119: Changes of the Eldar!

Chapter 119: Changes in the Ling Clan!

Time flies like a white steed, vanishing in an instant.

In the Heavenly Tomb, day and night were indistinguishable. As Gu Xun'er ceaselessly slayed nine-star energy bodies, her cultivation rapidly advanced. Her cultivation, which had been stuck at the peak of Five-Star Dou Zun, gradually progressed towards Six-Star, Seven-Star…

It seemed that at this rate, it wouldn't be long before the peak of Nine-Star Dou Zun was within reach.

Outside, another half year had passed in a flash.

During this period, the Eight Ancient Clans had no other movements, and even the Dou Qi Continent seemed exceptionally peaceful. The major forces in the Central Plains were thriving, and everything seemed to be developing in a positive direction.

The Burning Flame Valley, under the protection of Lu Chuan, an Eight-Grade Peak Alchemist, had developed to its peak. Guests came and went endlessly at its mountain gate, almost wearing out the threshold.

In these days, Tang Zhen had been smiling from ear to ear. As the current Valley Master, the Burning Flame Valley's development to such a degree under his leadership was unprecedented and might not be replicated in the future.

Not just the Burning Flame Valley, but since the day the Falling Star Pavilion was attacked by the Hall of Souls and left in ruins, a new Falling Star Pavilion had risen from those desolate remains.

Perhaps it was due to their known connection with Lu Chuan, but the Falling Star Pavilion, already one of the Four Pavilions, had seen its status rise significantly during this time.

Not to mention that Yao Chen had already returned, and his cultivation had reached Half-Saint. Moreover, he was also an Alchemist Grandmaster. With him presiding over it, the Falling Star Pavilion's development momentum was, for a time, no less than that of the Burning Flame Valley, showing a fiery, prosperous trend.

Those who were on good terms with Lu Chuan had been doing well during this period.

Lu Chuan himself was beaming with joy. After Tang Huo'er gave birth to twins that day, good news kept coming one after another.

Soon after, something happened that made him exceptionally happy.

That was Xiao Yu was pregnant again!

That's right, during this period, because Tang Huo'er had just given birth and her physique was a bit weak, Lu Chuan could only cultivate with the other women.

But he didn't expect that, perhaps due to prolonged affection, a new life had appeared in Xiao Yu's womb.

Lu Chuan was overjoyed.

“If you need anything, just tell us. Don't let it affect the fetus,” Xiao Mei said to Xiao Yu, holding a fair-skinned baby in her arms.

Since the day Tang Huo'er gave birth to the dragon-phoenix twins, Lu Chuan had also asked the women for their opinions on how to name the two children.

“You are their father; everything will be done according to your wishes,” Tang Huo'er had replied to Lu Chuan at the time.

“But you are also their mother,” Lu Chuan was particularly insistent on this matter.

Tang Huo'er felt helpless. She discussed with Lu Chuan, and they decided to name the boy Lu Hao and the girl Lu Qingxian.

Lu Chuan's naming thought at the time was very simple, just like the male protagonists in some novels who always have two-character names. Lu Chuan also hoped his son would achieve great things in the future, as they were all of the 'Hao' generation…

For example, a certain baby named Shi Hao, whose future cultivation could dominate the ages.

Of course, Lu Chuan didn't expect his son to be so powerful as to be unprecedented; even if his cultivation was mediocre, he would still treat him as his own child.

And his daughter's name was chosen by Tang Huo'er, hoping she would live a happy life and be as beautiful as an immortal…

As Lu Chuan's bloodline, their future achievements would certainly not be simple. The boy would be handsome and elegant, and the girl would be as beautiful as an immortal…

This was not just talk. The stronger the expert, the more astonishing the talent of their descendants. Of course, the difficulty of conceiving offspring also increased proportionally.

This was a rule of the Heavenly Dao.

At this time, Lu Chuan's strength was only that of a Dou Saint. If he reached Dou Emperor and wanted to have children, the difficulty would be several times higher.

If the difficulty was several times higher, but he did manage to have offspring, then when they grew up, becoming a Nine-Star Dou Saint would be effortless.

After all, Dou Emperor bloodline alone was enough to protect a great clan for eternity.

“Exactly, Brother Lu Chuan is also accompanying us,” Mu Qingluan said, a hint of envy in her voice.

Her relationship with the other women was like sisters, and she had witnessed Lu Chuan's meticulous care for Xiao Yu during her pregnancy.

With his cultivation, his care was incredibly gentle and thorough, truly that of a perfect husband.

“Lu Chuan is inherently gentle,” Tang Huo'er said, covering her mouth with a light laugh as she sat by Xiao Yu's bed. Her face was gentle, showing a maternal softness compared to her usual fiery demeanor.

Her gaze, filled with helplessness, turned to Lu Hao in Xiao Mei's arms, then shifted to his father, Lu Chuan.

