Chapter 370: No Way… Could Xiao Xuan Be Set Up?
As the fire dragon roared and surged forward, cutting through the energy barrier with unstoppable force, sixteen people followed closely behind, sticking to Lu Bu's trail.
Xiao Yan, unable to match Lu Bu in their verbal sparring, twitched at the corners of his mouth, feeling thoroughly annoyed. Damn Lu Bu, how could someone be so infuriating?
His gaze shifted to Lu Bu, who was casually guiding the massive hundred meter long fire dragon as if it were effortless walking at a leisurely pace, not even the slightest sign of fatigue on his face. Xiao Yan's lips twitched even harder. He was even more annoyed now!
"We're almost there," Lu Bu said calmly, his eyes flashing as he glanced ahead.
At the back of the group, the four members of the Medicine Clan and Soul Clan exchanged subtle, sharp glances. The joy in their eyes quickly morphed into restrained killing intent and malice.
"Just wait… Every bit of humiliation I've suffered, I'll make you repay a thousandfold!" Yao Xingji clenched his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury. Two non Imperial Clan nobodies, relying only on their superior cultivation levels, dared to act as if they ruled the world. He'd make Lu Bu kneel before him like a dog!
"Heh heh… You two are as good as dead!" Hun Yu and Hun Hu's eyes were cold as they locked onto the backs of Lu Bu and Xiao Yan. Once the Soul Clan's Dou Sheng arrived, these two would suffer fates worse than death!
Lu Bu glanced back at them briefly before retracting his gaze, the corner of his lips curling into a subtle smirk. This was exactly why he kept dragging Xiao Yan into everything. Without Xiao Yan, how could Xiao Xuan possibly show up?
And if Xiao Xuan didn't show up, how could Lu Bu get his hands on a Dou Sheng energy core?
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan was oblivious to the murderous stares of Hun Yu and Hun Hu. His attention had been drawn to something unusual within the crystalline barrier.
It was a peculiar object, about the size of a fist. It gleamed with a translucent white sheen but emitted faint red light. It looked like… a cocoon?
"That must be something valuable…" Xiao Yan's eyes glimmered with interest. Acting on his "might as well take it since we're here" mentality, he reached out silently to grab it.
Smack!
A crisp sound echoed as Lu Bu slapped Xiao Yan's hand away. Standing with his hands behind his back, Lu Bu stared at him, clearly irritated. He couldn't believe that the path he had painstakingly carved out still led them to the Ancient Devouring Insects' queen.
"Ow… Lu Bu, what the hell?" Xiao Yan yelped, clutching his reddened hand. Even though Lu Bu had barely tapped him, Xiao Yan couldn't withstand the blow. After all, Lu Bu was a one turn Dou Zun with a body as strong as a Taixu Ancient Dragon's!
"You idiot! Don't touch that!" Lu Bu scolded. "That's the queen of the Ancient Devouring Insects. If you take it, the entire swarm will go berserk!"
Truthfully, Lu Bu was tempted by the queen himself, but… he didn't have a willing ancestor to help him handle it.
What was he supposed to do, ask Xiao Xuan to sew it into armor for him? Forget it. Lu Bu wasn't about to waste a precious favor on something that was just defensive armor not an absolute necessity.
But even if he didn't want it, there was no way he'd let Xiao Yan have it!
Upon hearing Lu Bu's warning, everyone's faces turned pale. They stared at Xiao Yan and the crystalline cocoon with shock and fear.
They were still inside the insect nest. If the Ancient Devouring Insects went on a rampage…
The consequences would be unimaginable.
Realizing this, everyone broke out in cold sweats, especially the members of the Medicine and Soul Clans at the back of the group. If chaos erupted, they would be the last to escape.
"Xiao Yan, are you trying to kill us all?" Hun Hu shouted angrily, his killing intent surging.
"Hmph… I'd be happy to kill you," Xiao Yan retorted coldly, his voice tinged with anger and disdain. He wouldn't talk like this to other clans, but this was the Soul Clan what reason did he have to hold back?
None. This was a fight to the death.
