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Chapter 1097: Chapter 1017: Integration_2
Roar!
The Tribulation Thunder seemed to unleash a resentful roar, yet it dissipated helplessly.
Then a black light shot from the high skies, but before it could enter Li Zhirui’s body, it was shattered by a white light that emitted from his glabella, turning into strands of black smoke that vanished.
"Gurgle—"
No one knew who swallowed hard, the matter unfolded right before their eyes, but its dramatic nature was unbelievable!
A single move shattered the Tribulation Thunder; the Heart Demon Tribulation didn’t even have a chance to start before it ended?!
No matter how incredulous they felt, the rolling tribulation clouds had irreversibly transformed into thick, pure Spiritual Energy, so dense that it even formed into Spiritual Liquid.
Whoosh—
Hiss!
Between one inhalation and one exhalation, that sky full of pure, dense Spiritual Energy, as if punctured, was devoured and refined by Li Zhirui.
Li Zhirui’s Cultivation soared rapidly, but under his deliberate control, the Spiritual Energy, which should have all transformed into Mana, had a large portion merge into the Five Viscera Gods.
In just a moment, the Five Viscera Gods had grown substantially.
After all the Spiritual Energy was absorbed, Li Zhirui slowly opened his eyes, an aura of pressure flashed by so quickly that many clan members thought it was an illusion.
Only Da Qing, Xiaoqing, and others understood what was happening; this signified that Li Zhirui’s realm was incredibly stable! Unlike ordinary cultivators who can’t control their own pressure well after breaking through to the Integration Realm.
"Jiu, congratulations on achieving Integration!" Da Qing said with a smile.
"Daddy, tell us what it feels like to be in the Integration Realm." Li Chengshuo was extremely curious because she was not far from reaching the Integration Realm herself!
After her aptitude had been greatly improved, Li Chengshuo had skyrocketed in Cultivation in just a dozen years since her return, now reaching the Mid Nascent Soul stage.
If she continues at this pace, it might only take two hundred years before Li Chengshuo could break through to Integration just like Li Zhirui!
Hearing this, Li Zhirui looked towards Li Chengshuo, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. He didn’t inquire in front of everyone, but after some thought, he replied: "After breaking through to Integration, I feel a much closer connection between the body and the Spiritual Soul, and my strength has also increased a lot. I have a deeper understanding of the Laws."
And this was just the beginning. Li Zhirui hadn’t even started to refine his Dharma yet, which is most significant in the Integration Realm. Should he complete his Dharma, even just to a small degree, his strength could advance even further.
"A new day is about to begin, everyone can head back first. I will make time to answer your queries later."
After finishing, he gave a look to Li Chengshuo, signaling her to follow him into the Cave Mansion.
"What’s your current situation?" Li Zhirui asked seriously.
In his eyes, Li Chengshuo was now a walking embodiment of Taiyin energy, more dangerous than the strand of True Sun Fire in Li Chengsheng’s hands!
Li Chengshuo recounted her experiences once more, in great detail and without leaving anything out.
After listening, Li Zhirui suddenly felt it was connected to the sense of urgency that had always been in his heart. Could it be because of the so-called ’era of great contention’?
"How many in the family know about this?"
"Not many, just a few elders like Da Qing and the current Clan Leader Li Taiyao," said Li Chengshuo with some distress. "But the family has been secretly gathering intelligence for over a decade, without finding anything related."
"Don’t worry, it’s better to be slow than to expose ourselves."
The hidden secrets of the Primal Spirit Realm are not something that powers of the Li family’s caliber can easily access.
But now with Li Zhirui’s breakthrough to Integration, the Li family could reach a higher level and might be able to find out relevant information.
"Your body, you really don’t feel any discomfort?" Even after listening to Li Chengshuo, Li Zhirui was still a bit worried.
"None, and the Taiyin Moonlight within me is spurring on my Cultivation to rise rapidly," Li Chengshuo reassured. "Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll be fine."
"That would be more than fantastic."
