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Chapter 757: Chapter 763: Exposure
"Zhirui, are you leaving now?"
Jiang Fengwu looked at Li Zhirui, who had ended his seclusion earlier than planned, and asked with some unease, "Is it really okay?"
"Don’t worry, the Southern Edge Commerce Association is established on business, why would they attack me without reason? Besides, it’s not like I’m unable to settle my accounts."
From the beginning, Li Zhirui never intended to have his Divine Transformation breakthrough on Wanxian Island!
Because he knew that the news of his advancement to the late Nascent Soul stage couldn’t possibly remain hidden forever. Sooner or later, it would become known to various forces.
From that day onward, they would pay extra attention to the movements of the Li family!
When the time came for Li Zhirui to undergo the Tribulation Transcendence, no matter how well prepared his family was, it would be useless without sufficient strength to withstand the interference from the Profound Ice Sect and the Devil Race!
Moreover, there was a high probability that they would take the opportunity to annihilate the Li family.
Although humans and devils are sworn enemies and unlikely to join forces – even the Profound Ice Sect might voluntarily withdraw to avoid getting involved with the Devil Race – the Li family would still be no match for the Great Snow Mountain Devil Race alone!
Therefore, for the sake of his and his family’s safety and lives, Li Zhirui had to leave Wanxian Island for his breakthrough.
In the wilderness? Impossible! Not to mention the security issues, the dense spiritual energy needed for his breakthrough would be hard to find in the wilderness, as such places had long been occupied. How could they possibly remain vacant?
That left only the options of various Immortal Cities and Marketplaces. To avoid disturbances during his breakthrough, he thought of those caves that were specially rented out, providing a protector for those in seclusion.
It was indeed a great idea that brought convenience to many Cultivators. The downside was the steep price, which many Cultivators simply couldn’t afford.
However, one could choose to serve there for a certain number of years in exchange for paying off the Spirit Stones. But Li Zhirui didn’t want to waste time on that, so he brought with him all the high-quality Spirit Stones he had exchanged in his family.
Choosing the right place was also a matter of consideration. The Spirit Vein grades of small sects and families were too low and simply couldn’t withstand his breath absorption. After some screening, only Xuanfa Pavilion and Southern Edge Commerce Association remained as options.
Or rather, his choice was always clear – there was only one option, that is the Southern Edge Commerce Association!
Xuanfa Pavilion was too close; there was no guarantee that someone wouldn’t secretly spread the news. The Southern Edge Commerce Association, on the other hand, was different. Its headquarters was in the Southern Domain, far enough away, and they were not likely to meddle in the affairs of the Eastern Domain.
"Please take care of the family! I will return within thirty years," Li Zhirui entrusted her solemnly.
He felt quite sorry for Jiang Fengwu. He often had to sacrifice her cultivation time to take care of the family.
"Once I have my Divine Transformation breakthrough, there will no longer be so many trivial matters in the family, and you will be able to cultivate in peace."
"Let’s talk about this later. For now, focus on your own cultivation and aim for an early breakthrough – that’s what’s most important," Jiang Fengwu rambled on about many small matters, revealing her deep anxiety.
Li Zhirui listened patiently without interrupting her. After she had finished speaking, he said softly, "I’m leaving; there’s no need to see me off. This might prevent some nosy people from noticing. If Sheng and Shuo ask about it, just tell them the truth. It’s a good opportunity for them to relieve you of some pressure."
Afterward, he concealed his appearance and left Wanxian Island through a secret tunnel, vanishing into the vast ocean.
As time passed day by day, and ten years flew by, there was not a stir from Li Zhirui’s seclusion chamber.
According to the script written in advance, Jiang Fengwu, masquerading as Li Zhirui, showed up a few times during this period and publicly claimed that he had attained the late stage of Nascent Soul.
The members of the Li family were naturally overjoyed, for they might soon witness the birth of an Elder who had reached Divine Transformation!
The Loose Cultivators of Wanxian Province also talked a great deal about this, voicing their opinions and creating a storm of speculation that became public knowledge.
Cultivators unfamiliar with the situation even thought that Li Zhirui had already broken through Divine Transformation.
Profound Ice Sect.
"Sect Leader, could the news of Li Zhirui’s breakthrough to Divine Transformation be a ruse intentionally leaked by the Li family to mock us? Isn’t he showing himself now?" one elder asked with suspicion.
Although the Sect Leader had seized many privileges in the opportunity, the elders weren’t fools and wouldn’t give up their foundational status, but even so, he had garnered considerable prestige within the Profound Ice Sect.
"Have you ever considered that the current Li Zhirui might be an imposter? The real Li Zhirui has been in seclusion all along, striving for Divine Transformation?" the Sect Leader said with an inscrutable expression.
"This..."
They indeed hadn’t thought in this direction initially, but now that it was mentioned, it seemed very plausible to them.
"Rest assured, the every move of the Li family cannot escape my magic eye. If Li Zhirui truly were to break through, I would be the first to know."
—
Wanxian Island.
"Sheng, have you discovered anything?"
Before parting, Li Zhirui had entrusted Jiang Fengwu with a very important task, which was to seize the opportunity to identify family members within the clan who colluded with other forces!
But there was no need to hurry in dealing with them, since such situations are recurrent. Instead of eradicating them, it was better to keep them under control and intentionally disseminate false information, which would be more beneficial to the Li family in the long run.
"Yes, the external affairs elder among the elders, several executors, all have connections with other powers. Among them, the external affairs elder has been passing messages to the Profound Ice Sect through a clan member who often goes out to hunt devils!"
Had he not been a Nascent Soul True Lord, he might have been discovered several times during his cautious and discreet investigations by the watchful external affairs elder.
Li Chengsheng frowned and said, "I fear that by now, the Profound Ice Sect already knows that it’s you impersonating my father, which will only make them more certain that father is in the process of breaking through Divine Transformation."
"So it was him! Truly, one sees the face but not the heart; when has the family ever wronged him!" A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Fengwu’s eyes, and she could hardly wait to kill the scoundrel who betrayed the family’s interests.
"Mother, it’s not necessarily only him among the elders who is the traitor, so let’s not talk to them about these matters for the time being." This was his intuition, but he lacked evidence for now.
"I understand. However, as an elder, he has been acting like a dog for another house. After this matter, we’ll need to find a way to test their loyalty to the family."
An elder with such high status and power turning out to be a spy was truly shocking!
Fortunately, the Clan Protection Array of the Li family had always been personally managed by Jiang Fengwu herself, never entrusted to anyone else. The consequences were unthinkable if it fell into the hands of a villain.
"I also don’t know how your father is fairing right now. I hope he can break through and return home soon."
—
After more than a year of hectic travel, Li Zhirui finally arrived at the headquarters of the Southern Edge Commerce Association.
Compared to Xuanfa Pavilion, the Southern Edge Commerce Association was much more ostentatious, with its various ornate carvings, glittering golden tiles and red walls shining brilliantly under the sunlight.
It didn’t look much like a domain belonging to Immortal Tao cultivators, but rather a palace of mortals.
That very day, he inquired about the cultivation caves with fourth-grade Spirit Veins. Upon hearing the price quoted by the other party, even Li Zhirui couldn’t help but say, "That price is surely too expensive!"
