Ten thousand feet tall; the towering silhouette seemed to pillar the Heavens and Earth, before that massive figure all the energy beings within the Heaven’s Vault shook with fear. That frightful oppressive force nearly crushed them beyond comprehension… Above, the figure of Xiao Xuan finally dissipated into ethereal vapor. The pair of ancient eyes bore glimmers of deep satisfaction as he passed on to nothingness. With Xiao Xuan reduced to mere emptiness, the vast, immense being continued upon one bended knee, remaining unmoving in the middle of heaven and earth. Long after, the colossal physique began to shrink, finally reverting to a person’s usual dimensions floating serenely against the vast skies.
“Ancestor—”
Xiao Yan gazed with misty eyes at the location Xiao Xuan had just stood, muttering reverently to himself. Then, extending out his palm, he gently closed his fingers into thin air—a faint speck of invisible radiance appearing in his hand: Xiao Xuan’s Vitality Imprint. Ordinary mortals lacked both knowledge and ability to sense this arcane signature, which only a Soul Exalt Emperor could ever possibly detect.
From many perspectives now, Xiao Xuan had practically shattered completely; the absolute powerhouse once ruling the Peak Continent of Fighting Qi faded wholly like smoke into oblivion. Yet for Xiao Yan, someone now standing amongst the true Soul Exalt Emperors, Xiao Xuan truly hadn’t vanished entirely—such was the Vitality Trace; perhaps it even held potential to bestow life back into him once more. Still, even with Xiao Yan’s Soul already ascended to the Exalted realm, such an unfathomable technique remained beyond him, and only upon someday fully advancing toward the fabled Dou Emperor would he possess such mastery.
Be that as it may, still an infinitesimal hope remained—though faraway and beyond reckoning; the kind keeping an ember of determination ever kindling within people’s hearts.
The undetectably invisible Vitality Sigil slowly ascended within Xiao Yan’s open palm, weaving into Xiao Yan’s spiritual consciousness center at his brow—its protection nestled within boundless ethereal energy akin to the skies and lands. Perhaps, many long years after, the aged one giving everything to the Xiao Clan might walk again among the living on this wide realm.
Carefully storing the signature away brought forth an easy sigh escaping Xiao Yan’s lungs. Lowering his chin downward momentarily, he regarded the Heaven’s Vault landscape around him. Though merely two months’ time transpired here—no more than half one elsewhere within central continents—the depths where he remained for two years felt akin centuries spent within the vault tomb.
Over two years—spanning long enough for full assimilation of its soul essence; fortunately, time’s distortion allowed the luxury for such confinement. Otherwise countless unknown transformations might be occurring without during Xiao Yan’s long isolation.
“Imposed Regnum Soul…”
He lightly clenched his hand, casting eyes forward. An inexplicably serene clarity emerged deep in psyche, like an epiphany: that whole Heaven’s Vault realm now rested comfortably beneath his dominion entirely.
“Shatter—” The moment those lips spoke the word, his palms struck the empty firmament—an unforetelling stone mountain miles away instantly ruptured outward, dissipating utterly midair into powdery remnants. His immense soul force, unfailingly synchronized to the will’s flicker and shift of his thought, expanded endlessly, pervading every niche within the vault’s expanse—an improvement immeasurelessly grander than previously. Even attacks now responded to his intent regardless distance separating—should an enemy lurk within his Soul Empire’s expanse, Xiao Jian could still instantly strike, unleashing annihilation from thousands of miles without delay.
A Sovereign Soul’s majesty contrasted unfathomably to a Heaven King’s final peak; one step dividing two vastly divergent planes: one heavenward; one of dirt. Indeed only one experiencing the Exalted Soul truly appreciated understanding behind how the Heaven-Splitting Barrier stood eternally unbreachable through lifetime’s pursuit. For between them stretched a disparity: between divinity and utter mundanity.
Perhaps—depart it soon.
Afloat heaven’s breadth; with Xiao Xuan passed; the Heaven’s Vault held nary thing retaining Xiao Yan further. Yet in devouringly integrating the Vault’s essence, a new truth became perceptible—nowhere in the expanse defied total command from his hands. Thus even leaving the Ancestor World, he could conjURE gateways back freely from any realm, while others attempting entry required his sanction first. In such a way, his presence equated that of Heaven’s Vault’s Master—wholly determining entry’s rights.
A side perk quite unexpected.
True, this vault’s energy no longer presented significance given his cultivation stature, still possessing this spatial advantage retained a unique utility—allowing time differential to exponentially boost training efficiency and serve as an incomparable boon for Xiao Yan’s growing forces.
