"An improved eighth-tier Spirit Gathering Array... its effects seem pretty good!"
Heaven Beyond, White Jade Capital.
Everyone's heart surged with excitement at Xiao Tian Ce's remark. None of those present were fools; they naturally understood what the environment inside White Jade Capital would mean for the Xiao Clan.
"Tian Ce, just what is this so-called Spirit Gathering Array? I've lived so long, yet I've never seen anything like it!" Xiao Chun asked delightedly.
At his words, everyone turned to look. They, too, wanted to know what a Spirit Gathering Array actually was.
Even if they could not learn it themselves, knowing more certainly would not hurt.
"A Spirit Gathering Array is a type of Spiritual Array. I was fortunate enough to learn it through a chance encounter. Unfortunately, becoming a Spiritual Array Master on the Dou Qi Continent requires extremely demanding conditions. Gathering the materials alone is enough to make people shrink back at the prospect.
"If an opportunity arises in the future, I'll select some outstanding juniors from the clan to learn it!
"For now, everyone can experience the benefits this Spirit Gathering Array brings," Xiao Tian Ce explained with a smile.
As he had said, the requirements for becoming a Spiritual Array Master were far too demanding. Leaving talent aside, merely crafting the token that could convert dou qi into spiritual energy had consumed a considerable amount of his materials.
With the materials he currently had, even using the bare minimum and guaranteeing a hundred-percent success rate, he could only make two more tokens.
In other words, in the worst case, he might well remain the only Spiritual Array Master on the entire Dou Qi Continent.
No one minded, though, because the dou qi inside White Jade Capital had already captivated them.
Had Xiao Tian Ce and the other leaders not been present, Xiao Bieli and his companions would probably have started cultivating immediately. An environment where they could absorb dou qi directly was truly a rare find.
Just then, Xiao Chun offered a solemn, earnest suggestion. "Tian Ce, White Jade Capital is exceptionally effective for cultivation. I suggest we regulate access. Only those who have contributed to our clan should be allowed to cultivate inside, and each visit should have a time limit.
"Otherwise, once everyone learns the benefits of cultivating inside White Jade Capital, they probably won't want to leave after entering.
"Also, I just worked it out. Although White Jade Capital has a full twelve floors, it can accommodate at most five Dou Sheng-level experts cultivating at once. For Dou Zuns or those below that level, it can hold more, but not many more."
"The second elder is right. Please establish the rules, Clan Head!" everyone called out in unison.
Xiao Qing, Xiao Tian Ming, and the others all supported the suggestion as well.
Xiao Tian Ce naturally agreed. Looking at Xiao Chun, he smiled and said, "Since Second Uncle proposed it, I'll leave drafting the rules to you. Once they're ready, we'll vote on them at a meeting. The minority will follow the majority, and anything receiving more than half the votes will pass. Afterward, everyone must follow them strictly.
"Furthermore, White Jade Capital needs a Dou Sheng Expert stationed here to prevent clan members from causing trouble inside. Second Uncle, while drafting the rules, please also establish a rotation system for the tower guardians.
"During their term, tower guardians may freely enter and leave White Jade Capital. Each guardian will serve for one year before the position rotates."
Xiao Chun noted down each point, then cupped his hands. "Rest assured, Clan Head. I'll make all the proper arrangements."
"Good. Thank you for your efforts, Second Uncle."
As Xiao Tian Ce spoke, he looked at everyone, who was already itching to test the effects, and chided them with a laugh. "Today is the first day this Spirit Gathering Array has been completed, so consider this a treat. You're free to do as you please. Whenever you can't hold on any longer, come out yourselves.
"Oh, right. The effects inside White Jade Capital are excellent, but those around it aren't bad either. Explore them yourselves and designate some cultivation spots. Let the clan's juniors compete for first choice of those spots."
"Yes, Clan Head."
With everything arranged, Xiao Tian Ce's figure suddenly flickered, then vanished.
A short while later, he returned to Heavenly Strategy Manor.
He had only just appeared when Huang Jiuji's Soul Body drifted swiftly over.
