Chapter 747

Under the intense gaze of everyone, two slender figures slowly emerged from the folds of the void, lightly touching the ground with their toes and standing firmly in the sky.

A gentle breeze swept by, causing the man's gold-embroidered robes to flutter in the wind, while the woman's green dress and flowing black hair danced lightly in response. As their clothes mingled, they resembled a lively picture of a divine couple, drawing the breathless gazes of the crowd below.

"Xun'er!"

As Elder Tongxuan and several other elders of the ancient clans gazed at the figure in green, their tense backs suddenly relaxed, and their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense for half a year, finally settled down. Even their voices trembled slightly.

Xun'er now possesses the essence of the ancient clan's bloodline. She is the hope for the future of the clan and the key to maintaining the clan's fortune. If she were to suffer any mishap in the Heavenly Tomb, it would be a tremendous loss for the ancient clan. No one can bear this weight.

Immediately, Elder Tongxuan subconsciously extended a wisp of his soul power, trying to sense Xun'er's current state. However, as soon as the wisp of soul power touched the faint blue light surrounding Xun'er, it seemed to hit an invisible barrier. Not only did it fail to penetrate even a little, but a slight tremor suddenly rose in his heart, causing his pupils to shrink slightly and him to be secretly startled.

Previously, there were rumors in the clan that Xun'er had broken through to the half-saint realm, but she was only at the very beginning.

However, during his visit to the Heavenly Tomb, even as a high-level half-saint, he couldn't discern Xun'er's exact cultivation level. The layer of azure light, though seemingly gentle, concealed an unfathomable power that could even gently repel his soul perception, giving him a faint sense of suppression.

Elder Tongxuan withdrew his soul power and couldn't help but sigh. It seemed that Xun'er must have gained a lot of opportunities in the Heavenly Tomb, and her progress far exceeded expectations.

But more than anything, he was filled with admiration for Xun'er's extraordinary talent and heartfelt joy. Seeing the most cherished junior of the clan grow up so rapidly, this joy far surpassed his own progress in cultivation.

Sensing the soul power probing from Elder Tongxuan, Xun'er slowly turned her head. When her gaze fell on him, a faint smile appeared on her lips, and she nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

She didn't take this somewhat abrupt inquiry to heart, after all, it was a clan elder who had watched her grow up, and there was no malice in his concern.

When Elder Tongxuan saw Xun'er looking in his direction, he smiled gently and his gaze naturally shifted to Xiao Ling beside Xun'er.

But upon seeing this, he was suddenly stunned. Xiao Ling was just like an ordinary mortal, without the slightest fluctuation of fighting spirit. If it weren't for the clear sight with his naked eye, his soul perception would not have detected the existence of this person at all, as if the other party had merged into the surrounding void.

He couldn't help but stare intently, and the more he looked, the more astonished he became. Xiao Ling seemed to be surrounded by an indescribable rhythm, which was faintly in sync with the energy of heaven and earth. This feeling... He suddenly came back to his senses, subconsciously shook his head, and his fingertips trembled slightly.

He had only ever felt this aura of "harmony between man and nature" from the Dou Sheng ancestor who was in seclusion in his clan! Xiao Ling was only in his early twenties, how could he possibly have reached the Dou Sheng realm?

Elder Tongxuan thought to himself that he must have been preoccupied with the matter of the Heavenly Tomb these past few days, and his old eyes had become dim, causing him to misjudge.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, some curious, some inquisitive, and some wary, Xiao Ling and Xun'er stood side by side in the void, their eyes sweeping lightly over the various races and ancient clans around them.

After taking a clear look at the situation, the two did not linger. With a slight sway, they flew like two wisps of smoke to the clouds on one side and stood quietly.

Not long after Xiao Ling and Xun'er stood there, the void passage, which was not yet fully closed, began to stir again, with ripples of energy spreading outwards.

The next second, a figure dressed in a black robe slowly stepped out of the passage, the outline of the Xuan Heavy Ruler slung across his back clearly visible—it was Xiao Yan.

The people around them were still discussing the Soul Clan, but after noticing the commotion, their eyes instinctively turned to the entrance of the passage.

Previously, they hadn't paid much attention to Xiao Yan. The Xiao Clan had long since declined, and Xiao Yan's cultivation had only just broken through to the Dou Zun level, far inferior to Xiao Ling. The latter had already become famous for defeating that Shura in the Ancient Clan Bloodline Awakening Ceremony, while the former was only known in Zhong Zhou.

But when their gazes fell on Xiao Yan, the disdain on everyone's faces was instantly replaced by shock.

Without needing to deliberately release their soul power to investigate, the surging Dou Qi fluctuations around Xiao Yan rushed into everyone's senses like a wave, clearly indicating that he had firmly stepped into the Seven-Star Dou Zun realm.

