Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 326 - 332: Disappointment

”After we escaped that year, due to disagreements, we decided to act separately after getting some distance. This way, not only did it increase our chances of survival, but it also better ensured the preservation of our legacy.”

Gu An offered a helpless smile and continued to explain, ”Because our strength was weak at that time, the true inheritance was in the hands of the direct disciples.”

In fact, Gu Anʼs words were somewhat beautified. During the escape, these people were either low-level Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment cultivators, or they were seriously injured, purely burdensome.

The so-called disagreement was actually due to others despising them, feeling that they would be a drag, so they were abandoned.

Although Gu An hid some details, Li Zhirui still guessed the truth. After all, disagreeing while fleeing—did they think they had too long to live, or did they feel too tough? His face involuntarily took on a few shades darker with disappointment.

After Li Zhirui inquired about the Beast Taming Sectʼs strength, he had wondered whether the Sect suffered catastrophic losses during the escape, or whether something else had happened later that led to now only having two Golden Core cultivators to maintain appearances.

One should know that although the Beast Taming Sect didnʼt have a Nascent Soul at the helm, the number of Golden Core cultivators was not less than Shen Leishan today, at least a dozen.

And even the Li family was able to promptly learn about the White Jade Sectʼs attack on the Beast Taming Sect, would the Beast Taming Sect be unaware? They probably arranged an escape route the moment they learned of the White Jade Sect Nascent Soulʼs breakthrough.

Even if they couldnʼt get most of the Golden Cores to escape, itʼs impossible that only two survived.

Li Zhirui thought of many things, but he never imagined that the Beast Taming Sect he found would actually be a group of abandoned disciples who had banded together to form a Sect for mutual warmth.

”Then how did you break through to the Golden Core stage?” Li Zhirui asked with a frown.

Upon hearing this, Gu An knew Li Zhirui had guessed the truth. His face revealed a trace of embarrassment and he said, ”Back then among our group, there were a few injured Golden Core Masters. It was only through their teachings that the ʼWanling Sutraʼ was perfected up to the Golden Core Realm.”

”None of those Golden Cores knew the Nascent Soul Realm Cultivation Technique?” Li Zhirui inquired, unwilling to give up.

In reality, he was clear that it was impossible. A Nascent Soul Realm Cultivation Technique was extremely precious; how could it be passed on to a few discarded cultivators? It was just that Li Zhirui couldnʼt bear the thought of making a trip in vain and wanted to ʼstruggleʼ a bit more.

Seeing the two shake their heads, Li Zhirui sighed and said, ”I wonder if the two of you are willing to trade the current version of the ʼWanling Sutraʼ that you have?”

He wanted to see the difference between the original copy of the ʼWanling Sutraʼ and the version they had pieced together.

”You can mention any Spiritual Objects you need, and I will discuss it with my elders after I return to the family.”

”How many Golden Cores does your noble family have?” Huang Xiao suddenly asked.

”Four,” Li Zhiruiʼs eyes flashed with wariness, but then he broke into a smile and said, ”In addition, we also have three third-tier Contracted Spirit Beasts, two of which are contracted to me.”

Before the words were finished, Da Qing and Xiaoqing appeared beside Li Zhirui, their massive bodies exuding an intangible sense of oppression.

Even if Huang Xiao were steady, Li Zhirui would still show off the strength of his family and himself, lest they harbor any ill intentions. Although he was confident in his own strength, if a real fight broke out, it would still be troublesome.

The expressions of Gu An and the others changed slightly. They originally thought that it was quite impressive for Li Zhirui, at his young age, to have a cultivation at the Mid Golden Core Stage. They never expected him to also have two third-tier Spirit Beasts!

Such strength was already enough to contend with the entire Beast Taming Sect!

The little schemes Huang Xiao had instantly vanished, and he even began to worry that Li Zhirui might make a move against the Beast Taming Sect.

”Hehe,” Gu An gave a dry laugh, praising incessantly, ”Li is truly remarkable...”

”Master Gu, letʼs talk about what youʼd like to trade for instead,” Li Zhirui didnʼt want to waste more time here and thus cut off his endless prattle.

”Fellow Daoist, may we consult with each other for a moment?”

”Fine, I ask that you make a decision quickly,” Li Zhirui, fearing they might argue for half an hour or even longer, so he reminded them.

”A quarter of an hour will suffice.”

Gu An and Huang Xiao, along with their senior members, stood up and headed to the rear hall.

”That one seems mild, but if we donʼt agree, Iʼm afraid heʼll take action directly,” Gu An said with a wry smile.

An elder, somewhat aggressively, said, ”Master Gu, although that man is powerful, this is our territory. Joining together with everyone and the Array Power, canʼt we defeat him?”

”Since he dared to come here alone, he must have full confidence in his own strength,” Gu An rejected the idea without hesitation.

Moreover, even if they were to win, it would be a pyrrhic victory. If news were to leak and the Featherfall Sect were to learn of it, the Beast Taming Sect might face another disaster of sect eradication.

In fact, he hadnʼt dismissed the idea completely, but considering that Li Zhirui was the darling of his family, he likely had many life-saving items on him. If they failed to eradicate him thoroughly, the danger would then fall on them!

The risk involved was too great; he did not dare to take the risk.

”Why donʼt we invite him to join us in eradicating the Featherfall Sect?”

This proposal brightened the eyes of many, for without the Featherfall Sect, they would be able to monopolize the territory of an entire province, gaining more resources and developing at a faster pace.

After exchanging glances, Gu An and Huang Xiao also found the idea appealing. With Li Zhiruiʼs strength, the Beast Taming Sect could take down the Featherfall Sect at a lesser cost.

Before long, several people returned to the main hall.

Gu An spoke up, ”Li, we would like to enlist your strength to overthrow the Featherfall Sect.”

Li Zhirui frowned and after a moment of contemplation, said, ”Agreed, but I will only help restrain those two Golden Core cultivators, and you must not reveal my identity.”

First, Li Zhirui did not want to get involved in too much killing and karma; second, he was concerned that if they didnʼt eradicate them completely and someone managed to rise up, they might seek trouble with the Li family.

Although the latter possibility was extremely slim, in such a vast world, nothing was impossible. What if there really was a Child of Destiny?

”Agreed!” Gu An and the others werenʼt foolish—they immediately understood the purpose behind Li Zhiruiʼs conditions. However, they did not take it to heart, as such plots that existed only in stories seemed hardly likely to manifest in reality.

”Since thatʼs the case, letʼs take an oath.”

With no foundation of trust between them, taking oaths was the best way to form a contract.

Seeing Li Zhirui take an oath, Gu An and the others did not hesitate. They immediately spoke solemnly, taking both a Dao Oath and a Demon Oath.

”Are you planning to act now, or do you need to gather your disciples?” Li Zhirui asked.

If it were up to him, he would certainly choose a lightning-fast strike, taking only some Foundation Establishment disciples to guard the surroundings, and attacking the Featherfall Sect directly, catching them off guard with a surprise attack.

However, since this was the Beast Taming Sectʼs affair, his responsibility was only to restrain the Featherfall Sectʼs two Golden Core cultivators, so naturally, he did not speak up further.