Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1526 - 809: Facing the Challenge (Part 2)

"Master Ren Mu is nearing the Dongqi Continent. He plans to linger at the Central State Commerce branch briefly to grasp the conditions of Dongqi Continent and your own status!" Much to Li Shiming's astonishment, a transmission arrived from Master Liu Ziyun.

Li Shiming's drone satellite network hadn't picked up Master Ren Mu's impending arrival, yet Master Liu Ziyun, as the overseer of Central State Commerce's Dongqi Continent operations, had already relayed the crucial updates to him.

He found Master Liu Ziyun's actions rather baffling. Despite their binding agreement, there was no obligation for the other side to go to such lengths.

In truth, Master Liu Ziyun possessed solid motives. The clash this time between Master Ren Mu and Li Shiming served as a trial for Li Shiming.

Should Li Shiming manage to endure the assault from Peak Great Cultivator Ren Mu, it would demonstrate his worthiness to maintain ties with Liu Ziyun's group.

Should he perish beneath Master Ren Mu's onslaught, naturally all dealings would cease, rendering the contract irrelevant.

By forwarding this intel to Li Shiming, Master Liu Ziyun aimed to extend a gesture of favor. Truth be told, relaying or withholding this information wouldn't truly sway the outcome of the showdown between Li Shiming and Master Ren Mu.

For elite figures like Master Ren Mu, typical ambushes or snares held minimal value.

Such devices capable of ensnaring a Peak Great Cultivator were exceedingly scarce; even mighty organizations struggled to craft them, much less Li Shiming, a Great Cultivator originating from a renowned sect.

"Thank you!" Li Shiming sent back a quick response.

He informed Grandmaster Hu of his need to depart the sect for an excursion but withheld the true purpose, unwilling to burden his mentor with concerns.

From the Ten Thousand Beast Sect's entrance, he activated 'One Step to Heaven' repeatedly and sped toward the Central State Commerce Dongqi Continent outpost, a location he knew well.

'One Step to Heaven' operated at full capacity, engaging ten minds; the steps flowed seamlessly with barely any pause. Though the drain was hefty, at the Great Cultivator realm, such expenditure posed no real challenge.

As he materialized overhead at the Central State Commerce Dongqi Continent branch, Master Liu Ziyun spotted him hovering via the outpost's protective array, and his face twisted into a vivid array of emotions.

Since Master Ren Mu hadn't shown up yet, Li Shiming's early presence caught everyone off guard.

Master Ren Mu had transmitted word to Master Liu Ziyun upon nearing Dongqi Continent's coastal waters. Upon getting the alert, Master Liu Ziyun shared it promptly with Li Shiming.

He assumed Master Ren Mu was nearly at the branch already. The timing seemed perfect to deliver the intel to Master Ren Mu and arrange their encounter with Li Shiming.

Yet he hadn't anticipated that Li Shiming, starting from a greater distance, would reach the spot in merely half an hour.

Master Liu Ziyun sighed in resignation, readying himself to approach Li Shiming and suggest delaying his arrival a bit.

After some thought, he included Xin Jingyun, a Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator. She handled communications with Li Shiming during his time on Dongqi Continent as the assigned Nascent Soul Middle Stage expert.

He figured a female cultivator might ease interactions, so he planned for Xin Jingyun to keep Li Shiming company at a remote spot.

"Mr. Li, you got here remarkably fast!" Master Liu Ziyun drew near Li Shiming and remarked with a helpless grin.

"Yes, Master Ren Mu ought to be arriving from that direction!" Li Shiming started to reply when a sudden sensation hit him, prompting him to glance toward the horizon.

In the heavens, a swift flying boat hurtled closer, and as it neared, a subtle but chilling aura of menace began to blanket even the assembled Great Cultivators.

Master Liu Ziyun intended to urge Li Shiming to withdraw temporarily, but the vessel's velocity was overwhelming, landing close before he could utter a word.

Li Shiming fixed his gaze on the flying boat, noting its superior craftsmanship—a top-tier fourth-grade model.

Though he owned multiple top fourth-grade flying boats, most tied to major influences left him with just the 'White Emperor Light Cloud Boat' for personal use.

