Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 39: Discovery

After returning to the small courtyard, the first thing Li Zhirui did was to check on Da Qingʼs condition. Seeing that its vital energy was stable and no different from before, he could rest easy and take a break.

Meanwhile, Li Shiren and Li Shilian ascended to the peak of Baitou Mountain. The former set up a Spirit Gathering Array, while the latter planted the Ice Heart Grass. Then, they drew spiritual energy from the Spirit Stones, transforming it into a continuous light rain to nourish the Ice Heart Grass Spirit Seed, before finally releasing the Ice Silk Worms.

”I remember the family has a few first-grade Water Attribute Spirit Fruit Trees. Until the Ice Heart Grass matures, weʼll feed those fruits to them,” Li Shilian asked, ”How often should we replace the Spirit Stones in the Spirit Gathering Array?”

”Approximately every three months.”

Raising these Ice Silk Worms was quite a hassle for the Li family, because on Da Rong Island, only the perpetually snowy summit of Baitou Mountain was suitable. But the mountain was so tall that cultivators at the Qi Cultivation stage could not fly up to it, only managing to get as high as one thousand zhang before they had to rely on climbing with their legs.

Foundation Establishment cultivators could fly up, but all four from the family were too busy to spare the time to feed the Ice Silk Worms.

Luckily, this situation wouldnʼt last too long. In just five months, the Ice Heart Grass would mature, and there would be no need to frequently climb the mountain to feed the worms. Theyʼd only need to come up occasionally to replace the Spirit Stones in the array.

”Take it slower on the way down the mountain and look for a convenient path to ascend,” he said.

Li Shiren nodded, and afterward, he piloted the flying Spirit Boat to descend slowly.

After some searching, they finally found a flat slope on the western side of Baitou Mountain, which made the ascent somewhat easier.

...

After resting, Li Zhirui did not rush to understand the newly acquired alchemy methods but pondered something else.

He had seen the battle methods of the three Foundation Establishment cultivators in his family, all of whom cooperated with their own Spirit Beasts to exert greater strength.

Therefore, Li Zhirui contemplated how he could cooperate with Da Qing to enhance his own strength.

”As a member of the Qingxuan Turtle Clan, Da Qing can learn Water and Wood Spells from its bloodline.”

However, because he rarely sparred with others, Li Zhirui was not very clear on which spells exactly Da Qing had mastered.

”While the offensive and defensive powers of Water-Wood Spells may not match those of Metal or Fire, and Earth Attribute spells, they arenʼt without their own advantages,” Li Zhirui analyzed calmly. ”Their shortcomings could be considered their strengths; they arenʼt as extreme as the other three attributes, but theyʼre more versatile.”

”Moreover, as a member of the Turtle Clan, Da Qing moves slowly and is of a calm temperament, disliking battle, but it can be used for defense or to assist me.” As the thought emerged, many ideas followed, giving Li Zhirui a preliminary method for cooperation.

But as for how to precisely go about it, he would have to wait until Da Qingʼs shell-shedding was over and then try it out personally to know.

Li Zhirui pressed the thought down, recited the Heart Clarity Spell silently to maintain his peace of mind, and then took out the alchemy methods to contemplate the Nurturing Pill Skill and Pill Condensation Scripture.

In the back courtyard of the main hall, Li Shiqing hung the Divine Turtle Diagram in front of him. But rather than studying it hastily, he adjusted himself to a state of perfection through incense bathing and the Heart Clarity Spell, before projecting his Divine Sense into the scroll.

The Divine Turtle within the painting radiated spirit light, which soon dissipated as if it had never appeared.

Within the scroll, Li Shiqing witnessed the growth process of a Divine Turtle, crawling out of the earth with many siblings, escaping the predation of birds from the sky, experiencing several brushes with death in the vast ocean...

Years unknown passed, and the Divine Turtle grew massive. One day, the sea in its territory suddenly went into an uproar, with waves tens of zhang high rolling continuously and even breeding more terrifying sea tornadoes.

”Roar—”

The Divine Turtle was awakened from its slumber by the giant waves, angrily emerging to the sea surface. It transformed into an immense turtle of unknown thousands of li, its bellow tearing through the storm in the sky, its limbs shaking the turbulent sea surface. The raging sea instantly calmed, as if the apocalyptic scene from moments ago was merely an illusion.

And as Li Shiqing, who witnessed all of this, had a realization in his heart, a Visualization Skill method slowly infused into his Sea of Consciousness.

