Although he had not been able to reach the Dou God realm, it was not because his cultivation level or experience was insufficient, but rather because this world lacked a "source."
Therefore, although Xiao Xuan had suffered a backlash, he had still managed to severely injure four elders of the Hun Clan and Hun Tiandi, forcing them to require a thousand years to recover. Furthermore, he had preserved his soul and entered the Heavenly Tomb, becoming a threat to the Heavenly Tomb's spirit.
Even if the Dou Saints of the Xiao Clan had lost the Dou God bloodline, even if their realms were similar, their power would definitely be inferior to that of the Hun Clan's Dou Saints.
Moreover, the Xiao Clan did not have a numerical advantage, so the outcome was predictable.
As for the Gu Clan…
Subjectively speaking, as a descendant of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Ting felt that Gu Clan had been too cowardly.
The fact that they had promised to cooperate with Xiao Clan to destroy the Hun Clan before Xiao Xuan's breakthrough was beside the point.
After the great war between the Xiao Clan and the Hun Clan, it would always be good to stir up some trouble by taking advantage of the situation.
The Yan Clan and Lei Clan each had two eight-star Dou Saints. They could fight Gu Yuan within their own territories, but even if they joined forces, they would not be able to win outside.
Leading the Ancient Clans to deliver a decisive blow to the Hun Clan and then absorbing the resources of both the Xiao Clan and the Hun Clan in one go — that would truly be called foresight and ambition.
As a result, the Gu Clan had become cautious, almost to the point of being cowardly.
However, objectively speaking, after the conflict between the Hun Clan and the Xiao Clan, the Gu Clans had become the strongest clan in terms of overall power.
Considering that they could not produce a new Dou God and that the Gu Clan's Dou God bloodline had not yet been severed, seeking stability was indeed a wise strategy.
The real variable was whether the Nihility Devouring Flame had obtained the power of the last clan leader of the Hun Clan, or whether another Nihility Devouring Flame had obtained the power of the Hun Clan. Otherwise, the Gu Clan might still have a real chance of surviving until the end.
"No matter what, Xun Er is my wife. Let's see how she will treat the Gu Clan from now on. I believe she will stand on my side instead of blindly helping her own family."
Xiao Ting's eyes shone as he said to Huo Yun Ancestor, "Ancestor, after I reach the peak of Dou Venerable, it should be fine for me to accept the inheritance and complete it, right?"
"It's fine, of course it's fine." Huo Yun Ancestor immediately shook his head. "Both the Xiao Clan and the Tang Clan have equal rights to inherit this legacy. Since you possess thunder-fire attributes, high cultivation, and excellent talent, you should receive the full inheritance."
"When the time comes, I would like to share the techniques and battle skills I have cultivated with everyone."
The current clan defense techniques and battle skills of Burning Flame Valley were only at the lower level of Heaven-rank.
However, the Burning Flame Saint Stele recorded high-level Heaven-rank cultivation methods and battle skills inherited from the same bloodline.
Huo Yun Ancestor naturally wanted to switch to more advanced cultivation methods suited to him.
"Of course," Xiao Ting agreed and nodded.
"Wait a moment." Tang Huo Er suddenly spoke up. "Ancestor, why isn't Brother Xiao Ting accepting the inheritance now?"
"How can he accept the inheritance now?" Huo Yun Ancestor couldn't help but ask, thinking his descendant was a bit foolish. "There is no one here with a Di State-level soul, nor any descendant who shares the same bloodline from both the Xiao Clan and the Tang Clan."
"Friend Xiao Ting and I can only receive part of the inheritance, and it's only a part. What I discussed with him was receiving the full inheritance."
At this point, Huo Yun Ancestor paused, his eyes turning strange and his tone sarcastic. "What, does Huo Er want to use the fifth method together with Xiao Ting?"
Purely from an economic standpoint, this was indeed the best approach.
If Xiao Ting and Tang Huo Er performed deep dual cultivation, both of them would obtain the complete inheritance rights of Burning Flame Valley. This would mean that Burning Flame Valley had completely preserved its inheritance.
