Cultivation is just so scientific!

Four days later, Li Shiming's mind was immersed in learning when he suddenly felt a reminder from his split soul, an indication that it had detected something abnormal.

He ceased learning from the IBM z15 and, through shared vision, received the perspective of his split soul.

Two figures were initially far away but instantly appeared above the small island, their speed the like of which he had seldom seen in his life.

The split soul, a kilometer away from the island, felt as if it were about to collapse under the oppressive aura emitted by one of the figures.

Li Shiming thought of Old Monk Du Yuan and recalled the aura revealed by all the elders atop the Nine Peaks.

"Damn, how could it be a Golden Core Elder!" he thought in extreme horror.

He had never expected that a Golden Core Elder would come this time.

He also guessed the identity of the Golden Core Elder, with over eighty percent certainty that it was Baili Jin Yan's father, the Elder Baili Luo from the Holy Ice Sect.

Only this Golden Core Elder would personally appear in these waters.

In any sect, the Golden Core Elders are extremely enigmatic.

Sect affairs do not disturb Golden Core Elders, and the power of the sect means nothing to them.

In the face of absolute power, authority merely becomes a tool serving the Golden Core Elders.

Just like the Yu Sect Leader of the Sky Sea Sect, whose power is only at the Late-stage Foundation Establishment, cannot compare in status and position with a Golden Core Elder yet holds the sect's power as its foremost authority.

Li Shiming controlled his split soul to slowly submerge into the sea.

He dared not let his split soul get close to him and instead moved it away in another direction.

He somewhat regretted it and felt he should have stayed farther from the island; a kilometer away was not safe at all.

Fortunately, he chose to hide on the ocean floor, and the sea water significantly impaired the cultivators' perception, something he had tried much earlier.

Unless a broad area was scanned with Spiritual Thought, it would be difficult to detect him hidden among the seabed rocks.

Li Shiming then switched his view to the eye mask, which connected to the pinhole probes in the small island's cave.

At this point, whether Foundation Establishment or Golden Core, the trap was set, he didn't need to take the risk himself.

Wei Yun entered the cave first, finding no trace of the two late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators in the main hall, which surprised him.

He had never considered the possibility that the two late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators would flee. Having grown up in the Holy Ice Sect, they enjoyed the resources of the sect and were bound to it.
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More importantly, without the sect's resources, the two late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators had no chance of further advancement.

The cultivation techniques they practiced were predominantly monopolized by the Holy Ice Sect.

Moreover, betraying the sect was a grave sin. No matter where they fled, as long as they were still on this continent, they would be eternally hunted by the sect.

Staying might not mean death, but fleeing would certainly result in death.

"Master, perhaps they went to the Sky Sea Sect to attempt another assassination!" Wei Yun said, bowing to the stern-faced Elder Baili.

"Wei Yun, you are responsible for the sect's intelligence and assassination missions, it seems you have been somewhat negligent!" Elder Baili said gravely.

He was not concerned about the two Qi Refining Cultivators, only about matters related to Baili Jin Yan, such as his wish for Li Shiming to die, yet Li Shiming was still alive, which greatly displeased him.

He had originally planned to set up a trap on the two Qi Refining Cultivators, making them intercept and kill Li Shiming between Eagle Beak Island and the Nine Peaks.

By doing so, there was a significant chance that the two Qi Refining Cultivators would be killed by the Sky Sea Sect, but if they somehow survived, it would also resolve previous mistakes.

But now that he was here and the two Qi Refining Cultivators were not, his plan could not proceed, which naturally frustrated him.

"Master, let me do it. If I'm careful enough, there shouldn't be any problems!" Wei Yun said, his face showing shame.

"Foolish, you are my Direct Disciple. If you are discovered, even I cannot dissociate myself from it!" Elder Baili rebuked sharply, then thought for a moment and continued, "Issue a mission within the sect. Whoever kills Li Shiming, I will accept as a Registered Disciple!"

For more than half a year, with no news of Baili Jin Yan, Elder Baili knew the chances of his son's survival were diminishing.

He held vengeance as more important than anything else, but whether internally at the sect or between Sky Sea and Xuanming Sects, conditions restrained him from taking unfettered revenge.

The crucial issue wasn't a mere Qi Refining Fourth Level Cultivator, whether it was sect members related to Baili Jin Yan's disappearance within the Holy Ice Sect or on the Sky Sea side, he had nearly cleaned them all.

The reason he said nearly was because there was one, Yin Shilan, whom he had not yet managed to handle.

Now, discovering that Li Shiming, who had incensed his son Baili Jin Yan, was still alive shocked him.

It is known that all the Cultivators in the Holy Ice Sect who had incited Baili Jin Yan to go to the Sky Sea Sect had been captured by Elder Baili and tortured to death; on the Sky Sea side, three Qi Refining Cultivators who spread rumors on Changming Island had suffered the same fate.

Of course, Elder Baili had never considered that Li Shiming, or any other Qi Refining Cultivator, could be the murderer behind Baili Jin Yan's disappearance, for he had a very clear understanding of his son's strength.

At the Qi Refinement Realm, at least on this continent, he was hard to rival.

The only threats to Baili Jin Yan, those who could prevent his escape, were either strong entities from the Foundation Establishment Stage or perhaps a Golden Core had intervened.