"Enough! Stop arguing," Lu Bu said indifferently. "The Ancient Devouring Insects can't leave the energy barrier. There's no need to worry."
Xiao Yan snorted and shifted his gaze back to the front, ignoring the Soul Clan.
"Hmm?" Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed suddenly. Ahead, Lu Bu's body was surrounded by a crystalline white mist of energy. It flowed and shimmered around him, filled with a rich, concentrated vitality.
"What's going on with Lu Bu?" Xiao Yan asked in surprise.
"The solidified energy from the barrier is being melted by his Heavenly Flame, creating a path rich in natural energy," Xiao Xun'er explained as she glanced around. "Everyone here is benefiting from it, but Lu Bu, being at the forefront, is gaining the most."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan looked around and noticed faint glows of energy surrounding others as well. Gu Qingyang, Gu Hua, Huo Xuan, Huo Zhi even himself.
This phenomenon was caused by their cultivation techniques automatically absorbing the abundant energy in the atmosphere. At the Dou Zun level, one's technique was constantly active, cultivating even without conscious effort. However, none of their gains compared to Lu Bu's.
Boom!
A deafening roar erupted ahead. A section of the translucent crystalline wall shattered, revealing a circular, gray void beyond it.
Everyone perked up immediately. They knew the third layer of the Heavenly Tomb was just ahead!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The sound of figures cutting through the air echoed as all sixteen people dashed out of the tunnel and landed heavily on the ground of the third layer.
"Finally…" Xiao Yan looked out at the vast, gray world before him, his eyes lighting up with joy. Beyond cultivation, the most important reason he had come to the Heavenly Tomb was to visit the tomb of his ancestor, Xiao Xuan.
"Heh heh, we made it…" Hun Yu and Hun Hu exchanged a vicious grin. Without hesitation, they disappeared into the gray mist, clearly off to summon reinforcements.
"Hmph… Without protection, let's see how you survive this time!" Yao Xingji and Yao Yi of the Medicine Clan also sneered before retreating into the mist.
"Master, there are so many nine star energy bodies here. Some of them are even one or two turn," Qing Lin said, her eyes gleaming in surprise.
However, before she could finish her sentence, a sudden explosion shook the ground.
Boom!
Before the four members of the Medicine and Soul Clans could get far, a terrifying, vast aura surged from Lu Bu's body. His purple black Dou Qi flared wildly, like fire, radiating a tidal wave of violent energy.
Several nearby individuals groaned, forced to retreat as the oppressive force bore down on them.
"What's… what's happening?" Xiao Yan asked, completely baffled.
"He broke through…" Huo Xuan muttered, his lips twitching in frustration. "Lu Bu just advanced to the second turn Dou Zun stage…"
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's envy surged so strongly that he felt like his eyes were about to turn green. This was absurd how could someone just break through so effortlessly? It was completely unfair!
Sigh… The energy barrier was truly an incredible opportunity, Lei Chen said, glancing back at the slowly healing crystalline wall with a wistful sigh.
After everything, all Lei Chen had managed to gain was a slight increase in the density of his Dou Qi. Meanwhile, Lu Bu had gone straight from one turn to two turn Dou Zun.
"He must have already been at the peak of one turn for a while," Gu Qingyang muttered, his gaze thoughtful.
"Damn it…" The four members of the Soul and Medicine Clans seethed with rage, their eyes bloodshot. They wanted nothing more than to rip Lu Bu apart. Why did he get all the benefits?
"Hmph… So what if he broke through?"
"Exactly! A mere two turn Dou Zun is nothing more than an ant before a Dou Sheng!"
Sharing a glance, the four of them turned and retreated further into the mist.
Attacking Lu Bu now wasn't realistic. His reaction speed alone made him difficult to ambush, not to mention Lei Chen of the Thunder Clan wouldn't stand idly by. On top of that, Lu Bu's status as the Great Commander of the Ancient Clan meant Gu Qingyang and Gu Hua wouldn't let him be killed.
And then there was the girl by Lu Bu's side. She wasn't someone to be trifled with her combat strength was terrifyingly high.
