Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1572 - 832: Nearing Home_2

"No need for a hearty welcome. My return is bound to strike fear into plenty of hearts. Let them know not to stir trouble with me; I'm in no mood to handle such nuisances!" Li Shiming dismissed with a wave of his hand.

The 'White Emperor Light Cloud Boat' under Li Shiming's control picked up speed, soaring deeper into the heart of the continent.

Neither Li Nuo nor Venerable Huike dared to block his path; they could merely observe as Li Shiming's silhouette faded away into the horizon.

"Just how formidable do you reckon Li Shiming's cultivation base has become?" Li Nuo inquired, turning toward Venerable Huike.

It wasn't Li Nuo's fault for his limited perspective; Nascent Soul Middle Stage experts were scarce across the whole Beishu Continent, while Great Cultivators existed only in tales and myths.

Considering Li Shiming's age, wild guesses aside, they could hardly fathom him reaching the level of a Great Cultivator.

"It must have reached a deeply advanced stage within Nascent Soul Middle Stage. The pressure from typical Nascent Soul Middle Stage experts from outside doesn't come close to his overwhelming might!" Venerable Huike pondered briefly before answering.

"With Li Shiming's return, where might his initial destination be? Could he be heading to stir up chaos with the Shushan Sect?" Li Nuo pressed on with his questions.

The thought of Li Shiming clashing with the Shushan Sect brought a grin to his lips. Though the great sects displayed solidarity on the surface, rivalries simmered endlessly beneath.

As the dominant force among the Righteous Path on Beishu Continent, the Shushan Sect represented a grave danger to the Demon Sect.

Should Li Shiming truly assault the Shushan Sect and leave them crippled, the Senluo Sect's standing on Beishu Continent would soar dramatically.

"No matter Li Shiming's intended path, tranquility across Beishu Continent seems doomed to end!" Venerable Huike sighed, shaking his head.

"Could the events from that time cause repercussions now?" Li Nuo ventured cautiously, a memory surfacing in his mind.

Venerable Huike had almost overlooked it, but Li Nuo's prompt made his expression shift dramatically.

"It probably won't lead to big trouble. Back then, we didn't apply undue force!" He responded, his tone laced with doubt.

The 'White Emperor Light Cloud Boat' glided rapidly across the skies over Beishu Continent. Before Li Shiming, visions of a captivating woman in green attire flickered constantly; she was the one he longed for most in this realm, a rare bond he cherished deeply.

As the flying vessel neared the Thousand Illusion Sect, a growing unease gripped him.

After a century's absence, even for a Golden Core Stage Yin Shilan back then, and despite his own Nascent Soul status now, a hundred years felt like an eternity.

He hadn't chosen to stay away out of disinterest; he was acutely aware of the numerous foes in the Cultivation World, backed by immense powers. One slip could force him into seclusion within a Grotto Heaven for protection.

Yet his old allies and those dearest to him would fall prey to those mighty adversaries.

Horror at such a fate had kept him away, leading him after arriving at Dongqi Continent to adopt the name Li Shizhen, cutting all links to Beishu Continent.

At last, armed with sufficient might to safeguard his loved ones, he had returned.

The Thousand Illusion Sect remained largely unchanged from his memories, showing little alteration.

Even as a premier sect on Beishu Continent, the mountain gate defenses of the Thousand Illusion Sect paled against those of a standard medium sect in Dongqi Continent.

Prolonged seclusion from the wider world had let Beishu Continent safeguard its ancient legacy, fostering deep-rooted customs, but it missed chances to expand its influence.

Through his expert lens on formations, the sect's primary array relied on antiquated principles, which clarified why encountering other continents' array expertise after departing Beishu had always struck him as worlds apart.

In the realm of formations today, no Array Master across the entire Immortal Realm could rival him. Flaws invisible to him in the past now stood out clearly.

"This junior pays respects to Senior. What brings Senior to our Thousand Illusion Sect?" A Golden Core Cultivator emerged from the sect, his gaze flickering with bewilderment at Li Shiming as he saluted and questioned.