What's even more alarming is that this fighting spirit is by no means the raw and superficial energy of someone who has just broken through to the next level. On the contrary, it is so profound that it is almost solid, and as it flows, it is also wrapped with a sharp edge honed by years of battle.

Anyone with eyes could see that he was very close to the threshold of becoming an eight-star Dou Zun.

"Hiss—this Dou Qi fluctuation...it's actually a Seven-Star Dou Zun!" A gasp rang out from the crowd first. The speaker was an old man with white hair and beard, his tone full of disbelief. "If I remember correctly, Xiao Yan was at most a low-level Dou Zun before entering the Heavenly Tomb, right? How long has it been, and he's already directly stepped into the ranks of high-level Dou Zun!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than someone nearby chimed in, their voice tinged with amazement: "That's right! I saw him at the entrance to the Heavenly Tomb before. I carefully examined his aura then, and at most he was only at the level of a newly entered second-star Dou Zun. But after entering the Heavenly Tomb, he jumped five minor realms in a row. Such a speed of improvement is simply unheard of!"

"Is the Xiao Clan about to rise again?" Another voice rang out, the gaze sweeping back and forth between Xiao Yan and Xiao Ling not far away. "Xiao Ling's overpowering of the Asura Commander during the Bloodline Awakening Ceremony was already astonishing; now Xiao Yan has made such terrifying progress. The Xiao Clan truly has a wealth of talent, and both of these juniors are extraordinary!"

Discussions rose and fell, and many people's gazes toward Xiao Yan changed from initial disdain to seriousness and apprehension. A person who could break through five realms in the Heavenly Tomb had potential that was probably more unfathomable than some so-called geniuses from ancient families.

"Could it be... that he received help from Senior Xiao Xuan's tomb?" Elder Tongxuan frowned slightly as he looked at the solid Dou Qi surrounding Xiao Yan, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the corner of his sleeve.

Having lived for hundreds of years, he was accustomed to the difficulties of cultivation at the Dou Zun realm. Even with the help of a fortuitous opportunity, it would be a miracle for an ordinary person to break through a small realm in three to five years of accumulation. However, Xiao Yan was able to cross five realms in three years in Tianmu. Such speed was beyond the reach of ordinary training.

After a moment's thought, he thought of the tomb left by Xiao Xuan deep in the Heavenly Tomb. Only the inheritance of that Xiao clan ancestor could have created such an amazing breakthrough.

Thinking of this, his gaze involuntarily drifted to Xiao Ling, who stood quietly to the side. Since Xiao Yan could make such progress by borrowing the power of the tomb, how much benefit could Xiao Ling, who had ventured into the Heavenly Tomb with Xun'er and was already exceptionally talented, gain from it? Previously, he couldn't fathom the depth of Xiao Ling's cultivation, only feeling that the other party's aura was as restrained as a deep pool. Now, recalling Xiao Yan's transformation, Elder Tongxuan became even more certain that Xiao Ling's gains were probably no less than Xun'er's, and perhaps... even more astonishing.

After stepping out of the void passage, Xiao Yan glanced indifferently at the noisy crowd around him, paying no attention to the shocked or gossiping looks.

When his gaze fell upon Xiao Ling and Xun'er standing quietly beside the clouds, he slightly subdued his fierce aura, his fighting spirit condensed beneath his feet, and his figure flew towards the two like a black streak of light.

Seeing him approach, Xiao Ling glanced at him, then spoke with a knowing tone, "It seems you've had quite a haul in the Heavenly Tomb this time." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the fluctuations of Dou Qi around Xiao Yan, and continued...
"You must have already absorbed the bloodline power left behind by your ancestor Xiao Xuan. Judging from my perception, if you had completely refined that bloodline power, it wouldn't have been difficult for you to break through one or two more minor realms based on your current cultivation level. So why are you still stuck at the Seven-Star Dou Zun level?"

When Xiao Yan heard Xiao Ling ask about this, he scratched his head, a genuine smile appearing on his face, and spoke frankly.
“I have indeed absorbed that bloodline power. Cousin, didn’t you give me a lot of energy cores before? Just by refining those energy cores, my cultivation has improved a lot.”

He paused, his eyes becoming more serious: "My cultivation has increased too quickly recently, so I dare not rush to use my bloodline power to break through to a higher realm. After all, in cultivation, a solid foundation is essential for long-term success. Therefore, I have used the energy of my bloodline power to solidify my foundation, instead of rushing to convert it into cultivation."

At this point, Xiao Yan's Dou Qi swirled slightly, and a hint of joy flashed in his eyes: "After absorbing the power of the bloodline, I can clearly feel that my foundation is much more solid than before, and my cultivation efficiency is also much better than before. Although I am still a Seven-Star Dou Zun at the moment, it will only be smoother for me to break through in the future, and the road ahead is more promising."

