Actually, Chu Aoran did not want to put Luo Xiu in such a difficult position. He had no choice, however, as he still owed the Tianyu King a favor. When the Tianyu King visited the Chu Family, he had sought Chu Aoran out and asked him to ensure that Luo Xiu stayed. Left with no other choice, he had to find an excuse to keep Luo Xiu. He didn't know why the Tianyu King would make such a strange request, but that wasn't important, nor did he care. What mattered was that as long as he kept Luo Xiu in the Chu Family, the favor would be considered repaid.

"Grandfather, what are you doing?" Xu Qianqing hurriedly went to pull Chu Aoran back.

Chu Aoran looked at her with a kindly expression. "Xie Rou, don't worry about this. Rest assured, Grandfather won't harm him. I just want to keep him here."

Then Chu Tianming pulled Xu Qianqing to one side and whispered, "Silly girl, don't you like this young man? Your grandfather wants to keep him in the Chu Family now; this is a good thing."

"Even if your grandfather doesn't approve of him now, you will certainly win him over as long as you both perform well in the future."

"But..."

"There are no 'buts'!" Chu Tianming's tone deepened, interrupting her. "Xie Rou, I'm telling you, when you love someone, you have to be selfish and disregard everything else. Once you miss your chance, you'll regret it for the rest of your life... just like your mother and me."

"Besides, that young man has such an explosive temper. Once he leaves the Chu Family, he's definitely going to cause trouble for the Ye Family. But with the Tianyu King now supporting them, what waves can he possibly make? So, you see, keeping him here in the Chu Family is also a form of protection for him."

Luo Xiu watched impassively as Chu Aoran blocked his way and asked, "What if I insist on leaving today?"

Chu Aoran smiled faintly. "If you insist on leaving, it's not out of the question."

"As the fifth on the Heavenly Rankings, I won't bully a junior like you," he continued. "Let's do this... if you can last for half an hour in the Ancestral God Altar, I will let you go."

Upon hearing this, Luo Xiu's brows knitted. This Elder Chu seems so confident. Could the Ancestral God Altar be a dangerous place?

At the same time, a smile appeared on Chu Tianming's face. The Old Master is truly ruthless.

The Chu Family's Ancestral God Altar was the very place where their ancestor, Chu Yun, used to practice his Cultivation before leaving this world. To this day, the place still retained Chu Yun's Divine Sense. Anyone who stepped inside would have to bear the pressure of his Divine Sense.

Even the Old Master can't last half an hour in there! Luo Xiu might be strong, but how could he possibly compete with the fifth on the Heavenly Rankings?

"Fine," Luo Xiu said, not wanting to waste time. "I hope you keep your word, elder."

This is actually the best solution, as it doesn't require a fight, he thought. After all, they're Xu Qianqing's family. It would be inappropriate to fight and end up hurting someone.

"Rest for the night," Chu Aoran said. "We'll talk about it tomorrow."

"No need. I'll go now."

Hearing this, Chu Aoran gave Luo Xiu a deep look. "Young man, the Ancestral God Altar is not something to be taken lightly. Your current state doesn't look good. Once you step onto the altar, not only will you be unable to last half an hour, but you might also incur irreversible damage."

Luo Xiu's expression remained impassive. "Take me there now. I'm in a hurry."

Before long, the group made their way through winding paths and finally set foot on a long corridor built over a lake. The scenery on both sides was stunning as one walked along. It was dusk, and the sunset's glow illuminated the scene. The surface of the lake shimmered, and schools of koi swam below. Walking along the corridor felt like strolling across the legendary Magpie Bridge.

Chu Aoran then leaped effortlessly, his body seeming to defy gravity as he soared over the corridor's railing and landed gently on the surface of the lake like a feather. When his feet touched the water, they caused only the slightest ripples, as if he stood not on water but on a mirror strong enough to support his weight.

The nearby Chu Family Disciples who saw this all rushed over to watch, exclaiming in admiration.

"Look, it's the Old Master!"

"Isn't he always in secluded Cultivation? Why is he out today?"

"Walking on water! That's so impressive!"

"RISE!"

Chu Aoran extended one hand and gave a gentle upward lift. Instantly, the lake tens of meters in front of him churned with surging waves, as if he had awakened a mysterious behemoth lurking beneath. But as time passed, what emerged from the water was not a behemoth, but a round, bluestone platform. The edges of the platform were surrounded by stone pillars, all carved with patterns of Exotic Beasts that were worn down by the ages, emanating an ancient aura.

Chu Aoran turned to look at Luo Xiu on the corridor. "Our Chu Family ancestor proved his Dao right here. Later generations of Chu Family Disciples have all come here to undertake the test."

"What kind of test?" Luo Xiu asked.

"Just stepping onto this altar will subject you to the Divine Sense pressure from our ancestor," Chu Aoran explained. "An ordinary person who steps on it will suffer an immediate mental breakdown; in severe cases, they drop dead on the spot. As for Martial Artists, no matter how strong their willpower, few can last more than a minute. Those who can last more than five minutes are considered the best of the best."

He stroked his beard and said proudly, "My personal best record is only nineteen minutes."

Luo Xiu found this amusing. Is this old man indirectly boasting that he's better than the best of the best?

