"How about it? Are you willing to cooperate?"
The Ancient Realm, Gu Yuan's residence.
To be honest, Gu Yuan had little inclination to refuse Xiao Xuan's proposal.
"You trust me that much? Are you certain I won't stab you in the back like the Hun Clan?" Rather than agreeing or refusing, Gu Yuan looked calmly at Xiao Xuan and asked.
"Heh, you may be timid and afraid of trouble, always preferring to swallow your grievances for the sake of peace. As you said, if you kicked me while I was down like the Hun Clan, there really wouldn't be anything I could do about it.
"But from what I know of you, you could never be like those skulking bastards from the Hun Clan. After all, we've known each other for so many years. I still trust your character." Xiao Xuan glanced at Gu Yuan, then chuckled.
Hearing this, Gu Yuan felt something he could not quite describe. He even seemed a little touched.
After all, attempting to break through to the Dou Di Realm was a venture with nine chances of death and only one of survival for Xiao Xuan.
Throughout the history of the Dou Qi Continent, attempts to reach Dou Di had ended in either success or failure. In any case, Gu Yuan had never heard of anyone surviving a failed breakthrough to the Dou Di Realm.
"Tch, you bastard! Don't put so much faith in me!" Gu Yuan's expression changed as he shouted at Xiao Xuan.
Seeing this, Xiao Xuan burst into hearty laughter and said loudly, "All right, all right, don't be embarrassed. Of course I trust you. Otherwise, I wouldn't be discussing cooperation with you."
Across from him, Gu Yuan watched the utterly unrestrained Xiao Xuan, waves of emotion rising in his heart again and again. Only after a long while did he say solemnly, "You can be incredibly forceful and domineering at times. I have to admit, your strength truly deserves the title of the Dou Qi Continent's strongest.
"But sometimes you look like a complete idiot. You actually told an outsider like me about something as important as attempting to reach Dou Di, and you even want to cooperate?
"Do you realize that if your breakthrough fails and the Hun Clan attacks, and I simply wash my hands of it, your entire Xiao Clan will die without even a place to be buried?"
Seeing how serious and solemn he was, Xiao Xuan laughed without a care. "Hahaha, of course I know. That's why I came to you!
"I, Xiao Xuan, have complete faith in your character, Gu Yuan."
"Forget it. There's no point dwelling on that. Since we're going to cooperate, explain it in detail. If possible, I'm willing to lend you a hand. I also want to know whether this world truly permits the existence of a Dou Di." Gu Yuan sighed. He, too, very much wanted to know whether Xiao Xuan's method could succeed.
"Good, then we..."
Half an hour later, after they had discussed every detail, Gu Yuan looked at the smiling Xiao Xuan and said earnestly, "If possible, I still hope you can become a Dou Di. I also want to stand at the summit and see just how different this world looks from there!"
"Hahaha, then pray for me. If I succeed..."
With that, Xiao Xuan vanished in a flash, leaving only his voice reverberating through the air. "Wait for my word!"
"Whew!"
After Xiao Xuan left, Gu Yuan let out a long sigh. "What a madman. Still, being born in the same era as you must count as a rather special experience."
Meanwhile, in Heaven Beyond.
Three months passed in the blink of an eye. Thanks to Xiao Tian Ce's efforts, the spatial structure of Heaven Beyond had become exceptionally sturdy.
Moreover, after spending those three months immersed in reinforcing the space, his understanding and control of space had probably surpassed even those of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.
Ancient Void Dragons were the undisputed overlords among the magical beasts of the present day. Immensely powerful, they were born with control over spatial power and could traverse the void.
"Another three months gone in the blink of an eye. They say cultivation knows no passage of years, and time is like a white steed flashing past a crack-gone in an instant." Xiao Tian Ce looked up at the sky, filled with emotion.
He had only just finished speaking when he suddenly sensed Xiao Qing's aura appearing within Heaven Beyond once more.
Before long, Xiao Qing arrived beside Xiao Tian Ce and bowed respectfully. "Third Uncle, I'm back."
Three months earlier, Xiao Qing had left Heaven Beyond for the Central Plains to establish a new intelligence organization. He had not expected her to be gone for three months without a word.
"Thank you for your hard work. Tell me, how is the Luo Network coming along?" Xiao Tian Ce asked with a smile.
The Luo Network was the name of the new intelligence organization, signifying a net spread across heaven and earth, leaving nowhere to escape.
"The preliminary organizational structure is complete. Its members are divided into four ranks: Heaven Character, Earth Character, Mystic Character, and Yellow Character.
"Dou Zun are assigned to Heaven Character, Dou Zong to Earth Character, Dou Emperors to Mystic Character, and Dou Wang to Yellow Character. Each rank is further divided into grades one through nine, with grade one being the highest. For example, a Nine-Star Dou Zong is Earth Character, grade one, while a Three-Star Dou Zun is Heaven Character, grade seven.
"As for your instruction to recruit some weaker personnel as well, those below Dou Wang have been designated auxiliary members and entered into the records.
"Since Half-Saints and above are already exceedingly rare, I specifically established elder seats to distinguish their status within the Luo Network. They have the authority to mobilize Heaven Character members below grade five.
"That is everything I have done over these past three months. Please offer your guidance, Third Uncle," Xiao Qing explained solemnly.
Across from her, Xiao Tian Ce nodded. He had not expected Xiao Qing to establish the Luo Network's organizational structure in just three short months, much less recruit over a dozen Dou Zong and two One-Star Dou Zun.
"You've done well. The Luo Network is still newly established, so you must remain cautious.
"Don't let the major factions of the Central Plains discover any clues, especially the Hall of Souls. It has the Hun Clan behind it, so you must not be careless. Never let them learn that our Xiao Clan is behind the Luo Network.
"Also, now that the Luo Network has been successfully established, you can begin setting up the Heavenly Secret Tower to sell information and intelligence.
"From now on, the Heavenly Secret Tower will operate in the open, while the Luo Network works in the shadows. With light and dark working together, once everything is fully developed, I want every rustle of wind and stir of grass across the entire Dou Qi Continent within my grasp!" Xiao Tian Ce spoke solemnly, and his aura suddenly erupted.
"Congratulations on advancing your strength, Third Uncle."
Sensing that his aura was considerably stronger than before, Xiao Qing immediately understood that her third uncle had reached Mid-Stage Five-Star Dou Sheng.
"It was merely a matter of the water flowing and the channel forming naturally. I'm still a long way behind the continent's strongest experts. This is nothing worth celebrating." Xiao Tian Ce nodded, then waved a hand.
To him, unless he could reach the very tip of the Dou Qi Continent's pyramid and possess the confidence to fear nothing, there was nothing worth celebrating.
Seeing this, Xiao Qing bowed respectfully, then said admiringly, "I have learned from your guidance."
As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something. She took a scroll from inside her robes and handed it to Xiao Tian Ce, then explained under his puzzled gaze, "Third Uncle, this scroll contains information about a secret realm. I believe it will interest you."
"Oh? Secret realms that can interest me are rather rare."
Xiao Tian Ce opened it and read. His pupils immediately contracted, and then he laughed. "To think it concerns the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix, which disappeared so many years ago! How many people know about this secret realm?"
"Rest assured, Third Uncle. A Yellow Character, grade-three member discovered this secret realm by chance. Since a restriction prevented him from entering, he decided to report it in exchange for contribution points.
"I happened to be nearby when he sent the message, so I immediately sealed off the information."
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