Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1997 - 1467: Formation Array (2)

To address this matter, the Sect Leader himself made visits to these elders, questioning their refusal to face Tribulation Transcendence and achieve a breakthrough.

Certain ones claimed a bottleneck was blocking them; others insisted their preparations fell short. He managed to accept these justifications, since they at least sounded reasonable.

Yet some even admitted they dreaded failing the Tribulation and facing the utter obliteration of body and soul, leaving them unwilling to attempt transcendence!

Hearing such words from them, the Sect Leader's rage flared up immediately, urging him to rebuke them fiercely. In the end, though, he held his tongue, stumbling away while radiating profound sorrow and despair—nothing hits harder than a will that's completely broken.

How had the Cave Abyss Sect sunk to such a state of stagnation and lack of drive, where even seasoned Earth Immortals would express such fearfulness?

Brooding over this dilemma, he remained solitary in the Sect Hall for a complete day and night, but discovered no resolution—though perhaps inwardly, he already grasped the truth.

However, when he stepped out once more, he looked considerably older, far more weary and drained.

Actually, the challenges confronting the Cave Abyss Sect at present plague numerous elite organizations. A few manage to surmount them and ascend to superior stages.

Those unable to overcome might sustain their might and standing for extended periods, yet ultimately, downfall becomes inevitable!

The Sect Leader's intense worry arose in part from his profound obligation and devotion to the sect—he simply couldn't endure witnessing its gradual decline.

The other factor connected to the Li family in the nearby region—observing their explosive growth while his own sect idled, unease naturally swelled within him.

...

In a far-flung section of the cosmos, an abrupt blast rang through.

Li Zhixuan stepped out looking somewhat rumpled from the asteroid. Back then, severe injuries had forced her to conceal herself inside it for recovery.

Thankfully, good fortune had smiled on her during these years—the asteroid meandered across the stars, steering clear of conflict zones or their repercussions, granting her sufficient time to recuperate.

Having undergone over a century of healing, the wound wasn't entirely mended, but it no longer restricted her actions, prompting her to head back to Mount Wanxian and resume treatment at her home.

Gaining her direction, Li Zhixuan launched forth resolutely toward the family grounds.

Following a stretch of rapid soaring, she made it back to the family without hitches. Her initial intent was to retreat into her cave mansion for secluded practice, yet she unexpectedly ran into Li Zhirui in the vicinity.

'Jiu,' she called out.

'You've finally come back.'

Though her Life Token stayed intact, countless years had slipped by since the great catastrophe concluded with no trace of Li Zhixuan's whereabouts—he found it impossible not to fret.

She had ventured into the Immortal Demon Battlefield aiming to settle every bit of her karma before transcending further, explaining her fervent and voluntary role in that disaster.

Consequently, slaying a single Heavenly Immortal wouldn't satisfy her; a second, third, and additional ones were bound to follow!

No matter Li Zhixuan's formidable prowess or the numerous clashes she endured, she wasn't untouchable. Surely, she'd clash with peers of equal strength, and in those instances, emerging unscathed would demand a heavy toll.

Regarding Li Zhirui's presence here at this moment, it stemmed not from any intentional vigil; regardless of his deep concerns, he wouldn't resort to that, and foreseeing her arrival was beyond him. It was sheer happenstance.

Subsequently, the pair withdrew into Li Zhixuan's cave mansion, where Li Zhirui queried, 'How did it go? Have you resolved your karma?'

'Almost,' she responded.

Had she eliminated merely two or three additional Earth Immortals at that juncture, the karma might have been wholly dispelled. Yet she was already critically hurt; battling was out of the question, as she fought just to remain awake.

Hence, she reluctantly abandoned a sliver of merit incomplete, failing to accomplish it all at once.

Still, it amounted to little; Li Zhixuan could readily address it through alternative approaches.

'Are you planning to begin your transcendence once your injuries are healed?' Li Zhirui inquired without delay.

'Yes.'

Li Zhixuan nodded promptly, without a second thought. 'As for what little karma remains, I'll simply use merit to offset it.'

