While in Battle Through the Heavens, one can pre-appoint oneself as an emperor.

Chapter 367 Reunion with Gu Yuan

"Who went in?"

In the ancient realm, deep in the mountains, Gu Yuan, his hair slightly disheveled, was questioning the Black Annihilation King with a dark expression.

An ancient race with countless powerful figures guarding its home base was able to remain undetected until the opening of the Heavenly Tomb caused a stir. If word got out, it would make the people of Zhongzhou laugh for three months straight.

"I don't know. The person who came was extremely powerful. He forcibly tore open the Heavenly Tomb almost instantly. By the time I led my men to arrive, the entrance to the Heavenly Tomb had already closed," Black Annihilation King replied expressionlessly.

He even suspected that the person who made the move was probably even more powerful than Gu Yuan.

Because even Gu Yuan couldn't have forcibly opened the Heavenly Tomb so easily.

Gu Yuan took a deep breath, barely suppressing his anger. "In the current continent, apart from the Soul Emperor, I can't think of anyone else who could do this. Even the Void Devouring Flame, who may have already disappeared, couldn't have opened the Heavenly Tomb in such a short time—could it be that the mysterious powerhouse who abducted the Void Devouring Flame?"

In an instant, Gu Yuan had some guesses in his mind.

He learned of Void Devouring Flame's disappearance from the Soul Emperor, but he couldn't be sure of the information's authenticity.

But now it seems that a top-tier expert of the same level has indeed appeared on this continent!

"Gu Lie, keep a close eye on the Soul Clan's movements. Today, the Medicine Clan was destroyed, and the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade of the Ancient, Thunder, and Flame Clans was also lost. The Soul Emperor is ambitious. Since he no longer hides his ambition, he will definitely take action soon," Gu Yuanchao Black Annihilation King instructed.

Today, Gu Yuan was extremely frustrated. Back in the Medicine Realm, even though he joined forces with Lei Ying and Yan Jin, they couldn't gain the slightest advantage against the Soul Emperor. Naturally, they also failed to snatch the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade from the Medicine Clan.

If that were all, it would be fine, but as the fight went on, he received a message from the Black Annihilation King that his home had been robbed!

The ancestral hall elder was injured by the ancient sheep, and the ancient jade placed inside was also stolen!

Besides that, there's also the Heavenly Tomb area—

One piece of bad news after another came in, and it was already quite a show of self-control that Gu Yuan managed not to curse.

"Yes!" King Black Annihilation bowed in response.

"Yes, Gu Dao, you will personally conduct a thorough investigation of all experts above the Dou Zun level within the clan. Even those in seclusion must be summoned. All spies from the Soul Clan must be eliminated!"

Gu Yuan made no attempt to conceal his murderous intent, his voice chillingly cold.

Compared to external enemies, internal spies are even more hateful!

He had never imagined that there were members of the Soul Clan within his own clan.

The Elder Gu Yang who stole the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade and defected was not of low status. He was the second elder of the ancient clan's ancestral hall, guarding the ancestral hall for over a hundred years. He had always been loyal and extremely low-key. If it weren't for what happened today, no one would believe that he was a spy.

And if there is one, there may be two!

Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to thoroughly investigate all the strong members of the clan from top to bottom, so as to prevent any trouble from happening at a critical moment.

As for those below the Dou Zun level, Gu Yuan didn't pay them much attention.

Firstly, there are simply too many people involved, and it would be too much effort to thoroughly investigate them all.

Furthermore, those below the Dou Zun level have low status and weak strength, so even if they want to cause trouble, they can't make much of a difference.

"Don't worry, clan leader, the three of us will keep a close eye on this matter!" The three of them exchanged glances and nodded emphatically.

"Go ahead, I'll stay here and guard. I'd like to see just who this person is who dares to disregard my ancient clan!"

"yes!"

The group nodded in unison and left one after another.

They weren't worried about Gu Yuan. In this era where no Dou Di (Battle Emperor) appeared, Gu Yuan had already cultivated to the limit. The mysterious expert who quietly entered the Heavenly Tomb was at most at the level of Gu Yuan.

Watching everyone disappear from sight, Gu Yuan stepped onto the horizon, took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and sat in mid-air, waiting for his prey to come to him!

This wait lasted a full ten days!

"Buzz—"

Suddenly, a violent ripple appeared in the space, like a boulder being thrown into a calm lake, with ripples spreading outwards.

Immediately afterwards, a spatial passage connecting to the Heavenly Tomb slowly appeared.

Sensing an extremely powerful aura approaching, Gu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, his hand shot out from under his sleeve, and with a change in hand seal, the energy of heaven and earth in this area roared up, quickly transforming into a gigantic energy hand thousands of feet long in the sky, which then fiercely grabbed down at the rippling spatial passage.

