Battle Through the Heavens: Xiao Yan, who was kidnapped to another world

"Yes!"

Upon hearing Gu Qingyang's reply, the two Burning Flame Valley disciples felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They hurriedly responded and then flew downwards, seemingly worried that Gu Yao might awaken from his controlled state at any moment.

"So... what should we do?"

After everyone had left, Gu Qingyang looked at the lifeless-eyed Gu Yao with a strange expression.

In his perception, the ancient demon was perfectly normal, without any problems. So normal that he suspected the ancient demon was playing a trick on him. But the ancient demon he saw had lifeless eyes, and if it weren't for the faint aura it still possessed, it would be almost indistinguishable from a dead person.

'Did Xiao Yan do it? How did he do it?' Gu Qingyang examined it carefully. 'And... is he really only at the early stage of the Heavenly Realm?'

Not long ago, Gu Qingyang, whose soul power had successfully reached the Heavenly Realm after taking the precious pill, looked at Gu Yao with a conflicted expression. There was nothing wrong with Gu Yao in his perception. Even when the ancient clan's space ship arrived outside Burning Flame Valley, Gu Qingyang still could not detect the slightest problem.

Nighttime, in a small courtyard somewhere in Burning Flame Valley.

"Gu Qingyang has already brought the ancient demon back to the clan," Xun'er said softly, her cheek resting lightly on Xiao Yan's broad shoulder.

"I thought he would keep stalling or come to me to break the soul seal on that ancient demon," Xiao Yan chuckled. "But he just gave up like that."

“Gu Qingyang knows the limits of his abilities, and he also knows that Brother Xiao Yan has already shown mercy to Gu Yao,” Xun’er said with a faint smile. “Therefore, he will not do anything that would anger others.”

"Sounds like someone who knows how to behave appropriately." Xiao Yan nodded.

"If he didn't know his place, he wouldn't be the Grand Commander of the Black Annihilation Army," Xun'er commented casually before falling silent. After a long while, she murmured, "Brother Xiao Yan, Xun'er has missed you so much these past few years."

Hearing the affection in the girl's words, Xiao Yan felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He slid his arm down and embraced Xun'er's slender waist, burying his head in her soft, flowing hair. Inhaling the faint fragrance, the restlessness in his heart seemed to vanish at that moment.

Xun'er let Xiao Yan hold her, and after a while, she tilted her head back, her bright eyes looking at Xiao Yan's face. With a flick of her jade hand, two scrolls, one green and one blue, appeared in her hand, which she then handed to Xiao Yan.

"These are some of the recipes for Grade 9 Precious Pills and Profound Pills collected by our clan. With Brother Xiao Yan's current strength, he should be able to refine Precious Pills, right?" Xun'er said softly. "The other volume contains the Soul Technique that Xun'er is currently cultivating. If classified by grade, it can be considered a Heavenly Rank, which is just right for Brother Xiao Yan to cultivate."

Looking at the two scrolls before him, Xiao Yan was slightly taken aback, then somewhat helpless—

No matter when, Xun'er always wanted to give him her own things.

Under Xun'er's gaze, Xiao Yan hesitated slightly before picking up the blue scroll and saying, "Dan..."

"Our clan has also learned about the precious pill formulas collected by the Pill Tower. The pills recorded in this scroll are not recorded by the Pill Tower," Xun'er interrupted Xiao Yan as if she already knew what he wanted to say. "Besides... the pills that Brother Xiao Yan and Elder Yao discussed can only be said to be an enhanced version of the One Beginning Pill, right?"

"...?" Xiao Yan looked at Xun'er with a blank expression.

"The Ninth-Grade Precious Pill, the First Cloud Lotus Birth Pill, is a pill that complements the effect of the First Beginning Pill, you know?" Looking at Xiao Yan's blank expression, Xun'er's smile became even brighter.

Chapter 437 The Five-Layered Heavenly Tomb

"Xun'er, you...aren't angry?"

Seeing the smile on Xun'er's face, Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking.

"Does Brother Xiao Yan think Xun'er is the kind of girl who makes a fuss over nothing?" Upon hearing Xiao Yan's question, Xun'er's smile froze for a moment, and then she asked in a sullen tone.

"No, Xun'er is not, it's just that I..." Xiao Yan said anxiously.

However, Xiao Yan didn't know what to say for a moment. Under no circumstances could he explain the things between him, Xiao Yi Xian, Cai Lin, and Zi Yan as coincidences or accidents. But he also felt that he couldn't be too open about those "foolish things" in front of Xun'er.

