Chapter 522: Xiao Xuan

A deep thud echoed as Hun Diao's powerful, unranked Dou Technique, Heaven Seal, slammed into the worm ball.

A resonant hum rang out—within an instant, the entire white worm ball was encased in an incredibly thick crystal layer, blocking that terrifying Heaven Seal!

"It's the Ancient Devouring Worm!!"

"Heaven, did Xiao Yan subdue the Ancient Devouring Worm?!"

Hun Ya and Hun Li had long since gone pale—their scalp prickling. How could they not know the Ancient Devouring Worm? They had only just experienced it!

Now they understood: Xiao Yan must have some method to subdue those Ancient Devouring Worms, and his rapid cultivation surge was due to those Energy Crystal Layers!!

"Get out of my way!" Hun Diao's heart lurched—he knew full well the Ancient Devouring Worm—and unleashed a surge of power like a tidal wave.

Those crystal layers were impenetrable to Dou Zun, but against Dou Sheng-level power, they were merely slightly harder ice—utterly fragile!

"I said you're staying here today!"

But Hun Diao never expected Xiao Yan wasn't using the worm ball to block the attack—he was merely drawing attention, creating an opening to unleash his Soul Technique.

Xiao Yan seized the moment, exploding his Soul Force to its peak, letting out a long roar as he leapt upward—in that instant, a three-faced Xiu Luo Soul Shadow appeared behind him. This Soul Body of the Xiu Luo was startlingly real, especially its dark demonic Xiu Luo and radiant divine Xiu Luo faces, both nearly indistinguishable from reality.

The second face had reached Great Perfection!

Even Xiao Yan hadn't anticipated that six Level Nine energy cores were this potent—combined with countless other-level energy cores and the cultivation of Emperor Soul Scripture—he had brought the second face to Great Perfection within just months inside the crystal corridor!

That was why Xiao Yan had the confidence to challenge this Soul Clan Dou Sheng energy body.

He had confidence!

"Xiu Luo, Divine Demon Slash!!" Xiao Yan roared inwardly—and in that instant, a resonant hum swept through the entire Heavenly Tomb as intense Soul Force rippled outward.

In an instant, the Xiu Luo Soul Body extended four arms; apart from the still-phantom third face, both the demonic and divine Xiu Luo faces snapped open their eyes—four eyes glaring, eerily fixed on Hun Diao!

That gaze made Hun Diao's Spiritual Soul tremble—he, who had little consciousness, briefly flashed with a memory.

"This Soul Dou Technique… is… is…"

The Xiu Luo Soul Body's four hands clapped together with a sharp crack—dark Soul energy and golden Soul energy fused into a colossal blade, half darkness, half light, instantly forming a massive Spiritual Soul Blade.

Xiao Yan's right hand clenched in the void as if gripping the blade—he could control the Xiu Luo Soul Body, raising his right hand high, and the Soul Body mirrored him, lifting the great blade.

"How could you possibly know this Soul Dou Technique?!" Hun Diao's cold, lifeless eyes flickered with a trace of memory—he recognized it!

This was the Soul Clan's forbidden Soul Technique, one no one should ever have mastered! How could Xiao Yan, a member of the Xiao Clan, know it?!

Xiao Yan smirked and whispered: "Taught by Hun Lao Gui."

Boom—a thunderous crash as Xiao Yan's right hand slashed downward, unleashing an endless arc of Soul light that cleaved through space, his Heavenly Realm Soul Force exploding to its utmost limit!

As the Xiu Luo Soul Slash had originally stated: when perfected, it can sever a Heavenly Realm Soul!

The two forces merged into one—this single slash severed heaven and earth, cut through Space and the power of Heaven and Earth without effort.

Even if Hun Diao frantically slammed his Heaven Seal to block it, he was no true Dou Sheng—he was dead, dead for a very long time, sustained only by the Heavenly Tomb's peculiar properties, utterly inferior to a true Dou Sheng, even below a Half Saint.

How could he possibly resist Xiao Yan's ultimate killing technique?!

If Gu Qingyang had faced this Soul Slash as Xiao Yan now wielded it, even Tong Xuan's intervention might not have saved his Spiritual Soul!

"No!!" Seeing his Heaven Seal shattered in two, Hun Diao screamed in terror—on the brink of death, at his weakest moment, instinct surged—he felt fear, spun around, and tried to flee.

But it was already too late. Even if Hun Diao regained his former Dou Sheng speed, escape was impossible.

