Heavenly Eye Mountain Range, Heaven Beyond.
Since their return to Heaven Beyond three days earlier, the once utterly deserted Secret Realm had instantly come alive.
Heavenly Strategy Manor, ninth floor.
Huang Jiuji sat opposite Xiao Tian Ce, listening to his account, and clapped approvingly. "Excellent, excellent! Your plan was simple, but it covered every angle. The most brilliant part was swapping the Life Tablets and having them shatter.
"Even if the other seven ancient clans harbor suspicions, the shattered Life Tablets will put those doubts to rest."
"Alas, Senior, we had no other choice. Without doing that, I'm afraid we couldn't have faked our deaths and escaped.
"If I could reach the nine-star Dou Sheng realm, the Hun Clan would be nothing to fear. Why would I need a scheme like this to escape?" Xiao Tian Ce sighed, then gave a bitter smile.
Huang Jiuji shook his head and smiled. "Didn't you say it yourself? As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn.
"A temporary retreat means nothing. Now that you've moved from the open into the shadows, the initiative is in your hands. A little humiliation hardly matters.
"Unfortunately, your clan leader's obsession runs too deep. Otherwise, with you and him around, the Xiao Clan would surely remain the strongest faction on the Dou Qi Continent.
"What a pity. Such a pity to lose an expert like Xiao Xuan."
Hearing those repeated laments and seeing the sorrow on Huang Jiuji's face, Xiao Tian Ce knew he was recalling the Heavenly Huang Clan's plight.
After a moment's thought, Xiao Tian Ce offered no comfort, but sighed instead. "Isn't that the truth? Brother Xuan knew perfectly well that without origin qi, reaching the Dou Di Realm was impossible, yet he still chose this path. It inspires both admiration and sorrow!"
"What's done is done. Dwelling on it now is useless. Experts like Xiao Xuan have convictions of their own. Even knowing he would fail, he would still see it through.
"All we can say is that it was his time and his fate. Nothing more.
"But according to you, you'll master Ninth-Tier Spiritual Arrays within two years at most. When that happens, will you still choose to remain hidden?" Huang Jiuji asked gently.
In his eyes, Xiao Tian Ce had already done everything he could. There was no need to agonize over what was settled. That time would be better spent thinking about the future.
Across from him, Xiao Tian Ce fell silent for a moment, then raised his head to look at Huang Jiuji and shook it. "Let's wait until this matter is over before deciding. I'll probably return to the open, but exactly when will depend on when my identity is exposed.
"Once this is over, I'll be able to become a Ninth-Tier Spiritual Array Master. Then I'll visit the Yao Clan myself and ask their clan leader to refine a Ninth Grade Golden Pill, helping your two descendants come into the world.
"By then, even if my identity is exposed, it won't matter. As a Ninth-Tier Spiritual Array Master, I'll have no fear even if I face the entire Hun Clan alone!"
A flash of delighted surprise crossed Huang Jiuji's eyes. Although he had thought Xiao Tian Ce would agree to his condition, he had expected its fulfillment to take at least several hundred years.
After all, advancing from an eighth-tier alchemist to a Ninth-Grade Grandmaster Alchemist would take many years.
He had never expected Xiao Tian Ce to forge another path by going straight to the Yao Clan and asking their clan leader to act. That approach should pose little difficulty.
Once his two clansmen came into the world, the Heavenly Huang Clan would have hope for the future.
"I won't waste words on thanks. I'll remember this in my heart," Huang Jiuji said with a smile.
"You're too kind, Senior. Between us, what need is there for thanks? You're now the supreme elder of our Xiao Clan. Naturally, I must do my utmost to fulfill your request.
"Unfortunately, reaching the level of a Ninth-Grade Grandmaster Alchemist won't be so easy for me. Rather than make you wait a hundred years, I might as well go straight to the Yao Clan.
"With their clan leader's alchemical skill, refining a Ninth Grade Golden Pill should be no problem." Xiao Tian Ce waved a hand and smiled.
