Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1734 - 913: Investigation (Part 2)

"Mr. Li, the latest information from the investigation will be sent to you immediately. I think it’s best to send Yin Shilan back to Luanyang Palace first!" the Phoenix Palace Master suggested, remembering the phantom clone beside her.

Seizing the chance for Yin Shilan to return to the sect, she also permitted the female cultivator with the surname Yu to go back, as staying there weeping would truly tarnish the image of Luanyang Palace.

"Phoenix Palace Master, I share the same intention!" The phantom clone made no move to insist on staying, as remaining would serve no purpose. He bowed and stated.

Following the Phoenix Palace Master’s directive, all the female cultivators from Luanyang Palace who had taken part in the gathering accompanied Yin Shilan back to Luanyang Palace.

Once the phantom clone departed with Yin Shilan and the numerous female cultivators, the Phoenix Palace Master completely let loose the biting aura held within her.

"Dispatch my command to ascertain the whereabouts of all ice-element Peak Great Cultivators and halt all collaboration with Guiyuan Sect and Bitao Sect!" she decreed with a solemn voice.

In the ensuing days, the phantom clone continued to await the investigation outcomes from Luanyang Palace.

Indeed, he could have fully utilized certain connections to petition other superpowers for assistance with the investigation, at the cost of merely a few favors.

It was widely believed that no superpower within the Cultivation World would deny a favor from Li Shiming.

However, since the incident transpired outside Luanyang Palace, engaging in such a move would signal a lack of faith in Luanyang Palace.

The intelligence from Luanyang Palace arrived on a daily basis, providing certain investigative findings that were forwarded to Li Shiming.

He had not anticipated such a forceful response from Luanyang Palace; the severance of all cooperation between Luanyang Palace and Guiyuan Sect was a significant disruption between two superpowers, carrying considerable implications.

Three days later, Li Shiming received an intelligence report: Luanyang Palace had identified the ice-element Peak Great Cultivator at Moon Viewing Peak as Great Cultivator Yi Xiao of Guiyuan Sect.

Great Cultivator Yi Xiao was a recently ascended Peak Great Cultivator, now assuming the position of the strongest cultivator within Guiyuan Sect after the demise of Great Cultivator Lin, thereby significantly boosting his standing.

Great Cultivator Yi Xiao had only ascended a few decades prior when Guiyuan Sect poured substantial resources into his advancement after Great Cultivator Lin’s physical form was destroyed, compelling his progression to the Peak Great Cultivator Realm.

Owing to the forced advancement, Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s realm was somewhat precarious, with a diminished prospect for further progression without ample resources.

Perhaps due to this very reason, Great Cultivator Yi Xiao opted to approach Li Shiming, an Alchemy Master possessing considerable affluence.

Bitao Sect’s five Great Cultivators were involved because of their established collaboration with Guiyuan Sect, having been invited by Great Cultivator Yi Xiao, who pledged considerable remuneration.

Li Shiming examined the intelligence within his grasp; with Luanyang Palace having taken action, he could no longer remain passive.

Subsequently, communications from Ten Thousand Beast Sect emerged, suspending all Alchemy commissions originating from Guiyuan Sect and Bitao Sect. Should any Great Cultivator seek Alchemy services on behalf of Guiyuan Sect or Bitao Sect, their eligibility for such commissions would be immediately revoked.

This announcement generated greater stir than the termination of cooperation between Luanyang Palace and the two superpowers.

Concurrently, its repercussions for Guiyuan Sect and Bitao Sect were even more pronounced, given that Guiyuan Sect’s limited cooperative ties with Luanyang Palace and Luanyang Palace’s halted cooperation with Bitao Sect had scarcely affected Bitao Sect.

However, Li Shiming's cessation of Alchemy services for the two superpowers precipitated entirely different outcomes.

At present, all Great Cultivators across the Cultivation World have reaped benefits from Li Shiming, employing high-grade Spirit Pills to augment their training and enhance cultivation results.

While Great Cultivators from other superpowers enjoy such advantages, the absence of these benefits for Great Cultivators of Guiyuan Sect and Bitao Sect would not be significantly felt in the short term.

Nevertheless, over the span of one or two centuries, the Great Cultivators of Guiyuan Sect and Bitao Sect would find themselves substantially trailing behind other superpowers in overall strength.