"Grand Supreme Elder."
"Boy, I just sensed the dou qi between heaven and earth grow somewhat thinner. Was that your doing, Tian Ce?" Huang Jiuji asked with a smile.
As a peak eight-star Dou Saint, even though he had only a Soul Body left, his Heavenly Huang Clan lineage still allowed him to detect this change.
"I just erected a Spirit Gathering Array in the northeastern corner. It can convert the violent dou qi between heaven and earth, allowing it to be absorbed directly into the body for cultivation.
"What you sensed, Grand Supreme Elder, was probably the change when the Spirit Gathering Array first activated," Xiao Tian Ce said with a smile, cupping his hands.
"What did you say, Tian Ce? Don't joke with me. Does that Spirit Gathering Array of yours really have such an effect?" Huang Jiuji was stunned and hurriedly pressed him.
"Of course. If you don't believe me, Grand Supreme Elder, you can go over and take a look. Inside that exquisite octagonal tower called White Jade Capital, the dou qi is already on the verge of condensing into liquid," Xiao Tian Ce said with a chuckle.
There was no reason for him to lie about something like this. Besides, Huang Jiuji deserved considerable credit for how far he had come.
"All right, carry on with your business. I'll go experience it myself. If it's true, Tian Ce, perhaps you can solve a major problem."
With that, Huang Jiuji vanished swiftly—or rather, his entire Soul Body vanished swiftly.
Seeing him rush off like that, Xiao Tian Ce shook his head with a helpless smile.
Suddenly, he turned toward the Ten-Thousand-Year Green Lotus nearby. Sensing the energy emanating from the Green Lotus Core Flame, he immediately smiled.
"Du Ming, you've spent almost ten years cultivating this time, you rascal. You're finally finished," Xiao Tian Ce said cheerfully.
"Du Ming greets you, Master."
The Green Lotus Core Flame transformed into a child of five or six and bowed to Xiao Tian Ce, speaking in a childish voice. The sight was rather comical.
"Come here. You've gained quite a lot from this cultivation session!"
Xiao Tian Ce had originally widened the meridians in his palm, preparing to let Xiao Du Ming, the Heavenly Flames Spirit, reside within them. Unexpectedly, shortly after they returned to Heaven Beyond, he had said he needed a lengthy period of secluded cultivation.
Now, Xiao Du Ming's strength as a Heavenly Flames Spirit rivaled that of a Peak Dou Zun. With one more step forward, the Dou Sheng realm would be within reach.
In this respect, Heavenly Flames, those wondrous creations of heaven and earth, truly enjoyed nature's special favor.
"Hehe, Master, I really have grown much stronger this time. It's all thanks to you having people gather powerful beast flames for me to absorb. Otherwise, reaching my current level would probably have taken several hundred more years."
"You've already done very well. It's just a pity that you can only cultivate by absorbing flames. If you could practice a cultivation method, I really would have an excellent place for you.
"But never mind. Your current strength is already quite impressive, and with you staying in Heaven Beyond, there's practically no danger.
"Also, you're a Peak Dou Zun now, so you'll have a certain standing in the Xiao Clan from now on. Think of a title for yourself, or the little ones in the clan won't know what to call you!" Xiao Tian Ce said cheerfully, stroking Xiao Du Ming's little head.
The little fellow tilted his head and pondered for a long while with a troubled expression. Finally, he looked up at Xiao Tian Ce and pleaded, "Master, please give me a title!"
"Sure. Since you're the Heavenly Flame spirit of the Green Lotus Core Flame, we'll use 'Qinglian.' You're a Dou Zun now, so you'll be called the Green Lotus Venerable. Once you become a Dou Sheng, you'll be called the Green Lotus Saint," Xiao Tian Ce said after some thought.
"Thank you for granting me a title, Master. I'm the Green Lotus Venerable now! Hehe."
How many updates a day would get the readers on Qidian to vote? My Qidian stats are terrible. Without decent stats, I can't even get a recommendation slot. Every recommendation I've received has been on QQ Reading. Sigh, it's worrying me to death.
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