceptible unease hidden in her beautiful eyes, "The Gu Yuan you mentioned, senior, is my father."

Although he knew that Xiao Xuan in front of him was not a real living person, but only a wisp of remnant soul or incarnation of will, he was still Xiao Ling's ancestor and a being who once stood at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent.

Xun'er was inevitably a little nervous, afraid that her first meeting with this senior would cause him to develop a prejudice against her, so she spoke in a more gentle tone than usual.

"So she's Gu Yuan's daughter." Xiao Xuan nodded as if suddenly realizing something, his gaze sweeping over Xun'er, his tone now tinged with admiration.

"No wonder he possesses such a top-tier divine bloodline. He has truly surpassed his predecessor, even surpassing Gu Yuan's talent back then."

His gaze suddenly swept lightly over Xiao Ling and Xun'er's clasped hands, a mischievous glint flashing in his deep eyes, before he smiled knowingly.
"Forget it, that guy Gu Yuan didn't fully keep his promise to me back then. Now he's brought such an outstanding daughter to my Xiao clan as compensation for the regret of that time."

Xun'er naturally understood the teasing in Xiao Xuan's words. Her beautiful face instantly flushed with a shy blush, and even the tips of her ears turned slightly red. She subconsciously leaned closer to Xiao Ling.

But she still gently bit her lip and softly defended her elderly father.

“Senior Xiao Xuan, this matter cannot be entirely blamed on my father. Back then, the various factions within the clan had differing opinions and attitudes. Although he was the patriarch of the ancient clan, he could not have absolute authority. He had to consider the safety and future of the entire ancient clan in everything he did.”

She looked up at Xiao Xuan, her gaze becoming more serious:
“Actually, over the years, Father has been secretly keeping an eye on the situation of the Xiao clan. When I was young, it was Father who specially arranged for me to be fostered in the Xiao clan, which gave me the opportunity to meet and befriend Brother Xiao Ling.”

As she finished speaking, the shyness in her eyes faded, replaced by a greater appreciation for the past, and her voice softened.

Xiao Xuan listened to Xun'er's words and simply nodded, without making any further judgments, clearly not wanting to waste words on past agreements and entanglements.

He turned around, his pale blue robe swaying gently in the void. He then raised his hand and beckoned towards the stone tablet. “There’s no need to dwell on the past. It’s pointless to get caught up in it. Now that you’ve arrived here, come with me to the tomb.”

"Due to the spatial rules of the Heavenly Tomb, my true body cannot leave the tomb even half a step. What you see now is merely an image projected outwards by me."

After saying that, Xiao Xuan put his hands behind his back and walked calmly toward the stone tablet.

Having said that, Xiao Xuan put his hands behind his back and walked calmly toward the stone tablet. Just as his body was about to touch the tablet, his pale blue figure faded rapidly like morning mist, and his aura also dissipated. In an instant, he completely merged into the patterns of the stone tablet and disappeared without a trace.

Seeing this, Xiao Ling immediately took Xun'er's hand and followed closely behind, walking steadily to the stone tablet.

The moment his palm touched the monument, the bloodline of the Xiao clan within him suddenly throbbed violently, as if it had created some kind of deep resonance with the monument.

The next second, the dark brown stone tablet suddenly erupted with a warm, soft light, which enveloped the two figures like flowing water. The instant the light dissipated, Xiao Ling and Xun'er vanished into nothingness. (End of Chapter)