The person arriving was the second senior brother, Yue Shan. He was extremely familiar with Li Shiming, how could he possibly not recognize him?
It was just that seeing Li Shimingâs realm as a Great Cultivator made him hesitate to recognize him immediately.
"Second senior brother, Iâve just been away for a few years, how come you donât recognize me?" Li Shiming said with a smile.
"Junior brother, itâs really you! How long has it been, and youâve already advanced to a Great Cultivator!" Yue Shan snapped out of his shock and exclaimed excitedly. After a moment, he calmed down and turned to look at Great Cultivator Luo Pei, bowing and asking, "Who is this senior?"
"Second senior brother, thereâs no need for so much formality with him, heâs my subordinate, his name is Luo Pei!" Li Shiming introduced with a smile.
This introduction, on the contrary, left Yue Shan even more unsure of how to react.
In the Dongqi Continent, a Great Cultivatorâs status was akin to the top existences on the Central State Continent.
Yet Yue Shan never imagined that Li Shiming would actually have a Great Cultivator as a subordinate. Looking at Great Cultivator Luo Pei, standing obediently behind Li Shiming, he really seemed to be Li Shimingâs subordinate.
"Is that the Guangling Great Venerable?" Yue Shan recognized the Cultivator held by Great Cultivator Luo Pei and identified him.
"I saw the Guangling Great Venerable appear near the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, so I captured him to hand over to the sect!" Li Shiming explained.
"Iâll take you back to the sect first!" Yue Shan took several deep breaths to stabilize his emotions, glancing around as he spoke.
He also noticed that those Nascent Soul Cultivators who used to hover around the sect were nowhere to be seen.
It seemed this was due to Li Shimingâs intimidation, which greatly alleviated his long-standing repressed feelings.
This time, with Li Shimingâs return, Li Shiming as a Great Cultivator, also bringing back another Great Cultivator, greatly enhanced the combat strength of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect.
When Li Shiming entered within a thousand miles of the sect, he closed his eyes nostalgically, wanting to imprint the familiar spatial aura in his soul.
Since they werenât far from the mountain gate, he didnât chat with Yue Shan, as soon he would meet his master, Grandmaster Hu, and naturally learn all he needed to know.
In front of the Sect Formation, Yue Shan stopped.
"Junior brother, you wait here for a moment, I need to report in to get an identity for Luo Pei senior to enter the sect!" Yue Shan instructed Li Shiming to wait there while he entered into the Sect Formation.
Li Shiming wasnât surprised, Yue Shan had the authority to bring Great Cultivator Luo Pei here, which was already the limit of Yue Shanâs authority.
Moreover, since Li Shiming had advanced to Great Cultivator, his Identity Jade Disc hadnât been updated, and during the sectâs emergency status, notification was still needed to determine if he could be let in.
Before long, Yue Shan and Great Cultivator Ding Lifei emerged together.
Li Shiming was slightly stunned, he didnât expect Great Cultivator Ding Lifei to come out instead of his master, Grandmaster Hu.
This made his heart sink, could something have happened to Master, Grandmaster Hu?
Thinking of how he successfully contacted his master with the Identity Jade Disc earlier, he shook his head, probably just overthinking it.
"Li Shizhen greets Junior Master Ding!" Li Shiming stepped forward, bowing in respect.
"I heard you encountered trouble on the Central State Continent, your master and I were very worried, but it seems not only are you fine, youâve even had fortuitous encounters, becoming a Great Cultivator!" Great Cultivator Ding Lifei said with a smile, observing Li Shiming with eyes full of admiration.
He helped Li Shiming up, carefully scrutinizing him, unable to hide the amazement in his eyes.
"Oh right, you are a Great Cultivator now, from now on, call me Brother Ding!" He added after a thought.
In the Cultivation World, unless itâs a master-disciple relationship, a cultivatorâs status is fundamentally determined by their level.
"Brother Ding, this is Luo Pei, my subordinate!" Li Shiming changed the form of address, introducing Great Cultivator Luo Pei.