The enormous shadow completely obscured the surrounding mountains!

Whether friend or foe, Gu Yuan had to take action.

If we don't demonstrate our strength, and others come and go as they please, what will become of the ancient clan's reputation?

The giant energy hand moved extremely fast, appearing at the location of the spatial passage in the blink of an eye.

However, just as the former was about to strike that space, the speed of the spatial channel's ripples suddenly became more intense. Immediately afterwards, a powerful wave spread out from it and collided heavily with the giant hand.

"Bang!"

Under Gu Yuan's somewhat horrified gaze, the giant hand was easily shattered as if it had become a bubble!

Seeing this, Gu Yuan's expression turned serious.

Although he was only testing the waters, an expert's skill is immediately apparent.

At this moment, he was absolutely certain that this person's strength was no less than his and the Soul Emperor's!

Just as Gu Yuan was pondering how to strike up a conversation with him, he saw a very familiar figure slowly emerge from within, and at the same time, a clear laugh echoed throughout the world.

"Long time no see, my dear father-in-law!"

Gu Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted, his gaze fixed on the figure that slowly stepped out.

He wore a moon-white long robe, his black hair cascaded down his back, and his features still vaguely resembled the spirited man he once was. However, the aura surrounding him was now unfathomable, making him seem like a completely different person from when he was last seen.

"Chen Xiao?!"

Gu Yuan was speechless, his tone filled with disbelief.

He never imagined that this mysterious powerhouse who forcibly tore apart the Heavenly Tomb and could easily shatter his energy giant palm would actually be his son-in-law!

Chen Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping across the continuous mountain range below before finally settling on Gu Yuan. A faint smile appeared on his lips: "I remember when Xun'er returned to the Ancient Clan last time, I asked him to pass on a message that she would be coming to the Ancient Realm. Father-in-law, have you already forgotten?"

Gu Yuan was taken aback, recalling that when the Pure Lotus Demon Flame was born, Xun'er returned to the Ancient Clan and had indeed mentioned this matter to him before leaving.

The small misunderstanding was thus resolved, and Gu Yuan nodded: "I haven't forgotten, but I never expected that in just a few years, you would actually—"

Taking a deep breath, Gu Yuan didn't continue.

This is not the place to talk.

Like Xiao Xuan, he had countless questions in his mind and wanted to know the answers.

Let's talk somewhere else.

"Okay." Chen Xiao nodded in agreement.

Given his current level of cultivation, if he really wanted to leave, Gu Yuan would have absolutely no way to stop him.

However, Chen Xiao did have some minor matters that he needed to discuss with Gu Yuan.

The two figures disappeared at the same time, and when they reappeared, they were already on the highest peak of the Ancient Sacred Mountains.

The familiar mountain peak, the familiar ancient pavilion—the last time Chen Xiao came here, Gu Yuan, Black Annihilation King, and the others treated him with a scrutinizing attitude.

This time, however, Black Annihilation King and the others were no longer worthy of sitting at the table; only Gu Yuan was still an equal.

Looking at the calm and collected young man opposite him, Gu Yuan had a jumble of thoughts in his mind. He had countless things to say, but he didn't know where to start. So he took out some tea and, being very polite, personally poured a cup for Chen Xiao. He also took the time to organize his thoughts.

"Gulie told me you entered the Heavenly Tomb when Gu Yang defected?"

After a moment's thought, Gu Yuan found a starting point.

This allows us to ascertain Chen Xiao's current attitude.

At this moment, given Chen Xiao's current strength, he could easily suppress Gu Yang on the surface, yet he chose to stand by and watch. The signal this sent made Gu Yuan somewhat worried.

Therefore, he needed to test the waters; Chen Xiao's attitude would determine many things.

"It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. It was indeed a coincidence. I know what my father-in-law wants to ask. It's a long story, so I'll keep it short."

"In short, the Soul Emperor's plan coincides with some of the things I want to do. That's why I let him collect the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade without stopping him. With Xun'er's connection, even though I have some differences with the ancient clan, we won't be on the opposite side."

"Well, at least not for now."

"Oh, right, there's some good news to tell you. Xun'er is pregnant, and in a few months you'll be a grandfather."

"Gu Yuan's hand holding the teacup suddenly paused, and a few drops of warm tea splashed onto the stone table. The steam from the tea box could not hide the astonishment on his face."

As if seeing Chen Xiao for the first time, Gu Yuan looked at him again and again. After a long while, a look of realization appeared on his face. He said with a hint of a joke, "No wonder you called me father-in-law all day. I'm not used to you being so polite all of a sudden."

That's what he said, but unknowingly, Gu Yuan also breathed a sigh of relief.

In this way, the bond between Chen Xiao and the ancient clan becomes even stronger!

