Chapter 182 - 188: Coming Out of Seclusion

Words : 1376 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

As for the clansmen on Red Pine Island, Nine Springs Island, and Blue Mountain Island, although there is some danger, they can only continue to stay in their original places. Otherwise, if they evacuate, it could cause unrest among the Loose Cultivators and damage the Spirit Veins and Spirit Fields on the islands. Actually, the clansmen outside should still be quite safe unless the Yuanming Sect truly wants to have a falling out with the Li family to the death. Otherwise, they probably won’t attack them. The reason for asking the clansmen from Yunping State to come back is mainly that the Li family has decided to abandon the two shops in Yunping State. In fact, a few years ago, some clansmen suggested closing the shops in Yunping State to focus on managing the Marketplace on Red Pine Island. However, at that time, the number of cultivators on the three islands was not very high, and their consumer power was weak, so the matter was dropped. Experience more content on novelhall.Côm But now, there are over four thousand Loose Cultivators permanently residing on the three islands, and the number of cultivators coming to the islands to hunt Water Devils is increasing. Although it still doesn’t match Yunping State, this number is enough to support a small-scale Marketplace. "Be extra careful during this time." After saying that, Li Shiqing completely activated the Clan Protection Array. Time flies, and soon the day of the Yuanming Sect’s banquet arrived, but the originally lively and festive banquet was now quite cold, despite the presence of cultivators sent by many forces. "The Li family did not send anyone to attend the banquet!" Jiang Tianming said with an indifferent expression, "Since that’s the case, forget about them. Let’s start the banquet!" All of the cultivators present felt a chill upon hearing this. It seemed that Jiang Tianming was not angry, but what he truly felt, only he himself knew. The cultivators mingled with toasts and cheers, watching the beautiful dances with great pleasure. Yet, there were some who couldn’t stand the atmosphere and were likely to cause trouble. "Elder Jiang, you have invited families from nearby to come, but the Li family has ignored you. It is obvious that they no longer regard the Yuanming Sect highly." The moment this statement was made, the cultivators who were somewhat groggy from a few cups of Spiritual Wine immediately sobered up, looking at the speaker with shocked faces. And the cultivator from the same family, scared half to death, never expected his companion to say such disrespectful words. "Hahaha, this is just a gathering, and it is their own choice not to come. You are making unfounded accusations about whether they look down on us or not," Jiang Tianming laughed softly. However, Mingling’s expression was exceptionally ugly, because this banquet was entirely prepared for the Li family! Yet the cultivators of the Li family did not even come. The Yuanming Sect wanted to use this opportunity to humiliate the Li family in front of so many cultivators, creating the perception that the Li family was not so formidable after all. If Li Shiqing had personally attended, then Jiang Tianming and Mingling would have joined forces to keep him on Yuanming Mountain. Unfortunately, both of these plans failed! Not long after, the banquet came to an end. As for the so-called exchange and preaching previously mentioned, it never existed at all! Still, the attendees of the banquet dared not express any opinions, only leaving behind gifts and congratulations before hurriedly departing from Yuanming Mountain. But everyone could see that the Li family was about to face misfortune! "Brother, if we don’t teach the Li family a lesson, it will be even harder to suppress them in the future," Mingling said coldly. He, in fact, wanted to take action and wipe out the Li family, then annex Da Rong Island like they did with Guangqing State. However, Li Shiqing has not left Da Rong Island for years, and they could not possibly act on the home ground of their opponent. "But what should we do?" Jiang Tianming shook his head helplessly, "The Li family is cautious, and Li Shiqing even more so, he simply won’t step out of the Defensive Array." As long as Li Shiqing is alive, even if they killed all the other cultivators of the Li family, in a sense, it would still be a futile effort and might only provoke Li Shiqing. ``` In the future, Yuanming Sect disciples may well be afraid to reveal their affiliation when outside, for fear it might attract Li Shiqing’s wrath. Yet before the two of them could work out a plan to deal with the Li family, a piece of news instantly spread across the whole Yunping State, leaving everyone utterly shocked. Li Shilian had broken through to the Golden Core Realm! "How is this possible?!" Mingling couldn’t believe it as he spoke, which was also the initial reaction of most cultivators upon hearing the news. The Yuanming Sect had accumulated its strength for so many years to produce their second Golden Core, but how long had it been for the Li family? "This could have only happened in the Li family," Jiang Tianming said quite calmly, given that he had adjusted his mindset quickly enough. Now that things were settled, it didn’t have much impact on the Yuanming Sect, because even though Li Shilian had broken through to the Golden Core, their overall strength was still no match for them; it was simply a lost opportunity to absorb Da Rong Island. Perhaps Jiang Tianming, being at the Middle Golden Core Stage, could easily suppress and defeat Li Shiqing, but killing him was no easy feat, and it would be very difficult for him to accomplish it alone. "When you think about it, the Li family has been quite lucky with their Tribulation Transcendence; it wasn’t discovered by outsiders. If the Li family hadn’t disclosed it themselves, we probably wouldn’t know to this day," he contemplated. If they had known that someone from the Li family was undergoing Tribulation Transcendence, they wouldn’t have hesitated; they would definitely have taken Da Rong Island while Li Shilian was still in seclusion, even at a considerable cost. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as what ifs in this world. Meanwhile, on Da Rong Island, Li Shilian, who had spent several months consolidating his realm, emerged from the Spirit Cave full of vigor. "Congratulations!" "I have not failed your expectations; I’ve successfully formed my Core," Li Shilian said with a smile. Li Shiqing smiled and nodded, adding, "Your timing is perfect. If you’d come out any later, the Yuanming Sect might have come knocking at our door." "What happened?" After hearing the reasons, Li Shilian frowned and sighed, "On the surface, our family seems to have a good relationship with the Yuanming Sect, but the facade was bound to break sooner or later." This was inevitable unless both of their powers didn’t wish to grow or develop any further. "We’ll take it one step at a time," Li Shiqing said, not wanting to disclose in public that Li Zhirui was also in secluded breakthrough. "According to the rules, we should prepare a Core Formation celebration for you. If you have any requests, you can inform the family; otherwise, we’ll follow the same arrangements as for Uncle," Li Zhizhun asked. "Let’s keep it as it is then, no need for changes," Li Shilian answered, not placing much importance on it. ---- "Indeed, the Golden Core Realm is not so easily breached," a voice sounded within the quiet chamber, belonging to Li Zhirui. Despite his lengthy period of seclusion, he had yet to find the feeling required for a breakthrough, and no matter how many times he reviewed the two Core Formation Comprehension insights from his family, Li Zhirui only grasped a bit but not enough to break through his shackles. "It’s fine, it’s just a matter of a few years; I can afford the time," Li Zhirui murmured to himself, consoling his spirit. And indeed, as he said, he was still young with plenty of opportunities and time ahead, hence his current state of mind was very calm. ```

Chapter 182 - 188: Coming Out of Seclusion

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