NOVPUB
Chapter 768: Chapter 774: Benefits
As an observer, Yu Xue caught every reaction of the two people without missing a beat, yet he chose not to speak, acting as if he had seen nothing.
When Li Zhirui returned to Wanxian Island, he sat in the pavilion pondering for a while before calling over his close acquaintances, including Jiang Fengwu, Da Qing, along with Clan Leader Li Wenli.
The only one missing was Li Chengshuo; she had gone into seclusion a few years earlier. Seeing her confidence, it seemed breakthrough to Nascent Soul would not be an issue for her.
Although Li Zhirui’s breakthrough to Divine Transformation had caused her a delay of twenty or thirty years, it was during this time that she was able to overcome the bottleneck with ease.
If all went without surprise, it would be just a few years before the Li family gained another Nascent Soul Cultivator.
In fact, not only Li Chengshuo, but Li Chenghuo too, in the last hundred years of his life, had grasped the opportunity for breakthrough, hoping to achieve Nascent Soul.
Then there were Li Xianxun, Li Mingyao and other younger members with extraordinary talents, who also shone with their brilliance, advancing rapidly in their cultivation, striving for breakthrough to Nascent Soul.
Indeed, Li Zhirui had long since stopped managing family affairs and rarely appeared in public, but he always paid close attention to the talented younger generation of the family.
Because he knew very well that the Li family could not be supported by him alone; that would be too fragile, and if some accident occurred, the Li family would collapse!
Therefore, for these young members who solidified the family’s foundation, Li Zhirui could never overemphasize their importance.
For this reason, he had also specifically instructed Clan Leader Li Wenli in private that if there were any outstanding younger members encountering insurmountable difficulties, they could tell him, and he would help to resolve them.
If he was in seclusion, or not with the family, they could also seek out Jiang Fengwu, Da Qing, or Xiaoqing—in short, there would definitely be someone they could turn to.
But back to the matter at hand!
"Jiu, have you called us here because there is something important?" Xiaoqing asked directly.
Li Zhirui nodded, and once everyone had taken their seats, he said, "I will be departing for the central region tomorrow, and it might be a very long time before I can return." 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓅𝓊𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
"What?!"
At these words, everyone was suddenly shocked and alarmed.
Li Wenli couldn’t care less about decorum and anxiously said, "Ancestor Rui, if you leave now and the Profound Ice Sect suddenly makes a move against the family, we won’t be able to hold them back!"
With nearly all the third-order devil beasts of Great Snow Mountain gone in recent years, and without the Devil Race holding them back, the Profound Ice Sect could send all their Nascent Soul Cultivators to attack Wanxian Island from the south.
Li Zhirui also did not expect the emergence of visitors from the central domains or a world advancement, as these momentous events left no time to prepare, so Li Wenli’s concerns were reasonable.
"Don’t worry, I will leave measures to counteract them," he said.
And during his prior contemplation, he had already thought of a solution.
"You’re not thinking of creating a Soul Dividing Jade Slip, are you?" Jiang Fengwu seemed to guess something and frowned. "I don’t agree with you doing that!"
The power of the Soul Dividing Jade Slip was indeed substantial, and with such an artifact in hand, the Profound Ice Sect would not be a match, but splitting a strand of one’s Spiritual Soul came at too great a cost! Without several decades of proper cultivation, it would be difficult to recover.
But seeing Li Zhirui’s vague demeanor, it was evident that his trip to the central domains involved no small matter and could entail tremendous risks!
If he still carried injuries, that would mean great danger for Li Zhirui.
"Rest assured, there is no danger in my trip to the central regions; it’s merely a bit of trouble," Li Zhirui reassured the worried group.
If he, an Alchemist who should be providing support from the rear, had to enter the battlefield, the situation in the Profound Origin Realm would indeed be perilous.
Just as Li Zhirui was about to persuade everyone, a voice suddenly reached his ear, hastily saying, "I’ll be right back."
The words were still hanging in the air when he transformed into spirit light and disappeared without a trace.
"May I know if there is anything else you wish to discuss?"
It was Elder Song returning, as there were important matters he hadn’t finished speaking of.
"Fellow Daoist should know that this great battle will surely persist for dozens of years, or even over a hundred years. To allow all fellow Daoists to fight without worry for their families and sects, the Central Region has urgently produced a batch of fifth-order puppets, and offers them as gifts to those willing to join the battlefield. It is a small token of our regard."
As he spoke, he used mana to push a humanoid puppet towards him.
Upon seeing the puppet, Li Zhirui was immensely startled; the entire puppet was made from fifth-order spirit materials!
The Li family had puppet masters, but they would never craft puppets so lavishly, always opting for lower-grade spirit materials over higher ones whenever possible.
He couldn’t help but mull over the thought: How terrifyingly deep are the Central Region’s resources, to give away fifth-order puppets so freely, and it seems there are many of them!
"Fellow Daoist, you have truly solved a big problem for me!" Li Zhirui said earnestly.
Without this puppet, he really couldn’t rest assured about his family. Did he not know that creating a Soul Dividing Jade Slip was of no benefit to his cultivation? It was simply because he couldn’t let go of his concerns.
"I’m just someone delivering gifts, so I cannot accept your gratitude."
"Since you are leaving tomorrow, you’d better say your goodbyes to your family. I will not disturb you further."
Having said that, Elder Song turned into a gentle breeze and dispersed.
This scene left Li Zhirui stunned for a moment. The other’s escape skill was truly breathtaking; he couldn’t even discern Elder Song’s departure direction.
Dispelling these thoughts, he turned and returned to his cave abode.
"There’s no need to create a Spirit Division Jade Slip now. With this fifth-order puppet here, it will be enough to ensure my family’s safety!" Li Zhirui waved his hand and summoned the puppet.
If powers like the Profound Ice Sect truly dared to take action against the Li family while Li Zhirui was away, they would undoubtedly have a one-way ticket!
Everyone was amazed; Li Zhirui had only taken out the puppet for a moment, and upon his return, he already had a fifth-order puppet in his possession.
"Jiu, what’s going on?" Xiaoqing asked in surprise.
The others looked at him as well, hoping he could provide an explanation.
Li Zhirui thought about it and decided to tell them the truth. "The Profound Origin Realm has encountered an invasion from a Minor Thousand World and needs to call upon Nascent Soul Cultivators for battle."
"And this puppet is meant to take our place to protect and ensure the safety of our families and sects."
Upon hearing this, the crowd was taken aback. They had never imagined such an unbelievable situation; the notion of a world invasion was too remote for them.
"You’ve agreed to it, haven’t you?"
After calming down, Jiang Fengwu said, "Otherwise, they wouldn’t have given you a fifth-order puppet."
"Yes. Fighting the invaders is dangerous, but there are also many benefits. I do not wish, nor can afford, to miss this opportunity," Li Zhirui answered with determination.
According to Elder Song, as long as they absorbed that minor world, the Profound Origin Realm could advance early to become a Middle Thousand World. At that time, the Heavenly Dao would surely distribute some merits to everyone. Perhaps it would even garner favor from the Heavenly Dao, which would be greatly beneficial to future cultivation!
Li Zhirui did not want to miss this excellent opportunity.
