Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1981 - 1459: Disguise_2

Truth be told, the current predicament poses a grave peril, for should the information slip out, it could readily summon a brutal onslaught from rival groups.

Without Li Zhirui's firm command over the clan and his relentless push, Li Xiuyuan along with the rest of the elders would scarcely dare such a hazardous endeavor!

His true intent behind this ploy was to lure adjacent powers into launching an assault on the Li family, enabling them to capitalize on defensive positions and the lay of the land.

Yet inexplicably, despite the covert dissemination of the intelligence by the family, no group has stirred to this point, almost as though they've pierced through his clever scheme.

Consequently, numerous family members have already settled their karmic debts and started streaming back to the ancestral lands in succession.

Under these circumstances, the odds of foes striking diminish with each passing moment.

"A blunder!" Realizing this, Li Zhirui let out an involuntary sigh.

"I hope Zhixuan is advancing without hitches."

He harbored no regrets about remaining at Mount Wanxian to lead the clan. Given the developments, it appeared he must spend merits to untangle his karma.

After all, this choice belonged to Li Zhirui himself, and merits offered little aid toward his ascension. He could instead purge the malevolent impurities hindering the realm's elevation to cleanse his outstanding karma.

His sole concern was if Li Zhixuan's ongoing efforts would grant her desires and permit her ultimate transcendence.

"Ancestor Rui!"

Right then, Li Xiuyuan hurried in with evident worry, declaring, "Word just arrived from Wanling Island: masses of Sea Clan are amassing beyond the Pearl Island Chain. It appears they're gearing up to invade the Ten Thousand Spirit Sea Area."

"Ah, so that's the case!"

Li Zhirui's face brightened as he remarked, "It's no surprise the Cave Abyss Sect held back. They must be observing the Sea Clan's moves to chart their subsequent steps."

Li Xiuyuan paused briefly. Facing such a looming catastrophe, their ancestor was fixated on unrelated matters!

Furthermore, should the Cave Abyss Sect and Sea Clan strike in tandem, the Li family would face dire straits—something to evade at all costs.

"Ancestor Rui, what's our course now?" Li Xiuyuan pressed once more, drawing his attention to the pressing crisis.

"Hasn't the family set preparations in place?"

Li Zhirui countered with a head shake. "Having gathered so many kinsmen and wandering cultivators on the Pearl Island Chain, the Sea Clan's approach is ideal—allowing a multitude to atone for their karma all at once."

Should Sea Clan powerhouses at the Heavenly Immortal Realm appear, it wouldn't signify much. Provided I stay away from the fray personally, they'd merely watch from afar—they couldn't butcher weaker cultivators unchecked.

Thus, this clash belongs to them alone. Victory or defeat rests squarely on their shoulders.

"Ancestor Rui..." Li Xiuyuan glanced up in astonishment. In usual times, he'd orchestrate such conflicts directly, yet now he acted as if relinquishing all reins?

"Proceed."

Li Zhirui offered no clarification, merely gesturing dismissively and employing mana to usher him from the cavern abode.

Though transcendence lay beyond the immediate horizon for him, fortunes in such matters proved unpredictable—perhaps unforeseen twists might compel earlier intervention.

Therefore, during his ongoing presence, he intended to delegate more responsibilities to the juniors. In case of mishaps, he might lend a hand.

Later, upon reflection, he could impart his wisdom and perspectives to steer them.

Li Xiuyuan lingered at the entrance, his mind roiling fiercely—far more intensely than upon first learning of the Sea Clan's looming assault!

Thankfully, his wits were sharp. Composing himself, he grasped the rationale for Li Zhirui's approach.

Hence, he refrained from seeking Ancestor Rui's aid anew, avoided idling there senselessly, and instead marched away to rally the kinsmen for deliberation.

Following urgent consultations, they resolved to summon ex-Clan Leader Li Hongshi to the Pearl Island Chain to oversee operations.

The rationale for selecting him included: firstly, his cultivation level sufficed—late-stage Earth Immortal, robustly potent; secondly, his past role as clan leader conferred authority to direct fellow members; thirdly, his elder status paired with prior leadership supplied ample sway to mediate any familial rifts or quarrels.

