"Damn it, where's the clan leader? Isn't he doing anything about this?"
On the ninth floor of Heavenly Strategy Manor.
After hearing the account, Xiao Tian Ce's fury blazed three feet high. What kind of joke was this? They were all members of the Xiao Clan, yet they were using his branch's people as cannon fodder?
"Brother Ce, don't get angry just yet."
Seeing his expression darken, Xiao Tian Ming hurriedly explained, "It's not that the clan leader did nothing. A hundred years ago, when Hun Tiandi of the Hun Clan ambushed and gravely wounded you, the clan leader brought you back, then went to the Hun Clan alone.
Hun Tiandi proved no match for him, so he ordered the Hun Clan's Dou Sheng Experts to gang up on the clan leader.
The clan leader wounded Hun Tiandi while surrounded, but he was injured himself. It took him a full thirty years to recover.
That was precisely why the clansmen felt that, if not for you, the clan leader would never have been injured. That's why they targeted our branch.
After recovering, the clan leader went into seclusion. He only emerged shortly before you woke up."
Xiao Tian Ce felt somewhat better after hearing this. Since Xiao Xuan was not at fault, he no longer had anything to hold him back.
"I understand."
His expression eased a little, and he sighed. "We're all members of the Xiao Clan, but since the other branches have gone this far, I no longer need to consider our past bonds."
He looked at the three of them and continued in a grave voice, "I intend to establish a force in the Central Plains, but on the surface, no one can know that it has any connection to our Xiao Clan.
Since Brother Xuan has given me ten years to prepare, those ten years will be our best opportunity to build that force."
Across from him, Xiao Chun pondered for a moment, then asked in puzzlement, "Tian Ce, you mean to establish a force that must have no apparent connection to the Xiao Clan?
Are you doing this because you're worried the clan leader won't succeed in breaking through to Dou Di, and that something might happen to the Xiao Clan?"
"Exactly. I don't believe Brother Xuan will succeed, so we must prepare for the possibility of the Xiao Clan being wiped out.
Once Brother Xuan falls, the Hun Clan and the other ancient Emperor Clans hostile to us will certainly not spare us.
As long as Brother Xuan is here, nothing will happen to the Xiao Clan. But if he falls, our clansmen, stripped of the power of their Dou Di bloodline, will be unable to contend with the other Emperor Clans.
Therefore, we must establish a force in the Central Plains to serve as our refuge. In time, that force will also become our branch's hope of restoring the Xiao Clan's glory."
Xiao Tian Ce considered it. Once Xiao Xuan fell, the Xiao Realm would probably cease to exist as well. Given the Hun Clan's nature, they would undoubtedly hunt the Xiao Clan down to the last person.
His branch, however, was confident they could leave safely without being caught up in it.
But they could hardly hide for the rest of their lives, could they?
Thus, establishing a force was necessary, both to make their operations easier and to keep track of developments in the Central Plains at all times.
"I understand what you mean, Brother Ce. In that case, let me go. I'll disguise myself. With my strength, I need only raise my arm and call, and powerful experts will surely be willing to follow me. I could establish a mighty force in a short time," Xiao Tian Ming said with a nod.
"No. None of us can show our faces. Dou Sheng Experts aren't cabbages you can find everywhere. If one suddenly appears, the Hun Clan and the other Emperor Clans will easily notice.
Tian Ming, select two people from our branch, preferably clansmen who aren't known to others.
Only then will the force they establish avoid arousing suspicion.
Also, in a few days, I'll take away all our clansmen at Dou Zun or above to retrain and nurture them. I'll also open up a new space to house our people," Xiao Tian Ce said gravely.
Xiao Tian Ming nodded, thought for a moment, then asked, "Brother Ce, what level of strength should those two have?"
"Preferably below Dou Zong. Send them outside the Central Plains first to leave some traces of their activities. That way, even if someone investigates later, they won't discover any connection to the Xiao Clan.
Also, inform our people first that, five years from now, we will all leave the Xiao Realm. When the time comes, I'll ask Brother Xuan to help me put on an act and erase every trace of us."
Xiao Tian Ce considered that if some clansmen vanished without warning, the Hun Clan might notice something amiss. Rather than risk that, it would be better to stage an act and erase his branch's tracks altogether.
"You needn't worry about our people, Tian Ce. You're the head of our branch. Your will is their will. No one will have any objections," Xiao Chun said with a smile.
"Good. Then it's settled. Tian Ming, select those two as quickly as possible and send them into the outside world. Let them gain some experience before establishing the force.
Also, Qing'er, gather all the clan's Dou Zun experts. I'll take them away in a couple of days.
As for reassuring the rest of our people, I'll leave that to you, Second Uncle," Xiao Tian Ce instructed.
"Yes, Family Head!" All three bowed solemnly in unison.
After the three left, Xiao Tian Ce breathed a sigh of relief. Four Dou Sheng and more than twenty Dou Zun-this force was enough for his future plans.
If he could break through to Dou Di in the future, that would naturally be ideal. If not, he would pave the way for Xiao Yan. Once Xiao Yan became a Dou Di and opened the passage to the Great Thousand World, Xiao Tian Ce would certainly be able to become a Dou Di after obtaining Origin Qi.
"What a pity, Brother Xuan. Your end is already set in stone. Otherwise, with you here, I wouldn't need to make so many preparations!"
After murmuring to himself, he swept his hand, and an alchemy furnace suddenly appeared.
Indeed, Xiao Tian Ce was also an alchemist, an eighth-tier alchemist at that. For now, however, he needed to experiment a little. Though he possessed the original body's memories, there were things he truly had to grow accustomed to gradually.
Drawing on the alchemical knowledge in his memories, Xiao Tian Ce decided to relearn alchemy, just as he had his Dou Techniques.
First-tier pills, two hours.
Second-tier pills, two hours.
Third-tier...
On the third day, as he watched the six-colored pill lightning gathering in the sky, the corners of Xiao Tian Ce's mouth lifted. He moved his feet and rose to bathe his entire body in the pill lightning.
No matter how violently the lightning raged, striking him with power that seemed capable of destroying heaven and earth, Xiao Tian Ce's expression did not change in the slightest.
Only when all the pill lightning had ended did Xiao Tian Ce beckon with his left hand. A plump, perfectly round pill bearing a pill pattern swiftly flew into his palm.
"Not bad. Though it took me a few days to readjust, my soul power is now stronger than the original body's mid-Spirit Realm soul power. It has already reached the peak of the Spirit Realm. Given time, advancing to a Heaven Realm soul will be as natural as water flowing into a completed channel."
He took a white jade bottle from his Storage Ring and placed the pill inside. Then his figure flashed, and he landed on the ninth floor of Heavenly Strategy Manor.
Just then, space suddenly rippled, and Xiao Qing stepped out. She bowed respectfully. "Third Uncle, all the Dou Zun have arrived. They're gathered in White Tiger Hall. Would you like to see them?"
"All right. Let's meet them."
Xiao Tian Ce nodded, then swept his hand, instantly forming a doorway in space.
The two stepped inside together and vanished.
A short while later, in White Tiger Hall.
Twenty-one Dou Zun were talking quietly when they suddenly felt space begin to ripple. Then they saw Xiao Tian Ce and Xiao Qing step out.
"Greetings, Family Head. Greetings, Elder Qing."
Everyone bowed in unison, respectful and reverent.
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