Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 31: The News

”Fifth Brother, are you sure this news is true?” Li Shiqing asked seriously, looking at Li Shize who had just returned.

Li Shize nodded confidently, he wouldnʼt have rushed back if it wasnʼt true.

”Itʼs true! The Yuanming Sect will soon hold an auction, and three Foundation Establishment Pills will be auctioned off.”

Li Shiqing didnʼt question any further, but now there was a problem—the family didnʼt have many Spirit Stones!

A single Foundation Establishment Pill, priced at thirty thousand on the market, but thirty thousand Spirit Stones definitely wouldnʼt be enough to buy one, especially at an auction! Its price would undoubtedly soar.

In previous years under the rule of the Beast Taming Sect, one needed at least fifty thousand Spirit Stones to secure a Foundation Establishment Pill, but that was because the various vassal forces couldnʼt offer more Spirit Stones.

In Yunping State, however, due to the large number of Cultivators coming and going, and the booming economy, many families were able to earn Spirit Stones. With more money in hand, the price of Foundation Establishment Pills would surely be higher.

”Is the family facing any difficulties?” Li Shize saw Li Shiqingʼs furrowed brows and couldnʼt help but ask.

Usually, Li Shize wouldnʼt stay on the island, as it wasnʼt convenient to receive intelligence and news, so he wasnʼt very familiar with the familyʼs situation.

”The familyʼs two shops in the Marketplace are doing well, but there hasnʼt been enough time to earn many Spirit Stones,” Li Shiqing sighed helplessly and said, ”If only the auction were to take place a year from now.”

By then, he wouldnʼt have to worry about the shortage of Spirit Stones.

”Shize, go and find out if the Yuanming Sect has auctioned off Foundation Establishment Pills in the past years.”

If Yuanming Sect regularly offered Foundation Establishment Pills, then missing this opportunity wouldnʼt matter, as there was no suitable candidate in the family at the moment.

It wasnʼt that the Li family lacked cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation; on the contrary, there were quite a few. However, these family members had reached this level solely through time, which meant they were somewhat old.

And the best age for a Cultivator to break through to Foundation Establishment was before fifty, because after that, oneʼs essence and blood begin to decline, and past sixty, the chances of Foundation Establishment were virtually non-existent.

”Alright, I will send the news back to the family as quickly as possible,” said Li Shize as he saw there was nothing more for him. He immediately rose and left.

After pondering for a moment, Li Shiqing sent a message through the familyʼs Jade Token to Li Shilian, Li Shiren, and Li Zhirui, asking them to come to the main hall as soon as they could if they were available.

Li Zhirui, who was usually busy checking on Da Qing, headed straight to the main hall upon receiving the message.

”Clan Leader, is there something you needed?” Li Zhirui, seeing only the two of them in the main hall, assumed he had been summoned for an important matter.

”Letʼs wait and talk when Shilian and Shiren arrive,” Li Shiqing said, noticing Li Zhirui standing a bit stiffly, and couldnʼt help but smile, ”Relax, itʼs nothing serious.”

To ease the awkwardness, Li Shiqing asked, ”Have you been paying attention to the girl Li Zhixuan these past few days?”

”No, Da Qing has recently shed its shell, and Iʼve been focusing all my attention there,” Li Zhirui replied.

”Shed its shell?” Li Shiqing knew that turtles shed their shells and smiled, ”It looks like youʼve taken good care of it; otherwise, Da Qing wouldnʼt have shed its shell so soon.”

Da Qing wasnʼt more than a decade old from the time it hatched, which meant it was still a child to the Qingxuan Turtle clan.

Li Zhirui smiled awkwardly and, not wishing to dwell on the topic of space, asked, ”Clan Leader, you just mentioned Li Zhixuan—is there something wrong with her?”

