Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 533 - 539: The Great Battle

Even though those Loose Cultivators were very dissatisfied, with all kinds of complaints, for the sake of caution, Li Zhirui specially had Li Zhixuan, Li Chenghuo, and others make a trip to Red Pine Market.

If there were any Loose Cultivators who were utterly uncooperative, they would take action directly, killing one to warn the others.

”Everyone has been driven out.” Li Xuefeng reported.

Li Zhirui nodded slightly, then turned around to address all the clan members, speaking loudly, ”This battle is of utmost importance, it relates to whether our family can continue on or not, all of you, the lives of your friends and relatives depend on your performance! Thus, I hope everyone will exert their utmost strength in the upcoming battle!”

The disparity in strength between the two sides was too great, encouraging words might not have a very good effect, on the contrary, stating the harsh reality might be more likely to arouse a spirit of resistance in everyone.

The saying that a cornered army is certain to win is this principle.

”As long as everyone can hold on, preventing Shen Leishan from ending the war quickly, then we will have won!” Li Zhirui also gave people a glimmer of hope.

And this was not something he had made up on the fly!

Before leaving the Secret Realm, Li Zhirui had a covert discussion with Qingshui and Yaihai, two Nascent Soul cultivators.

If the Li family could tie down both Yun Lei and Qing Lei, the two Nascent Soul cultivators, then they would lead attacks against Shen Leishan!

But if they couldnʼt manage that, then they would simply stand by and watch.

Of course, Li Zhirui did not fully trust these two.

Thus, he had also secretly contacted the Store Manager of the Southern Edge Commerce Association, promising that if they provided assistance, he was willing to sell fourth-tier Precious Pills to the Southern Edge Commerce Association at cost price, even without charging a single Spirit Stone for the processing fee, for a duration of one hundred and fifty years!

That is to say, Li Zhirui was willing to ʼwork for freeʼ for the Southern Edge Commerce Association for one hundred and fifty years!

Even if they ended up not providing any help, Li Zhirui would still offer to refine fourth-tier Precious Pills for ten years for the Southern Edge Commerce Association under these terms, and for the subsequent thirty years, he would supply Precious Pills at a very favorable price.

Besides that, he also dangled a huge carrot in front of the Southern Edge Commerce Association.

In the future territories occupied by the Li family, aside from their own shops, only the Southern Edge Commerce Association would be allowed to set up businesses, rejecting any other commerce association.

Of course, shops set up by individuals or smaller powers were not included in this prohibition.

Faced with such generous terms, Li Zhirui believed the Southern Edge Commerce Association had no reason to refuse.

And indeed, that was the case, the headquarters of the Southern Edge Commerce Association, upon hearing the terms offered by Li Zhirui, agreed without hesitation and even arranged for three Nascent Soul cultivators to make a special trip.

However, they would only support the Li family from behind and would not assist in counterattacking Shen Leishan.

As for why he did not contact the closer Xuanfa Pavilion? Because the Southern Edge Commerce Association was more likely to agree, and the conditions would not be too harsh.

After all, Shen Leishanʼs market was inaccessible to the Southern Edge Commerce Association! But it was a traditional territory for the Xuanfa Pavilion.

But all these were external forces, Li Zhirui deeply understood one principle, that relying on others was unreliable, only oneʼs own strength was the true foundation!

”Jiu, theyʼre here!”

Lost in his thoughts, Li Zhirui instantly snapped back to reality, flying into the air to assess the strength of the opposition.

”Yun Lei isnʼt here?” Li Zhirui only sensed the presence of one Nascent Soul cultivator, which was relatively good news, but Qing Lei had also advanced to the middle phase of Nascent Soul.

Moreover, aside from Qi Cultivation cultivators, the Li family was significantly weaker than Shen Leishan at all other cultivation levels.

The fleet drew closer, and many of the clan members, upon seeing the massive scale of the approaching fleet, involuntarily gasped in shock. Despite being on their home turf, their morale was actually suppressed by the enemyʼs imposing presence.

Li Zhiruiʼs face was set in a cold, stern expression as he estimated the distance between the enemy and the Great Array.

”Attack! Everyone, activate your attack talismans with all your might!”

Following Li Zhiruiʼs order, the fleet, which hadnʼt even stabilized yet, was bombarded by a skyful of attacks. It was as if an endless stream of spells rained down upon them, radiating dazzling, multicolored spirit light, filled with a deadly intent to kill.

”How many disciples have died? Is the damage to the Spirit Boats severe?” Qing Lei asked with an ugly expression.

Even though the defense of the Spirit Boats had neutralized many of the attacks, there were still a large number of cultivators who perished under this torrent of spells, especially those of lower ranks.

”No casualties among the Golden Core Elders, but there are at least a hundred low-ranking disciples killed.” The Sect Leader reported the count immediately, speaking with a hint of panic.

Moreover, the numbers he mentioned did not include the vassal forces; otherwise, the count would be even higher.

”As for the Spirit Boats, most are seriously damaged, with only a few remaining unscathed.”

Upon hearing this, Qing Lei laughed in extreme rage, grinding his teeth as he said, ”Very well, very well! What a Li family! What a Li Zhirui! I underestimated you before! Tomorrow next year will be your death anniversary!”

”Stick to the plan we agreed on earlier, everyone face the enemy who matches their own level!”

Li Zhirui shouted out, ”As long as we hold on, the ultimate victors will be us!”

”Kill! Everyone attack the Great Array with all your strength! After breaking the array, slaughter all the Li family cultivators, and all the Spiritual Objects obtained shall be yours!”

With these words, the disciples of Shen Leishan instantly shed their initial fright. Each deployed their most powerful techniques, lunging towards Wanxian Island below with cries of battle.

But the Li family cultivators were no pushovers; relying on the Island Defense Array, they didnʼt need to worry about defending themselves. They unleashed their most powerful moves, focusing solely on attacking the enemy.

”Li Zhirui, do you dare to face me in battle?” Qing Lei didnʼt join the other disciples in attacking the Island Defense Array; instead, he challenged Li Zhirui directly.

Because he knew very well that Li Zhirui was the cornerstone of the Li family. If he could slay him, then the remaining Li family cultivators would be as insignificant as crumbling walls and broken tiles.

”Why wouldnʼt I dare?”

Li Zhirui was also worried about Qing Lei tampering with the Formation, because even if he could intercept the attacks, the resulting energy blasts were a significant burden on the Great Array.

”Zhirui, you... be careful,” Li Shiqing began, wanting to say more, but in the end, he only managed a few brief words.

”Uncle, donʼt worry. He is just a small realm above me; the gap isnʼt that wide.” Besides, he was now at the peak of the early Nascent Soul stage, so the gap between them had narrowed even more.

Li Zhirui flew out of the Formation and into the high sky to start a battle with Qing Lei alone.

”If youʼre willing to offer up a strand of your spiritual soul, Iʼll spare your life and retreat with the disciples,” Qing Lei said with full confidence, as if he already had Li Zhirui in his grasp.

”Heh!” Li Zhirui chuckled coldly and said, ”Qing Lei, my friend, youʼve always been overwhelmingly confident.”

”But I wonder, does this confidence of yours reflect in combat? How much is it really worth?”

”To kill you, itʼs more than enough!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a surge of Qing Leiʼs aggressive, azure thunderbolt energy rushed towards Li Zhirui.