Previously on Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan...
During a long journey by Spirit Boat, Li Zhirui discovers a rare school of Cloud Fish, a precious resource that provides pure spiritual energy without the side effects of pills. This discovery earns him significant praise and a personal reward from the Clan Leader, sparking envy among his peers. Upon arriving at Da Rong Island, the family’s new hidden home, the group reunites with stationed clansmen and prepares to upgrade the island's hidden Spirit Veins to sustain their cultivation. Despite the successful arrival, the gravity of the family’s forced relocation from Bailang County looms over the elders as they gather to discuss their future.
Li Shiqing gave orders to Li Shiren and Li Shiting to ensure the secular relatives aboard the Spirit Boat were properly housed. Meanwhile, he personally escorted Li Zhirui and the remaining family members toward the central hub of Da Rong Island.
It was in this gathering area that Li Zhirui and his companions encountered Li Shilian, another Foundation Establishment cultivator of the clan and a peer of Li Shiqing.
"Second Brother, has some disaster befallen the family?" Li Shilian had been pacing with anxiety, but he hurried forward with a troubled expression the moment he spotted Li Shiqing.
Seeing that the island’s resident kin had all assembled, Li Shiqing chose transparency, recounting the entire ordeal without omission.
"It is a blessing that no lives were lost. Furthermore, after years of cultivation, Da Rong Island is fully prepared to serve as our primary clan territory," Li Shilian remarked, his face brightening as a heavy weight was lifted from his heart.
"Indeed." Li Shiqing gave a firm nod before addressing the rest of the gathered kin, "Dawn is still hours away. Everyone should return to their quarters and rest."
He didn't dwell on the availability of rooms; for those on the path of Cultivation, sleeping under the stars with the earth as a pallet was a common necessity.
"Second Brother, did you ensure all tracks were erased before the departure?" Li Shilian inquired cautiously once the crowd had thinned.
"Rest easy. We deployed Chaos Fragrance Powder and scrubbed our trail thoroughly," Li Shiqing assured him.
Chaos Fragrance Powder is a specialized spiritual tool designed to mask scents, effectively neutralizing tracking spells and the keen senses of hunting Spirit Beasts.
While the powder wasn't a perfect guarantee of safety, it was unlikely that a powerhouse like the White Jade Sect would obsessively hunt down a mere Foundation Establishment family.
Li Shilian nodded in agreement. He then began briefing Li Shiqing on the clan’s progress on Da Rong Island and the local geography, aiming to give him a comprehensive grasp of life under the Yuanming Sect’s dominion.
"Since the entire family is relocating here, the current spiritual energy will surely be insufficient. How do you intend to address this, Second Brother?"
With a faint smile, Li Shiqing replied, "The family has brought our entire reserve of Spirit Stones, including those that were being nurtured by the Spirit Vein. The energy shortage is under control."
'Nurturing' referred to the practice of placing depleted Spirit Stones near a Spirit Vein to slowly recharge them. It was a painstaking process, requiring nearly a century to fully restore a single lower-grade Spirit Stone.
"However, after allocating the hundred thousand Spirit Stones required to upgrade our Spirit Veins, will the family have any reserves left?"
Despite his long absence from the main estate, Li Shilian was well aware of the clan's finances. He knew that their annual surplus of Spirit Stones was meager at best.
Li Shiqing’s expression darkened instantly. After a long pause, he offered a weary smile and said, "We must simply take things one step at a time."
The following morning, the resonant tolling of a bronze bell signaled the start of the day. Cultivators stirred from their meditation, making their way toward the clan’s main hall.
Once the assembly was complete, Li Shiqing spoke with gravity, "You are all aware of our circumstances. To rebuild our foundation, the coming days will be grueling. I trust everyone can endure this burden."
"I am certain the Li family will not crumble under this hardship. Instead, we shall use this trial to be reborn like a phoenix from the ashes!"
His declaration provided a sense of stability to the clansmen, soothing the internal unrest felt by many, including Li Zhirui.
"Now, we shall delegate our duties," Li Shiqing announced, detailing the plan he had formulated during the night.
