As the saying goes, when enemies meet, envy grows. Given the relationship between the Ancient and Soul Clans, Gu Xun'er naturally wouldn't treat the two with favor.
"Don't compare me to you. We are not the same,"
Gu Xun'er said, her gaze fixed on Chen Guan, who had entered a state of cultivation in the distance, seemingly completely isolated from the outside world, and Xiao Yan, whose face was filled with vigilance, as if facing a formidable enemy. Without even turning her head
, she addressed the two Soul Clan geniuses, as if they didn't even exist. Such a casual and dismissive attitude infuriated the two Soul Clan members, yet also heightened their vigilance.
If possible, they would have loved to eliminate Gu Xun'er in the Heavenly Tomb, but reason told them that would be courting death.
"Haha, aren't we birds of a feather? Gu Xun'er, do you believe what you're saying? Back then, when the Xiao Clan was crushed, your Gu Clan stood by and watched, only stepping in after the battle to play the good guys and seize the majority of the Xiao Clan's wealth. If not for that, Xiao Yan, no matter how unremarkable he might be, would at least have reached Dou Zun strength by now. This is all thanks to your Gu Clan."
Hun Ya, who had met Chen Guan and Chen Guan a few times, sneered. As a race that never touts itself as a good person, the Hun Clan has always disapproved of the Gu Clan's hypocritical behavior, putting on a facade while being a patron saint.
Standing next to Hun Ya was Hun Li, also an eight-star Dou Zun. Though he remained silent, his eyes expressed unwavering agreement with Hun Ya's words.
However, compared to the outspoken Hun Ya, Hun Li was far more alert, constantly scanning his surroundings, as if wary of Gu Xun'er's anger.
Or perhaps it was just like any other Gu Clan genius who entered the Heavenly Tomb.
Unfortunately, he was disappointed.
Gu Xun'er was far more composed than he had expected. She neither acknowledged nor denied Hun Ya's taunts, simply shaking her head.
"The past, buried in time, is one neither you nor I have ever experienced. The truth, however, is of no interest to me. Enough of the idle chatter. If you intend to attack my friend, you may depart now."
Her voice was as calm and cold as ever, yet her attitude was undeniable.
From her expression, she seemed prepared to offer protection to Chen Guan and Xiao Yan.
Hun Ya and Hun Li exchanged a glance. Their shared tacit understanding as two seasoned scoundrels allowed them to read each other's minds without needing to exchange words.
After a brief hesitation, Hun Ya and Hun Li suddenly erupted, accompanied by two sonic booms. They circumvented Gu Xun'er from either side, heading straight for Xiao Yan and Chen Guan.
They dared not risk their lives attacking Gu Xun'er, lacking even the slightest confidence. Yet, they felt resentful of being driven back like this. After much deliberation, they decided to change their target.
Concerned about Gu Xun'er standing nearby, the two men's initial attacks were absolutely lethal. Killing Xiao Yan or interrupting Chen Guan's breakthrough would both be desirable outcomes.
At the very least, they could indirectly test Gu Xun'er's strength, facilitating future assassinations by the Soul Clan.
In the misty air, two swiftly sweeping black shadows stood out, expanding at a visible rate until they transformed into two pitch-black dragons, tearing towards Chen Guan and Xiao Yan. Faintly, their shrill cries could be heard.
These two pitch-black dragons were formed from the entanglement of countless souls!
Their passage was a living hell!
The black dragons moved as fast as a stream of light, reaching him in the blink of an eye from hundreds of feet away. Xiao Yan could already see the wailing, despairing faces on the dragons' faces. Extreme oppression washed over him, and the fire lotus secretly brewing beneath his sleeves trembled.
The gap was too great!
Glancing at Chen Guan, who remained impassive, seemingly cut off from the world, Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and flicked his sleeve. A voluptuous fire lotus emerged, a golden-brown fusion of Wind Fury Dragon Flame and an eighth-tier beast fire. This was Xiao Yan's most powerful killing move at the moment.
"All of you, die!"
With the destructive power of a Dou Zong, and the aura of a Dou Sheng, Xiao Yan's hair stood on end. He hurled the fire lotus in his hand, meeting the raging black dragon.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Boom!"
Three muffled explosions echoed, and endless energy ripples, accompanied by flaming meteors, spread out like ripples, obscuring his vision and making it impossible to discern the true or false.
However, Xiao Yan was certain that he was still alive and well, unaffected. Could
an eight-star Dou Zun be so weak?
Xiao Yan dismissed the thought as soon as it occurred to him. He still had self-awareness.
That black dragon, with its two-colored fire lotus, was absolutely impossible to stop.
There were only two possible reasons for his current safety.
Either Gu Xun'er had taken action, or Chen Guan had awakened from his training.
The aftermath of the energy rippled, lasting several breaths before settling again. His vision cleared, and Xiao Yan quickly looked up.
On the distant boulder, Chen Guan stood motionless, as still as before, not a single change.