Without going into detail about that topic, Gu Yuan quickly steered the conversation back to what he was eager to know.

"You know the Medicine Clan disappeared a few days ago, right?"

"I know, I witnessed it with my own eyes." Chen Xiao nodded frankly.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuan was completely certain that the disappearance of the Void Devouring Flame was indeed Chen Xiao's doing.

"Why didn't you take the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade with you—did you deliberately leave it for the Soul Emperor?"

Gu Yuan didn't press for details. The Medicine Clan was history, a fact that couldn't be changed. However, he had some doubts about the Medicine Clan's Imperial Jade. He was about to ask when he remembered Chen Xiao's earlier words, so he changed his question.

"More or less. The Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade was divided into eight pieces. Before you have all of them, there is not much difference between having one and having seven. I currently have one, which is enough."

"Is it the one from the Xiao family in Wutan City?"

Chen Xiao nodded slightly, but didn't tell Gu Yuan that this Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade had been taken back to the Ancient Clan by Xun'er many years ago, but he just didn't know it.

Otherwise, Gu Yuan would probably be so depressed that he wouldn't be able to sleep.

Xun'er's personality is perfect from her own perspective, but from Gu Yuan's point of view, it's a bit of a headache; she's definitely a leaky little cotton-padded jacket.

With a smile, Chen Xiao flipped his hand and took out the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade from his storage ring, playing with it in front of Gu Yuan.

"So, the Soul Emperor has seven now. After a while, I'll find a suitable person to lend him this one." The Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave definitely needs to be found and opened; it's good to leave these trivial matters to the Soul Emperor.

That's the truth; Chen Xiao wasn't hiding anything.

The old Dragon Emperor needs to be rescued from the ancient emperor's cave.

Furthermore, the source energy that one has pre-funded also needs to be used to complete subsequent tasks.

Chen Xiao had actually considered that once he became an emperor, he could forcibly break into the ancient emperor's cave.

However, he was not sure if he, having just become emperor, could really do that.

This applies to any realm. Those who have just entered a realm find it difficult to compare with those who have been immersed in that realm for many years, such as a one-star Dou Sheng and a nine-star Dou Sheng.

Of course, Tuoshe Ancient Emperor may not have progressed as far as a nine-star Dou Sheng in the Dou Di realm, but that doesn't prevent Chen Xiao from making extra preparations.

Moreover, since there are obviously easier and faster ways to open the ancient emperor's cave, why waste energy and insist on doing it yourself?

Furthermore, the sooner Chen Xiao completes the advance payment, the sooner he will be able to gain insights beyond the Dou Di realm, thus preparing for his advance into the Great Thousand World!

"You may not know much about the Soul Emperor, but if he could advance any further, he would stop at nothing and use any means necessary! His strength is also extremely high, no less than mine. If you hand over this Emperor Jade to him, even if you find and open the cave of the Ancient Emperor Tuoshe, are you confident that you can definitely defeat him?"

Gu Yuan shook his head solemnly: "In my opinion, we still shouldn't let him collect all the Emperor Jade; that would be the safest course of action."

Hearing Gu Yuan's earnest words, Chen Xiao couldn't help but chuckle.

The Heavenly Emperor, with his serene spirit and gentle demeanor, and the ancient clan chief, with his disheveled hair—these are not just empty words.

"Oh, right, I forgot to ask earlier, what are you doing in the Heavenly Tomb this time? Are you going to see Xiao Xuan?"

This is not hard to guess. After all, Chen Xiao has already reached this level, and it seems that apart from Xiao Xuan, there is no one else in the Heavenly Tomb that can attract him.

"I suppose so. I met Xiao Xuan when the Heavenly Tomb opened and promised him a few small favors. I'm here to fulfill that promise and take Xiao Chen to see the bloodline power that inherits the Xiao clan."

Then, Chen Xiao briefly explained Xiao Chen's situation and the agreement he had made with Xiao Xuan.

Gu Yuan was surprised by this, but not too much.

There have been so many unexpected events these past few days that compared to that, Xiao Chen being alive is not such a big deal.

"You want to take the Heavenly Tomb away? This is a difficult matter. Even if I agree, the Thunder and Flame clans will not agree. After all, strictly speaking, the Heavenly Tomb belongs to the Eight Clans."

Upon learning that Chen Xiao and Xiao Xuan seemed interested in the Heavenly Tomb, Gu Yuan suddenly had an idea. As he spoke, he looked up at Chen Xiao.

"If you want the Thunder and Flame clans to agree, you'll have to come up with a deal that will entice them."

"For example?"

"For example, this Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade in your hand!"

"The Soul Emperor is only one piece away from completing the collection of ancient jades. The Thunder Flame Clan and our Ancient Clan are absolutely in agreement on this point, and neither of us wants to see that day come."

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