Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1828 - 1383: Earth Element

Upon stepping back into the Primal Spirit Realm, Li Zhirui’s brow furrowed involuntarily as he whispered to himself, "The spiritual energy within the Primal Spirit Realm ought to be growing more concentrated by now. Yet, compared to a millennium ago, why has it diminished instead of increasing? Furthermore..."

"Why does a trace of polluted air seem to drift between heaven and earth?"

This situation was far too bizarre!

Driven by the need to uncover the truth, he accelerated his pace, flying rapidly toward Mount Wanxian.

Throughout his swift flight, Li Zhirui’s expression remained tense. He had initially hoped this phenomenon was merely a localized anomaly, but he soon realized that this polluted air permeated the entirety of the Primal Spirit Realm!

The moment he arrived at Mount Wanxian, he sought out Li Liangxiang immediately. "What events transpired in the Primal Spirit Realm during my absence?" he demanded. "Why is there a faint polluted air lingering throughout the world?"

"Ancestor Rui!"

Li Liangxiang rose at once to offer his respects before addressing the query. "Several years ago, the Demonic Tao employed a clandestine technique across the East Continent, Western Sea, and Southern Domain. It was designed to rapidly corrupt the Spirit Veins and the environment, but the crisis was already neutralized by Sheng Ancestor and Shuo Ancestor."

"Could there be some hidden, lingering threats?"

Had Li Zhirui not mentioned it, Li Liangxiang would have assumed the matter was settled; after all, in the eyes of the public, the problem had been fully rectified.

But now, it appeared the situation might be far more complex than they assumed.

A sense of dread washed over Li Liangxiang. He feared this issue might ignite fresh chaos, and worse, the Li family being the first to detect it would thrust them directly into a dangerous spotlight.

"I cannot say for certain what is happening yet. I must investigate the situation personally first."

Before his voice had even faded, Li Zhirui vanished from the great hall.

"Sigh!"

Watching him go, Li Liangxiang let out a weary sigh. Regardless of the circumstances, they could only await his return before further discussion.

After departing from the family hall, Li Zhirui made a beeline for the Spirit Vein of Mount Wanxian.

"Ancestor Rui!"

Before he could begin his inspection, Li Mingyao materialized at his side, his voice full of excitement. "You have returned?"

"Yes."

Li Zhirui gave a curt nod in response. He then focused entirely on extending his Spiritual Soul, meticulously probing the depths of the Spirit Vein to assess its health.

After a moment, Li Zhirui’s frown deepened. "No irregularities?"

"Ancestor Rui, is something the matter?"

"I will explain later. For now, lead me to the Spirit Vein that was previously tainted by the Demon Cultivator."

Though confused, Li Mingyao obeyed without question. He immediately channeled his Divine Power, pulling both of them deep into the earth.

In less than half an hour, they stood before a Spirit Vein.

Li Zhirui swept his Divine Sense through it, searching every inch with extreme care, yet his grim expression did not soften.

"Take me to the next Spirit Vein."

"Understood!"

Over the next several hours, they inspected five or six different Spirit Veins. Each time, the result was identical; not a single trace of corruption could be found.

"How strange! If the corruption within the Spirit Veins was purged entirely, then where is this faint polluted air in the atmosphere coming from?"

Li Zhirui muttered to himself, lost in thought. He had completely forgotten about Li Mingyao, who was standing nearby, visibly startled by these words.

Years had passed—could there truly be some lingering aftermath?

"If the Spirit Veins are not the source, then there is only one other possibility!" Li Zhirui seemed to reach a conclusion, his face turning incredibly dark.

Li Mingyao asked softly, "Ancestor Rui, what have you found?"

"Let us return to the family. I will reveal everything then."

Despite his burning curiosity, Li Mingyao could only follow orders. He sent word ahead to Li Liangxiang, requesting that several Elders be gathered to ensure no time was wasted.

By the time the two reached the family hall at Mount Wanxian, Da Qing, Xiaoqing, and several others had already arrived.

"Jiu/Ancestor Rui!"

With a wave of his hand, Li Zhirui signaled for everyone to be seated. "What I am about to say is currently just a theory and has not been proven. Do not let a word of this spread outside these walls."

"We understand!"

Since only a select few Elders had been summoned, the group was small and comprised entirely of those who were above suspicion.

"You might have failed to notice, but there is a subtle polluted air constantly drifting between heaven and earth. Initially, it may not seem to affect a person, but over time, as one absorbs vast quantities of spiritual energy, a significant amount of this pollution will build up within the body!"

Li Zhirui spoke with grave intensity. "This will not only make breaking through to higher realms more difficult, but it will also leave one vulnerable to inner demons, potentially leading them to fall into the Demonic Tao!"

The room fell into a shocked silence. Did this not mean their already arduous path of Cultivation had become even more treacherous?

However, in Li Zhirui’s eyes, these personal setbacks were not the primary concern. The real danger was that this polluted air would hinder the natural progression of the world itself, placing an immense burden on the Primal Spirit Realm.

While solutions existed for the former, there was little that could be done to save the world from the latter.

"What exactly is happening? Didn't Cheng Sheng and Cheng Shuo purge the corruption from the Spirit Veins? Why does this polluted air still exist?" Xiaoqing asked immediately.

"Who told you that polluted air can only originate from a Spirit Vein?"

Li Zhirui looked at their confused faces and shook his head. "The Earth Core and the world's foundation are the true primary sources of spiritual energy."

Hearing this, the realization dawned on them. Many believed that spiritual energy was generated solely by Spirit Veins, but that was a misconception.

No matter the rank of a Spirit Vein, its influence is localized. Yet, spiritual energy exists throughout the vast Primal Spirit Realm, even in places where no Spirit Vein can be found.