Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 2 Crisis

While Li Zhirui was focused on nurturing his Spiritual Medicine, the Li family’s high-ranking members convened in a secluded chamber to deliberate on a crisis that threatened the clan's very existence!

“Fifth brother, please inform everyone of the intelligence you have gathered,” Li Shiqing, the Li family patriarch, commanded with a grim expression.

The Li family currently possessed three Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Li Shiqing, the clan leader, held the highest cultivation at the late stage of Foundation Establishment. He was supported by Li Shiren and Li Shiting, both at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, serving as the Law Enforcement Elder and Transmission Elder respectively.

Beyond these leaders, the Bailang Li family consisted of over fifty Qi Cultivators and a secular population exceeding one hundred thousand clansmen.

The "Fifth Brother" addressed by Li Shiqing was Li Shize. Though he was an aging Qi Cultivator with less than a decade of life remaining, he occupied the vital role of External Affairs Elder.

Essentially, the External Affairs Elder acted as the Li family’s intelligence chief, tasked with monitoring and collecting news from the wider world.

On this occasion, the information Li Shize had obtained was truly terrifying.

“The White Jade Sect, the sworn enemy of the Beast Taming Sect, produced a Nascent Soul Cultivator just yesterday,” Li Shize reported. His voice was flat and concise, a trait developed through years of handling countless fragments of data, making his monumental news sound strangely mundane.

Despite his dry delivery, the announcement sent a cold shiver through every elder in the room, their faces twisting with sudden dread.

As a vassal family under the protection of the Beast Taming Sect, they were intimately aware of the bloody, centuries-old rivalry between the two powers.

Historically, the Beast Taming Sect used their contracted Spirit Beasts to maintain dominance, frequently suppressing the White Jade Sect’s interests. Now that the White Jade Sect boasted a Nascent Soul Cultivator, there was no chance they would let the Beast Taming Sect escape retribution.

“I believe everyone understands that a great war is inevitable; there is no need for further explanation.”

Li Shiqing broke the heavy silence with a weary sigh. “We must begin our preparations immediately. Order the clansmen to pack their things and evacuate Bailang County as fast as possible!”

“Clan Leader!” Li Shiren stood abruptly, his voice filled with urgency. “We are merely a minor vassal of the Beast Taming Sect. Surely the White Jade Sect won't bother targeting us?”

“That is true,” Li Shiqing replied, his eyes brimming with bitterness. “The White Jade Sect might not strike us personally, but do you think the families vassal to them will allow us to keep our hold on Bailang County?”

If war broke out and the Li family somehow defended themselves, the White Jade Sect would intervene. If the Li family lost, the result was even more obvious.

No matter the path, the Bailang Li family—with a history of over three hundred years—could no longer sustain its legacy here.

Li Shiren was left speechless and collapsed back into his seat in despair.

“Go and alert the clansmen quickly!” Li Shiqing commanded. “Don't forget, we have an overseas branch. We are not without a place to hide.”

This backup plan was born from a massive crisis the Li family suffered over a century ago.

Back then, the clan relied on a single Foundation Establishment Cultivator who was nearing the end of his life. With no successors reaching that level and two rival families eyeing their territory, the Li family was on the brink of extinction.

Fortunately, Li Shiqing broke through to Foundation Establishment just in time. His Spirit Beast, the Green Pupil Tiger, advanced alongside him. Their combined strength allowed them to repel their enemies and secure the clan's borders.

That brush with death convinced Li Shiqing to establish a secret overseas branch, ensuring the family bloodline would survive even if the main house in Bailang County fell.

Thankfully, that disaster never came, and the Li family flourished under his guidance.

The mention of the overseas refuge calmed the elders' nerves slightly. They stood up to notify the clansmen currently away from Bailang Mountain.

As for the thirty or so members remaining on the mountain, Li Shiqing intended to inform them personally.

***

“Boom, boom, boom...”

The heavy tolling of a bell rang out three times across Bailang Mountain, reaching every ear.

Li Zhirui had just finished some chores within his private space and was looking forward to a bath when the emergency signal startled him. He quickly used a Cleanse Spell and sprinted toward the family’s central hall.

When he arrived, most of the mountain-dwelling clansmen were already there. He felt a pang of worry when he noticed that, aside from the Clan Leader, the other senior officials were missing.

“I have summoned you all to announce a critical matter!” Li Shiqing declared solemnly. “A Nascent Soul Cultivator has risen within the White Jade Sect. To ensure our survival, we must abandon Bailang County.”

“Return to your quarters and pack everything within three hours. We will meet at East Lake!”

East Lake sat at the far edge of Bailang County, acting as a gateway to the Boundless Sea, which was only a few miles further east.

Seeing the crowd frozen in shock, Li Shiqing barked, “What are you waiting for? Move!”

“Clan Leader, what will happen to the secular relatives at the mountain's base?” an old man with white hair asked suddenly.

Li Shiqing paused, his expression hardening. “Cultivators rarely slaughter mortals, but Bailang County is no longer a safe home for the Li family. I will send word for them to scatter and leave the area.”

In truth, Li Shiqing hoped to bring a portion of the secular clansmen along, as no Cultivation family can thrive without a foundation of ordinary people.

Li Zhirui didn't share the sentimental worries of the others. The moment the Clan Leader finished, he bolted.

His parents had been secular mortals who passed away years ago, leaving him with few attachments.

Back at his residence, Li Zhirui uprooted the Spiritual Medicines growing nearby, tossing them into his space to be replanted later.

After clearing out all his Spiritual Objects, he approached Da Qing—who was still recovering from a cultivation feedback—and gently moved the beast into the Spirit Lake within his space.

Checking that his warning Formation was active, Li Zhirui cast a Breath Concealment Spell and dove into the small garden pond.

He swam to the bottom of the shallow water, heading toward a patch of shimmering, fluorescent light.

This was an unformed Spirit Vein that Da Qing had stumbled upon after Li Zhirui moved in. He had kept this secret from the family, intending to use it for himself.

Now, his goal was to pull this proto-Spirit Vein into his space, though he wasn't certain it would work.

Li Zhirui pressed his hands against the vein, attempting to pull it into his space through sheer will.

Instantly, his Mana began to drain like water through a broken dam.

He almost let go in a panic, but the faint vibration of the Spirit Vein told him it was moving.

Just as his Mana reserves hit rock bottom, the half-formed Spirit Vein vanished into his space.

Entering the space himself, he felt the Spiritual Energy grow significantly thicker, now rivaling a mid-grade first-tier Spirit Vein. Other than the increased density, nothing else seemed changed.

Knowing the clan was in a race against time, Li Zhirui didn't linger. After a quick inspection, he exited the space to join the evacuation.