Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 2188 - 1564: Fragments

Li Zhirui believed he had been ejected from the ruins, but as it turned out, that wasn't the reality!

Upon regaining consciousness, he discovered he was still within the confines of the ruins.

"Blast it all!"

He immediately surmised that a sentient entity, perhaps an Artifact Spirit or a lingering soul, resided in the depths of the ruins. This entity lay hidden, scrutinizing every soul that ventured inside, assessing their worthiness to inherit the legacy.

Could this unseen force truly be orchestrating everything from behind the scenes? Was it the ultimate arbiter of the inheritance, with these trials merely a prelude?

However, he soon dismissed this notion. If the entity possessed such absolute control, it would have simply selected an inheritor directly, bypassing the need for trials to access further levels of the ruins.

Therefore, it possessed certain privileges but lacked the authority to command the entirety of the ruins.

Regardless of his contemplations, Li Zhirui, who found himself unwillingly entangled, radiated palpable displeasure. The unconscious pressure he exuded caused the surrounding space to become rigid.

"Fine!"

He clenched his jaw and declared, "Since you insist on drawing me in, let me see what you're capable of!"

From that juncture, Li Zhirui ceased concealing his might. The formidable aura of his Profound Immortal Realm erupted like a colossal volcano, causing the very foundations of the area to quake.

At any rate, the Outer Realm aura clinging to him had been entirely purged, eliminating any worry about his true identity being exposed. Even a Golden Immortal would find no fault with his guise.

Thump thump——

Yet, this overwhelming pressure inevitably affected cultivators from other factions. Weaker individuals were forced to their knees by the sudden increase in gravity, struggling to breathe, their faces crimson, eyes wide with terror as they felt the icy touch of death's door.

Mercifully, the pressure abated, granting them a reprieve and allowing them to escape with their lives intact.

"What... what is happening?"

"What transpired within the ruins to unleash such a terrifying force?"

Many cultivators remained utterly bewildered, their fear giving rise to a flurry of theories. Some speculated that a powerful beast, long imprisoned within, had broken free. Others believed a Great Expert had unearthed a rare Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure, sparking a fierce conflict. A few posited that a Great Expert was attempting to intimidate everyone, intending to clear the field and claim the treasures for themselves.

But every guess was astoundingly incorrect. This was merely an Outer Realm cultivator, compelled by the mastermind behind the ruins, unleashing his fury in response to being forcibly drawn into a sprawling and intricate web of karma.

Simultaneously, a significant number of cultivators lost their nerve, fearing they might become unintended casualties without ever knowing the cause of their demise. They opted to abandon the ruins altogether.

Fortunately, departing was relatively simple; ceasing their advance would result in a swift teleportation out of the ruins.

"Had I foreseen this individual's volatile nature, I should have permitted him to depart..."

At this precise moment, the shadowy mastermind harbored a deep sense of regret over its decision.

It had initially perceived Li Zhirui's concealed strength, believing that if he were to accept the inheritance, his chances of a powerful resurgence would be greater. Thus, it had been determined not to let him go.

However, to its surprise, his resistance was so fierce, and his true power far surpassed its estimations—though merely in the preliminary stages of the Profound Immortal Realm, his combat prowess rivaled that of a Late-stage Xuanxian.

Regret now was far too late!

While it could manipulate certain aspects of the formation within the ruins, it lacked the authority to teleport a cultivator undergoing a trial away.

Consequently, unless Li Zhirui deliberately faltered, providing an opening, the mastermind could only observe his continued progression through the challenges.

Moreover, should he ascend to higher tiers of testing, its intervention would be impossible!

Speaking of which!

At this very instant, confronting Li Zhirui was the third tier of trials—puppets on par with Late-stage Tianxian—which were utterly annihilated by colossal wooden pillars descending from the heavens, offering no resistance whatsoever.

Such brutal and devastating scenes unfolded before the eyes of the Tianxian cultivators who had arrived earlier, plunging them once more into a state of shock and profound awe.

They had never anticipated that the cultivator who had initially refused to proceed with the trials in the preceding stage was, in fact, a Profound Immortal!

Some were perplexed, pondering why this senior, initially hesitant to undergo the trials, had abruptly changed his demeanor and become so ferociously powerful.

Despite their intense curiosity, none dared to voice their questions, choosing instead to remain inconspicuous, lest they draw the cultivator's wrath upon themselves.