"Don't worry, Brother Xiao Yan, I don't blame you, nor do I think it's Sister Cai Lin and Sister Xiao Yi Xian's fault," Xun'er interrupted Xiao Yan's somewhat anxious but unsure of what to say. "I just regret not bringing Brother Xiao Yan back to the clan before he went out to cultivate."

The second half of the sentence was spoken very softly, to the point that Xun'er even doubted whether she had said it at all.

"Pity?"

Xiao Yan, who hadn't quite caught the second half of Xun'er's sentence, lowered his head in surprise, looking at Xun'er's charming expression, "Is there anything to regret?"

Recalling the three consecutive experiences, Xiao Yan felt that Xun'er seemed to have misunderstood something.

"Oh dear, what regrets..." Xun'er, thinking Xiao Yan had heard the second half of her sentence, quickly changed the subject, "Has the Soul Palace already found out about the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade on you, Brother Xiao Yan?"

When the ancient clan's spaceship arrived at Burning Flame Valley, the Soul Hall's forces and the two elders of the ancient clan had already left. Therefore, Xun'er did not know why the Soul Hall had come. She only vaguely learned from Tang Zhen and Xiao Yan's conversation that the Soul Hall's arrival seemed to be solely to find Xiao Yan.

"It was those two seniors, Gu Tongxuan and Gu Muyun, who said it, right?" Xiao Yan, unaware that Gu Tongxuan and Gu Muyun were only there on Gu Yuan's orders, nodded slightly. "They were here for the ancient jade, too..."

Although Hunzi and the others came for the Heavenly Demon Puppet in Xiao Yan's possession, the wisp of soul of Hun Miesheng, who was later summoned by Hunzi, was indeed there to warn Xiao Yan not to hand over the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade in his possession so easily.

Because of his previous agreement with Xiao Xuan, Gu Yuan had never taken the ancient jade from the Xiao family. Therefore, after learning that Xiao Zhan had been kidnapped by the Soul Palace, the elders of the Gu clan became increasingly dissatisfied with Gu Yuan's way of handling things. If the elders who wanted to collect the ancient jade knew that the ancient jade was on Xiao Yan, there might be powerful figures who would take action on their own and seize the ancient jade from the Xiao family.

Therefore, Xun'er breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the names Gu Tongxuan and Gu Muyun. These two elders were thoroughly "patriarchal" members within the Gu clan, and even if they knew the whereabouts of the Xiao family's ancient jade, they would not take any action.

"Years ago, the Soul Palace kidnapped my father because of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade... For the Xiao family now, the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade has become a burden." Xiao Yan sighed and said, having vaguely understood the internal situation of the ancient clan from Xun'er's actions.

"But it is ultimately the key to the only undiscovered Dou Di cave in the world..." Xun'er said, her heart aching as she smoothed Xiao Yan's slightly furrowed brows.

"There have been hundreds or thousands of Dou Di born on the Dou Qi Continent. The Soul Clan only targeted it because Tuoshe Ancient Emperor was the last Dou Di to appear, so they suspected that his cave contained the secret of being able to break through even after tens of millions of years since ancient times."

There are many people with extraordinary talent and ability after Tuoshe Ancient Emperor, but whether it is the deceased Pure Lotus Demon Saint, Yellow Spring Demon Saint, Xiao Xuan, or the still living Gu Yuan and Soul Heaven Emperor, none of them stop at the threshold of Dou Di, and no matter how hard they try, they cannot take that not-so-distant step.

"Perhaps the Soul Palace exists to search for any remaining Dou Di caves on the Dou Qi Continent?"

"Let's just hope the Soul Palace doesn't find a powerful figure who could destroy the Dou Qi Continent."

Hearing Xun'er's words, Xiao Yan smiled helplessly. Those Dou Di from tens of millions of years ago are still alive. If he could find them, that would be fine, but what if he found the extraterrestrial evil race that they were holding back...

The fate of the Dou Qi Continent without a Dou Di in the world would certainly be many times more tragic than that of the Tian Xuan Continent ten thousand years ago.

"How could there be such a powerful figure on the Dou Qi Continent?" Xun'er smiled helplessly, unaware of what Xiao Yan was worried about. Then, as if remembering something, she said, "Brother Xiao Yan, the Heavenly Tomb will open in a year."

The ancient clan's coming-of-age ceremony, like the Heavenly Tomb, is held once every twenty years. However, Xun'er recently learned from her father that the coming-of-age ceremony will be held earlier, which means that the Heavenly Tomb, which is supposed to open after the coming-of-age ceremony, will also open earlier.

"One year later? The Heavenly Tomb?"

