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Chapter 1181: Chapter 1059: Return_2
Thus, Li Zhirui flipped his hand to store away the Jade Box, thereby agreeing to Yang Yekang’s request.
The other cultivator, upon seeing this, felt a foreboding sense of doom and quickly transformed into a streak of rainbow light, fleeing into the distance.
But such speed was still far too slow for Li Zhirui. He easily caught up, producing a vine whip in his hand and striking him violently to the ground.
"Cough, cough!"
The magical treasure on the cultivator’s body spared him from severe injury, but his condition was still dire. He was sprawled weakly on the ground, coughing uncontrollably, blood speckling his lips.
"Senior, would you really risk offending a Nine White Mountain disciple over a single Hundred Fragrance Jade Lotus? Are you not afraid of their eventual retaliation?" the cultivator pleaded desperately, using his Sect’s name as a threat in hopes of deterring Li Zhirui.
Unfortunately, Li Zhirui didn’t care in the slightest.
After all, by the time Nine White Mountain took any action, he would have long left the Northern Domain. With spatial concealment blocking divinations, Li Zhirui had no fear of being found.
"Please, Senior, spare my life! I’m willing to offer all my possessions." Realizing that threats were ineffective, the cultivator hastily switched to begging for mercy through bribery.
Li Zhirui shook his head. Killing this man would still earn him the Spiritual Objects on his body, and it was doubtful those items could even compare to the Sixth Rank Jade Lotus.
"I’m quite particular about honoring agreements. If you can offer something better than the Jade Lotus, I may consider helping you eliminate Yang Yekang."
The man’s expression stiffened. Although the Hundred Fragrance Jade Lotus was merely a Sixth Rank item, it was exceedingly rare. How could a mere Void Refinement cultivator like him possess something so extraordinary?
Li Zhirui wasted no more words. The vine whip shot out of his hand, transforming into a steel cable that instantly pierced through the man’s heart.
"It’s done here. Time to leave."
Li Zhirui took the man’s Storage Magical Treasure and commanded the Golden Eagle to activate the Spirit Boat and depart.
Yang Yekang opened his mouth as if to say something but ultimately swallowed his words, watching helplessly as the Spirit Boat vanished into the distance.
"I didn’t expect this journey to yield a Jade Lotus after all."
When Li Zhirui obtained the Jade Lotus, he placed it into his spatial dimension, planting it in a pool of water. The originally withered Jade Lotus quickly regained vitality under the nourishment of the dimension.
"It seems it’ll soon ascend to the Seventh Rank."
The Jade Lotus demonstrated promising signs of progress. Perhaps in less than a century, it could advance even further.
For the remainder of his journey, he encountered nothing of comparable fortune, not even the shadows of other cultivators. This desolate mountain range’s Spiritual Energy was so scarce that it even discouraged Loose Cultivators from venturing here.
Seasons passed, and the biting northern winds howled twice before Li Zhirui finally left the Northern Domain and entered the region of the East Sea.
He avoided heading directly south into the East Continent because traveling through those narrow paths risked losing one’s way, perhaps even becoming permanently trapped in the mountains.
Instead, it was better to first enter the East Sea, then head south to return to Mount Wanxian. It would be much easier that way.
Over the years of cleansing by the Immortal Tao, the nearshore regions of the East Sea had become entirely under their control and were exceedingly safe.
After flying over the sea for more than a month, Li Zhirui finally returned to the long-separated Mount Wanxian.
"Ancestor Rui, you’ve returned!"
A patrolling clansman, upon initially spotting Li Zhirui, couldn’t believe his own eyes. Thinking it was an illusion, he verified repeatedly before realizing it was real, not a hallucination.
"Mm, you’ve worked hard."
Li Zhirui acknowledged the clansman with a nod before entering Mount Wanxian.
After so many years, he suddenly realized that Mount Wanxian had undergone considerable changes compared to his memories.
The mountain had grown broader and taller, and the terrain and layout had also changed significantly.
"Is it because the family has cultivated a second Seventh Rank Spirit Vein?" Li Zhirui speculated.
Soon enough, several streaks of Spirit Light rushed toward him.
"Jiu! You’ve finally returned!"
