Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 342 - 348: Outbreak

The elders of Shen Leishan discussed and speculated at length, but they ultimately could not find an answer and had to give up.

They began to discuss how to deal with the evil cultivators, to restore Myriad Thunder State to its former state as soon as possible, for if they didnʼt act quickly, the loose cultivators would be gone.

And once the loose cultivators were gone, it would be very hard to get them back, for they were like rootless weeds that could thrive anywhere, unless you had something special to hold their interest.

Take, for example, the Green Mountain Range in Green Mountain State, where a large number of devil beasts lived, providing loose cultivators a place to obtain spirit stones and materials, as well as to improve their combat abilities. It was beneficial in two ways.

”Summon the subsidiary forces to dispatch people to clear out the evil cultivators,” thus, they would be at ease and wouldnʼt encounter any danger.

”Iʼm afraid some will be unwilling,” after all, with the menacing approach of the evil cultivators, who knew when it would knock on their door? Aid Shen Leishan only to suffer losses at home – what was this?

”Hmph!” an elder, full of arrogance, scoffed with disdain, ”Disagree? Do they even have the right to disagree?”

A considerable number of elders shared this attitude because, in their eyes, Shen Leishan was the strongest, and all subsidiary forces had to obey every rule.

The situation only worsened after Cloud Thunder True Lord made his breakthrough to Nascent Soul, becoming ever more contemptuous and disregarding of everything else.

Unfortunately, their orders were never issued!

This was because a disciple rushed into the great hall in a panic, saying with a terrified face, ”Sect Leader, Elders, the evil cultivators have made their move!”

”What move? Speak clearly!” Lei Tian was already vexed and said impatiently.

The disciple trembled and said, ”The evil cultivators have started attacking small marketplaces and small forces, and there are heavy casualties among the cultivators!”

Many small forces did not possess a Mountain Protection Array, and ordinary formations could not hold back the numerous and powerful evil cultivators, who turned them into mere flesh and blood.

As for the small marketplaces, Shen Leishan did not allow other forces to set up markets in Myriad Thunder State; these markets were jointly established with local forces to harvest spirit stones from loose cultivators.

”Have these evil cultivators gone mad!”

”What are they trying to do!? Could it be that they wish to move against the Sect?”

Suddenly, a handful of the elders felt a surge of fear, having lived comfortably for too long; they had lost their sharpness and vigor and were no longer like cultivators.

”Quickly summon the disciples, lead people out to kill these evil cultivators. We cannot let them continue to be so arrogant, otherwise, the Sectʼs reputation may be lost!” An elder suggested.

Lei Tian was shocked for a moment, then quickly got a grip and urgently gave his command, ”Exactly! Everyone must lead disciples out to kill the evil cultivators, to stop their actions!”

These elders were Golden Core cultivators, and even if they had not acted for many years, they were more than capable of dealing with some lower-rank evil cultivators.

”Sect Leader...” some elders were worried that they might face danger and wanted to plead their case.

Lei Tian looked stern and glared at him, saying, ”If you are unwilling to accept this, then I shall invite the great uncle to step in!”

With no choice, everyone had to agree, for if Cloud Thunder True Lord were really to intervene, and they didnʼt perform well, they might even be punished.

After all the Elders had gone to summon the Disciples, Sect Leader Lei Tian was not idle either. He was using a Messaging Artifact to contact affiliated forces outside Myriad Thunder State, such as the Li family.

”I wonder what instructions Lei Sect Leader has?” The Li familyʼs Messaging Artifact, held by Li Shiqing, activated, and he inquired very politely.

Lei Tian told him about the sudden outbreak of evil cultivators in Myriad Thunder State and hoped that the Li family could dispatch some cultivators to assist.

Upon hearing this, Li Shiqing let out a wry smile and said, ”Sect Leader Lei, you may not be aware that there are also quite a few evil cultivators on the Li familyʼs territories, and due to the few numbers of our clan members, we truly cannot spare any help. We are helpless.”

Lei Tian was not obliging them to a mandatory call to arms, and there was room for refusal. Li Shiqing wasnʼt lying either, as this would be revealed upon further investigation.

The three territories controlled by the Li family had seen the emergence of many evil cultivators, with the most appearing in Guangqing State. To be safe, Li Zhirui had already been dispatched to take charge there.

The Li familyʼs main base on Wanxian Island, due to stricter management, didnʼt have many evil cultivators.

Moreover, the Li familyʼs enforcement squad had temporarily expanded, with clan members contracted with Flying Spirit Beasts tirelessly patrolling the skies, and upon spotting traces of evil cultivators, they would immediately notify nearby cultivators.

”Old Ancestor, the Clan Leader has sent someone to summon you to the hall for discussion, saying that the evil cultivators have suddenly become violent, madly slaughtering cultivators.”

While still communicating with Lei Tian, Li Shiqingʼs expression suddenly became grave, and he hurriedly said an apology before disconnecting the Messaging Artifact.

”Have things really become so severe? Even the Li familyʼs territories to the east are overrun with a great number of evil cultivators!” Lei Tian couldnʼt understand where all these evil cultivators were coming from.

On Wanxian Island, Li Shiqing, after hearing the report, breathed a sigh of relief because the massive outbreak of evil cultivators only occurred in Yunping State and Guangqing State. There were only a handful of evil cultivators on Wanxian Island, and they were quickly apprehended without causing much destruction.

”Contact Zhirui and ask him about the specific situation there.”

The Li familyʼs four Golden Cores, with Li Zhirui stationed in the most dangerous Guangqing State, Li Shilian in Yunping State, and both Li Shiqing and Jiang Fengwu in Wanxian Island—Li Shiqing, due to injuries, could only coordinate, and Jiang Fengwu was there as a precaution, in charge of the Island Defense Array.

Not long after activating the Messaging Artifact, Li Zhiruiʼs also activated.

”How is the situation there? Is it serious? Does the family need to send someone to support you?”

Li Zhirui answered each question, then shared his suspicions, saying, ”With the sudden appearance of a large number of evil cultivators, I suspect that they might have been hiding within those minor forces, which is how they evaded our earlier searches!”

After the emergence of evil cultivators in Guangqing State, the Li family began to search for their origins but could only occasionally find a few; the numbers didnʼt add up.

They hadnʼt suspected those minor forces, only feeling that the evil cultivators were adept at hiding, perhaps too well concealed, or because they were far from Myriad Thunder State, there were fewer evil cultivators.

But with the repeated actions of the evil cultivators, Li Zhirui grew increasingly uneasy and ultimately turned his attention to those minor forces.

—Because the Li family had conducted several searches, even paying a considerable price, mobilizing numerous Loose Cultivators, you could say they searched every corner of Guangqing State, but the evil cultivatorsʼ traces remained elusive.

The only places not searched were those minor forcesʼ sect entrances and clan lands!

Li Shiqingʼs eyes brightened instantly, the question that had puzzled him for many days found an answer at this moment.