"I thought you were willing to let the clansmen of your branch strip out their Dou Di Bloodline power and give it to me, you brat!"
Xiao Realm, Xiao Xuan's residence.
At Xiao Xuan's teasing, Xiao Tian Ce smiled. Then he raised his head, looked earnestly at Xiao Xuan, and said, "I misunderstood you before, Brother Xuan. Now that you don't want to follow the path our predecessors took, why shouldn't I lend you a hand?
"You can take the bloodline power of my branch's clansmen whenever you wish, Brother Xuan!"
"Oh?"
Xiao Xuan was somewhat surprised. They had been brothers for over a hundred years, and he knew perfectly well that Xiao Tian Ce was just as stubborn as he was. He had never expected him to change his mind.
"Are you sure you'll let me take the bloodline power of your branch's clansmen?" Xiao Xuan asked again.
"Hahaha, do you think I'm joking, Brother Xuan?"
As he spoke, Xiao Tian Ce shook his head. He looked at Xiao Xuan earnestly and solemnly, then said in a low voice, "Before, I always believed you would fail, Brother Xuan, and hadn't fully considered the consequences. That was why I refused to let you take my branch's bloodline power.
"But after hearing what you said today, Brother Xuan, I believe you can succeed and blaze a trail no one has ever walked before."
"So I'm willing to offer the bloodline power of my entire branch, including my own god-grade bloodline power, to help you, Brother Xuan, break through to the Dou Di realm."
"Have you thought this through? If you really let me take their bloodline power, the strength of your branch's clansmen will inevitably plummet," Xiao Xuan said, his expression grave and solemn.
Xiao Tian Ce laughed heartily, then declared, "It's only bloodline power. Brother Xuan, you should understand this. In all these years of cultivation, have you ever seen me activate the god-grade bloodline power in my body? Yet didn't I still reach five-star Dou Sheng a hundred years ago?
"To be honest with you, Brother Xuan, I've never placed much value on this so-called god-grade bloodline power.
"I already told you why I refused, Brother Xuan. I was afraid you would fail and lose your life."
"But now that you've agreed to help me put on this act, Brother Xuan, neither the loss of our bloodline power nor the decline in our strength matters to our branch at all."
Hearing this, Xiao Xuan did not doubt him in the slightest. They were brothers who had grown up together and fought shoulder to shoulder. He trusted that Xiao Tian Ce had no reason to deceive him.
At the same time, Xiao Xuan also understood why Xiao Tian Ce had contradicted himself.
After a brief surge of satisfaction, Xiao Xuan burst into hearty laughter. He shook his head earnestly and said, "Forget it. The bloodline power of the other branches is actually enough for me.
"Besides, I only wanted to gather everyone's bloodline power to use it as a catalyst. In the end, I still have to rely on myself.
"But Tian Ce, your willingness alone is enough. All these years of brotherhood haven't been for nothing.
"And I'll give careful thought to your concerns. Whether my breakthrough succeeds or fails, I'll try to leave some safeguards behind, or at least spare you some trouble."
Seeing Xiao Xuan give up bloodline power that was his for the taking, Xiao Tian Ce was momentarily stunned. Then he nodded, rose, and bowed to Xiao Xuan. "Brother Xuan, I'll take my leave."
"All right, go!"
With that, Xiao Tian Ce's figure vanished in an instant as he slipped into space.
After he left, Xiao Xuan also stood up and gazed into the distance, as though he had made some decision in his heart.
Early the next morning, Xiao Tian Ce emerged from meditation. A short while later, Xiao Qing came to his room and said respectfully, "Third Uncle, every member of the first squad has assembled in the White Tiger Hall. Shall we set out?"
"Good. Let's go."
The two vanished briefly, then reappeared inside the White Tiger Hall.
There were seven people in the White Tiger Hall, led by Xiao Donglai.
"Greetings, Family Head. Greetings, Elder Qing."
"No need for formalities. Let's go."
"Yes!"
Xiao Qing led the way. Dou Qi surged within her, instantly creating ripples in space. Everyone then stepped straight into them and disappeared.
One day later, on the outskirts of the Heavenly Eye Mountain Range in the northwestern Central Plains.
The group appeared there. The aura radiating from each of them forced the magical beasts in the forest to prostrate themselves, not daring to move a muscle.
"Third Uncle, where are we going?" After an entire day of traveling at top speed, Xiao Qing could not help asking quietly.
"We're here."
Xiao Tian Ce swiftly descended to the ground and looked at the lake before him. Its waters were a brilliant blue, and the scenery was delightful.
"Huh? Third Uncle, there's nothing here." Xiao Qing was puzzled.
Earlier, Xiao Tian Ce had told her to keep heading toward the northwestern Central Plains. She had thought they were going somewhere worthwhile, never expecting to end up in this place where even birds wouldn't bother to shit.
"Hehe, precisely because there's nothing here, we're going to create a space here," Xiao Tian Ce said with a mysterious smile.
Xiao Qing truly could not see what was so good about this place.
Still, she had never been one to make a fuss. As long as Third Uncle was happy, that was enough.
"Rest for a while. Let me finish constructing the space first."
"Yes!"
Everyone answered respectfully, then sat down to replenish their Dou Qi.
At that moment, Dou Qi surged around Xiao Tian Ce, and the space above the lake began to fluctuate violently.
Creating a stable space was not difficult for Xiao Tian Ce, whose strength had reached five-star Dou Sheng. He could create one with a casual wave of his hand.
Creating a vast, stable space suitable for habitation, however, was far from simple.
Especially since the space Xiao Tian Ce intended to create needed not only mountains and water, but houses to live in as well. That made it a task fraught with countless difficulties.
Xiao Tian Ce's Dou Qi was constantly depleted and replenished, over and over again. Finally, three days later, his face was haggard, and he was utterly exhausted in body and mind.
"Phew!"
He let out a long breath of stale air and muttered, "It's finally done. I nearly threw my own life into it!"
"Qing'er, bring everyone inside with me for a look."
As his words fell, Xiao Tian Ce activated his Dou Qi again. A spatial gate instantly appeared above the lake, and he shot into it like an arrow.
Not far away, Xiao Qing heard him and hurriedly activated her Dou Qi, bringing the other seven along as she followed.
Soon, the spatial gate vanished, and all nine of them had entered the space Xiao Tian Ce had created.
Upon entering, everyone was somewhat taken aback. Xiao Donglai murmured, "Family Head, did you create this according to the layout of the Xiao Realm?"
"That's right. Though it isn't as large or stable as the Xiao Realm, it's enough for our needs for now."
As he spoke, a thought sent eight white jade pendants floating out of his Storage Ring. With a sweep of his hand, the eight pendants flew to hover before the others.
"I made these jade pendants and placed formations inside them. As long as you're near this space, injecting your Dou Qi into them will immediately open the spatial gate outside.
"Take them and drip your blood into them. That way, the formation I placed at the spatial gate will be able to recognize your identities automatically.
"Whatever you do, don't lose these pendants. If you lose one and can't get home afterward, don't blame me!" Xiao Tian Ce cautioned them with a smile.
"We understand. Thank you, Family Head," everyone said in unison.
Seeing this, Xiao Tian Ce waved his hand and said with a smile, "From now on, this will be our home. I name this realm Heaven Beyond."
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