NOVPUB
Chapter 623: Chapter 629: Treatment
Li Zhiyue was practically dragged back to Wanxian Island, not having expended even a bit of Mana herself throughout the entire journey, as all matters were resolved by the two Spirit Beasts.
Upon seeing the outline of Wanxian Island, a sudden timidity surged in her heart, urging her to flee.
But Li Zhiyue had no power to resist and was once again carried onto Wanxian Island by the two Spirit Beasts.
"You are..."
The clansman responsible for patrolling Wanxian Island approached with a mixture of respect and caution, asking.
"She is a member of the Li family. Here is her Identity Jade, it’s just that she hasn’t returned for many years, and the Mountain Protection Array has changed, which prevented her from entering the family lands."
Li Zhiyue remained silent, letting the two Spirit Beasts speak for her.
The clansman took the Jade Token for inspection and found it indeed was of the family’s standard. After verification through a Secret Technique, he was sure there was no mistake, and personally led them into the family territory.
"I shall take the Elder to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to replace her Identity Jade first."
"No need, we’ve been rushing about, and we’re exhausted in both body and mind. We’d like to rest for a night before going."
The clansman, upon hearing this, said nothing more and simply nodded before turning to leave.
"Let’s go, we should first pay our respects to Jiu."
Knock knock—
Li Chengsheng, who was just about to go out to Spirit Beast Mountain to visit the flock of Yang Li Firebirds he was cultivating, heard the knocking and immediately strode forward to open the courtyard door.
"You are?" He could never have imagined that the person who appeared before him was an old woman with white hair!
Although he did not partake in the management of the family, he knew that there was no such elderly figure on Wanxian Island with a visage so close to the end of life.
And yet, Li Chengsheng felt that the old woman’s face seemed somewhat familiar.
"You are... Aunt Zhiyue?!" His face filled with shock and disbelief.
This was one of the few times in his life that he experienced such a drastic change in expression!
"It’s been many years, Chengsheng. Your cultivation has nearly caught up to mine," said Li Zhiyue with a faint smile, but it was clearly forced.
"Aunt Zhiyue, please come in and have a seat. I’ll go call Dad and Mom." Li Chengsheng turned anxiously to fervently ring the Dharma Bell hanging in front of his parents’ room.
"What has happened?"
Upon hearing the bell, Li Zhirui and Jiang Fengwu immediately opened their eyes, stopped their meditative practice, and stepped out of the quiet room.
"What is it?"
"Dad, Mom, Aunt Zhiyue has returned, but..." At that moment, Li Chengsheng wasn’t sure how to continue.
How could he describe the sight of an Elder who was on the brink of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage suddenly looking as if she was at death’s door?
"Jiu, Aunt Fengwu, long time no see," said Li Zhiyue in the pavilion, apparently aware of Li Chengsheng’s difficulty and rising to greet them.
"Zhiyue, you..."
Li Zhirui turned around with immense joy, but upon seeing the white hair and the face full of wrinkles, all the words he wanted to say got stuck in his throat.
"This..." Jiang Fengwu was also stunned.
"What has happened to you!? Why have you turned into this? Tell me, I will surely avenge you and wash away the resentment!" Li Zhirui said angrily.
Even though there had been conflicts between them in the past, bygones were bygones, long scattered with the winds. Moreover, now that only the three of them remained in the Li family’s generation, their kinship had grown even more profound.
As the eldest brother among the three, Li Zhirui had to avenge his sister!
"I was injured during my travels outside. It was an accident and had nothing to do with anyone else," Li Zhiyue obviously didn’t want to elaborate.
"You guys tell me!" How could the anger in Li Zhirui’s heart dissipate so easily? He immediately turned his gaze toward the two Spirit Beasts beside her.
"Jiu, the state Zhiyue is in is caused by a heart disease, and the culprit behind all this is a secret realm in Huanggu State..."
After he finished explaining the causes and consequences, Li Zhirui took a deep breath and said, "Her calf was evaporated outright?"
If her calf was merely severed, the issue wouldn’t be too serious, a few bottles of fourth-order mending ointment and Connective Pills could heal it. He could lose face, and the Southern Edge Commerce Association and Xuanfa Pavilion would definitely be able to provide them, but Li Zhiyue’s situation was countless times more severe!
To regrow a calf, ordinary Spiritual Objects simply wouldn’t suffice; at the very least, a fifth-order heavenly treasure would be needed for that possibility.
"Jiu, there’s no need to trouble yourself. I’m not here to seek help from the family. I just purely want to do something for the family and repay them for the many years of nurturing and cultivation," said Li Zhiyue with a strained smile.
"I plan on staying in the family for the next hundred years or so, keeping watch for any small fry."
"You don’t need to! The family already has more than enough Golden Core Cultivators now!"
Li Zhirui ordered sternly, "What you need to do now is to adjust your own condition. The family will definitely find a way to resolve the issue with your calf."
Upon hearing this, Li Zhiyue’s cloudy eyes were instantly occupied by tears. She wanted to refuse, to tell the family not to waste their efforts on her, but she just couldn’t bring herself to say these short words.
"Don’t worry! You guys take her back to rest and talk to Zhiyue properly, persuade her to ease her mind."
Li Zhirui’s family accompanied her as she left.
"You should do whatever you need to do. This matter has nothing to do with you; leave it to us elders to handle," he said.
After sending the others away, Jiang Fengwu furrowed her brow and asked, "Do you really plan to heal Zhiyue’s injury? Do you know how great the cost will be to have a chance at obtaining it?"
"Moreover, even if such a precious treasure exists within the commerce associations, they will not likely hand it over for trade easily; it’s most probable that they will take it to auction."
"I know it’s extremely difficult, but I cannot just do nothing."
Seeing Li Zhirui’s resolute expression, Jiang Fengwu felt it was inappropriate to discourage him any further, for she saw the chances of success as slim.
If he was unwilling to give up, then so be it.
Li Zhirui’s determination to save Li Zhiyue came from his belief that, after this ordeal, her chances to breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage had increased greatly!
From any point of view, spending several million Spirit Stones to exchange for a Nascent Soul Cultivator was an extremely lucrative deal.
As for whether Li Zhiyue would fail to breakthrough? Who could say for sure.
"I’ll go and consult with Da Rong about this matter. You should head back first," he said.
Without another word, Li Zhirui strode off.
"Elder, I heard that Ancestor Zhiyue has returned. Is there hope for her to breakthrough to the Nascent Soul?" Li Darong knew only that Li Zhiyue had come back and was unaware of her dire situation.
Li Zhirui did not respond but instead asked, "How many Spirit Stones can the family mobilize right now?"
Li Darong was somewhat puzzled by the question, but still answered dutifully, "The Spirit Stones mined from the vein, a large part of them have been invested into the Spirit Vein to promote its advancement. After purchasing many Spiritual Objects with the rest, only about two million Spirit Stones remain."
"Including the family’s savings accumulated over the years, we can still mobilize an additional million Spirit Stones without affecting the family’s operations."
It wasn’t that the Li family couldn’t store Spirit Stones, but that they had saved a batch for emergencies!
This portion of Spirit Stones would only be used in situations jeopardizing the family’s safety, so Li Darong did not count it in. 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝔬𝔪
Moreover, this one million Spirit Stones was what the Li family could produce immediately.
