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

Following closely behind Patriarch Ge, Li Shiming reached a particular area of the Thousand Illusion Sect’s mountain entrance. From the initial look, it was evident that this wasn’t a residence meant for core disciples, since the Spiritual Energy here felt even thinner compared to surrounding spots.

"Don’t come anymore, we have no resources left!" The voice of Ren Fei’er echoed from inside the cave dwelling.

Simply by listening to her tone, anyone could sense the transformation in Ren Fei’er, once someone who feared neither heaven nor earth. Right now, Ren Fei’er appeared to be suffering under some heavy pressure.

Li Shiming cast a quick look at Patriarch Ge standing next to him, noticing the uncertainty in her gaze.

"Ren Fei’er, it’s me, I’ve returned!" Li Shiming called out to the firmly shut entrance of the cave dwelling.

Instantly, the cave dwelling’s door swung open, exposing Ren Fei’er’s face that had grown more mature over time.

"Brother-in-law, why did it take you so long to come back? We’ve been tormented terribly!" Ren Fei’er stared at Li Shiming and then shifted her view to Patriarch Ge lingering a short distance behind. Her sharp eyes caught hints of something, leading her to break down in sobs as she clung to Li Shiming and pounded on him while talking.

"It’s my fault, where is your sister?" Li Shiming swiftly lowered the automatic protection around his body to avoid Ren Fei’er hurting herself from the blows, then inquired in a gentle tone.

Ren Fei’er, currently in the Golden Core Middle Stage, had achieved this level through regular means across more than a hundred years, thanks to her innate abilities.

"Ah, 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 was as if the spirited Ren Fei’er of old had resurfaced, and Li Shiming found himself smiling involuntarily.

"Tell me, what exactly went on here?" Li Shiming gestured toward the cave dwelling and questioned.

He hadn’t treated the Thousand Illusion Sect harshly; just from his alchemy skills alone, numerous cultivators in the sect were indebted to him.

What he requested from the Thousand Illusion Sect wasn’t excessive, only that they look after Yin Shilan properly.

Yet, observing the state of this cave dwelling now, it stood as the most rundown, revealing the difficult existence Yin Shilan had endured within the sect.

Furthermore, the rest of the Golden Core cultivators acted oblivious to Yin Shilan or feigned ignorance, essentially ignoring her presence entirely.

"After you departed, patriarchs from various other sects banded together on multiple occasions. Given the Thousand Illusion Sect’s weakness, I could barely safeguard Shilan, but offering her additional resources proved impossible!" Patriarch Ge replied with deep regret.

While he explained, Li Shiming detected Yin Shilan’s approach. Upon seeing her, a sudden shock gripped him.

Yin Shilan’s energy signature lingered only at the Golden Core Middle Stage. One must remember that the Spirit Pills he had supplied her were ample enough to push her cultivation to the Golden Core Late Stage.

Prior to his departure, he had furnished Yin Shilan with several multiples of the necessary supplies, planning for her to utilize the surplus after hitting Golden Core Peak to trade for Nascent Soul Stage materials. Combined with the sect’s provisions for advancing Golden Core Peak cultivators, given Yin Shilan’s aptitude, breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage should have been straightforward.

However, the Yin Shilan standing before him remained stuck at the Golden Core Middle Stage, with an entire century squandered away.

"Where are the resources I provided for Lan’er?" He abruptly faced Patriarch Ge and demanded sharply.

As if struck by an enormous hand, Patriarch Ge’s form was hurled backward, soaring dozens of meters through the air.

Ignoring the agony surging through her frame, Patriarch Ge felt greater terror toward Li Shiming’s power.

She felt completely certain that moments earlier, Li Shiming hadn’t employed any Spiritual Power Pattern. Just the sheer force from his stare alone had propelled her away.

Based on her modest understanding, she perceived that Li Shiming’s might surpassed even the Nascent Soul Middle Stage experts she had encountered previously.

Yet, she found it hard to pinpoint precisely in what way it exceeded them.

For in her perception, a Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator resembled an immense peak, while Li Shiming’s presence loomed even vaster and more imposing than that peak, though her own cultivation level and insight allowed her to grasp only this extent.

"Shiming, don’t fault Master, she had no alternative!" Yin Shilan cried out softly, moving ahead to clasp Li Shiming tenderly, worried he might unleash further anger, she soothed him with care.

"Lan’er, they’ve squandered a hundred years of your cultivation time!" Li Shiming wrapped his arms around Yin Shilan softly, murmuring with affection.

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

"I don’t mind, I’ve at last awaited your homecoming!" Yin Shilan declared with resolute joy in her voice.

"We’ll never part again; during these hundred years, I’ve acquired the power to shield you!" Li Shiming gazed at Yin Shilan, vowing warmly.

"You must have endured tremendous hardships across this hundred years!" Yin Shilan paid no heed to Li Shiming’s surge in power; after his safeguarding vanished, she had learned the brutality of the Cultivation World and the struggles a lone cultivator faces abroad.

"Tell me what transpired here!" Li Shiming eyed the recovering Patriarch Ge, then directed his question to Yin Shilan.

"After your departure, Master first shielded me, but with so many patriarchs pressuring us, she had no choice but to yield to their terms to preserve the Thousand Illusion Sect!" Yin Shilan recounted steadily.

"What became of the resources I granted you?" A suspicion brewed in Li Shiming’s thoughts as he probed.

"All of them were seized by the patriarchs; over the years, it was only because of Master that Fei’er gained enough to reach the Golden Core Middle Stage. The Thousand Illusion Sect suffers from resource shortages, and for a target like me pursued by numerous patriarchs, the sect could scarcely supply much!" Yin Shilan shook her head while explaining.

"Mr. Ge, deliver this message: to every Nascent Soul cultivator who seized resources from Lan’er, I grant them twenty days to ready themselves, repay ten times the amount they claimed, or suffer the repercussions!" Li Shiming addressed Patriarch Ge directly.