When the last character emerged, Li Shiqing instantly became alert, his eyes sparkling brightly, his face brimming with smiles.

This Visualization Skill method named ”Divine Turtle Ocean-Suppressing Chart” was far more formidable than he had expected. If he could successfully refine it to perfection, not only could he suppress his Sea of Consciousness and withstand Heart Demons, but he could also unleash Divine Sense Attacks!

However, this meant that the value of this Visualization Skill method rose to another level. Without sufficient strength in the Li family, it was impossible to allow all disciples to cultivate this technique.

Visualization Skills are not considered too precious, but most of the Visualization Skills available on the market are only for protecting the Sea of Consciousness and strengthening the Spiritual Soul, with little effect on resisting Heart Demons.

Yet the Divine Turtle Diagram could not only resist Heart Demons but also initiate Divine Sense Attacks, which suddenly increased its preciousness.

”However...” Li Shiqingʼs brow furrowed slightly, doubts arising in his mind as he wondered why the Yuanming Sect hadnʼt accomplished this, why hadnʼt the other cultivators at the auction done so? He had merely extended his Divine Sense into the scroll and became aware of the Visualization Skill, and by fully immersing his Divine Sense, he had comprehended the method. Why hadnʼt they?

What Li Shiqing did not know was that the hint of Spirit Light concealing the secret of the Divine Turtle Diagram had already been absorbed by Li Zhirui after he obtained the scroll. More accurately, it had been absorbed by the wisp of Spiritual Soul from Da Qing within Li Zhiruiʼs Sea of Consciousness.

No matter how much Li Shiqing pondered, he would never think of Li Zhirui, because he was merely a Qi Cultivation cultivator. How could he have such powerful methods?

Luckily, Li Shiqing didnʼt dwell too much on this matter and immediately used the familyʼs Jade Token to call over Li Shilian, Li Shiren, and Li Zhirui.

Li Shiqing planned to temporarily conceal the Divine Turtle Diagram and Visualization Skill, allowing only a very few members of the clan to know about it. In his scheme, aside from the three people he had called over, only Li Shiting would be allowed to know and cultivate the Visualization Skill.

That is to say, until the Li family was strong enough, only those who had broken through to Foundation Establishment would be allowed to cultivate this Visualization Skill.

The three of them soon came to the main hall, where Li Shiqing took out three Jade Slips and said very seriously, ”After you have memorized this method, destroy the Jade Slips!”

”Second brother, what are you...” Li Shilian sensitively detected the tremendous change in Li Shiqingʼs attitude toward the Visualization Skill.

”This Visualization Skill includes the art of Divine Sense Attack. In order to avoid drawing covetous looks, for the time being, only those who have reached Foundation Establishment in our clan can cultivate it.”

The expressions of the three changed, as techniques involving Divine Sense Attacks could be considered among the most precious spells, second only to the Divine Powers that could be cultivated by Nascent Soul cultivators! It was obvious how precious this technique was; if this news were to leak out, the Li family would definitely be plunged into danger!

”Zhirui, thereʼs no need to place the Divine Turtle Diagram in the Scripture Pavilion anymore; you should keep it in your possession, but you absolutely must not take it beyond Da Rong Island.”

Actually, Li Shiqing wanted to keep the Divine Turtle Diagram in the back courtyard for better security, so that the risk of leaking information would be even lower.

But after thinking it over, Li Shiqing still gave it up. After all, it was Li Zhiruiʼs opportunity. He was willing to hand over the Visualization Skill to his family, allowing clan members to observe the Divine Turtle Diagram, and had already caused the family to owe him a lot.

If Li Shiqing were to keep the Divine Turtle Diagram in his own hands, although he had no intention of monopolizing it, in reality, the owner would become him. What would Li Zhirui, who had obtained the opportunity, think?

Therefore, in the end, Li Shiqing decided to return the scroll to Li Zhirui for him to keep safe.

”Zhirui understands!”

Li Shiqing nodded and said, ”In the next few days, cultivate the Visualization Skill in the main hall with the help of the Divine Turtle Diagram.”

Having said that, Li Shiqing led the three into the back courtyard.

Looking at the lifelike Divine Turtle in the painting, the three adjusted their condition and, one after the other, projected their Divine Sense into it. Even though they could observe with the naked eye, doing so was more conducive to cultivating the Visualization Skill.

And this was precisely why Li Zhirui previously wanted to keep the scroll in his own hands.