"First, we must stabilize the Spirit Beasts brought from Bailang County. Li Shiren will head this operation, assisted by Li Zhihua and Li Zhirui... ensure the creatures are settled."
The Li family’s menagerie was modest, consisting of six varieties of first-order Spirit Beasts: Crimson Feather Chickens, Green-headed Fish, White Silkworms, Black Ducks, Yellow Hornets, and Tusked Swine.
Moving forward, the Cloud Fish they had harvested during their migration would be added to their livestock.
Though the variety was limited, these creatures were the lifeblood of the clan's economy, generating nearly forty percent of their annual Spirit Stone revenue.
The family had restricted themselves to these six types for centuries primarily because most vassals of the Beast Taming Sect also raised Spirit Beasts. To avoid fierce market competition, the Li family chose niches that others ignored.
Furthermore, the art of breeding Spirit Beasts was demanding. The massive investment of time, labor, and specialized Spiritual Objects kept the family from expanding their operations too quickly.
While they did maintain a small number of second-tier Spirit Beasts, these were never for trade; they were reserved as Contracted Spirit Beasts for the clan's elite youths.
Additional tasks included tilling the Spirit Fields on the eastern plains and transplanting the Spiritual Medicines and Spirit Grains salvaged from their old home.
The mountains overlooked the least developed of the island's three Spirit Veins. Previously, with only twenty members on the island, managing two veins was the limit—any more would have interfered with their personal Cultivation.
For any seeker of the Dao, their cultivation base is paramount. The family would never jeopardize their members' progress with excessive manual labor.
Nevertheless, it was expected that the upcoming harvest would be poor. The hurried relocation and the stress of transplantation had undoubtedly damaged the plants' roots.
Other tasks, such as constructing new housing and enhancing the Spirit Veins, were deemed less urgent or required fewer hands.
...
"Uncle Ren, are there indigenous Spirit Beasts already being raised here?" Li Zhirui asked as the group reached a massive lake, noting the schools of Spirit Fish darting through the water.
Hidden beneath this vast lake, which spanned dozens of miles, was the final Spirit Vein of Da Rong Island.
Li Zhirui was known as a prodigy, but he also possessed a unique gift: an extraordinary natural affinity for magical creatures.
Domesticated Spirit Beasts were instinctively drawn to him upon their first meeting, a feat other cultivators could only achieve through expensive bribes or charms.
The source of this trait remained a mystery. As a modest Foundation Establishment clan, the Li family had kept his gift a secret to protect him rather than seeking external explanations.
This unique constitution allowed Li Zhirui to excel in beast husbandry, making him the most skilled tamer among his peers.
"Indeed. For years, we have cultivated two first-tier species here: White Water Shrimp and Flower-scaled Fish. They are quite popular in the Yuanming Sect's markets," Li Shiren explained, his deep knowledge of the island evident.
However, their immediate goal was the relocation of their original six species. Li Shiren began constructing a Formation, diverting the Spirit Energy from the lake toward the shore to provide a hospitable environment for the land-based beasts.
He also had to recalibrate the lake’s existing Formation to create separate enclosures for the Green-headed Fish and the Black Ducks.
Li Shiren was not merely a tamer; he was the clan’s sole second-tier Array Master.
This expertise was exactly why the Clan Leader had placed him in charge of this critical task.
Once the arrays were set, Li Zhirui and the others moved into action.
Li Zhirui approached the pens for the Tusked Swine, releasing twenty-five of them from his Spirit Beast Bag.
The change in scenery left the swine agitated. They grunted aggressively, and the two large breeder pigs showed bloodshot eyes—a clear warning of an impending stampede.
Quickly, Li Zhirui’s natural aura radiated outward. Combined with the lure of fresh fodder, he managed to soothe the beasts before they could turn violent.
Li Zhirui let out a silent breath of relief. Tusked Swine were notoriously temperamental, and his young frame would not have fared well against a charging boar.
The remaining Spirit Beasts proved far more cooperative. Once released and fed, they settled into their new enclosures with little trouble.
