153: Deep in the Chaos Sea, the Xiao Clan's Ancestral Land

After the battle at Saint-Felling Cliff, Xiao Chen not only survived a desperate situation but also broke through to Seven-Star Dou Zun, undergoing a tremendous change in his strength. After refining that wisp of shattered Origin Qi, the quality of his Dou Qi far surpassed others at the same level, subtly touching the edge of the source of laws. His Heavenly Realm Soul also stabilized at the peak of the mid-stage, and his perception range expanded to hundreds of thousands of miles. Now, even facing a powerhouse at the early stage of Eight-Star Dou Zun, he possessed the power to fight!

After slaying four Fate Manipulators from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Xiao Chen did not linger. He piloted his flame dragon flying boat and continued deeper into the Chaos Sea, beyond the Void Sea. The experience at Saint-Felling Cliff made him even more vigilant; the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's schemes were interconnected and would not be easily abandoned. The journey to the Chaos Sea was bound to hold even greater dangers.

Deep within the Void Sea, the environment grew increasingly harsh. Space was no longer shattered fragments but had transformed into viscous chaotic currents, mixed with violent space-time turbulence, law storms, and some strange energies he had never seen before. Ordinary Dou Zun would find it impossible to move an inch here, and their soul perception would be severely disrupted. Even with Xiao Chen's Seven-Star Dou Zun strength, he had to slow down and proceed cautiously.

Following the guidance of the jade slip and his bloodline's sensing, Xiao Chen painstakingly navigated through the chaotic currents for nearly a month. Finally, in the endless depths of chaos ahead, he felt an extremely faint but ancient summons, originating from the same bloodline as his!

"It's there!" Xiao Chen's spirits lifted. He urged the flying boat to accelerate towards the direction from which the summons came.

After flying for several more days, the scene before him suddenly changed dramatically! A vast, indescribable vista appeared before his eyes!

It was an boundless Chaos Sea! The 'seawater' was not ordinary water but was composed of countless colors of chaotic energy, at times calm as a mirror, at times stirring up towering waves! Above the ocean, there were no sun, moon, or stars, only constantly forming and dissipating chaotic whirlpools and law lightning! Further in the distance, some fragmented continents and gigantic skeletons could faintly be seen floating on the surface of the Chaos Sea, emanating an ancient, primordial aura!

This was the Chaos Sea! The legendary place that connected countless planes and nurtured the origin of the first life! It was also the location of an important Xiao Clan Ancestral Land!

"Such terrifying chaotic energy!" Xiao Chen stood at the bow of the flying boat, feeling the overwhelming chaotic aura that seemed capable of assimilating all things, and his heart was filled with shock. The energy level here far surpassed the outside world, but it was also extremely violent and chaotic; without special methods, it was impossible to absorb and utilize.

He followed the bloodline's summons, piloting the flying boat cautiously into the Chaos Sea. Within the 'seawater,' various strange creatures formed from chaotic energy lurked. Some were transparent and elusive like jellyfish, while others were ferocious and terrifying like giant sharks. The weakest of them were comparable to Dou Zong, and there were even Dou Zun-level chaotic beasts! Xiao Chen relied on his powerful soul perception to avoid these creatures as much as possible, not wishing to cause any unnecessary trouble.

After flying for about three days, a massive island appeared ahead! The entire island was dark gold, as if forged from some divine metal, emanating an indestructible aura. On the island, some dilapidated palace ruins and collapsed statues could vaguely be seen. Although desolate, one could still feel the past glory and majesty. That bloodline summons was coming from deep within this island!

"Xiao Clan Ancestral Land..." Xiao Chen's heart raced. He could feel that deep within the island, something was strongly calling to his bloodline.

He landed the flying boat and stepped onto the island. As his feet touched the dark golden ground, a bloodline-connected tremor spread throughout his body. The xiao clan tribal mark on his brow automatically appeared, emitting a faint golden light.

He followed a desolate ancient path towards the center of the island. All he saw along the way were broken walls and ruined foundations; some enormous battle marks still remained, recounting the brutality of the ancient, tragic war.

The closer he got to the center, the stronger the summons became. Finally, in the deepest part of the island, he saw the source of the summons—a towering nine-story altar!

The altar was entirely constructed from chaotic divine stone, reaching a thousand zhang in height. Each layer was inscribed with countless profound ancient divine texts and Xiao Clan totems! At the top of the altar, a fist-sized crystal ball, entirely chaotic and seemingly containing the creation and destruction of a universe within, floated! The fluctuations emanating from that crystal ball resonated strongly with Xiao Chen's bloodline!

"This is... the Xiao Clan's Inheritance Crystal?!" Xiao Chen's heart pounded! According to the fragmented memories of the Xiao Clan, this Inheritance Crystal sealed the Xiao Clan's most core cultivation techniques and secret arts, ancient secrets, and... the secret of Origin Qi! Only descendants with a pure Xiao Clan bloodline could activate it!

He suppressed his excitement and stepped onto the altar, one step at a time. A powerful bloodline barrier enveloped the altar; non-Xiao Clan members could not even approach it. Xiao Chen passed through the barrier without hindrance, reaching the top of the altar and standing before the chaotic crystal.

"Om—!"

The moment he approached, the chaotic crystal suddenly erupted with brilliant nine-colored chaotic divine light! Within the divine light, a blurry, heaven-and-earth-spanning phantom in a green robe slowly materialized! The phantom's face was indistinct, yet it carried an unparalleled majesty that seemed to look down upon the world and create the cosmos! It was precisely a wisp of the residual thought of the Xiao Clan's progenitor—Progenitor!