And high above, Gu Xun'er, clad in a regal dress, her long black hair flowing. She formed hand seals, a rich golden flame swirling around her. Her eyes shone with a striking crimson-gold hue, like a goddess, unbearable to look at. Holy.
For no apparent reason, these two words came to Xiao Yan's mind.
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Looking back at Hun Ya and Hun Li, who had launched the attack, they were now struck by lightning. They stared at Gu Xun'er aloft with shock, their black robes slumped to their shoulders without them even noticing.
They knew Gu Xun'er was incredibly powerful, but a true test revealed they had vastly underestimated her.
Those two pitch-black dragons were the ultimate killer moves of two eight-star Dou Zun, yet Gu Xun'er handled them with ease. Golden flames enveloped her hands, and with a single point of her finger, she instantly shattered them.
The difference was unfathomable!
Could this woman have reached the level of a semi-saint?
It was no wonder Hun Ya and Hun Li were overthinking this. They had seen many peak Dou Zun, but none had ever put them under such pressure as Gu Xun'er did. They even felt a genuine sense of utter certainty in a fight.
Escape!
Unable to delay any further, Hun Ya and Hun Li exchanged a glance, ignoring Chen Guan and Xiao Yan. Their figures blurred, transforming into twin bolts of black lightning as they charged towards the entrance to the second level of the Heavenly Tomb.
They hadn't been so sure of Gu Xun'er's killing intent, so the best strategy was to run away.
Watching the two flee, Xiao Yan, exhausted, clenched his fists, regretting his current weakness.
However, Xiao Yan didn't ask Gu Xun'er to attack again. After all, their friendship wasn't deep, so a single helping hand was already a favor; he couldn't expect too much.
To Xiao Yan's surprise, Gu Xun'er took the initiative this time. With a flick of her jade finger, two streams of golden flame shot out, soaring towards the second-level passage at speeds unimaginable to the naked eye.
"Ah!"
"Gu Xun'er!"
Although they hadn't witnessed the fate of the two Soul Clan members, they could hear their screams and sense the unmistakable hatred in their roars.
"These two escaped with such determination, I was surprised. This trick won't work next time,"
Gu Xun'er said softly, shaking her head, whether mumbling to herself or explaining to the watching Xiao Yan. Her pretty face remained calm, without a trace of regret.
At that moment, Chen Guan's body trembled slightly on a distant boulder, the aura emanating from it shattering the very rock he sat on.
He leaped to the ground, his tightly closed eyes suddenly opening.
Glancing at the battlefield, where the energy was still somewhat chaotic, Chen Guan seemed to have belatedly realized something.
"Thank you, Miss Xun'er, for your assistance. Otherwise, Xiao Yan and I would be in danger."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xun'er only gave a mischievous smile and shook her head.
"Brother Chen, why bother? Xun'er doesn't think you've suddenly changed your temperament and become careless, choosing a place like this for your breakthrough. Surely, even if Xun'er hadn't intervened, you'd still be confident you could handle them, right?"
He saw the truth but didn't say it out loud; it would have been awkward.
Fortunately, Chen Guan had a thick skin and laughed, not arguing further.
He had indeed sensed someone watching from the shadows—not just Hun Ya and Hun Li, but also Gu Xun'er.
Whether this was Gu Xun'er's premonition, a deliberate act, was unclear.
It was because he had sensed these people's movements that Chen Guan had chosen to break through here. Rather than luring out the two Soul Clan members, he wanted to clarify one thing.
Is this Gu Xun'er a friend or foe?
Despite their many interactions being quite harmonious, Chen Guan had always been extremely wary of Gu Xun'er.
Unfortunately, to this day, her true intentions remain uncertain.
However, it wasn't entirely without results. Gu Xun'er's brief display of skill had not only shocked Hun Ya Hun Li, but also Chen Guan.
"Miss Xun'er, aren't you traveling with your clansmen?"
"The three of them are more than capable of protecting themselves in the Heavenly Tomb. It doesn't make much difference whether I follow them or not. It's better to take a look around. After all, this is my first time in this Heavenly Tomb," Gu Xun'er replied, shaking her head.
"That's true,"
Chen Guan nodded in agreement, and then without wasting any more time, he clasped his fists and said, "I'll remember Miss Xun'er's help today. The opportunity to practice in the Heavenly Tomb is not easy to come by, so Xiao Yan and I will go ahead. Please forgive me."
As he said that, without waiting for Gu Xun'er's response, he winked at Xiao Yan and immediately rushed towards the entrance to the second floor.
It's better to have less contact with a woman you're not sure about, and besides...
Chen Guan laid his cards on the table, he was a man who held grudges.
Hun Ya and Hun Li, those two old sinister guys, must not be allowed to get away.
Seeing Chen Guan and Xiao Yan rushing towards the passage without looking back, avoiding her like a snake or scorpion, Gu Xun'er's eyes narrowed slightly, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Then she gritted her teeth and followed them into the passage.
(End of this chapter)