Da Qing and a few others were visibly emotional. Although they had long known through the Life Token that Li Zhirui was still alive, it didn’t necessarily guarantee his safety.
"It’s been years, and your progress isn’t small either."
These were not mere words of courtesy; indeed, Da Qing and the others had significantly improved their cultivation realms during these years.
"Are Fengwu, Sheng, and Shuo not in the family?" After some pleasantries, Li Zhirui asked curiously.
"Sheng left long ago for training, seeking opportunities to break through to the Integration Realm. Fengwu and Shuo have remained with the family, but currently, only Fengwu is at home. Shuo is stationed at Wanling Island."
"Has the family not produced any new Integration Realm cultivators over these years?"
"None. However, there have been quite a few new Void Refinement cultivators," Da Qing said, his tone carrying a hint of dejection.
Unfortunately, Li Zhirui had long since switched to a different cultivation technique. Had he still been cultivating the "Wanling Sutra," Da Qing, Xiaoqing, and the others would likely have advanced to become Seventh Rank Spirit Beasts, perhaps even Eighth Rank.
Without the benefits brought by the "Wanling Sutra," they naturally had to face numerous bottlenecks, which explained their lack of breakthroughs thus far.
"It’s alright. If you encounter any problems in the future, feel free to come to me for guidance," Li Zhirui comforted them with reassurances.
"Have there been any major events around the family in these years?"
"The Zhang Family and the Qingzhu Sect fought another battle over land, though neither side gained the upper hand, with both coming out evenly matched."
After thinking for a moment, Da Qing added, "A few years ago, the Sea Clan started showing signs of unrest. Everyone feared an invasion, but it hasn’t happened yet."
Li Zhirui nodded and began inquiring about the family’s development over the years.
"You should ask Taiyao about those details."
Li Zhirui was familiar with the Clan Leader, Li Taiyao, considering she was the family’s first Void Refinement Clan Leader and one of only two female leaders in history.
"In recent years, the family has expanded its eastern territory toward the sea, consolidating the forces between Mount Wanxian and Wanling Island to connect the two regions."
"At the same time, to open up more space for the family, efforts have been made to develop the northern mountain range, resulting in the establishment of several Immortal Cities now home to tens of thousands of mortals."
Hearing this, Li Zhirui’s eyebrows lifted slightly. He hadn’t expected the family to begin developing this particular continental mountain range.
While its Spiritual Energy was sparse, that very fact made it difficult for Devil Beasts to naturally emerge there. Except for the inconvenience of living in the mountains, it was otherwise perfectly suited for mortal habitation!
"Perhaps the Human Dao Dynasty cultivation methods I obtained earlier don’t need to be disseminated anymore?" Li Zhirui murmured to himself.
He had originally sought those methods to protect mortal clansmen. But now that it seemed unnecessary, Li Zhirui hesitated to spread the Human Dao Dynasty’s techniques.
After all, he had personally witnessed the Human Dao Dynasty dominate all others. In a matter of mere years, it had fended off and even triumphed against numerous cultivators.
If, one day, mortal families surpassed cultivator families in power, a tremendous conflict between the two would inevitably erupt!
Considering this, Li Zhirui decided to change his plans on the spot.
"Ancestor Rui, what were you just saying?" Li Taiyao hadn’t caught his words and asked curiously.
"Oh, it’s nothing—just something that crossed my mind suddenly."
Li Zhirui smiled and said, "You’ve worked hard all these years. Being the Clan Leader isn’t an easy role, is it?"
Over the years, Li Taiyao’s cultivation had seen little improvement, clearly weighed down by the responsibilities and minutiae of her position.
"These are the Spiritual Objects and methods I collected during my travels. Take the time to catalog them and store them in the treasury."
With a wave of his hand, two small mountains of Spiritual Objects appeared on the ground.
Hiss—
Everyone present couldn’t help but take a sharp breath. With their cultivation realms, how could they not see the dazzling brilliance of these treasures?
It was evident how precious and abundant these Spiritual Objects were.
In truth, Li Zhirui had deliberately selected high-ranking Spiritual Objects that the family lacked, ensuring their treasury grew stronger for the future.
