Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 436 - 442: Clue

Although Jiang Fengwu believed in Li Zhiruiʼs strength, that as long as he didnʼt encounter a Divine Transformation ancestor, he would be safe, he couldnʼt help but feel a bit uneasy inside. Now that he had the chance to ask, he naturally could not miss it.

”Despite some bumps and twists along the way, there was no danger, and I eventually got what I wanted.”

Hearing Li Chengshengʼs response, Jiang Fengwu was delighted. Even if the actual situation differed somewhat from his divination, it probably wasnʼt by much. What mattered most was that at this moment, the anxiety in Jiang Fengwuʼs heart was soothed.

——

Speaking of Li Zhirui, who had left his family, he flew northward at the first opportunity, aiming for the Profound Ice State north of the Great Void Province, and even further, to Han Yuan State.

The reason he headed north first was because Li Zhirui had started collecting information on life-extending spiritual objects before his Nascent Soul breakthrough. From the many messages he received, he found that the probability of finding life-extending spiritual objects in the north was higher. Over the past hundred years, a total of twenty-seven types of life-extending spiritual objects had appeared on the market.

Following close behind were the vast mainland to the west and the overlapping mountains to the south, with the abundantly resourceful Boundless Sea, as people usually imagined, coming last.

The main reason was that the human raceʼs level of exploitation of the Boundless Sea was too low. Since the Boundless Sea, which covered more than half the world, was the territory of the endless water devils, it wasnʼt that there were no good things, but rather that the good things all ended up in the hands of the water devils.

Speaking of which, due to the Li familyʼs years of development on Wanxian Island, the enormous island now had no land left to exploit unless they continued to move to distant islands.

Moreover, as the water devils in the nearby seas gradually vanished, Li Dayuan shifted his gaze from the land to the sea.

Under his influence, the Li family began to search for resources within a two hundred li radius centered on Wanxian Island, such as ore veins, Spirit Veins, and then established mines, Spirit Fields, and fisheries in these locations.

Li Zhirui wasnʼt very clear on the specifics, but the family managed to gain a significant annual income from the sea.

Back to the point!

Li Zhirui, for the time being, did not wish to conflict with the Devil Race of the Great Void Province—of course, mainly because he was not strong enough to defeat them—so he deliberately detoured over the sea surface and sped along his way. In just a few days, he arrived at the Profound Ice Sectʼs territories.

The boundless wilderness was covered in a vast expanse of white snow, rarely traversed by humans and scarcely showing a trace of other living beings. However, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth was exceptionally rich, which was likely one of the reasons the Profound Ice Sect was reluctant to leave this bitterly cold place.

Moreover, living in the Profound Ice State had another benefit: aside from the Devil Race in the Great Snow Mountain, there were no other hostile forces nearby, providing a good external environment for the development of the Profound Ice Sect.

Bearing the wind and snow, Li Zhirui entered a fairy city that was not very large. There must have been a Formation protecting it, as it felt nothing like the cold outside; it was a totally different world.

These small fairy cities were very common within the Profound Ice Sectʼs domain, with one about every twenty or thirty li. They were primarily built to provide a warm place of refuge for the commoners during the cold weather to prevent them from dying unknowingly in the cold nights.

After all, commoners were the foundation of cultivators. Without enough commoners, there would be no large number of births, leading to a decrease in the number of children who get tested for their Spiritual Roots every year.

Perhaps for a short period, the issue might not seem significant, but over time, the biggest drawback would become apparent: the inability to recruit many disciples!

And if there were no new blood joining, perhaps the Profound Ice Sect could stand strong based on their many years of foundation, but overall, it would steadily become weaker.

Not to mention, the Profound Ice Sect is vigilantly eyed by the Devil Race nearby. Once any sign of decline becomes apparent, the Devil Race will undoubtedly become ecstatic, and immediately raise a massive army to strike at the Profound Ice Sect.

Therefore, despite the harsh climate of Profound Ice State, the common folk living within this territory, under the protection of the Profound Ice Sect, are far happier than those in other regions.

Li Zhirui disguised himself as a Golden Core Cultivator, for if he roamed about as a Nascent Soul, it would be too eye-catching, and he feared that every move he made would be under surveillance.

A Golden Core was just right. His cultivation wasnʼt high enough to alert local forces, but it also wasnʼt low enough to attract too much greed.

”Senior, are you planning to stay at our inn?” As evening approached, the wilderness in winter became a very terrifying place. Even a Golden Core Cultivator would feel the bone-chilling cold. If one were to stay out for the night, by the next day, theyʼd be frozen stiff.

Moreover, establishments like theirs typically only served first-tier Spirit Food. Second-tier Spirit Food was extremely rare; however, Spiritual Wine was easier to preserve, and the older it became, the more mellow it would grow, so they had a few bottles of second-tier Spiritual Wine stored away. But to Li Zhirui, even second-tier Spiritual Wine was just mediocre.

Thatʼs why the attendant directly asked Li Zhirui if he was staying, instead of whether he needed a meal.

”Book the room with the richest spiritual energy, and bring me some Spirit Food,” he said before finding an empty table and sitting down.

Since Li Zhiruiʼs arrival, the previously lively hall had quieted down, but now people started to resume their chatter and laughter, while he sifted through the conversations for any useful information.

But this group of Cultivators belonged to the lowest echelon of the Cultivation World, what secrets could they possibly know? Their conversations revolved around petty quarrels, duels of magic, and tales of people vanishing on their journeys—nothing of relevance to what Li Zhirui wished to know.

”Senior, your ordered Spirit Food is all served. This Jade Talisman is the key to your guest room,” the attendant said as he placed each dish on the table, then bowed, preparing to leave.

”Wait, I have a question for you,” Li Zhirui spoke calmly, ”Do you know where nearby I can find a Life-Extending Spiritual Object?”

”Are you here for the Life-Extending Spiritual Object, Senior?” The shopkeeper interjected, ”In recent years, the Profound Ice Commerce Chamber has auctioned off quite a few Life-Extending Spiritual Objects, and all these objects come from one place—the Great Snow Mountain to the west.”

Great Snow Mountain?!

Li Zhiruiʼs brow furrowed slightly. He was, of course, aware of this infamous territory of the Devil Race. It is said to be the ancestral land of the northern Devil Race in the eastern region, teeming with countless Devil Beasts, among which are powerful High-Rank Demon Beasts.

Even with his current abilities, venturing into the Great Snow Mountain did not guarantee a safe return, indicating just how perilous it was.

Yet it was precisely this dangerous place that produced precious Life-Extending Spiritual Objects. These were the items Cultivators desperately tried to bring back.

”You must know more, donʼt you? Tell me everything,” Li Zhirui said as he casually handed over several second-tier Spirit Pills.

The Spirit Pills he used as gifts for others were intentionally slight mishaps of his own creation, mainly to conceal his true identity and avoid attracting those driven by greed.

After all, for a Golden Core Cultivator to effortlessly produce top-quality Spirit Pills, even those with Pill Patterns, would be far too exaggerated.