Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1838: 1388: Observation

Upon his return to the clan, Li Zhirui maintained a low profile, opting to remain secluded within his cave mansion. He dedicated himself entirely to comprehending the laws of the world, and as his Cultivation deepened, his presence became so faint that many of his kin remained completely unaware he had returned.

However, after several centuries of silent meditation, he was forced to interrupt his seclusion.

The cycle of the Three Disasters and Nine Calamities, which had last occurred twelve hundred years ago, had returned to haunt the world once more.

This particular trial manifested as a devastating plague.

As the sickness took hold, a strange miasma coalesced within Li Zhirui’s body. It transformed rapidly into horrific symptoms; dark green pustules and crimson rashes broke out across his skin, emitting a putrid odor that was truly gruesome to behold.

In the beginning, he offered no resistance, appearing to surrender as he let the plague ravage his physical form without restraint.

As he allowed the illness to take its course, his aura began to flicker and fade. The once vibrant flame of his life force grew dim, making him look like a man teetering on the brink of the grave.

However, had anyone been able to observe Li Zhirui’s Sea of Consciousness, they would have seen that he was far from idle.

Within that tranquil mental realm, his Spiritual Soul was seated upon a pristine white lotus. A soft, radiant white light pulsed from the flower, serving as a shield for his most vital essence.

The "Divine Turtle Calming the Sea" Visualization Skill he had mastered in his youth had long since become obsolete, unable to match his current level of power. In its place, Li Zhirui had developed a superior Observation Method known as "White Lotus Purifying World," a high-grade technique perfectly tailored to his needs.

By now, the virulent plague and its pathogens had breached his physical defenses and invaded the Sea of Consciousness.

Once inside, these ghastly entities adapted with terrifying speed, multiplying across the spiritual landscape.

Before long, the Sea of Consciousness was carpeted in a thick, multicolored layer of bacteria. It looked like a lush, vibrant rug—beautiful to the eye, yet inherently lethal.

Just as the spreading bacteria reached the edge of Li Zhirui’s Spiritual Soul, the previously passive cultivator finally struck.

His fingers blurred as he wove a complex hand seal with incredible speed. A ball of brilliant Purification Spiritual Light formed in his palm before rising into the air like a miniature sun over the Sea of Consciousness.

The bacteria reacted like spring snow meeting a blazing sun, dissolving instantly. The light didn't stop there; it surged through the Sea of Consciousness and erupted from Li Zhirui’s physical body, causing the foul pathogens to vanish as if they had met their natural nemesis.

A short while later, he slowly opened his eyes. Sensing the internal shifts in his constitution, a thin smile touched his lips.

In truth, he had been contemplating the idea of using the Three Disasters and Nine Calamities as a means to temper his own foundation!

To Li Zhirui, these calamities were no different from a Thunder Tribulation. Both were trials imposed by the Heavenly Dao upon those seeking immortality, with the former simply being less intense than the latter.

If the power of lightning could be utilized for body tempering, why couldn't the Three Disasters and Nine Calamities be used the same way?

Naturally, such an endeavor was fraught with peril. A single lapse in concentration could result in permanent injury or even death during the trial.

Li Zhirui had been conflicted about this path, but the arrival of a plague—a disaster he was uniquely equipped to counter—provided the perfect opportunity.

Casting aside his doubts, he decided to use this calamity as a test for his theories.

He knew that if the situation spiraled out of control, he could always rely on his potent purification abilities to wipe out the sickness in an instant.

Fortunately, the outcome matched his expectations perfectly.

The plague’s intrusion had caused considerable damage to his physique and his Sea of Consciousness. By refusing to resist initially, he forced his body and mind to fight back on their own. They were broken down and rebuilt repeatedly throughout the ordeal.

Through this cycle of destruction and rebirth, his foundation was refined and strengthened!

He had kept a constant watch on his vitals, only unleashing the Purification Spiritual Light to eradicate the plague when his body reached its limit and the rate of recovery began to fail.

While this method provided a significant boost through external pressure, it was important to remember that the higher one's Cultivation, the harder it was to progress.

For a Heavenly Immortal like Li Zhirui, it was common for a thousand years of meditation to result in only a tiny fraction of growth.

Despite the clear benefits of this tempering method, he had no intention of teaching it to others for the time being.

Firstly, the technique was still unrefined; sharing it prematurely could lead to disaster for others. Secondly, the requirements were far too steep for an average cultivator to meet.

He had only succeeded because of his profound mastery over the Purification Laws, which allowed him to suppress the calamity at will. He didn't actually have a standardized "trick" yet.

Only after he had perfected the process and eliminated the risks would he consider passing it down.

The oppressive, catastrophic Qi that had filled the cave mansion dissipated as the plague was neutralized, and the dense, pure Spiritual Energy of the room returned to normal.

Focusing his mind, he began to mend his lingering wounds. The plague had left his body and Sea of Consciousness in a fragile state, and he needed to heal properly to ensure no hidden defects remained.

...

As the saying goes, while one branch blossoms, so does another.

Elsewhere, Jiang Fengwu continued his journey through the Primal Spirit Realm, hiding cautiously in the shadows as he diligently studied the complex Array Patterns scattered throughout the land.