Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 2135 1537: Mutation (Part 2)

"Though some were squandered, it's still preferable to being found with evidence, no? By then, not only would the spiritual objects be seized, but even our lives could be at risk!"

A flicker of disdain crossed Hu Shen Hui's eyes. Was he still preoccupied with such trivial matters in this situation, unable to discern the significant from the insignificant?

"You two fellow Daoists ought to ponder this matter carefully. I shall depart first to hasten the refinement of these spiritual objects."

Without awaiting a response from the other two, he soared away without the slightest hesitation.

The spiritual objects were already secured; there was no imperative for him to linger with these two any longer, lest their folly drag him down.

As for whether these two would betray him later? Hu Shen Hui held little concern, not solely because they had sworn a Dao oath, forbidding them from divulging this secret, lest their cultivation stagnate.

Admittedly, the constraints of a Dao oath do weaken when faced with the peril of death. After all, even if they broke their vow, they could still live comfortably, merely forfeiting any prospect of advancing their cultivation.

The true reason for his unwavering confidence was that the identity of 'Hu Shen Hui' was a fabrication!

He wasn't even using his real name, nor did he bear this appearance!

In any event, once the news of the Mysterious Secret Realm circulated, an untold multitude of cultivators would descend, rendering any identity or background easily concealed and fabricated.

His primary motivation for selecting these two as confederates stemmed from their specialized divine abilities. One possessed mastery over escape techniques, capable of vanishing without a trace to aid in their getaway; the other excelled in illusion arts, imperceptible to average Earth Immortals, which proved advantageous in discreetly collecting the spiritual objects.

From this, it was evident that this mysteriously identified Earth Immortal had shrewdly anticipated a grand clash within the Secret Realm's core spirit field, having previously engaged Liu Rongyuan and Huang Xuanjiang to solicit their cooperation.

Now that their objective was met, he had no desire to associate further with the pair, seeking to avert any personal calamity.

Leaving Liu Rongyuan and Huang Xuanjiang in a state of bewildered silence, unsure of their next course of action.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, what are your intentions?"

"Let us observe and await developments. And you?"

"I am also uncertain." Huang Xuanjiang shook his head, swiftly took his leave, and departed.

"Hmph! I did not anticipate such timidity from all of you." Liu Rongyuan scoffed disdainfully, seemingly disinclined to adopt the same cautious stance.

...

With the passage of days, the spiritual objects within the Secret Realm dwindled perceptibly.

Items once ubiquitous became exceedingly rare.

Amidst this scarcity, the frequency of conflict and killings among cultivators escalated, disrupting the prior tranquility.

However, these developments held no bearing on Li Zhirui and Fu Chengguang. Both remained ensconced within their secluded valley—one engrossed in comprehending the cultivation system of the Ten Thousand Rivers Realm, while the other delved into the study of innate arrays, their pursuits unfolding in mutual independence.

"The cultivation methodologies of this world are quite noteworthy."

Based on the high-grade cultivation techniques he had thus far acquired, the methods predominantly emphasized the strength of the spiritual soul, thereby facilitating a deeper grasp of laws and enabling a more straightforward advancement in realm.

Yet, this approach was not without its deficiencies, as the fortification of the spiritual soul somewhat overshadowed the strengthening of the physical body.

With Li Zhirui's present insight and capacity, he was fully capable of extracting the core essence of these techniques and integrating them into his own cultivation method.

As for the inherent drawback? Possessing the Chaos God Demon Dao Body, any perceived neglect in bodily fortification was of no concern to him.

"Given the opportunity, I must endeavor to gather more techniques from this realm."

Throughout these days, Li Zhirui had perused all available codices and methods, deepening his comprehension and knowledge concerning the Ten Thousand Rivers Realm.

Indeed, every Great Thousand World possesses its distinct characteristics, whether manifested in the civilization it fosters or in the most fundamental of spiritual objects.

Consequently, his learning during this period was substantial, and his Dao experienced a degree of improvement.

And this represents merely one of the world's more superficial principles and laws; Li Zhirui has not, or rather, is unable to, delve into their profound depths as yet.

