The two of them carried Xun'er's corpse into the Heavenly Tomb and waited quietly for a day, but nothing happened.
Xun'er's energy body did not appear.
"Uncle Gu Yuan, do you know the mechanism by which energy bodies are born in the Heavenly Tomb? How long did it take for Ancestor Xiao Xuan to transform into an energy body back then?" Xiao Yan couldn't help but ask.
Gu Yuan's eyes held a trace of disappointment: "I don't know, my understanding of the Heavenly Tomb is very limited. I only know that these energy bodies are continuously produced within it.
"But how they come to be, what conditions are required for their formation, and how much time it takes—these deeper things are completely unknown..."
Xiao Yan said: "Why don't we leave Xun'er's body here for now? Perhaps the time simply hasn't come yet."
It's also possible that Xun'er's soul was annihilated too thoroughly, to the point where it didn't even meet the conditions for forming an energy body... This thought merely flashed through his mind, unsaid.
He instinctively resisted such a possibility.
Gu Yuan nodded: "At least it's a hope..."
After leaving the Heavenly Tomb, Gu Yuan asked: "What do you plan to do next?"
A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes. His voice was not loud, but he spoke with extraordinary determination:
"Of course, it's an eye for an eye... Xun'er's revenge, Xiao Meng's revenge, Yao Chen's revenge, the Xiao Family's revenge... It's time to settle all these accounts properly.
"I might not be able to attack the Soul Realm yet, but I can destroy those important Soul Halls first."
Gu Yuan nodded, saying nothing.
He suspected that the Xiao Clan had already sided with the Soul Clan, and he harbored a trace of doubt towards Xiao Yan. If Xiao Yan could act ruthlessly against the Soul Clan, proving his stance, then it would be for the best.
Gu Yuan said calmly:
"During this time, besides uniting various forces to strengthen the anti-Soul Clan alliance as much as possible, we have also been searching for the locations of the Soul Hall, and have found nearly a hundred of them.
"Although many have been found, there are only more undiscovered ones... The Soul Clan's arrangements over so many years are truly astonishing.
"Some Soul Halls have been abandoned by them, some have not. Among those found, the Soul Hall Heaven Hall is included. Now I will give you all these clues.
"I will keep a close eye on Hun Tiandi... But you also be careful. We learned from captured prisoners that the current Soul Hall Master is not Hun Miesheng; he was replaced by someone else several years ago."
As he spoke, he took out a storage ring and flicked his finger, sending the storage ring towards Xiao Yan, where it suddenly stopped, suspended in mid-air.
Xiao Yan took the storage ring and replied: "As long as it's not Hun Tiandi, I fear no one else!"
After leaving the Ancient Realm, Xiao Yan infused his soul power into the storage ring. Inside was a miniature map of the Central Plains, with nearly a hundred large and small light spots.
Some were dim, some were bright... The dim ones were those that the allied army had already investigated and confirmed were abandoned by the Soul Clan or had been captured by the allied army. The bright ones had unclear situations and were likely still garrisoned by Soul Clan members.
Xiao Yan ignored these large and small Soul Halls and focused his gaze on the brightest light spot among them.
That was the Heaven Hall, one of the Three Heavenly Gang Halls, the most important Soul Hall, and arguably the main Soul Hall!
"Hmph... A new Soul Hall Master, eh? Let's start with you!" Xiao Yan stirred his Dou Technique and shot towards the distance.
Deep within the vast mountain forests, ancient towering trees stretched as far as the eye could see. Between the ancient trees, a light gate flickered faintly.
This was the entrance to the Soul Hall Heaven Hall. The dense forest was its best cover. Only powerful individuals extremely sensitive to spatial fluctuations, passing by this place, could detect a hint of its presence.
Even with the map's guidance, Xiao Yan still spent some effort to find its exact location.
He unreservedly unleashed his Dou Technique fluctuations, and the terrifying pressure caused countless demonic beasts in the forest to panic.
A small black-clad figure with a pair of wings on his back flew out of the light gate. After sensing Xiao Yan's aura, he suddenly turned and shouted:
"Come on, I can't beat him alone. Let's go together! Haven't you all wanted to teach him a lesson for a long time?"
Four more figures in black wings flew out. They soared into the sky and joined the small black-clad figure who initially had a pair of wings on his back.
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. He recognized the wings on the small black-clad figure's back; they were a pair of Heavenly Demon Phoenix wings.
And they weren't like the bone wings he possessed, made from a dried corpse that had been dead for many years. These were full of feathers, clearly cut from a freshly killed Heavenly Demon Phoenix, of very high quality, reaching the Dou Saint level.
For some reason, he always felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity from this small figure.
The other four, he seemed to have seen them somewhere before too.
"Hiss... How did this kid cultivate? How much time has passed?" Xiao Ning gasped, feeling the Dou Technique fluctuations emanating from Xiao Yan.
Xiao Ke nodded: "Truly terrifying cultivation talent. No wonder he can bear the hope of the Xiao Clan."
Xiao Mei's gaze towards Xiao Yan held a hint of admiration.
"Let's go together and test his strength." Xiao Yu gave the command.
