And they had almost discovered Qin Li’s Divine Sense!

Qin Li hastily retracted his Divine Sense, thinking with some alarm, ’It looks like all the major families are getting serious this time! With so many experts showing up, aren’t they afraid the Cui Family will use this opportunity to attack their strongholds?’

As he thought about it, he couldn’t help but give a wry, internal smile. ’I’m really worrying for nothing. If I can think of this, how could those great families not have considered it?’

’After surviving for millennia, it would be a joke if they didn’t have some unknown trump cards up their sleeves!’

With these thoughts in mind, Qin Li led his group to a series of exquisite courtyards. Even he couldn’t help but feel his spirits lift at the beautiful scenery. Shady paths, rockeries and hot springs, pavilions and waterside terraces, and clusters of elegant buildings—this place was a secluded paradise. For those accustomed to wealth and luxury, it offered a refreshing sense of natural tranquility.

Members of the Thousand Mechanism Sect were on hand to arrange accommodations for the Qin Family, while Shen Le led Qin Li into a room.

Qin Li didn’t see the Snake Woman, but he knew her ways and figured she preferred to stay hidden. Inside the room, Leng Yao quietly remained by his side.

Because she rarely made public appearances, few people knew of Leng Yao. Shen Le assumed she was Qin Li’s handmaiden. As he prepared to speak, his gaze fell upon her, and he was momentarily stunned. ’I can’t believe she’s this beautiful,’ he thought. ’She’s barely a step down from Shangguan Shiyu!’

"You two talk. I’ll step out for a bit." Leng Yao was exceptionally perceptive. She naturally saw Shen Le’s hesitation and, unbothered, prepared to withdraw.

"It’s fine," Qin Li said with a smile. "Shen Le, this is a friend who has gone through thick and thin with me. Her name is Leng Yao."

Shen Le was a quick-witted person. Although he couldn’t be sure if Leng Yao and Qin Li were involved, any woman whom Qin Li was so unguarded around naturally deserved to be treated with high regard.

"Heh, Miss Leng, my apologies for my ignorance. Please don’t take offense." Shen Le’s social grace, in fact, surpassed his talent in the Martial Arts.

When people on Profound Island spoke of Shen Le, they all called him a righteous and generous man. Few, however, ever mentioned that his personal strength was in no way inferior to that of the more celebrated geniuses.

"It’s nothing," Leng Yao replied. Though her nature was aloof, she understood propriety. Her eyes swept over to Qin Li, revealing a hint of deep affection.

Shen Le sat down and swept the area with his Divine Sense. Finding nothing suspicious, he lowered his voice and said, "Brother, you have to be extremely careful this time! Many people are saying the Cui Family is being unbelievably arrogant, attempting to challenge the entire Profound Island on their own. But in reality, everyone understands. How could the Cui Family do something so idiotic if they didn’t have a foolproof plan? So, whatever you do, don’t be the one to stick your neck out! The Cui Family hates you to the bone. Even if you lay low, they’ll look for an opportunity to kill you. You must be cautious. Even if the Cui Family sends people here during my wedding, don’t you be the one to step forward! With so many families and Sects here, I’d like to see just how long they’re willing to stand by and watch the show."

Shen Le’s heartfelt words moved Qin Li deeply. He was already aware of the situation, but for Shen Le to speak so frankly meant he truly regarded him as a friend, as a brother.

’There’s a world of difference between figuring it out on your own and having someone tell you directly!’

Leng Yao spoke softly from the side, "If those families can see the Cui Family’s intentions, are they really just going to sit back and wait for their doom?"

Shen Le looked at the contemplative Qin Li and gave a wry smile. "Wait for their doom? Of course not! But no one wants to be the one to stick their neck out. Everyone knows that the Cui Family’s goal is to dominate Profound Island, not destroy it. As long as their own interests don’t suffer a fatal blow, how many will be willing to make a stand?"

At that, Qin Li looked up at Shen Le and asked, "Shen, I’ve always had a question, but I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to ask."

"Hey, we’re brothers! What’s with the formality?" Shen Le said with a casual wave of his hand. "Whatever you want to ask, just ask!"

"It seems to me that there’s been bad blood between the Thousand Mechanism Sect and the Cui Family for a very long time..."

"Ah..." Shen Le sighed. "You’re very observant, brother. Indeed, the tangled web of grudges between the Thousand Mechanism Sect and the Cui Family began as far back as the Ancient Era." He then began to recount the origins of their conflict.

"’There’s no shortage of conflict between great houses’—that saying is absolutely true. As a family and a Sect that both came to Profound Island during the Ancient Era, the various grievances between the Thousand Mechanism Sect and the Cui Family have never truly ceased."

"Generally speaking, a family’s cohesiveness is a bit stronger than a Sect’s. Back in the Ancient Era, these families would often send their core disciples to secretly infiltrate various Sects and steal their core Martial Arts."

"This sort of mission wasn’t something that could be completed in a year or two. Some disciples succeeded in bringing back the core Martial Arts, while others were won over, completely betraying their original families to join the Sect they’d infiltrated."

