Chapter 371: Heh… Xiao Xuan, Surely You Don't Want…
"Xiao Xuan?!"
Hearing the exclamation from the two Soul Clan Dou Shengs, everyone was shocked, their gazes snapping to the figure in the sky. The man was unassuming, showing no sign of anything extraordinary, yet his very presence caused a storm of emotions.
Gu Qingyang and Gu Hua, usually calm and composed even in the face of chaos, now looked both overjoyed and nervous. The two strongest commanders of the Black Abyss Army, who had never flinched in battle, were suddenly bashful, like young maidens meeting their idol.
Lu Bu's mouth twitched. Xiao Yan's tendency to show up at the last possible second to save the day… So it came from Xiao Xuan, passed down from generation to generation, all the way back to their ancestors.
Truly a family tradition!
Across from them, the Medicine Clan Dou Sheng's face revealed a flash of panic. Xiao Xuan's infamy wasn't limited to his life. Even here in the Heavenly Tomb, his ruthlessness was legendary he killed without hesitation.
Every time Xiao Xuan moved, a wave of powerhouses in the tomb would be wiped out, his actions earning the nickname "The Great Cleansing" from the survivors.
"Senior, I have come here only to deal with Lu Bu, who injured the younger members of my clan. I have no quarrel with anyone else. I hope you can grant me this favor," the Medicine Clan Dou Sheng said, bowing with hands clasped in respect.
Before coming, Yao Xingji and Yao Yi had thoroughly explained that Lu Bu wasn't from an Imperial Clan and had no elders to support him. No one would intervene if they fought to the death. Of course, they conveniently omitted their own arrogant and rude behavior, instead portraying Lu Bu as an unreasonably arrogant figure who had insulted the Medicine Clan.
In short, according to them, the problem wasn't their own incompetence it was the enemy and the world that were to blame.
Behind him, Yao Yi hesitated, his gaze briefly flitting to Xiao Yan standing beside Lu Bu. But he didn't dare say a word. Mentioning Xiao Yan again could very well lead to his clan elders slapping him to death before Xiao Xuan even lifted a finger.
"Senior, we also only seek Lu Bu. This has nothing to do with Xiao Yan!" Hun Yu quickly added, adjusting his strategy.
With Xiao Xuan here, killing Xiao Yan was no longer an option. The Soul Clan had to settle for eliminating Lu Bu first. As for Xiao Yan? He was trash. Killing him outside the tomb would suffice.
The two Soul Clan Dou Shengs exchanged a glance, their faces stiffening slightly before they nodded. Following Hun Yu's lead, they addressed Xiao Xuan respectfully. "Senior, we are indeed only here for Lu Bu."
As for running away? That wasn't an option. Once exposed, escape was impossible. They could only move within the third layer of the Heavenly Tomb. There was nowhere else to go.
Better to try negotiating for mercy it wasn't shameful. Several of their predecessors had faced similar situations in the past.
"Oh?" Xiao Xuan's interest was piqued. His gaze shifted to the group behind him.
Originally, he had come to check on the descendants of his clan. But now, he was curious what kind of young man had managed to provoke two Soul Clan Dou Shengs and a Medicine Clan Dou Sheng into joining forces against him?
His eyes swept over the group. When they landed on Gu Qingyang and Gu Hua, he nodded slightly, appreciating the strong and pure bloodline of the Ancient Clan.
Then his gaze fell on Xiao Yan. Xiao Xuan's brows furrowed not because of Xiao Yan's cultivation or talent, but because he couldn't sense even a trace of the Xiao Clan's bloodline within him.
Even though he had anticipated this outcome, seeing his clan's decline firsthand still pained him. Strictly speaking, Xiao Xuan bore significant responsibility for the Xiao Clan's downfall.
If not for his attempt to ascend to Dou Di, the bloodline of the Xiao Clan would have continued to this day. It wouldn't have been as strong as that of other clans, but at least it wouldn't have faded into obscurity.
"Hmm?"
Xiao Xuan's expression shifted, his gaze turning to Lu Bu with surprise. It wasn't the absence of an Imperial Clan bloodline in Lu Bu that caught his attention, but the unique power within him.
"You have an exceptionally pure Taixu Ancient Dragon energy… No, it's even more potent than that!" Xiao Xuan remarked with interest.
"Huh?" His gaze sharpened again, this time landing on Qing Lin. He was visibly stunned. "You possess the Triple Jade Green Serpent Flower Pupils?"
"What?!"
Xiao Yan and the others turned to Qing Lin in shock. This girl possessed the fabled Triple Jade Green Serpent Flower Pupils, the most extraordinary eyes in the world?
How was this possible?!
Xiao Yan's mouth twitched. He raised his head and sighed deeply.
How could this be? How does Lu Bu get all the good fortune?!
Five confidantes: one a Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, one a Taixu Ancient Dragon, one with the Woeful Poison Body. And now, the seemingly unremarkable saintess from the Heaven Snake Mansion turned out to possess the most extraordinary eyes in the world!
