NOVPUB
Chapter 758: Chapter 764: 20 Years
"Senior, this is a Fourth-Order Spirit Vein, and when you face the Tribulation Transcendence, the commerce association will also specially arrange for a Nascent Soul True Lord to act as protector. The price is already very conscientious." The shop assistant said with a smile.
If it weren’t for the fact that Li Zhirui was a Nascent Soul cultivator, he wouldn’t speak like this, not making fun of him was already a courtesy.
"If I rent it for a longer period of time, can I get a discount?"
Although he had enough Spirit Stones, saving some was naturally preferable.
The shop assistant glanced at Li Zhirui with curiosity, shook his head, and said, "I ask for Senior’s understanding, but the commerce association does not have such a policy."
Upon hearing this, Li Zhirui did not waste more words. While counting out Spirit Stones, he said, "I want to rent the Tianzi Court for thirty years."
Heavenly Earth Mystical Yellow, each corresponding to the Fourth to First-Order Spirit Veins. As for why there was no higher Fifth-Order Spirit Vein, it wasn’t that Southern Edge Commerce Association lacked them, but rather they were located within the association’s internal area, which could not possibly be accessed by outsiders.
"Thirty years?"
The assistant couldn’t help but exclaim, as if realizing something significant, he hurriedly stood up and said, "This is a matter of great importance, please wait a moment, Senior. I will go and call the Shopkeeper."
He didn’t even give Li Zhirui a chance to speak before hurriedly leaving.
Soon, a Nascent Soul cultivator came in, smiling amiably, "Fellow Daoist, are you planning to break through to Divine Transformation?"
"Yes, I have gained insight, and a breakthrough is imminent. Alas, I’m too far from my Sect, and I cannot miss such a divine opportunity, therefore I’ve come to your esteemed commerce association to lease a cave dwelling."
The Shopkeeper, initially wanting to win over Li Zhirui, slightly restrained his smile upon hearing this. He had thought he was dealing with an impressive Loose Cultivator but didn’t expect one backed by a Sect.
Then his idea of pulling him into the Southern Edge Commerce Association was shattered, but the friendship of a Divine Transformation cultivator was still very precious, so he remained enthusiastic and cordial.
The reason Li Zhirui falsely claimed a Sect was that compared to a family, Sects have a stronger binding force, and it was impossible for a disciple to join other forces.
But it was different for a family—after some negotiation and offering some benefits, it wasn’t impossible to become a patron of Southern Edge Commerce Association.
If it were a Nascent Soul from a similarly lacking family background, one might really be tempted since joining Southern Edge Commerce Association would be more beneficial for their own development, especially for things like Methods and cultivation resources, at least making them easier to obtain.
However, Li Zhirui didn’t lack the most important Cultivation Technique, the Wanling Sutra, which could be cultivated until the early stages of the Integration Realm, and he also had his own ideas regarding cultivation resources, just waiting to tackle them after the breakthrough to Divine Transformation.
"Since Fellow Daoist is in a critical period, I won’t disturb you any longer. The Tianzi Court you intend to lease has a fixed rent set by the commerce association that I cannot reduce, but I can arrange for you to rent the courtyard with the richest Spiritual Energy. When it comes time for your Tribulation Transcendence, I will also arrange for a few more Nascent Soul Fellow Daoists to help as protectors."
The Shopkeeper was tactful and did not linger for long. He took his leave autonomously while doing Li Zhirui the favor.
"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist! I will surely return this favor in the future."
The Shopkeeper did so much just for this promise, didn’t he? Once Li Zhirui achieved his breakthrough, he would become a Divine Transformation cultivator, and then the value of this favor went without saying.
"I won’t disturb Fellow Daoist any longer. I wish you all the best in achieving your Divine Transformation."
"I’ll take to your kindly words."
Li Zhirui bowed slightly and left with the Jade Token that he had fully paid for.
The cave dwellings for lease by Southern Edge Commerce Association were all situated on a large mountain to the far west of Immortal City, and the Tianzi Court number nine that he had leased was built atop the Spirit Cave at the summit of the mountain!
Indeed, it was a place rich in Spiritual Energy.
The days that followed were extremely mundane. He immersed himself entirely in cultivation. Even after ten years had passed, there was still no sign of movement. His mind remained tranquil, undisturbed like still water.
It should be noted that in the dream realm, Li Zhirui had spent hundreds of years just to find the right opportunity for a breakthrough, thereby inducing the Thunder Tribulation.
And at the very beginning, the first few attempts at Tribulation Transcendence had failed, and he perished amidst the terrifying lightning.
It was an unbearably long dream that kept repeating itself!
If it weren’t for the Great Illusionary Dream Fruit, Li Zhirui really didn’t know if he could succeed in his tribulation, but after countless ’deaths,’ he now had quite a bit of experience.
Even so, he still needed a considerable amount of time to prepare and to be cautious in triggering the Thunder Tribulation.
Snow covered the mountains several times over, and another ten years had passed.
"Shopkeeper, do you think that senior can break through Divine Transformation?"
The clerk, who had to make the trip every six months as instructed, had lost much hope for Li Zhirui’s breakthrough over the past twenty years.
Breaking through to Divine Transformation is not that simple! Keep yourself in line and don’t slack off; this is a great opportunity to connect with a Divine Transformation ancestor!" If it weren’t for the fact that the clerk was a relative of his own, he wouldn’t bother saying so much.
Far away on Wanxian Island, Jiang Fengwu and the others began to grow worried as well.
"Mother, how is father doing now?"
"You all had such difficulty breaking through to Nascent Soul, let alone Divine Transformation. Do you still not know Zhirui’s abilities?"
Jiang Fengwu seemed to be comforting her children, but also herself, as she softly said, "Don’t worry, there won’t be any problems." 𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑝𝑢𝘣.𝘤𝑜𝘮
"Mother, father isn’t really in the quiet room, is he?" Li Chengsheng suddenly spoke up.
"It seems that Sheng has guessed it already; you’re right, Zhirui left the family twenty years ago."
Upon hearing this, Li Chengshuo exclaimed in surprise, "What?"
But then, understanding the reason, he quickly asked, "Mother, where did father go?"
"Southern Edge Commerce Association, it’s safer there."
Li Chengshuo couldn’t help complaining, "You should have told us. We’re worried about father breaking through alone outside."
"As Zhirui’s children, if you were not present during his family retreat for breakthroughs, wouldn’t others grow suspicious?" Jiang Fengwu shook her head; this was also why they hadn’t told their children from the start.
Not only that, Li Zhirui didn’t even take Da Qing, Xiaoqing, and Cang with him to avoid arousing suspicion from others.
"Don’t worry, Zhirui has calculated countless times in his dreams, there won’t be any problems."
Profound Ice Sect, which had been closely monitoring the Li family, was also growing impatient.
"Could it be that Li Zhirui failed his breakthrough and decayed in the quiet room?"
"Impossible!" another Elder refuted, "If that was the case, there’s no way the Li family wouldn’t have let any news slip out."
"When my Shishu was charging at Divine Transformation, it took him several decades. Now it’s only been twenty years."
"Then why don’t we take advantage of his seclusion to attack Wanxian Island directly and force him to break through prematurely?"
"No, we can’t! The Li family has six Nascent Soul cultivators and an Island Defense Array; we would need to send at least ten Nascent Soul cultivators to break the Formation."
With a large number of Golden Core and Foundation Establishment Disciples, the Devil Race might take the opportunity to invade if they become aware of it.
