Xiao Realm, Heavenly Strategy Manor.
After Xiao Xuan left, Xiao Tian Ce sat alone by the window, drinking tea. In the distant Martial Arts Arena, the Xiao Clan's children gritted their teeth as they persevered in practicing Dou Techniques and sparred with one another. The sight reminded him that they, too, had been just like that as children.
He had transmigrated here more than ten years ago. Although he had never experienced those things himself, he had inherited all the original owner's memories.
After so many years, he had almost forgotten what his original world looked like.
"Ah, was it Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming of Zhuang Zhou?"
As time passed, Xiao Tian Ce could no longer quite tell whether this world's Xiao Tian Ce had transmigrated to that other world and then returned, or whether his self from that world had transmigrated here. In any case, he possessed the memories of both lives, but the distinction had grown somewhat blurred.
Still, he did not dwell on it. Whatever the case, they were both him.
As he was thinking this, Xiao Chun walked in.
"Tian Ce!"
"Second Uncle, you're here. Come, sit down."
After inviting Xiao Chun to sit, Xiao Tian Ce poured him a cup of tea, then asked with a smile, "I thought you'd come looking for me right away!"
"Hahaha, I did arrive quite early. But I sensed the clan leader's presence just now and thought you two must have something to discuss, so I decided to wait until you were finished," Xiao Chun said with a smile.
"I see. How have things been in the clan lately?" Xiao Tian Ce nodded, then asked about the clan's recent situation.
"Nothing much has happened. By the way, why didn't Tian Ming come back with you this time? That brat must be having so much fun out there that he's forgotten himself!" Xiao Chun said with a chuckle.
Xiao Tian Ming was his son. He had not seen him in years and missed him dearly.
But as a father, he was too embarrassed to say certain things outright, so he could only inquire about his son this way.
Xiao Tian Ce immediately understood what he meant and explained with a smile, "Don't blame Tian Ming, Second Uncle. I sent him to the northwest."
"The northwest? If I remember correctly, there doesn't seem to be anything worth paying attention to over there, does there?"
Xiao Chun was rather puzzled. He had visited the Northwest Continent in his youth, but unfortunately, he had not encountered even a single expert. After traveling around for a while, he had returned to the Central Plains.
That was why he could not understand why Xiao Tian Ce would send a Dou Sheng Expert like Xiao Tian Ming to the Northwest Continent.
"Here's what happened, Second Uncle. A few years ago, Tian Ming visited the northwest. He said that land gave him a sense of peace, so not long after returning, he went back there.
"But rest assured, Tian Ming is safe. There's no need to worry!" Xiao Tian Ce explained with a smile.
He remembered that Xiao Tian Ming had changed somewhat after returning from his last visit to the northwest. However, he had been busy studying Spiritual Arrays at the time and had not given it much thought.
Only when Xiao Tian Ming said he wanted to visit the Northwest Continent again had he found it somewhat strange.
But his study of Spiritual Arrays had kept him from looking into it, so he still did not know exactly why Xiao Tian Ming wanted to return to the northwest.
Across from him, Xiao Chun shook his head with a wry smile after hearing the explanation. "I'm not worried about his safety. After all, he's a Dou Sheng Expert. There's no one in the Northwest Continent who could threaten him.
"It's just that the brat hasn't come home in years, and his mother is worried about him. That's why she made me come ask how he's doing."
"I see. It's only natural that Second Aunt misses him. Still, it won't be much longer, Second Uncle. The clan leader will attempt to break through to the Dou Di Realm a year from today, and he'll finish collecting the Dou Di Bloodline within three months.
"In other words, it's time to set our plan in motion. In two months at most, the members of our branch will accompany us to Heaven Beyond.
"Once we reach Heaven Beyond, we can send word for Tian Ming to come back for a visit," Xiao Tian Ce said, nodding with a smile.
"We're moving so soon?"
Xiao Chun was startled. He had thought they still had a year, never expecting things to be brought forward by several months.
"Yes. After speaking with the clan leader today, I found that the situation is far from encouraging.
"Unless something unexpected happens, the moment the clan leader fails to break through to the Dou Di Realm will be the moment the Hun Clan attacks the Xiao Realm.
"Moreover, the Heavenly Secret Tower and the Heavenly Net have recently discovered that the Soul Hall has been unusually active. It seems something major is about to happen.
"According to the Heavenly Secret Tower's assessment, the Soul Hall will likely join in as well, helping the Hun Clan encircle and wipe out our Xiao Clan!" Xiao Tian Ce sighed before explaining.
"The Soul Hall? That force backed by the Hun Clan?" Xiao Chun asked coldly, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
Seeing this, Xiao Tian Ce quickly waved a hand, signaling him not to get angry, then continued, "Second Uncle, there's no need to be angry. Although the Soul Hall is powerful and well known in the Central Plains, to the Xiao Clan, it's nothing but an ant we could crush at any moment.
"Besides, if the Hun Clan truly attacks the Xiao Clan, the Soul Hall will merely beat the drum from the sidelines and lend a helping hand. It won't amount to much.
"The ones we truly need to guard against are the Hun Clan.
"But we can't take action. After losing their Dou Di Bloodline, our clansmen will drop several levels in strength. Against the Hun Clan, they'll have little chance of victory."
At this point, Xiao Tian Ce sighed again. It was not that he did not want to help, but once the Xiao Clan lost Xiao Xuan, he had no confidence that he could deal with Hun Tiandi and all the Hun Clan's experts.
"Only after speaking with the clan leader today did I learn that our clansmen are too proud to ask the Gu Clan for help. And the Gu Clan might not agree anyway. With no other choice, we can only preserve the members of our own branch first.
"Also, Second Uncle, in a few days, members of the other branches should start sending their outstanding juniors to us. I'm sorry for the trouble, but please take good care of them when the time comes," Xiao Tian Ce said solemnly.
Xiao Chun considered this briefly, then understood. He nodded and promised, "Don't worry, Tian Ce. They're all members of the Xiao Clan, after all. I'll make the arrangements.
"But is there truly no way for us to save all our clansmen?
"If we could preserve everyone, it would benefit our future development as well."
Xiao Tian Ce knew what Xiao Chun meant. He also knew that saving all their clansmen would certainly help their future development.
After all, aside from Xiao Xuan, the Xiao Clan had dozens of Dou Sheng Experts and hundreds of Dou Zun.
That was a powerful source of support they could not overlook.
Yet although he wanted to save them too, the strength of his branch alone was nowhere near enough to oppose the Hun Clan. If they failed, they might very well drag their own branch down with them.
"Second Uncle, to be safe, we should consider this carefully before acting. As things stand, even if we offered to take in the members of the other branches, they wouldn't agree.
"After all, the Xiao Clan's ten thousand years of glory have rooted their pride deep in their bones. Forget relying on the Gu Clan's strength to escape this predicament-even if we took the initiative to help them, they might not appreciate it.
"Rather than that, let them endure some hardship first. We'll judge the situation a year from now. If we can help, we certainly will," Xiao Tian Ce said with a sigh.
Across from him, Xiao Chun's expression darkened. Of course he knew what the Xiao Clan Members were like now. Every one of them thought themselves extraordinary. Honor and glory were what they cherished most, and not even death could erase that.
"Ah, that's all we can do!"
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