Tang Huo'er was utterly helpless.

Lu Chuan was holding his daughter, completely engrossed, and the little girl was also particularly clingy to her father, truly a little cotton jacket.

“Come, say Daddy,” Lu Chuan said with a chuckle, holding his daughter.

The girl in his arms was a soft bundle, looking exceptionally cute. She opened her small mouth and stammered out a few sounds: “Da…ddy….”

Her speech was broken.

Lu Chuan was overjoyed. He finally understood why a daughter was a little cotton jacket—because she was simply too adorable.

Lost in his daughter's cuteness, Lu Chuan came back to his senses after a moment. He then joined the other women in persuading Xiao Yu.

This, however, made Xiao Yu feel utterly helpless. Ever since she became pregnant, she found her husband had become exceptionally clingy…

He wouldn't let her do anything, wouldn't let her touch anything, practically treating her like a fragile piece of porcelain.

Xiao Yu felt both sweet and a little annoyed in her heart; perhaps this was the happiness of love.

“Don't worry, I am at least a Dou Huang now.”

The few people in the room thought about it and realized this was true.

Although she had just broken through to Dou Huang, she still had the ability to protect herself, not to mention that within the Lingxiao Palace, even ordinary Dou Saints couldn't break in.

The women chatted for a while longer, and Lu Chuan felt exceptionally happy in the warm atmosphere.

Time flew by; a year had passed since their encounter and the start of her pregnancy.

And today was the day of delivery.

The Lingxiao Palace became lively again, with dozens of maids standing outside the delivery room. Inside the delivery room, the midwives were ready and waiting.

“Don't worry, nothing will go wrong.”

Even though Lu Chuan had experienced this before, he still seemed a bit anxious. He nodded to the women beside him.

Soon after, accompanied by the woman's painful cries and the midwives' encouragement, an exceptionally clear and vibrant sound emanated from the delivery room.

“The baby is born! It's a girl!”

The midwife's voice came from the delivery room.

After first ensuring Xiao Yu's body was well-nourished, Lu Chuan then had time to hold his child.

A soft bundle, looking exceptionally cute, with fair skin and none of the wrinkles typically seen on newborn babies.

“I have a daughter, hahahaha…”

Lu Chuan was exceptionally happy. He held his daughter, his eyes full of loving affection.

Because of his daughter's birth, Lu Chuan wrote a diary to celebrate.

Xiao Yu's name was mentioned many times, and the reward from the diary replica directly elevated her cultivation to Half-Saint.

………

On the day Xiao Yu gave birth, it also happened to be the end of the three-year period in the Heavenly Tomb. As time passed, members of the Eight Ancient Clans who entered this ancient ruin could only stay for three years; once the time was up, they would be expelled.

And today was that day.

Above the lake in Ancient Saint City, where the Heavenly Tomb entrance was, a silver, hundred-zhang-tall portal reappeared before everyone's eyes.

Several familiar figures, as soon as they appeared, captured the attention of most people.

Especially Gu Xun'er. Her current strength had reached Half-Saint, and her sudden appearance shocked the members of the Ancient Clan.

However, Xun'er was not proud, because she had read in a diary replica:

【Yu'er gave birth to a daughter for me…】

【Yu'er's cultivation has now broken through to Half-Saint. It won't be long before she can revitalize the Xiao Clan.】

Thinking of Xiao Yu, who was far inferior to her in the past, now becoming a Half-Saint before her, Xun'er felt a surge of unwillingness and envy.

She also wanted to become Lu Chuan's woman, but clan rules restricted her. As a Divine Grade bloodline, she could not have relations with a man until she reached Dou Saint.

“Once I break through to Dou Saint, I will definitely go find Lu Chuan!” Gu Xun'er secretly vowed.

Chapter 142: Continent in Turmoil!

The hundred-zhang-sized silver portal above the small lake stood silently in the void. In a short while, another figure emerged from it.

The person was Gu Qingyang. His aura was steady, indicating he had gained much from this ruin.

As if a signal had been given, following the successive appearances of Gu Xun'er and Gu Qingyang,

Two figures emerged together from the silver spatial portal: the masked woman from the Yan Clan and Huo Xuan.

The masked woman's figure was graceful, and it seemed she had matured considerably over these three years, becoming much more striking. Even with a veil, she attracted a lot of attention.

Huo Xuan appeared much more composed. The two, one after the other, clearly had significant gains, as the elders of the Yan Clan all showed satisfied expressions.

“Can it be said that she is indeed a Divine Grade bloodline? To reach Half-Saint at such a young age, it probably won't be long before she truly breaks through to Dou Saint. By then, even within the Ancient Clan, she could serve as an Elder.”

“I see her aura is steady, clearly not a forced advancement, which is exceptionally terrifying!”

