Clan Cultivation: Starting with Building an Island Immortal City

20: The first signs of divine magic appeared, and the young man was filled with longing.The next morning, before dawn, the air was bone-chilling.

Li Yinglong stood outside the temporary camp, his gaze sweeping over the ten youths before him, who still looked weary.

A night of rest hadn’t completely washed away the fear and exhaustion they experienced yesterday, but deep in their eyes, a hint of resilience and vigilance had emerged.

”Follow me.”

Without extra admonitions or comforting words, Li Yinglong spoke concisely and turned to walk towards the majestic volcano in the center of the island.

Li Qingzhu silently followed, her green robe swaying slightly.

The group dared not ask more, suppressing their doubts, and followed closely behind.

The mountain path was far more rugged and difficult than they had imagined.

The volcanic rock, weathered over the years, was loose and slippery, with no discernible path.

The cold wind of late autumn swept in from the sea, unobstructed, across the ridge, biting and icy, making their clothes flap and almost knocking them off their feet.

The youths had to use both hands and feet to climb with difficulty; from time to time, someone would slip, breaking into a cold sweat, only managing to regain their footing thanks to a timely pull from a companion.

Even so, after climbing merely a hundred zhang, everyone was panting, the meager Internal Energy within them significantly depleted, forcing them to grit their teeth and endure.

The higher they climbed, the fiercer the wind and the heavier the cold.

However, when they finally ascended the last steep slope and stepped onto the rim of the volcano, the expected biting cold wind did not materialize.

It was as if they had stepped into another world.

A gentle warmth enveloped them, instantly dispelling the chill from their bodies.

The air was filled with a faint scent of sulfur and a refreshing aroma that uplifted the spirit.

Beneath their feet was solid black volcanic rock, embracing a lake as deep as ink and as smooth as a mirror.

The lake surface was shrouded in faint white mist, making the opposite shore appear slightly hazy.

There was no wind here; it was exceptionally quiet.

The temperature was pleasant, neither cold nor hot.

It was a world of difference from the harsh conditions they experienced while climbing.

”Oh... so comfortable...”

Li Changxue couldn’t help but sigh softly, taking a deep breath, feeling a cool sensation permeate her heart and lungs, as if the fatigue of the past few days had lessened somewhat.

The other youths also looked surprised, curiously surveying this strange place, the inexplicable sense of peace in their hearts growing clearer.

”Clan Chief, this place is...”

Li Changyu, unable to contain his curiosity, cupped his hands and asked.

The environment here was unique, far from being a simple natural formation.

Li Yinglong stood by the lake with his hands behind his back, his gaze profound, staring at the calm lake surface, a hint of barely concealed excitement and emotion flashing in his eyes.

He slowly spoke, his voice clearly reaching everyone’s ears:

”This place is the starting point of our Li Family’s dream, and also... the place where your destinies will be rewritten.”

Everyone was startled by his words, their faces showing confusion.

Dreams? Destiny? These words were too grand, making them difficult to comprehend at once.

Li Yinglong did not explain directly, instead turning to Li Qingzhu beside him:

”Qingzhu, let them see.”

”Yes, Uncle.”

Li Qingzhu nodded slightly, stepped forward, and faced the group:

”My nephews and nieces, watch carefully.”

As her voice fell, her Aura suddenly changed!

A soft and pure pale green light slowly emanated from her body, swirling around her, making her appear like a Fairy in the forest, untainted by dust.

The light flowed erratically, containing a power they couldn’t understand but instinctively revered.

The ten youths immediately held their breath, not knowing why, yet firmly captivated by the strange sight.

Before they could voice their questions, Li Qingzhu lightly tapped her toe, her figure gracefully leaping towards the lake surface like a startled swan!

”Aunt Qingzhu, be careful!”

Li Changyun instinctively cried out in alarm; the lake was bottomless, how could she stand on it?

However, the next moment, a scene they would never forget occurred.

Li Qingzhu’s feet landed steadily on the surface of the lake, about three zhang from the shore.

Beneath her feet, the lake surface rippled slightly, and a faint blue halo silently spread out, as if an invisible force was supporting her.

She stood quietly upon the vast expanse of blue water, her robes fluttering, her demeanor serene, as if she were treading not on water, but on solid ground.

”This... this...”

Everyone pointed at the lake, dumbfounded.

All the youths’ minds went blank.

The sight before them completely overturned their understanding of more than ten years!

How could a person stand on water?!

Lightness Martial Skill could allow one to skim across water or walk on floating objects, but it was absolutely impossible to stand still like this.

Before their shock subsided, Li Qingzhu made another move.

She slowly raised her right arm, palm upwards, fingers slightly spread, and gently beckoned towards the lake below.

In an instant, the lake surface surged!

A clear mass of lake water seemed to be grasped by an invisible hand, rising slowly from the lake surface.

The water gathered and swirled about a foot above her palm, eventually condensing into a fist-sized, crystal-clear, smooth water sphere, suspended silently.

