Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1827 - 1382: Return (Part 2)

"Consequently, the Demonic Tao will lack the surplus energy to confront us for quite some time."

While these remarks did alleviate the stress and apprehension gripping the Elders, they were not met with immediate consensus. One person quickly countered, "But this strategy offers no gain to the clan! Instead, it seems to invite one calamity after another."

The mass exodus of Loose Cultivators and vassal groups from Shanhai State would surely cause the family’s future revenue to crater. Furthermore, if this detrimental situation isn't corrected promptly, the consequences could linger for an age!

After all, rival powers will undoubtedly capitalize on this perfect chance, using every tactic—like slashing rental prices for Cave Mansions—to lure them away permanently.

"No! This isn't a setback; on the contrary, it will catalyze the clan's growth."

Li Liangxiang shook his head, his expression grave as he spoke, "You might have missed it, but our population has become far too large. It won't be long before we hit the absolute capacity of our territory."

"With so many Loose Cultivators departing, it is actually the ideal moment to restructure and establish additional family residences."

Had Da Qing not highlighted this to him, the thought would never have crossed Li Liangxiang’s mind!

He wasn't alone; many had overlooked the critical issue of the clan territory's carrying capacity.

Given that Mount Wanxian possesses a Human Immortal Rank Spirit Vein along with several Loose Immortal Grade Spirit Veins, most people simply couldn't fathom the population ever exhausting the Spirit Vein's limits.

In the entire Li family, perhaps only Xiaoqing had monitored this matter, creating a scenario where the family could expand their residences without incurring significant costs.

Had those Loose Cultivators remained in Shanhai State, the family would have been forced to find ways to evict them, likely at great expense. Now, the mass departure of Loose Cultivators had spared them that financial burden.

Once the situation was clarified, the Elders' irritation vanished instantly. It was replaced by a sense of embarrassment; they realized that while they were tasked with the family's oversight, they had missed a vital issue that Spirit Ancestor Qingpeng had already resolved.

After dismissing the group, Li Liangxiang sat back and began to ponder a single problem—how to curb the expansion rate of the clan members!

This dilemma had plagued the family for many years.

As the family prospers and following the Primal Spirit Realm's ascension, the increasingly potent Spiritual Energy has caused more and more newborns to be born with Spiritual Roots in their lineage.

Because the Li family is an entity defined by bloodlines and family ties, rather than a Sect based on the master-disciple bond, they cannot simply forbid a relative from seeking Cultivation just because their talent is lackluster.

The inevitable result is an explosion in the number of clan members!

While they can currently ease the burden on Mount Wanxian by constructing new housing, this is merely a stopgap. They cannot simply build indefinitely every time the pressure becomes unbearable, can they?

How much land does Shanhai State truly have?

Thus, a fundamental solution must be discovered to rectify this problem and halt the cycle.

...

At the same time.

Far across the West Continent, at Rahu Demon Mountain!

Boom boom boom——

A string of sharp, shattering noises rang out across the mountain for thirty seconds before falling silent.

The depth of their rage was easy to envision!

"That cursed Li family! To think they would insult us so, dragging our honor through the dirt and stomping on it! I want them wiped from the face of the Primal Spirit Realm!"

"No! Such a fate is too kind. They should be forced to beg for life in vain and pray for death in vain! Only by subjecting them to eternal agony, a fate worse than death, can my fury be appeased!"

"I want disciples mobilized immediately to show them our power!"

The mental fortitude and Qi cultivation discipline of Demon Cultivators are inferior to those of righteous Cultivators. Furthermore, having suffered such shame at the hands of a 'minor' Heavenly Immortal Family, they were unable to contain their internal rage.

They roared in anger; had a member of the Li Clan been present, they would have been slaughtered a thousand times over!

Yet, a few among the crowd managed to keep their wits.

"In our current state, we cannot spare much strength. The Immortal Tao, the Sea Clan, and the Devil Race are all watching us like predators. The moment we display any vulnerability, those three will surely strike with total ruthlessness to settle old scores!" a Demon Cultivator cautioned.

However, another Demon Cultivator immediately retorted with a sneer, "Are you suggesting we simply ignore this blatant disrespect?"

"Precisely! How much of our strength could a mere Li family possibly drain? As long as they draw breath, we live in shadow of this disgrace!"

Seeing the mood, the first Demon Cultivator fell silent. What else could be said? Privately, however, he held little confidence in this course of action.

But before they could make a move, they found themselves besieged!

It appeared as if the Sea Clan and the Devil Race had coordinated their efforts, launching an assault on the same day and hour!

These two factions are notorious throughout the world for their sheer numbers, and this offensive was no different. Over a million Devil Beasts and Sea Clan warriors surged from the south and west toward the West Continent.

Like a colossal tide, they consumed everything in their path; any Demonic Tao forces attempting a defense were slaughtered and turned into corpses.

To make matters worse, reports soon arrived that the Immortal Tao was also mobilizing for war!

Confronted by such overwhelming foes, the Demonic Tao completely set aside their grudge against the Li family. They focused entirely on surviving this massive life-and-death crisis before they could worry about anything else.

The West Continent, once suppressed and silent, suddenly became a hive of activity.

Yet, this was no joyful energy; it was an atmosphere thick with the scent of blood, slaughter, and the chaotic noise of impending death!

As word of the conflict between the Demonic Tao and the alliance of the Devil Race, Sea Clan, and Immortal Tao spread, many Loose Cultivators near Shanhai State finally understood.

The Li family's previous maneuvers weren't random; they had been calculated all along.

A wave of deep regret followed. In their rush to flee Shanhai State, many had sold their leased Cave Mansions and Spirit Fields for a pittance, losing a fortune in Spirit Stones!

Meanwhile, the harsh local regulations and various penalties in their new locations made them pine for the relative freedom of Shanhai State even more.

Regrettably, because they had signed long-term leases for Cave Mansions at high prices, they couldn't just leave. Unless they were willing to forfeit the Spirit Stones paid for the rent, they were stuck for the foreseeable future.

During this time, the Li family ignored the regrets of those Loose Cultivators, concentrating solely on the rapid completion of their new residences.

...

While these events unfolded in various lands.

Still within the Void Chaos, deep in secluded cultivation to refine his techniques, Li Zhirui remained entirely unaware that the Primal Spirit Realm had faced a massive disaster or that his family had clashed with Demon Cultivators.

Because the surrounding chaos was exceptionally still, his meditation had remained uninterrupted. He had lost all track of time.

However, such deep, immersive seclusion yielded great rewards!

Specifically, the Chaos God Demon Dao Body Method he had been striving for was finally derived and perfected.

Nevertheless, this cultivation path had its own requirements, demanding at least a Heavenly Immortal Perfection level and a physical form robust enough to endure the crushing weight of Chaotic Spiritual Energy.

Consequently, in addition to his daily Law comprehension and Mana gathering, Li Zhirui now had to dedicate time to tempering his physical body for his eventual transformation.

"Time truly escapes one! More than a thousand years have passed in a heartbeat."

Li Zhirui quietly tallied the years in his mind and couldn't help but sigh. He had been completely oblivious to the passing centuries.

"It is time I return to see how the clan has progressed."

With those words, Li Zhirui’s form flickered and vanished.

The dull, grey void was momentarily illuminated by a spark of greenish-blue Spirit Light, which vanished just as quickly as it appeared.

His place of seclusion was not far from the Primal Spirit Realm, so the journey home would not be long.