Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan-Chapter 2025 - 1481: Giving Up (2)

After everything was settled, Li Mingyao didn't stay any longer and left quickly—he had to bring the news back to inform Li Zhirui at once.

As for the one who sabotaged Qingcang, it was impossible—there was just no way to find them!

After all, the conversation between Li Zhirui and Qingcang had spread far and wide back then, and many cultivators, especially loose cultivators, had flocked to the Ten Thousand Spirit Sea Area after hearing the news.

Even though many cultivators left during this period after failing to witness a Thunder Tribulation, those staying to observe still numbered no less than twenty or thirty thousand.

With so many people, the Li family simply had neither the energy nor the opportunity to pick out the culprit from among tens of thousands of cultivators.

Of course, this was also because Qingcang had succeeded in his breakthrough—otherwise, it would have been impossible for the others to leave so easily.

...

While Qingcang braved the Thunder Tribulation by the skin of his teeth, Li Zhirui, who was in another space, was awaiting the maturation of the Starlight Vine.

The originally dusky vines suddenly shimmered with brilliant, dazzling starlight, looking truly stunning and beautiful.

But at this moment, Li Zhirui was in no mood to admire it—without hesitation, he picked the Starlight Vine and sealed it in a specially-made container.

As for the five Spirit Seeds produced by the matured vine, he transplanted them into three separate Spirit Mountains.

Even if, by the time these three Starlight Vines matured, Li Zhirui had already developed what he wanted, that still didn't mean the plant was useless.

You see, the vine's grade was hardly low, and its defensive properties were exceptionally tough. Whether for trade or for forging magic artifacts, it was always in high demand.

The remaining two Spirit Seeds, he intended to reserve for the family.

"Five Elements, I'll trouble you to take good care of these spiritual objects. I'll leave for now."

Li Zhirui hadn't forgotten the pressing matter of Qingcang's imminent tribulation and attempt at breaking through to the Heavenly Immortal Realm.

As he left the space and swept his divine sense outside the entrance, he immediately noticed not only was there a Jade Slip left, but Li Debo was also hurrying over from afar.

Seeing his anxious, terrified, and furious expression, Li Zhirui's face darkened slightly—could something really have happened?!

No time to ponder, he instantly appeared before Li Debo and asked in a deep voice, "Has something happened?"

"Ancestor Rui!"

"What happened that could shock you so much?"

"It's not good! During Green Cang Spirit Ancestor's Tribulation Transcendence, someone intervened and disrupted things, causing the Thunder Tribulation's power to skyrocket!"

Li Zhirui's expression changed in an instant, growing extremely dark—it was unexpected that such a situation would arise.

"What's the current situation now?"

"Green Cang Spirit Ancestor made it through the Heavenly Tribulation with great danger but no lasting harm. He's already returned to his cave mansion for seclusion and to stabilize his cultivation."

Li Zhirui glared at Li Debo irritably and said, "You really are… Such an important matter, yet you didn't say so earlier and made me worry for nothing."

Li Debo then realized that what he'd just said could easily be misunderstood. His face grew awkward, but then as if recalling something, he added, "Ancestor Yao is on his way back to the family now—he might know something."

"All right."

Li Zhirui nodded and then took out a jade box. "In here are two Spirit Seeds of the Starlight Vine. Have the spirit planters see them planted."

"If you have no other orders, Ancestor Rui, I'll take my leave first."

"Go on."

Not long after, Li Zhirui welcomed Li Mingyao's return to the mountain.

"Mingyao, did you manage to find out who made the move?"

Li Mingyao looked ashamed and said in a low voice, "There were tens of thousands present observing the Thunder Tribulation at the time. I had just arrived when the tribulation mutated. I didn't discover a single clue, so I didn't conduct a search and just let them leave directly."

Li Zhirui did not rebuke him or show any dissatisfaction. After all, in that situation, even he couldn't have come up with a better way.

However, in his heart, he did have his suspicions.

After all, the only Heavenly Immortal powers in contact with the Li family were the Dongyuan Sect, the Sea Tribe, and the Wanling Alliance—the last two being other races. There's no way they'd leave no trace coming all this way.

So Li Zhirui directly narrowed his suspicions on the Dongyuan Sect.

Unfortunately, he didn't have any clue or evidence to back up his suspicions. Relying on guesswork alone would do no harm whatsoever to the Dongyuan Sect.

Which meant, the Li family could do nothing but swallow this injustice in silence.

And although Li Zhirui was filled with anger and dissatisfaction, he was powerless. Moreover, he would no longer get involved in such matters, lest he accumulate further karma and hinder his own transcendence.

"It's all over now."

With these words from Li Zhirui, it signaled that the family would no longer pursue the matter.

Yet because of this, he inevitably felt a bit dispirited, waving Li Mingyao off, and then returning to his own cave mansion.

"The world is full of dust—it's best to leave as soon as possible."

Involuntarily, such a thought arose in Li Zhirui's mind.

"Soon, soon, just wait a bit longer!"

As a mighty one cultivating the law of purification, Li Zhirui was especially sensitive to filth and impurities in the world. He knew that, as of now, the Yuanling Realm had not yet accumulated enough evil and filth to allow him to amass vast amounts of merit, settle his karma, and transcend this world.

Whoosh—

Suddenly, a cool breeze swept by, erasing all traces.

...

Let's switch to the other side.

Within the tightly sealed and pitch-black main hall of the Dongyuan Sect, not a trace of light or hint of air could leak through.

"What happened? Speak to me in detail," demanded the Dongyuan Sect's sect master.

"Reporting, Sect Master. As you instructed, I released that spirit bug without anyone noticing, and sure enough, the Thunder Tribulation's power increased severalfold. But no one expected that Water Lord would actually endure it by sheer force."

After hearing him out, the sect master fell into silence. There was nothing else he could do—getting hold of that ultra-concealable spirit bug was already the Dongyuan Sect's limit.

Originally, they had thought they could prevent the Li family from gaining another Heavenly Immortal, yet their scheme had been smashed head-on.

The only thing to be thankful for was that this disciple's identity remained hidden. Even if the Li family wanted revenge, they wouldn't be able to trace it back to them.

The sect master also knew clearly in his heart that this was the closest they'd ever come to success—in the future, if the Li family produced another Heavenly Immortal, it would surely be deep within Li territory.

Given such circumstances, outsiders wouldn't even be able to get close, let alone sabotage the Thunder Tribulation.

"Alas! Forget it! Let's leave it at that."

After a long time in thought, the sect master sighed at last, abandoning the notion of continuing to target the Li family. After all, if they kept at it, their tracks might be exposed.

Though the Dongyuan Sect was much stronger and not worried about an assault by the Li family—in fact, if the Li family attacked, it would suit their interests—

What they feared most was the Li family quietly holding onto evidence and spreading rumors in secret, thereby ruining Dongyuan Sect's reputation.

And from what he knew of Li Zhirui, the sect master was certain he would do just that!