The coincidence of the timing made Xiao Yan hesitate for a moment—

Dan's ten-year period has only one year left, and the Heavenly Tomb will open in a year. Is there any connection between these two?

"The Heavenly Tomb is a strange place left over from ancient times, containing the tombs of countless powerful figures," Xun'er explained as Xiao Yan hesitated. "The tomb of Xiao Xuan, the patriarch of the Xiao family a thousand years ago, is also in the Heavenly Tomb."

"If there is time..." After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yan subconsciously wanted to refuse, realizing that if that "ten years" was related to the Heavenly Tomb, Dan would have known long ago.

“A year from now is also the day the ancient clan holds its coming-of-age ceremony,” Xun’er interrupted Xiao Yan. “Xun’er wants to see Brother Xiao Yan on that day, is that alright?” She raised her head, her bright eyes looking straight at Xiao Yan.

"...Alright, alright, I'll go." Under Xun'er's watchful gaze, Xiao Yan gave in.

"A year from now, the other six clans will also send their younger generations to the Ancient Clan," Xun'er's smile grew even brighter after Xiao Yan agreed, as she continued to explain the situation at the Heavenly Tomb, "...all for the purpose of cultivating within the Heavenly Tomb..."

Over the next period of time, Xiao Yan gradually came to understand the wonders of the Heavenly Tomb—

Time flows differently inside the Heavenly Tomb than outside; three years of cultivation inside the Heavenly Tomb is equivalent to only half a year outside. Defeating powerful individuals who have died within the Heavenly Tomb grants access to their energy imprints, and absorbing these imprints can enhance one's strength.

“Then our ancestor…” Xiao Yan hesitated upon hearing this.

“Experts at the level of Dou Sheng or above cannot enter the Heavenly Tomb,” Xun’er replied, knowing what Xiao Yan was worried about. “With Senior Xiao Xuan’s strength, which is almost at the level of Dou Di, even if the current patriarch of the Soul Clan could enter the Heavenly Tomb, he might not be a match for Senior Xiao Xuan.”

"Then, what if you want to see your ancestors?"

Xiao Yan pressed further, suggesting that, given Xiao Xuan's situation back then, he might already know why no Dou Di had appeared on the Dou Qi Continent since the ancient era.

"Hmm... According to Father, the Heavenly Tomb has five levels, but the most talented people throughout history have only barely reached the third level at the Dou Zun stage. And the energy imprints of those powerful people who died countless years ago at the third level are already at the Dou Sheng level... With Senior Xiao Xuan's strength, he should be at the fifth level, right?"

Do I need to go to the fifth level to see the ancestors?

Xiao Yan, who knew nothing about the interior of the Heavenly Tomb, pursed his lips tightly, feeling somewhat unwilling.

Chapter 438 The Soul of the Heavenly Tomb and World Consciousness

"...However, with Brother Xiao Yan's current soul power, he might be able to summon the soul of the Heavenly Tomb after entering it."

Seeing Xiao Yan's somewhat unwilling expression, Xun'er hesitated briefly before speaking.

"The Heavenly Tomb...the Soul? Could the Heavenly Tomb also be a life form?" Xiao Yan asked in surprise.

“There are records of this in the clan’s books about the Heavenly Tomb,” Xun’er nodded, “The Heavenly Tomb is, in a sense, a strange being, a life form condensed from countless remnant soul imprints since the creation of the Heavenly Tomb…”

"When Senior Xiao Xuan and my father entered the Heavenly Tomb, they met the Heavenly Tomb Soul for the first time with the help of the remnant soul of an ancient Dou Sheng. Apart from that, there has been no other record of the Heavenly Tomb Soul appearing in the world. However, with Brother Xiao Yan's Heavenly Realm soul power, it should be no problem for him to communicate with the Heavenly Tomb Soul," Xun'er said softly.

"I see..." Xiao Yan fell into deep thought.

Next, Xun'er explained in detail all the information about the Soul of the Heavenly Tomb recorded in the ancient clan records—

According to the remnant soul of the Battle Saint who existed in ancient times, the original soul of the Heavenly Tomb was actually the jailer of the Heavenly Tomb. All the remnant souls buried in the Heavenly Tomb would be engraved with a "curse" that would cause them to fight and devour other remnant souls.

But one day, the spirit of that tomb suddenly disappeared.

When the souls of the Heavenly Tomb reappeared, the curses that had been engraved into the bodies of the remnant souls completely disappeared. It was from that day on that the Heavenly Tomb gradually expanded from the initial three layers to the fourth and fifth layers.

