Ye Li nodded thoughtfully at those words.
No wonder.
Under restrictions like these, no matter how deep the Kong and Wang families' reserves ran, they could only send cultivators who had yet to perfect the five laws to seek treasures.
For ordinary independent cultivators, that was not necessarily a bad thing.
For him, however, it was somewhat disappointing.
And... would someone really be that generous?
Ye Li gazed at the indistinct cave abode, his eyes narrowing slightly.
It was plausible that Sea-Illuminating Realm cultivators who had mastered all five laws would prioritize their own Dao lineages rather than carry on this person's legacy.
But it was equally plausible that Sea-Illuminating Realm cultivators who lacked a complete set of methods would be easier to possess.
In one of the secret realms he had explored before, the owner of a cave abode had attempted precisely that.
He could not afford to let his guard down.
Just then-
Rumble!!
A deep rumbling suddenly came from the distant sky as something tore through the air.
An enormous convoy ripped through the sea of clouds, advancing toward them in grand procession.
The treasure carriage at its head gleamed white from end to end, drawn by four imposing White-Horned Spirit Rhinoceroses. As spiritual light bloomed around it, the streaks of light formed by passing independent cultivators hurried aside, terrified of colliding with these distinguished visitors.
"The Kong Family is here!"
"That's... Kong Zhixia!"
A wave of hushed exclamations immediately swept through the crowd.
An elegant figure in robes whiter than snow sat inside the treasure carriage, her features refined and her bearing extraordinary.
She lowered her gaze to the dense throng of independent cultivators below. Her brow creased slightly, and she raised a hand over her nose, speaking with evident distaste:
"Where did all these people