Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

The inner fighting room is located behind the arena, surrounded by thick stone walls, with an iron-gray stone floor, and two Silver Shell Council deacons standing in the corner.

This place is more enclosed than outside, and the smell of blood is stronger. Dark marks left by countless battles have accumulated in the cracks in the walls.

The stone gate closed.

Those outside couldn't see the process; they could only hear a few noises.

Daru's voice came out first.

"It's not too late to admit defeat now."

Then came the heavy sound of footsteps.

boom!

A muffled thud.

Then came the second sound.

It felt like someone was being slammed hard against a wall.

The people outside had different expressions; some looked as if they had known, while others subconsciously looked towards the Ronte family's house.

Horn felt a chill run down his spine.

Karls didn't speak, he just stared at the stone door.

A moment later, the door opened.

Xilun came out.

The hem of his clothes was still neat, and his breathing was normal, except for a little dust on his cuffs.

He raised his hand and patted it, then calmly returned to his seat in the Ronte family.

The crowd was momentarily stunned.

After another dozen or so breaths, Darru finally emerged from the inner chamber.

Or rather, he was helped out by two deacons.

His face was bruised and swollen, his left eye was so swollen that it was only a slit, his mouth was split open, and several scales on his chest were broken. He was so ashamed and angry that he almost wanted to grind his teeth to pieces.

He was neither unconscious nor did he break any bones.

But it looks even more pathetic than a broken bone.

That's a perfect grasp of the situation.

This approach neither gave the Silver Bay Council an excuse to deduct points nor was it too embarrassing for the challenger.

The old man in the silver robe looked at Xilun, and a distinct change finally appeared in his eyes.

He had just left a sensory pattern next to the inner chamber. Although he couldn't see all the details, he could feel the changes in the qi and blood of both sides.

Daru has had an outburst.

Xilun, on the other hand, never truly erupted from beginning to end.

That's a bit strange.

A seemingly average second-tier player easily defeated a seasoned second-tier player in two consecutive rounds, without even disturbing his breathing.

To say it's just a matter of skill is a stretch.

However, if we say he is hiding his true level, then neither the testing stone nor the council's perception patterns detected any third-order fluctuations.

The old man remained silent for a moment, suppressing his doubts.

On the Chaotic Sea, strange people and bizarre events abound. As long as the rules are not violated, the Silver Shell Council will not pursue the matter further.

The second round continues.

However, after Xilun stepped out of the infighting room, the gazes that had been frequently cast towards the Langte family all became evasive.

Baluo of the Miluo family looked grim and whispered a few words to the clan elder.

The elder shook his head and did not agree.

He didn't want to get involved with someone he couldn't understand.

Especially at the evaluation site of the Silver Bay Council.

After that, no one challenged the Ronte family anymore.

Horn sat in his seat, his palms sweaty, but he didn't dare wipe them.

He was afraid that if he moved, he would wake up from this dream.

How many years has it been since the Ronte family was avoided like this at an evaluation meeting?

They were not pitied, nor were they mocked; they were feared.

This feeling was so unfamiliar that it brought tears to his eyes.

After the second round ended, the silver-robed elder and the silver-clad woman whispered for a moment before picking up the roster and announcing the results.

"The Langte family, who worship Xilun, has won both rounds. According to the rules of this assessment, the Langte family retains its original ownership of the Demon Gathering Land."

The old man paused, then took a bronze plaque engraved with silver shell patterns from the steward.

"The Emerald Lake Certificate remains in the possession of the Ronte family."

As soon as he finished speaking, Horn stood up abruptly.

He moved so fast that he almost knocked over the chair next to him.

The chatter in the hall rose again, and the Miluo family's seats fell into a deathly silence.

Barlow's face turned ashen, as if he had been soaking in seawater for three days, but he didn't utter a single word.

Xilun stepped forward and took the bronze plaque from the old man's hand.

The plaque felt slightly cool to the touch. The front was engraved with an open silver shell, while the back featured a simple pattern of an emerald lake.

It had a fine flow of magical energy circulating on it, clearly indicating that it was not an ordinary communication item, but rather a certificate of ownership recognized by the Silver Shell Council.

The old man looked at him and suddenly said, "Young man, you're quite skilled."

Lun looked up.

Thank you.

"You are not like an ordinary rogue cultivator."

"I'm just staying at the Ronte's house temporarily."

The old man gave him a deep look and didn't ask any further questions.

Siren turned and left the arena.

From the stands to outside the lobby, many people's eyes followed him.

Those once dismissive gazes now hold either apprehension, doubt, or a hint of greed and probing.

Xilun ignored them.

He simply held the certificate, thinking calmly to himself.

Emerald Lake has been saved for the time being.

So, his first foothold on the Prisoner Star Islands can be considered truly settled.

