Record of a Demon's Cultivation Chapter 1227: Clues to the Robber Cultivators

Under the command of Song Wen, the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation carried the three members of the Li Clan away from Qingyi City.

Song Wen harbored a deep apprehension that Li Tianhe might make a reappearance. Though the shadow void presented a peril to Li Tianhe, should he possess a defensive spirit treasure safeguarding his divine soul, he could endure the shadow void’s assault for a fleeting moment, thereby creating an opening to eliminate Song Wen. This was precisely the reason Song Wen had deliberately avoided engaging Li Tianhe in direct combat.

For a subsequent duration, Song Wen traversed various desolate regions, ensuring Li Tianhe could not trap him with the aid of reinforcements. As for the three captives from the Li Clan, whenever their injuries showed signs of mending, Song Wen would inflict another grievous wound, incapacitating them anew.

Time advanced at a glacial pace, and a full month elapsed in what felt like an instant.

Li Tianhe materialized once more, this time appearing unaccompanied. He cast his gaze upon the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation and the three Li Clan members concealed within a dense thicket, his voice laced with scorn. "Young whelp, you possess considerable skill in concealment, do you not? Fleeing to a location so devoid of Spiritual Qi."

The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation responded, "Senior Li, have you journeyed here alone today merely to taunt me? What of the pillaging cultivator who raided my cultivation cave? Could it be that even after a month, you have failed to uncover even a single trace?"

Li Tianhe gestured with his hand, and a crystalline, cylindrical object emerged in the air, drifting towards the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation. The Incarnation's focus sharpened, recognizing the rapidly approaching item as a severed arm, encased in a thick layer of solid ice, presumably to preserve its spiritual essence. Employing spiritual power, the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation levitated the arm approximately one meter away, its expression etched with bewilderment. "Senior Li, what is the meaning of this?"

Li Tianhe elucidated, "The proprietor of this arm is presumably the robber cultivator you are searching for."

The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation emitted a scoff, "Do you deem me so easily duped, Senior Li? You present me with an arbitrary arm and declare it belongs to the robber cultivator?"

Li Tianhe retorted, "I am not engaging in deception. This arm belonged to a male cultivator in the early stage of Void Refinement who cultivated a Water-Attribute Cultivation Art—aligning perfectly with the description of the robber cultivator."

The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation pressed further, "If that is the case, why is only a severed limb presented? Where is the remainder of his person?"

Li Tianhe provided the answer, "He managed to escape, leaving behind only his arm."

A sardonic smile graced the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation’s visage. "Senior, you are a cultivator of the Body Integration Stage, yet you permitted a junior in the early stages of Void Refinement to elude your grasp! Do you genuinely anticipate anyone crediting such a narrative?"

Confronted by the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation's doubt, Li Tianhe maintained his composure, explaining with measured calm, "Since our last encounter, I have directed the entirety of the Li Clan to investigate individuals harboring grievances against us, scrutinizing potential robber cultivators. We ultimately identified four individuals. Among them, this particular person seemed the least likely to be the robber cultivator. Consequently, I dispatched a mere two cultivators of the Void Refinement Stage to apprehend him. To our astonishment, he revealed himself to be the most formidable of the group, yet he still managed to slip away."

The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation countered, "We came to an agreement: the exchange of the robber cultivator for the three members of the Li Clan. Now, you present merely an arm. What is the implication of this?"

Li Tianhe replied, "The man's storage ring is affixed to the severed arm. The articles he pilfered from your cultivation cave should be contained within. Is this not sufficient grounds for the liberation of my three clan members?"

The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation's gaze fell upon the detached limb. Indeed, a storage ring adorned its index finger. However, the items Song Wen had lost—the Nether Fox and four Gu insects—were not of the sort that could be contained within a storage ring.

The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation extended a finger, releasing a surge of spiritual power that fractured the ice encasing the severed arm. It then reached out and clasped the hand. Ostensibly, the Incarnation appeared to be examining the valuables within the storage ring; in truth, it was discerning the faint residual aura clinging to the severed appendage. After a brief interval, the Incarnation secreted the storage ring within its robes and then stored the arm itself within the storage ring adorning its own finger.

"Senior Li, this individual is indeed the robber cultivator. The storage ring holds the artifacts he absconded with from my cultivation cave. Nevertheless, the inability to dispatch him myself leaves a bitter aftertaste."

Li Tianhe responded, "Youngster, refrain from avarice. Now that your possessions have been reclaimed, you ought to release my three clan members, should you not?"

The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation declared, "Certainly. I do not go back on my word. However, I must request that you move ten thousand miles away and return in fifteen minutes to collect them."

Li Tianhe's expression grew grim, and he responded coldly, "Impossible. Should I leave, you might seize the opportunity to kill them. Would that not render my efforts futile?"

"Senior, you jest," the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation replied. "If I were to surrender them so readily, I fear you would strike me down the instant they were in your possession."

Li Tianhe fixed the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation with an icy gaze, pondered for a moment, then slowly stated his agreement.

"Very well, your terms are accepted. But should you dare inflict any further harm upon them, even the slightest, I shall pursue you to the Nine Nether Springs and annihilate your divine soul!"

With those grave pronouncements, Li Tianhe began to withdraw, gradually disappearing into the distant horizon.

The Cosmic Transformation Incarnation then swiftly departed, leaving Li Rui and the two other Li Clan members lying still upon the ground.

Approximately a dozen breaths later, Li Tianhe made his reappearance.

He surveyed the surroundings, noting the absence of any sign of the Cosmic Transformation Incarnation. He then descended to the three Li Clan members, channeled his spiritual power, extracted the Blood Luo Pills from their abdomens, and cleared the obstructions within their meridians.

"Thank you, Ancestor," the three Li Clan members said in unison, their voices filled with gratitude.

"Do you have any knowledge of his whereabouts?" Li Tianhe inquired.

Li Rui responded, "He fled towards the west. However, our divine souls have sustained severe injuries. Our sensing range is limited to a few miles, making it impossible to ascertain his precise destination."

Li Tianhe raised a hand and pointed towards the heavens. A dark gale materialized from the void, coalescing into a colossal character representing 'Li' high above.

In mere moments, four figures streaked into view from different directions.

"Greetings, Ancestor," the four cultivators proclaimed, bowing respectfully to Li Tianhe.

"Have any of you observed anyone departing?" Li Tianhe inquired.

In his haste to ambush Song Wen, Li Tianhe had previously deployed the Li Clan's remaining four Void Refinement Stage cultivators, positioning them in concealed locations throughout the area to keep watch over Song Wen's movements.

The four cultivators exchanged hesitant glances, none daring to offer an immediate reply.

Li Tianhe's expression darkened with comprehension, a spark of anger briefly flashing within his eyes.

"He actually managed to escape!"

One of the female cultivators spoke up, her voice laced with doubt. "Ancestor, could it be that he never truly left? He might still be concealed nearby. After all, with all four of us sealing the exits, it would be impossible for him to slip past unnoticed."

Li Tianhe's eyes brightened slightly upon hearing this suggestion.

If Song Wen possessed the ability to suppress his aura so completely that even a Body Integration Stage cultivator like himself could not detect it, then the possibility of him employing a 'a golden cicada shedding its shell' tactic—feigning departure while remaining hidden—was indeed plausible.