Gazing at the slowly healing spatial fissure upon the sky, the mountain range lay unusually silent. Many of the Gu Clan’s experts bore somber expressions. Although the Gu Clan had not been shattered like the Spirit Clans by the Hun Clan, they had still lost the Sacred Gu Jade. In some sense, it had been quite a significant setback in their exchange with the Hun.
The radiant shield that once spanned the mountains gradually disappeared into nothingness. Thank heavens the leadership throughout this incident had been efficient — otherwise, this entire range would have been reduced to ashes amid the fighting, marking a substantial loss for the Gu Clan.
Xiao Yan clutched his fists looking at the diminishing shields. “It turns out the Hun Clan really aimed to use my father as leverage to obtain the Sacred Gu Jade.” His lips pressed firmly together. His eyes, filled with icy resolve, fixed upon the sky.
High above, Gu Yuan looked silently, a slight gloom overcast his mien at the vanishing wound in heaven’s fabric. Behind him, Gu Clan’s Three Sages each exhaled quietly; indeed, Hun Clan had hidden its strength through the years — who had anticipated that Xu Wu Tun Yan would not only recover from grievous wounds, but ascend as well, reaching level nine in Saint-Emperor Du Qi strength? Today, without Lei Ying and Yan Ji leaping forth in defense, they likely would’ve faced a bloodbath of massive loss.
When Hun Clan disappeared from the skies, the rings on Lei Ying’s and Yan Ji’s fingers lit, revealing soul transmission encoded messages entering their minds. Upon their reception, grimness darkened their countenances instantly. “The Gu Jades of Lei Clan are lost.” “Ours are too.” Gu Clan’s immortals heard this and couldn’t hide the twitch along their features, a glint of fearful realization rising like waves within their gazes. Thus, Heaven Emperor Hun’s claims had been factual; while targeting Gu Clan, they had simultaneously struck at Yin and Lei factions.
“Those Gu Jades resided strictly guarded within ancestral vaults; how was Hun powerful enough simultaneously to threaten our Clans while engaging Gu fiercely?” Gu Dao could scarcely restrain his words in his awe.
According to returning messages, a certain elder within the tribe had suddenly defected. He had stolen the Gu Jade and fled clandestinely, eventually being escorted away upon assistance by Hun elites.
Lei Ying glared darkly, stunned beyond imagination this would strike the Lei Clan itself.
“We underestimated Hun,” murmured Yan Ji, slowly. “This emerging strength shown indeed weighs heavily upon anyone’s mind.”
“Gather together at the palace! At this stage, no path back remains,” proclaimed Gu Yuan, steadied by a rare calm. “Manifested through Hun’s means, undoubtedly, their ways would proffer us no sanctuary at all.” His gesture summoned Gu Dao into restoring tranquility and then turned for the palace, voicing in retreat as the grand gates approached.
“Come with us, Xiao Yan.” His call drifted backward through the gathering.
Observing as each strode toward the hall entrance, Xiao Yan tempered his rising tumult inside and swiftly followed pursuit; close behind him came Xuner, hesitating momentarily before stepping up as well.
All present grew inwardly contemplative. A silent understanding surfaced—they sensed profoundly that their past era of serene days, once cherished deeply, neared irreversible decay.
Inside the grand pavilion, guests seated respectfully. Lingering unease hung densely in the air since previous conflicts.
“Now,” voiced forth Gu Yuan, breaking the still, unuttered air. “Is the time for no further pleasantries, for surely you comprehend how deviously the Hun conduct. Throughout these long centuries we have faced Hun, our regard of their might never fathom true; and this imponderability, is their dreadful advantage.” Heaving a sigh in his solemn tone, Gu Yuan elaborated, “Perhaps Heaven-Sovereign Hun did rightly declare long ago — during ancient warfare between蕭 & Hun — had I played stronger roles rather than passive stances… perhaps a divergence could’ve emerged.”
Quiet prevailed as Xiao Yan kept silent thoughts. Having not born of those times, few truths could offer him right to respond, though indeed unity in ancient eight-faction circles always held fracted harmony. Disputes abounded then, so who dared rebuke another for not leaping to assist neighbors caught in crisis’s web? Moreover, the bitter legacy brought destruction across萧 Clan now found all paying the toll slowly.
“In raw strength,” he continued, “even Gu Clan might lack to parallel Hun’s current display. On this world no singular faction — including Gu — may hope to match outright in duel against Hun, not alone indeed! Although eventually we may fall in final defeat, still the Hun must pay in heavy burdens!”
Grave determination crossed his tone, recalling the initial clash during today’s confrontation. While the Hun war host has delayed full mobilization, their assault across riftspace has commenced. Chiefly worrying though still was Emperor Hun and void-devoured Yan, now both recovered and surging — having advanced fully to reach Du Sage 9 stages! Such a revelation utterly disrupted their previously balanced equilibrium; Gu, and even Hun himself, standing both at stage nine of late Saint-Emperor echelon, differences negligible enough so battles might result even if locked within nonfatal sparser exchanges. Yet adding another formidable entity like Xu Wu Tun Yan into their enemy’s camp would make resisting together, impossible. Hence to hope maintaining parity and fending Hun influence — unity across multiple allied clans stood the sole recourse.