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's explanation, Xiao Ling nodded slowly, a hint of agreement flashing in his eyes.

This decision to not seek short-term breakthroughs but instead focus on consolidating one's foundation is indeed in line with Xiao Yan's personality.

He knew that Xiao Yan's vision would never be limited by his current level; beneath his seemingly calm and reserved exterior lay an ambition to reach even greater heights.

This ambition is not a hasty and reckless pursuit of quick success, but a steady and determined approach. It is this mindset that allows him to walk more steadily on the path of cultivation.

"Cousin Xiao Yan has such courage. He is not swayed by the breakthrough in his current realm. Instead, he focuses on consolidating his foundation. This kind of mentality is truly rare."

Xun'er, standing to the side, nodded slightly, her gaze falling on Xiao Yan with obvious admiration.
"In the path of cultivation, the more solid the foundation, the wider the road ahead. With your foresight, cousin, your future achievements will surely be extraordinary."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan smiled somewhat embarrassedly, cupped his hands, and nodded slightly to Xun'er.
"Cousin Xun'er, you flatter me. I just feel that cultivation is like building a house. If the foundation is not solid, the building will easily collapse no matter how tall it is. Compared to a temporary improvement in my realm, I just want to make the road ahead easier. It's nothing to talk about courage."

His words were full of humility, without a trace of pride.

During the conversation, Xiao Yan's gaze swept over the two figures floating not far away. When he recognized the familiar style of their robes, his eyebrows twitched slightly, and he turned to look at Xiao Ling.

"Cousin, aren't those Soul Cliff and Soul Li from the Soul Clan? How come they've ended up like this... Could it be that you were the one who took care of them?"

Faced with Xiao Yan's question, Xiao Ling smiled faintly, raised an eyebrow, and said in a somewhat enigmatic tone, "Hehe, I'm not too clear about this matter either. As for who did it, you know the answer."

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, the tacit agreement was all too clear.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Yan instantly understood. Even though Xiao Ling didn't directly admit it, he could guess the answer. Before the Heavenly Tomb opened, the two from Soul Cliff dared to provoke him and speak rudely to Xiao Ling. Given Xiao Ling's personality, how could he allow these two to leave peacefully?

It's perfectly expected that a "villain" like this, who dares to challenge the chosen one, would be easily punished; it's perfectly normal and fits the plot perfectly.

"That being said, this matter is likely to cause some trouble." Xiao Yan glanced at the crowd below, his brows furrowed slightly, and his voice lowered. "The Soul Clan must have someone waiting here for Soul Cliff and the other two. Given the conflict we had with those two guys before, they will definitely suspect us first."

Although he pointed out the potential danger in his words, his tone was not very worried. He obviously did not take this possible trouble to heart. He was just casually reminding Xiao Ling and Xun'er.

Xiao Ling and Xun'er had already anticipated Xiao Yan's words. Since they dared to take action against the two from Hunya, they were naturally prepared to bear the consequences. Their expressions remained unchanged, but their gazes were subtly directed towards the outer edge of the crowd, as if waiting for the expected movement.

Sure enough, within a few breaths, two thick black mists swept in from the distant horizon, moving so fast they almost left afterimages, and stopped in mid-air beside the two corpses.

As the black mist dissipated, two elderly men dressed in black robes were revealed. The moment they saw the corpse's face, their bodies stiffened abruptly, their pupils contracted sharply, and they roared in a hoarse voice, "Soul Cliff! Soul Calendar!"

The voice was filled with disbelief and shock, as if struck by lightning. They had been guarding this place, waiting for the two to return with the opportunity of the Heavenly Tomb, but instead they found two cold corpses.

As the old man roared, their eyes turned blood red at a visible speed, and their fighting spirit began to become violent.

Seeing this, the surrounding crowd subconsciously took several steps back to create distance. Everyone could see that the two elders of the Soul Clan were extremely angry and feared that they might suddenly go berserk and harm innocent people.

"Huff... Huff..." The chests of the two black-clad elders heaved violently, their heavy breathing echoing in the air, their bloodshot eyes filled with barely suppressed rage. After a moment, the two men suddenly exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with the same ruthlessness. Their gazes abruptly shifted, like two cold, sharp blades, locking onto the direction where Xiao Ling, Xun'er, and Xiao Yan were located in the sky.

They knew of the two's secret plan long before Soul Cliff and Soul Li entered the Heavenly Tomb: to seize an opportunity deep within the Heavenly Tomb to kill Xiao Ling and Xun'er and eliminate any future troubles.

But now, Xiao Ling and the other two have not only returned unharmed, but also seem to have gained a lot of opportunities. On the other hand, Hun Ya and the other two have met their end in death.

This stark contrast led them, almost without hesitation, to immediately direct their suspicions firmly at Xiao Ling and his group. (End of Chapter)