The four members of the Medicine Clan and Soul Clan glanced at Qing Lin and the towering, purple iron like figure standing silently beside her. Their pupils involuntarily contracted at the sight.
With this realization, the four figures flickered and disappeared into the distance. They would wait for their clan's elders to arrive. No matter how strong Lu Bu and Xiao Yan were, in the face of Dou Shengs, they were nothing more than ants.
Elsewhere, the members of the Flame Clan and Stone Clan sighed in relief, exchanged brief courtesies, and promptly left, retreating into the gray mist in search of a quiet place to cultivate.
Seeing that Lu Bu was capable of protecting himself even without external help, Lei Chen hesitated no longer. His figure flashed as he led his companions into the gray mist, vanishing from sight.
Moments later, Lu Bu slowly retracted his aura, his energy calming into a balanced and unified flow. There was no longer any trace of the divine radiance from earlier.
"Master, have you finished your breakthrough?" Qing Lin asked excitedly, immediately grabbing hold of Lu Bu's hand.
"Yes," Lu Bu nodded with a soft smile.
"Where shall we go next?" Qing Lin asked in a small voice. Then, with a hint of worry on her face, she added, "I saw the four from the Soul Clan and Medicine Clan leave earlier, and they didn't look like they had good intentions…"
Her expression betrayed her unease. Qing Lin was unaware of the Dou Shengs from other clans present in the third layer, nor of Lu Bu's plan to trade with Xiao Xuan. But she could clearly see the shift in the Soul Clan and Medicine Clan members' attitudes. Once timid and fearful, they now seemed confident and full of malice.
This change meant one of two things: either they had lost their minds, or they had something powerful backing them. Though Qing Lin didn't know what it was, she was certain it posed a threat to both her and Lu Bu.
"Don't worry. I know what to do," Lu Bu reassured her, gently squeezing her soft hand with a smile.
Elsewhere, Xiao Yan was conversing with the Ancient Clan trio, confirming their goals and the direction they would take.
Xiao Yan's primary objective was to visit Xiao Xuan's tomb. Xiao Xun'er, naturally, intended to follow him. Meanwhile, Gu Qingyang and Gu Hua had been explicitly ordered by the elders of the Ancient Clan to protect Xiao Xun'er. After all, she possessed the most complete bloodline the Ancient Clan had seen in nearly a thousand years her safety was paramount.
"Lu Bu, are we parting ways here?" Xiao Yan asked with a smile, though a trace of reluctance flickered in his eyes.
The third layer of the Heavenly Tomb was vastly different from the first two. Nine star Dou Zun energy bodies, which were rare in the earlier layers, were as common as weeds here. Even more terrifying were the numerous Transition level Dou Zun energy bodies, making the place fraught with danger. Having someone like Lu Bu as a bodyguard would be ideal at least until Xiao Yan reached the deepest part of the tomb.
"No need. I'm also heading to the deepest part of the tomb," Lu Bu replied with a casual wave of his hand, his tone humble.
"Why are you going there?" Xiao Yan frowned, and even the three members of the Ancient Clan looked puzzled.
"To find Xiao Xuan and make a deal," Lu Bu said with a sly smile.
"What?!" Xiao Yan was stunned, and his face instantly darkened. "No way. That's my ancestor! What kind of deal could you possibly want to make?"
As someone who had dealt with Lu Bu before, Xiao Yan knew all too well how the man operated. Lu Bu's schemes were layered traps within traps leaving people feeling tortured and helpless, yet unable to refuse. The man always had a way of offering something you couldn't say no to.
Xiao Yan instantly regretted not ditching Lu Bu earlier. What had he been thinking, trying to use him as a bodyguard?
What a colossal mistake!
Gu Qingyang and Gu Hua scratched their heads in confusion. Wasn't this an overreaction?
Although they didn't know what kind of deal Lu Bu wanted to propose, Xiao Yan's reaction seemed a bit extreme.
This was Xiao Xuan they were talking about a peerless powerhouse, someone who had forced the Soul Clan's leader and the entire clan into desperate measures. Could Xiao Xuan really be tricked?
