Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

"Back already?" Li Zhizhun stood up and said when he saw Li Zhirui and Li Chengmo.

Li Zhirui nodded and said, "Chengmo, why don't you tell big brother about the general situation of the auction."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengmo summarized his observations and recounted them.

"Not bad." Li Zhirui nodded with satisfaction and said, "These are the four Spiritual Objects that I bought, big brother, you can deal with them."

"Those two third-grade Pill Recipes, I'll wait until my Life-bound Magic Treasure is refined before I study them, so as not to be distracted and end up achieving nothing, wasting a lot of time in vain."

"Alright." Li Zhizhun had no objections to this.

Li Zhirui gestured to the two of them and then turned to leave the hall, feeling that it wouldn't be long before he could start refining his Life-bound Magic Treasure.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed.

Li Zhirui was in his cave mansion refining a Magic Artifact. After several days of attempts, the Artifact's prospects had improved considerably, and he decided that if there was no significant enhancement in the next month, he would just follow the current plan to refine it.

Although its power was not as great as he had anticipated, as he continued to nurture it, the Life-bound Magic Treasure's power could slowly increase, and one day it would meet his requirements.

However, one day, Li Zhirui was suddenly summoned by Li Zhizhun to the hall, and only then did he remember that Li Chenglin had something to tell him a while ago.

"Uncle, Elder Lian, big brother..." Seeing such a lineup, Li Zhirui was surprised. What could be so important that it required the attention of all the high-ranking members of the clan?

"Chenglin, repeat what you just said," Li Zhizhun indicated for Li Zhirui to sit, then turned and said.

Suppressing the confusion in his heart, Li Zhirui focused on the nervous Li Chenglin and slowly said, "A year ago, while I was traveling in Yunping State, I heard about a Foundation Establishment cultivator's cave mansion."

"Greed got the better of me, and I entered in search of some valuable Spiritual Objects. Indeed, my gains were not insignificant, but hidden dangers were also present."

"I triggered a trap left by that Foundation Establishment cultivator; his Spiritual Soul entered my Sea of Consciousness, attempting Soul Possession. Although it was just a remnant soul, I was still no match for him. In severe pain, I passed out."

"When I woke up, to my surprise, his Soul Possession attempt had failed! However, my soul had merged with his, and I had acquired his memories and life experiences."

Seeing that he had stopped talking, Li Zhirui pondered for a moment and then said, "But because your spiritual soul was too weak, it was influenced by him. Despite your efforts to hide it, you would unintentionally reveal expressions and dispositions that are not your own."

Li Chenglin looked up at Li Zhirui with eyes full of gratitude, as aside from him, others didn't truly believe his explanation!

It was only because Li Zhizhun couldn't bear to see a more promising clansman fall, and because the fact that the Life Token did not shatter was inexplicable, that he had Li Chengmo call over Li Zhirui to see if he could glean the truth of his situation.

"In fact, Chenglin's intact Life Token should indicate that he is still himself, just influenced by that Foundation Establishment cultivator," said Li Zhirui. "We just don't know yet whether this will be good or bad for him."

Li Zhirui had experienced something similar, but there was a pretty significant difference between their experiences. The former had almost absorbed all the memories of that Foundation Establishment cultivator, which even affected his own behavior.

Li Zhirui, on the other hand, had absorbed only a wisp of obsession and remnant soul, the content of which was about his speculation, thoughts, and enlightenment on the breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm. Such memories were trivial for Li Zhirui.

Everyone was surprised that Li Zhirui was willing to protect Li Chenglin; there was an awkward look on their faces, as they didn't know what to say for the moment.

"You can go back now," Li Zhirui seeing no one refuted him, then said to Li Chenglin, "Cultivate well, this may also be an opportunity for you."

If he can digest the cultivation insights of that Foundation Establishment cultivator while maintaining his own identity, Li Chenglin's path of cultivation in the future might be smoother than other clan members, at least in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Li Chenglin bowed solemnly to Li Zhirui and left the main hall in silence.

"Zhirui, are you so sure that he hasn't been subjected to soul possession?" Li Shiqing frowned and asked.

Li Zhirui responded in a deep voice, "Because I have had the same experience!"

"Uncle, do you remember the two magical treasures of decent quality I once gave you?"

Li Shiqing nodded. He was still using those two magical treasures, so how could he forget?

"Actually, I lied to you at that time. There indeed were many spiritual objects in that Golden Core Cave Mansion, but, just like what Chenglin encountered, it was a resurrection method set up by that Golden Core cultivator."

"Back then, I was invaded by the remnant soul of the Golden Core cultivator, and eventually, for some unknown reason, I fell into a coma. When I awoke, I had absorbed his memories, which is how I was able to breakthrough to the Golden Core so quickly." Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire

To avoid exposing the space and that Barrier-Breaking Pill, Li Zhirui told two lies.

His personal testament also completely dispelled everyone's doubts, for from the beginning, his Life Token was different from the other clan members', more advanced and more accurate. If anything was amiss, the family would have discovered it.

"If you are still not at ease, you can send someone to secretly watch Chenglin's every move."

Li Shiqing shook his head, "There's no need."

If Li Zhirui said so, what more did they have to suspect?

"Since this matter is settled, I'll return to continue refining my Life-bound Magic Treasure." Saying this, Li Zhirui bowed to the elders and then turned to leave the main hall.

What he didn't expect was that Li Chenglin, who had already left, actually came to the entrance of his cave mansion.

"Thank you, Uncle Shiling, for helping me clear the suspicion," Li Chenglin bowed again.

Li Zhirui waved his hand and laughed, "You and I come from the same clan; naturally, we should help each other. Moreover, it was just a simple gesture."

"Cultivate diligently and strive to make an early breakthrough in Foundation Establishment, so as to completely rid yourself of the influence of those memories."

"I will not disappoint you, Uncle Shiling!"

Those words made Li Zhirui pause for a moment, because, more than a decade ago, someone had said the same to him.

That person was now an idol in the eyes of the younger generation in the family, especially those with poorer aptitudes — Li Zhixuan!

"Hahaha, Zhixuan also said the same to me back then, and she indeed did not disappoint me. I hope you will do the same!" Li Zhirui laughed heartily.

She hadn't just met his expectations; she had done far better than he had ever imagined!

Though he hadn't seen Li Zhixuan in the two years since his return to the clan, he clearly knew of her recent situation through other clan members.

Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, Sword Qi Great Achievement, and she had even made quite a name for herself in Green Mountain State!

And this was something Li Zhirui had not achieved back in his day.