Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1831 - 1384: Slow Progress (Part 2)

The pair arrived at the Guest Welcoming Hall shortly thereafter.

Because Li Zhirui had not yet made his appearance, Li Mingyao and Li Liangxiang were left to entertain Tubo. They offered him various precious Spiritual Objects to sample, ensuring he remained occupied and did not grow restless while waiting.

After approximately half an incense stick of time, Li Zhirui arrived. With a look of slight regret, he greeted them, "I apologize for making you wait."

His aura remained somewhat turbulent, a clear sign that he had traveled here with great urgency.

"It is of no consequence. Your steadfast commitment to your spiritual cultivation is truly commendable," Tubo answered graciously. Since he was the one seeking a favor and the wait had been brief, he took no offense.

"If there are no other pressing matters, would you accompany me to pay your respects to the Earth Element Lady?"

"Very well, I am grateful for your guidance."

Li Zhirui refrained from addressing him as "Fellow Daoist." Even though they both resided in the realm of Heavenly Immortals, the disparity in their actual power was uncertain, and he felt that maintaining proper respect was the wiser course.

"Then let us depart."

As the two of them soared away from Mount Wanxian, Tubo suddenly spoke:

"Fellow Daoist, please do not struggle against this force."

The moment the words left his lips, he grabbed Li Zhirui, and they vanished instantly.

Space shifted abruptly. Feeling the surrounding atmosphere turn frigid, Li Zhirui realized they had entered the Netherworld.

Following another brief span of travel, they reached the deepest recesses of the Underworld, stopping before a simple, unassuming courtyard.

Squeak—

Without a word being spoken, the master of the courtyard sensed their arrival. The door swung open, and a voice invited them: "Please, young friend, enter so we may speak."

Without pausing, Li Zhirui stepped inside and offered a respectful bow. "Junior offers greetings to the Earth Element Lady."

"There is no need for such ceremony."

Before he could fully descend into his bow, the Earth Element Lady supported him with an invisible force. She spoke softly, "The reason I have summoned you so suddenly is that your theories have proven correct. The Earth Core is suffering from severe pollution, which now threatens the Earth Core itself."

"Regrettably, I do not specialize in this specific Path and fear to act without precision. That is why I have requested your assistance."

As the preeminent Earth God and Yin God, the Earth Element Lady possessed knowledge of many Laws, the Purification Principle among them.

However, it was not her primary focus. Her mastery over it was not profound, making her hesitant to intervene personally for fear of a mistake.

"Junior's strength is modest; I cannot promise that I can fully purge the pollution from the Earth Core," Li Zhirui stated, choosing his words with caution.

He had confidence in his skills, yet he had never dealt with the Earth Core before and possessed no certainty of success.

Furthermore, this was the vital core of the entire world. If he failed or caused damage, the resulting Karmic Force would be catastrophic!

"Simply do your best, young friend. Even if success eludes you, the fault will not be yours. I shall take the responsibility for the outcome myself," the Earth Element Lady said, sensing his trepidation and offering her word.

Li Zhirui was moved by her words. He had not expected such a Great God to possess such a profound sense of duty.

She was willing to risk her own standing for the sake of the world.

Maintaining his composure, he replied, "I shall give my all to this task."

"Do you require a moment to recover your strength?" the Earth Element Lady asked, gently changing the subject to ease his stress.

"I thank the Lady for her kindness. I am prepared; let us examine the state of the Earth Core first."

"Very well."

The Earth Element Lady reached out with a jade-like hand, wrapping Li Zhirui in a power as stable and heavy as the Earth itself, leading him down into the depths.

The world around them grew darker until all light vanished. As they descended further, the fiery glow of magma appeared, accompanied by a blistering heat.

Eventually, they reached a place of absolute darkness and crushing pressure!

Had the Earth Element Lady not shielded him from the brunt of the weight, Li Zhirui’s physical body would have been crushed instantly.

In the void of darkness, time became impossible to track. After what felt like an eternity, they came to a halt.

In that moment, Li Zhirui felt a chill run down his spine. He sensed a lethal, primordial threat nearby, as if a single wrong thought would lead to his total destruction.

"Stay calm. This is a Restriction placed here by the Heavenly Dao. Though you are not a Divine, you possess significant Merit. This force will recognize that and recede shortly."

Just as she predicted, the oppressive force soon faded away.

However, Li Zhirui was acutely aware that it had merely retreated into the shadows, ready to strike if he showed any ill intent.

"Join me in prayer to the Heavenly Dao to declare our purpose here!"

The Earth Element Lady produced several long, golden incense sticks. She handed three to him. He ignited them with his Mana and began to pray with solemn reverence.

Li Zhirui followed her lead immediately, terrified of making a mistake, as his very life hung in the balance.

Wisps of blue smoke drifted upward. Once the incense had burned down, the feeling of rejection from the environment softened, allowing Li Zhirui to finally breathe easier under the immense pressure of the location.

"The Earth Core and Earth Core serve as the foundation of our world; their significance is absolute. I trust you understand the gravity of this," the Earth Element Lady’s soft voice helped soothe his lingering anxiety.

"Junior understands."

"Good. Let us proceed."

After navigating through numerous Restrictions, Li Zhirui finally laid eyes on the protected Earth Core. It appeared as a simple, almost mundane mound of earth, which left him feeling slightly underwhelmed.

But he pushed the thought aside and focused his senses, identifying the tainted regions within the Earth Core to prepare his Purification Principle.

Under her direction, he located the first patch of corruption. He gathered the power of the Purification Principle in his palm until a radiant white light formed, which he then carefully applied to the taint.

Suddenly, the pollution lashed out in a counterattack!

A thin black vein of corruption, acting like a hidden viper, struck at the approaching Purification Spirit Light, attempting to corrupt the light itself.

Instead of being alarmed, Li Zhirui felt a sense of relief. He noticed that where the black line touched his Purification Spirit Light, it began to dissolve, however slightly.

The progress was infinitesimal, but it was there.

Nevertheless, he realized that a total cleansing would be a grueling process.

The best way to handle such a stubborn, rootless toxin was to steadily wear it down until it could be eradicated entirely.

That became Li Zhirui’s strategy.

It was a slow method, but it was the safest. He used his Purification Spirit Light to encase the black vein completely, ensuring that the struggle between the two forces would not damage the Earth Core.

He kept in mind that the Earth Core was linked to the entire Primal Spirit Realm. Any disturbance here would manifest in the world above!

Consequently, Li Zhirui avoided any aggressive techniques, fearing that a sudden shock to the Earth Core might cause a catastrophe and kill countless innocent beings.

He could not afford to take on such a massive burden of Karma!

While safe, this approach was incredibly draining, demanding a vast amount of time, Mana, and Spiritual Soul strength.

As a result, the purification moved at a snail's pace. After cleansing only a few veins of corruption, he was forced to stop and recover his energy.

The Earth Element Lady did not rush him. She stood nearby in silence, allowing him to work at his own pace.

Yet, as Li Zhirui worked, the Primal Spirit Realm began to respond to his efforts!

Across the world, the ground would occasionally emit a sudden, brilliant glow. Many cultivators rushed to these sites, thinking ancient treasures had surfaced, only to find nothing.

Once the light faded, nothing remained but the faint, lingering scent of fresh lotuses drifting across the earth.