Beneath the boundless azure sky, clouds drifted gently, occasionally stirred by a soft breeze that swept across the grassland below, lifting a continuous wave of green that stretched to the horizon... "Crack!" A sudden, intense ripple surged through the sky, and then a vast, dark spatial gate materialized mysteriously. Shortly thereafter, figures began to emerge, one by one, standing firmly within this unfamiliar realm. "Here is indeed the Ancient Realm! The celestial and terrestrial energy is incredibly dense—several times stronger than what we've experienced outside!" "Indeed a marvel—no mere Battle Saint could achieve such feats; this is truly astonishing." As the figures appeared, waves of exclamations rose throughout the gathering. Amidst the awe and wonder, Xiao Yan and his companions stepped forth from the spatial gate, their faces reflecting astonishment as they absorbed the rich energy permeating this land. "Such powerful celestial and terrestrial energies—training here would likely advance at twice the pace compared to the outside world. This ancient clan not only possesses exceptional innate cultivation potential but also enjoys such a blessed location. Their prosperity is no mere coincidence." Xiao Yan inhaled deeply, marveling, "Spaceships that have been created in this manner are almost like entire worlds. Though not as vast as the continent of Qi, precisely because of this relative size, the celestial and terrestrial energies become more concentrated. Training here thus yields remarkable results, achieving greater efficiency with less effort." Tian Huo, the Esteemed Master, nodded in agreement. "Boom!" As Xiao Yan and Tian Huo were conversing, a deep thunderclap suddenly echoed from the distant horizon. Instantly, the group observed a vast expanse of thick, heavy clouds sweeping in from all directions, pressing steadily toward them. "That is..." Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, gazing intently at the gathering clouds. After a moment, his pupils suddenly widened, "A fleet of flying warships?" When Xiao Yan first noticed that cloud, others with keen eyesight had also spotted it, and immediately a series of exclamations rang out. For indeed, the cloud was formed by ten warships soaring through the sky, their hulls enveloped in the mist, appearing as though the ships were riding the cloud, bearing thunder and arriving with majestic grandeur. "No wonder they're from the ancient clans—such a display is rare even among the central provinces," Xiao Yan murmured, gazing at the swiftly approaching warships. "Thunderous!" The cloud, laden with cascading lightning, finally settled gently upon the sky, and a deep, resonant voice emanated from the warships. "Ah, esteemed guests, please come aboard." As the elderly voice fell, the swirling clouds suddenly split open, revealing a crack that extended straight to the warships. Upon seeing this, several people hesitated briefly before stepping forward and swiftly ascending onto one of the massive warships. After waiting a moment, seeing no further changes, Xiao Yan and his companions followed suit. "Moving through the space like this—what a magical warship..." "Ah, yes. This type of warship has been passed down through the ancient lineage of our people since time immemorial. It's called the 'Sokong Boat.' As for speed, even the strongest warriors at the peak of the Battle Sovereign rank might not match it. Unfortunately, however, such vessels are now exceedingly rare." As Xiao Yan was marveling, a sudden laugh came from behind him. Xiao Yan turned to see a man in a white robe standing there with a warm smile. A vivid flame seal was slowly burning steadily on the man's forehead—exactly the one Xiao Yan had seen earlier in the wine tavern. "Thank you for the information," Xiao Yan said, his tone natural and sincere. He could clearly sense that the man had no ulterior motives, and thus smiled warmly and bowed slightly. "Ah, please—my name is Huo Xuan," the man replied with a smile. “Xiao Yan…” Xiao Yan also smiled, but Huo Xuan waved his hand and said, “Xiao Yan, the champion of the Dan Conclave—ah, I naturally know you well.” “Huo Xuan brother, aren’t you from the Yan clan?” Xiao Yan smiled slightly. Huo Xuan didn’t find it surprising that Xiao Yan had revealed his identity, and nodded with a smile, saying, “To be honest, our two clans have had a long-standing connection for a long time. I wonder if Xiao Yan has come to the Ancient Realm this time specifically to learn about the opening of the Heavenly Tomb.” “The Heavenly Tomb?” Hearing this term, Xiao Yan was momentarily taken aback. Seeing Xiao Yan’s reaction, Huo Xuan paused, then suddenly recalled, “Ah, I apologize—I’ve overlooked this. Since the passing of our elder, Xiao Xuan, the Xiao clan hasn’t visited the Ancient Realm in a long time. It seems some of our traditions and knowledge have gradually faded.” “Could you tell me more about the Heavenly Tomb, Huo Xuan brother?” Xiao Yan asked with a smile. “This matter, after all, isn’t something new to you—so it "Huo Xuan hesitated slightly, then smiled, saying, 'This Heavenly Tomb has been passed down since ancient times, housing numerous tombs of powerful figures—among them is your ancestor, Xiao Xuan's tomb...' Xiao Yan's heart stirred slightly; he hadn't expected the Heavenly Tomb to be so closely linked to his ancestor. One of his primary purposes for coming to the Ancient Realm was to visit his ancestor's tomb, where he hoped to find something valuable. 