Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 770: Chapter 431: Meeting_2

Cultivators’ opportunities can sometimes be more important than effort and talent, and a single opportunity may save a cultivator a century of arduous cultivation.

Of course, with opportunities come risks, and both Li Yuanba and Li Shiming have faced many life-and-death crises.

Yin Shilan, on the other hand, has not encountered any trouble, having Li Shiming as a mountain to lean on and Master Luo from the Thousand Illusion Sect, plus the cultivation resources Li Shiming provided.

Yin Shilan’s cultivation journey was smooth and uneventful, envied by many of her peers.

One day, Li Shiming left seclusion, a rare occurrence, piloting his Flying Boat towards the Thousand Illusion Sect.

Yin Shilan had sent word that she needed his cooperation, seeking to find an opportunity for advancement from him.

Li Shiming wasn’t surprised; he and Yin Shilan had met in ordinary circumstances, and their affections grew in the same way, naturally becoming a couple.

Both being rational cultivators, and with examples like Yin Shilan’s parents, they planned to truly become a Daoist couple only after advancing to the Golden Core stage.

For Yin Shilan, Li Shiming was the most important person after her parents; meeting with Li Shiming first to see if she could stimulate an opportunity for advancement was the right thing to do.

Li Shiming, of course, was extremely cooperative, setting aside all his affairs.

When he was still five hundred li from the Thousand Illusion Sect, he sent a request for entry.

Now a Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivator, he needed to apply beforehand when nearing another sect’s gate at his level.

On the Beishu Continent, where Nascent Soul Ancestors rarely appear, Golden Core cultivators are the main force; they can have a certain impact on the Sect Formation.

When Li Shiming arrived at the gate of the Thousand Illusion Sect, he sensed a Nascent Soul Ancestor standing outside the gate.

He hadn’t expected the Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Thousand Illusion Sect to receive him personally; it was quite an honor.

“Li Shiming pays respects to the Elder!” Li Shiming stepped forward and said, bowing.

He didn’t recognize this female Nascent Soul Ancestor, which wasn’t his fault, as each major sect’s Nascent Soul Ancestors secluded themselves for decades, and wouldn’t interact with cultivators below the Nascent Soul Stage, so how could he recognize them?

Even Elder Sword wasn’t part of the Nascent Soul Ancestors’ circle until he became one of them.

“You flatter me, Master Li. My name is Ge Yuqing. I heard you were coming and took the task of welcoming you!” Patriarch Ge said with a smile as she returned the greeting.

She certainly didn’t consider herself a senior, but rather a peer.

Upon meeting, she sensed Li Shiming’s realm and knew that he wasn’t far from the Late-stage Golden Core, perhaps only a few years away from advancement.

Realizing this, she changed her original intention and welcomed Li Shiming as an equal.

Rather than waiting for Li Shiming to advance and then form a peer connection, it was better to do so in advance.

Patriarch Ge had emerged from seclusion four years earlier and, apart from attending to the matters of the Yongle Battlefield, she was interested in Master Li’s abilities.

An Alchemy Master who consistently produced high-grade Spirit Pills and would soon be able to craft Fourth-grade Spirit Pills, was worth Patriarch Ge’s effort to connect with despite her pride.

“How could I deserve such a reception from Patriarch Ge!” Li Shiming said with a smile.

He also understood the thoughts of the Nascent Soul Ancestors; he actually hoped they would bring more Fourth Grade Spiritual Medicines to him, as each additional batch of Fourth-grade Spirit Pills would add to the pool of resources for himself and his avatar, Li Yuanba.

You should know that Nascent Soul Stage resources are scarce, even with the Mountain and River Qiankun Fan, it would not be enough for both him and his avatar Li Yuanba’s cultivation needs.

After polite exchanges outside the sect gate, he followed Patriarch Ge into the sect.

“I won’t disturb your meeting with Yin Shilan, Master Li!” Patriarch Ge, being considerate, bid her farewell with a smile after taking Li Shiming to the outside of Yin Shilan’s mountain peak.

She was aware that Li Shiming and Yin Shilan had not seen each other for many years, and to linger would be to risk not just friendship but possibly enmity.

Li Shiming respectfully saw Patriarch Ge off, and then the mountain peak’s formation opened.

He flew into the mountain peak and seeing the figure in green standing at the summit, he felt rejuvenated in his heart.