"Descendant... you have finally come..." The progenitor's residual thought emitted an ancient and vicissitudes of life voice. His gaze fell upon Xiao Chen, carrying a hint of relief and expectation.

"Your descendant Xiao Chen, greets the progenitor!" Xiao Chen's heart surged with emotion as he bowed respectfully. Facing this ancient Dou Di who had led the Xiao Clan to glory but ultimately fell due to betrayal, he was filled with reverence and indignation.

"Very good... your bloodline... is very pure... even... surpassing mine back then..." The progenitor's residual thought carefully sensed Xiao Chen, his voice carrying a hint of surprise, "You... seem to have also integrated other powerful forces... Star, Dragon-Phoenix, Yan Ancestor... interesting..."

"Progenitor, our clan back then..." Xiao Chen eagerly wanted to inquire about the ancient truth.

"Not much time... listen to me..." The progenitor's residual thought interrupted him, his tone turning solemn, "In the late ancient era, Outer Realm Heavenly Demons invaded... I led my clansmen and the allied army in a bloody battle... At the critical moment, the Soul Clan betrayed us, colluding with the Heavenly Demons to ambush me... causing my severe injury and demise... The Xiao Clan was almost annihilated..."

Although he had already guessed from fragmented information, hearing the truth from the progenitor himself still filled Xiao Chen with burning rage, his fists clenched tightly!

"Soul Clan... this grudge must be repaid!"

"Hatred... must indeed be repaid... but more importantly... stop them..." The progenitor's residual thought said, "The Soul Clan's betrayal was not merely for power... Behind them... there is an even more terrifying existence manipulating them... Their purpose... is to completely open the Demon Realm passage, allowing the Heavenly Demons to dominate this realm... And the 'Emperor Hunting Plan'... is just one part of it..."

"An even more terrifying existence? Is it the Heavenly Secret Pavilion?" Xiao Chen asked urgently.

"Heavenly Secret Pavilion?" The progenitor's residual thought paused slightly, seemingly recalling, "That... organization that peeks into destiny? Its founder... is suspected to be an Outer Realm Heart Demon that escaped its seal... extremely dangerous... you must be careful..."

Indeed! Teacher Xuan Kongzi's conjecture was correct! The Heavenly Secret Pavilion was indeed a minion of the Outer Realm Heavenly Demons!

"Progenitor, what should I do?" Xiao Chen asked in a deep voice.

"Grow stronger... quickly grow stronger!" The progenitor's residual thought's voice became urgent, "Origin Qi has not completely dried up... it is merely scattered and hidden in various ancient ruins and... plane rifts... In this Inheritance Crystal, there are clues to some Origin Qi collected by my Xiao Clan and... the complete follow-up cultivation method of the Heaven Burning Furnace Art... It can help you break through to Dou Saint and even... the Emperor Realm!"

Before he finished speaking, the chaotic crystal burst into brilliant light, transforming into a streak of light that instantly disappeared into Xiao Chen's brow! A massive amount of information flooded his sea of consciousness! The complete Heaven Burning Furnace Art (cultivable to Dou Di), coordinates of several ancient ruins that might contain Origin Qi, and some secrets about plane passages and Outer Realm Heavenly Demons...

"Additionally... beneath this ancestral land's altar... a wisp of my original Emperor Qi, left behind back then, is sealed... though extremely faint... if you can reach Peak Nine-Star Dou Zun... you might be able to use it... to break through to Half-Emperor..." The progenitor's phantom began to blur, "My time is up... Descendant... the future of the Xiao Clan... the survival of the continent... I entrust to you..."

"Progenitor!" Xiao Chen exclaimed, but the progenitor's residual thought had completely dissipated, leaving only a long sigh echoing on the altar.

Xiao Chen stood in place, silent for a long time. The amount of information was too vast; he needed time to digest it. But undoubtedly, this trip to the Chaos Sea had yielded immense gains! Not only did he obtain a complete top-tier cultivation method and clues to Origin Qi, but he also confirmed the heinous crimes of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion and the Soul Clan!

"Soul Clan! Heavenly Secret Pavilion! Outer Realm Heavenly Demons! You wait! I, Xiao Chen, will make you pay for your blood debts!" Xiao Chen clenched his fists, a resolute flame burning in his eyes.

He sat cross-legged and began to initially comprehend the complete cultivation method of the Heaven Burning Furnace Art. The subsequent parts of the technique involved the supreme realms of melting laws and condensing Origin Qi, incredibly profound. But with his current cultivation of Seven-Star Dou Zun and Heavenly Realm Soul, understanding it was not difficult.

Just as he was immersed in cultivation, another anomaly occurred!

"Om—!"

The entire Chaos Sea suddenly shook violently! The distant 'seawater' churned with towering waves! An evil, chaotic, and terrifying aura, as if capable of devouring everything, spread from the depths of the Chaos Sea! At the same time, Xiao Chen keenly sensed that several incomparably powerful auras were approaching the island where he was at an alarming speed!

"Have they finally come? The Heavenly Secret Pavilion's killing move!" Xiao Chen suddenly opened his eyes, a cold light bursting forth from them! He felt that among the approaching auras, one... had astonishingly reached Peak Eight Star Dou Zun! Moreover, its aura subtly merged with the Chaos Sea, making it extremely terrifying!

"It seems it won't be so easy to leave safely." Xiao Chen stood up, his Seven-Star Dou Zun aura released without reservation! His dark golden battle-axe materialized, chaotic currents swirling around its blade!

"Then let's fight! Let me see if your Chaos Sea can trap this star... that is about to ignite a prairie fire!"