"Heh… Do you think you can stop me?" Lu Bu sneered, his eyes full of amusement.
"Why bother arguing? I'll just send you both to meet Xiao Xuan directly," came a cold, mocking voice, echoing through the gray mist.
"Hun Yu?!"
Gu Qingyang and the others turned pale, their faces filled with shock. Earlier, Hun Yu had fled in panic, running for his life. Now, he had returned openly. It was impossible that he didn't have powerful backing.
"Heh heh… And me," Hun Hu's cold laughter followed.
Before the words even settled, fierce winds suddenly roared. The violent gusts tore through the thick gray mist, clearing everything within a million feet in an instant.
With the mist gone, the scene ahead was revealed: on a hilltop, Hun Yu and Hun Hu stood with sinister smiles, their severed arms a stark reminder of past encounters. Above them floated two black robed elders, their expressions cold and menacing.
"Dou Shengs?!"
Xiao Yan, Gu Qingyang, and the others instinctively took a step back, their faces pale with shock.
Damn it. This is trouble!
Lu Bu narrowed his eyes slightly, a glimmer of excitement flashing within. Dou Sheng energy bodies… what treasures they are. Finally, they're here.
"You're Lu Bu?" one of the elders on the left said coldly. "You have some nerve, daring to offend the Soul Clan like this. Apart from the Ancient Clan and the Xiao Clan, you're the first."
"I'll give you one chance to live cripple yourself, and from now on, serve Hun Yu as his slave. I might spare your life."
"Don't forget about Xiao Yan!" Hun Hu interjected, pointing at Xiao Yan. "He's a member of the Xiao Clan, and though he doesn't rely on his bloodline, he has forcibly cultivated his clan's unique bloodline mark. He must not be allowed to live!"
"Oh?" Hearing this, the two Soul Clan Dou Sheng energy bodies grew solemn. They turned their attention to Xiao Yan, their gazes sharp and piercing.
Lu Bu was merely a personal grudge, but Xiao Yan? He was someone the Soul Clan couldn't allow to survive.
"Heh… You came quicker than expected, Hun Yu. I almost thought you'd steal my opportunity," came another cold voice.
Yao Xingji and Yao Yi appeared, accompanied by a stern faced, emotionless elder.
Lu Bu raised an eyebrow. Another Dou Sheng energy body? Just one? How embarrassing if the Soul Clan could bring two, why couldn't the Medicine Clan do the same?
"Heh… Lu Bu, I told you I'll make you kneel like a dog!" Yao Xingji sneered, his face twisted with arrogance.
"Really? You didn't even dare to breathe before. When exactly did you say that?" Lu Bu responded with a faint smile.
"You bastard! You're courting death!" Yao Xingji roared in fury. "Elder, please help me take this scum down. He robbed my storage ring and stole my clan's secret techniques!"
"And Xiao Yan! He took my ring too!" Yao Yi added with venom.
"No! The Xiao Clan member is ours!" one of the Soul Clan Dou Shengs barked.
The hatred between the Soul Clan and Xiao Clan was deep these Dou Sheng energy bodies had been killed by the Xiao Clan in their lifetimes. This was a grudge they had to settle.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three terrifying Dou Sheng auras erupted simultaneously, pressing down on Lu Bu and the others like towering mountains.
Lu Bu frowned, pulling Qing Lin back as his lips twitched in annoyance. Where is Xiao Xuan? Still not here?
Don't tell me he's another one like Xiao Yan, showing up at the last second to save the day…
"Sigh… It seems the Soul Clan still has remnants within the Heavenly Tomb," a calm, sighing voice suddenly echoed.
In an instant, the overwhelming pressure from the three Dou Shengs dissipated like snow under the scorching sun.
"Who's there?" the Medicine Clan's Dou Sheng demanded sharply.
"Xiao Xuan?!"
The two Soul Clan Dou Shengs' faces turned pale with fear, their expressions filled with shock.
Before anyone could react further, a figure slowly emerged in front of Lu Bu and the others, shielding them from the three Dou Shengs' oppressive might.
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