Previously on Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan...
Li Zhirui arrives in the Tao Spirit Realm, finding it surprisingly welcoming. He captures a demon cultivator to learn his location, discovering he's in Cangmu State, a chaotic but human-controlled border region. To avoid drawing attention, Li Zhirui disguises himself as a Human Immortal cultivator and heads towards the bustling Cangye Immortal City, observing the orderly queues of even powerful Heavenly Immortals.
"Hmm?"
Just as everyone anticipated this Profound Immortal would proceed directly into the city, he abruptly halted mid-way, as though having sensed something. A vast and terrifying Divine Sense surged through the assembled cultivators, meticulously searching for an unknown entity.
Numerous cultivators, harboring hidden guilt, quaked beneath the immense pressure, their faces draining of color. They speculated that a past transgression had been unearthed, and their revered master had arrived to exact retribution.
Li Zhirui felt a tremor in his heart, a glimmer of suspicion sparking within him, his slightly lowered eyelids obscuring the keen sharpness of his gaze.
The individual had likely detected the faint, lingering aura of another realm permeating the surroundings, prompting his sudden cessation of movement.
There was little recourse; this was the residual effect even after applying the Purification Principle to cleanse himself, as the Outer Realm aura could not be entirely purged in such a short span.
Fortuitously, as he was merely a Profound Immortal, his cultivation realm not significantly surpassing Li Zhirui’s, such an extensive display to locate a hidden Outer Realm creature among the multitude seemed somewhat excessive.
As half an hour elapsed, many cultivators of lower standing found themselves unable to endure the oppressive might any longer, collapsing onto the ground in a faint, while others gasped for breath, teetering on the brink of exploding and perishing.
Many cultivators hastily produced their magical treasures and spiritual artifacts, striving to ward off the pressure, preserve their dignity, and avert injury.
For a time, utter pandemonium ensued just outside the city gates.
"Lin Ruwu, of the Changhong Lin Family, offers his respects to the senior. May I inquire what the senior seeks? Though we are weak individually, perhaps together, we can offer assistance."
Numerous cultivators opted to declare their ancestral affiliations, hoping to leverage their powerful backing to compel the Profound Immortal to temper his actions.
Yet, undeterred, the Profound Immortal showed no inclination to cease his intimidating actions, persisting with his overwhelming pressure, his Divine Sense scrutinizing each cultivator present.
Li Zhirui, maintaining his disguise as a Human Immortal from a Loose Cultivator background, like many others, had already succumbed to the 'unbearable' pressure. He knelt on one knee, gritting his teeth, and desperately holding on.
His heart sank slightly; this precarious situation was not a sustainable long-term strategy!
However, at this juncture, he could conceive of no superior resolution short of revealing his true strength.
But to do so would inevitably draw unwanted attention and invite further complications.
This was precisely why Li Zhirui preferred to project an image of distress rather than expose his actual cultivation realm and identity.
Furthermore, he harbored a suspicion that the individual's intent was to apprehend an Outer Realm creature, thereby uncovering pathways to another world, and subsequently seeking an opportunity to invade it.
Should this ambition be realized, and a successful invasion achieved, untold riches would be his reward.
"Enough!"
Mercifully! At this critical moment, a deep voice resonated from within the Immortal City, "Fellow Daoist Rong Yun, have you come to Cangye Immortal City merely to display your might?"
Accompanying the voice was a gentle yet potent force that effectively dispersed the Profound Immortal's oppressive aura, affording those still struggling a much-needed respite and ease of breathing.
As for the cultivators who had sustained injuries, the haughty Profound Immortal harbored no remorse, nor did he offer any form of recompense.
"Fellow Daoist Cang He, you jest. I merely detected a potential Outer Realm creature lurking amongst the crowd, became momentarily agitated, and harbored no malice or ill intent towards you, Fellow Daoist."
The Profound Immortal, identified as Rong Yun, swiftly withdrew his imposing pressure, offered a concise explanation, and then soared over the Immortal City, entering the territory of the Alien Race.
In all honesty, he would have preferred not to depart just yet if circumstances had permitted, but alas, many aspects of life unfold contrary to one's desires.
No further utterances emanated from within the city's confines.
Shortly thereafter, a contingent of cultivators emerged from the Immortal City, relieving the prior guard contingent. They commenced the process of organizing and dispersing the assembled crowd.
Following this, Li Zhirui promptly entered the Immortal City.
Though separated by mere walls, the disparity in conditions for cultivators was immense; inside the city, no one endured the oppressive pressure exerted by the preceding Profound Immortal.
