Chapter 275 - 281: Leaving

Words : 1348 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

Watching Jiang Fengwu enter the room, Li Zhirui turned to go back. As soon as he stepped into the clan grounds, he was pulled aside by Li Shiqing, who had been waiting for him. With an ambiguous expression, he asked, "What's the deal with that Taoist Jiang?" "It's just as I said before, we are currently in the process of furthering our acquaintance." Li Zhirui, not knowing if he was shy or what, didn't wait for them to keep asking and quickly said, "There's less than a month left until the Alchemy Competition, I need to hurry and refine Spirit Pills, so I'll be going back now." Li Shiqing watched his flustered retreat with a teasing look. Although he himself had no partner, it wasn't as though he had never experienced such things, and with age came cunning; how could he not see what was going on with Li Zhirui? "It looks like it's really time to start preparing the wedding banquet!" Of course, it was still too early to say such things before getting definite news. —— After returning to his cave dwelling, Li Zhirui spent some time calming his mind before starting to refine Vitality Pills with Spiritual Medicine. In the following month, he frequently left his retreat to search for Jiang Fengwu in the Marketplace, aiming to deepen their understanding of each other and quickly gauge how well they matched. After spending time together, their relationship made rapid progress. For they discovered that the other was a perfect fit, almost as if they were each other's destined other half! While the two were busy with their courtship, the Li family was also preparing for the Alchemy Competition in full swing, sending Foundation Establishment members of the clan to deliver invitations to various houses. But for top powers like Shen Leishan and Xuanfa Pavilion, it was Li Shiqing himself who took charge. "Alchemy Competition?" Sect Master Wen of Shen Leishan glanced at the luxurious invitation in his hand with a hint of disdain and said, "See if the Elder is willing to attend. If not, just randomly pick someone." Ever since Shen Leishan destroyed the Yin Wind Cave and became the master of two provinces, its disciples had grown arrogant, not to mention Sect Master Wen, who was nominally credited for the deed. If this had been before, he would have held a third-tier Alchemy Master in high regard, but now, not even worth a second glance. "Yes!" In the end, the only Golden Core cultivators from Shen Leishan willing to attend were a freshly advanced one and an old Alchemist. The reactions of other powers upon receiving the invitations varied: some were surprised, some pleased, and others wore frowns of concern. The gate of the Green Bamboo Sect was on a mountain teeming with various colorful Spirit Bamboos. All the high ranking members gathered together because of the Li family's invitation. Because the Li family had acquired the Skyflower Spirit Tree, a treasure capable of producing Core Formation Spiritual Objects, they had originally planned to take the opportunity to eliminate the Li family and seize the Spirit Tree. However, with the onset of the Alchemy Competition, they had to consider one issue! That was the extent of the network of the third-tier Alchemy Master from the Li family. "We haven't made a move yet; there's still time," advocated the Elder, suggesting they cancel the previous plan and instead seek good relations with the Li family. Another Elder immediately objected, "No! The Skyflower Spirit Tree can continuously produce Core Formation Spiritual Objects, which could make the Sect much stronger. We can't just give it up so easily!" "But the Li family now has a third-tier Alchemy Master, and there are plenty of Golden Core cultivators who want to curry favor with them. Once we make our move, can you ensure they won't come to their aid?" It is known that, under the vast domain of Shen Leishan, among the nearly a hundred Golden Core cultivators, there are only four Alchemy Masters, including Li Zhirui! Of the remaining three, two are elders of Shen Leishan, and the other is a Golden Core cultivator from the Sun family of Pill Mountain. To request their alchemy services requires paying a steep price. The third-tier Spirit Pills they refine are first to meet the needs of their own Golden Cores. Only a very small portion of excess pills are sold, and that too, at exorbitant prices. Xuanfa Pavilion won't be offering charity either. They may even engage in starvation marketing to further drive up the price of the pills. It is also because of these reasons that the Golden Core cultivators from various factions progress so slowly in their cultivation. After all, they can only rely on absorbing Spiritual Energy without the aid of Spirit Pills. How could it not be slow? "Once our strength is damaged, will the forces nearby let go of this opportunity?" This statement made everyone present fall into silence. Under Shen Leishan's intentional provocation, relations with neighboring Golden Core powers were not good, and the Green Bamboo Sect was naturally no exception. "Let's put this matter on hold for now and see if there's an opportunity to discuss it later," said the highest-ranking Great Elder of the Green Bamboo Sect. From his words, it was evident that he had not given up on seizing the Skyflower Spirit Tree. He simply didn't plan to act yet. And another who was deeply troubled by this was none other than the Yuanming Sect! Jiang Tianming and the others knew Li Zhirui's talent for alchemy was quite good, but due to the Essence-Enhancing Pill matter, they thought the Li family would not spread the word that Li Zhirui was a third-tier Alchemy Master. But who would have thought, the Li family would suddenly release this news and even hold a grand pill appraisal conference! "Perhaps, we need to start looking for a way out!" This was the first time Jiang Tianming harbored this notion; he felt that perhaps he could no longer compete with the Li family. "Elder brother!" Mingling's eyes widened in disbelief; he never imagined that he would hear such words. "Sigh," Jiang Tianming let out a bitter laugh. He knew it was depressing to speak such words, but the growth of the Li family was simply too rapid, whereas the development of the Yuanming Sect left something to be desired. Although they later received a few disciples with dual spiritual roots and took them as true inheritors, carefully mentoring them, there simply wasn't enough time! Even after investing a significant amount of resources, they were only in the early to mid stages of Foundation Establishment, still a long way off from Core Formation. "Junior brother, the thousand-year lineage of the Yuanming Sect cannot end with us! Otherwise, how will we face our ancestors in the future?" Mingling wrestled with his thoughts, but ultimately, he nodded, saying in a heavy tone, "Elder brother, what you say is true; if there truly comes a day when the Li family attacks our sect, I hope I can stay behind." "Junior brother..." Before Jiang Tianming could speak, Mingling interrupted him, decisively saying, "Elder brother! My aptitudes, determination, and temperament are all inferior to yours. You have a better chance of leading our sect to rise again. Let me make one last contribution to our sect!" "Alright!" With just this one word, Jiang Tianming found it incredibly hard to express, and when he finally managed to make a sound, it was a trembling, choked sob. As various forces sent representatives to Wanxian Island for the pill appraisal conference, Jiang Tianming, carrying most of the Yuanming Sect's wealth, including a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators, outstanding Qi Cultivation disciples, and all sorts of Spiritual Objects, quietly left. They planned to head south to find a new location for their sect. This time, Jiang Tianming left, never to return.

Chapter 275 - 281: Leaving

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