Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 1401: Chapter 1169: Departure_2

He stepped through the portal and appeared before the two Heavenly Immortals in the next instant.

”Speak.”

After the Sect Leader paid his respects, he voiced their speculation, ”Please trouble the two Ancestor Uncles to investigate.”

”Understood.”

Immediately, a flash of white light occurred before his eyes, and he was expelled from the Cave Heaven.

The Sect Leader stood patiently in place, without any displeasure, waiting for around two hours until a Jade Slip appeared before him, containing only a few words.

’No one’s plotting, the Devil Race of Red Water State suffered heavy losses.’

This reply reassured the Sect Leader while also bringing him pleasant surprise.

With this certain answer, the confidence in defeating the Devil Race significantly increased.

Meanwhile, Li Zhirui, who had returned to the Great Zhou Dynasty, was completely unaware that the Cave Abyss Sect had grown suspicious and was taking the matter seriously. Fortunately, they discovered nothing and instead turned their focus to the Devil Race.

War ignited on the lands of Red Water State, but it had nothing to do with the Great Zhou Dynasty as it needed to clarify and accumulate strength.

Upon hearing this, Li Zhirui was completely at ease, realizing that the Great Zhou Dynasty could avoid the notice of the Cave Abyss Sect for several more years, as could the family.

Moreover, he had no means to further enhance the strength of the Great Zhou Dynasty in a short time, so he simply secluded himself in a thatched house, ignoring worldly affairs of the dynasty.

As the war between the Cave Abyss Sect and the Devil Race intensified, the Yumen He Family could no longer restrain themselves since Red Water State was a big state, not only vast in area but also rich in Spiritual Energy, a prime blessed land that neither side was willing to hand over.

The Devil Race had yet to be eradicated or expelled; otherwise, the two factions would have nearly clashed directly over territory.

Through prolonged purges and encirclement, many Devil Beasts died at the hands of cultivators. In fact, many Devil Beasts from the Immortal Realm, seeing unfavorable conditions, chose to flee at the first moment. Otherwise, capturing Red Water State would have required even more time and effort.

Yet the matter did not end here; the atmosphere became even more tense, with the two Immortal Dao Influences, the Cave Abyss Sect and Yumen He Family, at loggerheads, each hoping to occupy larger and more Spirit Veins.

Fortunately, both sides exercised restraint and did not engage directly.

But over time, the accumulated, escalating conflicts lead to an eventual clash during one conflict.

It was like a spark thrown onto hay, instantly igniting all dry grass and turning it into a blazing fire.

”Get out of Red Water State, this is the territory we first conquered!” yelled the Immortal from the Cave Abyss Sect angrily.

”This land originally belonged to the Devil Race, and we have killed more Devil Beasts than you. Logically, it should belong to my He Family!”

”In that case, let’s see who is stronger.”

Boom!

Two Human Immortals attacked simultaneously, their massive Divine Powers colliding violently, sending a formidable shockwave that left the Mortal Realm avoidant, as being caught up could easily reduce one to cannon fodder.

Once again, the Red Water State, which had just settled back into calm, was engulfed in the flames of war.

When Li Zhirui emerged from seclusion and received this great news, his face remained calm, but deep inside, he was overjoyed, knowing it would delay matters for a few more years.

By the time he exited seclusion again, the ownership of Red Water State had already been decided.

Sixty percent of the land, and all of the prime areas, belonged to the Cave Abyss Sect; the rest went to the Yumen He Family.

After years of buildup and development, the strength now possessed by the Great Zhou Dynasty exceeded Li Zhirui’s expectations, greatly surprising him.

It even had the power of an Earth Immortal’s attack, albeit only one opportunity to wield it, which was already a formidable threat to many forces.

Unfortunately, the position of the Great Zhou Dynasty wasn’t ideal, situated between two major Heavenly Immortal Forces, with the ocean to the east. Expansion could only proceed in the northwest and southwest directions.

That day, Wei Changming, already gray-haired and seemingly nearing the end of his life, appeared outside Li Zhirui’s thatched hut.

