Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan
Chapter 682 - 688: Return

Li Zhirui, after listening, couldn't be bothered to probe any deeper and said with an indifferent expression, "If you are willing to acknowledge me as your master, I will spare you, but if not, then you may as well surrender your life."

He didn't care much for the Jade Dew Grass Devil's power, but for its identity.

A fourth-rank Spirit Plant Great Devil, that's an excellent choice for a Spiritual Plant Cultivator's partner!

However, considering it could suddenly appear within his nurtured Spirit Seed, Li Zhirui didn't plan to bring it into his space. Letting it tend to Spiritual Objects on Wanxian Island would suffice.

Having heard this, Xiaoqing delayed in responding. It still had one Spirit Seed and wouldn't truly die, but this way, it would end up back in the very cage it had struggled so hard to escape from.

Moreover, it had used its Soul Transfer Supernatural Power twice in succession, greatly depleting its energy. If it used it once more, it would likely fall into a dormant sleep.

Li Zhirui was not in a hurry, quietly waiting for its decision. After all, whether it was a fourth-rank Spiritual Plant Cultivator or a fourth-rank Great Devil, neither was worth his significant effort.

"You may plant your mark inside my Dantian," Xiaoqing eventually conceded.

However, unlike common master-servant contracts, it didn't offer its Spiritual Soul but surrendered control over its Dantian.

The difference between the two was that the Dantian could only control its present body, whereas the Spiritual Soul would be bound by Li Zhirui no matter how many times it used Soul Transfer Supernatural Power.

Upon hearing this, Li Zhirui's eyebrows slightly raised. After thinking for a moment, he nodded and agreed, saying, "Do not resist."

As he spoke, a hint of Spirit Light emerged at his fingertip and lightly tapped Xiaoqing's Dantian. A spell instantly entered its body.

From then on, with just a thought, he could trigger the spell and destroy the Dantian of that body.

While Li Zhirui was casting the spell, Xiaoqing seemed to relax, but in reality, its Spiritual Soul was on guard, terrified he would take the opportunity to control its very essence.

"No need to be so tense; I am not one to go back on my word," Li Zhirui said with a shake of his head, taking out a bottle of healing Precious Pill, and added, "You should focus on recovering first."

"Thank you!"

But Xiaoqing did not consume the pill right away; instead, it securely stored it and silently absorbed the Spiritual Energy from heaven and earth, slowly healing its injuries.

"Quite cautious." Just not very smart.

If he had wanted to take action, with its current state, it wouldn't even be able to resist, let alone be ensnared. Why would he waste a Precious Pill to plot against it?

The next morning.

Li Chengsheng and the other two knocked on the door.

"Come in."

"Eh? Dad, why is there suddenly a member of the Devil Race in your room?" Li Chengshuo asked in surprise.

"Subdued it by chance yesterday."

Li Zhirui replied offhandedly, then changed the subject, "We are setting off for Wanxian Island today. Shuo, are you really planning to stay in the Central Region to train?"

"Yes! The Eastern Region is a bit too barren. Just like Brother spent decades searching for one Sun Spirit Object, I need to find two. If I stay in the Eastern Region, who knows how long it will take," Li Chengshuo said with determination.

"All right then, since you have made up your mind, I will no longer try to dissuade you."

Being so grown up, parents should learn to let go early on, allowing their children to grow independently.

"I didn't have time to prepare many Spirit Pills, so this is all I have," Li Zhirui said, taking out several jade bottles, "If you run out, you'll have to find a way to solve it yourself."

This was indeed the case; during that period, he was busy refining fourth-level Precious Pills. Another reason was that the third-level Spiritual Medicine planted in the space had not yet matured. Without raw materials, how could he refine anything?

"Alright!"

Li Chengshuo replied with enthusiastic interest.

Li Zhirui didn't ask her about her plans. He turned to Li Chengsheng and Li Xianxun and said, "Let's go, it's time to head back."

As for the Jade Dew Grass Devil that was nearby, he simply put it into the Spirit Beast Bag.

Li Chengshuo escorted them to the city gates and watched the three of them leave. She wanted to speak several times, to say that she might as well go back with them, but for the sake of her own path, she eventually couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Safe return."

Li Zhirui said without turning back and then took out the Spirit Boat, leaving with Li Chengsheng and Li Xianxun.

"Dad, if you're worried about Shuo, why let her stay alone in the Central Region?" Li Chengsheng asked, puzzled.

"Only through countless trials can steel be forged. Without enduring hardships, I'm afraid reaching the Nascent Soul stage would be Shuo's limit. The same holds true for you and Xianxun."

Compared to their time, the family now provided them with a good environment for growth. The advantage was that they could provide a plethora of resources, allowing them to grow more quickly; the drawback was that it could lead to laziness and insufficiency in mental fortitude.

Therefore, the more prestigious the sect, the more they value the experience and tempering of their disciples and family members.

The Li family was currently in a transitional stage, slowly changing the overprotective approach of the past in favor of letting their people become independent.

"Although you've reached the Golden Core Late Stage, the path to breaking through to the Nascent Soul will not be as smooth as it is now. When that time comes, you too will need to go out and gain experience," Li Zhirui said with a serious tone. "I hope you make more preparations before that time comes."

He then turned to Li Xianxun and said, "Xianxun, the cultivation technique you are practicing is not something the family has experience in. Many issues will have to be resolved by yourself. However, do not be too stubborn; if you encounter issues that truly can't be resolved, seek help from the family, understand?"

"Don't worry, Patriarch, I understand," Li Xianxun replied.

"That's good."

The Spirit Boat regained its silence, and the trio had little to say on their journey, only occasionally stopping by an Immortal City to purchase some Spiritual Objects, which brought some activity aboard.

After Li Zhirui spent all the Spirit Stones he had brought from the family, they stopped stopping and headed straight east toward the Eastern Region.

The return trip through the Demonic Tao territory was far less troublesome than the journey there.

Since nearly a year had passed since the Secret Realm of Wanxian had closed, it was not the time of the year when people usually returned to the Eastern Region, so the Demon Cultivators naturally wouldn't be lying in wait.

Whenever they encountered minor issues, Li Zhirui didn't deal with them himself but let Li Chengsheng and Li Xianxun take care of them while Xiaoqing provided support from the side, ensuring that no Demon Cultivator could escape and report their movements. This was also a way to give them some relaxation.

As for whether the death of Demon Cultivator disciples would alert their sects? That was simply impossible! Low-rank Demon Cultivators were mere expendables to the Demonic Tao; their deaths meant nothing.

Thus, their passage through the Demonic Tao territory was much faster than on the way there.

Once they reached the domain of the Immortal Tao, Li Zhirui spurred the Spirit Boat with all his might, trying to get back to Wanxian Island as quickly as possible.

Nevertheless, it still took them the better part of a year, as the Li family was situated at the Extreme Eastern Corner. They almost had to traverse the entire Eastern Region to get there.

"We're finally back!"

As soon as they saw Wanxian Island in the distance, Xiaoqing couldn't hold back. Without hesitation, she jumped off the Spirit Boat, spread her wings, and headed towards her cherished place—more precisely, towards a particular person there—at her greatest speed.

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