Familiar with the city's layout thanks to the recollections of that Demon Cultivator, he soon secured a Cave Mansion, intending to reside there for a considerable duration.
With the passage of time, augmented by Li Zhirui's diligent personal efforts, he anticipated the complete eradication of the Outer Realm aura, thereby preventing any recurrence of the recent predicament.
This outcome was also attributable to the profound benevolence and leniency of this Realm's Heavenly Dao; in other worlds, such a feat would prove vastly more challenging!
To completely expunge the Outer Realm aura, one could only speculate on the immense cost that would be entailed.
"Do you believe the words of that Profound Immortal earlier? Could a genuine Outer Realm creature truly exist?"
"I highly doubt it."
A certain cultivator cautiously peered around, his voice a low murmur, "Senior Rong Yun is affiliated with the Wanguang Sect, while the defending senior inside originates from Youming Mountain; these two factions have been rivals for ages, harboring profound animosities."
"Therefore, I suspect this might be a calculated move to humiliate Youming Mountain."
"Those cultivators who were wounded are truly unfortunate, caught in the fierce conflict between these two opposing groups, receiving no form of recompense."
"I've heard that some of the weaker cultivators are already teetering on the edge of death; it's truly a pitiable situation."
...
Li Zhirui gave a slight shake of his head, having gained no valuable insights from their conversation. He then rose to return to his Cave Mansion, intending to first address his personal matters.
To begin, he activated the inherent formation of the Cave Mansion and subsequently established another protective barrier, ensuring that his cultivation would remain undisturbed by any external disturbances.
Assuming a cross-legged posture on a meditation cushion, he began to channel the Purification Principle, diligently expelling the residual aura from the Outer Realm.
Days turned into nights, and time elapsed swiftly.
After enduring over a month of intensive cultivation, Li Zhirui managed to completely purge all traces of the Outer Realm aura, rendering it undetectable even to a Profound Immortal cultivator.
Nevertheless, when confronting a Golden Immortal cultivator, a degree of caution remained imperative.
The primary factor contributing to this caution was his insufficient grasp and understanding of Golden Immortals, leaving him uncertain about the disparity between his own strength and theirs, thus making prudence the more judicious course of action.
Fortunately, Golden Immortals are a rare commodity, not encountered frequently.
With this pressing issue resolved, Li Zhirui resolved to journey into the territories of the Alien Races to seek out spiritual items, thereby augmenting his acquisitions and populating his Personal Space with valuable resources.
Ever since his breakthrough into the Profound Immortal Realm, the expanse of his Personal Space had expanded to resemble a Minor Thousand World, yet it still contained considerable vacant areas awaiting the planting of spiritual objects.
A significant portion of the spiritual objects flourishing within the Spirit Lands had not been intentionally cultivated by the few Devil Spirits present but had instead propagated naturally from scattered seeds.
Furthermore, there was the additional objective of accumulating the necessary ingredients for the Immortal Ascension Pill.
If Li Zhirui's memory served him correctly, one of the principal components for the Immortal Ascension Pill, the Transcendent Flower, primarily flourishes within the domain of the Primordial Spirit Race.
Other auxiliary components were also distributed across various regions.
With a measure of luck, he might only need to procure a handful of spiritual objects to commence the intricate process of refining the Immortal Ascension Pill.
Bearing this in mind, Li Zhirui soon found himself at the western city gate.
This location served as the gateway to the territory inhabited by the Primordial Spirit Race.
However, the stream of cultivators exiting the city was notably sparse, creating a stark contrast compared to the bustling scene observed upon his earlier entry into the city.
"It appears the aftermath of that incident is still being felt."
Reflecting on this, Li Zhirui gave his head a slight shake, regarding the chief of Cangye Immortal City as rather shortsighted. Had he intervened when Rong Yun made his move, the subsequent events might have been entirely averted.
At the very least, in the aftermath, they could have extended some form of assistance to the injured cultivators, such as aiding with their medical treatment or providing complimentary temporary lodgings, among other measures.
Yet, he remained passive, issuing no directives, leaving those unfortunate cultivators entirely to their own devices.
Unbeknownst to Li Zhirui, during his period of secluded cultivation, the resident population within Cangye Immortal City had diminished by a staggering twenty percent, and the number of travelers passing through had plummeted by thirty percent!
At this precise moment, Cang He, the Profound Immortal tasked with guarding the city, had finally recognized the gravity of his oversight, experiencing profound regret for the adverse consequences stemming from his earlier negligence.