"Hahaha! Then I'll look forward to that day arriving soon. If I can help my clan's descendants come into the world, I'll have few regrets left in this life." Huang Jiuji laughed heartily, his eyes brimming with hope.
"That day will come."
Xiao Tian Ce smiled faintly, utterly certain.
Once he became a Ninth-Tier Spiritual Array Master, the Yao Clan alone would be unable to refuse his request.
As long as he could bring back the Ninth Grade Golden Pill and help the Heavenly Huang Clan's two descendants come into the world, he would no longer have to worry about letting Huang Jiuji down.
After all, he had taken all the Heavenly Huang Clan's resources. If he failed to deliver, wouldn't that be like pulling out his dick and heartlessly walking away? He could never do such a thing.
A man could not stand without keeping his word. What had to be honored must be honored.
While the two were talking, Xiao Qing strode in.
"Third Uncle, Master, I'm back."
As soon as she entered, Xiao Qing bowed respectfully to them both.
Xiao Qing had still not broken through over the past few years, remaining at peak seven-star Dou Saint cultivation. Compared with the unstable Dou Qi she had possessed nine years earlier, however, her Dou Qi was now exceptionally solid. Had Xiao Tian Ce not made her forcibly suppress it, she would probably have already reached the Early Eight-Star Dou Saint stage.
"Tell me, have the other seven clans received the news?" Xiao Tian Ce nodded and asked with a smile.
"Third Uncle, all seven have received it. But apart from the Hun Clan, the other six seem to have shown no reaction whatsoever," Xiao Qing reported respectfully.
Hearing this, Xiao Tian Ce smiled. "That's perfectly normal. Although all belong to the Ancient Eight Clans, each clan's circumstances differ. The Xiao Clan, Gu Clan, and Hun Clan have always stood a head above the other five in strength.
"The strongest members of the Yan Clan, Lei Clan, Yao Clan, Stone Clan, and Spirit Clan are merely eight-star Dou Shengs. Even if our Xiao Clan faces extermination, those five clans won't dare act rashly.
"As for the Gu Clan, Gu Yuan has a mild temperament and no drive to advance. He only wants to guard his own little patch of land. As long as no one invades his clan, he essentially won't consider intervening.
"And the Hun Clan's actions were within our expectations all along. Since Hun Tiandi intends to destroy the Xiao Clan, he'll inevitably empty the nest and bring out every last force. Mobilizing ahead of time is only natural.
"Besides, he isn't afraid of being noticed. The Xiao Clan and Hun Clan are sworn enemies anyway. You want to kill me, and I want to kill you. As long as the clan leaders stay put, they can act without fear."
Beside him, Huang Jiuji nodded at Xiao Tian Ce's analysis, then interjected, "Several thousand years ago, I heard of clashes between your Xiao Clan and the Hun Clan. You fought so savagely you practically beat human brains into dog brains. To think that after thousands of years, your two clans are still the same."
"Hehe, you're right, Senior. Still, things have improved greatly over the past few centuries. Everyone agreed on a rule: five-star Dou Shengs generally don't venture out into the world. So even when conflicts occur, they aren't too serious," Xiao Tian Ce said, smiling and nodding.
"True. After fighting for so long, everyone gradually learned where to draw the line, and stopped dealing killing blows in public.
"Well, we've talked enough today. I'll head back first. You and Qing'er carry on." Huang Jiuji smiled, then rose to take his leave.
Only after seeing him off did Xiao Qing continue, "Third Uncle, a few days ago, I captured a member of the Hun Clan and learned the specifics of their strength from him. Apart from Hun Tiandi, they actually have four eight-star Dou Sheng experts. If we include the recovered Nihility Devouring Flame, that makes a full five eight-star Dou Shengs.
"Together with their other Dou Shengs, they have more than a hundred Dou Sheng experts in total. If such a mighty force truly empties the nest and comes out in full, I'm afraid our Xiao Clan's chances of survival will be slim indeed!"
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