NOVPUB
Chapter 912: Chapter 918: Preparation
"Just half a step behind!"
Li Chengshuo thought to himself. From conversing with Jiang Fengwu, he knew that Li Chengsheng’s cultivation hadn’t improved much over the years.
And he was on the verge of opening up his Spirit Realm!
So now, the gap between the two was merely half a step.
"I refuse to believe that I can’t catch up to you!"
Li Chengshuo had never given up on surpassing Li Chengsheng and still hadn’t, despite the slight advantage Li Chengsheng had, but he didn’t take it to heart.
Jiang Fengwu watched the changing expressions of Li Chengshuo and wanted to say a few words of persuasion but, thinking of the competition between the siblings that hadn’t caused any harm, not even a negative impact, but instead had been helpful for both of their cultivations, he swallowed back the words he was about to say.
"At last, I’m back!"
With a sigh of relief, Li Zhirui stepped into the Ascension Void Array, and in the blink of an eye, when he opened his eyes again, he was back on the familiar Wanxian Island.
Thinking of the tasks ahead, Li Zhirui flew straight to the family’s great hall.
"Xiansong pays his respects to Ancestor Rui!"
Li Xiansong was extremely nervous, not understanding why this esteemed ancestor would suddenly want to see him. Could it be that he had done something wrong?
"No need to be so nervous, Clan Leader."
Li Zhirui reassured him and then continued, "This time I have fortunately encountered an opportunity. I need to seal off the Spirit Realm and enter secluded cultivation for a hundred years. In this period, unless the clan is in danger of collapsing, you must not disturb me for any reason."
Li Xiansong’s pupils shrank sharply at Li Zhirui’s serious words, but then he remembered the first part of what was said and his heart pounded uncontrollably. Secluded cultivation for a hundred years!
Could it be that Li Zhirui, now at the Middle Stage of Nascent Soul, was planning to attempt to reach the Late Stage or even perfection?
Thinking of this possibility made Li Xiansong’s face flush with excitement, his eyes full of ecstatic anticipation, and he asked, "Does Ancestor Rui intend to persevere and achieve Tribulation Transcendence?"
"Indeed, that’s my plan," Li Zhirui nodded in acknowledgment.
There was no reason to deny it, as this was a great joy for the Li family.
However, as things had not yet settled, to avoid any complications, Li Zhirui still requested Li Xiansong to keep it a secret and wait to see what would happen after a hundred years.
Perhaps it wouldn’t even take that long.
After all, the Tianhua Grand Dream Yin Fruit allowed one to experience three hundred years in a dream, but in reality, it was only a single night.
The hundred years Li Zhirui spoke of was the time he expected to need in the real world to refine the Primal Qi of heaven and earth, enhance his mana, and overcome the Wind Fire Inner Tribulation after his realm breakthrough.
But if other Nascent Soul Cultivators knew of Li Zhirui’s grand plans to use a mere hundred years to advance from the Middle Stage of Nascent Soul into Tribulation Transcendence, they would certainly scoff at his wild fantasies and dismiss them as delusions.
The reason Li Zhirui wanted to seal off the Spirit Realm was to block the Heavenly Dao’s prying.
It is known that the cause of Thunder Tribulation lies in the realm, not the cultivation level.
Meaning, if Li Zhirui used the Tianhua Grand Dream Yin Fruit to elevate his realm to Void Refinement, then even if his cultivation was only at the Middle Stage of Nascent Soul, he would have to face Ascension!
Under such circumstances, how could Li Zhirui possibly overcome the Thunder Tribulation?
"Xiansong here wishes Ancestor Rui to fulfill his aspirations and ascend to the Upper Realm!" As for the secrecy, Li Xiansong naturally agreed immediately.
"By the way, some time ago Sheng Ancestor handed over some Spiritual Objects to the clan, one of which is named the Bathing Thunder Pond, which may be of assistance to Ancestor Rui." Li Xiansong had also just remembered this.
"Is that so? Then I will check the Scripture Pavilion and will not disturb the Clan Leader any further."
