172: Chapter 172 The Past of the Shen Family, Xu Tian's Demise!

Once the two sides clash, both will surely suffer; no one will come out on top!

Thinking of this, Xu Tian grinned, revealing a mouth full of bloody teeth, his voice intermittent.

"In the Immortal Ancient Era... the Shen Family and the Heaven and Earth Gate... were not relatives by marriage..."

"They were gatekeepers!"

Lin Yi's brows twitched slightly.

Shen Qingyue stood at the edge of the light wall, her palms clenched tight.

Xu Tian continued to speak, every word accompanied by bloody froth.

"There is a gate on Burial Emperor Island... two types of Qi leak from behind that gate.

One is Tai Chu, the other is Tai Su..."

"The ones who first discovered that gate were the two ancestors of the Shen Family and the Heaven and Earth Gate."

"They each inherited a portion of that power..."

"From then on, the Shen Family held the Taichu Key, and the Heaven and Earth Gate held the Tai Su Key..."

"Only when the two keys are combined will that gate open."

He said this and suddenly coughed up a mouthful of black blood, his whole body convulsing.

Lin Yi did not let go, but merely adjusted his grip slightly so that he could continue to speak.

"Keep talking!"

Xu Tian took a few breaths, his eyes darting around as he stared at Shen Qingyue in the distance.

"Later... in the Ancient Era, someone in the Heaven and Earth Gate developed wicked motives."

"They wanted to keep what was behind the gate for themselves..."

"But having the Tai Su Key alone wasn't enough; they had to get the Taichu Key..."

"The Taichu Key is hidden within the Bloodline of the Shen Family Saintess."

"So..."

He didn't finish.

But everyone understood.

It was precisely because the Heaven and Earth Gate wanted to seize the Shen Family Saintess.

That was why that so-called marriage contract existed.

That was why the Shen Family was destroyed.

Shen Qingyue stood where she was, her entire body trembling.

Chu Wanqing stepped forward to support her, her face ashen as she cursed in a low voice.

"Beasts!"

Su Yuxi's gaze was terrifyingly deep, and the Dao Patterns on her fingertips were trembling slightly.

Xu Chen, carrying the ancient desolate hall, opened his mouth but for once said nothing.

He glanced at Shen Qingyue, then at Lin Yi, and gripped the ancient desolate hall even tighter.

Lin Yi stared at Xu Tian, his voice calm.

"Continue!"

"On the night the Shen Family was destroyed, what did the Heaven and Earth Gate do?"

"Tell me everything you know!"

Pushed to this point, Xu Tian stopped struggling.

Held by Lin Yi, he was like a dying snake, that vile smirk still hanging on the corner of his mouth.

"I don't know everything."

"Revered Master only told me that on the night the Shen Family was destroyed, someone from the Heaven and Earth Gate brought back a remnant map..."

"They also brought back a drop of supreme treasure essence blood from outside the island."

"That was... True Dragon blood!!"

Lin Yi's pupils constricted, his heart jolting.

True Dragon blood!

These three words connected to another Child of Destiny in the original plot.

Xu Tian continued speaking.

"Since then... the Heaven and Earth Gate sealed all records and deliberately erased the truth."

"They forcibly distorted the Bloodline connection of the two families' generations of secret-keeping into generations of marriage relations.

Just to take the Opportunity to control the Shen Family descendants and use them to counter the Taichu Key..."

"As long as they control the Shen Family Saintess... the Taichu Key will always be in the hands of the Heaven and Earth Gate."

"As for where that gate actually leads, and what shocking secrets are hidden inside..."

"I have no way of knowing."

At this point, Xu Tian suddenly looked up, his bloodshot eyes staring fixedly at Lin Yi, every word cold:

"But my Revered Master once said that the thing behind the gate is enough to help one transcend the mundane and directly ascend to the Immortal Dao!"

As he spoke, Xu Tian rejoiced inwardly, his heart full of calculating triumph.

Now that his death was certain, since he couldn't kill Lin Yi with his own hands, he deliberately threw out such a shocking temptation.