Saved creating one anew—
His lips curved upward mildly. A fortuitous boon indeed. For were such creation left to his own skills; lacking inherent ability native the Emperor’s domain, such convenience was improbable—only the fabled Dou Emperor wielded it once…
Brushing introspective reflections aside at moment; Xiao Yan flicked fingers across emptiness—spacetal riffs appearing before him instantaneously.
Scanning skyward again for final time at remaining voidscape; his form proceeded forth, amidst countless watching gazes, through wormhole distortion into non-local void, unseen vanishing.
At distant Ancestor World mountaintops; numerous airborne persons remained rigid upon the floating expanse, warily eyeing fluctuating ripples in air nearby—like liquid water disturbed.
“Elder of Ancient Clan,” asked General Lei Ying, gurning at the side, “what’s occurring today?”
“A fortnight expired,” noted Flame-Gen. Yan Jing, solemnly voicing: “without Yan emerging, the Dark Soul faction might well execute his father come the stipulated deadline—without further ado.”
“Above; the entrance Heaven’s Vault sealed fully, while the passage-way itself, locked permanently shut—as I tested its opening only found rebounded by some unknown resistance. Felt as if Heaven’s Vault found a new master…”
Clad in elder’s garments, Ancient Clan Chieftain Gu Yuan responded—furrowing brows. Word delivered left all shocked; only the Dou Emperor originally commanded such a domain and had always stood desolate of any possessor through history no matter how many powerful cultivators previously tried its mastery—never meeting success for a mere soul couldn’t rival Emperor-bounded domains! Thus upon his remark—the pair, despite famed for stoic discipline, found disbelief hard to evade. Even so though—one trusted deeply upon Gu Yuan’s spiritual perceptivity.
“Then elder brother Xiao Yan…” Murmured little Xun-’er at clan-chieftain side—cheeks drained ashen. Who governed the Vault interested naught, all while Xiao Yan—her brother’s—spiritual safety hung precariously. Blocked passageways could strand beloved within, how return then possible?
“I shall test myself once more.”
Gu Yuan face darkened slightly: “If indeed this hidden master arises—none could entirely hinder my incursive presence!”
No sooner the declaration left his lips—Gu Yuan shifted seals dramatically.
Sky-Realm energy roared in reply; swiftly shaping a palm hundreds of thousands long—an immense energy-fist manifesting. Slamming forth with intent to tear spacetal veil before the onlookers watching from surrounding peaks.
Velocity exceeded comprehension. In the space between thoughts, the fist hovered above that area. Alas, just as contact seemed assured, the fabric of dimensional folds accelerated abruptly into fierce quakers, followed by an emanation exploding instantly outward to meet the strike. Amid the collision, the palm vanished altogether, utterly destroyed.
Such shocking results left all stunned momentarily.
Power! Such a level belonged only someone their level of mastery—someone whose strength even Lei Yin and Yan Jing could contest only through unrelenting effort. Yet the counter was nothing but… a shock ripple?
“This—is soul vibration?” Their minds snapped momentarily into awe.
“Imperceptible,” muttered Yan.
Unshaken after shock, murmured: “Impossible—this power… How immense would that force actually be, that it can repel a mere strike of Gu Yuan just with vibrations of soul?”
At the rear and sides of Gu Yuan; Ancient Clan Sages’ facial muscles tensed, and one shouted an order, while numerous cultivators leapt into the fray from the encircling landscape. Battle Qi raged and swirled, rushing to converge rapidly.
“Unknown noble guest—We reside at Ancient clan land, mere pick-up returning ally; no hostile designs—none intended!” Formations complete, old cultivator Gu Dao, face grim still, cried forth.
Hardly his speech passed—suddenly spatial folds in distance quieted somewhat, revealing a newly emerging portal—then a silhouette slowly advanced before hundreds of alert gazes.
“Huh? To fetch someone…seems the reception a tad extravagant?”
Upon crossing portal, instantly noticing the vast army awaiting atop air—Xuan Yan’s face displayed moods in succession: disbelief, mild amusement and confusion.
“Xiao Yan?!!”
Upon that advancing figure; all onlookers stood stunned.
“One among us engaged with Chieftain moments before—” Gu Dao’s breathed in mild relief while ordering guards back; glancing at Xiao Yan with hesitant laughter.
But his words yet unfinished—when Gu Yuan’s countenance shifted instantly again—surprise overtaking his gaze. The words upon the old’s lips ceased in startled pause:
“It! WAS YOU WHO STRUCK ME MOMENTS BEFORE?”
He focused, unwaveringly fixed.
A stunned quietness enveloped onlookers—including Lady Xun Er, Yan Jin, and Lei Ying—all exchanged looks of shock.
Then, in a manner increasing the surprise:
“Hah! Guess that was me…kind of…”
His humble reply.
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