This Golden Core Cultivator sensed a vague familiarity with Li Shiming but struggled to pinpoint the encounter right away.

Nearly a century had elapsed, after all. Though Li Shiming had once garnered notable renown on Beishu Continent, time's passage sufficed to obliterate his lingering imprint.

"I've come to meet Yin Shilan!" Li Shiming stated coolly.

"No Yin Shilan exists here; Senior must have mistaken the location!" At the sound of Yin Shilan's name, the Golden Core Cultivator's face subtly altered as he replied.

A glint of ferocity sparked in Li Shiming's eyes; he detected the Golden Core Cultivator's deceitful tone, fully aware that Yin Shilan had been a Thousand Illusion Sect disciple with Golden Core Cultivation even back then.

On Beishu Continent, attaining Golden Core Stage opened doors to Elder status in a top sect, commanding immense authority.

The Golden Core Cultivator's denial hinted at some misfortune befalling Yin Shilan.

Should that prove true, he would spare no mercy, hauling all culprits into the abyss and razing their sects to dust.

Unsteady in his feelings, Li Shiming's Great Cultivator aura surged forth unrestrained, radiating in every direction.

The Golden Core Cultivator bore the brunt, crushed under the horrifying pressure. Sensing peril, he triggered an alert just before the overwhelming Great Cultivator presence knocked him unconscious to the ground.

A shrill warning blared throughout the Thousand Illusion Sect's mountain gate, an alarm silent for ages, startling the cultivators accustomed to serenity until a Golden Core Elder bellowed orders to explain the crisis.

From the mountain gate's core, two silhouettes appeared.

"Everyone, remain steady and hold the formation. I'll investigate!" declared Patriarch Ge, a Nascent Soul Ancestor and Yin Shilan's own master.

Patriarch Ge and Ancestor Zhan shared a glance, shock rippling between them.

Despite their calming words to the sect members, they inwardly recognized that even flawless formation upkeep would yield scant defense.

The aura seeping through from beyond, diminished as it was, still jolted the pair of Nascent Soul Cultivators.

With intimate knowledge of their sect's array, they could readily assess the dreadfully potent entity outside.

Yet this was their home; the two Nascent Soul experts were loath to forsake it and run. Even attempting flight against such a force offered slim odds of success.

"You guard here; I'll head out!" Patriarch Ge commanded gravely.

"No, stay put; let me go!" Ancestor Zhan refused, shaking his head.

"As much as I hate admitting it, as a female cultivator, negotiating with outsiders tends to go smoother!" Patriarch Ge motioned dismissively.

One of Beishu Continent's rare female Nascent Soul Cultivators, Patriarch Ge usually viewed herself on par with men. Uttering such a line now underscored her resolve.

"I'll hold position within the formation. If danger arises, fall back inside at once!" Ancestor Zhan conceded, knowing debate was futile, his voice heavy.

Beyond, though rage boiled in Li Shiming, a sliver of reason persisted. Lacking details on Yin Shilan's fate, he held back from obliterating her sect.

He curbed his fury, readying to shatter the array when Patriarch Ge emerged from it.

"Are you truly Li Shiming?" Patriarch Ge stared at the youthful figure ahead, disbelief etching her features. Her eyes deceived her not; the visage aligned perfectly with the prodigious genius etched in her recollections.

Back in the day, Li Shiming's impeccable alchemy prowess had placed him in the same league as these Ancestors.

"Patriarch Ge, I've returned for Shilan!" Li Shiming reined in his turmoil and uttered.

Patriarch Ge eyed the fallen Golden Core Elder. He lived still, breathing faintly, yet the wounds from clashing with such an immense power would demand ages to mend.

"He claimed no Yin Shilan resides in the Thousand Illusion Sect. I demand Patriarch Ge's clarification!" Li Shiming gestured toward the Elder, his tone detached.

Though his words carried no edge, the memory of that prior dreadful aura warned Patriarch Ge that a misstep in her reply could unleash catastrophe.