"Mr. Luo, welcome!" Great Cultivator Ding said with a smile, bowing slightly to Great Cultivator Luo Pei.
Great Cultivator Luo Pei, who almost single-handedly destroyed a major sect, though cultivators like Yue Shan may not know, Great Cultivator Ding was aware of Luo Peiâs battle achievements through some channels.
Even though Great Cultivator Luo Peiâs aura wasnât particularly strong, Great Cultivator Ding dared not underestimate him at all.
Great Cultivator Luo Pei returned the greeting without speaking, after which he resumed his stand behind Li Shiming, indicating his role.
"Brother Ding, this is Guangling Great Venerable, I encountered him outside the mountain gate on my return and caught him to hand over to the sect!" Li Shiming gestured to Great Cultivator Luo Pei, who delivered Guangling Great Venerable to Great Cultivator Ding.
"Currently, the Ten Thousand Beast Sect is at a critical moment of life and death. Your return is most welcome; capturing Guangling Great Venerable will certainly deter Lianhua Temple from being overly arrogant!" Great Cultivator Ding said while taking Guangling Great Venerable.
Being able to capture Guangling Great Venerable alive shows Li Shimingâs formidable combat power.
The Ten Thousand Beast Sect was in dire need of manpower, this was good news, meanwhile, with Lianhua Temple losing Guangling Great Venerable, their strength weakened, and considering Guangling Great Venerableâs life, they would be more restrained in their actions.
Great Cultivator Ding first updated Li Shimingâs Identity Jade Disc, then took out another for Great Cultivator Luo Pei.
"Mr. Luo will temporarily serve as a Guest Elder of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, your benefits will be decided after I discuss with the other senior brothers!" Great Cultivator Ding explained while handing over the Identity Jade Disc, showing respect for Great Cultivator Luo Pei despite him being Li Shimingâs subordinate.
Following his lead, Li Shiming and Great Cultivator Luo Pei entered the mountain gate of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect.
Upon entering, Li Shiming felt a tense atmosphere.
Most notably, there were cultivators stationed at various nodes of the Sect Formation, something unprecedented before.
Every cultivator flying in the sky was in a hurry, with unusually solemn expressions on their faces.
Great Cultivator Ding knew who Li Shiming wanted to see most, leading Li Shiming to the Ten Thousand Beasts Cave Heaven, arriving outside Grandmaster Huâs peak.
The formation on the peak activated, and Great Cultivator Ding entered first, followed by Li Shiming and others.
Li Shiming sensed something amiss. Given Master, Grandmaster Huâs character, knowing he had advanced to a Great Cultivator and brought back another one, he would have definitely come out to greet him.
Having Great Cultivator Ding greet them was already strange to him, now not even coming out of the grotto, something must have happened.
"Shizhen, are you back?" A weak voice came from the open grotto.
"Master!" Li Shiming exclaimed in shock.
Considering Grandmaster Huâs realm, it was impossible for him to be so weak unless he was severely injured.
Li Shiming quickened his steps into the grotto, seeing his master, Grandmaster Hu, sitting on a chair.
Grandmaster Hu looked pale, his breath unstable, more importantly, he was missing a left leg.
"Master, who hurt you?" Li Shimingâs aura exploded, an overwhelming pressure surged forth.
Grandmaster Hu, seeing Li Shiming and sensing his strength, smiled with comfort.
Like watching his child grow up, he knew Li Shiming had matured.
"Iâm fine, ask that one from Taichu Sect who fought me!" Grandmaster Hu said with a wave, smiling.
But his words were followed by a series of coughs, diminishing his momentum.
"Master, donât speak for now, let me heal you!" Li Shiming quickly supported Grandmaster Hu.
He took out a High Grade Fourth-Grade Limb Regeneration Pill, refined from the extra Spiritual Medicine used for refining when treating injured Great Cultivators on the Central State Continent.
Though he possessed the âInnate Woodâ Divine Skill, for limb regeneration, he still relied on the effects of such Limb Regeneration Spirit Pill.