In fact, he remained unaware that the 'White Emperor Light Cloud Boat' also connected to a dominant force. However, since it came as a gift from such a power, the involvement threshold wasn't met for them to step in over it.

"Junior Brother Liu, things seem to be thriving here in Dongqi. You've even nurtured another Great Cultivator. Why skip reporting this to headquarters?" The elite fourth-grade flying boat dissolved from view, unveiling Master Ren Mu's form as he eyed Li Shiming briefly before addressing Master Liu Ziyun.

He couldn't fault the oversight; on this visit, he'd only notified Master Liu Ziyun. Logically, apart from the local Dongqi Branch members, no outsiders should have learned of it, let alone crossed paths with him.

His transport was a supreme fourth-grade flying boat, blazingly swift, and the interval between alerting Master Liu Ziyun and touching down at the branch was brief.

Moreover, Li Shiming's youthful appearance proved deceptive, especially with the 'Heavenly Human Technique' masking his presence to mimic merely the Early Stage of Great Cultivator.

"Li Shizhen offers greetings to fellow cultivator!" Li Shiming gave a faint smile and executed the standard cultivator's bow.

"Li Shizhen... you mean the Li Shizhen who slew Junior Brother Qian and Junior Brother Lu?" Master Ren Mu recoiled at Li Shiming's introduction, querying in sheer astonishment.

"If you're referring to those two Great Cultivators who tried to plunder me at sea, then yes, I'm the one responsible for their demise!" Li Shiming affirmed with a nod.

"What a shame—while you were at headquarters, I remained in closed-door cultivation the entire period. Had I emerged, maybe you wouldn't have been driven from Central State Commerce, and we might have avoided this enmity!" Master Ren Mu regarded Li Shiming with a tinge of sorrow as he spoke.

He shot Master Liu Ziyun an odd glance; certainties eluded him, but a tight bond clearly linked Master Liu Ziyun and Li Shiming.

Nevertheless, the fierce internal disputes and rivalries inside Central State Commerce ran deep, given that all were profit-driven merchants ready to sacrifice anything for gain.

Consider Li Shiming: a prodigious genius in cultivation and a skilled high-rank Alchemy Master, yet he got betrayed for mere advantages.

Had Master Liu Ziyun drawn Li Shiming into his circle sooner, later events might have unfolded differently. Back then, with no backing at headquarters, Li Shiming's mistreatment was inevitable.

"I too desire no feud with a formidable expert like Mr. Ren, yet destiny twists in unforeseen ways. The Ten Thousand Beast Sect is in the midst of rebuilding, so I propose we stage our confrontation over the ocean—would that suit you?" Li Shiming proposed with a grin.

"Very well, your boldness alone earns my respect. Once you fall in battle, if you return to Central State Commerce, I'll personally sort out your remaining issues!" Master Ren Mu boomed with laughter and declared.

"After you, then!" Li Shiming made a welcoming motion.

"Follow me!" Master Ren Mu soared ahead toward the open sea.

Li Shiming gave Master Liu Ziyun a nod and trailed after Master Ren Mu.

"Xin Jingyun, head back inside. I'm going to trail them and witness this!" Master Liu Ziyun refused to linger idly; watching a duel among premier Great Cultivators promised immense insights for his own path. He directed Xin Jingyun before pursuing the pair.

Xin Jingyun alone remained airborne, gaping in bewilderment at the path where the three Great Cultivators had vanished.

From the outset, encountering Li Shiming struck her like a surreal vision.

Through her duties, she'd crossed paths with Li Shiming often, but she never imagined that after so many years, he would ascend to Great Cultivator status.

And now, bracing for a showdown against Master Ren Mu no less. Who exactly was Master Ren Mu? The pinnacle Great Cultivator of Central State Commerce, ranking among the mightiest below Half-step Great Power.

Her thoughts swirled in turmoil. The shock overwhelmed her completely.

She wasn't even certain if she should root for Li Shiming's success, merely yearning for him to endure—as Master Ren Mu implied—and reenter Central State Commerce.

Should that occur, perhaps normalcy could resume.

Yet reclaiming the bygone days proved no simple feat, and Li Shiming could never reintegrate into Central State Commerce, the very entity that had forsaken him.