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Chapter 756: Chapter 762: Reaction
"Observing the reactions of the people from the Profound Ice Sect, it appears that they have no doubts about the authenticity of this matter," Li Wenli, who had been secretly observing Ice Cloud and the others during the ceremony, had not detected any signs of suspicion.
Moreover, they were personally received by him and had not exchanged more than a few words with other members of the Li family along the way.
Li Wenli’s character and abilities are beyond questioning, so naturally, everyone believed what he said.
As long as the news of Zhirui’s seclusion to break through to Divine Transformation doesn’t leak, and with all the previously discussed measures in place, it is unlikely that anyone will interfere with his breakthrough.
Even if they realize something is amiss later on, it will be too late!
By the time the various parties arrive, Zhirui will either have perished or ascended to a Divine Transformation master!
"However, from the outsiders’ perspective, father’s seclusion is to break through the late Nascent Soul stage. If the seclusion is too prolonged, it will still raise suspicions," Li Chengsheng said with a frown.
Jiang Fengwu, who seemed to have other matters on his mind, said dismissively, "There’s no need to worry about this. After a few more years, I will transform into Zhirui’s likeness and make an appearance within the family. Then, those rumors will fall apart on their own."
"Whether Zhirui succeeds in his breakthrough is a critical family matter, concerning the life and death of our clan. Therefore, I ask all Elders to keep this a secret and not to disclose it to anyone!"
"Rest assured, we will never let anyone disrupt the family’s grand plan!" Li Wenli and the other Elders promptly stood up and promised.
"With you all here, I couldn’t be more relieved."
Li Wenli and the others remained modest, repeatedly stating that they didn’t dare to accept such praise.
Noticing the time, Jiang Fengwu said, "My esteemed colleagues are busy, so I won’t impose upon you any longer."
He then left with Li Chengsheng and Li Chengshuo.
"Mother, do you think there might be someone within the family who has been bought off?" On the last stretch of the path atop the mountain, Li Chengshuo suddenly voiced a bold thought.
Jiang Fengwu’s reaction was very calm. She glanced at the siblings and said, "Of course, whether it’s by offering substantial rewards or by threatening their lives, there will definitely be such individuals within a large clan like ours, unable to resist the temptation."
Unless the Li family completely sealed off Wanxian Island, forbidding clan members from interacting with the outside world, there was no way to entirely prevent such situations.
But that’s simply unrealistic! The Li family couldn’t possibly support thousands of cultivators in their pursuit of immortality with their resources alone.
It’s not just the Li family; even the major powers have spies and undercover agents. The key is to ensure that they don’t get their hands on high-level control and power.
In this regard, the various powers do have many methods to investigate whether cultivators are loyal. Of course, there are occasional oversights.
"Then what should we do?" In that moment, Li Chengshuo became flustered.
When Zhirui made his breakthrough to the late Nascent Soul stage, many clan members were aware of it. Although the family later asked them to keep it a secret and even covertly prevented them from leaving Wanxian Island, they understood the gravity of the situation and stayed at home without leaking any information.
But with hundreds of people, no secret can be kept forever.
Perhaps someone has already conveyed the news to the likes of the Profound Ice Sect during this grand ceremony.
"Don’t worry, Zhirui has already thought of countermeasures," Jiang Fengwu said with a mysterious smile, but did not reveal Zhirui’s stratagem. Instead, she said, "We’ve arrived at the cave abode. You should each go back now."
Li Chengshuo wanted to ask what the plan was, but he almost got slapped by the rapidly closing gate. Knowing that his mother would not explain, he could only helplessly retreat.
"Big brother, do you know?"
Li Chengsheng was thoughtful, but in the end, he shook his head without voicing his suspicions and assured, "Don’t worry, given father’s wisdom, such a trifle will surely not trouble him."
"But even if father is exceptionally intelligent, what does that count for in the face of absolute power?"
Recalling an old incident when someone from the Profound Ice Sect had tried to achieve Divine Transformation, and the Devil Race had nearly come out in full force to stop it, Li Chengshuo couldn’t help but shiver.
"How could father and mother not know? But since father still went into seclusion, it means he must have thought of a way to handle the situation. We just need to wait patiently, our time to be of help as brother and sister will surely come."
Reassured by her older brother, she gradually calmed down and said with resolve, "Big brother, you’re right! I’ll go back to my training right away and try to improve my strength as much as I can!" 𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑝𝑢𝘣.𝘤𝑜𝘮
With that, she hurriedly ran off.
Watching the retreating figure of his sister, Li Chengsheng shook his head, amused. Despite maturing a lot, in front of her family, she was still the straightforward Li Chengshuo.
——
"Bingyun Junior Brother, is this the message you have brought back?" An Elder asked with a grim face after looking at the Jade Slip, which only had a dozen or so characters on it, for a long time.
Bingyun recalled the content of the Jade Slip, and his heart was equally shocked and enraged. He had never expected that Li Zhirui’s seclusion was not for the late phase of Nascent Soul, but for Divine Transformation!
In other words, this matter had been kept from the Profound Ice Sect and others for decades. If not for this grand ceremony, they might have only found out after Li Zhirui’s breakthrough.
"What cunning tactics the Li family has!" said the Sect Leader with a sardonic tone, "At that time, I urged the Elders to reclaim Great Void Province and then continue southward, to weaken the Li family. But the Elders were timid, afraid to start a war, ultimately leading to this outcome. I wonder if they regret it now."
Even now, he was seething with anger as he spoke.
The Elders sitting on either side had grim expressions on their faces, looking ashamed yet also frightened, a complex mixture of emotions. First, because the news was sudden, causing both shock and rage in their hearts, and secondly, because of the Sect Leader’s humiliating words.
But indeed, they had made a significant error. Wanting to argue but unsure of what to say, they could only maintain their silence.
"I wonder if the Elders have any solution to this predicament?" the Sect Leader didn’t intend to let them off easily, and he suddenly realized this was an excellent opportunity to seize control of the Sect’s decisive authority!
The Elders looked at each other, at a loss for a viable plan on such short notice.
"Why not convene the disciples now, attack Great Void Province? Once he is on the verge of his breakthrough, directly breach Wanxian Island, and disrupt his Tribulation Transcendence!" one Elder broke the silence.
"Fool!"
The Sect Leader shouted angrily, "Do you really think Great Void Province is some minor force that can be easily defeated, just like the Devil Race?"
"If we are engaged in a fierce battle with the Devil Race when Li Zhirui is in the midst of his breakthrough, can we withdraw? If not, would we not be helplessly watching him achieve the honor of Divine Transformation?"
The rebuked Elder’s face turned red with embarrassment, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.
"Then what good idea do you have, Sect Leader?"
"All Elders are to remain on standby within the Sect! Ready to follow my orders at any moment!" the Sect Leader said sternly. "I will arrange for people to keep a close watch on the Li family’s movements. At any sign of Li Zhirui’s breakthrough, we will immediately head for Wanxian Island! At all costs, we must thwart Li Zhirui’s Tribulation Transcendence!"
