Born of the same root, why burn each other so fiercely?

"This trip certainly brought me quite a few gains, but my strength still falls far short of yours, Brother Xuan!"

The Xiao Realm, Heavenly Strategy Manor.

Seeing that Xiao Tian Ce was still so modest, Xiao Xuan could not help laughing heartily. "Hahaha, you really haven't changed at all. You always liked hiding your abilities, even back then, and you're still doing it now.

"What, do you think your Brother Xuan would envy your talent or your opportunities?"

"You're overthinking it, Brother Xuan. Of course I don't think that. Besides, you said it yourself-this is just my nature. Isn't it perfectly normal?

"If I started showing off in front of you and you got annoyed enough to beat me up, what would I do? With my current strength, I can't beat you!

"So, to avoid a beating, I'd better keep a low profile," Xiao Tian Ce joked.

"Hahaha, that's true enough. If you started showing off in front of me, you wouldn't be yourself anymore. You've been a sly little fox since childhood, always keeping trump cards up your sleeve. It's hard to imagine just how much anyone who dares underestimate you will suffer at your hands."

Xiao Xuan laughed, then grew serious as he continued, "I won't meddle. You know your limits, so I'm not worried about you.

"By the way, I sensed an incredibly fierce flame inside you. It seems almost on par with the Gu Clan's golden emperor burning heaven flame."

As soon as he finished speaking, a wisp of golden flame appeared in Xiao Tian Ce's hand, radiating heat that could destroy heaven and earth. Even someone as powerful as Xiao Xuan dared not take this flame lightly.

"Tsk, tsk. What a fortunate encounter! It really is the golden emperor burning heaven flame!

"Hmm, no. This should be a child flame, only nurtured through a secret method until it became comparable to the parent flame," Xiao Xuan assessed.

For him to discern that much with his own eyes was impressive indeed.

"Impressive, Brother Xuan. I thought you'd mistake it for the Gu Clan's golden emperor burning heaven flame that I'd absorbed. I didn't expect you to recognize it as a child flame," Xiao Tian Ce said with a smile.

"Don't underestimate me so much, brat. If I didn't even have that much discernment, how could I keep Gu Yuan and Hun Tiandi in check?

"Besides, if you could take the golden emperor burning heaven flame from the Gu Clan without anyone noticing, I might as well give up. With your current strength, Gu Yuan would probably discover you before you even touched it.

"Still, you have surprised me somewhat. You've raised your strength to Late Six-Star Dou Saint, and judging by your aura, you seem to be forcibly suppressing the Dou Qi inside you. Otherwise, you might even have become a Seven-Star Dou Saint.

"Moreover, knowing how you like to hide your abilities, even a peak eight-star Dou Saint probably couldn't be certain of defeating you now.

"Truly impressive, Tian Ce. Seeing you possess this kind of strength at last has really put my mind at ease!" Xiao Xuan said with some emotion.

At the same time, he could not help regretting it. If Tian Ce had avoided Hun Tiandi's sneak attack back then and had not lost those hundred years, the Xiao Clan might now have had two Nine-Star Dou Sheng powerhouses among the Ancient Eight Clans.

"After falling behind for so many years, I have to catch up.

"Besides, Brother Xuan, you know that although I seem mild-tempered, I'm certainly not someone willing to remain beneath others.

"When we chose the clan leader back then, I only accepted it because you were the one chosen, Brother Xuan. Had it been anyone else, I wouldn't have agreed." Xiao Tian Ce exuded a commanding air he had not shown before, leaving Xiao Xuan momentarily stunned.

"Hahaha, then isn't your opportunity right here?

"Whether my attempt to reach Dou Di succeeds or fails, I won't be able to remain the Xiao Clan's leader. Once the coffin is closed and everything is settled, the position will be yours." Xiao Xuan laughed heartily, speaking with great boldness.