Impatience had already taken hold of her. From the moment she advanced to Heavenly Immortal, she hadn't immersed herself in cultivation for any prolonged span, leaving her progress entirely stagnant.

Upon transcending, she could pursue cultivation straight within the Void, pushing toward even loftier realms.

'Very well. When you're about to transcend, remember to let me know,' Li Zhirui abruptly cautioned her.

'Of course! After all, Jiu, you'll eventually transcend as well.' Li Zhixuan answered nonchalantly, giving it no further consideration.

'In that case, I won't disturb you.'

With those words, he deposited a handful of healing pill bottles and departed.

Li Zhirui had meant to transcend in the near future, meaning he ought to commence preparations now, but he refrained from any action.

This very inaction betrayed his lingering inner doubt.

Prior to Jiang Fengwu's breakthrough to Heavenly Immortal, he had fretted that his transcendence would leave the family with only Li Mingyao as the lone Heavenly Immortal guardian.

Now, with Li Zhixuan's return, she could pioneer the attempt. He could study her journey and glean insights from her trials.

Meanwhile, within the cave mansion belonging to the family's other Heavenly Immortal practitioner—

'Ancestor Fengwu, the family has a request of you.' No sooner had Jiang Fengwu concluded her seclusion than Li Xiuyuan hastened to meet her.

'What is it?' She had in fact already anticipated the family's ask.

With titans such as Li Zhirui and Li Zhixuan present, assignments like enemy slaying or revenge pursuits wouldn't be directed her way, leaving only Mount Wanxian's safeguards.

'We ask Ancestor to set up a Heavenly Immortal-level grand mountain-guarding formation for the family.'

With these words, he offered a profound bow to Jiang Fengwu.

'This is not a difficult matter.'

She had long since amassed diverse materials intended for bolstering the mountain-guarding formation.

Therefore, she merely had to proceed, expend immense spiritual assets, and ultimately forge a Heavenly Immortal-level mountain-guarding formation.

'Then we'll leave this to you, Ancestor!'

Li Xiuyuan clutched a token symbolizing the family's reserves, adding, 'If Ancestor needs any spiritual materials, you can use this token to obtain them from the storehouse directly.'

'No need for that!' Even Jiang Fengwu was taken aback by this, unprepared for the family's lavish support.

A choice of this weight couldn't have originated solely from Li Xiuyuan.

'There's no need to decline, Ancestor—I just hope you can finish upgrading the mountain-guarding formation as quickly as possible.'

Given his phrasing, she saw no point in further refusal.

After his exit, Jiang Fengwu secluded herself anew to refine the formation's design.

She already possessed an impeccable strategy for enhancing it, but earlier her cultivation level proved inadequate—numerous elements remained incomplete, insufficiently pondered, barring a flawless elevation to Heavenly Immortal tier.

Thus, she dedicated several decades to scrutinizing the blueprint thoroughly. Once assured of its soundness, she rallied the entire cadre of family formation experts to aid in its refinement.

Faced with such an invaluable chance to study, no one demurred. They all dove in with enthusiasm.

Jiang Fengwu held nothing back either; empowered by Li Xiuyuan's token, she fully leveraged it to fortify the array and hoist it to Heavenly Immortal grade posthaste.

Consequently, she extracted abundant scarce spiritual resources from the family depots, focusing on astral substances, deploying every bit to consummate and advance the formation.

Jiang Fengwu's endeavors did ignite some unrest within the clan—certain members accused her of exploiting her position for selfish ends.

Li Xiuyuan, however, stamped out all such dissent. Should any overstep, he'd command their brief confinement in the dungeon.

A few elders deemed his response excessive; the clansfolk were only airing minor grievances, not meriting incarceration.

Upon encountering these views, Li Xiuyuan dismissed them as myopic—blind to the clan's expansive destiny.

The ancestors Li Zhirui and Li Zhixuan—one had already pinned down a firm schedule for transcendence, potentially within the forthcoming century, while the other lately displayed greater inclination toward the prospect, unlike prior times when it lingered as a mere whim.