Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1831 - 1384: Slow Progress (Part 2)

The pair arrived at the Guest Welcoming Hall shortly after.

Because Li Zhirui had not yet made his appearance, Li Mingyao and Li Liangxiang were left to entertain Tubo. They offered him various rare Spiritual Objects to sample, ensuring he remained occupied and comfortable during the wait.

After approximately half an incense stick of time, Li Zhirui arrived. With a look of apology, he remarked, "Sorry to keep you waiting."

His aura flickered with instability, a clear sign that he had traveled here with great urgency.

"It is of no consequence. Your unwavering commitment to spiritual Cultivation is truly commendable," Tubo answered graciously. Since he was the one seeking a favor and the wait had been brief, he showed no irritation.

"If there are no other pressing matters, why don't you accompany me to pay your respects to the Earth Element Lady?"

"Very well, I am grateful for your guidance."

Li Zhirui refrained from addressing him as "Fellow Daoist." Although both had attained the rank of Heavenly Immortal, the disparity in their true power remained a mystery, and he felt that maintaining proper respect was the wiser course.

"Let us depart, then."

The two soared away from Mount Wanxian. As they flew, Tubo spoke:

"Fellow Daoist, please do not resist."

The moment the words left his lips, he grabbed Li Zhirui, and they vanished instantly.

Space shifted violently. When the surrounding aura turned frigid, Li Zhirui realized they had entered the Netherworld.

Following another brief journey, they reached the deepest reaches of the Underworld, stopping before a modest, unassuming courtyard.

Squeak—

The gate swung open without a word. The owner of the courtyard, sensing the arrivals, called out, "Please, young friend, enter so that we may speak."

Without pausing, Li Zhirui stepped inside and offered a respectful bow. "Junior offers greetings to the Earth Element Lady."

"There is no need for such ceremony."

Before he could fully descend into his bow, the Earth Element Lady supported him with an invisible force. She spoke softly, "I have called for you so abruptly because your earlier suspicions have been confirmed. The Earth Core is suffering from severe pollution, which now threatens its very stability."

"Regrettably, my mastery of this specific Path is insufficient, and I dare not act recklessly. Thus, I have sought your assistance."

Despite being the preeminent Earth God and Yin God, and possessing knowledge of various Laws—including the Purification Principle—the Earth Element Lady had never focused her Cultivation on it. Her limited proficiency made her hesitate to intervene personally.

"Junior's power is modest, and I cannot guarantee that I can cleanse the Earth Core's corruption," Li Zhirui stated with caution.

While he possessed confidence in his skills, he lacked experience regarding the Earth Core. He felt little certainty in the face of such a task.

Furthermore, because this was the vital core of the world, any mistake could lead to disaster. He feared the staggering weight of the Karmic Force he would suffer should he fail!

"Simply give your best effort, young friend. Even if success eludes you, the fault will not be yours. I shall take the consequences upon myself," the Earth Element Lady promised, sensing his internal trepidation.

Li Zhirui was moved by her words. He had not expected such a Great God to possess such a profound sense of duty.

She was willing to risk her own interests for the sake of the world.

Regaining his composure, he replied, "I shall do everything within my power."

"Would you care to rest for a moment?" she asked, shifting the subject to ease the pressure on him.

"I thank the Lady for her kindness, but I am ready. Let us examine the state of the Earth Core first."

"Very well."

The Earth Element Lady reached out with her jade-like hand, wrapping Li Zhirui in a protective force as solid as the Earth itself, guiding him into the depths of the world.

The environment grew darker as they descended until all light vanished. Farther down, the fiery radiance of magma appeared, accompanied by blistering heat.

Eventually, they reached a place of eternal shadow and crushing pressure.

Had the Earth Element Lady not shielded him and absorbed the brunt of the weight, Li Zhirui’s physical body would have been pulverized long ago!

In the total darkness, time seemed to lose its meaning. After a long duration, they finally came to a halt.

In that moment, Li Zhirui’s hair stood on end. He felt a lethal, overwhelming threat surrounding him, as if a single misstep would result in his immediate destruction.

"Do not be alarmed. This is a Restriction placed here by the Heavenly Dao. Though you are not a Divine, you possess significant Merit, which will cause this power to subside shortly."

Just as she predicted, the oppressive force vanished moments later.

However, Li Zhirui understood that the power had merely retreated into hiding, waiting to strike if he showed even a hint of ill intent.

"Join me in prayer to the Heavenly Dao to present our purpose here!"

The Earth Element Lady produced several long, golden incense sticks. She handed three to him. She ignited hers with Mana and prayed with solemn reverence.

Observing her, he followed suit immediately, terrified of making a mistake, as his life depended on it.

Wisps of blue smoke drifted upward. Once the incense had fully burned, the sense of rejection and suppression from the environment faded significantly. Li Zhirui exhaled in relief, as the previous pressure had been nearly unbearable.

"The Earth Core is the very foundation of this world; its significance cannot be overstated. I trust you understand this," the Earth Element Lady’s gentle tone helped soothe his lingering anxiety.

"Junior understands."

"Good. Let us go inside."

After passing through numerous Restrictions, Li Zhirui finally laid eyes on the protected Earth Core. It appeared to be nothing more than a massive, plain clod of dirt. Its ordinary appearance left him feeling slightly underwhelmed.

However, he did not dwell on its looks. He focused his mind, identifying the corrupted sections of the core and preparing to apply the Purification Principle.

Under the Earth Element Lady’s direction, he located the first patch of pollution. Gathering the power of the Purification Principle in his hand, a brilliant white light manifested. He carefully moved to cleanse the area.

To his surprise, the pollution fought back instantly!

A thin black line of corruption, resembling a hidden viper, struck out the moment the Purification Spirit Light drew near, attempting to infect the light itself.

Instead of being worried, Li Zhirui felt a sense of relief when he saw the black line slightly dissolve upon contact with his Spirit Light.

The change was tiny, but it was undeniable.

Still, based on that brief clash, he knew that a complete cleansing would be a difficult task.

The best strategy against such a resilient force was to steadily drain its strength until it could be wiped out entirely.

That became Li Zhirui’s strategy.

The process was inefficient, but it was the safest route. He used the Purification Spirit Light to fully encircle the black line, ensuring their struggle did not damage the Earth Core.

He kept in mind that the Earth Core was linked to the entirety of the Primal Spirit Realm. Any disturbance here would cause ripples across the world!

Because of this, Li Zhirui refrained from using aggressive techniques. He feared that a violent reaction might cause unforeseen catastrophes and deaths among the inhabitants of the realm.

He could not risk such a massive burden of Karmic Force!

While his method was secure, it was agonizingly slow, demanding immense time, Mana, and Spiritual Soul endurance.

Consequently, his progress was glacial. After purifying only a few lines of corruption, he was forced to stop and recover his energy.

The Earth Element Lady did not rush him. She stood nearby, watching patiently as he worked.

Unseen by them, the Primal Spirit Realm began to react as the purification progressed!

Across the world, the ground would suddenly emit a strange brilliance. Many people believed legendary treasures were surfacing and rushed to find them, only to find nothing.

Whenever the Spirit Light faded, a delicate, fresh scent of lotus would remain lingering in the air.