Beside him, Xiao Tian Ce also heard the helplessness in Xiao Xuan's words. He tried once more to persuade him. "Brother Xuan, since you know the likelihood of failure is so high, why do you still insist?"

"It's simple. Because I am Xiao Xuan.

"Becoming a Dou Di has always been my dream. If I can't glimpse that realm and stand above Dou Di in this lifetime, there's no difference between living and dying for me.

"The reason I've kept hesitating all these years is that I'm afraid this act of mine will reduce the entire Xiao Clan to ashes.

"Now that you've awakened and your strength has improved so much, you're strong enough to protect our clansmen." An overwhelmingly domineering aura flashed around Xiao Xuan, his eyes filled with resolve.

Seeing this, Xiao Tian Ce fell silent. He knew that once Xiao Xuan decided on something, no one could change his mind unless he came around on his own.

"In that case, I wish you an early ascent to the Dou Di realm, Brother Xuan.

"But I'm afraid I can't do what you just said, Brother Xuan. As you pointed out, at most, I can hold my own against a peak eight-star Dou Saint right now. If the fight drags on, I'll suffer an outright defeat.

"If a Nine-Star Dou Sheng powerhouse really appears, I won't stand a chance.

"As a Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint yourself, Brother Xuan, you should understand that the distance between eight stars and nine stars is no small gap.

"So I can't protect all our clansmen. I'll still need you to put on an act with me, Brother Xuan," Xiao Tian Ce said, shaking his head with a sigh.

Hearing this, Xiao Xuan nodded helplessly, then sighed. "We can only do everything within our power and leave the rest to heaven. Whatever happens, you still have ten years. No matter how strong you are by then, I won't be able to keep waiting for you to grow.

"As for the clansmen of the other branches, it will depend on their fate. Whether they live or die, let heaven decide."

As he spoke, Xiao Xuan turned to look earnestly at Xiao Tian Ce and continued in a low voice, "Tian Ce, if only Hun Tiandi hadn't ambushed you back then!"

"What's done is done. There's no use talking about it now. But I can promise you that I won't squander these ten years," Xiao Tian Ce said solemnly as he rose.

"Good. I believe you."

With that, Xiao Xuan vanished, leaving barely even a detectable ripple in space.

"A Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint... One day, I, Xiao Tian Ce, will stand at the pinnacle of the entire Dou Qi Continent too."

Xiao Tian Ce let out a wistful sigh, then went to the ninth floor of Heavenly Strategy Manor.

Time slipped by, and nearly an hour had passed since Xiao Chun left.

"Hmm? Why hasn't Second Uncle come back yet?"

Xiao Tian Ce frowned, puzzled.

Just as he spoke, Xiao Chun suddenly appeared, carrying a piece of mithril weighing roughly a hundred kilograms.

"Tian Ce, take a look. Is this the mithril you wanted?" Xiao Chun asked hastily as he set it on the floor.

Yet Xiao Tian Ce did not answer. He looked at Xiao Chun's cuffs, which were damaged in several places. Coupled with his somewhat unsteady aura, it was obvious that he had just fought someone.

"Second Uncle, did someone give you trouble?" Xiao Tian Ce asked, his expression darkening.

Seeing his expression, Xiao Chun hurriedly waved his hands. "Tian Ce, it's nothing. It wasn't really a fight. We merely exchanged a few moves.

"Take a look first. Is this the mithril you need? If not, I'll make another trip to the Treasure Pavilion."

Xiao Chun's gaze shifted evasively. Presumably, he did not want to expose Xiao Tian Ce's current strength.

"Ah, born of the same root, why burn each other so fiercely?

"Thank you for your efforts, Second Uncle. This is exactly the mithril I need. Please head back and get some proper rest!" Xiao Tian Ce sighed, neither saying he would intervene nor saying he would not.

Today's two updates are here. I still haven't seen you brothers report how many chapters I owe you! Please send some votes, tips, or whatever you can to boost Wumeng's confidence. Otherwise, tipping myself would be a little embarrassing, hahaha.