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Chapter 1089: Chapter 1013: Suspicion_2
But unexpectedly, just as Li Zhirui was deploying his Escape Skill, he was intercepted by three Lianxu Cultivators blocking his path.
"What is the meaning of this, Fellow Daoists?" A glint of cold light flashed through Li Zhirui’s eyes. It had been many years since he last encountered a mid-journey robbery. Usually, he was the one lying in ambush to rob others.
"Quit the pretense and hand over the spiritual mines you’ve dug up honestly, and we’ll spare your life!" One of the three, a burly man with a face full of flesh looking more like a butcher than a Cultivator, bellowed angrily.
Those Cultivators of the Immortal Realm with their lofty pride, care naught for any spiritual mines other than Fine Gold. Thus, after their departure, a large number of Lianxu and Integration Cultivators entered the vein to excavate spiritual mines.
And truth be told, there were indeed a few Cultivators blessed with incredible luck, who while unable to compare with Fine Gold, still obtained Spiritual Objects of considerable value.
In such circumstances, naturally, some Cultivators thought of reaping without sowing. By robbing others, they sought to gain more spiritual mines and reap greater benefits.
"With just the three of you, you wish to make me hand over spiritual mines?" Li Zhirui’s face revealed a trace of disdain.
It was not out of pride or conceit, but simply that these mere three Lianxu Cultivators were no match for him.
"Hmph! Since you’re so unaware of what’s good for you, don’t blame us for disregarding the camaraderie among Fellow Daoists."
One of them immediately formed hand seals and cast spells, summoning streaks of firelight which transformed into various weapons, attacking Li Zhirui like a sky-obscuring torrent.
Another controlled the earth nearby, constantly creating trouble for Li Zhirui and preventing him from easily retreating.
The last Cultivator’s hands were shrouded in Thunder Light, unleashing torrents of thunderbolts with terrifying power, clearly showing extraordinary lethality.
"I was hoping to return quickly, yet you have delayed me!" Li Zhirui spoke with a calm tone, not at all surprised by their attacks, his demeanor filled with unabashed confidence.
His hands flitted about, as Spirit Light danced between his fingers like butterflies, seemingly beautiful and enchanting, but hidden within were lethal threats.
A Flood Dragon entwined with Spirit Water and Spirit Vines appeared in the narrow mine passage, opening its mouth to spew out an endless amount of water, forming layer upon layer of water screens to block the trio’s attacks.
Ripples spread across the water curtain, but their attacks could not make it to Li Zhirui, dissipating without a trace.
"Your strength is too weak. Let me teach you how Lianxu Cultivators should unleash their combat power!"
Before his words even finished, Li Zhirui activated the blessings of his Cave Heaven, and his power surged immensely, his aura becoming countless times stronger.
As Li Zhirui made his move, it was with full explosive force, not giving them the slightest chance to cling to life.
Countless vines appeared in the mine passage, and the three were quickly bound. No matter how they struggled, they couldn’t break free from the Spirit Vines.
"Roar! I’ll fight you with all I’ve got!"
Knowing they were in a dire situation after being trapped, like fish on the chopping board with no hope but to struggle or they would truly die there.
In their desperation to survive, the three unleashed every bit of their trump cards.
Amidst their roars, they were enveloped in Spirit Light which continued to grow, one covered in flames, another transforming into a Stone Giant, and another backed with flashing thunder, breaking free from their restraints and unleashing their powerful moves towards Li Zhirui.
"Interesting!"
Li Zhirui regarded their current state as if looking at some novel prey, his eyes filled with curiosity, and most importantly, he felt that their techniques resembled those of the Integration Realm’s Dharma!
Of course, the gap between the two was as vast as heaven and earth, but it was not difficult to discern a semblance of the Dharma realm within.
With this thought, Li Zhirui set his mind on obtaining this Method.
After their display, their strength had increased by about thirty percent. While it couldn’t compare to Li Zhirui, it was still a very remarkable feat!