However, as an ancestor, he could not encourage his descendant to do such a thing in order to inherit the family line.
He had hoped that Tang Huo Er and Xiao Ting would get together again, not only because he recognized Xiao Ting, but also because he felt this would be good for Tang Huo Er as well.
"Ancestor!" Tang Huo Er stomped her foot, her face turning red. "That's not what I meant."
She turned her gaze to Xiao Ting and explained, "What I was thinking was that the key to the fifth method, where Brother Xiao Ting and I cultivate together inside the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, is not that… In the end, under normal circumstances, only when something like this happens can Brother Xiao Ting and I cultivate together inside the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, and only then will he no longer be repelled by the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame."
"But Brother Xiao Ting is a bit special. Don't forget that his flame can subdue the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame."
Huo Yun Ancestor raised his hand and lightly tapped, his eyes shining as he said, "Actually, there is a possibility."
"Young friend," Huo Yun Ancestor looked at Xiao Ting. "Why don't you give it a try with Huo Er?"
"Of course." Xiao Ting did not refuse and readily accepted the task.
He and Tang Huo Er arrived in front of the stele, held hands, and began cultivating together.
"This dual cultivation method is an auxiliary cultivation method at the early stage of the Heavenly Realm. If two people cultivate together, their cultivation speed will double."
"The doubling effect depends on tacit understanding, soul realm, and the compatibility of Battle Qi attributes."
"Both your Battle Qi and mine possess the two attributes of thunder and fire, and both of you control flames of the thunder-fire attribute."
"The cultivation speed may increase to about four times the normal rate."
Xiao Ting first explained this to Tang Huo Er. After Tang Huo Er gained a basic understanding and could use it as an auxiliary method, the two of them began to connect in terms of energy and fluctuations.
Huo Yun Ancestor retrieved the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame and ordered it to fuse with the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame inside Tang Huo Er's body.
As a result, the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame faithfully obeyed Purple Beast Flame's command and directly flowed into Xiao Ting's body.
Soon, the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame reappeared, and nine dragons flew out to form a barrier.
Xiao Ting and Tang Huo Er were practicing palm strikes.
…
Several days passed in the blink of an eye, but there was no movement from the Burning Flame Saint Stele.
Just when the three of them thought the method had failed, the Burning Flame Saint Stele suddenly trembled. An energy vortex appeared on it and swallowed the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, along with Xiao Ting and Tang Huo Er who were inside the strange flame.
"It's done!" Huo Yun Ancestor slapped his thigh.
This was wonderful. Both the Xiao Clan and Burning Flame Valley would receive the complete inheritance of the Burning Flame Ancestor.
"First, go inform Xiao Ting's girlfriends about this news."
Huo Yun Ancestor immediately took action and prepared to deliver the jade slip Xiao Ting had left behind.
In reality, the women had received the news even earlier than him, because Xiao Ting had updated the Journal, and Tang Huo Er had also broadcast the information to them through the Journal chat group.
[Tang Huo Er]: Success! Success! Brother Xiao Ting and I successfully cultivated together and obtained the inheritance!
[Tang Huo Er]: After entering the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame body, we were in an independent space. Our Burning Flame Valley was originally an independent small world, but I never expected there to be a world within a world. This must be the stele space.
[Tang Huo Er]: The Ancestor's will appeared and told us some events from a thousand years ago, mainly about the relationship between the Ancestor and Xiao Xuan.
[Tang Huo Er]: It contains Heaven-rank cultivation methods and battle skills with thunder, fire, and thunder-fire attributes, covering low to high levels.
[Tang Huo Er]: The Ancestor did not leave behind Demon Saint essence blood, but he did leave behind a Heavenly Flame Meteor Crystal. Next, Brother Xiao Ting and I will go into seclusion to absorb energy.
[Tang Huo Er]: I'm really looking forward to it. I wonder how much stronger I'll be when I come out of seclusion.
[Tang Huo Er]: I won't be the strongest among us, right?
Women: "…"
This was the first time they had heard Tang Huo Er be so talkative.
…