"It seems that only Yun Yun is slightly less remarkable…" Xiao Yan muttered bitterly, though he also felt a trace of relief.
Thankfully, not every one of Lu Bu's women was so extraordinary. Yun Yun was only able to barely keep up thanks to Lu Bu being an eight tier alchemist.
Qing Lin frowned slightly and quietly clung to Lu Bu's arm, leaning against him. She wasn't particularly fond of being the center of attention.
"Heh… Senior Xiao Xuan, how about a deal?" Lu Bu chuckled, feeling a wave of relief.
Xiao Xuan was sharp but not overly so.
He could discern the Dragon Phoenix power within Lu Bu but couldn't detect the Devouring Ancestral Symbol. Similarly, he recognized Qing Lin's Triple Jade Green Serpent Flower Pupils but couldn't sense the Nine Headed Heavenly Snake soul.
That was fine it wouldn't affect Lu Bu's plans to negotiate.
Hearing Lu Bu's words, Qing Lin blinked in surprise before a playful smile appeared in her eyes. Her master was at it again, scheming.
Xiao Yan's heart sank. This was bad. No matter what Xiao Xuan gained from the deal, one thing was certain Lu Bu would gain more.
While others might profit slightly, Lu Bu always walked away with the lion's share.
Xiao Yan felt a pang of jealousy so strong it almost turned his eyes green. Watching Lu Bu profit was worse than losing his own wealth.
"Deal…?" Gu Qingyang and Gu Hua frowned. What could Lu Bu possibly trade with Xiao Xuan? This was their first meeting!
"Oh? A deal?" Xiao Xuan's interest deepened. He had been in the Heavenly Tomb for countless years, unbeaten and bored to tears.
Unable to cultivate or fight anyone worthy, he had spent endless hours replaying old battles in his mind. It was mind numbing.
If there was finally something novel to entertain him, why not indulge a little?
"This kid seems to have a good relationship with my descendants…" Xiao Xuan thought, his gaze softening.
After all, he had created the Three Mysterious Transformations of the Heavenly Flame. No one understood it better than him, and it was clear Lu Bu had practiced this technique.
"Speak. I'm curious about this deal," Xiao Xuan said faintly. He had been dead on the Dou Qi continent for countless years. Lu Bu was just a junior no matter what this deal was, he had nothing to lose.
"Heh… The Xiao Clan isn't as dead as you think, nor has it declined as much as it seems," Lu Bu said, grinning. "As far as I know, there's still one Xiao Clan member alive, with an intact bloodline and formidable strength. Hmm… they've even reached the four star Dou Sheng level."
"What?!"
Everyone present was stunned, their faces filled with disbelief. Xiao Yan gaped at Lu Bu, utterly shocked. Could there truly be such a figure in his clan?
"That's impossible!"
The two Soul Clan Dou Shengs roared furiously, as if their worldview had completely shattered. And in truth, it had. The reason for their deaths was tied to the Soul Clan's war to exterminate the Xiao Clan.
In their eyes, the Xiao Clan should have been completely annihilated, leaving no one behind. How could they have missed someone as powerful as a Four Star Dou Sheng?!
Xiao Xuan didn't appear as overjoyed as one might expect upon hearing this revelation. Instead, his expression was a mixture of surprise, doubt, and hesitation. Could it be that a member of the clan fled in the heat of battle? Or had someone deliberately avoided the conflict in a desperate bid to preserve the Xiao Clan's bloodline?
"Explain yourself. What kind of deal are you proposing?" Xiao Xuan exhaled slowly, his tone calm yet weighted with significance.
"Hehe, that Four Star Dou Sheng is your cousin, Xiao Chen. But he has already been turned into a puppet by the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame and no longer retains his own consciousness," Lu Bu said with a grin.
The faint smile on Xiao Xuan's face instantly froze, replaced by a grave expression.
"Xiao Chen… Blood Axe Xiao Chen?!" Gu Qingyang exclaimed in shock. "It's him?"
"Brother Qingyang, who is this person?" Xiao Xun'er and Gu Hua asked curiously. After all, the Xiao Clan's glory days were far too ancient, and the names of its past powerhouses had long since been buried by history.
"This man was incredibly gifted, wielding a blood red axe with unparalleled dominance. Countless experts fell before him," Gu Qingyang said solemnly. "His talent was no less than that of the three Ancient Clan Grand Elders. If not for…"
Gu Hua's expression grew serious. He understood what Gu Qingyang had left unsaid: Xiao Chen was once a peerless figure who could stand alongside the three Ancient Clan Grand Elders or the Four Holy Devils of the Soul Clan. But alas, the Xiao Clan's fall and Xiao Chen's enslavement by the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame had sealed his fate.
Meanwhile, Lu Bu continued, "As for the deal… it's simple. I want ten Dou Sheng energy cores. In exchange, I'll help you rescue Xiao Chen. How about it?"
As he spoke, Lu Bu's gaze swept toward the nearby Medicine Clan Dou Sheng and the two Soul Clan Dou Shengs, his eyes brimming with amusement.
Now, who was the hunter, and who was the prey?
