"Looks like I'll have to make a trip back. It'll be a good chance to see how Brother Xuan's preparations are coming along!"
Heaven Beyond, Xiao Tian Ce's residence.
After summoning a clansman to make arrangements for Heaven Beyond, Xiao Tian Ce went to inform Huang Jiuji, then left Heaven Beyond.
Since he was already a Dou Sheng Expert, he had no need to travel the slow way. He tore open space and slipped straight into it.
Half a day later, the Xiao Realm.
The moment Xiao Tian Ce appeared, several clansmen guarding the entrance quickly gathered around him.
From their attire, Xiao Tian Ce recognized them as members of the Dark Yellow Army responsible for guarding the realm.
Much like the Gu Clan's Black Smoke Army, the Dark Yellow Army was one of the Xiao Clan's elite forces charged with safeguarding the clan's peace. It also undertook offensive operations when outside enemies appeared. Among the younger generation of the Xiao Clan, practically anyone with some talent took pride in being able to join the Dark Yellow Army.
Xiao Tian Ce himself had served as the Dark Yellow Army's Third Commander before advancing to Dou Sheng.
"Greetings, Elder Tian Ce."
They all bowed together, not daring to overstep in the slightest.
Xiao Tian Ce nodded, then waved a hand. "Rise. Carry on with your duties."
"Yes, Elder Tian Ce. We shall obey your command."
After rising, they resumed their patrol.
Xiao Tian Ce felt a little worried. These members of the Dark Yellow Army represented the Xiao Clan's future. How many of them would remain after Xiao Xuan failed in his attempt to reach the Dou Di Realm?
"Ah."
With a sigh, he returned straight to his Heavenly Strategy Manor.
He had barely entered when a maid hurried over and bowed. "Greetings, Master."
"No need for formalities. Did anyone come looking for me while I was away?" Xiao Tian Ce asked casually, waving a hand.
"Master, only the clan leader came, just once. After learning that you were not at the Heavenly Strategy Manor, he sat for a while before leaving," the maid replied respectfully with a bow.
Xiao Tian Ce nodded and motioned for the maid to withdraw.
Once she had left, he sighed again. "It seems I really did lose a great deal during those hundred years I spent unconscious."
A hundred years ago, before Hun Tiandi had ambushed him, whenever he went out, he would return to find many clansmen waiting at his door.
Not only that, but with tens of thousands of members across the Xiao Clan's six branches, the visiting cards they sent would pile up as high as a person every time.
Now that he had awakened, it was much like the saying: once the person left, the tea went cold.
No, that was not quite right. He had not even left, yet the tea had already gone stone-cold.
"The human heart... even among members of the same clan, a gulf has formed between us in the end!"
He sighed, then suddenly saw the maid leading Xiao Chun in from outside.
As soon as they met, Xiao Chun began to bow, only for Xiao Tian Ce to catch him and stop him.
"Second Uncle, is there any need for such formality between uncle and nephew?" Xiao Tian Ce asked with a smile.
"Hahaha, proper etiquette cannot be cast aside. You are the head of our branch, after all. Even as your Second Uncle, I ought to bow to you," Xiao Chun said, chuckling. It was clear that he sincerely felt Xiao Tian Ce was a capable head of the branch.
"You're worrying too much, Second Uncle. From now on, there's no need to bow when you see me."
Although Xiao Chun insisted, Xiao Tian Ce still stopped him.
After they sat down, Xiao Chun asked in a low voice, "Tian Ce, why have you suddenly come back? Did something happen out there? And where is Qing? That girl has been away so long, yet she hasn't even thought to send word home."
"Don't worry, Second Uncle. Nothing happened. We gained quite a lot on this trip. My strength has now reached Late Six-Star Dou Saint.
"Qing's progress was even more astonishing. She has now reached the Peak Seven-Star Dou Saint level. At least as far as anyone knows, she is already the strongest member of our branch!" Xiao Tian Ce said, sounding excited.
"What? How is that possible? How long has it even been? How could your strength have risen so quickly?" Xiao Chun was astonished, and he could not help growing worried as well.
After reaching Dou Sheng, never mind advancing an entire star-even moving through the four minor stages of early, middle, late, and peak was immensely difficult, with every step a struggle.
Yet Xiao Tian Ce had leaped from Early Five-Star Dou Sheng to Late Six-Star Dou Saint, crossing five stages.
Xiao Qing's progress was even more outrageous. When she left, she had only been at the peak of Two-Star Dou Saint. Now she had actually reached the Peak Seven-Star Dou Saint level. Such a speed of advancement was beyond anything Xiao Chun could have imagined.
Seeing the worry in his eyes, Xiao Tian Ce laughed, then explained, "Second Uncle, don't worry. We aren't that foolish. We wouldn't take pills and exhaust our potential just because we were impatient.
"Here's what happened...
"Now you can rest easy!"
After Xiao Tian Ce explained what had happened in the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix Secret Realm, Xiao Chun could not help drawing in a sharp breath. Then he murmured to himself, "The Ancient Heavenly Phoenix Clan... to think such a race still exists on the Dou Qi Continent.
"Tian Ce, you and Qing have stumbled upon an incredible opportunity!"
"Hahaha, this trip to the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix Secret Realm really did yield a rich harvest. We never expected to encounter such an opportunity either.
"It was quite a coincidence, really. Without that stroke of luck, such a blessing would never have fallen into our laps," Xiao Tian Ce said with a hearty laugh.
"Good, good, good.
"This is wonderful! Now that you've reached Late Six-Star Dou Saint and obtained the golden emperor burning heaven flame, which rivals the Gu Clan's main flame, your combat strength should at least reach Eight-Star Dou Sheng!
"With Qing at the Peak Seven-Star Dou Saint level, and that Heavenly Demon Puppet of yours comparable to a late Eight-Star Dou Sheng expert, our branch can now stand above every other branch in the clan except the clan leader's!" Xiao Chun was beside himself with excitement. His greatest wish in life was to see the members of his branch rise to prominence.
Who could have imagined that Xiao Tian Ce, their branch head, would accomplish it with a single trip after being awake for only a few years? If he could refine a body for Huang Jiuji in the future, they would gain the support of another expert at peak eight-star dou saint.
Seeing him so excited, Xiao Tian Ce could not help smiling too. Then he looked at Xiao Chun and said, "Second Uncle, I won't be staying long this time. I'm sorry for the trouble, but I'll need you to visit the Treasure Pavilion for me and collect several years' worth of mithril."
"Mithril?" Xiao Chun was a little baffled. What did he want that for?
"That's right, mithril. Just fetch it for me, Second Uncle. I have an important use for it. According to the Treasure Pavilion's records, there's enough mithril there for me to cultivate another group of experts," Xiao Tian Ce said with complete confidence.
"All right. In that case, there's no time to lose. I'll go to the Treasure Pavilion and fetch the mithril now. Wait here a moment. I'll be right back."
Xiao Chun was decisive by nature. Since Xiao Tian Ce attached such importance to it, he did not dare delay.
As he spoke, spatial ripples suddenly appeared beside him, and he vanished.
No sooner had Xiao Chun left than Xiao Xuan arrived.
The moment he appeared and his gaze fell on Xiao Tian Ce, he was startled. Then he laughed heartily. "I never imagined your strength would advance this far in a single trip, Tian Ce. And that thing inside your body seems to have quite a history!"
"Brother Xuan, you're here. Please, sit."
Xiao Tian Ce smiled as he spoke. After sitting down with Xiao Xuan, he said modestly, "I did gain quite a lot on this trip, but my meager strength is still far behind yours, Brother Xuan!"
Before you continue