Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1748 - 920: Easing Tensions (Part 2)

Grandmaster Hu wasn't surprised that Shi Sha sought an audience with Li Shiming; the only reason the Ten Thousand Beast Sect would warrant a formal visit from a formidable power like the Bitao Sect was due to Li Shiming himself.

"The arrangements are complete; fortunately, he is available!" Grandmaster Hu declared with a smile, motioning for Shi Sha to proceed.

Shi Sha released a deep sigh of relief, sensing a glimmer of hope for the successful completion of his mission.

Although Li Shiming was a cultivator affiliated with the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, he was not synonymous with the sect itself.

The prestige of Li Shiming allowed the Ten Thousand Beast Sect to hold sway over the Dongqi Continent, establishing itself as a major sect, second only to the paramount powers.

Even if Li Shiming were to depart from the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, his unparalleled alchemical prowess would remain, cementing his status as the strongest among Peak Great Cultivators.

Shi Sha could not be certain of Li Shiming's willingness to meet him, especially considering their prior encounter.

However, he found himself with no alternative; Li Shiming had previously halted his cooperation with the Bitao Sect, which urgently required his alchemical expertise during its critical recovery phase.

Upon meeting Li Shiming, Shi Sha perceived only an illusory clone, not the actual presence of Li Shiming.

The designated meeting location was not Li Shiming's private cave abode but rather a grand hall within the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, typically reserved for esteemed guests.

"Shi Sha pays his respects to Senior Li!" Despite confronting merely an illusionary projection, Shi Sha maintained the utmost reverence, executing a formal cultivator's salute.

"Esteemed Mr. Shi, please be seated. Kindly forgive my lack of proper etiquette; my true form is currently engrossed in comprehending a cultivation technique, thus I could only dispatch a clone!" The illusionary duplicate offered a slight bow in return, providing a concise explanation.

"It was indeed presumptuous of me to intrude!" Shi Sha readily accepted the explanation, recognizing that regardless of the underlying truth, he was ultimately addressing Li Shiming's disposition.

Had Shi Sha been privy to the majestic mountain where Li Shiming's cave mansion resided, he would have discovered Li Shiming engaged in convivial conversation and laughter with Yin Shilan within a summit pavilion, far removed from any meditative cultivation.

This was not an act of negligence on Li Shiming's part; he simply had no pressing matters that necessitated the Bitao Sect's intervention, while conversely, the Bitao Sect actively sought his assistance.

With one party desiring nothing and the other harboring intentions, Li Shiming, unburdened by desire, could afford to entertain Shi Sha at his leisure.

"There was a notable misunderstanding between the Bitao Sect and Senior Li; I should have come forth sooner to offer clarification, but pressing sect matters prevented my arrival until this very moment!" Shi Sha first inclined his head towards the Ten Thousand Beast Sect cultivator who presented spiritual tea and fruit before addressing Li Shiming.

The spiritual tea offered to Shi Sha was not personally prepared by Li Shiming but was a standard fourth-grade spirit tea.

Shi Sha did not dwell on this minor detail, fully aware that without his official capacity as the Bitao Sect's envoy, he would have been deemed unworthy of even meeting an illusionary clone.

Within the vast expanse of the cultivation world, countless Great Cultivators earnestly sought an audience with Li Shiming, yet such aspiring visitors would typically only encounter Ten Thousand Beast Sect disciples managing Li Shiming's affairs, unable to gain access even to an illusionary projection.

Furthermore, the provision of fourth-grade spirit tea and similar quality spiritual fruits was considered standard protocol within the sect.

In the contemporary cultivation landscape, fourth-grade spirit tea personally brewed by Li Shiming himself had transformed into an exceptionally rare and coveted commodity, its market value escalating substantially.

The primary reason for Shi Sha's delayed visit to the Ten Thousand Beast Sect stemmed from prior pressure exerted by the Guiyuan Sect upon the Bitao Sect; only after resolving these intricate matters with the Guiyuan Sect did he hasten his journey to the Ten Thousand Beast Sect.

"Senior Li, please accept this token from my sect's Patriarch, a gesture intended to mend the prior misunderstanding with Senior Li!" Shi Sha continued, his tone earnest.

He reverently placed a jade box before the illusionary clone, the mention of the Patriarch imbuing the jade box with significantly amplified value.

