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"But after I officially stayed with the Li Family, that protector never fulfilled any of the cultivation resources he promised me," Li Chaotian's tone shifted, barely concealing the murderous intent spewing forth, "I blame my naivety back then for believing him so easily."

Listening to his story, Li Xiaoyao also felt some anger. The protector of the Li Family had indeed gone too far. To lure Li Chaotian with the promise of cultivation resources and then fail to deliver was outrageous.

"So, Senior, you just endured it?" If it were Li Xiaoyao, punching that protector to bits would be going easy on him.

Li Chaotian continued, "I silently cultivated within the Ancient Li Family, and after a year, I challenged that protector to a duel."

"The highest positions in the Li Family are held by the Clan Leader and the seven Ancestral Elders, followed by the twelve Elders, and then the thirty-six protectors."

"To become a protector of the Li Family, one either needs to reach the Spirit Condensation Realm or challenge another to a duel. When a clan member initiates a challenge, the protector must accept the fight. Otherwise, it's seen as an automatic forfeiture of the protector status, demoting them to ordinary clan member."

"He accepted the challenge?" Li Xiaoyao was astonished at Li Chaotian's limit of endurance.

His patience to wait a year before taking action indicated that, after that year, he was confident enough in his strength to fight that protector.

One must be at the Spirit Condensation Realm before qualifying for the position of protector.

By that time, no matter how talented, it was absolutely impossible for Li Chaotian to have cultivated from the Spirit Cultivation Realm to the Spirit Condensation Realm within just one year.

It meant that, after a year in the Ancient Li Family, Li Chaotian was confident he could kill a protector who was at the Spirit Condensation Realm.

"He had no choice but to fight," Li Chaotian said, his gaze intense, as if recounting someone else's tale, "Although the Li Family rules allow clan members to become protectors through duels, no one had ever done so before."

"I was the first Li Family member to initiate such a challenge, a member of a collateral branch." With a self-mocking smile, Li Chaotian added, "The duel placed no limits on life or death. In that battle, I was gravely injured, and he was killed."

Through these simple words, Li Xiaoyao felt something extraordinary.

Without asking, it was clear that the battle must have been earth-shattering, drawing the attention of the entire Li Family.

"Those Li Family Elders wanted me executed. Hah, execute me then, what is there to fear?" Li Chaotian spoke with a dismissive laugh, "But there stood the Li Family regulations. As much as they wanted to kill me, they couldn't touch me due to those rules."

"I became the youngest protector in the history of the Ancient Li Family, and also the one with the lowest cultivation level."

"From that point on, I was always the first to take on the most dangerous tasks. I knew their intentions were simply to have me killed off, but, unfortunately for them, they were disappointed."

"Over the years, no matter how perilous the mission, I always managed to turn misfortune into fortune. It was these dangerous missions that allowed me to make breakthroughs after breakthroughs. In just over twenty years, I advanced from the Spirit Cultivation Realm to the peak of the Spirit Condensation Realm."

Li Chaotian put down the jug of wine, extended his left hand, rolled up his sleeve, and revealed a half-meter long scar that was hideous and clung tightly to his arm.

"This scar was left during the fight with that protector. I've kept it to constantly remind myself that everything I have in the Li Family was fought for with my own hands. No matter where I go, I'm no longer just a mere cultivator!"

Li Chaotian then insisted Li Xiaoyao finish a jug of wine with him. Neither used their spiritual power to dissipate the alcohol, allowing the drunken haze to permeate their minds.

Li Xiaoyao's footing wavered as he burped from the alcohol and said, "Senior, I'm heading back now."

"Hmm," Li Chaotian lay sprawled on the ground in a spread-eagled position, staring up at the world as it spun around him.

Li Xiaoyao had barely taken a few steps when a warm, fragrant body suddenly leaned against him, and a familiar voice rang in his ear.

"Big Brother Li, why did you drink so much?" Nangong Ling'er had been keeping an eye on Li Xiaoyao and, seeing him stagger drunkenly, immediately ran up to help him.

Li Xiaoyao casually draped an arm over her shoulder and said, "I haven't drunk that much."

From a distance, Nangong Feng's face was dark with anger as he watched their intimate gestures, his eyes nearly shooting fire.

"Hmph!" Nangong Feng flicked his sleeve and turned away, out of sight, out of mind.

Nangong Xuan let out a bitter laugh. Li Xiaoyao was continuously displaying strength beyond ordinary people, and now, with Ling'er taking a liking to him, if Li Xiaoyao also had feelings for her, nobody from the Nangong Family, from the Clan Leader to the Elders, would oppose such a marriage.

As for Nangong Feng, he never stood a chance from the beginning. Even if Ling'er didn't marry Li Xiaoyao, she would definitely not choose him.

Now, the power division on the entire island was very clear.

Since the eight major forces of the Ancient Sects appeared, they had automatically divided into two camps.

One camp was the Ancient Sects, and the other was the forces outside of the Ancient Sects.

The forces from outside the country had also contacted their headquarters and should soon send more powerful Spirit Attachers.

After all, this time the Cultivators from Xuan Country were too numerous and too strong, putting pressure on them.

And since the Secret Realm was in Hui Country, if it ended up being taken advantage of by the Xuan Country Cultivators, it would not look good for them when word got out.

To the right side of the island, a group of seven or eight people, all very young, mostly dressed in short, tight-fitting clothes. The cold air of December had no effect on them.

"I didn't expect the Hui Country Secret Realm to attract so many Ancient Sect forces," said a man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, his build robust.

"Zhen Jie, have you reported what's happening here?" asked a girl with a beautiful face and long legs.

Zhen Jie nodded. "I have reported, and I've also informed the master."

"Are you talking about General Ling Tian?" someone exclaimed in surprise.

"Mm, such a significant event has occurred here; I definitely had to report to my master."

The girl's eyes sparkled with excitement. "If General Ling Tian comes, even the Ancient Sects will have to treat us with respect."

Zhen Jie's smile carried a hint of pride. "My master is the number one expert in the military district. Compared to him, what are these Ancient Sects?"

As they conversed, another half an hour passed.

Li Xiaoyao's drunkenness had worn off, and Li Chaotian had also sobered up. He quickly made arrangements and then sent someone to notify Li Yunchen that they could set out.

"Let's go," Li Yunchen said in a low voice.

Soon after, the three of them, along with several people from the Nangong Family and Li Chaotian, boarded the fishing boat.

The other Ancient Sects, like them, chose to set out at the same time.

This was the third time Li Yunchen had set sail, and he had a general understanding of the Secret Realm. The biggest difference between that sea area and the surrounding ones probably lay in the color of the water; beyond that, Li Yunchen really couldn't think of any other differences.

In comparison, Li Xiaoyao's senses were much clearer.

Through his mental probing, he could distinctly sense the differences between the Secret Realm and the outside world.

But even so, he still couldn't understand the details of the Secret Realm's interior.

[This month I've already updated 200,000 words, averaging 13,000 words per day. Asking for monthly tickets, asking for rewards!!!]