“That Yan consumed the essence from Spirit-Consumers before made Spirit-Slavery their role in Hun vision, rendering us all as mere sources in genetic sustenance they’ve domesticated,” he grimly explained. “Though none relishes this perception, therefore our remaining single path clear ahead stands — eradicate Hun completely!”
Ending thusly let icy dread ripple around stone-walled hallways. At last, the grim resolution settled in cold silence.
“Heading Gu Yuan’s call thus suggests an alliance against Hun together?” broke Lei Ying hesitantly.
“No recourse other than that! Today, Hun revealed considerable prowess, yet beyond mere numbers remains uncertainty whether their revealed capabilities already encompass hidden depths in full!” reiterated Gu Yuan gently.
Muttered silence seized Leijun and his Yin associate. Had this indeed occurred true, devastation loomed near both their lineages. Unwilling they felt becoming nothing more but reservoirs meant exploited by despised adversaries in Hun eyes’ twisted gaze.
“Pooling efforts to withstand appears prudent. Remember well Hun’s Jade tally already gathered seven stones; capture the final jade and entrance locating Sheng Di Gu Cang’s domain opens fully — hidden secrets lying in wait may lead Hun ascending to ultimate Martial Emperor realm after eons beyond known legends!”
Licking his lips nervously, Yan Ji added, “Upon which moment control throughout the entire Continent might fall irretrievably — completely under Hun’s grasp alone!”
Murmurs died as dread settled in.
If indeed Hun Heaven Emperor reached this mythic level, resistance from anywhere, from any soul, would fade into hopeless oblivion!
“Would this, by the way, be currently concealed among Xiao Yan?” glances redirected as sudden realization struck upon the last jade piece’s possible current resting ground. They’d all distinctly heard Heaven Hun speaking cryptically regarding it as his final departure cue. Xiao Yan, now caught amidst all these intense stares shifted slightly uneasily, brow subtly knitting. Resolutely, though, low murmured he returned, “One thing though I must do is rescue my Father!”
His proclamation, softly spoken still, rang firm — resoluteness in his voice like steel unshaking.
“Be mindful what follows next, young one,” interjected Yan Ji, eyebrows twitching crimson.
Xiao Yan maintained composed silence briefly but then shook his head slowly despite pressure. “No matter what occurs; My jade stays secured here beside me! I have carried father’s only chance of surviving across these long years trapped. Without his hope anchored around Gu jade still remaining safe within hand— his fate might have faced doom already in chains.”
Eye contact fixed long enough with the attentive Gu. Eventually, Gu Yuan only smiled ruefully, exhaling. Young Xiao once wandered like a shadow lone. Nowadays though, he has matured far beyond former solitude—his martial power no longer negligible by even senior standards, let alone the added backing from formidable alliance networks within Tian殿 Union ranks.
Therefore no feasible path emerged to consider aggressive actions against jade possession from the martial youth. Not ethically nor strategically. Multiple valid angles closed down options once deemed feasible from different vantage perspectives.
“We proceed forthwith: let all unite forces with urgency! Within fortnight let forces gather, united; the objective is retake seized artifacts from Hun’s clutches.”
At Gu Yuan’s proclamation, an electric tension surged through Leizong and others: was this the declaration truly of full-scale warfare against Hun at two-weather distance? Clasping Xiao’s tense fists nearby appeared the soothing contact of soft, jade-blessed embrace from Xuner; she gently reached over holding tight reassuringly amidst their solemn setting.
Brief side glance exchanged as Xiao Yan, heart strengthened, turned his eyes fully upon Gu Yuan once more.
Resolute, he finally voiced an inquiry deeply buried inside:
“Oh Elder, tell me honestly please… what do we possess if a method allowing ancestral revival awaited within ancient Tian’s Mausoleum, say… for ancestor elder萧Xuan himself?”
That very syllabic mention sent involuntary tremors shivering through the elders in this pavilion hall.萧Xuan’s name still carried immense resonance millennia later, a singular champion once nearly driving Hun Emperor past point from which none return…
“To clarify, a residual soul — fragmented essence within ancestral Mausoleum formed due mysterious ambient properties enabling partial reformation and latent powers to emerge,” Gu responded cautiously. “Resurrection possibilities remain highly questionable.”
At hearing such, despair flickered briefly within Xiao’s gaze before fading away slowly. Momentarily silent, another request followed shortly though.
“I wish once again entering Tian’s Mausoleum’s gates,” he continued. “Do you possess perhaps paths leading that way?”
Gu blinked surprise initially. Yet hesitated only slightly before nodding slightly.
“You wish it, yes? We might send you safely back inside; perhaps you encounter ancestral presence anew — if anyone might possess answers even beyond my own wisdom on this path toward life’s reawakening, surely only elder萧Xuan might hold those remaining key fragments of potential solution.”
At this tentative agreement of access, Xiao Yan’s countenance steadied once more, a quiet purpose reasserting itself where prior glooms had begun creeping once again within the young man’s soul…
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