Shen Yu cut the connection with Ning Xi after telling her to keep an eye on the Federation's movements. They were in the most delicate position currently because of their nature.

They were formed from all Major Sects and the Empire itself, after all.

He stared at the new world before him, his thoughts running off in different directions. He was thinking about the actions of the Major Sects.

'The Empire is under a great threat, and everyone knows that after the incident with the slave organisation. Every action during such times can affect the whole Empire and its future.'

[They don't seem to care about the Empire at all anyway, so there's a high chance that they're just using the Sect Tournaments to lure out our sect.]

Shen Yu rubbed his chin and said,

"That's quite possible, as they're in complete darkness for now. Because of our special anti-divination properties and also the hidden locations for every base, the Major Sects are basically helpless—so they're trying to bait us out."

It was an obvious attempt to lure them out, and instead of bait, he felt it was more like a provocation. They knew their enemies were after them, so they would definitely attack them.

"There's also the fact that they think it was done by one of the Major Sects, because only someone very familiar with the Qing Empire could do something like this."

Shen Yu nodded at his own analysis.

[Yeah, they suspect two possibilities. First is that one of the Major Sects has decided to fully control the Qing Empire and dispatched a powerful force. That would explain a lot of things.]

"And second?"

[Second one is a pretty simple one. They just think that someone from the outside world is trying to take the Qing Empire, and one of the Major Sects is assisting them.]

Shen Yu raised an eyebrow and said, "It could also mean that Qing Yicheng has decided to support outsiders for whatever purpose. He hates the Major Sects anyway, so it's quite possible too."

[I didn't think of that. My bad. But yeah, this possibility is very high. The Empire has more reasons to side with outsiders than with the Major Sects.]

Shen Yu nodded, feeling that he was going in the right direction.

"They are probably keeping an eye on each other and want to use this tournament to gauge their reactions. They are prepared this time."

[Hehe, the Slave and Assassin organisations were very strong, and they know it too. Destroying them showed your power—or should I say, our sect's power. They were scared and fearful.]

Shen Yu hummed and turned around, ready to leave the Void. It would take a lot of time for the world to mature, even with the time construct, and whenever it was completed, he would be alerted—so there was no need for him to wait here.

He stepped forward, and in the next moment, he had left the vast Void and entered his Divine Harem Sect.

Staying at the top, he admired the beauty of it. A little had changed since its foundation, but it still looked very beautiful—a place where he wanted to live with his family.

The crimson rays of dusk fell on the majestic buildings of the sect, highlighting their beautiful patterns. It left behind a crimson fog that permeated throughout the sect at the ground level.

When one walked on the pathways, they would find their legs below their knees drowning in the crimson fog. It was such a beautiful, serene view that their mind would instantly calm down.

[Master, what are you going to do with the Sect Tournaments? Will you participate?]

"Nope! It'll take too much time, and that's just a waste of time."

Shen Yu slowly lowered himself onto the Seven-Floor Pagoda and said,

"I don't want useless things to slow us down. I'm not looking for some face-slapping event here to participate in the tournaments."

[But you will attend it?]

Shen Yu smiled.

"Of course!"

[What if Zhi Yan and the others ask to participate?]

Shen Yu shrugged.

"I doubt they will, considering each of them has grown strong enough to win that tournament even if they just went by themselves. But if they want, then I don't mind."

It wasn't that big of a matter, after all. If they wanted to have fun, why would he stop them?

Just then, he received another call from one of his wives. He checked and found out that it was Qing Zhiyan, sensing stress from her signal.

It was an emergency, but she was safe—because his mark on her didn't alert him of any danger.

Raising an eyebrow in surprise, he connected with her and asked,

"What happened?"

[Master, I found Skinwalker.]

"Huh? You found whom?"

Shen Yu muttered in confusion as he moved his gaze towards the lake. His confusion grew when he saw the young lady still sleeping in it.

Just then, a possibility rose in his mind as he instantly teleported himself to Qing Zhiyan's location.

He appeared in what seemed like a small wooden hut. It was mostly empty aside from a comfortable bed and a big bear plushie.

Shen Yu blinked, looking at the big plushie which was the size of a human. He turned around, only to find Qing Zhiyan standing there holding the communication jade.

She was surprised seeing him but soon remembered where they were, and her face grew bright red. She quickly caught his hand and tried to drag him out while saying,

"M-Master, let's talk somewhere else."

Shen Yu smiled and said to Nancy, 'Focus on the Skinwalker. She must have sensed him through the Artefact I gave her, and that would have left a mark on him.'

[On it!]

He then focused back on his cute little wife and hugged her from behind, while saying, "But I would like to talk inside the hut. Besides, what if someone sees us like this?"

Qing Zhiyan shivered under his touch before relaxing. Her face told him about the battles she was fighting in her mind to decide if she should let him in the hut.

"Haha, it's fine. I'll check it out later when you're ready."

Qing Zhiyan hurriedly shook her head, "No, it's fine, Master. I... I just felt nervous, that's all. Let's go, I'll show you my little home."