Chapter 421: The Heavenly Tomb Speedrun Legend
The unicorn's flight lasted roughly ten minutes before finally halting atop a perilous ridge. By the time they arrived, many silhouettes were already gathered around. As Xiao Yuan swept his gaze across the area, he recognized quite a few familiar faces.
To the southeast were members of the Medicine Clan. When Xiao Yuan's gaze landed on them, their leader Yao Xingji seemed to sense it and subtly turned his head. Upon seeing that terrifying presence with a Heavenly-level soul, he immediately lowered his eyes, avoiding Xiao Yuan's gaze.
Coward.
That was the only way Xiao Yuan could describe someone like him.
At that moment, Xun'er began introducing the various ancient clans that Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan weren't yet familiar with:
"To the east are members of the Thunder Clan. Mister Mang Tianchi is their leader, but he likely won't enter the tomb himself. Usually, only the younger generation enters—it's considered an excellent training ground."
Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan shifted their gazes toward a group of individuals marked with thunderbolt-shaped imprints on their foreheads.
"To the west are the Stone Clan. Due to their bloodline, their physical bodies are extraordinarily powerful—comparable to the mightiest magical beasts."
They looked to the west at a group of pale-gray-skinned individuals, each bearing a giant stone-shaped clan mark on their foreheads.
"As for the Medicine and Flame Clans, you've already met them. The Spirit Clan didn't show up this time, and the Soul Clan's slots were exchanged by Brother Xiao Yuan, which let our Gu Clan hold six slots. The other clans each only have two…"
Xun'er smiled apologetically.
In her view, those Soul Clan slots should've been left for Xiao Yuan to assign. But since the Gu Clan truly needed them, and the elders were involved, she couldn't do much more about it.
Xiao Yuan nodded slightly, just as the surrounding space began to tremble. A vast and ancient aura gradually emanated from the void, washing over everyone present, stirring a sense of reverence deep within their souls.
"The Heavenly Tomb is about to open," Xun'er whispered, glancing at the darkening sky.
Boom!
As her words fell, the void erupted with a deafening roar. A massive thousand-foot-long spatial rift cracked open in the sky, and a silvery glow surged forth, eventually condensing into a towering, hundred-foot-tall gate of ancient light. That same ancient aura spilled from within.
"So this is the gate to the Heavenly Tomb…"
Both Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan's eyes sparkled with curiosity. Their ancestor Xiao Xuan's tomb was inside—this was the start of a long-awaited meeting.
The ancient gate stood tall, solemn, and mysterious, making every soul shudder involuntarily.
"You all know the rules—each clan is allowed only two people to enter," the elderly figure of Elder Tongxuan appeared in the sky, his voice sweeping across the crowd.
Everyone nodded. This rule had always stood. Only the Gu Clan, being the tomb's guardians, were permitted more entries—this time, six due to the absence of the Spirit and Soul Clans. The other clans could only look on enviously.
"Xiao Yan-ge, if you and Brother Yuan enter separately, you'll be teleported randomly. So let's enter together," Xun'er said with a smile.
"Alright," Xiao Yan nodded. He wasn't familiar with the tomb, so having Xun'er with him was a big help.
"I'll skip the couple's tour," Xiao Yuan waved casually. "The two of you together can handle anything. I'll explore solo—we'll meet in the third layer."
He grinned. It wasn't his place to tag along. Lovers needed their space.
"Relax. In there, I walk sideways. You two just take care of each other."
Seeing their concern, he chuckled reassuringly.
"Alright, just be careful, Brother," Xiao Yan responded. He knew his brother's personality—once he decided something, no use trying to change his mind.
Rumble…
As they spoke, the massive gate's crack widened, and brilliant light poured out, bathing the world in radiance.
"If your clan's entrants are ready, proceed. You may remain inside for three years—after that, the tomb will expel you automatically," Elder Tongxuan warned again.
Boom!
The rift widened to over thirty feet. Thick, ancient mist poured out like fog from within.
Swish!
Five streaks of light burst forth, shooting toward the gate and vanishing within. All eyes followed them.
"Gu Clan… even Gu Zhen is among them?"
Xiao Yuan narrowed his eyes. Four Black Abyss commanders and Gu Zhen—plus Xun'er—made six.
