"Have you found Master Li?" This has been the most common question cultivators on the Beishu Continent ask each other recently.
Among them are concerns, schadenfreude, helplessness, and heartache, and none feels more heartache than Ancestor Ren Xun.
Ancestor Ren Xun handed over ten Fourth Grade Spiritual Medicines and thirty-six drops of âReach Profound Kun Earth Immortal Dewâ to Li Shiming, but now Li Shiming is missing.
He doesnât blame Li Shiming; everyone knows the reason he fled. Ancestor Luo Wei from the Heavenly Inquiry Sect nearly caught Li Shiming by storming in. Anyone would flee in such a situation.
The excuse Ancestor Luo Wei gave was not believed by the Skywalk Trading Company or the Nascent Soul Ancestors on the Beishu Continent.
Some speculations naturally arose: why did Ancestor Luo Wei suddenly feel old and take extreme actions to capture Li Shiming? Such a style is not like him.
There must be some interest driving Ancestor Luo Wei, and the kind of benefit that could make a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Practitioner disregard all rules on the Beishu Continent can only be the Cave Heaven Inheritance of Great Power Zhai Ge.
Although itâs a mere speculation, the actions of Ancestor Luo Wei and the response of Li Shiming increasingly convinced the Nascent Soul Ancestors of its possibility.
Of course, to confirm this, they have to find Li Shiming first.
Li Shiming is located in an underwater cavern ten miles from the coast, where he has dug out a cave residence and set up a formation within it.
He monitors the movements of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect, Skywalk Trading Company, and the Six Major Sects via a drone satellite system, particularly noting the vast number of Golden Core cultivators deployed by the Six Major Sects, signifying their determination to find him.
He smiles faintly; to be honest, losing Shushan Sectâs protection doesnât disappoint him much.
With Venerable Huijing by his side, and his own combat power being strong enough, as long as he doesnât encounter a Nascent Soul Ancestor, no number of Golden Core cultivators can be his match.
The resources he accumulated, combined with the Third-grade Spiritual Medicine within the âMountain and River Qiankun Fanâ, mean he doesnât need to worry about cultivation resources during the Golden Core Stage.
The only regret is the Nascent Soul Level Spirit Vein. Heâs back to sharing a Nascent Soul Level Spirit Vein with Venerable Huijing within a Fourth-Grade Locking Vein Plate, but with âReach Profound Kun Earth Immortal Dewâ in hand, his cultivation demands for spirit veins arenât high.
"Letâs see what happens!" Li Shiming remains somewhat hesitant, unsure of the Six Major Sectsâ attitude towards him, especially Shushan Sect.
This affects his subsequent plans. After all, both the Heavenly Inquiry Sect and Skywalk Trading Company are outsider forces, unlikely to stay long on the Beishu Continent.
If they go without gains for a long time, itâs impossible for the two Nascent Soul Middle Stage practitioners of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect and Skywalk Trading Company to remain indefinitely.
Li Shiming still wants to stay on the Beishu Continent; it all depends on the Six Major Sectsâ attitude towards him.
Truthfully, from recent observations, heâs not optimistic about the Six Major Sectsâ attitude.
The Six Major Sects are eager to find him, as deduced by the number of Golden Core cultivators theyâre mobilizing, examining almost every possible location.
Understanding the Heavenly Inquiry Sectâs obvious intent to capture him, the Six Major Sectsâ eagerness to locate him seems to serve the Heavenly Inquiry Sect.
Li Shiming canât be blamed for being suspicious; he doesnât feel safe, forcing him to doubt.
Li Yuanba, currently in seclusion cultivating on Chongxiao Peak, was forcibly summoned from his cave. Ancestor Lu and Elder Li activated Chongxiao Peakâs grand formation using their authority, appearing outside his cave.
If he didnât come out, the two Nascent Soul Ancestors would probably enter the cave to find him.
"Greetings to Master Ancestor, greetings to Martial Uncle Ancestor!" Li Yuanbaâs Sword Intent wavered slightly as he exited the cave, appearing as though he was disturbed during cultivation.
This was deliberate on his part; such forceful summoning by Ancestor Lu and Elder Li is greatly taboo in the Cultivation World.
Even if a sect awakens a Nascent Soul Ancestor in seclusion, itâs usually done by signaling, waiting for the Nascent Soul Ancestor to see it during a break in cultivation, rather than rudely awakening them at any time.
"Yuan Ba, sorry to disturb your cultivation, but thereâs an urgent matter, and we hope you understand!" Ancestor Lu said helplessly.
As Senluo Sectâs most promising cultivator to achieve Nascent Soul, and a successor of Elder Sword, Ancestor Lu hadnât wanted to interrupt Li Yuanbaâs cultivation.
But when all major sects suggested starting with Li Yuanba to investigate Li Shimingâs whereabouts, even Elder Li agreed to start the investigation with him.
"What does Master Ancestor need?" Li Yuanba sighed inwardly. After all, with Elder Sword gone, his status had greatly diminished.
If Elder Sword were still on the Beishu Continent, which Nascent Soul Ancestor would dare to offend Elder Sword and treat him this way?
"You and Li Shiming are friends. Do you know where he is currently?" Elder Li asked.
"Isnât Master Li with Shushan Sect? Why ask me about Master Liâs whereabouts?" Li Yuanba responded in surprise.
"Li Shiming has gone missing from Shushan Sect, and weâre all looking for him. If you have any useful information about Li Shiming, please share it!" Ancestor Lu hinted, seeing that Li Yuanba was unaware.
"Master Ancestor, what is this? Since my master left, Iâve followed his instructions to cultivate in seclusion here, never stepping out. While I do have some rapport with Master Li, how would I know where he is if heâs missing?" Li Yuanba shrugged.