“The Ancient Clan is formidable! Gu Xun'er, though a woman, should not be underestimated.”

The members of the Eight Ancient Clans discussed animatedly; they had clearly discerned Gu Xun'er's strength, and on the Dou Qi Continent, the strong were revered.

“The people of the Yan Clan are also not bad; they gained a lot from this trip.”

“The genius of the Lei Clan broke through in there. As soon as he emerged from the secret realm, he was protected by their elders, clearly having obtained rare treasures within!”

“…”

The geniuses of various clans had all gained significantly, and for a moment, gasps of astonishment echoed across the Plaza.

Clearly, the elders from various clans who had waited here for three years were all greatly surprised by their own geniuses.

Finally, after the geniuses from the other major clans of the Eight Ancient Clans, excluding the Xiao Clan, had all emerged from the Heavenly Tomb, some people realized that the geniuses of the Soul Clan had not yet appeared.

“Where are the people from the Soul Clan? Their clan's strength is on par with the Ancient Clan, and their movements are even more secretive. Logically speaking, they should have gained a lot from this trip.”

“Exactly. I think those two from the Soul Clan are no worse than my boy; they will definitely turn misfortune into blessings!”

“Hahahaha, the Soul Clan also has this day!”

The Half-Saint expert leading the Soul Clan had a dark expression. How could he not hear the other Eight Ancient Clan experts beside him sarcastically provoking him, putting his clan on the spot?

At this moment, anyone with eyes could see that Hun Ya and Hun Li had not appeared even as the Heavenly Tomb was about to close, clearly having perished within.

It should be known that one could stay in the Heavenly Tomb for a maximum of three years. Once the time was up, regardless of cultivation, one would be subjected to a repulsive force.

Unless the person inside was already dead, they would never fail to appear after such a delay.

“Our Soul Clan's geniuses have not returned after so long. Could it be that you are interfering?” The Soul Clan Half-Saint glared at the Ancient Clan Elder, his tone sinister.

The Ancient Clan Elder was not one to be trifled with. He retorted, mockingly, “It's clearly your clan's geniuses who are unskilled. All the other clans' geniuses have emerged from it, so why haven't the Soul Clan's people returned?”

“I think if certain clans could apply their skill at shifting blame to their cultivation, they wouldn't have lost so badly!”

“You!” The Soul Clan Half-Saint's face turned ashen.

Just then, another expert from the Eight Ancient Clans interjected. He was the one who had previously laughed mockingly at the Soul Clan.

This was an old man with white hair, now wearing a sarcastic smile. He retorted to the ashen-faced Soul Clan Half-Saint, “Daoist friend is right. It's one thing for certain clans to be unskilled, but some old geezers still shamelessly go looking for trouble with others.”

“You secretly harmed our clan's geniuses. Do you really think that without evidence, our Soul Clan can't do anything to you?” The Soul Clan Half-Saint's voice was filled with anger and hidden threats.

“The Heavenly Tomb is fraught with danger; it's perfectly normal for someone to suffer casualties,” the Ancient Clan Elder explained. The Soul Clan Half-Saint still wanted to argue.

But this was the Ancient Realm, a place filled with powerful experts, so he naturally couldn't be so presumptuous.

“Our clan will investigate this matter thoroughly!”

Before leaving, the Soul Clan Half-Saint uttered these words.

“Our clan is not a place where just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can casually enter,” the Ancient Clan Elder retorted sharply.

The Soul Clan Half-Saint snorted coldly. He truly couldn't maintain his composure; the mocking gazes around him made his cheeks burn with pain. He flicked his sleeve and led the Soul Clan One line of people back.

The people of the Soul Clan also remained silent, clearly fearing that the unpredictable Elder would find an excuse to deal with them.

This scene, witnessed by the crowd, caused some ancient powerhouses to shake their heads.

They felt that the Soul Clan's actions were too petty. One must know that the secret realm was full of dangers, and casualties were perfectly normal.

Over the years, their Eight Clans had occasionally seen geniuses perish within, far less fuss than the Soul Clan was making.

With the end of the Heavenly Tomb, the Dou Qi Continent fell into a period of calm again.

Until the arrival of a piece of news completely shattered this peaceful atmosphere.

This news, like a storm, swept through the Central Plains, causing many forces to be terrified and uneasy.

It was because the Ling Clan, one of the Eight Ancient Clans, had been completely annihilated. When discovered, the entire Ling Realm was empty.

It was like a dead zone, making people's scalps tingle and sending chills down their spines.

The one who discovered this was a Dou Saint realm expert, a good friend of an elder from the Ling Clan.

That day, he had originally intended to find his friend for tea and conversation, but upon entering the Ling Realm, he sensed something amiss.

Indeed, things were as he had imagined; the entire Ling Clan had mysteriously vanished without a trace.