Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 1744: Chapter 918: Interrogation (Part 2)

The phantom clone nodded, and the lightning flickered in his hand, sending a bolt of electricity into Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s body.

Although this bolt wasn’t unleashed with the ’Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer,’ at this moment, Great Cultivator Yi Xiao couldn’t defend himself, nor could he manipulate his spiritual power pattern, leaving him completely undefended.

The lightning penetrated deeply into Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s body, simultaneously extinguishing the soul of both his physical form and nascent soul.

The vitality of Great Cultivator Yi Xiao vanished, and his body fell heavily to the ground.

The phantom clone calmly stepped forward and extracted the soul crystal ring and his life-bound magical item from the body.

Great Cultivator Jiang Hao hadn’t anticipated that the phantom clone would be so decisive as to kill Great Cultivator Yi Xiao on the spot.

He watched as the phantom clone collected Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s corpse, silently mourning for him, for after all, he was once a sect brother.

Given Li Shiming’s habits, Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s corpse is likely to be refined into a corpse later. With Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s death, past grievances have ended, and he recalled the moments spent with Great Cultivator Yi Xiao.

He didn’t voice any demands, knowing he lacked the qualification and standing to make any requests.

Li Shiming and Great Cultivator Jiang Hao walked out of the room, noticing that the distant battlefield was devoid of cultivators; all had returned to the large flying boat.

It seemed they were merely waiting for the two to complete their interrogation and decide on the next steps.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, the matter is resolved, and Luanyang Palace has decided to return immediately!" The Phoenix Palace Master announced upon seeing Great Cultivator Jiang Hao.

"Phoenix Palace Master, there is something I need to inform you of!" Great Cultivator Jiang Hao handed over a jade scroll while speaking.

The phantom clone glanced at it briefly and chose not to look further.

This was evidently Great Cultivator Jiang Hao’s attempt to draw Luanyang Palace into opposing Bitao Sect; regardless of Bitao Sect’s losses in great cultivator strength, Guiyuan Sect would still face immense pressure in confronting Bitao Sect alone.

Should Luanyang Palace join in, it would mean two great cultivators against one from Bitao Sect.

Great Cultivator from Bitao Sect is unlikely to risk outright confrontation and would more readily compromise, handing over the ’Qingning Forbidden Scripture.’

The Phoenix Palace Master accepted the jade scroll, her divine sense delving into it for inspection, after which she calmly returned it to Great Cultivator Jiang Hao.

"Phoenix Palace Master, what do you think? Guiyuan Sect is willing to share this cultivation technique!" Great Cultivator Jiang Hao inquired.

"Luanyang Palace has no desire for the ’Qingning Forbidden Scripture.’ We have our own heritage and need not vie for any cultivation techniques!" The Phoenix Palace Master’s stance was clear; she had no intention of prolonging this.

The Phoenix Palace Master was well aware that despite the allure of the ’Qingning Forbidden Scripture,’ it was ill-suited for Luanyang Palace.

Luanyang Palace’s cultivation techniques were crafted in collaboration with the Red Gold Phoenix; the ’Qingning Forbidden Scripture’ was evidently more fitting for Guiyuan Sect. Were Luanyang Palace to join the conflict over the ’Qingning Forbidden Scripture,’ it would merely serve to add one more technique to the Book Collection Pavilion.

The ultimate beneficiary would be Guiyuan Sect, a move the Phoenix Palace Master would not make.

Disappointed, Great Cultivator Jiang Hao left the large flying boat, returning to Guiyuan Sect’s large flying boat.

"It seems Mr. Li also did not agree to cooperate with Guiyuan Sect!" The Phoenix Palace Master said with a smile to the phantom clone.

"The Ten Thousand Beast Sect truly cannot afford to oppose a superpower for mere profit!" The phantom clone explained.

Approaching Bitao Sect was due to their sheltering of Great Cultivator Yi Xiao, alongside their involvement in Yin Shilan’s abduction.