Upon seeing him, he immediately inquired, ”State Preceptor, are you about to leave?”

”Yes.”

Li Zhirui didn’t hide the truth, knowing that there was no point in concealing matters from a smart person. Furthermore, he had revealed enough signs over the years, smiling slightly, he said, ”I suppose many of you know that I wasn’t sent by the Daqian Dynasty to spread Human Dao Methods.”

”As a carefree practitioner, the strict laws and rigorous order of a Human Dao Dynasty not only feel incompatible but create conflict.”

”Although I have utilized your ideas from the start till now, before leaving, I still offer you some advice. While expansion is the best and most effective way to strengthen your power, this path is extremely difficult for you, so you should focus on digging deep within.”

”Thank you, State Preceptor!”

Li Zhirui chuckled, shaking his head, ”After I leave, erase all traces of me. You can use this to add a layer of mystique to the royal family, claiming divine enlightenment was granted, obtaining the Human Dao Methods, and led by you founding ministers, establishing the Great Zhou Dynasty.”

After speaking, he did not wait for Wei Changming to respond, waved his hand, and sent him out.

As the Prime Minister of a nation, strengthened by Human Dao Fortune and the dynasty’s Dragon energy, Wei Changming, with power akin to an Individual Immortal, did not resist.

”It’s time to leave!”

Li Zhirui still held some affection for the Great Zhou Dynasty, but compared to that, the family was far more important.

Now that the Great Zhou Dynasty no longer needed him, on the contrary, his presence had become an obstacle.

Therefore, by sending Wei Changming to ’visit,’ ostensibly to pay respects, it was in fact a discreet reminder for him to leave sooner.

Li Zhirui needed no packing, transforming directly into a streak of Spirit Light and disappearing.

Perceiving this, Wei Changming slowly turned around, gazing at the now empty thatched hut, a complex mix of helplessness, regret, and pity clouding his features. Words caught in his throat, he eventually released a single sigh.

They ultimately were not fellow travelers on the same path.

And on the day after Li Zhirui left, the plaque of the State Preceptor’s Mansion in the Capital was immediately taken down, as it began sealing and collecting all books and writings about him.

Forcibly erasing all contributions he made for the Great Zhou Dynasty, attributing them instead to the royal family and other founding ministers.

Perhaps many still remembered Li Zhirui now, but over time, how much longer could those memories last?

After over half a year, once some internal issues were resolved, the Great Zhou Dynasty no longer concealed itself and officially emerged onto the grand stage of the Primal Spirit Realm.

Initially, cultivators did not notice because the Wan Family State remained extremely barren to them, with no cultivator willing to tread there.

Until some cultivators, chased by Water Devils, fled to the Wan Family State in a panic, feeling a strong suppression, questioned and driven away by some Human Dao Practitioners, the Great Zhou Dynasty began circulating among cultivators.

”What did you say?!”

The Sect Leader of the Cave Abyss Sect, Clan Leader of the Yumen He Family, and several small forces received the news after quite some time.

But regardless of who they were, their first reactions were shock and skepticism.

”Such a Human Dao Dynasty with a population of five to six million appeared silently right under our noses?! And before this, not a single cultivator discovered it?”

In fact, the concealment of the Human Dao Dynasty is exceptionally strong. All that is necessary to not establish a Human Dao Law Net, without in-depth investigation, it is impossible to tell if it’s a Human Dao Dynasty or merely a gathering of mortals.

And in the Spiritual Energy-poor Wan Family State, even a Loose Cultivator is unwilling to visit, so how could any cultivator be willing to venture inside to inspect the surrounding mountains?

Now the Great Zhou Dynasty holds significant strength, no longer an entity that can be easily wiped out, which is what the nearby Immortal Dao Influences find troublesome.

Due to the unwritten rules between different forces, the strongest Cave Abyss Sect and Yumen He Family could not act with their Earth Immortal Great Ability to outright destroy the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Meanwhile, other forces were not competitors and had to be on guard against their invasion.