Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1955: 1446: A Casual Move (2)

Without their fortunate escape by sheer luck, the slaughter couldn't have been contained to such a degree, and their own survival would have been out of the question—likely, they too would have perished.

"Damn it!"

"Those sly Outer Realm cultivators!"

…

Upon listening to that man's statement, the demon cultivators erupted in indignant rage, displaying intense fury—or more precisely, the kind of wrath born from shock and fear.

Simultaneously, they feared facing a similar fate themselves.

"We ought to dispatch forces to strike immediately. They've just endured a fierce clash; the invading Outer Realm beings have drained most of their mana, leaving their power at a low point. By acting swiftly to eliminate them, we'd be honoring the fallen." an excited demon cultivator proposed.

"Yes, that's a solid plan. What say the rest of you?"

Indeed, those so-called intruding Outer Realm beings had endured severe exhaustion, with little chance of mana restoration anytime soon. Launching an assault at this moment could resolve the issue and secure victory in this phase of the conflict!

"Absolutely, let's give them a harsh lesson. If not, won't we appear weak in the enemy's eyes?"

The overwhelming majority of demon cultivators concurred. With time of the essence, they swiftly decided.

They dispatched five Human Immortal cultivators to command a force of five thousand, aiming to wipe out that band of Outer Realm invaders!

Their action was prompt, yet upon reaching the Li family's prior encampment, they discovered it utterly abandoned!

"Blast it! Where did they vanish to? Why have they disappeared?!" a devil beast bellowed in frustration.

A closer inspection of the camp revealed that Li Zhixuan and her group hadn't scrambled away in disorder, but had executed a deliberate and organized withdrawal!

Thus, the site showed no disorder; all was orderly and well-kept—merely vacant, with no remnants left.

"I wouldn't have guessed they'd exercise such vigilance!"

A demon cultivator remarked with a sigh, "Head back. They anticipated this. Tracking them won't be feasible."

Regardless of their bitterness or resentment, confronted by the barren camp, they had no option but to retreat dejectedly.

Nevertheless, prior to departing, certain devil beasts and demon cultivators unleashed their ire on the leftover structures, bombarding them with spirit light and incinerating them without mercy.

Rumble—

Immediately following, an abrupt detonation hurled them skyward!

In a flash, mangled flesh and fractured bones cascaded like a violent storm— a gruesome and horrifying sight.

Once the blast concluded, the demon force that had exceeded five thousand was reduced to merely thirty or forty percent, and among those who lived, the majority suffered severe wounds—scarcely anyone emerged uninjured.

Fearing additional snares, and overwhelmed by astonishment and rage, they refrained from staying; instead, they hastily collected the injured devil beasts and demon cultivators and fled to their base.

Upon their arrival, the remaining demon cultivators and devil beasts, witnessing this outcome, experienced not just anger but also hidden relief.

Thankfully, I wasn't part of that group—otherwise, I might have shared the fate of the deceased.

…

In reality, that recent blast represented the Li family's parting gift—a final trap with nothing more beyond it.

During their feigned withdrawal, Li Zhixuan and her companions had gathered all supplies and installed a formidable snare within the camp.

The activation? Any destruction via spiritual energy inside would trigger it!

Back then, she'd merely placed it as an afterthought—unsure if it would activate.

Yet, even should it fail, it would only consume a few Spiritual Objects; if it triggered successfully, it could claim countless lives from this realm's inhabitants.

It was a high-stakes wager—but Li Zhixuan prevailed!

The device claimed three or four thousand foes, at the mere expense of some Spiritual Objects.

Now, as Li Zhixuan guided her clansmen and loose cultivators toward their stronghold, she got a report from the clan member who rigged the trap: it had exploded as planned.

"Got it, thanks."

Though unaware of the exact toll, she knew it was substantial. After all, reclaiming their old camp demanded a sizable troop—anything less would be folly, not an offensive!

Her composure stemmed from lingering worry over their headquarters. Should it have been overrun, Li Zhixuan dreaded the potential losses among her clansmen and loose cultivators due to her choices.

Truthfully, she had already accepted full responsibility in her mind.

Ultimately, she was the one who advocated invading and seizing Floating Light Realm—to dedicate it to the Heavenly Dao and alleviate their karma.

Should her kin perish in droves on her account, how could she escape profound remorse?

Thus, Li Zhixuan focused solely on hastening to the base, to confirm her people's safety firsthand—only that would grant her true solace.

When Li Zhirui's envoy delivered updates, he skimmed over the base's status, merely assuring her to remain calm, no need to come back, and proceed with the original scheme.

However, with her concerns alleviated elsewhere and her anxiety unrelieved, she ignored his counsel.

After hours of maximum-speed flight, their group at last spotted the remote silhouette of their main base.

"Did the family truly defend the stronghold? Or... did the locals overrun it?" Numerous clansmen pondered anxiously.

Yet, upon spotting the recognizable family emblem and patrolling clansmen nearby, they exhaled in relief and sparked with intrigue about how the base withstood a demonic host surpassing thirty thousand.

"Ancestor Xuan!"

The sentry cried out in astonishment, "Why have you returned?"

"We learned of the family's assault by a massive force. I couldn't stay idle, so I dispatched reinforcements."

Li Zhixuan clarified, then inquired, "How fares the family now? What losses did we suffer?"

"Ancestor Xuan, your concern is excessive. With Ancestor Rui guarding personally, how could that demon swarm overcome us? Our dead number few—only several hundred, at worst."

For a conflict of such magnitude, sustaining just hundreds of losses was an extraordinary achievement!

"For the full account, enter and see for yourselves."

"Ancestor Xuan, I must attend to my watch. Pardon me, I can't linger."

With those words, he saluted Li Zhixuan before resuming his rounds.

Gazing at the barriers—some freshly built, others scarred—marked by abundant signs of strife, one could readily envision the battle's brutality and peril.

Such reflections stirred her admiration—amid such dire straits, Li Zhirui had reversed the tide.

Even more remarkable was their side's minimal casualties.

Brimming with inquiries, Li Zhixuan passed through the entrance, allowing her returning clansmen and loose cultivators to disperse as they wished, while she made directly for Li Zhirui's cave dwelling.

Before long, she found Li Zhirui seated upon a stone stool.

"Jiu."

"I figured you'd be uneasy and rush back post your duties to inspect us."

"The push to claim Floating Light Realm was my notion. If the clan took heavy hits because of it, how could I endure?"

That scenario might scar her psyche—a vulnerability poised to strike unexpectedly, inflicting a devastating, indelible blow.

Li Zhirui gave a subtle nod. He comprehended, hence his decision to linger for her arrival.

"Jiu, how did you weather that onslaught and transform it into such a triumphant success?" Li Zhixuan's curiosity burned, compelling the question.

He retrieved a jade slip and stated, "The details you seek are here. Review it at your leisure. I must retire to restore my energy."

To counter that monumental clash, Li Zhirui had exhausted his entire mana reserves long ago, and solely to await her, he'd postponed recuperation.