Rakshasa Island stretched a thousand li across and was renowned for its black iron mines.
At its peak, Rakshasa Island had a population of tens of millions, with over a hundred lineages of varying sizes scattered across it.
In recent years, declining black iron production had left some lineages unable to sustain themselves, forcing them to seek other livelihoods and move away from Rakshasa Island.
Moreover, within the past year, both the Luo Lineage and the Yue Lineage on the island had produced Fourth Realm experts and developed ambitions to annex Rakshasa Island. They ruthlessly persecuted the smaller lineages whose patriarchs were only in the Mana Realm or even the Dao Foundation Realm, forcing one lineage after another to leave their ancestral homes.
By now, the small lineages on Rakshasa Island had either left or submitted to the Luo and Yue lineages, and the sides in the conflict had gradually become clear.
Yet neither side intended to stop there and divide the island between them. Instead, disputes continued, with killings occurring from time to time.
With Rakshasa Island mired in such chaos, the surrounding lineages and factions, large and small, naturally avoided approaching it lightly for fear of inviting trouble. By now, not only had its population fallen sharply, but the merchant ships that once came and went to purchase three-pattern black iron had vanished altogether. Li Xian flew his sword past the island's largest harbor. Once bustling with people, it had become visibly desolate.
Only a handful of seagoing vessels lay at their berths, their sails furled, listless.
Li Xian descended toward the island. With the sword light trailing dozens of zhang behind him as he streaked through the sky, no faction dared foolishly seek trouble with him.
However, although no one troubled him, the Truth-Seeking Compass on his