"This is rather like a storage device!"
Heaven Beyond, inside a secluded chamber.
After voicing his amazement, Xiao Tian Ce put the token away, then sat cross-legged again and began recovering his Dou Qi.
For the past two months, he had neither slept nor rested. Not only had he exhausted the Dou Qi in his body, but he had also expended a tremendous amount of soul power. If he did not hurry to recover his Dou Qi, his life would be in danger.
As he circulated his Heaven Tier cultivation method, the Dou Qi between heaven and earth began steadily filling his body. It swept in like a tornado, continuously surging through him.
Three days later, his Dou Qi had fully recovered. Yet despite those three days, his depleted soul power had barely been replenished, and his body still felt somewhat unwell.
However, once he began circulating the Heaven Soul Art again, his soul power steadily recovered as well.
Another day passed before both his Dou Qi and soul returned to their peak condition. Only then did he open his eyes and marvel, "The Heaven Soul Art truly is formidable. It deserves to stand shoulder to shoulder with high-grade Heaven Tier cultivation methods. It restored my soul power to its peak so quickly. Incredible."
Even with his wealth of knowledge and experience, the Heaven Soul Art's ability to restore an intermediate Heaven Realm soul so quickly left him clicking his tongue in admiration.
Once he finished marveling, he was in no hurry to study the token. This seclusion had lasted quite a while, and he needed to go out and see what had changed.
Boom!
As the massive stone door rose, Xiao Tian Ce walked out.
"Greetings, Clan Head!"
The moment Xiao Tian Ce stepped outside the stone door, he saw a clansman at the Seven-Star Dou Zun Peak bowing to him.
"Hmm? Xiao Long, why are you standing guard here?" Xiao Tian Ce was somewhat puzzled. He was not so extravagant as to use a Seven-Star Dou Zun Peak expert as his doorkeeper.
"Clan Head, Elder Qing arranged it. She said you had been in seclusion for a long time, and if you suddenly emerged, someone should be here to see what you needed.
"So I volunteered and took on this guard duty," Xiao Long replied respectfully.
To him, having the chance to approach someone as important as the clan head was an honor. If the clan head took a liking to him and casually offered him a few pointers, would that not be better than staying outside?
"I see. Since Qing'er arranged it, stay by my side for now. Once we have more clansmen here, I will assign you to another post." Xiao Tian Ce nodded with a smile.
"Thank you, Clan Head. It is my honor." Overjoyed, Xiao Long hurriedly bowed again.
"There is no need for such ceremony. Go make the arrangements. I want to bathe, and bring me something to eat as well," Xiao Tian Ce instructed with a wave.
"Yes. Please wait a moment, Clan Head. I will see to it immediately."
After Xiao Long left, the corners of Xiao Tian Ce's mouth lifted slightly. Since Xiao Qing could assign a Seven-Star Dou Zun Peak expert here, the situation outside must already be largely under her control. Otherwise, she would never waste such a powerful fighting force here.
Before long, the hot water was ready. Sitting in the enormous wooden tub, Xiao Tian Ce felt the soothing comfort wash over his body, and his mood could not help improving.
Half an hour later, just as he finished his meal, Xiao Tian Ming walked in with a radiant smile on his face.
"Brother Ce, you're out of seclusion."
"Sit. I just came out. Judging by that smile, you must have some good news.
"Hmm, wait-you've broken through!" Xiao Tian Ce said with a smile. Then, after probing Xiao Tian Ming's aura, he spoke in surprise.
"Hehe, nothing gets past you, Brother Ce. You saw it at a glance.
"I was stuck at Peak Three-Star Dou Saint for decades. After all these years, even I had given up hope. Who would have thought that after coming out here, I would advance so quickly under Senior Huang Jiuji's guidance?" Xiao Tian Ming said happily.
Hearing this, Xiao Tian Ce froze for a moment. He had not expected Huang Jiuji to take the initiative to guide Tian Ming's cultivation.
"You went to visit Senior Huang Jiuji?"
"Qing'er came back last month and introduced me to him. After I exchanged a few words with Senior Huang Jiuji, he saw my problem at a glance. He simply gave me a few pointers, and that was how I advanced," Xiao Tian Ming said with a smile.
"I see. I was wondering, since Senior Huang Jiuji has always stayed in the Heavenly Phoenix Palace and never normally comes out."
Realization dawned on Xiao Tian Ce, though he also felt some regret.
Within all of Heaven Beyond, an old veteran like Huang Jiuji possessed not only vast experience but also exceptional insight. If he truly agreed to come out and oversee Heaven Beyond, he would play an enormous role in strengthening the Xiao Clan here.
"By the way, Brother Ce, I plan to make a trip to the continent's northwest."
While Xiao Tian Ce was pondering this, Xiao Tian Ming cupped his hands and spoke.
"The northwest? What are you going there for? As far as I remember, we have no arrangements there!" Xiao Tian Ce asked, somewhat puzzled.
"The clan chief sent me a message a while ago. He said he had sent several clansmen to the continent's northwest, but had not assigned any clan experts to protect them in secret at the time. So he asked me to go and see how those people are doing now," Xiao Tian Ming explained.
At those words, Xiao Tian Ce immediately understood. If nothing unexpected happened, these clansmen were very likely the ancestors from whom Flame Emperor Xiao Yan would one day descend.
The northwest of the Dou Qi Continent had always been its weakest region. At this point, the strongest person in the entire Northwest Continent was probably no more than a Dou Zun.
As for the Misty Cloud Sect, the major antagonist in the early part of the original story, it probably had not even been founded yet.
With that thought, Xiao Tian Ce looked at Xiao Tian Ming and nodded. "In that case, you may as well go and take a look. Also, while you are on the Northwest Continent, pay some attention to which reasonably powerful sects currently exist there.
"In roughly a thousand years, that region will also be one of the places where we lay our plans. It would be good to have a look."
Although he did not understand why the timing had been set a thousand years in the future, Xiao Tian Ming still nodded. "All right. Since you intend to lay plans there, Brother Ce, I will leave a few contingencies in place during this trip."
"There is no need. When you head northwest this time, you must not let anyone from the other Ancient Seven Clans notice. If you leave contingencies behind, people from the other seven clans may very well discover them.
"Also, after you find those clansmen, help erase the traces of their whereabouts. Be careful not to leave too obvious a mark," Xiao Tian Ce hurriedly interrupted with a wave.
Xiao Yan was one of his fallback plans. If he could not achieve an overwhelming victory over the Hun Clan himself, then Xiao Yan's emergence would be his final recourse.
After all, with no Origin Qi in existence now, there was simply no way to advance to the Dou Di Realm.
And to break through space and ascend to the Great Thousand World, a Dou Di had to emerge on the Dou Qi Continent.
"All right, rest assured, Brother Ce. If I find traces of the clansmen, I will do my best to erase them," Xiao Tian Ming said, cupping his hands.
He had never liked thinking things through, but since Brother Ce had given him instructions, he would simply follow them.
"Mm. Although there are no powerful experts in the northwest, you must still be careful. Go and return quickly." Xiao Tian Ce nodded with a smile.
"Yes. Then I will set out now."
With that, Xiao Tian Ming bowed, turned, and left Heaven Beyond.
After he left, Xiao Tian Ce thought about how long it had been since he had seen Huang Jiuji. Now that he was out of seclusion, he ought to pay him a visit.
His figure flashed, and he soon appeared inside the Heavenly Phoenix Palace.
"This junior, Xiao Tian Ce, greets Senior Huang!"
I was so tired yesterday that I accidentally fell asleep, so I now owe several more chapters. I'll make them up after my exam on the ninth.
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