Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1405: 749: Trapped

Fifteen days after concluding his secluded meditation, Li Yuanba accepted a combat mission and departed from the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion.

His departure wasn't delayed by choice; rather, the time for his scheduled alchemy commissions had arrived. Those seeking his services included both long-standing allies and newer contacts he had made over the last decade.

Within the confines of the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, his mastery of alchemy was common knowledge.

He suspected that external powers might also be aware of his talent, though cultivators from outside the Sect were unable to reach him. He had long ago announced a strict policy of refusing alchemy requests from anyone outside the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion.

He feared that if he actually started taking external commissions, he would lose all time for his own Cultivation.

After receiving repeated warnings from his master, Jian Wuwei, to prioritize caution, he said his goodbyes and left the Sect grounds.

Given his high status, Jian Wuwei was privy to extensive intelligence, including reports that various factions were tracking Li Yuanba for numerous reasons.

Many of these groups harbored dark motives, fueled by rumors that Li Yuanba had obtained the secret of ascension within the grotto heaven of the Langcai Great Power, along with a massive hoard of resources belonging to a Great Cultivator.

Such rumors alone were enough to drive any practitioner into a frenzy of greed.

Despite the risks, Jian Wuwei could not forbid Li Yuanba from undertaking missions; for a Sword Cultivator to progress, battle is just as vital as diligent meditation.

Stifling Li Yuanba’s opportunities for combat would only hinder his future growth.

Li Yuanba utilized ‘A Step to Eternity’ to cross the ocean, his form flickering rhythmically above the waves.

While he was prepared for a fight, he had no desire to be intercepted by nuisances. He intended to finish his Sect mission before considering any attempts to draw out his hidden enemies.

The mountain gates of the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion were situated near the coast, and through successive uses of ‘A Step to Eternity,’ the shoreline soon came into view.

He avoided landing at the primary docks, choosing a different route instead, as the main coast was frequently patrolled by fellow Sword Cultivators from his Sect.

Once on solid ground, he retrieved his Identity Jade Disc to review the details of his assignment.

The objective was straightforward: execute a mid-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator from a prominent sect. This individual had greviously wounded an early-stage Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator from the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion during a business deal.

Generally, the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion does not intervene in common disputes, believing such struggles are necessary for a Sword Cultivator's development.

However, the Sect refused to overlook acts of predatory bullying and the ruthless attempt to leave no witnesses.

The Sect maintained this hardline stance because the Cultivation World is rife with high-level experts oppressing those weaker than them, often murdering their victims to destroy any evidence of the crime.

Had that early-stage Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator died on the spot, the culprit’s identity would have vanished into obscurity.

By employing such overwhelming force in response, the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion sent a message to the world: do not harm our junior disciples, or you will face a relentless and violent retaliation.

In this instance, the victim was fortunate enough to return with both his physical body and his Nascent Soul intact. Had only the Nascent Soul escaped, the mission would have expanded to target not just the individual, but his entire backing sect as well.

The Sect would have ensured that the rival organization paid a staggering price, demonstrating their absolute resolve against any foe.

Intelligence gathered by the Sect’s operatives indicated that the mid-stage Nascent Soul target was not taking refuge within his own sect, but was instead hiding in a desolate, unpopulated region.

The Intelligence Department provided a general area of interest, though they lacked a specific location.

The target had avoided his sect to prevent the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion from directing their wrath toward his kin. At the time of the attack, he hadn't realized his victim belonged to the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion. It was only when the wounded man used the Sect's iconic Sword Escape that the attacker realized the magnitude of his mistake.

Aware of the Sect’s reputation for vengeance, he knew a pursuit was inevitable and had fled to a remote location he deemed secure.

Li Yuanba hovered in mid-air, scanning the landscape below—a dense forest where five peaks were positioned in a Five Elements formation.

A slight frown touched his face; he wondered if this layout was natural or a deliberate setup.

He extended his perception, but detected no irregularities in the local Spiritual Energy.

Even after activating his ‘Divine Eye,’ nothing out of the ordinary was revealed.

“Am I being too paranoid?” he whispered to himself.

His caution was justified; he had survived countless ambushes, including one so severe he was nearly captured. If his true body hadn't intervened, he might have been dead already.

He began circling the five peaks, keeping a sharp eye on the terrain below.

As he passed over the third mountain, a specific trace of aura caught his attention.

A sample of the target’s aura had been attached to the mission brief to ensure there would be no mistakes in identity.

After comparing the two, he was certain this belonged to his prey.

Casting aside further hesitation, he moved. With a flash of ‘A Step to Eternity,’ his figure materialized instantly at the source of the aura below.

Standing at the site, Li Yuanba projected his Divine Sense, subtly activating several Formation nodes. A hidden grotto entrance slowly manifested before him.

Inside the cave, the mid-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator felt the oppressive, sharp aura of a Sword Cultivator and began to shake uncontrollably.

His terror was well-founded; Sword Cultivators were renowned as the elite combatants of the world, possessing power far exceeding that of typical practitioners at the same stage.