Everything that needed to be said had been said, so Li Zhirui naturally wouldn’t stay and make idle conversation with a clan leader he wasn’t close to.
"Ancestor Rui, take care!"
Li Xiansong saw the guest out of the grand hall and only turned back after the figure was out of sight.
Before long, Li Zhirui appeared outside the Scripture Pavilion.
This was a critical area of the family, and even as a cultivator who had achieved Divine Transformation, he couldn’t just walk in. He had to present his Identity Jade for verification before he could step inside.
Soon, Li Zhirui was standing in front of the Jade Slip that recorded information about the Bathing Thunder Pond, pressing his Identity Jade against the side to deactivate the Formation, and only then was he able to take it in his hand.
Although he had only looked at the smallest part at the front, Li Zhirui was certain, as Li Xiansong had said, that this object would be beneficial to his Tribulation Transcendence.
Moreover, after further contemplation, Li Zhirui believed that it could not only be used to temper his flesh body but also to cultivate the Thunder Vine Spirit Seed!
Initially, he had intentionally cultivated the Thunder Vine so that he could transcend his tribulation more safely. The Thunder Vine was cultivated, but unfortunately, it had quite a few flaws.
Now, Li Zhirui saw a chance that might be able to compensate for those shortcomings.
After he copied the Jade Slip and saw the complete content, he couldn’t help but frown slightly because the difficulty of refining the Bathing Thunder Pond was considerable. It required a Nascent Soul Cultivator skilled in Formation and with a certain level of accomplishment in Artifact Refining.
In terms of Formations, Li Zhirui believed that Jiang Fengwu could certainly handle it, but Artifact Refining? She had never learned the true art of Artifact Refining.
However, there was a saying that Array Masters and Artifact Refiners weren’t that different.
The reason for this saying was that Array Masters drew Array Patterns and crafted Array Flags and Array Plates, weren’t these two items a special type of Magic Artifact?
When Artifact Refiners crafted a Magic Artifact, they needed to inscribe prohibitions at the core, and prohibitions were a major branch of Formation!
Thus, this saying came about. However, as each profession has its specialization, although they seemed alike on the surface, their practices differed significantly.
Array Masters specialized in Array Patterns, Array Flags, and Array Plates—these specialized Magic Artifacts adhered to certain standards without much variation.
But beyond prohibitions, Artifact Refiners also needed a high level of expertise in tempering the flame, refining and fusing various Spirit Materials—how else could one possibly refine high-rank Magic Artifacts?
From Li Zhirui’s perspective, the Bathing Thunder Pond, this particular Spiritual Object, if strictly categorized, should be considered a special Magic Artifact.
Thus, if one were a Fifth-order Artifact Refiner, it would likely be easier to learn the Methods needed.
After frowning and pondering for a while, Li Zhirui decided to let Jiang Fengwu exchange for the Methods and take a look in person. If it wouldn’t take up too much of her time, he would trouble her to refine it.
But if it was not feasible, then Li Zhirui would have to abandon the idea.
After all, he couldn’t possibly expect Jiang Fengwu to put aside her own cultivation, for his personal benefit, could he?
It was known that Jiang Fengwu had already wasted much time in creating the Spirit-Nurturing Cave Heaven Array.
If she were to spend another few decades pondering the Bathing Thunder Pond, Li Zhirui would feel quite remorseful.
Besides, even Li Zhirui himself wasn’t so selflessly devoted.
The Essence Pills he refined for Jiang Fengwu and others were made without delaying his own cultivation.
Li Zhirui himself was like this, so on what grounds could he ask Jiang Fengwu to sacrifice her benefits?
Activating a Communication Talisman, he was luckily able to see Jiang Fengwu the following day.
"Zhirui? You’ve returned!"
Jiang Fengwu asked curiously, "Do you have something you need me for?"
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be waiting here specifically.
"There is something I would like to ask of you, follow me to the Scripture Pavilion first to exchange for the Methods, and then I’ll explain in detail," Li Zhirui didn’t want to put Jiang Fengwu in a difficult position.
