Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1981 - 1459: Disguise_2

Actually, this scenario poses a tremendous risk, as the moment the information gets out, it could draw a brutal onslaught from rival groups.

Without Li Zhirui's firm leadership over the clan and his relentless push, Li Xiuyuan and the rest of the elders would never dare to take such a bold gamble!

His true intent in doing so was to lure surrounding powers into launching an assault on the Li family. This would enable the clan to utilize their home terrain for defense.

Yet inexplicably, despite the clan's covert efforts to spread the word, no group has responded so far, almost as though they've pierced his clever plan.

Consequently, by this point, numerous family members have already settled their karma and started streaming back to the ancestral lands.

Under these circumstances, the chances of foes striking seem to dwindle with each passing moment.

"A blunder!" Realizing this, Li Zhirui let out an involuntary sigh.

"I hope Zhixuan is advancing without hitches."

He harbored no regrets about remaining at Mount Wanxian to manage the clan. Given the developments, it appeared he must spend merit to address his own karma.

After all, this choice belonged to Li Zhirui himself, and merit offered little aid for his own breakthrough. He could simply purge the malevolent impurities blocking the world's rise to cleanse his debts.

He merely pondered if Li Zhixuan's ongoing endeavors would grant her desire and permit her ultimate transcendence.

"Ancestor Rui!"

Right then, Li Xiuyuan hurried in with evident worry and declared, "A report just arrived from Wanling Island: massive hordes of Sea Clan are assembling beyond the Pearl Island Chain. It appears they're gearing up to invade the Ten Thousand Spirit Sea Area."

"Ah, so that's the case!"

Li Zhirui's face brightened as he remarked, "It's no surprise the Cave Abyss Sect held back. They must be observing the Sea Clan's moves to determine their own course."

Li Xiuyuan paused briefly. With such a grave peril looming, their ancestor remained focused on unrelated matters!

Besides, if the Cave Abyss Sect and Sea Clan struck in sequence, the Li family would face dire straits—something to evade at all costs.

"Ancestor Rui, what's our next step?" Li Xiuyuan pressed, nudging him back to the pressing issue.

"Hasn't the family set everything in place already?"

Li Zhirui countered with a headshake. "Having assembled countless clansmen and rogue cultivators on the Pearl Island Chain, the Sea Clan's approach is ideal—it allows a broad sweep to clear their karma."

Even should Heavenly Immortal Realm Sea Clan appear, it proves irrelevant. Provided I stay away from the fray, they're powerless to act; they won't massacre weaker cultivators.

Thus, the field belongs to them alone. Victory or defeat rests squarely on their shoulders.

"Ancestor Rui..." Li Xiuyuan glanced up in astonishment. Usually, he'd orchestrate such conflicts personally, yet now he seemed ready to release control entirely?

"Proceed."

Li Zhirui offered no elaboration, merely gesturing to dismiss him with a surge of mana from the cave dwelling.

Though transcendence lay beyond the near future, fortunes shifted unpredictably—perhaps crises would compel earlier intervention.

While present, he intended to delegate more to the juniors. In case of mishaps, he might step in.

And upon reflection later, his wisdom and perspective could steer their growth.

Li Xiuyuan lingered at the entrance, his mind in utter chaos—far worse than upon learning of the Sea Clan's looming threat!

Luckily, his wits served him well. Regaining composure, he grasped Li Zhirui's rationale.

Thus, he refrained from seeking Ancestor Rui's aid once more, nor dawdled in stunned silence, but marched away to rally the clansmen for strategy talks.

Following urgent deliberations, they resolved to summon ex-Clan Leader Li Hongshi to the Pearl Island Chain for command.

The selection stemmed from these factors: firstly, his cultivation level sufficed—late Earth Immortal stage, robust and capable; secondly, his past role as clan leader lent authority over fellow members; thirdly, his veteran status and prior leadership afforded the clout to settle any familial rifts or quarrels.

Other ex-leaders fell short in cultivation, had fallen, or ascended to Daoism, leaving him the prime choice.

"Hongsu Ancestor, we must impose on you for this," Li Xiuyuan stated with deference.

"Helping the family is my duty!" A soft smile creased Li Hongshi's aged features.

He knew the clan's plight well. If his power was required, he'd offer it without a second thought!

No delays occurred. Li Xiuyuan presented a formal directive, which Li Hongshi took, called forth a spirit vessel, and vanished into the distant skies.

Journeying through Shanhai State, no perils arose. After roughly half a day, he reached the site.

Armed with the token, he seamlessly assumed authority over the Pearl Island Chain, where myriad clansmen and rogue cultivators heeded his directives!

Li Hongshi's initial order: monitor the Sea Clan's shifts and ready defenses!

From a hundred miles offshore, the Sea Clan's sea beasts spotted the cultivators' stirrings on the islands yet dismissed them lightly.

For it was mere facade!

While the Sea Clan paraded enormous legions of aquatic fiends, feigning an assault on the Ten Thousand Spirit Sea Area with grand fanfare, it was all deception.

From the apparent tens of thousands—or beyond—of beast surges, true aquatic fiends numbered under a tenth. The remainder were illusory guises from hidden arts.

The Sea Clan's real aim: amass forces to reclaim the Western Sea!

Long past, using pure lotus seeds, the Sea Clan wrested back much of the Western Sea from the Demonic Tao—lands lost for ages—but full recovery eluded them.

Subsequently, the Demonic Tao employed the Hidden Dregs Secret Technique to reclaim sea zones. Demon cultivators' taint left nearby waters steeped in demonic qi for ages.

Without the lotus seeds' cleansing might, corruption by demonic qi would have claimed it swiftly.

Prior chances proved scarce; even at great cost, success wasn't assured. Hence, the Sea Clan paused their efforts.

Conditions had shifted now: Demonic and Immortal Tao clashed intensely, with most demon cultivators diverted to battlefronts—defenses in the Western Sea thinned drastically, reinforcements elsewhere impossible.

This held true not only for the Ten Thousand Spirit Sea Area but coastal regions broadly. The Sea Clan's bold front was pure bluff!

It served as bait to draw eyes, sow confusion.

Yet the Li family, Cave Abyss Sect, and East Sea neighbors fell for it, deploying cultivators and bracing for war sincerely.

Soon enough, doubts crept in.

The Sea Clan hovered too long nearby, exhibiting zero intent to strike.

On the Pearl Island Chain, a clansman inquired curiously, "Hongsu Ancestor, could the Sea Clan harbor a scheme unknown to us?"

"I can't decipher their intentions either." Li Hongshi furrowed his brow, staring at the shadowy horde afar, deep in thought.

The clansman pressed, "Shall we launch an assault? With our numbers of clansmen and loose cultivators, even beyond the Island Defense Array's shield, defeat isn't certain."

"We can attempt an advance. If it turns suspicious, pull back immediately. I'll position clansmen for backup en route." After deliberation, he consented but heightened vigilance.

"Very well! I'll muster the clansmen to scout the Sea Clan alongside me."

Thus, Li Guangxing departed eagerly.

Within an hour, he'd assembled a band of clansmen, and they ventured from the islands to assail the Sea Clan proactively!

Naturally, they avoided reckless charges. Instead, drawing on elixirs and arcane methods, they struck from distance.

Whoosh—bursts of spiritual radiance sliced the air, slamming into the beast tide.