Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 2 Crisis

While Li Zhirui was focused on his Spiritual Medicine, the Li family's high-ranking members had convened in a hidden chamber. They were there to deliberate on a crisis that threatened the very existence of their clan!

“Fifth brother, tell everyone the news you have gathered,” commanded Li Shiqing, the current Clan Leader, his expression grave.

The Li family was supported by three Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Li Shiqing, the strongest among them at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, led the clan. He was supported by Li Shiren and Li Shiting, both at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, serving as the Law Enforcement Elder and Transmission Elder, respectively.

Beyond these leaders, the Bailang Li family consisted of over fifty Qi Cultivators and a population of more than one hundred thousand Secular Clansmen.

The man Li Shiqing addressed was Li Shize. Though he was an old Qi Cultivator with less than a decade of life remaining, he held the vital role of External Affairs Elder.

Essentially, the External Affairs Elder acted as the Li family's chief of intelligence, responsible for monitoring all rumors and developments in the broader world.

On this day, the information Li Shize brought was terrifying.

“The White Jade Sect, the sworn enemy of the Beast Taming Sect, produced a Nascent Soul Cultivator only yesterday,” Li Shize reported. His voice was flat and concise, a trait developed over years of processing countless fragments of intelligence.

Despite his calm delivery, the revelation sent a shiver through every elder in the room. Fear and dread were visible on every face.

As a vassal clan of the Beast Taming Sect, they were intimately familiar with the centuries-old blood feud between the two dominant powers.

Historically, the Beast Taming Sect had used their Spirit Beasts to maintain dominance over the White Jade Sect, squeezing their rivals at every turn. Now that the White Jade Sect possessed a Nascent Soul Cultivator, they would undoubtedly seek brutal retribution against the Beast Taming Sect and its allies.

“I believe everyone understands that a great war is imminent, so I will not waste time explaining the consequences.”

Breaking the heavy silence with a deep sigh, Li Shiqing continued, “We must begin our preparations immediately. Order the clansmen to pack their things. We are evacuating Bailang County as fast as possible!”

“Clan Leader!” Li Shiren stood up abruptly, his voice filled with urgency. “We are merely a vassal family. Even if the White Jade Sect strikes, would they really target us?”

“Indeed,” Li Shiqing replied, his eyes clouded with bitterness. “The White Jade Sect might not strike us personally, but do you think the families vassal to them will let us keep our hold on Bailang County?”

If war broke out and the Li family somehow resisted, the White Jade Sect would intervene to crush them. If they were defeated by rival vassals, the result was the same.

No matter the path, the Bailang Li family—with three centuries of history—could no longer survive here.

Li Shiren sat back down, silenced by the grim reality.

“Go and alert the clansmen quickly!” Li Shiqing urged. “Recall that we established an overseas branch years ago; we are not without a place to hide.”

This backup plan dated back to a major crisis the Li family endured over a century prior.

Back then, the clan relied on a single Foundation Establishment Cultivator who was nearing the end of his life, and no juniors had yet stepped up to take his place. Meanwhile, two neighboring families were watching them like predators.

The Li family had been on the brink of total collapse.

Fortunately, Li Shiqing managed to achieve Foundation Establishment just in time, and his Spirit Beast, the Green Pupil Tiger, broke through alongside him. Their combined strength, along with the old elder's Spirit Beast, saved the family's lands.

That brush with extinction convinced Li Shiqing to create an overseas branch, ensuring that the family’s bloodline and legacy would endure even if the main house fell.

Because of his foresight, the worst had been avoided, and the Li family had flourished under his guidance until now.

The mention of the overseas refuge brought a small measure of relief to the elders. They stood up to go inform the clansmen stationed outside of Bailang Mountain.

Li Shiqing took it upon himself to personally notify the thirty or so members currently residing on the mountain.

“Boom, boom, boom...”

The heavy tolling of a bell rang out three times across Bailang Mountain, reaching every ear.

Li Zhirui had just finished some chores within his space and was looking forward to a bath when the emergency signal startled him. Quickly casting a Cleanse Spell, he rushed toward the clan’s main hall.

When he arrived, most of the mountain-based clansmen were already there. He felt a prickle of unease when he realized that, other than the Clan Leader, none of the other high-ranking elders were present.

“This emergency assembly is to announce a critical turning point!” Li Shiqing declared solemnly. “A Nascent Soul Cultivator has risen within the White Jade Sect. For our legacy to survive, we must abandon Bailang County.”

“You have three hours to return to your quarters and pack. We will regroup at East Lake!”

East Lake sat at the far eastern edge of Bailang County, serving as a resource hub just a short distance from the Boundless Sea.

As the crowd stood paralyzed by the shock, Li Shiqing barked, “What are you waiting for? Move!”

“Clan Leader, what will happen to the clansmen living at the base of the mountain?” a white-haired elder asked suddenly.

Li Shiqing paused, a look of grim determination crossing his face. “Cultivators rarely slaughter mortals, but Bailang County is no longer safe for our name. I will send word for them to scatter and leave the county before we depart.”

Deep down, Li Shiqing hoped to bring some of the secular members along, knowing a cultivation clan could not thrive without a foundation of common kin.

Unlike the others, Li Zhirui didn't hesitate. As soon as the orders were given, he turned and ran.

His parents had been secular mortals who passed away years ago, so he had no family at the mountain's base to worry about.

Back at his residence, Li Zhirui began by uprooting the Spiritual Medicines in his garden, stowing them in his space to be replanted later.

After clearing out every valuable Spiritual Object in his yard, he approached Da Qing. The creature was still processing spiritual feedback, so he carefully moved it into the Spirit Lake within his space.

Checking that his warning Formation was active, Li Zhirui used a Breath Concealment Spell and dove into the small pond in his courtyard.

He swam to the bottom of the shallow water, heading toward a patch of shimmering, fluorescent light.

This was an unformed Spirit Vein. Da Qing had stumbled upon it by accident shortly after Li Zhirui had moved into this location.

He had kept the discovery a secret from the clan, intending to use it for his own development.

Today, he intended to pull this proto-Spirit Vein into his personal space, though he wasn't entirely certain he could do it.

Li Zhirui pressed his hands against the Spirit Vein, attempting to pull it into his space the same way he did with smaller objects.

Immediately, his Mana began to drain at a terrifying rate, like water rushing through a broken dam.

Had he not felt the Spirit Vein begin to tremble and shift, he would have let go instantly to save himself.

As time passed and his Mana reached the point of total exhaustion, the half-formed Spirit Vein finally vanished into his space.

When Li Zhirui checked his space, he found the Spiritual Energy had become significantly more potent, matching the output of a mid-grade first-tier Spirit Vein. No other major changes were visible yet.

Knowing the clan was in a race against time, he couldn't stay to investigate. After a quick scan, he exited the space and returned to the surface.