Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan-Chapter 402 - 408: Nurturing the Enemy

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"I wonder when Zhirui and Zhiyue will come back," whispered Li Shiqing, his tone laden with deep concern.

Ever since they left the Li family, he visited the ancestral shrine every day for fear of their safety. Though their Life Tokens remained intact, it did nothing to ease his action.

Despite the recent breakthrough of Li Chenghuo to Golden Core, making him the sixth cultivator in the family to reach such heights and allowing for an orderly inheritance—thus confirming the Li family as a true Golden Core power!

Yet, Zhirui's importance remains unparalleled; as of now, no one in the family could possibly replace him.

In terms of cultivation, Zhirui has reached Golden Core Perfection, merely a step away from the Nascent Soul Realm. Once he succeeds, the Li family will be able to break free from Shen Leishan and truly become an independent entity.

In terms of status, Zhirui is one of the few elders in the family. He also has a pair of children with exceptional talent, a Golden Core dao companion, and he himself is a third-order Alchemy Master.

Should he fall, the Li family's strength would be directly weakened by at least thirty percent or more! And the family's rapid development would also come to a halt!

How could Li Shiqing, who sees the family as paramount, not worry?

"The Secret Realm of Wanxian was open for three months; judging by the time, they should be on their way back to the clan by now," Li Shilian consoled. "Besides, with Zhirui's strength, he has no match among the common Golden Cores, and they will surely return safely."

"You should relax, Second Brother. Just wait for Zhirui to bring surprises back to the family!"

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Li Shiqing knew this as well, but he just couldn't contain the worry in his heart.

And on Wanxian Island, aside from Li Shiqing, there were others who also cared deeply for Zhirui.

"Mother, it's been several years now, why hasn't father come back?" Li Chengshuo's worry was evident in his voice.

Jiang Fengwu couldn't answer the question; and Chengshuo had grown up—he could no longer be comforted with the same reassurances as before. All she could say was, "The Secret Realm has closed; he should be on his way back."

"And what about you and Sheng? Anything you've learned or gained from your experience outside?" In order to steer Chengshuo away from further inquiry, Jiang Fengwu deliberately changed the subject.

Li Chengsheng and Li Chengshuo, the siblings, had resolved to achieve Foundation Establishment on their own. Finding no inspiration on Wanxian Island, they had pleaded to go out and gain experience for a few years and had only recently returned from the outside world.

However, during that time, Jiang Fengwu was busy expanding and arranging the Formation for the ever-growing Red Pine Marketplace, and had not had the chance to ask; now was a good opportunity to shift the conversation.

At the mention of this, Chengshuo suddenly became bashful and mumbled somewhat embarrassedly, "Brother found his opportunity to build his foundation on his own and is now in seclusion, trying to break through in one go; I'm just a bit short!"

She was a bit competitive but never lied or deceived those close to her, though she still felt a bit frustrated inside.

For Jiang Fengwu though, this outcome was not at all unexpected. If it were reversed, that would be truly surprising.

Chengsheng had an unswerving Dao heart, devoted solely to the path of cultivation. On the other hand, Chengshuo was too lively, too inquisitive, and found it difficult to calm down and comprehend the natural order.

Not that Chengshuo was inferior to Chengsheng, but in the path of cultivation, which often required patient endurance, without significant fortune, she was destined to lag a step behind her brother. Right now, in the Qi Cultivation Stage, the difference was not clear, but as their cultivation progressed, their gap would surely widen.

"It's okay, you're just a step behind. Pursue vigorously, and I believe you can do it!" encouraged Jiang Fengwu.

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As for Li Chengsheng, who is currently in seclusion within the quiet chamber, he became the second biggest concern on Jiang Fengwu's mind, worried that his breakthrough would fail. If he were to damage his foundation by any chance, his whole life would be ruined!

Meanwhile, the object of everyone's concern, Li Zhirui, was traveling to Wanxian Island at the fastest possible speed.

Rushing along the way without the slightest delay, he didn't encounter any clueless cultivators, and very smoothly made his way back to the Eastern Domain.

However, the next part of the journey might not be as peaceful, and his speed would plummet significantly.

That's because he would have to pass through the territories of several Demonic Tao powers, and as a cultivator of the Immortal Tao, he naturally couldn't fly openly in the sky anymore. Moreover, there was a high chance of encountering demon cultivators and a fight would undoubtedly be unavoidable at that time.

Perhaps it was due to Li Zhirui's exceptional fortune during this period, but on this stretch of the road, although he ran into some demon cultivators, they were all very weak. Upon laying eyes on him, Li Zhirui easily wiped them out.

What's more, the powers these demon cultivators belonged to didn't respond at all to their deaths, they didn't even realize they had lost quite a few disciples.

In fact, it wasn't just the Demonic Tao powers, even the Immortal Tao powers didn't care unless a highly valued disciple disappeared.

"I really don't understand why these Demonic Tao powers are situated between the two domains, and why no Immortal Tao powers have eliminated them," Li Zhirui commented after making his way out.

"Hahaha, fellow Daoist, have you ever heard of 'nurturing a villain to strengthen oneself'?" A Golden Core cultivator laughed and said from not too far away.

Li Zhirui was taken aback upon hearing this, but he quickly understood that these Demonic Tao powers were deliberately indulged by the major powers of the Central Domain!

Their purpose was simple, to prevent a large number of Eastern Domain cultivators from traveling to the Central Domain.

As for the possibility of being backstabbed, was it a joke that they had been sitting at the top of the Profound Origin Realm for countless years? How could the beasts they fed harm them?

And, as expected, apart from the Western Domain which was the territory of the Demonic Tao, it was certain that there were Demonic Tao powers blocking the way near the Central Domain in both the Northern and Southern Domains.

'This is quite interesting!' A hint of mockery flashed in Li Zhirui's heart, but such thoughts could obviously not be openly expressed.

The Golden Core cultivator had only said that much before leaving straight away.

Li Zhirui didn't take this matter to heart because he didn't plan to travel to the Central Domain too often in the future. The Eastern Domain was spacious enough for him and his family to grow.

Despite the rich spiritual energy and the bustling world of cultivation in the Central Domain, in reality, it was a backward place with rigid levels and an almost solidified social hierarchy!

Don't you see there are still quite a few Divine Transformation forces in the Eastern Domain? They might not be as powerful as the Great Profound Sect and other top powers, but they're definitely not weak, so why do they choose to stay in the Eastern Domain rather than go to the Central Domain, which everyone says is like a sacred land of cultivation?

Isn't it because there's no suitable place for them in the Central Domain anymore?

If the Li family went to the Central Domain without sufficient strength, it would be nothing but a humiliation. In the end, they would either have to leave in a miserable and embarrassed state, covered in wounds, or become a vassal or, in reality, a servant to some power!

Moreover, Li Zhirui had never planned to take his family to the Central Domain for development; he had a better plan in mind!

All these thoughts were not what he could act on now. The most important thing for Li Zhirui at the moment was to hurry back to his family.