And this is just the beginning.

As soon as I stepped out of the Silver Shell Council's assessment hall, the sea breeze rushed in.

The smells of blood, sweat, and grilled fish in the arena were largely dissipated by the damp, salty wind.

The sound of ship bells could be heard from the distant harbor, and seabirds circled beneath the gray-white clouds, occasionally letting out sharp cries.

Horn followed behind Xiren, still somewhat dazed.

Until Xilun stopped and handed him the bronze token.

"Chieftain, please keep this safe."

Horn stared blankly at the sign.

For a moment, he didn't reach out to take it.

This document is extremely important.

It represents not just a lake, nor a few houses, but the last foundation of the Ronte family.

As long as Emerald Lake exists, the Langte family still has the hope of cultivating extraordinary individuals and the confidence to maintain their trading post and shipping routes.

Without it, the family would be like an old ship with its anchor chain removed, slowly crumbling in the storm.

Horn reached out his hand, his fingertips trembling slightly.

"So... so it's saved?"

Karls couldn't help but whisper, "Grandfather, the Silver Shell Council has already made an announcement."

Horn seemed to snap out of his daze, took the certificate with both hands, and gripped it tightly.

The force was so great, as if they were afraid the sign would fly away from their palm at any moment.

He looked at Xilun, his aged face displaying a fascinating expression.

At first, there was disbelief, then the release of years of suppressed bitterness, and finally, an uncontrollable ecstasy.

"Mr. Siren, if it weren't for your intervention today, the Ronte family... the Ronte family would probably have truly come to an end."

His voice was hoarse, and he bowed deeply.

"Horn has remembered your kindness to the Ront family."

As long as Emerald Lake exists, you will always be the most honored guest of the Langte family.

No, you can be any status you desire, Elder.

Medicines, marine animal materials, manpower, housing—if the Ronte family has it, they will not refuse.

Karls also bowed his head solemnly.

Xilun neither dodged nor helped.

He accepted the gratitude, but was not proud of it.

The transaction between the two parties was essentially a transaction.

The Ronte family needs his intervention to protect the Guiding Lands; he needs the Ronte family's identity and resources.

Seeing Horn's loss of composure, Xiren understood that for this declining family, the outcome of today's battle was far more devastating than he had imagined.

"Just follow the contract."

He said lightly.

Horn nodded quickly: "Of course, of course. In addition to the contract, the family will also give other gifts as thanks."

Xilun did not continue to refuse.

The group boarded the Ronte family's carriage.

Outside the carriage, the family guards responsible for escorting the passengers had completely different expressions than when they arrived.

When they arrived, they looked at Xilun with more tension and doubt, but now they are filled with awe and dare not even make their footsteps too loud.

The carriage drove away from the central square along the stone-paved road.

On both sides of the street, many members of various factions who had just come out of the assessment hall looked on from a distance, but no one went forward to provoke them.

Horn sat in the car, still holding the bronze token in his hand, glancing down at it every now and then.

Xilun looked at him and suddenly asked, "Chief Horn, what are the truly powerful forces within the Prisoner Star Islands? What is their strength?"

Upon hearing this, Horn immediately suppressed his joy.

He knew that since Xilun had asked this question, it meant that ordinary rogue cultivators were not content with just a piece of emerald lake.

This person's sights are not set on a small family like the Langte family; sooner or later, he will aim higher.

But this did not disappoint Horn.

Conversely, the stronger Xilun is and the higher its vision, the more precious the goodwill that the Langte family has forged today will be.

He pondered for a moment before speaking cautiously.

"Since Mr. Siren wants to know, then I will start with the division of the islands in the Chaotic Sea."

"The Chaotic Sea is vast and boundless. The islands are roughly divided into three types: small, medium, and large, based on their size, output, and abundance of demonic energy."

Small islands are mostly fishing grounds and supply points; it's considered good if there are three or five low-level magic gathering places.

Medium-sized islands often have ports, trading posts, mineral resources, and a stable population, which can support multiple families and organizations.

He paused.

"Each main island of the Prisoner Star Islands is, strictly speaking, a medium-sized island, with an area roughly equivalent to several cities on the mainland pieced together."

The archipelago consists of more than a dozen central islands, all forming an order around a larger main island.

As for the true central island, it can almost be considered a large island; that is the most prosperous and also the most dangerous place in the Prisoner Star Islands.

Xilun listened quietly.

Horn continued, "Those who can manage a medium-sized main island generally have a fourth-tier extraordinary being in charge."

Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to suppress the sea monster tide, nor the rogue cultivators and beast-hunting teams on the island who were risking their lives.

"The Silver Shell Council maintains order on this remote island we inhabit, and it is backed by a fourth-tier powerhouse."

"What about the central island?"

Horn's expression became even more respectful.