"Initially, only the remnant souls within the Heavenly Tomb could sense its presence. However, after it disappeared and reappeared, everyone who entered the Heavenly Tomb could vaguely perceive its presence. But only Senior Xiao Xuan and my father had truly seen it..."

At this point, Xun'er paused subtly before continuing, "The Soul Clan's patriarch and Senior Xiao Xuan can be considered to be of the same generation, but the Soul Clan's patriarch seems to have never seen the Soul of the Heavenly Tomb, and even... like the other clans, he doesn't even know that the Heavenly Tomb has five levels."

When Xun'er uttered the last half of the sentence, her expression became increasingly strange. The Heavenly Tomb, which opens once every twenty years, is a major event that all ancient families participate in. However, just as the Xiao Clan and the Gu Clan were favored, only the two clans knew that the Heavenly Tomb had five levels, and even knew about the existence of the Heavenly Tomb Soul.

"Is it because the fourth and fifth layers of the Heavenly Tomb are special?" Xiao Yan asked after a brief moment of thought.

“There are no records in the clan about the two layers behind the Heavenly Tomb,” Xun’er shook her head. “According to my father, although he had seen the soul of the Heavenly Tomb back then and learned about the existence of the fourth and fifth layers of the Heavenly Tomb from the remnant soul of that Dou Sheng, he was unable to enter. When he asked the soul of the Heavenly Tomb, he only received a perfunctory answer like, ‘It’s even wider than the Dou Qi Continent, so don’t even think about it.’”

"Even wider than the Dou Qi Continent?" Xiao Yan looked completely bewildered. What kind of answer was that?

The topic of the Heavenly Tomb didn't last long. Perhaps it was because such a serious topic wasn't appropriate for a man and woman huddled together at night, or perhaps it was because Xiao Yan, having tasted meat, was no longer satisfied with such simple ambiguity. So, subconsciously, his hand, which was wrapped around Xun'er's waist, began to play tricks...

However, nothing particularly exciting happened that night, after all—

"Brother Xiao Yan, Xun'er's bloodline hasn't fully awakened yet, so..." Xun'er, her face flushed, stopped Xiao Yan's mischievous hand, "...until we meet again next time, okay?"

The night was still long, but for Xun'er's future, Xiao Yan could only play the role of Liu Xiahui this night, enduring desire and torment.

Although Gu Yuan tacitly approved Xun'er's departure from the Ancient Realm this time, the Ancient Clan was not Gu Yuan's sole authority. After Xiao Yan and Xun'er had been traveling in the southwestern region of the Central Region for three days, the Black Annihilation Army, under the command of the Ancient Clan Elder Xi, came to Xiao Yan again.

However, this time, the people who came did not include that despicable Gu Yao. After speaking kindly to Xiao Yan and informing him that in order to awaken Gu Yao, the Gu Yao lineage had no choice but to exchange Gu Yao's future cultivation resources for Gu Yuan's intervention, which would prevent the Gu Yao lineage from raising its head for decades or even centuries, Xun'er, under the escort of the Black Annihilation Army, embarked on the road back to the Gu clan.

"Battle Venerable... Seven Stars".

A day after Xun'er left, Xiao Yan, having casually found a cave and devoured the Red Lotus Karmic Flame, sighed as he felt the surging Dou Qi within him, "As expected, there won't be any improvement..."

Not only has his fighting spirit not improved at all, but even his Burning Technique remains firmly stuck at the advanced Heaven Rank level, showing no intention of further evolution, as if the advanced Heaven Rank is the end point for the Burning Technique.

"Perhaps, only the Pure Lotus Demon Flame or the Void Devouring Flame can allow the Burning Technique to continue evolving?"

After stretching slightly, Xiao Yan flipped his hand, and a faint, almost imperceptible, crimson talisman, less than half a finger wide, appeared in his palm. At the same time, the star chart he obtained from the Fire Cloud Ancestor appeared to the side.

As the talisman, which seemed to be engraved with blurry characters, approached the star chart, a star faintly appeared on the star chart. If Xiao Yan had not possessed the soul power of the Great Perfection of the Heaven Realm, he would have been almost unable to detect the star that appeared and disappeared.

"Is this considered purified?"

After putting away the star chart, Xiao Yan looked at the talisman with blurry characters in his palm. "Xiao Talisman... Can this be considered proof of the Xiao family bloodline?" Looking at the blurry character "Xiao," Xiao Yan smiled helplessly.

After learning about the method of condensing natal spirit talismans on Douluo Continent, Xiao Yan immediately thought of the bloodline of the Xiao Clan mentioned by Gu Yuan and Qi You. When he tried it later, he also gave priority to the barely perceptible bloodline of the Xiao Clan in his own body.