Therefore, on the day following the pronouncement from Ten Thousand Beast Sect, Guiyuan Sect dispatched a Great Cultivator to request an audience with Li Shiming’s phantom clone.

Li Shiming had initially not planned to grant a meeting, but considering that Guiyuan Sect still held the status of a superpower on the Central State Continent, he decided to hear Guiyuan Sect’s position.

Within the first-floor hall of Fengqi Palace, Li Shiming utilized the premises to convene with a cultivator from Guiyuan Sect.

A Great Cultivator, who appeared to be young, entered the hall, not only possessing a youthful facial appearance but also exhibiting a life force that indicated an age of under four hundred years.

Li Shiming acknowledged this might be the youngest Great Cultivator he and his clone, Li Yuanba, had ever met.

Despite the opponent's realm nearing the mid-stage of the Great Cultivator Realm, achieving such a feat within four hundred years indicated more than just raw talent.

Li Shiming and Li Yuanba were in a league of their own, utilizing top-tier resources and the absolute maximum standards in the Cultivation World for their cultivation.

Li Shiming could assert with pride that, excluding himself, no other cultivator in the entirety of the Cultivation World could boast such an accomplishment.

Regardless of how deep the opponent's background might be, the standard of Alchemy Mastery within the Cultivation World is a known quantity; no other Alchemy Master would dare to guarantee the high-level Alchemy quality that he could.

In truth, the Spirit Pills that Li Shiming and Li Yuanba consumed were of the highest caliber, consisting of top-tier high-level Spirit Pills and, on occasion, some elite Spirit Pills.

By the metrics of other Alchemy Masters in the Cultivation World, enabling a cultivator to reach the cusp of the mid-stage Great Cultivator Realm in just four hundred years was an seemingly impossible aspiration. This particular Great Cultivator would need to have experienced equivalent extraordinary training resources and fortunate encounters.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Jiang! It is an honor, Mr. Li!" Great Cultivator Jiang Hao extended his regards to Li Shiming’s phantom clone, offering a respectful self-introduction without a hint of disdain for its ephemeral nature.

"Ah, greetings to you as well, Fellow Daoist Jiang!" the phantom clone responded with equal politeness.

He then motioned for Great Cultivator Jiang Hao to be seated, while female cultivators from Luanyang Palace gracefully served tea and fruits.

Li Shiming's memory surfaced with intelligence gathered by Luanyang Palace regarding Guiyuan Sect, which included pertinent details about Great Cultivator Jiang Hao.

Indeed, Great Cultivator Jiang Hao's surname, Jiang, carried significant weight; he was a direct descendant of Guiyuan Sect's formidable Jiang Song, thereby holding a position of profound influence within the sect.

The fact that Great Cultivator Jiang Hao had personally visited Li Shiming underscored a substantial display of sincerity from Guiyuan Sect.

"Mr. Li, regarding the assault on Yin Fairy by Great Cultivators Yi Xiao and Yan Rong, Guiyuan Sect's investigation has confirmed the occurrence. However, we affirm that it was entirely independent of Guiyuan Sect's directives. We earnestly hope for Mr. Li's trust in Guiyuan Sect's integrity!" Great Cultivator Jiang Hao stated with directness.

"And how does Guiyuan Sect intend to resolve this transgression?" Li Shiming inquired, understanding that Great Cultivator Yi Xiao's actions were not representative of a major power's consensus, and offending Li Shiming would incur penalties far graver than any potential gains from Great Cultivator resources.

"Initially, my intention was to dispatch Yi Xiao to you directly. However, Yi Xiao has yet to return to Guiyuan Sect, and the sect is currently undertaking a search for him. My presence here is to ensure that Yi Xiao's individual misconduct does not jeopardize our relationship!" Great Cultivator Jiang Hao elucidated, sliding a jade box towards Li Shiming.

He further elaborated: "This serves as Guiyuan Sect's modest compensation to Yin Fairy. Furthermore, upon Yi Xiao's apprehension, Guiyuan Sect pledges to deliver him to you immediately for your personal judgment!"

Li Shiming felt a genuine wave of surprise, not having anticipated such a remarkably accommodating and humble approach from Guiyuan Sect in handling this affair.

"I acknowledge Guiyuan Sect's sincere intentions, but I must also take into account the perspective of Luanyang Palace, a consideration I trust Fellow Daoist Jiang can appreciate!" Li Shiming responded with a gentle smile.