Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 152 - 146: Passion

”The clan has changed the Clan Protection Array?” Li Zhirui, looking at the Spirit Light swirling defense shield in front of him, said with a wry smile, ”I havenʼt returned for several years, and now I canʼt even enter my own home?”

He suddenly remembered something. If the Formation had been changed, how had Xiaoqing managed to get in?

Fortunately, he did not have to wait long before a clansman came over to open the Formation for him and solved the doubts in his heart.

”Zhihao? How did you know I was coming back?” Li Zhirui asked in surprise.

Li Zhihao said impatiently, ”That Cangfeng Hawk of yours is really something. It tried to force its way in and caused such a commotion; now the whole family knows youʼre back.”

Li Zhiruiʼs face showed embarrassment; he truly had not expected the family to suddenly change to a new Clan Protection Array, and as for Xiaoqingʼs actions...

Given its current level of Spiritual Intelligence, it indeed might do something absurd like attempting to break in by force.

”I was just about to make a trip to Red Pine Island, so I took the opportunity to open the gate for you. You can go in by yourself.” After speaking, Li Zhihao left, riding on his Magic Artifact.

”You are... Zhirui, right?”

Not long after Li Zhirui entered the clan grounds, he met a clan uncle from the ʼShiʼ generation, who seemed somewhat unsure as he greeted him.

”Itʼs me, long time no see, Uncle Shisan.” Li Zhirui replied with a smile.

The uncle asked warmly, ”Where have you been these years? How come we havenʼt seen you for such a long time?”

”Iʼve been in seclusion on Nine Springs Island for the past few years, rarely returning to Da Rong Island.”

Li Zhirui looked at the roughly five- or six-year-old child beside him and asked, ”Uncle Shisan, is this your child? Has he been tested for his Spiritual Root yet?”

”Oh dear, I completely forgot to introduce him to you.” Uncle Shisan suddenly realized and hurriedly said, ”This little fellow is called Li Zhiyu. He just turned five last year, and luckily, he possesses a Spiritual Root.”

Speaking of this, pride couldnʼt help but surface on his face, ”And whatʼs more, he has Three Spiritual Roots with a Fire Spirit Root Purity of seventy-three, much better in talent than his old man here.”

”You little rascal, hurry up and call him Brother Jiu.”

”Brother Jiu!”

Li Zhirui, listening to this crisp voice, wore an even brighter smile. His Divine Sense searched his storage ring and found several bottles of Jade Spirit Pills, saying, ”This is a gift from Brother Jiu, I hope you cultivate well and break through to Foundation Establishment.”

Although they were of the same generation, the age difference of twenty to thirty years made him feel like an elder, and he subconsciously took out a gift for the encounter.

”How can I accept this?” Uncle Shisanʼs face showed struggle, he didnʼt want to accept it on a rational level, but those several bottles of Jade Spirit Pills would greatly benefit his child, making it hard to refuse.

”What is there to be embarrassed about?” Li Zhirui didnʼt care, directly stuffing the jade bottles into Li Zhiyuʼs arms and said, ”Uncle Shisan, Iʼve just returned and I havenʼt had the chance to visit Uncle yet, so I have to go.”

”Little Yu, cultivate well.” After patting the little tykeʼs head, Li Zhirui headed towards the rear hall.

After entering the clan grounds, he discovered that the area had expanded several times over, with many new courtyards added, but what was more, were the eight- and nine-year-old little radishes he had never seen before, just starting their cultivation.

”Unknowingly, the family now has so many Cultivators,” Li Zhirui softly exclaimed.

Ignoring the curious gazes of those radishes, he was just about to step forward when a familiar voice called out to him, ”Zhirui, come to the main hall. Everyone is waiting for you there.”

”Big Brother!” Li Zhirui hurried over, only to hear a commotion behind him.

He faintly heard expressions like ”So thatʼs Li Zhirui!” ”The most mysterious existence in the family!” ”I thought he was ugly, thatʼs why he didnʼt show his face.”

Li Zhirui, faced with this jumbled mess of words, was lost for words and said, ”Big brother, is this really how you introduce me?”

”Hahahaha, I guarantee your image at Spirit Wisdom Court is extremely positive. Itʼs just that these kids are too curious, and since you havenʼt shown up for many years, theyʼve come up with all sorts of versions themselves,” Li Zhizhun said with a big laugh.

It was not until the two entered the main hall that Li Zhirui understood what Li Zhizhun meant by ”everyone.”

Li Shiqing, Li Shilian, Li Shiren... almost all the senior members of the Li family had come!

”Isnʼt this a bit too grand? Iʼm just returning home,” Li Zhirui muttered to himself.

Of course, he would never utter such ʼdisrespectfulʼ thoughts aloud.

”You...” Li Shiqing, who had the highest cultivation, saw through Li Zhiruiʼs concealed cultivation level at first glance, his pupils suddenly constricted, and the words he intended to speak stopped abruptly.

As for exposing him? Since Li Zhirui had concealed his cultivation level when he came back, Li Shiqing was not going to meddle.

”Foundation Establishment mid-stage? Not bad.” Li Shiqing did not know what to say at the moment and ended up uttering these dry words.

Unaware of the situation, Li Shiren joyfully said, ”Good lad! Itʼs been a few years, and now your cultivation has caught up with mine.”

”Then, Uncle Shiren, youʼd better work hard, otherwise Iʼll have surpassed you in a few more years,” Li Zhirui teased without any hint of estrangement or barrier.

Everyone began to speak, and the atmosphere became lively and lively all at once.

”Have you made any Consolidating Yuan Pills in the last two years?” After the joking, Li Zhizhun started to discuss serious matters.

Li Zhirui had almost made a thousand bottles of Consolidating Yuan Pills for the family before his seclusion, but that quantity was simply not enough to last two years.

Fortunately, the familyʼs main source of income was no longer the sale of Spiritual Objects, but the rental of Spirit Fields on the three Spirit Islands.

Moreover, there was the newly-promoted second-tier Alchemist, Li Zhiyue, whose success rate, although not high, could still continually supply the family.

”No, I havenʼt. If itʼs urgent, I can go back and make some later,” Li Zhirui replied casually and with ease.

For him at this moment, making Consolidating Yuan Pills was as simple as making Jade Spirit Pills.

”Itʼs not that urgent. Make some when you have time and give them to the family,” Li Zhizhun said as he shook his head and then briefed Li Zhirui about the current situation of the family.

Now, the Li family was growing at an incredibly exaggerated speed!

Just the Spirit Fields on those three Spirit Islands would bring the Li family hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones in revenue each year.

And every year, dozens of children with Spiritual Roots would emerge, with nearly five hundred within the clanʼs territory who had not yet embarked on the path of cultivation or had just begun their practices!

Luckily, the Li family knew to keep a low profile; otherwise, it would undoubtedly attract the attention and vigilance of the Yuanming Sect.

However, it was also possible that Yuanming Sect didnʼt take the Li family seriously. After all, following the incorporation of Guangqing State, its growth rate was not slower than the Li familyʼs, and it also had a more profound foundation.

”Alright, if thereʼs nothing else, you can all go back first,” Li Shiqing said as he looked at Li Zhirui, ”You, come with me.”

Everyone else didnʼt think much of it, but Li Zhirui knew his disguise had been seen through by Li Shiqing.

”Tell me, how did you break through to the Foundation Establishment late stage?!” Li Shiqingʼs expression was extremely serious, even severe, and he spoke in a cold voice: ”Are you planning to give up your path and only seek momentary satisfaction?”