"The forces on the central islands are deeply intertwined, with the Sea Demon Temple being the most revered among them."

In addition, there is a major force that deals in marine animal materials, fleets, potions, and mercenaries.

It's often said that there are five major powers on the central island, each with a fifth-tier extraordinary individual who has made an appearance. As for the Sea Demon Temple…”

He lowered his voice as he said this.

"Rumor has it that a sixth-tier extraordinary being is in charge."

Xilun's eyes flickered slightly.

Sixth order.

In the lower city of Saint Laurent, the fourth tier was already as suffocating as a shadow.

Even a fourth-tier demon hunter like Fowles could push him to the brink of despair when he was severely injured.

As for Tier 5 and Tier 6, in the past, they were almost just words in books in the Lower Victoria area.

But upon arriving at the Chaotic Sea, an archipelago, there were so many fourth-order, fifth-order, and even suspected sixth-order beings.

Xilun was silent for a moment, then asked, "Why are there so many powerful beings in the Chaotic Sea? When I was on the mainland, I only heard of fourth-tier extraordinary beings in Saint Laurent City."

How come there are so many fourth- and even fifth-tier extraordinary individuals on this island?

Horn was taken aback when he heard this, then suddenly understood.

There was a hint of understanding in his gaze towards Xilun.

"Mr. Sir Lunn probably grew up in Saint Laurent City?"

Celen did not deny it.

Horn sighed: "Saint Laurent City is certainly one of the most powerful cities in Victoria, but the real extraordinary resources are mostly concentrated in the upper city."

To put it bluntly, the Lower City area is a place where people with insufficient strength and background linger.

Although it has a large population, it resembles a giant slum.

He spoke very carefully, as if afraid of offending Xilun.

"Of course, there are experts in such places, but it is difficult to see people who are truly standing at the threshold of high level."

Those with even a little talent, background, or value have long been selected for the Upper City or absorbed by major powers.

What ordinary people hear are naturally just scattered rumors.

"On the contrary, this may not be the case in other complete medium-sized cities on the mainland, or military ports and border towns."

A true medium-sized city, based on its resources and population, is usually governed by a fourth- or even fifth-tier extraordinary individual.

Although the Chaotic Sea is chaotic, it is not lacking in sea beast materials, magic gathering places, and wondrous ruins, and naturally, it is also home to many powerful individuals.

Xilun nodded slowly.

He remembered what Lund had said.

Xiacheng District is just Xiacheng District.

The people there believed that the third level was the heavens because they had been confined under low eaves since birth.

The real world is further away, higher up, and more brutal.

This is true of Upper Victoria.

The same is true of the Chaotic Sea.

Seeing him deep in thought, Horn took the initiative to say, "However, Mr. Xilun need not worry too much. Fifth and sixth-tier figures are mostly on the central islands and will not easily interfere in the trivial matters of the peripheral islands."

For our Langte family, what we really need to deal with on a daily basis are mostly first- and second-order units, and only occasionally do we encounter third-order units.

Those present at today's assessment are considered among the more powerful retainers on the outlying islands.

At this point, Horn couldn't help but show his admiration again.

"Especially Thorne and Daru, whom you defeated, were not ordinary Tier 2 beings."

Thorne once followed the hunting team to hunt sea monsters. His swordsmanship was superb, and he had few rivals of the same level.

Daru has been fused with Ironspine Shark material, making it extremely resistant to impact.

In the past, our family's ancestral worshippers would have had a tough time dealing with just one of them.

He looked at Xilun, his tone sincere.

"Yet you won so easily."

Xilun simply nodded slightly.

He didn't mention that he originally thought he could solve the problem in two or three moves.

Thorne and Daru are indeed more ferocious than ordinary Tier 2 fighters in the lower city of Saint Laurent.

Their qi and blood are not particularly refined, but they have honed their instincts through battles with sea beasts. When they attack, they don't use many feints and go straight for the vital points.

If Xilun hadn't deliberately concealed his third-tier chill, it would have been over in a single move.

Even so, Thorne managed to withstand two moves, and Daru even allowed him to land five or six more blows.

This already surprised Xilun somewhat.

The extraordinary beings of the Chaotic Sea are rough, but not weak.

Their methods may be incomplete, but every one of them who survived possessed a tenacity honed by close encounters with death.

The carriage made its way through the crowded streets, gradually heading towards Emerald Lake.

Xilun suddenly said, "By the way, do you have a map of sea monsters? Including common sea monsters in the nearby waters, dangerous areas, and hunting routes of the beast hunting teams."

Horn immediately replied, "Yes, yes. Although the family has declined, our ancestors dealt in sea creature materials for many years, and we still have quite a few old maps and records. I'll have someone compile a list and send it to your residence when I get back."

"The more detailed the better."

"clear."