However, what was most important was the idea of Dharma contained within the Method. If he could learn it, it might help with fusing and Refining his own Dharma later.
Roar!
The Flood Dragon roared and charged at the monk cloaked in flames, its intense, bone-chilling water vapor rapidly extinguishing the fire upon his body.
After his Secret Technique was disrupted, he quickly reverted to his original form and became extremely weak, his spirit drained to the point where he had almost no strength left to continue to fight.
"Second brother! Are you alright?" The other two brothers asked anxiously upon seeing this.
"Huff huff——"
The man was breathing heavily and laboriously, his mouth slightly open with an expression of urgency, as if he wanted to say something, but in his current condition, he simply could not speak.
The cold air had entered his body, continuously damaging his meridians, and with the added severe injury, even speaking had become a problem.
"How dare you harm my second brother, pay with your life!"
The monk enveloped in Thunder Light, eyes blood-red, lunged at Li Zhirui. 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝔬𝔪
As he flew, the Mana within him circulated nonstop, amplifying the power of thunder surrounding him, so by the time he reached Li Zhirui, he had become an extremely terrifying thunder ball.
Roar——
The thunderous explosion reverberated through the mining tunnel, nearly causing the well-intact tunnel to collapse.
"Dead! I’ve avenged my second brother!" The monk shouted in excitement.
Even if Li Zhirui’s power was immense, he could not possibly withstand his most powerful strike, and the reason the monk believed that Li Zhirui had died was that he did not detect any life signs, which surely meant death?
But just as he was reveling in his excitement, a stream of green light flashed through the falling rocks, and Li Zhirui appeared unscathed in the tunnel, albeit a little disheveled.
"Impossible! How could this be possible!"
The sight left the monk in a daze, falling into great doubt.
The only unhurt Stone Giant monk’s heart raced uncontrollably; the three brothers had truly met their match this time, and they were doomed!
"Please spare the three of us, brothers. As long as you are willing to let us go, we are willing to serve you as our master!" The Stone Giant pleaded with a trembling voice.
Seeing this, Li Zhirui could not help but shake his head. It was clear that these three were born Loose Cultivators, possessing almost no trials or temperance in their Dao Heart; they couldn’t handle even a bit of setback or blow.
The reason the three had survived until now was partly due to their powerful Secret Techniques, which could boost their strength by thirty percent, and partly due to luck, for they had not yet encountered a Cultivator as powerful as Li Zhirui.
However, Li Zhirui did not accept the Stone Giant’s plea for mercy. A Lianxu Cultivator as a servant might seem prestigious and could enhance the family’s power, but it also contained risks—if he were to flee or betray them, it would cause tremendous harm to the Li family...
Dealing with the eldest of the three brothers did not take Li Zhirui too much time, and he quickly dispatched him.
"If there’s a next life, I hope you can open your eyes and not provoke those who cannot be provoked." Li Zhirui looked at the bodies of the three men and wished them sincerely.
After collecting their Storage Magical Treasures, he used specially made Spiritual Objects to destroy their physical bodies, so as not to fall into the hands of Demon Cultivators and be turned into Yin Corpses or similar beings.
After dealing with the three brothers, on his way to Mount Wanxian, Li Zhirui did not encounter any more foolish Cultivators.
"Ancestor Rui! You’ve finally returned!" Li Xunda was extremely concerned about Li Zhirui’s safety because he was the family’s stabilizer; if anything happened to him, it would stir up great waves within the family.
Fortunately, although he was a bit late, he returned without injury.
"How has the family been during this time? And what about Wanling Island?"
If it was just to report safety, Li Zhirui would not personally come to the family hall— a Communication Talisman would suffice; his main concern was to know the family’s experiences during this time.
"In recent months, the family has dealt with a large number of Devil Beasts and Demon Cultivators, and they have not caused much destruction..."
In the process of cleansing Demon Cultivators and Devil Beasts, casualties within the Li family were not significant, and because of proper arrangements and timely reactions, those who exposed themselves would be targeted and would then be taken care of by Cultivators from the Li family.