Li Zhirui did not inquire further; after catching up on the family’s development over the years, he sent Li Chengshuo away.
During the centuries he spent breaking through to Integration, the Li family’s strength had seen a tremendous increase, and more importantly, the Zhang Family’s strength had significantly diminished!
Moreover, three major powers were eyeing the Zhang Family’s territory, and Li Zhirui’s original plan might indeed be feasible, which was to bring the eastern territories of Mount Wanxian under the Li family’s rule.
As for the initial plan to claim the entire Thousandfold Mountains for the Li family, he had completely dismissed it!
Now, the Thousandfold Mountains are at the heart of conflict, and several veteran powers are clashing fiercely. With the Li family’s current strength, even if they managed to seize the mountains, they would not be able to hold onto them.
However, to achieve this, careful strategizing is still required.
"Discuss this matter with the Clan Leader and see if they can think of any strategies. I need to hasten and grasp control over my own combat power," Li Zhirui said.
Although Li Zhirui did not need to consolidate his realm, the breakthrough had greatly enhanced his strength, and he needed some time to master it.
And to gain such a vast expanse of territory without showing some strength, how could that be possible?
Meanwhile, the news of Li Zhirui’s breakthrough to the Integration Realm spread wildly among the mountains.
"What is the Li family’s background? To breakthrough to Integration so smoothly!" an Elder exclaimed in shock after receiving the message.
To think, as established Nascent Soul Powers, they had attempted and struggled for so many years without producing an Integrating Cultivator. Then there was the Li family, a fallen powerhouse, achieving it with apparent ease – how could they not be shocked?
"However, the emergence of an Integrating Cultivator in the Li family might not necessarily be good news."
The initial territorial disputes are over, but neither side will stop there. Now that the Li family has someone breaking through to Integration, they are bound to be courted by both sides.
Accepting one side’s offer is sure to offend the other, and the Li family Cultivators will become easy targets on the battlefield.
From this perspective, this will undoubtedly lead to more casualties in the Li family.
But even with this comforting thought, the vast majority of powers were still very envious, hoping that someone from their own would reach Integration, so as to better cope with any situation.
The news of Li Zhirui’s breakthrough to Integration also reached the Zhang Family and the major powers of Wanzhu State, who were discussing how to deal with the situation.
"Should we send someone to win him over, to strengthen our power?"
"I don’t think it’s necessary. Our three families are already strong enough. You all are aware of the current situation of the Zhang Family. Winning him over won’t be of much help," one replied.
"I agree. There’s no need to waste Spiritual Objects to win him over if we can win," another added.
After all, the cost to win over an Integrating Cultivator wouldn’t be small.
Most Elders opposed this approach, and the three major powers of Wanzhu State thus disregarded Li Zhirui’s existence.
But it wouldn’t take long before they fell deep into regret.
On the other hand, the Zhang Family had mixed feelings about Li Zhirui’s breakthrough, having never expected that an inconsiderable vassal would give birth to an Integrating Cultivator so unexpectedly.
"We must find a way to win him over to our side, to bolster our strength, and we cannot continue to lose territory!" a certain Elder said seriously.
"Indeed. The family’s current situation is already rough. If luck falls even further, I fear bad things may happen."
"But Li Zhirui is just one Integrating Cultivator. Even with the Li family, it’s unlikely that they can greatly influence the battle situation."
Some Elders objected, saying, "Moreover, he surely knows that our family’s situation is not good; he’s very likely to make outrageous demands and ask for a large amount of Spiritual Objects."
"This isn’t how you calculate the matter. Those Spiritual Objects are just external possessions. What use would they be if something happens to the family?" the Elder retorted.
"Regardless, we cannot let Li Zhirui join the three major powers of Wanzhu State; otherwise, we are in even greater danger!"
Mount Wanxian of the Li family is conveniently located at the large retreat behind the mountains. If the Li family moves against the Zhang Family, they would need to open up a new battlefield.
One of the main reasons the Zhang Family lost the last territorial struggle was the multitude of battlefields, which diffused their greatest advantage.
They cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes this time.