Sunlight passed through the water sphere, refracting dazzling colors, illuminating Li Qingzhu’s calm face and the youths’ expressions of utter horror.

Controlling water! Controlling water out of thin air!

This was no longer within the realm of Martial Skill; it was almost a miracle!

The water sphere slowly rotated in her palm, as if possessing life, docile and agile.

Li Qingzhu’s gaze swept over the completely petrified group on the shore, then she gently flipped her wrist.

The water sphere floated lightly upwards, moving about a zhang above their heads, then quietly burst.

It transformed into countless fine, cool water mists, falling like spring rain, gently sprinkling on everyone’s hair, cheeks, and clothes.

The icy touch struck them, and everyone shivered in unison, as if forcibly awakened from a bizarre dream.

After a brief moment of dead silence, there was an explosion of fervor and incredulous gasps!

”Immortal... Immortal Arts?! Is this Immortal Arts?!”

Li Changyu was the first to cry out, his usual composure completely gone, his face filled with shock and bewilderment.

”Aunt Qingzhu! How... how did you do that?!”

Li Changyun’s voice trembled with excitement, his gaze fixed on Li Qingzhu, who still stood on the lake.

”I’m not dreaming, am I? Stone Iron Pillar, hit me!”

Li Changxuan suddenly grabbed Stone Iron Pillar’s arm beside him.

Stone Iron Pillar didn’t make a move this time; his honest face was simply blank, and he muttered:

”It’s real... the water... the water flew up by itself...”

Even Li Changxing, the most silent and introverted, looked up, letting the mist dampen his cheeks, his eyes filled with unprecedented longing and confusion.

Everyone excitedly gathered by the lake, asking Li Qingzhu questions all at once, the scene becoming somewhat chaotic.

At this moment, Family rules, Clan Chief’s authority—all were temporarily cast aside, overwhelmed by this phenomenon that defied common sense.

Li Qingzhu did not answer, but merely smiled slightly, slowly walking towards the shore, step by step.

With each step, a faint blue light shimmered beneath her feet, like a Buddha’s lotus steps.

She slowly walked up, returning to Li Yinglong’s side, the light around her body receding, returning to normal.

All eyes instantly refocused on Li Yinglong.

Li Yinglong did not scold them for their loss of composure; he simply waited quietly.

As his gaze swept over them, the clamor naturally subsided.

The youths tried to calm their heavy breathing, looking at him eagerly, awaiting an answer.

”It seems you all have a guess.”

Li Yinglong finally spoke, his voice seemingly carrying immense weight:

”Indeed, this is not a Martial Skill, nor is it a trick. What your Aunt Qingzhu just performed is the most rudimentary method of Five Elements Spiritual Qi control.”

”By refining one’s own Spiritual Qi and drawing upon the Five Elements power of the heavens, one can attack, defend, control objects, and prolong life... This is—the Dao of Cultivation!”

”Cultivation...”

These two words, like a thunderclap from the Nine Heavens, struck heavily into the heart of every youth, stirring up monstrous waves!

The legendary Immortal fate? The Dao of longevity? The power to move mountains and overturn seas? These ethereal matters, which only existed in strange tales and ancient legends, were actually real?

And they were happening so realistically before their eyes, appearing on their most revered Clan Chief and this young Aunt Qingzhu?!

The immense shock caused everyone to fall into a daze again, looking at each other, seeing incredible astonishment and bewilderment in each other’s eyes.

Li Yinglong took in their reactions and continued:

”I, and your Aunt Qingzhu, are both Cultivators. The strange beasts you encountered yesterday, and the unique environment here, are all due to evolution after being nourished by Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.”

”And our Li Family, from me onwards, will no longer be a mundane Martial Cultivator Family.”

His voice suddenly rose, and a majestic Aura swept forth like a tide:

”What you will cultivate from now on will also not be mundane Martial Skills, but precisely the foundational work for the early stages of this Cultivation method!”

As his voice fell, it was like a massive stone plunging into a deep pool.

After a brief, extreme silence, the crowd completely erupted!

”We... we can learn it too?!”

Li Changxuan’s face was flushed with excitement.

”Cultivation... the Li Family is a Cultivation Family?!”

Li Changyu muttered to himself, his eyes bursting with unprecedented brilliance, instantly understanding the profound meaning behind the Clan Chief’s previous arrangements, his heart pounding uncontrollably.

Stone Iron Pillar suddenly thumped his own chest, emitting a muffled thud, then grinned widely, exclaiming in ecstasy:

”It’s true! It’s not a dream! I, Stone Iron Pillar, can also become a Cultivator!”

This roar was like lighting a fuse, and a tidal wave of excitement instantly swept over all the youths.

Joy, disbelief, infinite longing for the future... all sorts of emotions violently impacted their hearts; everyone trembled with excitement, some even weeping with joy.

Li Yinglong smiled, quietly watching these youths and maidens, unable to contain their excitement, as if seeing his own shock when he first heard of the Immortal Dao, and also seeing the Li Family’s future, stumbling yet firm, on this magnificent Dao.

The door to the Immortal Path had, with a boom, opened before them.