Puff—a sound as Hun Diao's energy body froze in place.

After the Soul Force slash passed, Hun Diao's energy body didn't even cry out—no moan, no wail—it vanished instantly, dissolving into light, leaving no trace behind.

For a moment, all the energy bodies in the distance stared in silence as Hun Diao's light faded—those conscious energy bodies all drew sharp breaths, shuddering in dread.

Though some among them were stronger than Hun Diao, most were Level Nine or Half Saint energy bodies. If Hun Diao couldn't withstand this slash, how could they?!

If Xiao Yan attacked them, they truly might not survive!

In the third layer of the Heavenly Tomb, these energy bodies were essentially "wild monsters"—they were bred and contained creatures.

Though they could attack these young cultivators, doing so would inevitably draw the Dou Emperor Family's true Dou Shengs, who would enter and annihilate them.

Otherwise, why are some tombstones empty? Isn't that because their occupants were killed?!

Do you really think the Heavenly Tomb only lets in Dou Zun juniors? Dou Shengs can enter too!

The entire Heavenly Tomb is under the control of the Dou Emperor Family—unless you're strong enough to defy true Dou Shengs, they generally won't kill the prodigies who enter. You don't provoke me, I won't provoke you.

The Heavenly Tomb is an inherited secret realm controlled by the Dou Emperor Family!

The fading of Hun Diao's energy body meant this so-called Soul Clan Dou Sheng was truly dead—Hun Diao, the once-renowned Dou Sheng, had vanished forever.

Xiao Yan waved his hand, and a faintly glowing crystal stone flew into his grasp.

"A Dou Sheng-level energy core!" Xiao Yan's eyes gleamed with golden light—Level Nine energy cores were already so powerful; what terrifying strength would a Dou Sheng's core possess?!

The Heavenly Tomb was making Xiao Yan's mouth curl into a grin!

Xiao Yan instantly turned toward the other Soul Clan Dou Sheng—he couldn't let this energy body escape.

Though Xiao Yan was now drained—this technique had emptied half his Soul Force—he and Xun Er together could surely kill this energy body!

Seeing Xiao Yan's gaze, the Soul Clan Dou Sheng energy body currently fighting Xun Er trembled violently—even with little memory or wisdom left, instinct remained!

"Run!!" The Soul Clan Dou Sheng energy body roared at Hun Ya and Hun Li, then swept his hand—sweeping them up—he fled the scene.

A Dou Sheng energy body fleeing—even Xiao Yan and Xun Er together couldn't stop it, for Dou Shengs still retained control over Space.

Hiss! Yet just as the Soul Clan Dou Sheng energy body opened Space to escape, the entire surrounding space suddenly solidified!

"Who are you?!" The Soul Clan Dou Sheng energy body roared, his expression darkening—this power was Dou Sheng-level!

"You come to cause trouble and think you can just leave? The Xiao Clan isn't so easily bullied."

As the Dou Sheng energy body roared, a faint, ancient voice slowly echoed through the space—when this voice sounded, the entire sky of the Heavenly Tomb churned violently, the power of Heaven and Earth boiling!

"Xiao Xuan?!"

Hearing the voice, the Soul Clan energy body's face flooded with horror—this voice was a nightmare!

Originally, the Soul Clan's arsenal wasn't limited to just these two One Star Dou Sheng energy bodies—but all stronger Dou Sheng energy bodies and Tomb Mansions had been destroyed. Dozens, even hundreds of Soul Clan energy bodies—no matter how famous in life, no matter how high their Cultivation Realm—were as weak as infants before this man.

All were annihilated.

They were just hiding because their strength was too weak, and this person didn't notice them!

Xiao Xuan! The peak figure of the Dou Qi Continent a thousand years ago, the Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan for a millennium, and the final glory of the Xiao Clan!

A Nine Star Peak Dou Saint!

"Xiao Xuan?!"

Hearing this exclamation, Xiao Yan's body trembled violently; the activation of a fraction of his Dou Di Bloodline through the Tian Huo San Xuan Bian suddenly triggered an unusual fluctuation, one that carried an intensely familiar sensation.

Before all eyes, ripples formed in the Space before Xiao Yan and Xun Er, and then a figure clad in pale green robes appeared silently, without summoning any Sky Phenomenon—but faintly, it seemed as if everyone felt this world could not withstand even a single punch or kick from this man.