His confrontation with Bitao Sect over this had left no room for criticism from any cultivator, nor did it implicate Ten Thousand Beast Sect.

However, should he engage Bitao Sect over a cultivation technique, the meaning changes.

It signifies his representation of Ten Thousand Beast Sect in competing for interests with a superpower, placing Ten Thousand Beast Sect at a disadvantage regardless of the outcome.

"So, let’s leave this to Guiyuan Sect and return!" The Phoenix Palace Master affirmed Li Shiming’s intent and exclaimed with a smile.

As Luanyang Palace and the phantom clone departed, Guiyuan Sect’s large flying boat remained still, evidently preparing to exert pressure on Bitao Sect.

This prompted the Phoenix Palace Master to accelerate the large flying boat, aiming to avoid becoming embroiled in the subsequent conflict.

Because the large flying boat was entirely occupied by female cultivators, the phantom clone took residence on its topmost floor.

Once inside his room, he retrieved Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s soul crystal ring.

He was curious about the possessions of the rogue peak great cultivator from Guiyuan Sect.

Yet, the nascent soul of Great Cultivator Hua Ying from Bitao Sect had not yet fallen, rendering its soul crystal ring unattainable.

This, however, was merely a matter of time; once his research concluded, he would deal with Great Cultivator Hua Ying’s nascent soul.

Upon entering Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s soul crystal ring with his divine sense, the phantom clone was struck by one feeling: ’poor.’

It wasn’t that he was comparing Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s wealth to his own, an unnecessary comparison, as not even a great cultivator’s fortune within the cultivation world could surpass his own.

Having single-handedly monopolized the crafting of Great Cultivator Spirit Pills, his wealth amassed from alchemy rewards alone, aside from alchemical withholdings, had made his fortune incredibly substantial.

He was comparing Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s fortune against former peak great cultivators he had slain; even those with the least wealth surpassed Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s holdings.

Inside Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s soul crystal ring was a Fourth Grade Upper Stage Flying Boat, noteworthy among the cultivation world, but apart from the boat and the Fourth Grade Top Ice Shield used by him, there was scarcely any fourth-grade spiritual objects.

"How can he be this poor?" The phantom clone couldn’t help but complain.

Examining the spoils from peak great cultivators had typically brought him momentary surprise.

This time, however, left nothing to delight him, with no spiritual object captivating his interest.

The spiritual objects within the soul crystal ring even fell short of many average great cultivators.

What Li Shiming didn’t know was that Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s fortune wasn’t always so meager; it was depleted by employing several great cultivators to aid in abducting Yin Shilan.

Despite Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s tempting rewards, he had to provide some upfront benefits.

The rewards for six great cultivators significantly drained his estate.

In Guiyuan Sect, he wasn’t a cultivator highly valued by the powers; his training by the sect commenced solely after Great Cultivator Lin Yuan’s fall, merely investing in his expedient rise to peak great cultivator, leaving no resource reserves.

Stowing the soul crystal ring away, the phantom clone no longer dwelled on Great Cultivator Yi Xiao’s estate; even if his fortunes were abundant, it would merely be a minor enhancement.

His attention shifted towards Great Cultivator Hua Ying’s nascent soul, which was restricted, rendering it incapable of thought.

He established contact with his core unit, the IBMz15, commencing a scan of the nascent soul while comparing it with the clone’s body to develop feasible plans.

It wasn’t long before IBMz15 proposed a plan.

He scrutinized the plan and found it unsuited for execution during travel, necessitating his return to Li Shiming’s main body for enactment.

Considering the time required to accompany Luanyang Palace’s large flying boat back to Central State Continent, with his goal being the Ten Thousand Beast Sect on Dongqi Continent.

Separation seemed preferable, with the Golden Winged Dapeng providing a swifter return to the Ten Thousand Beast Sect.

Acting on his decision, he bid farewell to the Phoenix Palace Master, who offered no hindrance, summoning the Golden Winged Dapeng to carry him towards the distant horizon.