"You can stay here for now. If you need anything, just tell the servants. I'll come for you before the Underworld Ranking competition begins. Also, knowing my father's personality, he'll definitely send people to inquire about your identity from the Li family."
"But you don't need to worry. After the Li family declined, they went into hiding, and even my second uncle would have a hard time finding them."
Inside a small courtyard, Ming Luo stopped and said to Li Xuan.
The courtyard had five rooms, which was enough for Li Xuan to live in. Moreover, there were flowers and plants in the yard, giving it a rather elegant atmosphere. Li Xuan nodded upon hearing this, and he felt much more relaxed, especially after hearing Ming Luo's words.
"I haven't returned for a long time, and my mother must have been worried about me. Now that I'm back, I should go and see my mother first. If Young Master has any matters, you can send someone to inform me." After Ming Luo finished speaking and received a nod from Li Xuan, he turned and left immediately.
"Young Master, how did your restriction manage to evade Ming Hongyang's detection?" As Ming Luo departed, the voice of the Heavenly Dao Brush suddenly echoed in Li Xuan's mind.
Li Xuan cast a barrier with a wave of his hand and chuckled, "Actually, I did place a restriction on Ming Luo at first. But after we entered this Underworld Realm, through my interactions with him, I felt that Ming Luo's true nature was not bad."
"So, when he wasn't paying attention, I had already removed the restriction. Looking at it today, it's fortunate that I removed it. Otherwise, Ming Hongyang would have definitely noticed it. With his peak Harmonious Realm strength, how could he not have such insight?"
"Young Master, you should still be careful," the Heavenly Dao Brush said after a moment of silence.
"I will," Li Xuan nodded slightly.
One had to remember that the Nine Nether Clan also had four elders, and with Ming Jiuyou, they were a formidable group of six peak Harmonious Realm experts.
In the blink of an eye, several days passed. Li Xuan, within his chamber, was undisturbed. Even Ming Luo only visited twice during this period. Seeing that Li Xuan was always in seclusion cultivating, he left with a sense of admiration.
"The Li family disappeared?" On the grand hall, Ming Hongyang's expression flickered as he listened to Ming Yanghua's account.
Ming Yanghua nodded. "According to the information I received, the Li family began to decline over ten years ago. Until the last five or six years, the Li family patriarch, Li Yunzhi, only had the strength of the Mortal Realm. Two years ago, the Li family withdrew from Luoyun City and vanished."
"No one knows where they are now. It seems they chose to go into seclusion, fearing annexation by other families."
Ming Deye nodded in agreement. "Although they are all citizens of the Nine Nether Clan, the strife between various families has always existed. It is natural for the Li family, in their decline, to choose seclusion. But why would my clansman ask my second brother to inquire about the Li family's whereabouts? Is there something wrong with that Li Xuan?"
Ming Hongyang frowned slightly. "Perhaps I'm overthinking it. Luo'er returned severely injured and coincidentally encountered a scion of the declining Li family. The timing is too coincidental. Never mind, since he's here for the Underworld Ranking competition, then give him a spot. Even if he is from one of the other four families, he can't cause much trouble now."
"Clansman, you now possess the same strength as the Grand Elder, and the other three families are naturally no cause for concern. Even the Grand Elder might not be able to defeat you."
Ming Yanghua paused and continued, "After this Underworld Ranking competition concludes, it's time for a direct confrontation to reclaim everything that the Grand Elder's family previously snatched from us. Even if the Patriarch intervenes, he probably won't be able to force us to back down."
"If Li Xuan can enter the top three hundred this time, then we will announce that one city will be handed over to the Li family to manage. At such a young age, he has already reached the intermediate Creator Realm. In the future, he might become a great asset to our clan." Ming Hongyang nodded, his gaze slowly shifting towards the rear.
"Good." Ming Yanghua nodded. Li Xuan, reaching the intermediate Dao Integration Realm at such a young age, was indeed a rare talent.
For a family to endure, it naturally requires the infusion of fresh blood. Li Xuan was such a person.
One day, as the sky began to lighten, Li Xuan appeared in the courtyard.
The previous day, Ming Luo had personally informed Li Xuan that today was the day the Underworld Ranking competition would commence. All participants were to gather outside the Nine Nether Divine Palace for a pre-competition ceremony.
"Young Master Luo, good morning." As Li Xuan appeared, Ming Luo's figure walked in from outside the courtyard. Seeing this, Li Xuan smiled and greeted him. Over the past half a month, Ming Luo had treated him as a true friend. Li Xuan's perception of Ming Luo had also changed significantly.
Ming Luo smiled and replied, "The opening ceremony of the Underworld Ranking competition is still half an hour away, so there's plenty of time. However, arriving earlier will allow us to understand our opponents better. I've done all I can. The rest of the journey will depend on yourself."
Li Xuan immediately cupped his fists. "Thank you."
Ming Luo nodded, then smiled and turned to walk outside. Li Xuan glanced around and then quickened his pace to follow.
"My son pays his respects to Father. And to Second Uncle, Third Uncle." Outside the Second Nether Hall, as Ming Luo and Li Xuan appeared, they saw Ming Hongyang standing outside the hall. Ming Luo stepped forward, bowed, and greeted him.
Ming Hongyang nodded slightly, then glanced at Li Xuan behind Ming Luo and said, "Luo'er, since Young Friend Li is also participating in the Underworld Ranking competition, take our family's participants and go ahead. Your second and third uncles and I will proceed first to discuss some matters with the Patriarch."
Ming Luo immediately nodded. "Yes, Father."
Ming Hongyang then nodded to Ming Yanghua and Ming Deye, and their figures moved swiftly towards the direction of Mount Mingxin.
"Brother Li, my father and the others have to work with the Patriarch every year to maintain the barrier of our Underworld Realm. Therefore, the Underworld Ranking competition is led by the young masters of each clan. They will only appear when the competition truly begins. Let's depart now."
Ming Luo looked at Li Xuan with a hint of curiosity and explained, "My father and the others have to work with the Patriarch every year to maintain the barrier of our Underworld Realm. Therefore, the Underworld Ranking competition is led by the young masters of each clan. They will only appear when the competition truly begins. Let's depart now."
Li Xuan nodded. With the participating disciples from the Second Elder's family present, Li Xuan didn't say much.
"Depart!" Seeing Li Xuan nod, Ming Luo waved his hand towards the thousands of figures in the square and shouted loudly.
As Ming Luo's voice fell, a teleportation array appeared in the square. As the members of Ming Luo's clan entered one by one, Li Xuan followed Ming Luo and stepped into it, disappearing from sight.