Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 351 - 357: Lies

”Moreover, we donʼt need to arrange anything else; let the clan members decide for themselves how to deal with those evil cultivators,” Li Shiqing added.

There was no response from the crowd, as for them, this was also a form of training.

”Is there anything else?” Li Chengmo, seeing that no one else spoke up, was about to declare the meeting over when Li Zhirui suddenly dropped a bombshell.

In a calm tone, he said, ”Iʼve had some insights in my cultivation during my time outside and am planning to go into closed-door cultivation for a while. Therefore, Iʼll have to trouble everyone to share some of the responsibilities.”

The crowd was taken aback, Li Shiqing being the first to react, his face full of anticipation as he asked, ”Zhirui, are you about to make a breakthrough to the Golden Core Late Stage?”

”Itʼs just a minor insight, not a breakthrough yet,” Li Zhirui lied and shook his head in denial.

Because there were simply too many participants in this family meeting, besides the few Golden Core cultivators, the Clan Leader, and the Elders, there were also various Executors!

It should be noted that by now, each branch of the Li family had at least three Executors, and under the busy Internal Affairs Elder and External Affairs Elder, there were a total of eight Executors!

That is to say, there were at least a hundred people attending the meeting!

Among them, Li Zhirui trusted Li Shiqing and the other Elders quite a lot, but as for these Executors, due to their numbers, it was difficult to ensure that none were bought over by other forces.

Even if none had been, with so many people involved, someone could inadvertently let something slip at some point.

The taller the tree, the stronger the wind it faces!

It must be known that Li Zhiruiʼs cultivation speed was already astonishing, not even falling short of the True Disciples inside Shen Leishan who had access to vast amounts of resources.

And this had already attracted the attention of Shen Leishan!

When Li Zhirui recently went to Shen Leishan to receive the ʼreward,ʼ he noticed that a few gazes were secretly watching him from the beginning to the end.

If he announced now that he was about to make a breakthrough to the Golden Core Late Stage, who knows how Shen Leishan would react.

To suppress or sanction the Li family, or perhaps to ambush him in secret? But regardless of which option, none was something Li Zhirui was willing to accept or could accept.

So, careful sailing helps one steer clear of trouble for a millennium, and secretive development was key - only with corresponding strength could one have enough confidence!

Hearing Li Zhiruiʼs denial, several of the Elders who knew him well immediately ʼunderstoodʼ that he was trying to avoid the various duties that lay ahead.

There was also a flash of regret and disappointment in the eyes of a few Executors, and all of this was seen by Li Zhirui, who had been covering the great hall with his Divine Sense the whole time. He made a mental note of their appearances so that he could have the family investigate them later - perhaps there would be some unexpected surprises.

”Having some insights is good, as it will make breaking through easier when the time comes,” Li Shiqing said, though a hint of disappointment still flickered in his eyes.

”Mm,” Li Zhirui responded, silently apologizing in his heart, but he could only pretend not to see it and said, ”If thereʼs nothing else, Fengwu and I will head back first.”

”Everyone can leave,” Li Shiqing waved his hand, clearly in no mood to continue the meeting.

One by one, the crowd left, and soon, the crowded hall was left with only Li Chengmo and the other Elders, as the specifics of the broader topics discussed hadnʼt been addressed yet.

”Did you just tell a lie?”

Back at his cave residence, Jiang Fengwuʼs sudden question caught Li Zhirui off guard after which he curiously asked, ”Why do you say that?”

”Intuition!” Jiang Fengwuʼs eyes shone with intensity as she looked into his, seemingly trying to catch any subtle change in Li Zhiruiʼs expression.

Unfortunately, she was disappointed; Li Zhirui remained completely unfazed.

Just as Jiang Fengwu sighed in disappointment, she heard Li Zhirui say softly, ”You guessed right, I am indeed on the verge of a breakthrough!”

He still trusted his confidante, and moreover, he needed Jiang Fengwuʼs help with something else that was coming up.

”I need you to set up a Formation in the cave dwelling that conceals the commotion of my breakthrough.”

Jiang Fengwu was clever, and given this remark, coupled with Li Zhiruiʼs previous denial, she immediately whispered in shock, ”Zhirui, do you suspect there are spies in our family?”

”Isnʼt that quite normal?”

Li Zhiruiʼs response caught Jiang Fengwu off guard, but then she thought about it and realized that yes! Powers bribing clan members and planting spies was indeed a common practice.

Just like the Li family had bought off several mid-level members of some Golden Core forces, Shen Leishan had only managed to bribe a few disgruntled or marginal lower-middle-class members.

They werenʼt expected to betray their own forces, but they were still willing to pass on news that wouldnʼt harm their own interests, especially since they were receiving Spirit Stones in return.

”A tall tree catches the wind!”

Jiang Fengwu instantly grasped the underlying meaning of this phrase and laughed lightly, ”Talents always attract envy, why else would you be so outstanding.”

”But this puts too much pressure on me, I havenʼt even broken through to the Middle Golden Core Stage, and youʼre about to break through again.”

She herself was a very capable cultivator, but in comparison to Li Zhirui, everything seemed insignificant, making Jiang Fengwu feel somewhat uncertain.

”Itʼs because you lack resources. Now that I am providing you with enough Spirit Pills, I believe it wonʼt be long before you can make your breakthrough,” Li Zhirui consoled.

Indeed, Jiang Fengwuʼs talents and insight were not inferior, but she was far behind Li Zhirui in terms of cultivation technique and resources, which had led to their difference.

Especially since Li Zhirui had space and could independently refine Mystical Ginseng Pills, high-quality tier-three Spirit Pills, which further widened the gap between them.

”Okay.” Jiang Fengwu felt a bit gloomy and didnʼt want to continue the topic. She abruptly changed the subject, ”Letʼs set up the Formation first.”

With that, she hurriedly left and entered her Array Room.

Li Zhirui watched her back and sighed softly. Even though Jiang Fengwu was the person he trusted most, there were some secrets he couldnʼt possibly tell her.

Before long, Jiang Fengwu took out a set of Array setup materials, walking back and forth around the quiet chamber where Li Zhirui was in secluded cultivation, pondering how to arrange the Formation to maximize its power.

About two hours later, Jiang Fengwu finally found the perfect solution and showed a satisfied smile on her face.

Her hands moved quickly as she cast spell after spell, placing Array Flags at strategic points and centering the Array Plate in the middle.

Then Array Patterns emerged, with Spirit Light weaving and connecting, linking all the Array Flags and the Array Plate. The instant it was completed, a stream of black Spirit Light flew out, forming a thin membrane that enveloped the quiet chamber.

”This Formation can completely conceal the noise of your breakthrough,” Jiang Fengwu stated confidently.

Li Zhirui didnʼt skimp on his praise, ”Thatʼs amazing!”