Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1592 - 842: Daoist Couple (2)

"It's been close to a hundred years since I last returned. My sister mentioned that Father's marketplace hit some rough patches but still held strong. He'd sneak us resources from time to time during those hard days!" Yin Shilan gazed at Inner Yang Mountain, opening up to Li Shiming.

Thoughts of her parents filled her eyes with tears. Sect rules kept her confined to the cave, so she hadn't laid eyes on them in a full century.

Without those restrictions on her sister's freedom, she might never have learned of her parents' plight.

"I failed to set things right before departing!" Li Shiming admitted, a hint of self-reproach in his voice.

"I hold no grudges. I get how tough it was for you!" Yin Shilan softly grasped Li Shiming's arm, her words tender.

She was well aware of the dire situation that forced Li Shiming to flee the Beishu Continent.

At that time, Li Shiming had merely reached the Golden Core Stage, yet every Nascent Soul Stage expert in the Beishu Continent pursued him relentlessly. Surviving the escape was a feat in itself; worrying about anything else amid the chaos was out of the question.

Besides, Li Shiming had already gone above and beyond for his family. The marketplace close to the Thousand Illusion Sect boasted solid networks and a full-fledged supply system.

Naturally, once Li Shiming departed, the marketplace felt the strain.

Yet Yin Shilan's father possessed real talent. Amid the pressures, he kept it afloat with just enough to spare for his daughters.

The Flying Boat came down, touching ground just beyond the marketplace entrance.

Li Shiming spotted Elder Yin and Aunt Ren at the marketplace's doorway, alerted by the news and ready to welcome the pair.

"Father! Mother!" Yin Shilan cried out gently at the sight of her parents, her tears finally spilling over.

A hundred years apart had brought her parents into their later years.

Aunt Ren had consumed the 'Youthful Elixir,' but with her lifespan nearing its close, the elixir's effects waned, unable to preserve her youthful looks.

Her features still resembled those of a woman in her thirties, looking remarkably fresh.

But Yin Shilan knew her mother's aging would accelerate soon; within three or four decades, as her life ebbed away, her mother would appear fully withered.

"Lan'er, my dear Lan'er!" Aunt Ren pulled Yin Shilan into a tight hug, whispering the words.

Elder Yin felt the same surge of emotion, yet he held it steady and turned his gaze to Li Shiming.

Though a century had passed, Li Shiming's looks remained unchanged from before, but his presence had shifted him from a brash youth to a commanding figure of power.

"Uncle Yin, Aunt Ren!" Li Shiming offered a deep bow from his position behind them.

Few in this realm could prompt such respect from him; this pair counted among those revered elders.

"Why stick to Uncle and Aunt? Do you intend to avoid wedding Lan'er?" Aunt Ren, with Yin Shilan still in her embrace, playfully chided Li Shiming.

Even after all these years, the infamous Evil Elder Ren's reputation might fade upon returning to the Beishu Continent, but her spirited nature stayed much the same.

Yin Shilan displayed scant embarrassment, her soft gaze fixed calmly on Li Shiming.

Their connection had deepened through trials of life and death long ago, yet Li Shiming always prioritized her cultivation progress and avoided the topic.

As a woman, she couldn't initiate it, and this visit to her parents served partly to enlist their help on the matter.

"Li Shiming pays respects to Father and Mother-in-law!" Li Shiming didn't pause before bowing low and declaring it.

He'd considered such steps before, but the Cultivation World's ways meant Daoist couples rarely held formal rites.

Families like Yin Shilan's, where all were cultivators, stood as exceptions. Most entered the Cultivation World from mortal roots, severing those bonds upon ascent.

Had Aunt Ren not prodded, he and Yin Shilan would have simply proceeded, each recognizing the other as their Daoist partner.

"Shiming, share tales of the other continents!" Elder Yin grinned, clasping Li Shiming's arm to guide him inside the marketplace while chatting.

Aunt Ren held Yin Shilan's hand, offering tips on nurturing a Daoist couple's bond.

Their exchange flowed via sound transmission, now and then bringing a faint flush to Yin Shilan's cheeks.

"Father-in-law, this marketplace looks to be thriving!" As they stepped into the bustling area, Li Shiming observed the throng of cultivators—a vibrant, uncommon scene.

"Only in the last couple of years has it picked up like this. The Beishu Sect came to me with expansion proposals, terms so generous it felt like a handout. Without knowing you established the Beishu Sect, I'd suspect foul play!" Elder Yin chuckled while discussing the marketplace.

His eyes held clear admiration for Li Shiming, evident in his appreciation that Li Shiming hadn't overlooked them.

Li Shiming felt a touch of awkwardness; he hadn't personally ordered the marketplace near Inner Yang Mountain, yet his influence alone guaranteed its solid oversight.

His ties to Yin Shilan were common knowledge in the Beishu Sect, just as the links from Yin Shilan to Elder Yin and this marketplace circulated among cultivators.

With control over the Beishu Continent in his hands, those connected naturally reaped advantages.

None in the marketplace identified him, unaware that this apparent young cultivator was the mighty Li Shiming.

It was only as they neared the rear main structure that a late-stage Golden Core cultivator clad in Beishu Sect robes approached with deference.

"You've labored well!" Li Shiming gestured for him to stand and remarked.

This late-stage Golden Core figure wasn't shopping; Li Shiming had spotted him before, scanning the area alertly, clearly placed there by the Beishu Sect.

"My lord, it's an honor to serve!" the late-stage Golden Core cultivator replied, thrilled.

Even Elder Yin detected the intense devotion from this cultivator, highlighting the shifts across the Beishu Continent.

Truth be told, even without Li Shiming's input, the Beishu Continent's current form wouldn't slip back to the old seven-sect days easily.

The modern Beishu Sect outshines that era in cultivation resources, techniques, and scriptures.

Beyond that, exchanges with other continents bring in steady resources for the Beishu Sect, surpassing the scope of Li Shiming's Treasure Pavilion.

The Treasure Pavilion holds immense wealth, but its stocks would dwindle over time.

Trade links to other lands ensure the Beishu Sect enjoys an endless resource stream, freeing it from rationing supplies to its members.

Though the Beishu Sect remains somewhat new and lacks standout high-tier experts, it's witnessing a surge in fresh Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators.

Such transformation unfolded in mere years, and within decades, Nascent Soul Stage numbers should swell dramatically.

Every Beishu Sect cultivator recognizes the one to thank for their improved fortunes.

Countless have delved into Li Shiming's legendary exploits, and even now, after a hundred years, those stories stir awe in many, fueling their utmost veneration for him.

Elder Yin swelled with pride—this was his daughter's Daoist partner, someone he'd seen rise from boyhood.

Who could foresee that the modest talent from the Sky Sea Sect would ascend so far in little over a century?

Rumors about Li Shiming abounded these days, so tangled that Elder Yin wondered what held truth amid the fabrications.

He simply aimed to keep Li Shiming close, sifting fact from fiction.

Inside the main building, the talk flowed with Elder Yin posing questions and Li Shiming providing responses.

From Li Shiming's departure from the Beishu Continent onward, Elder Yin gleaned the tale of his rise in the Cultivation World.

Despite Li Shiming glossing over confidential details and perilous ordeals, Elder Yin grasped the trials he'd endured.