His eyes were filled with tenderness; cultivators are not without feelings but rather find it hard to be moved.

“Brother-in-law!”

“Master Li!”

Two voices drew Li Shiming’s gaze away from Yin Shilan. His entire focus had been on Yin Shilan, and he hadn’t noticed the two figures beside her.

For a Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivator, a cultivator with extremely strong spiritual power, to overlook such a thing was inconceivable.

While part of the reason was the safety of the Thousand Illusion Sect and the recent presence of Patriarch Ge, a Nascent Soul Ancestor, which relaxed his vigilance, the most important factor was his deep feelings for Yin Shilan.

“Fei’er, and Mr. Liang, what are you doing here?” Li Shiming asked, nodding to Ren Fei’er and Liang Yexuan.

“Fei’er, what are you shouting about?” Yin Shilan gently chided her sister Ren Fei’er. Her beautiful eyes returned to Li Shiming, full of softness.

She was delighted in her heart at her sister calling Li Shiming ‘brother-in-law,’ but in front of her good friend Liang Yexuan, she felt a bit shy.

Once Ren Fei’er had resolved her emotional issues, and now that she had entered a great sect like the Thousand Illusion Sect, she naturally felt that only her sister was worthy of Li Shiming, so she quite naturally called him ‘brother-in-law.’

After being admonished by her sister, she stuck out her tongue and hugged her sister’s arm.

“Master Li, I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave first!” Liang Yexuan behaved very considerately, smiling as she bowed to Li Shiming and excused herself.

Liang Yexuan’s attitude toward Li Shiming had changed, no longer as casual as before.

Li Shiming was now a Golden Core Middle Stage cultivator, surpassing her father in strength. Not to mention Li Shiming’s reputation, even the inherent prestige of a Golden Core Middle Stage made Liang Yexuan more cautious than she used to be.

“Yes, sister, I’ve also got things to do, so I’ll be going too!” Ren Fei’er also realized the situation and let go of her hand as she spoke.

“Fei’er, here’s a bottle of Spirit Pill for you!” Li Shiming said cheerfully as he tossed a bottle of Cultivation Assistance Spirit Pill to Ren Fei’er.

Without being polite, Ren Fei’er caught the bottle of pills and left with Liang Yexuan.

“Lan’er, how should I assist you?” Left alone at the mountain’s summit, Li Shiming asked softly.

“I haven’t sensed an opportunity for advancement!” Yin Shilan shook her head.

If one could feel an opportunity for advancement just by meeting, they would have sensed something as soon as they met.

“I think you’re being a bit hasty!” Li Shiming felt that Yin Shilan was eager to break through and advised her.

Such a major realm breakthrough becomes harder to achieve the more one rushes it.

He had experience in this area too. Back in the day, he and Yin Shilan went through the same experience, wishing to advance quickly, but the more they wanted it, the harder it became.

“You’re the one who’s being hasty!” Yin Shilan’s cheeks flushed like the dawn sky, and she cast him a glance filled with shyness and a bit of reproach.

Seeing her seldom-showed flirtatious side, Li Shiming’s heart swayed, and he stepped forward to hold her hands.

“I’ve missed you!” Yin Shilan did not pull away, but instead leaned on his shoulder and whispered softly.

“Actually, I’m also very eager to become Daoist couple with you!” Li Shiming said lightly, wrapping his arms around Yin Shilan’s waist.

The two of them didn’t need to say much; they had always been communicating through their contact tokens. Now, embracing each other, they did not want to speak and disturb the quiet warmth.

“I brought you a gift!” After a long while, Li Shiming said softly.

He took out four jade bottles and handed them over to Yin Shilan. Upon receiving the bottles and checking them with her Divine Thought, she couldn’t help but exclaim softly.

“Take them; I hope these will increase your chances of success!” Li Shiming waved his hand to stop Yin Shilan from saying anything and smiled.

In the four jade bottles were top-tier Spirit Pills: a Vessel Protecting Pill, a Soul Stabilizing Pill, a Resurrection Pill, and a Mountain-breaking Pill – a complete set of resources for advancing to Golden Core.

With Li Shiming’s status, Yin Shilan had received a full set of Golden Core resources from the Thousand Illusion Sect, but compared to what Li Shiming had brought, it paled in comparison.