"But secrets always get out. Once this happened too often, it was inevitably discovered. As a result, for the last several thousand years, the three great Sects on Profound Island have almost completely stopped recruiting disciples publicly. Even when they do, the screening process is incredibly strict; they practically investigate a candidate’s entire family tree going back generations."

"That was all minor, really. But a hundred years ago, the Thousand Mechanism Sect and the Cui Family nearly came to a violent, all-out battle."

"The reason was that Shen Longmei, the beloved younger sister of the Thousand Mechanism Sect’s current Sect Leader, Shen Longxing, had fallen in love with Cui Buqun, the youngest brother of the Cui Family’s Patriarch, Cui Buping."

"This Cui Buqun was a thorough hypocrite. He appeared righteous and noble on the surface, but in reality, he was rotten to the core—even worse than an open villain."

"After winning Shen Longmei’s affection under false pretenses, he married her, but only so he could try to learn the secrets of one of the Thousand Mechanism Sect’s ultimate techniques from her. Naturally, Shen Longmei refused. Consequently, Cui Buqun’s treatment of her grew worse and worse until, finally, he dropped all pretense. He told her that if she didn’t reveal the secrets of the technique, he would divorce her and send her back to the Thousand Mechanism Sect in disgrace!"

"When Shen Longmei first fell in love with Cui Buqun, Shen Longxing had been vehemently against it. But her heart was set, and she insisted on marrying him. To now find herself in such a state... she lost all hope. In her despair, she took her own life."

"She committed suicide less than a year after her wedding day."

"Upon learning of his sister’s death, Shen Longxing nearly went mad. He immediately took dozens of experts from the Thousand Mechanism Sect and stormed the Cui Family’s estate, intending to find Cui Buqun and beat him to death."

"The Cui Family showed no weakness, mobilizing many of their own people, and a battle nearly erupted. In the end, it was Cui Buping who stepped forward. He personally offered his apologies and severed Cui Buqun’s left arm, only then was the matter settled."

"However, both sides regarded the incident as a profound humiliation. The Cui Family felt they had been forced to swallow a bitter pill, while the Thousand Mechanism Sect now saw the Cui Family as a nest of villains. And so, the events of that year were buried."

As he reached this point in the story, Shen Le’s expression grew sad. "Marriage alliances between great families are common enough. But my poor aunt, a peerless beauty in her prime... Huh? Miss Leng, why do you look so pale?"

Qin Li also noticed that Leng Yao’s face was deathly pale. She shook her head slightly and said, "It’s nothing. That Cui Buqun you just mentioned, Young Master Shen... he’s missing his left arm?"

"That’s right. That animal... If I ever get the chance, I’ll tear him limb from limb! My poor aunt... sigh."

It was, after all, his family’s shame, and Shen Le’s mood had soured. He rose to take his leave. "Qin, try not to go out for the next few days. It’s very safe here in the guest manor. You can also use this opportunity to get acquainted with the upper echelons of the other families and Sects. It’ll be a great benefit for you in the future. If I’m not mistaken, Lin Heng himself will come looking for you tonight."

After seeing Shen Le off, Qin Li returned to the room. Looking at Leng Yao’s ashen face, he couldn’t help but ask, "That Cui Buqun... was he one of the murderers who wiped out your family?"

Leng Yao’s eyes reddened, and her usually cold gaze was veiled in a watery mist. She took a deep breath, trying her best to control her emotions, before speaking. "That day... he killed more people than anyone else. He was a complete sadist! He violated many of the women in my clan, and his methods were exceptionally cruel! The person who helped me escape the Potala Holy Land told me all this himself. He said the most despicable one was a one-armed man. Those demons from the Cui Family... they all called him Master Jiu..."

As Leng Yao spoke, she broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Qin Li reached out and took Leng Yao’s icy hand. A stream of Innate Purple Qi flowed into her, stabilizing her turbulent meridians. "Leng Yao," he said slowly, "believe me. Sooner or later, I will give you the chance to kill your enemies with your own hands."

Leng Yao nodded forcefully, then subtly withdrew her hand. "Qin Li," she said softly, "thank you."

That evening, just as Shen Le had predicted, Lin Heng showed up. The first thing he did was laugh heartily and say, "Qin, you’re late! We’ve been here for days. Come on, there’s a banquet tonight. I’ll take you to meet some of the young talents of Profound Island!"

Seeing no one else was around, he leaned in and whispered, "My devastatingly beautiful sister is here, too! Oh, right, how come I don’t see Miss Shiyu?"

Lin Heng remembered his last embarrassing encounter and was genuinely terrified that Shangguan Shiyu would silently appear behind him as he spoke.

Qin Li found this rather amusing. ’This guy Lin Heng has always been trying to introduce me to his sister, Lin. But I’m no Jia Baoyu, and I have no interest in his "Lin." ’

’Am I supposed to take in every beautiful woman I meet?’ Qin Li shook his head with a wry, internal smile. ’I have enough women around me as it is. I don’t need any more!’