Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 4 Arrival

The trek spanning more than twenty thousand li, even when traveling by Spirit Boat, required a significant amount of time to endure.

As the vessel reached the midpoint of its flight, sudden glimmers of white light began to dance before Li Zhirui’s eyes, jolting the sleepy youth from his slumber.

"Ren Uncle, look over there! What is that?" Li Zhirui sent an urgent message through his divine sense.

Li Shiren, who was at the helm of the Spirit Boat, followed the boy's gaze. Upon identifying the source of the white radiance, he froze for a brief second before his expression was flooded with pure elation.

"Those are Cloud Fish!" he shouted back. Without another word to Li Zhirui, he immediately ignited a Communication Talisman to alert Li Shiqing on the accompanying vessel.

Li Zhirui felt certain he had encountered the name "Cloud Fish" before, yet the memory remained frustratingly out of reach.

It was only after every Cultivator had been roused and the Spirit Boat brought to a standstill that the truth dawned on him. As three Foundation Establishment Cultivators flew out to harvest the creatures, Li Zhirui finally got a clear look and remembered their significance.

Cloud Fish are an exceptionally rare and prized grade-one Spirit Fish. Though their rank is modest, their market value is staggering!

Born within the high clouds and sustained by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, their flesh contains no impurities whatsoever. They are perfectly translucent. Whether used as a culinary ingredient or eaten raw, they bolster a Cultivator’s mana. Unlike medicinal pills, they never result in drug resistance or the accumulation of pill poison.

Because they are so elusive, Cloud Fish are almost never found in shops. Rumors had even circulated that the species was extinct, which was why Li Zhirui had struggled to recall the details.

Within half an hour, the Cloud Fish in the vicinity had been gathered up by the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

"Hahaha..." Li Shiren let out a booming laugh as he stepped back onto the deck. He approached Li Zhirui and gave his shoulder a hearty clap, saying, "Excellent work, boy! If not for your sharp eyes, we might have sailed right past this fortune!"

"I was too preoccupied earlier to properly congratulate you on reaching the late stage of Qi Cultivation, and now you have brought another great benefit to the clan," Clan Leader Li Shiqing remarked, looking at Li Zhirui with a gaze full of approval and pride.

After a moment of thought, he declared, "Since you were the one to spot the Cloud Fish, you shall be gifted two pairs as a reward for your breakthrough."

"But Clan Leader, you were the ones who actually caught them, not me," Li Zhirui replied quickly, feeling hesitant about his ability to raise such delicate creatures.

"And how could we have caught them if you hadn't seen them?" Seeing the boy prepare to argue further, Li Shiqing dismissed his concerns with a firm wave of his hand, leaving no room for debate. "It is decided!"

"Then I thank the Clan Leader." Li Zhirui bowed and accepted the two pairs of Cloud Fish. He resolved to seek guidance from Uncle Shiling, the clan's premier Beast Tamer, once they arrived at their new home.

The remainder of the voyage was peaceful and devoid of further incidents. This only served to make the other youths of the clan grow even more jealous of Li Zhirui’s incredible luck.

In Li Zhirui’s generation, there were thirteen clansmen in total. He was the ninth by age, with four younger siblings behind him.

Among his eight older siblings, the eldest was already in his late thirties or early forties, while the eighth brother was only a few months older than Zhirui himself.

"Ninth Brother, your fortune is truly something to be envied," Li Zhihao, the eighth-ranked brother who shared a close bond with him, remarked with a sigh of admiration.

Li Zhirui offered a small smile. "Eighth Brother, your own luck will surely arrive soon, so do not worry."

"Hahaha, I’ll take those kind words as a good omen then!" Li Zhihao laughed, his mood brightening instantly.

This display caused many other clansmen to look away in annoyance.

"We are nearing Da Rong Island!"

Li Shiren’s announcement drew everyone’s focus. They crowded the railings, peering toward the island appearing on the horizon.

"Ren Uncle, Da Rong Island looks massive! Why hasn't it been claimed by other clans before now?" Li Zhirui asked, feeling a bit skeptical.

The island spanned three hundred li from north to south and over one hundred fifty li across. In the distance, a tall mountain range rose to the east, while the landscape was dominated by the towering banyan trees that gave the island its name.

Instead of answering directly, Li Shiren asked, "Do you recall your Uncle Fifteen?"

Li Zhirui nodded. He remembered that great-uncle, though if his memory served, the man had passed away several years ago.

"The reason Da Rong Island remained unclaimed is that its Spirit Veins are buried deep underground. If Uncle Fifteen’s Spirit Seeking Beast hadn't found them, no one would have suspected that three first-order Spirit Veins are hidden here."

Li Zhirui wasn't particularly impressed by that number. In their former home of Bailang County, there were many more Spirit Veins, including a second-order one.

"Only first-order? Then the spiritual energy here might not be enough for the clan's Cultivation needs," he noted.

Spirit Vein grades correspond to the realms of Cultivation, ranging from the first-order to the ninth-order, mirroring the stages from Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment up to Nascent Soul and even Tribulation Transcendence.

A single first-order Spirit Vein can support about fifteen Qi Cultivators, but it can barely provide enough energy for a single Foundation Establishment expert.

The three veins on the island were insufficient for the Li family’s numerous Qi Cultivators, let alone their four Foundation Establishment elders.

"Don't fret. The clan brought enough Spirit Stones in this relocation to promote one of the Spirit Veins to the second order," Li Shiren explained to reassure him.

He then patted Li Zhirui’s back with a look of feigned annoyance. "You’re just a kid, don't worry so much. We elders are still around to handle things!"

"I understand," Li Zhirui replied. He knew he had a habit of overthinking—a trait he had carried over from his previous life that was hard to shake.

...

"Who approaches!"

As the two Spirit Boats descended toward Da Rong Island, a sharp, wary voice thundered from below.

"Second Brother, have you forgotten your own little brother so quickly?" Li Shiren leaped from the Spirit Boat, putting on a show of being deeply offended.

Li Zhirui and the other juniors were stunned. While Li Shiren was never the most formal elder, they had never seen him act so shamelessly.

"Ahem." Li Shiqing stepped forward to clear his throat as a warning. "Let us land first. We will talk once the commoner clansmen are settled."

When Li Shijue saw the faces on the Spirit Boats, he realized the clan must be in the midst of a crisis. They wouldn't have brought the entire family to this remote island otherwise. He quickly deactivated the Formation to let the ships through.

"Fifth Brother, has something gone wrong in Bailang County?" Li Shijue asked with great concern.

Li Shiren sighed and explained the situation in full. Finally, he gave a weary smile. "Perhaps it is for the best. Now the whole family is united, and we don't have to wait ten years just to see one another."

To keep the island a secret, the family had previously rotated the guards every decade under the guise of travel.

Only a select few core members had ever been permitted to know the actual path to the island.

"That is true. Da Rong Island might turn out to be even better than Bailang County," Li Shijue added hopefully.

By then, the other Cultivators stationed on the island had rushed out to see what was happening. Their initial joy at seeing family was quickly tempered by the realization that something was wrong.

Before the questions could begin, Li Shiqing commanded, "Gather in the main hall. We shall discuss everything there."