The faces of the Soul and Medicine Clan Dou Shengs changed drastically, and they instinctively retreated. However, in the next instant, the space around them solidified. They couldn't even move a finger.
Xiao Xuan had made his move.
"Nonsense! You, a mere Two Star Dou Zun, think you can rescue a Four Star Dou Sheng from the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame?!"
Faced with the threat of death, Hun Yu and the others erupted in desperation. Their survival instincts compelled them to raise a fatal question: if Lu Bu and Xiao Xuan struck a deal, their fates would be sealed.
"They're right. How can you possibly manage it?" Xiao Xuan's gaze turned sharp, his expression growing serious.
Xiao Xuan didn't doubt the truth of Lu Bu's words. Xiao Chen's disappearance had indeed been a mystery back then. The Xiao Clan had poured significant resources into searching for him, only to find nothing. Shortly after, rumors of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame surfaced.
But if even a Four Star Dou Sheng like Xiao Chen had fallen to the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, how could a mere Dou Zun hope to succeed?
"You may have the courage, but do you have the capability? Why should I believe you can rescue Xiao Chen?"
"Hehe… I'm fortunate enough to have obtained the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint's inheritance," Lu Bu said with a faint smile, raising his hand. Between his fingers was a small, weathered piece of parchment.
On the parchment was a quarter of a lotus flower design, with faint black flame patterns encircling it.
"The Purifying Lotus Demon Saint's inheritance…" Gu Qingyang and Gu Hua's eyes widened in disbelief, much like Xiao Yan's.
The Purifying Lotus Demon Saint was hailed as the person closest to becoming a Dou Di after Tuoshe Ancient Emperor. His power was unimaginable, far surpassing ordinary comprehension. Even the Soul Clan Leader likely fell short in comparison.
"You… You've collected the entire map?!" Xiao Yan exclaimed in shock. He had long known that the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint's inheritance was in Lu Bu's possession, but he never expected Lu Bu to have gathered the remaining pieces of the map as well.
"Just lucky…" Lu Bu chuckled, borrowing Xiao Yan's trademark line.
In truth, he hadn't collected the last piece yet, but the upcoming Spatial Trade Fair would make it impossible for it to escape his grasp.
If you round up… then yes, he had the entire map!
This Lu Bu's ambitions truly know no bounds… Xiao Xun'er thought to herself, her eyes glimmering as she recalled her father's evaluation of Lu Bu.
He could have easily lived a comfortable life with his alchemical skills. But instead, he pushed himself to the limit, expending all his efforts to obtain more resources for cultivation.
Xiao Xuan's pupils narrowed slightly. With his keen eyes, he could discern the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame and the immense, complex energy sealed within the map.
Even at his peak, Xiao Xuan doubted he could forcibly break through this seal.
"Senior Xiao Xuan, why bother with a deal? Just take the inheritance by force and have Xiao Yan rescue Xiao Chen instead," Hun Hu suggested, his eyes lighting up with joy as he called out loudly. "There's no need to bother with Lu Bu. Just kill him!"
Xiao Yan's expression flickered with interest. The Purifying Lotus Demon Flame… If he could obtain it, it would greatly aid his cultivation, making the leap to Dou Sheng within reach.
If he succeeded, who could stop him from being with Xun'er? Not even the Ancient Clan!
Xun'er's lips pressed into a thin line, her beautiful eyes flashing with anxiety. But she quickly calmed herself, suppressing any visible emotions.
"And what do you have to say to that?" Xiao Xuan asked, his gaze shifting to Lu Bu. Of course, he had considered the suggestion.
But, given his status and the presence of his descendants, he couldn't outright resort to such thuggish behavior.
Still, credit where it was due the Soul Clan was occasionally useful.
"Heh… As if I wouldn't have thought of that?" Lu Bu said calmly, his faint smile unchanged. "I only have a quarter of the map on me. The other three pieces are hidden elsewhere, in places no one can find.
"If I die, Xiao Chen can never be rescued. The Purifying Lotus Demon Flame has already mastered the Nightmare Sky Fog technique of the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint. Even if you destroy the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, you still won't be able to free Xiao Chen."
Before Lu Bu finished speaking, Xiao Xuan's face darkened slightly. He hated this feeling of being manipulated.
"Heh heh… Senior Xiao Xuan, surely you don't want your cousin to remain a slave forever?" Lu Bu sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "And wouldn't a Four Star Dou Sheng cousin be an excellent guardian for your now declining Xiao Clan?"
"…Very well. I accept this deal," Xiao Xuan said after a deep breath, his tone calm but firm. "One last question: why ten energy cores?"
At least argue a little! Lu Bu thought, rolling his eyes in boredom. Waving his hand, he replied, "Because I have five confidantes, and each gets two cores."
"Oh, I see…" Xiao Xuan nodded slightly, then turned his gaze toward the seven members of the Soul and Medicine Clans in the distance.
"Damn it!"
All at once, the seven figures turned pale, but before they could react, an overwhelming and terrifying aura descended like a tidal wave. Xiao Xuan… had made his move.
(Chapter End)
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