Chapter 2: Crisis

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While Li Zhirui was diligently tending to the Spiritual Medicine, the senior members of the Li family gathered in a secret chamber to discuss a matter critical for the survival of the clan!

"Fifth brother, please share the news you've heard with everyone," Li Shiqing, the current head of the Li family, said with a somber face.

The Li family currently boasted three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, among whom Li Shiqing had attained the highest cultivation in the late stage of Foundation Establishment and served as the clan leader, while the other two were Li Shiren and Li Shiting, both at the early stage of Foundation Establishment and serving as the Law Enforcement Elder and Transmission Elder, respectively.

In addition to them, the Bailang Li family was comprised of over fifty Qi Cultivators and more than one hundred thousand Secular Clansmen.

The Fifth Brother referred to by Li Shiqing was Li Shize, an old Qi Cultivator with less than ten years of life remaining. However, he held a very important position within the clan, the external affairs elder!

To put it simply, the external affairs elder was the head of intelligence for the Li family, specializing in collecting various sizes and sorts of news and intelligence from the outside world.

And this time, Li Shize had learned a very alarming piece of news!

"The arch rival of the Beast Taming Sect, the White Jade Sect, produced a Nascent Soul Cultivator just yesterday," Li Shize said in his characteristic laconic manner, a result of years of minimal speech and exposure to numerous scraps of intelligence, making his words seem exceptionally unremarkable.

Nevertheless, such a statement caused all the elders present to shiver involuntarily, with expressions of terror and fear emerging on their faces.

As a vassal family of the Beast Taming Sect, how could they be unaware of the centuries-old grudge between the two major sects?

In the past, the Beast Taming Sect had always relied on their contracted Spirit Beasts to gain superiority over the White Jade Sect, exploiting the latter's interests in various ways. Now that the White Jade Sect had a Nascent Soul Cultivator, how could they possibly let the Beast Taming Sect off easy?

"Whether this will lead to a great war, I believe everyone here understands, so I won't elaborate further."

Li Shiqing broke the silence in the chamber and sighed deeply, "Let's start making arrangements now. Have clan members pack their belongings and leave Bailang County as quickly as possible!"

"Clan Leader!" Li Shiren stood up in shock and said urgently, "We are merely a vassal family of the Beast Taming Sect. Even if the White Jade Sect attacks, they won't lay their hands on us, will they?"

"Indeed!" Li Shiqing's eyes filled with bitterness, "The White Jade Sect won't act against us, but would those powers vassal to them let us, the remnants, occupy Bailang County?"

If there really was a battle, and if the Li family gained the upper hand, the White Jade Sect would surely intervene to assist. Should the Li family be defeated, the outcome was self-explanatory.

Regardless of the result, the Bailang Li family, with a legacy spanning over three hundred years, would no longer be able to continue its lineage!

Li Shiren was rendered speechless and sat down dejectedly.

"Go and inform our clansmen quickly!" Li Shiqing urged, "Do not forget, our family has established a branch overseas, we are not without refuge."

Speaking of which, it is necessary to mention the major crisis that the Li family faced over a hundred years ago!

At that time, the Li family had only one Foundation Establishment Cultivator, who was expected to pass away within a few years, and no one among the new generation of clan members had managed to break through. Furthermore, the intentions of the two major neighboring families had become all too clear.

It could be said that the Li family was at a life-or-death juncture.

Fortunately, Li Shiqing successfully broke through to Foundation Establishment at that time, and his Spirit Beast, the Green Pupil Tiger, also broke through along with him. Together with the old man's Spirit Beast, they were able to preserve the Li family's territory.

It was precisely because of that crisis that Li Shiqing was determined to establish an overseas branch, so that in case the Bailang Li family faced any misfortune once again, the family's bloodline and legacy could be preserved.

Thankfully, the worst-case scenario did not occur, and under Li Shiqing's leadership, the Li family grew increasingly prosperous and strong.

When Li Shiqing mentioned the overseas branch, everyone's hanging hearts finally eased somewhat, and they got up to inform those clansmen who were not in Bailang Mountain.

As for the more than thirty clansmen who remained on the mountain, Li Shiqing would inform them personally.

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"Boom, boom, boom..."

Three solemn bell tolls echoed over Bailang Mountain, reaching the ears of every clan member.

Having just finished dealing with some minor matters in his space, Li Zhirui was preparing to indulge in a relaxing bath when he was caught off guard by the family's urgent summons. He hastily cast a Cleanse Spell and hurried towards the family's main hall.

By the time Li Zhirui arrived, nearly all of the clan members who had stayed on the mountain had gathered. However, he noticed something unsettling – aside from the Clan Leader, no other high-ranking family officials were present, which caused him some anxiety.

"The emergency call to gather everyone is to announce a matter of great importance!" Li Shiqing said with a solemn expression, "A Nascent Soul Cultivator has emerged in the White Jade Sect, and our family must leave Bailang County to preserve our legacy."

"Therefore, after you go back, you must pack up everything within three hours and then gather at East Lake!"

East Lake, the resource point located at the easternmost edge of Bailang County, was also closest to the Boundless Sea. Just a dozen or so miles eastward lay the vast ocean.

Seeing the crowd still stunned and standing in place, Li Shiqing shouted, "What are you waiting for? Go now!"

"Clan Leader, what about the clansmen at the foot of the mountain?" an elderly man with white hair suddenly asked.

Li Shiqing fell silent for a moment, his face showing a hint of resoluteness, "Cultivators will not harm mortals, but Bailang County is no longer suitable for our Li family to live in. Before we leave, I will inform them and tell them to leave Bailang County."

Of course, Li Shiqing did wish to take some of the secular clansmen with them, as after all, a cultivation family could not sustain itself with only cultivators.

Li Zhirui had no such concerns as the others; as soon as the Clan Leader finished speaking, he turned and left.

This was because both of Li Zhirui's parents were secular mortals, and they had unfortunately passed away a few years ago.

Upon returning home, Li Zhirui first pulled out the Spiritual Medicines planted nearby, casually tossing them into his space for planting later when he had the chance.

Then he swept all the Spiritual Objects in the yard clean, and finally, approached Da Qing, who was still digesting feedback, and carefully placed it into the Spirit Lake inside his space.

Making sure the warning Formation was still active, Li Zhirui executed a Breath Concealment Spell and suddenly jumped into the small pond in the courtyard.

The pond was not deep, and soon Li Zhirui reached the bottom, swimming towards a spot flickering with specks of fluorescent light.

This was an undeveloped Spirit Vein, which Da Qing had accidentally discovered after Li Zhirui had chosen this location.

Keeping his plans to himself, Li Zhirui had kept this discovery secret and did not report it to the family.

And today, Li Zhirui's goal was to incorporate this half-formed Spirit Vein into his space!

As for whether he could succeed, Li Zhirui was not sure.

Li Zhirui placed his hands on the Spirit Vein, intending to absorb it into his space just as he usually used his space.

But the next instant, his Mana surged out like floodwaters breaking through a dam.

If it weren't for the slight tremors he felt from the Spirit Vein, Li Zhirui would have let go without hesitation!

As time trickled by, just before Li Zhirui's Mana was completely depleted, he finally managed to absorb the half-formed Spirit Vein into his space.

The moment Li Zhirui entered his space, he noticed that the Spiritual Energy inside was much denser than before, roughly equivalent to that released by a mid-grade first-tier Spirit Vein; he didn't notice any other differences.

Moreover, given the precarious situation of the family, Li Zhirui could not afford to linger in his space for long. After a brief look around, he exited the space.