He was certain that upon hearing of the Opportunity for Immortal Ascension, Lin Yi would recklessly rush to Burial Emperor Island to explore the ancient gate.

And within that mysterious ancient gate lay endless danger and killing intent; it was not a place an ordinary person could set foot in.

No matter how great Lin Yi's abilities were, once he rashly entered, he would surely be trapped in a death trap.

Furthermore, those old fogies at the Heaven and Earth Gate wouldn't let him take the Opportunity behind the gate for nothing.

In that case, both sides would surely fall into a life-and-death battle.

This explanation was a way to kill with a borrowed knife, using the perils of Burial Emperor Island and the power of the Heaven and Earth Gate.

If he could use both to eliminate Lin Yi, it would wash away his humiliation and settle the hatred of a lifetime.

After Xu Tian's words fell, the surroundings became so quiet that even the sound of the wind vanished.

The watching Cultivators were all stunned.

Directly ascend to the Immortal Dao!

No one was unaware of what these four words meant in the cultivation world.

Lin Yi's expression remained unchanged; he only lifted Xu Tian a bit higher, his tone icy.

"What else? Speak!"

Xu Tian shook his head weakly, bloody froth constantly spilling from the corner of his mouth, his breath faint.

"Nothing more, that's all I know..."

"The remaining secrets are all hidden within the ancient books of the Heaven and Earth Gate's Forbidden Ground."

At this point, his voice paused, a hint of craftiness flashing in his eyes as he spoke slowly:

"However, I was prepared long ago and secretly made a rubbing; the item is in my Storage Ring."

After saying this, Xu Tian suddenly laughed again.

A laugh that was crazed and shrill, full of the malice and pleasure of one facing death.

He stared toward Shen Qingyue and shouted one last sentence in a hoarse voice.

"Shen Qingyue... do you really think Lin Yi can protect you for a lifetime?"

"The Taichu Key is hidden in your Bloodline; as long as you live, someone will always be after you!!"

"In this life, you are destined to become a pawn for others to seize Opportunities!"

Before his voice could fade.

Lin Yi's fingers suddenly tightened.

Crack!

Xu Tian's throat bone shattered.

His mouth was still open, his eyes still bulging, but he could no longer make a sound.

Lin Yi gave him a push forward.

The mouth of the immortal burial coffin opened wide.

Xu Tian was sucked inside.

The coffin lid slammed shut.

A muffled thud came from inside, followed by the sound of flesh and bone shattering.

Getting weaker and weaker.

Getting further and further away.

Finally, there was no sound at all!

Within the sealed area, there was silence for three breaths.

Then.

The lid of the immortal burial coffin vibrated slightly and spat out three items.

A mass of pure Taisu Origin, emitting a soft white light.

A tattered ancient book with the emblem of the Heaven and Earth Gate carved on the cover.

Half a shattered life and death source pearl core; its black and white colors had dimmed, but the Emperor Dao aura contained within was still intense.

Lin Yi looked down at them.

Without hesitation.

He first raised his hand, lifting the mass of Taisu Origin, and turned to walk toward the edge of the light wall.

Shen Qingyue stood there, her eyes slightly red, but not a single tear fell.

She watched Lin Yi approach, watched the white light in his palm, her lips moving.

Lin Yi brought the Taisu Origin before her, without saying much.

"Keep it safe!"

Shen Qingyue reached out, and the moment her fingertips touched that mass of Origin, the Primordial Dao Body within her jolted.

Two powers of the same source converged in her palm, the Dao Patterns operating on their own, and her surrounding aura quickly stabilized.

She looked up at Lin Yi.

In her eyes was the exhaustion after hatred had faded, as well as gratitude that had been suppressed for too long.

"Thank you."

Two words, as light as a feather.

Lin Yi reached out and patted her head gently.

"Silly girl, why the politeness?"

"Today, only half of the Shen Family's grudge has been avenged."

"As for the rest, I will definitely accompany you to take it back!"