The illusionary clone, without a moment's hesitation, opened the jade box, revealing an exquisite jade bracelet comprising twelve meticulously crafted jade plaques, each fashioned from premium fourth-grade spirit jade.

The bracelet's intrinsic worth, however, transcended its material composition; its true significance lay in the fact that each individual jade plaque was a remarkably potent Great Ability Life-saving Jade Talisman.

Indeed, this ceremonial bracelet was constructed from twelve such life-saving jade talismans, providing precisely twelve distinct usages— a hallmark of the generous and substantial offerings typically presented by major powers.

The illusionary clone meticulously examined the talismans, confirming that all twelve were solidified Great Power Level Water Escape techniques.

Should these talismans be activated within an environment rich in water, even Li Shiming, employing his renowned Divine Foot Skill, might find it exceedingly difficult to intervene effectively.

"Kindly convey my sincere regards to your esteemed Patriarch; I find this gift most pleasing. As for the previous matter concerning Yi Xiao, Yi Xiao has since met their demise, and thus the issue is definitively resolved—I shall refrain from involving any other cultivators!" The illusionary clone declared with a smile, carefully securing the jade box.

Shi Sha mused internally, thinking that without the Patriarch's direct involvement and the substantial gift presented, Li Shiming would scarcely have been so accommodating.

"In that case, our sect will soon have a batch of Great Cultivator Spirit Medicine for refining; we’d seek your aid, Senior!" Shi Sha promptly added, seeing Li Shiming’s change of tone.

"That’s no problem; I’m not too busy lately!" The illusionary clone nodded in agreement.

With the matter settled, the weight in Shi Sha’s heart finally eased.

He intended to inquire about Great Cultivator Hua Ying, but refrained, not wanting to complicate a harmonious meeting or upset Li Shiming, which could alter the achieved agreement.

Shi Sha left without lingering; aware of the vast gulf in status and cultivation level between himself and Li Shiming, ensuring they lacked common ground.

He bid farewell, and the illusionary clone rose to escort him out of the hall.

In the pavilion, Yin Shilan watched the approaching illusionary clone, then glanced at Li Shiming beside her.

"Shiming, nothing happened, right?" Knowing today the representative cultivator from Bitao Sect visited, Yin Shilan was concerned that Li Shiming only dispatched a clone.

Li Shiming had previously been involved in a war with Bitao Sect, afraid of causing further troubles with the sect.

"No trouble; Bitao Sect came to seek peace!" Li Shiming reassured her with a smile.

At that moment, the illusionary clone delivered the jade box, which Li Shiming accepted and placed before Yin Shilan.

"This bracelet is for you; wearing it enables instant activation!" Li Shiming introduced.

The greatest advantage of this life-saving bracelet was its ease of use, allowing activation with a single thought.

Unlike ordinary life-saving jade talismans, which require retrieval from spatial items—most often, such slight delay marks the difference between life and death.

"Shiming, such a life-saving item is better suited for you; you encounter more danger than I!" Yin Shilan suggested upon learning the bracelet’s function.

Yin Shilan knew Li Shiming’s penchant for trouble, recalling when he was forced to flee by a great power.

Even in remote places, Li Shiming made powerful enemies within a short time and was chased again.

Though Li Shiming didn’t detail these past events, Yin Shilan sensed some of it in his words.

She believed Li Shiming was the one who most needed the twelve-time life-saving bracelet.

"Lan’er, I possess Divine Foot Skill; I can always deploy similar life-saving abilities as the bracelet. Don’t worry about my safety; although I have given you two life-saving jade talismans before, this bracelet is more convenient—even if just to ease my mind, you should wear it!" Li Shiming gently placed the bracelet on Yin Shilan’s wrist.

Yin Shilan did not refuse this time, feeling Li Shiming’s sincere intentions.

In his heart, Li Shiming mused that reconciliation between Guiyuan Sect and Bitao Sect was an inevitable choice.

His strength wasn’t matchable with superpowers; if it were, compromise would be unnecessary.

The Guiyuan Sect and Bitao Sect tried to abduct Yin Shilan, touching his reverse scale; unfortunately, his actions were limited to dealing with associated cultivators of the two powers, unable to inflict a heavier toll on them.