Were he able to, the benefits he would reap would be exponentially richer.

When comparing the significance of the spiritual objects he had previously obtained with his current gains, he regarded both as equally invaluable.

The very essence of a civilization could directly influence Li Zhirui's realm, positively impacting his cultivation journey.

The acquisition of those spiritual objects promised the creation of more pills, many of which would be exclusive, thereby generating substantial profits.

While many cultivators differentiate the importance of methods, wealth, companions, and locations, in his perspective, all four aspects were equally vital.

In the days that followed, Li Zhirui commenced integrating the methods of this particular realm into his own cultivation technique. Initially, the process was far from smooth, even resulting in some internal conflicts.

However, before he could delve deeper into these explorations, Fu Chengguang emerged from his intensive study of formations.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist, for your patience over these past few days. I apologize for the considerable time I have taken."

Li Zhirui responded with a smile, shaking his head gently. "It matters not; I was not idle during this period, and my gains have been quite significant."

"That is excellent news then." Fu Chengguang also released a breath of relief. His primary concern had been delaying others due to his own pursuits, but thankfully, that was not the case.

"Oh, and one more thing!"

He suddenly remembered something, immediately retrieving a Jade Slip. With a brief inscription using his divine sense, he passed it to Li Zhirui.

"What is this, fellow Daoist?"

"You will understand once you examine it." Fu Chengguang stated enigmatically, leaving Li Zhirui to discover its contents himself.

Li Zhirui had no alternative but to accept the Jade Slip. Upon probing it with his divine sense, he detected an internal restriction but remained uncertain about its precise function. "What is this?"

"This is a restriction I managed to extract from that innate array. Its primary purpose is to preserve spiritual objects, ensuring their spiritual essence dissipates at an extremely slow rate. While I cannot specify the exact duration of its effectiveness, I am confident that its potency will not diminish significantly within five hundred years."

Furthermore, that innate formation possessed capabilities beyond this singular effect; it also served to conceal one's aura. Most importantly, however, it had the ability to induce mutations in spiritual objects!

This final effect alone dramatically amplified the formation's inherent value!

Naturally, these mutations occurred entirely by chance. Whether a spiritual object benefited or suffered from the transformation was purely a matter of luck. It was also important to note that for higher-ranked spiritual items, the conditions for mutation, such as the time elapsed and the inclusion of auxiliary spiritual items, became increasingly stringent.

Fu Chengguang did not conceal these details from Li Zhirui, openly sharing them. He added, "I will find an opportunity to refine a set of the Ten Thousand Spirits Transformation Array for you and impart the knowledge of formations to you. This way, should any issues arise with the array later, you will be equipped to repair it yourself or even attempt to construct it anew."

Although he hadn't dedicated himself to studying formations, it wasn't due to an inability to learn. Rather, he had simply not chosen to pursue it!

Considering Li Zhirui's current cultivation realm, acquiring proficiency in other skills, while perhaps not reaching the pinnacle of the Alchemy Dao, would certainly not fall significantly behind.

Therefore, this particular formation could be mastered by him, provided he allocated sufficient time and effort.

"Thank you kindly, fellow Daoist!"

He first conveyed his sincere gratitude, then continued, "With these methods for formations and restrictions, fellow Daoist need not trouble yourself to find another spiritual object for me."

This statement alluded to Fu Chengguang's earlier promise to compensate Li Zhirui with a spiritual object of equivalent rank when he had taken the spirit plant.

"How could that possibly be!" Fu Chengguang immediately voiced his strong objection without a moment's hesitation.

These methods related to formations and restrictions were not discoveries he had made independently; they were intrinsically part of Li Zhirui's original acquisition, and he rightfully held a share of the spoils.

There was no way he would use something that originally belonged to someone else to reciprocate their friendship!

"If it weren't for your assistance, fellow Daoist, how could I have possibly acquired these two valuable methods with my own capabilities?"

Li Zhirui stated earnestly, "Furthermore, as you know, fellow Daoist, being an alchemist, spiritual objects are of paramount importance to me. If I were to master a formation capable of inducing mutations in spiritual objects, it would represent an inexhaustible source of wealth for me!"