Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 530 - 536: Betrayal

Although they were Elders of their respective Sects, such major matters were not theirs to decide, so they could only pretend to misunderstand and act as if nothing had happened.

Xiaoqing did not care about their reaction. After finishing his statement, he led Li Zhixuan and the others out of the Secret Realm.

After conveying his disturbing suspicions to Da Qing through a Secret Technique, Li Zhirui waited on the deck for Xiaoqing and the others to emerge.

Upon seeing them come out, he immediately made a move to bring them back to the Spirit Boat.

The other Cultivators were somewhat surprised. Were they really bringing people out so quickly? It hadnʼt even been an hour.

”Since the Cultivators of our Li family have all emerged, we will not linger here any longer.”

The voice of Li Zhirui echoed through the dense fog, ”My fellow Cultivators, family matters call for my attention, so I will take my leave first.”

”Li, please wait a moment!”

Yun Lei hastily called out, saying, ”The murderer of Chengfeng has not been determined. The prime culprit is very likely among them, so I must trouble you to wait a moment longer.”

”Oh?”

An astonished ʼehʼ came from Li Zhirui, who then chuckled and said, ”Are you suspecting the Cultivators of my Li family, my friend?”

”If I remember correctly, the Nascent Soul candidate you mentioned is at the Middle Golden Core Stage, right?”

Suddenly, his tone shifted, full of mockery and ridicule, saying, ”If he, possessing quite a few life-saving measures, has been slain by Zhixuan and several early Golden Core Cultivators, some of whom havenʼt even crafted their Life-bound Magic Treasures...”

”It would really make one feel that the Nascent Soul candidates of Shen Leishan are too fragile, giving off the impression that anyone could assume that role.”

Since Yun Lei was determined to see this through to the end, Li Zhirui naturally didnʼt bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point.

”I would advise you to speak with caution!” Yun Lei said, with an unpleasant look on his face.

”Tch,” Li Zhirui lightly clicked his tongue, responding perfunctorily, ”Understood, understood. So, my friend Yun Lei, may we leave now?”

”Or do you still insist on believing that your Nascent Soul candidate was killed by a few newly advanced Golden Core Cultivators?”

To continue blocking them without letting them leave would indirectly confirm Li Zhiruiʼs words. If that news spread, it could negatively affect Shen Leishan.

But letting them go was not what Yun Lei wanted. After all, Li Zhirui could very well have guessed his intention by now. Once he returned, he would certainly start preparing immediately.

On second thought, what could it matter, even if he had guessed? Rushing back a day or two early wouldnʼt change much, but it could instead plunge the Li family into panic.

”Please, go ahead!”

Li Zhirui did not utter a word, simply directing the Spirit Boat towards Wanxian Island.

On the Spirit Boat.

”Jiu, what happened during this time?” Li Zhixuan asked, clueless.

Li Zhirui raised an eyebrow and responded indifferently, ”A Nascent Soul candidate from Shen Leishan perished in the Secret Realm. But now, Yun Lei doesnʼt care about that any longer. He is very likely to seize this opportunity to make a move against our family.”

”By the way, did you encounter Liu Chengfeng in the Secret Realm?”

”We did. He started attacking us as soon as he saw us. Luckily, we were fortunate, and Lady Xuan arrived in time to repel them.”

”Repelled? It seems the real murderer is someone else.”

But now, the truth no longer mattered.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere on the Spirit Boat grew incredibly tense. Everyone felt an immense pressure at the thought of Shen Leishan making a move against their family.

”Tell us about your findings in the Secret Realm,” Li Zhirui said, promptly changing the subject.

Mention of their gains in the Secret Realm brought a better look to everyoneʼs faces.

”Li Darong accidentally discovered an Inheritance Jade Slip containing extensive knowledge that can instantly enhance the familyʼs foundation.”

Upon hearing this, Li Darong quickly added, ”This is a collective achievement, not my own.”

”Oh? Is it that precious?”

Li Zhirui looked at Li Darong and teased, ”If itʼs as valuable as Zhixuan claims, youʼll earn a substantial amount of Contribution Value. Will you really be willing to share it with them?”

”This is what everyone deserves; itʼs not a matter of being willing or unwilling.”

At that moment, Li Zhirui got his hands on the Jade Slip and was instantly engrossed, not responding to Li Darong, yet a satisfied sparkle could be seen in his eyes.

After a while, Li Zhiruiʼs expression turned extremely solemn, ”It is indeed as valuable as Zhixuan described.”

If not for their current location on the Spirit Boat and the impending crisis facing the family, he would not want to tear himself away from the Jade Slip.

Itʼs no exaggeration to say that, had the Li family obtained this Jade Slip ten years earlier, there would be at least several more Golden Core Cultivators by now!

”This merit canʼt be measured by Contribution Value. Weʼll discuss specific rewards with Uncle and the others after this matter is resolved.”

Li Zhirui reassured Li Darong, ”You can rest assured, you wonʼt be disappointed!”

”Iʼm only doing what I should.”

”Even though you are enlightened, rewards are still necessary. Otherwise, if other clan members come across opportunities in the future, who would hand them over to the family?”

Time flew by as they traveled, and before they knew it, they had already returned to Wanxian Island.

”Rest up for now. If a major battle does break out, you will be the main force.”

With that, Li Zhirui left swiftly, knowing that he, too, needed to hurry and prepare.

——

Inside a tavern in Hongluo State.

”Whatʼs happened with the Li family? When I passed by yesterday, Mount Bailu was deserted, not a soul in sight, and not a single valuable thing left behind,” a Cultivator was telling his companions about his latest discovery.

”Could it be that the True Lord has fallen? Otherwise, why would they abandon that third-order Spirit Vein? They must have realized they couldnʼt keep it secure and simply gave it up.”

”That makes some sense, but such talk is taboo. Better not spread it around.”

”Alright, alright, letʼs just drink. What does the affairs of Sects and families have to do with us lowly Loose Cultivators?”

Yet, this commotion caught the attention of a certain power.

Xie Tianyu, who had been used as a test subject for the Sky Cleansing Pill and Golden Ganoderma Pill and had successfully reached Core Formation, began speculating upon hearing that the Li family Cultivators had fully withdrawn from Hongluo State.

Among his guesses, the most plausible seemed to be that the conflict between the Li family and Shen Leishan had become irreconcilable, on the brink of eruption!

Moreover, the sequence of actions by the Li family indicated their lack of confidence in the looming battle.

As the founder of the Tianluo Sect, he had to consider his own interests!

As the foremost vassal of the Li family, he knew that Shen Leishan wouldnʼt spare the Tianluo Sect.

Despite owing a great debt to the Li family, life is the most valuable commodity of all; to save his own skin, he would do anything!