Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1573 - 833: The Reason

Patriarch Ge led the way for Li Shiming, bringing him to a particular area near the Thousand Illusion Sect’s mountain gate. From the initial look, it was obvious this wasn’t a place for core disciples, since the Spiritual Energy felt even thinner compared to surrounding spots.

“Stop coming here, we’re out of resources entirely!” Ren Fei’er’s voice echoed from inside the cave dwelling.

Based on her tone alone, anyone could sense the transformation in Ren Fei’er, once bold and unafraid of anything. Now, she appeared to be suffering under heavy pressure.

Li Shiming looked over at Patriarch Ge standing next to him, noticing the flicker in her gaze.

“Ren Fei’er, it’s me—I’m back!” Li Shiming called out to the firmly shut door of the cave dwelling.

The cave door swung open right away, showing Ren Fei’er’s face that had grown more mature.

“Brother-in-law, why did it take you this long to come back? We’ve been tormented endlessly!” Ren Fei’er gazed at Li Shiming and then at Patriarch Ge lingering a bit behind him. Her sharp eyes caught some hints, and she started sobbing, wrapping her arms around Li Shiming tightly while pounding on him as she vented.

“I’m to blame, where’s your sister?” Li Shiming hurriedly lowered his body’s automatic defenses to avoid Ren Fei’er hurting herself from the blows, and he inquired gently.

Ren Fei’er had now advanced to the Golden Core Middle Stage through natural progression over more than a hundred years, thanks to her aptitude.

“Oh, sister—I need to inform sister!” Ren Fei’er abruptly remembered and spun around to dash back inside the cave dwelling.

In that instant, it felt like the spirited Ren Fei’er of old had resurfaced, and Li Shiming couldn’t suppress a grin.

“Explain to me what’s been going on here?” Li Shiming gestured toward the cave dwelling and questioned.

He hadn’t treated the Thousand Illusion Sect poorly; just from his alchemy work, numerous cultivators in it were indebted to him.

What he requested from the Thousand Illusion Sect was minimal, simply that they look after Yin Shilan.

Yet the state of this current cave dwelling marked it as the poorest, revealing the difficult existence Yin Shilan endured within the sect.

Besides, the other Golden Core cultivators acted as if they were unaware of Yin Shilan or feigned ignorance, essentially ignoring her completely.

“Once you departed, patriarchs from various sects banded together multiple times. With the Thousand Illusion Sect’s frailty, I could merely shield Shilan, but had no way to supply her with additional resources!” Patriarch Ge replied with a heavy heart.

While he explained, Li Shiming detected Yin Shilan’s approach. Upon seeing her, he froze in shock.

Yin Shilan’s presence lingered only at the Golden Core Middle Stage. One must remember that the Spirit Pills he’d given her were ample for pushing her to the Golden Core Late Stage.

Prior to his departure, he’d supplied Yin Shilan with several multiples of the necessary resources, planning that after hitting Golden Core Peak, she could trade the leftovers for Nascent Soul Stage materials. Add in the sect’s support for Golden Core Peak members, and given Yin Shilan’s talent, breaking through to Nascent Soul shouldn’t have posed an issue.

However, the Yin Shilan standing before him remained stuck at Golden Core Middle Stage, with a full century squandered.

“What happened to the resources I provided for Lan’er?” He abruptly faced Patriarch Ge and demanded sharply.

Patriarch Ge’s form hurtled backward like it had been slapped by an enormous hand, soaring dozens of meters away.

Though pain wracked Patriarch Ge’s body, what truly terrified her was Li Shiming’s power.

She felt certain that only seconds earlier, Li Shiming hadn’t employed any Spiritual Power Pattern. Just the menacing force in his stare had launched her through the air.

From her narrow understanding, she realized Li Shiming’s prowess surpassed even the Nascent Soul Middle Stage experts she’d encountered previously.

Yet she struggled to pinpoint precisely in what way it exceeded them.

In her perception, a Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator resembled an imposing peak, while Li Shiming’s aura loomed even vaster and more imposing than that peak, though her own cultivation level and insight limited her to this observation.

“Shiming, don’t fault Master—she was helpless!” Yin Shilan cried out softly, moving ahead to softly clasp Li Shiming, worried he’d unleash more anger, and she counseled him tenderly.

“Lan’er, they’ve robbed you of a hundred years!” Li Shiming wrapped Yin Shilan in a gentle hug, speaking to her with affection.

Despite bearing a hundred years of hardship, Yin Shilan retained her gentle nature.

“I don’t mind it, I’ve at last awaited your return!” Yin Shilan declared in a resolute and joyful tone.

“We won’t separate ever again—in this past century, I’ve acquired the power to safeguard you!” Li Shiming regarded Yin Shilan with a heartfelt vow.

“You surely endured much suffering during these hundred years!” Yin Shilan paid no heed to Li Shiming’s growth in power; having lost his shelter, she had learned the brutality of the Cultivation World and the challenges a lone cultivator faced abroad.

“Describe to me the events here!” Li Shiming eyed the recovering Patriarch Ge, then shifted to Yin Shilan and requested.

“After your departure, Master first succeeded in defending me, but with so many patriarchs pressuring us, Master reluctantly yielded to their requests to preserve the Thousand Illusion Sect!” Yin Shilan recounted evenly.

“What became of the resources I handed you?” Li Shiming pursued, a suspicion solidifying in his thoughts.

“All of them were seized by the patriarchs; across the years, it was thanks to Master that Fei’er obtained enough to reach Golden Core Middle Stage. The Thousand Illusion Sect lacks abundant resources, and for a target like me pursued by numerous patriarchs, the sect could hardly offer much!” Yin Shilan shook her head as she explained.

“Mr. Ge, pass along my words: to every Nascent Soul cultivator who claimed resources from Lan’er, I grant them twenty days to ready themselves—return ten times the amount they seized, or suffer the repercussions!” Li Shiming directed toward Patriarch Ge.