Other past leaders either fell short in cultivation prowess or had met demise or achieved Daoist enlightenment, rendering none other so fitting.

"Hongsu Ancestor, we humbly beseech your assistance in this," Li Xiuyuan conveyed with deference.

"Safeguarding the clan is my duty!" A soft smile graced Li Hongshi's lined visage.

He possessed insight into the clan's present state too. Whenever his might proved essential, he'd deploy it without a second's delay!

No delays occurred. Li Xiuyuan presented a directive akin to an official writ, which Li Hongshi received firsthand, then called forth a spirit vessel and vanished rapidly into the distant skies.

Navigating Shanhai State, he faced zero perils. After roughly half a day, he reached the site.

Bearing the command token, he seamlessly assumed command of the Pearl Island Chain, where myriad kinsmen plus wandering cultivators heeded his directives unquestioningly!

Li Hongshi's inaugural order entailed monitoring the Sea Clan's shifts and readying for combat!

The oceanic beasts of the Sea Clan, observing from a hundred miles offshore, spied the cultivators' stirrings on the island chain yet dismissed them lightly.

For everything was mere facade!

Despite the apparent massing of countless water fiends by the Sea Clan, staging an elaborate prelude to storming the Ten Thousand Spirit Sea Area, it was all pretense.

From the horde that seemed to number tens of thousands—or beyond—the true water fiends comprised under a tenth. The remainder consisted of illusory guises via hidden arts.

The Sea Clan's genuine aim was to marshal forces for reclaiming the Western Sea!

Long past, leveraging pure lotus seeds, the Sea Clan had wrested back much of the Western Sea from the Demonic Tao—lands forfeited for epochs—yet full restoration eluded them.

Subsequently, the Demonic Tao employed the Hidden Dregs Secret Technique to reclaim certain marine zones. Moreover, demon cultivators' taint left adjoining waters steeped in demonic qi for ages.

Absent the lotus seeds' cleansing essence, corruption by demonic qi would have claimed it swiftly.

Prior chances had been scarce; even amid severe casualties, recapturing the areas offered no certainty. Thus, the Sea Clan had paused their efforts temporarily.

Circumstances had shifted now: with Demonic Tao and Immortal Tao clashing ferociously, most demon cultivators surged to the vanguard—slashing defenses in the Western Sea drastically, while scant reinforcements could divert elsewhere.

This vulnerability extended beyond the Ten Thousand Spirit Sea Area to other coastal zones. The Sea Clan's bold front was but illusion!

It served as a diversion to draw eyes and sow confusion.

Yet the Li family, Cave Abyss Sect, and East Sea-adjacent powers all fell for it, dispatching cultivators and bracing for true warfare.

Soon enough, doubts crept in.

The Sea Clan loitered too prolonged nearby, exhibiting zero intent to strike.

On the Pearl Island Chain, a kinsman inquired inquisitively, "Hongsu Ancestor, might the Sea Clan harbor a scheme unknown to us?"

"Their intentions elude me as well." Li Hongshi's brow furrowed as he stared at the shadowy horde afar, his expression steeped in rumination.

The kinsman pressed on, "Shall we launch an assault? Amid our throng of kinsmen and wanderers, even beyond the Island Defense Array's shield, defeat seems unlikely."

"An offensive might work. If aught seems amiss, withdraw swiftly. I'll station kinsmen for backup en route." Pondering deeply, he endorsed the idea, though vigilance heightened markedly.

"Very well! I'll muster the kinsmen to trail me in scouting the Sea Clan."

Thus, Li Guangxing departed brimming with zeal.

Within under an hour, he'd assembled a band of kinsmen, and jointly they quitted the island chain to assail the Sea Clan preemptively!

Naturally, they shunned reckless plunges into the Sea Clan's ranks. Rather, drawing on elixirs and arcane methods, they unleashed strikes from range.

Whoosh—several streaks of spirit light tore through the sky, crashing into the beast tide.