The figure rose, lifted its head, revealing a face neither exceptionally handsome nor beautiful, yet radiating a unique aura—black hair falling to the shoulders, a pair of ink-black pupils like black holes, deep and brimming with an unusual wisdom, exuding a mesmerizing charm.

"Xiao Xuan!"

The remaining Soul Sovereign energy body fixed its gaze on the face so unbearably familiar to them, its eyes flickering with shock and terror; though they possessed extremely formidable power, before this man they were no more than chicks, unable to even flee!

"S-S-Senior Brother…" Hun Ya also stared at this sudden stranger with trembling fear; though he did not recognize the latter, he faintly sensed a taste of death.

"Xiao Xuan's strength is mighty, but he is suppressed by the Heavenly Tomb—he cannot leave the Tomb Mansion at will, but must wait ten years to emerge once! Yet now, the ten-year cycle has not yet arrived—you should not be able to appear!"

Hearing the Soul Clan Strong Expert's energy body speak, Xiao Xuan smiled faintly and said: "I do not need to appear to kill you—someone else will act."

Then Xiao Xuan's gaze turned to Xiao Yan, a gaze so profound it seemed to pierce through every secret within Xiao Yan.

Seeing this gaze, even Xiao Yan's heart sank—he instantly knew that before this man, nothing could be hidden, no lie or concealment possible.

"His spiritual soul must have reached the Emperor Realm in life." Xiao Yan was in the Heaven Realm; with just one glance, he understood that this Ancestor had been overwhelmingly powerful in life—far beyond mere Heaven Realm Great Perfection.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath; Xiao Xuan would not act—he was merely preventing their escape, and in a sense, this was also a test.

"Brother Xiao Yan, let me help you."

"Mm."

Xiao Yan did not refuse Xun Er's kindness; they struck instantly. Xiao Yan expended considerable energy, even summoning his puppet. After a fierce battle, the Soul Clan Strong Expert's energy body ultimately perished at the hands of his own clan's Spiritual Soul Dou Technique, and Xiao Yan claimed two Dou Saint-level energy cores.

Hun Ya and Hun Li were also easily defeated by Xiao Yan.

"I-I-I-if you kill me, the Soul Sovereign will never let you go!" Hun Ya shrieked.

"Don't worry—I won't kill you now." Xiao Yan pressed his palm down, golden light surging from his palm, threads of this golden light seeping into the bodies of both Hun Ya and Hun Li.

Hun Ya and Hun Li's bodies trembled uncontrollably, foam spilling from their mouths, their eyes rolling back until they became mindless, walking corpses—then Xiao Yan sealed them within the Void Space.

Both were Eight Grade Dou Di Bloodline—since they came to him, Xiao Yan had no intention of being polite.

Xiao Xuan merely watched silently as Xiao Yan did everything, neither acting again nor speaking.

After resolving all matters, Xiao Yan turned to face the man in green robes; their gazes met instantly, and between them, certain things were mutually understood.

"This place is unsuitable for conversation—come to my Tomb Mansion," Xiao Xuan said calmly, his voice devoid of joy or sorrow, as if he had lost all seven emotions and six desires a living being should possess.

Xiao Xuan glanced at Xun Er and said: "You, little girl of the Gu Clan, come as well."

As Xiao Xuan finished speaking, he waved his hand, tearing open the Space of the Heavenly Tomb, and stepped forward, arriving instantly at the location of his Tomb Mansion.

Xiao Yan, holding Xun Er's Jade Hand, stepped across the space rift as well, arriving before the Tomb Mansion.

Seeing the massive tombstone, Xiao Yan knelt upon the ground and bowed deeply before it—the most solemn rite of the Xiao Clan, the traditional ritual for honoring ancestors.

Seeing Xiao Yan's worship, Xun Er, standing half a step behind him, followed suit with the same profound bow.

"Unworthy descendant Xiao Yan, pays homage to my Ancestor!" Xiao Yan rose slowly and bowed respectfully to Xiao Xuan.

At least in ritual propriety, Xiao Yan was indeed impeccable—he truly was the Young Clan Leader, carefully raised since childhood.

"Xiao Yan," Xiao Xuan nodded, then his eyes flickered with a strange glint, his voice low and heavy: "Enter the Tomb Mansion—I have words for you."

Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened; without hesitation, he nodded.

【Some readers say the chapter price increased? Then I'll split it into three chapters, four thousand words each. I'll stay in the top hundred on the Monthly Vote Chart, and deliver twelve thousand words daily—I mean it!】