”The child is indeed impressive, with a resilient mind. Given the chance, she might be able to accomplish Foundation Establishment some day. Itʼs just a pity her aptitude is too poor—Four Spiritual Roots, and even then, the purity of her Spiritual Roots is not high.” At the end, Li Shiqingʼs tone was filled with regret.

Although Li Zhirui felt that Li Zhixuanʼs potential extended beyond what was currently evident, voicing such opinions now would seem arrogant, especially since Foundation Establishment was the step before reaching the Golden Core, and the Li family had yet to give birth to a Golden Core Cultivator. So, he reluctantly concurred with Li Shiqingʼs assessment.

”A few days ago, Li Zhixuan heard Li Shiling talk about sword cultivators and was very intrigued; sheʼs now diligently practicing ordinary sword techniques. Moreover, Li Shiling mentioned that Li Zhixuan has a good natural talent in this area, and perhaps in the future, our family can really have another sword cultivator.”

Now, Li Zhixuan has become extremely popular in the Spirit Wisdom Court. There isnʼt a child of her age who doesnʼt know her.

But at the same time, sheʼs the least welcome presence there.

Because Li Zhixuan is so hardworking, she unintentionally highlights the laziness of everyone else. And sheʼs often praised by Li Shiling, unlike the other children who are always being reprimanded by him.

”Sword cultivators?” Li Zhirui thought about his impression of Li Zhixuan and chuckled, ”That should suit her very well.”

Li Shiqing stared intently at Li Zhirui, ”I notice you really do have a soft spot for the girl.”

”Hardworking people are always a bit more likable.”

At that moment, Li Shilian and Li Shiren arrived in the main hall, interrupting their casual conversation.

”Iʼve called you here because thereʼs something you need to know,” Li Shiqing spoke seriously. ”Soon, the Yuanming Sect will hold an auction, where Foundation Establishment Pills will be auctioned.”

”Does the family want to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill?” Li Shilian asked the question only to immediately dismiss it, adding, ”The family simply canʼt afford that many spirit stones.”

”Exactly, so we summoned you here just to have you take a look at the prices at the auction, so the family can have a clear idea of what they are.”

Although Li Shilian has spent many years in Yunping State, heʼs mostly been stationed on Da Rong Island, so heʼs not very knowledgeable about many external affairs.

Thereʼs also another matter.

”Considering Zhiyueʼs talents, she needs to contract at least a third-order Spirit Beast to avoid wasting her potential. So, you must bring enough spirit stones to the auction, in case thereʼs a chance to acquire a third-order Spirit Beast Egg or cub, and you find yourself without the stones to buy it.”

”Alright, I understand,” Li Shilian, being the senior most, naturally took the lead in this matter.

Li Shiren would go along to guard against anyone who might attempt an ambush on the road.

As for Li Zhirui, he was at first unclear why he had been included in the matter, but after considering the situation of those family members at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, he understood.

Li Shiqing was informing him that, barring unforeseen circumstances, the familyʼs next Foundation Establishment Pill would be his, Li Zhiruiʼs.

The Cultivators of Shirenʼs generation are already of age, with slim hopes for Foundation Establishment, so they need not be considered.

The cultivators of Zhizhunʼs generation are younger, but currently only Li Zhirui and his older brother, Li Zhizhun, are in the later stages of Qi Cultivation, and judging by the current pace of cultivation, itʼs clear that Li Zhirui will break through to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation first.

So, the forthcoming Foundation Establishment Pill is undoubtedly destined for Li Zhirui!

Moreover, with the Li familyʼs current rate of earning spirit stones, it will take just one or two years to save enough to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Even if this Foundation Establishment Pill is given to Li Zhirui, it doesnʼt mean that Li Zhizhun wonʼt have the chance to acquire one later.

Actually, several family members have been held back because the family didnʼt have enough spirit stones to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill for them.

But that was the Li family of the past.

The Li family today has the Cloudtop Pavilion and a general goods shop; they earn several thousand spirit stones every month, ensuring that no family member will be delayed due to lack of spirit stones.