Chapter 433: The Gu Clan—Still the Same Old Faces After All These Years
"Strange… Xiao Yan's aura is so strong!"
Gu Qingyang and the others' pupils shrank sharply as they muttered in disbelief.
"Xun'er..."
Elder Tongxuan and the rest finally relaxed when they saw the azure-clad girl emerge unharmed. Currently, Xun'er was undoubtedly the most important person in the Gu Clan. If anything had happened to her, it would have been an irreparable loss.
"What's going on? Xiao Yan's aura has grown this much?"
Tongxuan's gaze lingered briefly on Xun'er before turning sharply to the black-haired youth beside her. His eyes narrowed, shock rising in them. With his perception, he clearly sensed that Xiao Yan had reached the level of a nine-star Dou Zun—a leap several times stronger than half a year ago!
"He advanced by four stars? What a terrifying speed."
The surrounding elders exchanged glances, expressions filled with undisguised shock. Even with the Heavenly Tomb's strange temporal flow, progressing four stars in three years was nearly unthinkable. Among all the people who had ever entered the tomb, none had shown such insane progress.
"Could it be… due to Xiao Xuan's tomb palace?"
Tongxuan frowned deeply. He knew how difficult it was to leap four stars, but after a moment's thought, he recalled the tomb palace Xiao Xuan had left behind.
However… when they turned their eyes toward Xiao Yuan, they were stunned to find—they couldn't see through his strength at all!
What?!
Tongxuan widened his eyes and probed carefully.
But to his senses, Xiao Yuan… didn't even exist.
How was that possible?
"Haha, Brother Xiao Yan! I didn't expect it—just two years, and you've come this far."
As Tongxuan reeled in shock, Huo Xuan and Huo Zhi came over smiling and cupped their fists.
"Brother Huo Xuan, your progress isn't slow either," Xiao Yan replied with a smile. He could tell that Huo Xuan was now close to the peak of nine-star Dou Zun.
"How can I compare to you..."
Huo Xuan smiled bitterly. Two years ago, he had already been a nine-star Dou Zun while Xiao Yan was just at six-star. Now, Xiao Yan had shot up to his level—and he himself had barely moved. If they fought now, he might not last ten rounds.
As for Xiao Yuan… that guy had become a monster. No one could gauge his power anymore.
Xiao Yan smiled, knowing well that without Xiao Xuan's inheritance, he wouldn't have advanced so much.
"Congratulations."
As Xiao Yan chatted with Huo Xuan, Gu Qingyang and his group also came over to offer their congratulations. Xiao Yan responded graciously.
Just then, two black mists, like twin black dragons, surged across the sky and arrived in a flash.
"You little Xiao Clan bastards!"
The black mist stopped and took the form of two black-robed old men. They had come after hearing that Hun Li and Hun Ya—along with their four companions—had been annihilated by Xiao Yuan.
Seeing their blood-red eyes, everyone backed away, afraid of being caught in the fight.
Hearing the angry shout, Xiao Yuan's eyes flickered coldly.
Two low-level Half-Saints, and they dared to act so wildly before him?
One of the black-robed elders, his face grim, flicked his sleeve—and a pitch-black soul chain pierced through space, shooting fiercely at Xiao Yuan.
Hmph!
A cold snort echoed from Xiao Yuan.
An invisible wave of soul power erupted, shattering the chain and slamming into the two Soul Clan elders.
Boom!
With a muffled explosion, everyone watched in horror as the two Half-Saints were crushed—body and soul alike!
The entire area fell silent.
Even Mang Tianchi, who was about to make a move, was completely stunned.
What?
That was soul power just now… but wasn't it far too powerful?
Elder Tongxuan was dumbfounded too.
What the hell happened to Xiao Yuan in the tomb?
Xiao Yuan didn't care about their shock. After three years of hard training, he had gained a great deal.
Right now, he had enough strength to face someone at the level of the Hall Master of the Soul Hall—and escape unscathed if needed.
However, his powerful soul quickly noticed something troubling—Little Doctor Immortal and the others weren't here. That made Xiao Yan's brow furrow slightly. Unless something serious had happened, they would've left someone behind to wait for him.
"Could something have happened to Starfall Pavilion? Or in the Jia Ma Empire…?"
Xiao Yuan's brow tightened.
The next moment, he flashed and appeared before Elder Tongxuan.
So sudden—even Tongxuan didn't react in time.
Xiao Yuan cupped his fist. "Elder Tongxuan, do you know where Little Doctor Immortal and the others are?"
"They left about three months after you entered the tomb—probably back to Starfall Pavilion. They didn't say much, only asked that you return there as soon as you came out."
Tongxuan could feel the terrifying pressure from Xiao Yuan and quickly answered.
Xiao Yuan nodded thoughtfully.
Before heading to the Gu Realm, he had secretly asked Yao Lao to send strong protectors to guard the Xiao family in the Jia Ma Empire.
Still, the news about Starfall Pavilion left a weight in his heart.
Xiao Yan turned to Xun'er. "Looks like we can't stay long in the Gu Realm. Will you come with me?"
Xun'er was about to nod when Tongxuan quickly interjected:
"Xun'er, the clan is facing major issues. The Elder Council has decided—you must not leave the Gu Realm."
"What's going on?" Xun'er frowned.
Tongxuan hesitated, then formed a soundproof barrier and whispered, "The Spirit Realm suddenly closed itself off."
"The Spirit Realm? Closed off?"
Xiao Yan and Xun'er both looked startled. Her face paled instantly.
