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Chapter 810: Chapter 816: Direction
"Meanwhile, send a small team back to Wanxian Island and report the situation here to the family so they can continue to dispatch clansmen to come!" Li Chenghuo added.
The crowd was filled with excitement yet tinged with trepidation. As the first to enter a Fourth Order Secret Realm, they anticipated considerable gains.
However, the realm also carried significant dangers, and even with several Nascent Soul cultivators present, their lives were far from secure.
Commands were quickly issued, and the family members tasked with reporting back set off immediately, while Cang activated the Boundary-Arranging Device.
Buzz—
The space before them trembled slightly, and the previously dissipated spatial gateway, under Cang’s control, reappeared.
From then on, the Secret Realm was under the control of the Li family!
But whether effective development could be achieved depended on the cleanup operation that was to follow!
"Those nine whose names were just called, stay outside. Everyone else, follow me into the Secret Realm!" With Cang’s order, a couple hundred people followed him and Li Chenghuo, slowly walking into the gateway.
—
It wasn’t long before Wanxian Island received the news.
The Elders who had been waiting in the family hall began discussing development strategies.
"I think we should involve Loose Cultivators and Vassal Forces. Not only can this accelerate the development of the Secret Realm, but it will also reduce the casualties of our family," an Elder suggested.
"I disagree! Allowing them to participate is simply handing them a windfall," another Elder immediately countered.
"I also disagree! With tens of thousands of Secular Clansmen, hundreds of Golden Core cultivators, several Nascent Souls, and two Fifth-order puppets, it’s utterly unnecessary to let outsiders profit from a mere Fourth Order Secret Realm."
The Elders argued incessantly, each with their own rationale, unable to convince one another.
"Silence!"
Li Mingzi called out sharply, and everyone, not daring to disrespect the Clan Leader, fell silent, their gazes focused on her, curious about her thoughts.
"This Secret Realm will be developed solely by our family! There is no need for other cultivators to be involved."
The Li family had been too complacent over the years, and such complacency bred many issues.
If not for the selection of each Clan Leader from among the Secular Clansmen and the occasional expulsion of Elders to maintain a degree of vigor, the Li family would have suffered internal strife and factionalism like other powers.
Of course, Li Zhirui’s influence also played a role in suppressing these problems.
Moreover, it was he who had proposed this rule. If the clansmen below did not abide, he could depose the Clan Leader and select a new one at any time.
But indeed, over the years of development, the Li family had accumulated numerous issues, something Li Mingzi had been contemplating how to resolve.
Now, the appearance of this Fourth Order Secret Realm was perfectly timed. Li Mingzi could use the development of the realm as an opportunity to train and temper the new generation, addressing their comfort in luxury and their arrogance.
"Summon all Golden Core family members in Wanxian Province, except those in closed-door cultivation. All others must go to the Secret Realm for rotation and training to contribute to its development," Li Mingzi declared firmly.
The Elders were startled, with someone asking, "Clan Leader, won’t the important strongholds in Wanxian Province be defenseless? What if they are attacked by small-time thieves?"
"Rotate in shifts! As for how to arrange this properly, that’s up to your abilities," Li Mingzi assigned the tedious task, leaving herself to only review the final arrangements.
Li Zhirui was one of the first to learn of the family’s development plan, but he expressed no opinion. Li Mingzi was doing fine—why should he meddle?
A flower blooms with two buds, each branch showing a different path.
Meanwhile, inside the Secret Realm, a couple hundred cultivators appeared in a dense forest, only seeing giant, towering trees in a shady, cool environment.
"The Spiritual Energy is rich, though not as much as the Spirit Veins in our family lands, but still slightly better than the average Fourth Order Spirit Vein."
Li Chenghuo, after sensing the area, said, "Within ten miles, no Fourth Order Devil Beasts have been detected!"
This statement relieved everyone. If they had immediately triggered a massive battle upon entry, the casualties would undoubtedly be severe!
Luckily, they’d had good fortune and avoided such a scenario.
Then they looked around with curious and greedy eyes. Without danger, perhaps they could start collecting Spiritual Objects nearby?
They saw many Spiritual Objects, and though based on the Spirit Light, most were of the first or second order, who could guarantee they weren’t valuable?
"However, this place isn’t suitable for establishing a base. Send a team out to scout the surroundings and find an appropriate location to set up the Great Array as soon as possible!"
Cang also retracted his Divine Sense and, observing everyone’s reaction, frowned slightly, "You may collect the Spiritual Objects here, but three tenths must be contributed to the family! If you find any rare or extinct Spiritual Objects, they must be handed over!"
"You have only a quarter of an hour, and no venturing beyond ten miles! And this is a one-time opportunity—following this, you must obey orders!"
Excited by Cang’s words, people eagerly scattered in all directions.
"I’ll take on the task of scouting nearby terrain," Howling Moon, who rarely spoke up, suddenly offered.
"Then we’ll be troubled," was the reply.
Howling Moon nodded, instantly turning into a streak of silver light and disappearing into the lush forest.
"If they scatter, what if they encounter danger?" Li Chenghuo voiced his concern.
Cang sighed, "They risked entering for these Spiritual Objects. If we don’t offer them a taste of success early, they may not last."
Li Chenghuo pondered and realized the truth in Cang’s words. It was better to let them act openly than covertly, which could be even more dangerous.
"I wonder where Xiaoqing is." The positioning device didn’t show his location, meaning the distance between them was considerable.
Considering they had brought in Fourth Order magical treasures, they should be able to provide positions within three thousand miles.
But this also indicated that the Secret Realm was vast—covering at least three thousand square miles.
About half an hour later, Howling Moon returned unscathed.
"A hundred miles to the northeast, there’s a plain with an isolated mountain about eighty zhang high and broad enough for an ideal base," he reported.
Before Cang could show relief, Howling Moon added, "But the mountain is occupied by a Fourth Order Devil Beast and its brood."
"How strong are they?" Cang inquired with a frown.
Howling Moon shook his head, "I didn’t dare get too close for fear of being detected, but their strength must be considerable, given the rich Spiritual Energy in that plain."
Without true strength, no one would have the right to claim such a treasure trove.
"Should we find another place?" Li Chenghuo made a cautious suggestion.