'The Heavenly Tomb is remarkably intricate, containing energy imprints of many ancient masters. Over time, these imprints have evolved into the very forms of the masters themselves. As long as you defeat them, you can claim their energy imprints and absorb them, thereby enhancing your own strength,' Huo Xuan explained with a smile. 'You must know, these energy imprints are no ordinary things—they are equivalent to genuine high-level elixirs, and unlike ordinary medicines, they can be consumed repeatedly without significantly diminishing their potency.' "Of course, the most important thing is that time within the Heavenly Tomb flows more slowly than outside—five days inside are equivalent to just one day outside." "What?" Hearing this, even with the calm composure of Xiao Yan, he could not help but be profoundly astonished. Could there truly be such a miraculous place in the world? If five days inside equaled one day outside, then spending a month inside would only amount to six days outside, and a year inside would yield just two months outside. In that case, anyone who trained for a century within the tomb would emerge as a supreme master. With this extra time, even the most unremarkable or slow-witted practitioners could surely achieve significant accomplishments. "Hehe, the Heavenly Tomb is indeed magical, but it does have its limitations. It opens once every twenty years, and each time, the duration inside is at most three years—equivalent to half a year in the outside world." Fire Xuan smiled. "Of course, only the descendants of the Eight Ancient Clans are eligible to enter. Others simply don't have this privilege. So, to say that Brother Xiao is able to enter the Tomb is no surprise." "Even if the Xiao Clan has fallen so far, I can still enter?" Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, his enthusiasm for the Heavenly Tomb now greatly heightened. Three years within would allow him to accomplish so much—what he felt most lacking right now was time. "The rules are as such. Regardless of how diminished the Xiao Clan has become, it has always been one of the Eight Ancient Clans. Naturally, you're aware that some difficulties have arisen, but with Brother Xiao's capabilities, I believe those challenges can be overcome," Fire Xuan said, spreading his hands. Xiao Yan nodded silently, then respectfully bowed to Huo Xuan, saying, "Thank you, Brother Huo, for informing me!" "Ah, it's nothing at all. Should we truly enter the Heavenly Tomb in the future, we might just have to collaborate. There are several clans that still harbor grudges against our family. Having more allies is always beneficial." Huo Xuan smiled. If Xiao Yan had been an ordinary person, Huo Xuan would never have taken the initiative to approach him. But Xiao Yan wasn't just a member of the Xiao clan—he also possessed considerable strength. Such a person was definitely worth cultivating a relationship with. Xiao Yan smiled and nodded in agreement. He naturally understood these principles. Huo Xuan may have shared these insights precisely because of Xiao Yan's strength, but that was entirely reasonable—had it been him, he wouldn't have revealed any secrets to someone who wasn't on his own level or merely peripheral. "By the way, pay close attention to the Hún clan and the Yào clan members. As for the Hún clan, I won't elaborate much—your Xiāo clan and they have long been bitter rivals. When your Xiāo clan declined, they weren't shy about causing you trouble. As for the Yào clan, that's due to your master, Yào Chén. Hehe, I never expected back then that Yào Chén, the elder, would actually be a member of the Yào clan—this is the first time my family elders have mentioned it to me. If my assessment is correct, the Yào clan representatives dispatched this time should be Yào Xīng Jí, known as the 'Yào Zi' within the clan. The Yào clan members generally don't hold much regard for external炼药师. Moreover, since you're a disciple of Yào Chén, a Yào clan member who was once cast aside, and now you're widely regarded as the strongest among the young generation of炼药师 in Zhōngzhōu, I'm certain that Yào Xīng Jí, with his temperament, will certainly make your life difficult upon meeting you." Fire Xuán smiled. "Human medicine, medicine star, quite an odd title, quite an odd name..." Xiao Yan murmured to himself, then shook his head. These people were simply unbearable just by the way they were named. "Though their names are odd, it's said that the one in question is a mid-tier alchemist of the Eighth Rank—his own strength isn't exactly inferior to yours. If you encounter him, you'd better be cautious." Huo Xuan advised. Xiao Yan smiled and nodded. Indeed, a mid-tier Eighth Rank alchemist was quite a commendable level. Still, he hoped the man wouldn't come up. Otherwise, he'd have to show them—these so-called core family members—that even the disciples sent by the medicinal clan's overlooked members were stronger than them. He would take on his teacher's tone and carry it forward himself.