At that moment, Chu Tianming spoke up. "And that record was recently broken by Xie Rou."

Chu Aoran looked at Luo Xiu with a smile that was not quite a smile. "Xie Rou carries the complete ancestral Bloodline. After she steps onto the Ancestral God Altar, it will recognize her as if she were the ancestor himself, so she can stay as long as she wants. Boy, do you dare to give it a try?"

"I'm pressed for time," Luo Xiu replied.

Chu Aoran pointed at a small wooden boat moored by the water's edge. "There's a boat. Just take it across."

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Luo Xiu placed a hand on the railing, vaulted over it, and leaped toward the surface of the lake. Unlike Chu Aoran's otherworldly grace, Luo Xiu's movements were simple and crude, like a mischievous student scaling a school wall. He landed directly on the water's surface, then strode across it as if on solid ground, heading straight for the Ancestral God Altar.

Seeing this, the nearby Chu Family Disciples gasped in astonishment.

Chu Aoran was also surprised as he watched Luo Xiu. My earlier words were a bit unnecessary.

Xu Qianqing was filled with pride. This man who gives me such a complete sense of security always manages to do the unexpected.

A short while later, Luo Xiu stepped onto the altar that had emerged from the water. After steadying himself, he began to walk slowly toward the center. The next moment, he felt his body grow heavy, as if an invisible boulder was pressing down on his back, making it difficult to even lift his feet.

So stepping onto this altar means facing not only the Divine Sense pressure from the Chu family's ancestor but also a powerful surge of Spiritual Energy!

"With both mind and body under intense pressure, it's no wonder ordinary people find it hard to endure here," Luo Xiu muttered to himself. "However... is this all there is to it?"

He suddenly quickened his pace, walking directly to the center of the altar and standing still.

"Big Bro, there's something good under this lake!" Lin Tong's voice suddenly rang in Luo Xiu's mind.

Luo Xiu asked, "What is it?"

"A Spirit Vein!" Lin Tong said excitedly. "The altar you're standing on now leads directly to the Spirit Vein, like a pipeline. That's why you can feel such pure and dense Spiritual Energy from heaven and earth on this altar."

However, Luo Xiu wasn't particularly interested. Since this is a Secret Realm, the existence of a Spirit Vein is inevitable. For Martial Artists anywhere, cultivating in such an environment would undoubtedly be a great opportunity. But I don't need it at all. After all, I grew up on Ghost Valley Mountain. The stone bed I slept on every day was situated right above a Spirit Vein, and the bed itself acted like the 'pipeline' Lin Tong just mentioned.

"Also," Lin Tong added, "there's a powerful Wandering Spirit hiding within the altar. I think it's probably that Chu Family ancestor."

"How strong?" Luo Xiu asked.

"The Wandering Spirit King we met in the burial ground on that island is no match for this one," Lin Tong replied. "Big Bro, why don't we capture it and seal it in the Soul Imprisonment Mark? I'll discipline it properly, and later, when you refine and absorb it, you'll be able to extract a lot of Yin Essence Power."

Luo Xiu smiled. "Let's forget it. He's Qianqing's ancestor, after all. There's no need."

He then took a deep breath and ignored Lin Tong. Enduring the dual pressure on his mind and body, he slowly straightened up, keeping his heart as calm as still water.

Meanwhile, on the corridor, Xu Qianqing watched Luo Xiu on the altar, her face full of worry. I've seen with my own eyes how many of the Chu Family's talented Disciples suffered mental breakdowns not long after stepping up there, bleeding from all seven orifices and losing control of their bodies. It was a miserable sight.

"Grandfather, Luo Xiu will be alright, won't he?" she asked.

Chu Aoran laughed. "Looking at him, he should be able to hold on for a few minutes. This kid is indeed quite impressive. He's a talent worth molding."

Chu Tianming smiled. "Xie Rou, rest assured. For him, this will only be beneficial."

Chu Aoran wore a slight smile as he watched Luo Xiu on the altar, a trace of admiration in his eyes. This little guy has truly exceeded my expectations. Although I'm only keeping him here to repay a favor, I can also take this chance to see just how talented he really is.

As Chu Aoran was lost in thought, the altar on the lake suddenly burst into radiant light. The violent Spiritual Energy caused the lake's surface around the altar to churn with massive waves, as if it were boiling! Within that light, a vague figure began to emerge.

Seeing this, Chu Aoran's eyes widened in disbelief. This kid... he made the ancestor manifest so quickly?

Chu Tianming's gaze trembled, equally stunned. "Dad, I remember the last time the ancestor manifested was also because of you."

At this, the nearby Chu Family Disciples had already knelt to pay their respects, as was family law: upon witnessing the ancestor's manifestation, all must kneel and pay homage.

Chu Aoran looked at Luo Xiu on the altar, his eyes filled with admiration. After a moment of silence, he spoke. "Since the ancestor has manifested, he probably won't last much longer. The ancestor's Divine Sense will gradually strengthen. When it intensifies to the point of manifestation, it becomes terrifying. Even I wouldn't last half a minute if I were up there now."

However, no sooner had his words fallen than an unbelievable scene unfolded.

The ancestor on the altar suddenly knelt and bowed deeply to Luo Xiu

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