Chapter 803: Chapter 448: Return

Li Shiming couldn’t fathom what Great Power Zhai Ge, or rather that spiritual manifestation, was thinking. They scattered ten Nascent Soul Ancestors in different directions, a thousand miles apart.

If it weren’t for the help of the drone satellite system, he might have encountered one of the Nascent Soul Ancestors, and then he wouldn’t have been able to preserve the existence of the Grotto Heaven.

Even his life might not be assured, because the interests of the Grotto Heaven are too immense, beyond imagination. Even Nascent Soul Ancestors wouldn’t spare him just because he’s an Alchemy Master.

In fact, Li Shiming didn’t know that this was actually the final test from that spiritual manifestation of the Grotto Heaven.

Although he had obtained the inheritance of Great Power Zhai Ge, this inheritance was closely linked to the Grotto Heaven. If he were to fall, the inheritance would automatically return to the Grotto Heaven.

Once the Grotto Heaven lost its master, it would return to the void.

Unlike the previous situation, reopening the Grotto Heaven after this return to the void wouldn’t be so easy.

Previously, the Grotto Heaven could be opened because enough energy was accumulated inside.

After losing its master, the Grotto Heaven would forcibly close for a thousand years, only reopening a millennium later, waiting for cultivators to enter and undergo trials.

The only difference in this trial is that without the spiritual manifestation of Great Power Zhai Ge, the inheritors wouldn’t be able to join the lineage of Great Power Zhai Ge.

The spiritual manifestation of the Grotto Heaven has dissipated, and even the inheritance itself will be passed on by the Grotto Heaven to the inheritor who passes the trial.

A great power’s Grotto Heaven, unless a great power intervenes, cannot easily fall into the hands of Nascent Soul cultivators. To grasp the Grotto Heaven, one must pass the trial to become an inheritor.

Li Shiming wasn’t aware this was the final trial, but he didn’t need to consider these aspects.

If the spiritual manifestation had sent the ten Nascent Soul Ancestors closer together, perhaps their encirclement would have discovered him.

However, possessing the Divine Foot Skill, as long as he’s not surrounded, even Venerable Huike would find it difficult to catch him if he wants to escape.

His life-bound treasure IBMz15 might not have strong combat effects, but its auxiliary capabilities are unparalleled.

After distancing himself far from the position of the ten Nascent Soul Ancestors, he switched to ‘Step by Step Lotus’ to travel.

“Return to retreat immediately!” He sensed the spiritual power in the five Golden Cores inside him and murmured to himself.

He possessed five Golden Cores, making his total spiritual power five times that of a regular Golden Core cultivator. This allowed him to consume such a large amount of spiritual power, even though he had just broken through the late-stage Golden Core and hadn’t stabilized his realm.

He dared not linger outside. Although he could gauge the abilities of the Nascent Soul Ancestors on the Beishu Continent, making it impossible for them to detect him, the same couldn’t be said for Elder Jin Kai of the Skywalk Trading Company.

If he returned to his sect, even if Elder Jin Kai found a clue, it would be impossible to pursue him to the sect’s gates.

Of course, he was overthinking things. Although Great Power Zhai Ge would test inheritors, he was already his disciple, and impossible to leave any loose ends after passing the final test.

Returning to the sect, he didn’t greet any cultivator, only sent a message to his master, Elder Su, saying he had a revelation and was preparing to enter seclusion for a while.

“What did you say? Shiming said he had a revelation and wants to retreat?” Recently, Fan Ancestor was very concerned about Li Shiming. He had instructed Elder Su long ago to inform him of any updates, and upon hearing Elder Su’s report, he excitedly asked repeatedly.

One can’t blame him for being so excited. Li Shiming’s cultivation level had rapidly advanced, reaching the peak of the Golden Core Middle Stage months ago.

If Fan Ancestor didn’t understand that advancing in the Golden Core Stage shouldn’t be rushed, he would have already used some means to help Li Shiming break through.

Li Shiming’s advancement to the late-stage Golden Core was extremely important to him.

He had stored several stocks of Fourth Grade Spiritual Medicine, and he knew that although an Alchemy Master at the late-stage Golden Core could refine Fourth-grade Spirit Pills, the time and effort required was immense, with each refinement taking ten days.

Being Li Shiming’s master’s master, with the best conditions, Fan Ancestor naturally wanted to be first in line.

If a Nascent Soul Ancestor really came to ask for Li Shiming to refine pills before him, he’d have to wait longer.

“Yes, given my understanding of Shiming, he must have sensed a breakthrough and would only send me such a message!” Elder Su replied with a slightly sour heart, mixed with a strange feeling of joy.

A disciple surpassing their master isn’t uncommon in the Cultivation World.

But whose disciple catches up to their mid-Golden Core stage master in just twenty or thirty years, making the master feel his own talent is problematic?

“Alright, keep this news sealed. Even if Shiming successfully advances, keep the news sealed for a while longer!” Fan Ancestor laughed, then added, “When Shiming comes out from retreat, tell him the Fourth-grade Spirit Medicine for refining should be taken from me, don’t be afraid of failure!”

Fan Ancestor is shrewd. As the grandmaster of Li Shiming, even losing one or two stocks of Fourth Grade Spiritual Medicine is trivial.

Li Shiming would owe a great favor, and compensating Fan Ancestor’s loss would be easy.

“Thank you, master, on behalf of Shiming!” Elder Su bowed, thanking his master for his disciple.