"The Spirit Clan?"
Seeing her reaction, Xiao Yan understood. The Spirit Realm must be the domain of the Spirit Clan—one of the Eight Ancient Clans.
"Why would the Spirit Realm close? No wonder they didn't send anyone to the Heavenly Tomb this time."
Xun'er furrowed her brows.
"We don't know. We sent people to investigate—but got nothing. The space where the Spirit Realm was has completely disappeared. Even our elders couldn't sense anything. It's as if it vanished from the world."
Tongxuan frowned deeply. Clearly, this strange situation baffled him.
"To seal a space and erase it from the world—unless they encountered a disaster even they couldn't handle?"
Xun'er murmured softly.
"We don't know. Though the Spirit Clan has declined somewhat, they're still immensely powerful. Even the Gu Clan would struggle to corner them like this."
Tongxuan added worriedly, "The clan leader is investigating now. If the Spirit Clan is really in trouble, we must be cautious too. For now, you must remain in the Gu Realm."
Xun'er pursed her lips, clearly disturbed. It was the first time she'd heard of a fellow ancient clan vanishing this mysteriously.
"No need to investigate. The Soul Clan likely wiped them out."
Xiao Yuan said calmly from the side.
"What?!"
All three turned pale.
"Young Clan Leader Xiao Yuan, that's not something you can say lightly!"
Tongxuan knew Xiao Yuan disliked the Soul Clan—but he didn't think they were capable of that.
"Joking? Elder Tongxuan, why would I joke about this? I suspect the Soul Clan also had something to do with Starfall Pavilion's trouble. If I'm right, the Spirit Clan's Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade has already fallen into their hands. I suggest you inform the other clans. If not, you'll be picked off one by one."
Xiao Yuan's tone hardened.
After all, Xiao Xuan was watching from the ring. If he embarrassed the Xiao Clan, he'd get smacked.
Tongxuan's face turned uncertain.
Xiao Yuan's words sounded outrageous—but weren't entirely impossible.
And if they were true… it spelled disaster.
"Forget it, I'll go talk to Uncle Gu directly. Xiao Yan, find someone from the Medicine Clan. Tell them your teacher wants to visit soon to pay respects. See if they have a proper invitation. If not, I'll barge in myself."
Xiao Yuan shook his head, issued some instructions to Xiao Yan, then vanished into thin air—so fast not even Tongxuan could track him.
"What on earth happened in the tomb?"
Tongxuan felt completely lost. Xiao Yuan had become terrifying!
"Xun'er, if the timing isn't right, you'd better stay in the Gu Realm. It's safer here."
Xiao Yan frowned after a moment of thought.
"I'm going to speak with Medicine Clan's Yao Xingji about what Third Brother asked."
"I'll go with you!" Xun'er nodded gently after a pause.
"I'll join you. The Medicine Clan elders are difficult—my presence might help."
Tongxuan gave up trying to understand Xiao Yuan and decided to tag along.
He led the group toward the Medicine Clan.
Seeing Xiao Yan approach, Yao Xingji furrowed his brows.
"Xiao Yan? What do you want?"
Xiao Yan didn't like Yao Xingji either, but for Yao Lao's sake, he cupped his hands.
"My teacher is now a ninth-tier alchemist. He plans to visit the Medicine Clan to pay respects to his parents. I want to know if we need an invitation."
Yao Xingji, though clearly unfriendly, recognized Xiao Yan's strength and refrained from being sarcastic. With a flick of his finger, a jade slip the color of emerald flew toward him.
"Convenient. This is the Medicine Clan's ancestral invitation. I planned to send it later—but since you asked, here. Your teacher will know what it means."
Xiao Yan took the jade slip, looked at Yao Xingji for a moment, then stored it and nodded. "Thank you."
"A shame we didn't get to test our alchemy skills. Maybe next time. As for Xiao Yuan… only our elders might match him now."
Yao Xingji had felt the terrifying soul power Xiao Yuan displayed. He now understood what that meant for his alchemy.
He had lost all will to compete.
"Third Brother's alchemy might soon surpass Teacher's."
Xiao Yan added.
"Figures..."
Yao Xingji sighed bitterly.
As much as he hated to admit it, he could no longer look down on the Xiao Clan.
Elsewhere—
With his quasi-Emperor soul, Xiao Yuan easily located Gu Yuan.
The Gu Clan leader was in a meeting with the clan's high council.
"Xiao Yuan?"
The space tore open. Xiao Yuan appeared in the sealed council chamber.
"Uncle Gu, may we talk?"
Xiao Yuan smiled.
"You..."
Gu Yuan noticed something was off and casually released a small blast—strong enough to kill a Two-Star Dou Sheng.
Xiao Yuan flicked it aside with a wave of soul power.
"Your soul… already at Heavenly Perfection?" Gu Yuan asked, stunned.
"No, even stronger."
He immediately shook his head.
That wasn't Heavenly Perfection—it was stronger.
The entire council stared at Xiao Yuan in silence.
Then Xiao Yuan smiled and released his soul power, sealing the space further.
Gu Yuan's pupils contracted. That strength… had already reached Emperor-tier?
"Black Abyss King, Gu Lie, the Gu Clan's Three Immortals… after all these years, still the same old faces, huh?"
Xiao Xuan's figure drifted out from Xiao Yuan's ring, smiling faintly.
When the green-robed figure appeared—every Gu elder was shaken to the core.
"Xiao Xuan?!"
(END CHAPTER)
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