Vast Dou Technique surged from the five individuals. Their auras merged, subtly forming a standoff against Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan couldn't help but change his expression. Five Seven Star Dou Saint late-stage? The Soul Clan still had so many experts?
He wondered if the mysterious Soul Hall Master was among them... If the Soul Hall Master wasn't, then what kind of strength would he possess?
However, he showed no fear. In this world, there were few things left that could make him wary.
"Form the array!"
Xiao Yu and the others spread out, and a formation unfolded in their midst. The five stood at the five points of a five-pointed star.
At this moment, the auras of the five were perfectly integrated. Attacking any one of them was equivalent to attacking all five simultaneously.
"What a brilliant formation, but it's not enough." Xiao Yan struck out with a palm, unleashing a Heaven-tier mid-grade Dou Technique from the start.
He wasn't lacking in Dou Techniques. After Yao Chen took over the Yao Clan, its vast wealth was also acquired, and Xiao Yan benefited from it.
The terrifying palm print seemed capable of enveloping a great enemy, blasting towards the five.
Xiao Qing's face turned pale, almost shouting, "Cousin Xiao Yan, spare me!"
A slight disarray appeared in the formation. Xiao Yu gritted her teeth and condensed a long sword, slashing towards the giant hand.
They hadn't expected Xiao Yan to be so powerful. Even with the five of them joining forces, they were no match for him in a single exchange.
The palm print collided with the sword light, dimming slightly, but it did not disappear, pressing down rapidly.
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared in front of the five, waved his sleeve, effortlessly dissolving Xiao Yan's attack, and said softly: "That's enough."
His voice was not loud, but it clearly echoed in everyone's ears.
Very strong, an unprecedentedly strong enemy! Xiao Yan recognized this person; it was the one who fought the Lei Clan Leader during the struggle for the Nether Lotus Demon Flame.
What was so important about the Soul Hall that such a figure would serve as its Master? Xiao Yan's expression grew exceptionally solemn.
However, he did not retreat; his fighting spirit surged even higher. The opponent's status within the Soul Clan was definitely not low. If he could be dealt with here, it would be a significant blow to the Soul Clan.
Feeling Xiao Yan's surging fighting spirit, Xiao Zhan chuckled. He shook his head slightly: "Stop, we are not enemies."
Although puzzled by the attitude of the person before him, Xiao Yan was not prepared to stop just like that:
"Not enemies? Is Your Excellency perhaps joking? Your Soul Clan killed my beloved, harmed my teacher, destroyed my family... My father's life and death are unknown. Do you think there's still a possibility of reconciliation between us?"
"Sigh..." The black-clad figure sighed, "I also deeply regret some things; they were not my wish... But some sacrifices are worth it, and your current achievements are the best proof."
Under Xiao Yan's shocked gaze, Xiao Zhan dispelled the black mist around him, revealing that dignified yet heroic face:
"Yan'er, I am your father!"
Yan'er looked at that familiar yet strange face and couldn't help but take a step back:
"Father? No, this is impossible. How could my father be the Soul Hall Master? How could he collude with the Soul Clan?"
Xiao Zhan was not surprised by Xiao Yan's reaction. He merely said calmly: "Think about it carefully. Is it really completely impossible?
"You should have met Hun Tiandi. What was his attitude towards you?
"Did the Soul Clan put a lot of effort into hunting you down?
"In the past decade or so, if the Soul Clan wanted to kill you, could you truly have escaped?
"When you were contending for the Nether Lotus Demon Flame, it was I who tore open the Demon Flame Space to help you leave."
Xiao Yan's mind was in chaos, and his aura immediately weakened. He had rushed over, filled with anger, wanting to kill a Soul Hall Master to exact some interest for Xun'er's revenge, but then you tell him you're his father?
He then looked at the other five people...
Xiao Qing pulled back her wide hood and waved enthusiastically at Xiao Yan: "Hi, Cousin Xiao Yan."
Xiao Mei gave him a sweet smile.
Xiao Ning's face held a hearty smile: "You little rascal, you're really something, you've become so strong."
Xiao Ke shook his head and said: "I originally thought I could get revenge for that palm strike at the coming-of-age ceremony back then, but it seems there's no hope. Young Clan Leader is indeed Young Clan Leader..."
Ah... How are it you guys? Xiao Yan's thoughts became even more muddled.
In his impression, Xiao Ke was Xiao Ning's little follower, whom he had knocked off the arena with a single Blow Fire Palm at the coming-of-age ceremony.
Xiao Qing was a snot-nosed little brat playing in the mud.
Xiao Ning was a small hoodlum in Jia Nan Academy, acting arrogant by relying on his relationship with Xiao Meng.
Xiao Mei, a pretty face who was at a loss when things happened.
Xiao Yu... The long-legged cousin.
How did you all become awe-inspiring Dou Saint in the blink of an eye? Even among the allied forces of the Gu Clan, only a handful of people could be your opponents, right?
"This... What on earth is going on?" Xiao Yan finally managed to accept this fact and asked with great confusion.
"I know you have many questions, and I will give you the answers... Come with me." Xiao Zhan said softly.
Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment, reined in his aura, and followed Xiao Zhan into the light gate.
Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning, and the others also followed.