Chapter 58: Xiao Xuan Enters the Heavenly Tomb, Xiao Tiance Becomes a Ninth Grade Formation Master
Gu Realm, Gu Yuan's Residence.
"Xiao Xuan, are you sure about this?" Gu Yuan asked solemnly, his gaze fixed on the frail and weakened Xiao Xuan before him.
The idea of Xiao Xuan willingly entering the Heavenly Tomb had left Gu Yuan deeply perplexed.
The Heavenly Tomb was a place meant for the younger generation of the ancient clans to seek opportunities. Once someone entered, their soul would never see the light of day again unless the tomb itself was destroyed. While the tomb housed many souls, the isolation within it was something few could endure.
Xiao Xuan smiled faintly despite his pale complexion. "I've thought it through. With the Xiao Clan no longer standing, this is all I can do. I'll wait in the Heavenly Tomb for future Xiao Clan descendants, leaving behind opportunities to atone for the harm my stubbornness has caused."
Gu Yuan hesitated, then gave a bitter smile. "I don't know what exactly happened, but by keeping this from me, aren't you showing you don't trust me?"
"Oh? What am I hiding from you?" Xiao Xuan asked, genuinely puzzled.
Gu Yuan was about to explain but stopped himself, sighing instead. "Forget it. If you've made up your mind, no amount of persuasion from me will change it. I'll respect your decision."
With that, Gu Yuan rose and waved his hand. A ripple spread through the air, and moments later, a spatial tunnel appeared before them. Gesturing forward, Gu Yuan said, "Xiao Xuan, after you."
"After you."
Xiao Xuan stepped through, and Gu Yuan quickly followed. Shortly after, the two stood at the entrance to the Heavenly Tomb.
"Are you certain? Once you enter, there's no turning back." Gu Yuan reminded him again.
Before the words fully left his lips, Xiao Xuan raised his hands, releasing the last of his Dou Qi in a burst of energy that kicked up a cloud of dust. Moments later, his soul emerged from his body.
"Hahaha! To think that I, Xiao Xuan, would end up like this one day."
His laughter echoed as his imperial level soul trembled through the void. In a shocking move, he directed his soul force to send his physical body into the chaotic void streams, where it vanished without a trace.
"What are you doing, Xiao Xuan?" Gu Yuan asked in surprise.
He had intended to retrieve Xiao Xuan's body after his soul entered the Heavenly Tomb and give him a proper burial. To his astonishment, Xiao Xuan had taken matters into his own hands, discarding his body entirely.
"Hahaha! There's no need for concern, Gu Yuan. I've never been one to submit to others, and I refuse to leave behind an empty grave or a meaningless headstone for future generations to mourn."
Xiao Xuan's laughter was carefree as he clasped his hands in a respectful bow. "Gu Yuan, if you ever encounter descendants of the Xiao Clan, I ask you to look after them. For that, I will be eternally grateful."
"Of course. Our clans have always been close allies. Should I discover traces of the Xiao Clan, the Gu Clan will certainly provide support." Gu Yuan returned the bow.
"Hahaha! In that case, farewell, Gu Yuan. This is goodbye."
With that, Xiao Xuan stepped into the Heavenly Tomb. As he entered, the entire tomb trembled violently. Moments later, Xiao Xuan's bold voice boomed from within.
"Hmph! A mere tomb spirit dares to act presumptuously before me?"
With those words, the tomb quickly settled into silence, as if nothing had ever happened.
"As expected of Xiao Xuan, subduing the tomb spirit so swiftly. Such a hero, yet this is the fate he's met. What a pity… what a pity."
Gu Yuan sighed in admiration. Just as he was about to leave, Gu Dao, one of the Three Elders of the Gu Clan, appeared from the void.
"Clan Leader, I couldn't locate Xiao Xuan's body."
Gu Yuan was surprised. Even Gu Dao, a late stage seven star Dou Sheng, had failed to recover the body.
"Forget it. If we can't find it, build him a cenotaph. Gu Dao, I'll leave this to you personally. Also, deploy people to monitor the Soul Realm and search for any traces of the Xiao Clan."
"You think some of the Xiao Clan might still be alive? But the Xiao Realm is completely abandoned. How can we find them in such a vast world?" Gu Dao asked, confused.
"I didn't find the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Jade on Xiao Xuan," Gu Yuan replied. **"It's an artifact passed down through the eight ancient clans, indestructible by any means. If it's not with Xiao Xuan, it must have been entrusted to someone else from the Xiao Clan.
This jade is too important; we must retrieve it."**
Gu Dao bowed in acknowledgment but hesitated. "If we find it, should we take it by force?"
"If possible, negotiate for it. But if necessary, take it back by force. Compensation can come later." Gu Yuan's voice was resolute.
"Understood!"
Gu Dao bowed deeply before departing.
Back in Tianwaitian, within Tiance Mansion's secret chamber.
Xiao Tiance stood before Xiao Xuan's lifeless body, sorrow evident in his eyes. Even though he had expected this outcome, witnessing it firsthand filled him with grief.
"Xiao Xuan… this is how it ends. If only I'd had more time."
He sighed deeply, carefully storing Xiao Xuan's body in his spatial ring.
While he planned to turn it into a Heavenly Puppet, his current priority was advancing his skills in formations. After constructing several eighth grade formations recently, Xiao Tiance could feel that he was close to breaking through to the ninth grade.
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, a year had gone by.
"Hahaha! I've done it! A ninth grade formation! Its power is truly unmatched. Even a peak nine star Dou Sheng would struggle to escape from this formation in a short time."
Tianwaitian, southeastern void.
Xiao Tiance marveled at the Nine Dragons Demon Suppressing Array before him. Its fearsome attacks left him both astonished and satisfied.
This formation was purely offensive. Had he deployed it at the Xiao Realm's entrance during the Soul Clan's invasion, the entire group of over a hundred Dou Shengs would have been obliterated in just ten minutes. There would have been no need for six eighth grade formations working simultaneously.
As he unleashed a wave of attacks, explosions filled the air.
"Whether it's speed or power, the difference is like night and day."
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