Xun'er nodded, then turned and smiled sweetly: "Shall we?"
Xiao Yan nodded. He exchanged a look with Xiao Yuan, then took Xun'er's hand and flew into the gate.
Xiao Yuan smiled and turned to his companions.
"I'll probably be gone a while. If anything comes up, return to the Falling Star Pavilion first."
"Be careful," said Little Doctor Immortal, her voice gentle.
Qinglian cast a worried glance as well.
Tianhuo Zun Zhe simply smiled. He always had faith in Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan nodded. His body blurred, shooting toward the radiant gate and vanishing inside. One by one, the others followed, disappearing into the ancient portal.
When the last figure vanished, the gate trembled and slowly faded until it disappeared completely.
The strange realm inside was misty and silent. Occasional strange firelights flickered far away, but disappeared as quickly as they came. A dead silence cloaked the unfamiliar land.
Swish!
The space twisted, and a figure in white robes stepped calmly through. Xiao Yuan emerged, scanning the quiet world.
Empty.
No one else around. The others must've been sent to different places. The tomb was enormous—crossing paths would be pure chance.
"Such dense energy… even richer than the Gu Realm."
Xiao Yuan grasped a handful of misty air, shocked at its purity and potency.
He turned his gaze to the distant fog and flicked his sleeve.
The mist scattered instantly, revealing a hazy silhouette—a semi-transparent body.
"An energy body?"
Xiao Yuan casually smacked it apart. A thumb-sized crystal darted toward him, which he caught.
It was a diamond-shaped crystal glowing faintly. Rich energy wafted from it.
An energy core.
Let's see how potent it is.
As his cultivation technique activated, Xiao Yuan's palm cooled. Pure, smooth energy surged into his body like a tide, requiring almost no refinement—it simply flowed through his meridians and into his Qi chambers.
Unfortunately, its grade was too low. Good for most people—but not for Xiao Yuan and his five Qi chambers.
He needed something better.
Time to head for the second layer.
Having made up his mind, Xiao Yuan determined the direction and turned. Golden flames engulfed him as he transformed into a massive golden dragon, soaring toward the second layer.
The Heavenly Tomb was endlessly shrouded in energy mist. The pressure of this realm made flying feel like dragging a mountain. One could fly only briefly before exhaustion set in—part of what made the tomb so vast and difficult.
But Xiao Yuan wasn't normal.
Within a week, he soared across the entire first layer, catching sight of the massive energy barrier at the edge of the world.
"That's the second layer's entrance?"
His deep voice boomed from the dragon's mouth.
He had absorbed energy the whole way using secret techniques, even improving his cultivation. Another half-month and he'd reach seven-star Dou Zun.
He'd obliterated every energy body he encountered, turning them into supplements.
No hesitation.
With a flick of his tail, he approached the energy barrier.
As he neared it, immense pressure radiated outward.
"Such power… without five-star Dou Zun strength, one would be crushed instantly."
Xiao Yuan poked a claw through it and nodded.
But for him, that didn't matter. His physical body alone was monstrous.
With a shake of his head, the golden dragon dove straight in.
The wall was hundreds of feet thick, but Xiao Yuan passed through in moments.
Once inside, the pressure vanished—but his soul sense tingled with danger.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, sharp energy attacks shot toward him. The dragon opened its maw and spewed golden breath, vaporizing them instantly.
Ten figures hovered nearby—energy bodies with cold, vacant stares.
"Ten of them… all five-star Dou Zun level."
Xiao Yuan grinned.
Finally, some decent prey.
Time to eat!
The golden dragon roared and pounced. One breath fried five bodies, a tail swipe and a claw slash wiped out the rest.
With the power of his ancient dragon form and monstrous body, even nine-star Dou Zuns had to tread carefully around him. These things were nothing.
After absorbing their ten energy cores, his Dou Qi thickened further.
Recalling the tomb map he got from Xun'er, he determined his path. With another tail sweep that scattered the mist, he shot toward the third layer's entrance.
The second layer was smaller than the first, but the difficulty was far higher. Stronger energy bodies lurked throughout.
Xiao Yuan had planned to reach the third layer in a day. Instead, he spent three days slaughtering everything he could, collecting enough cores to break through.
Now at seven-star Dou Zun, he was finally ready for the next level.
(END CHAPTER)
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