Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1416 - 754: Contract (Part 2)

Isolation space artifacts capable of ensnaring a Great Cultivator are incredibly rare, which is why they are seldom deployed unless the situation is dire.

At that moment, Li Yuanba began his assault, manifesting more than two thousand energy-converted flying swords. Each blade was infused with Great Cultivator Sword Intent, channeled through the Spiritual Treasure known as the "Ten Thousand Sword Peak."

As the swarm of over two thousand energy-converted flying swords surged toward Great Venerable Hongfa, the monk immediately recognized the overwhelming aura of the "Ten Thousand Sword Peak." He wouldn't dare attempt to block a strike from a Spiritual Treasure directly.

He found himself caught within a gravitational force field and further suppressed by the "Infinite Great Isolation Decree." With his physical movements sluggish and no path for retreat, his only remaining tactic was space movement.

The two thousand energy-converted flying swords, carrying the sharp Great Cultivator Sword Intent, shadowed Great Venerable Hongfa relentlessly. However, the velocity of space movement was immense. No matter how closely the swords pursued him, Great Venerable Hongfa managed to slip away every time.

Observing the chase, Li Yuanba felt a powerful wave of déjà vu wash over him.

The scene was a mirror image of his previous encounter with Master Ge Guang. The only difference was that back then, he had been the one desperately using space movement to escape.

"It is time to conclude this," Li Yuanba muttered, shaking his head as his interest in the long-drawn-out fight waned. He suspected that Little Lei Yin Temple had already sent a distress signal, and there was no telling when reinforcements from Da Leiyin Temple might show up.

With a simple flick of his wrist, a brilliant sword light tore through the emptiness.

He had commanded the Spirit Treasure Xingyi Sword to strike, timing the blow with absolute precision.

As a practitioner well-versed in space movement himself, he was intimately familiar with its fatal flaw.

He launched his attack at the exact micro-second Great Venerable Hongfa exited the void, just before the monk could trigger a subsequent space movement.

The Spirit Treasure Xingyi Sword moved with incredible velocity, biting into Great Venerable Hongfa before he could vanish again.

The primary strength of the Spirit Treasure Xingyi Sword was its unmatched speed, which, combined with the raw power of a Spiritual Treasure, was augmented by the "Chaos Sword Intent."

The strike shattered the defensive Secret Technique protecting the monk's body. Suddenly, his Kasaya flared with a radiant golden light and rose up, acting as a shield against the Spirit Treasure Xingyi Sword.

This particular Kasaya was a heritage treasure of Little Lei Yin Temple, specifically sought out by Great Venerable Hongfa for protection.

Although Little Lei Yin Temple serves as a branch of Da Leiyin Temple, it maintains a level of independence and possesses its own unique legacy.

While the temple's overall heritage might not be considered prestigious, it still housed several significant artifacts.

This Kasaya was a top-tier defensive item at the peak of Tier Four. Great Venerable Hongfa had borrowed it specifically to shore up his defenses.

Having been shaken by the sword prowess Li Yuanba displayed earlier in the day, he had wanted an extra layer of security for himself.

The garment truly saved his life; the Spirit Treasure Xingyi Sword slammed into it but was held back by the Kasaya's power.

Based on the spiritual feedback from the Spirit Treasure Xingyi Sword, Li Yuanba estimated it would take at most two breaths to pierce the Kasaya. However, those two breaths would provide Great Venerable Hongfa enough time to launch a counterattack.

But the Spirit Treasure Xingyi Sword wasn't the only threat. Because that attack had halted him, Great Venerable Hongfa missed his window for space movement and was suddenly surrounded by the two thousand energy-converted flying swords carrying Great Cultivator Sword Intent.

"Mercy! Spare me!" Great Venerable Hongfa cried out, suddenly abandoning his defense.

His plea came just in time; the lead flying sword, vibrating with Great Cultivator Sword Intent, stopped dead in its tracks. The tip was a mere centimeter away from plunging into his chest.

The Artifact Spirit of the Spirit Treasure Xingyi Sword lacked the high-level sentience of an entity like Artifact Spirit Jin Hong, yet it remained perfectly synchronized with Li Yuanba’s consciousness. Upon hearing the plea for life, Li Yuanba willed the assault to stop, and the Artifact Spirit immediately halted the energy-converted flying swords.

A bead of cold sweat slid down Great Venerable Hongfa’s bald head. It was the first time he had felt such terror in thousands of years.

"If you spare my life, I will swear a soul contract to serve you as my master!" To survive, Great Venerable Hongfa was prepared to surrender his very soul.

Li Yuanba was stunned to hear a Great Cultivator from a major superpower begging so pathetically. Not only was he asking for his life, but he was also offering total subservience.

A soul recognition master contract is a profound bond where the master holds absolute authority, and the servant's life or death is entirely at the master's whim.

What makes this contract unique is the ability to bind a servant who is an entire realm stronger than the master. However, this is only possible if the servant offers no resistance and opens their mind completely to the process.

In the world of Cultivation, it is rare for someone to successfully contract a servant of a higher rank, and almost unheard of to enslave a Great Cultivator.

"What value do you possess that would make such a contract worthwhile for me?" Li Yuanba asked. This question nearly drove Great Venerable Hongfa to despair. He had offered his very soul to stay alive, only for Li Yuanba to question his worth.

In truth, Li Yuanba did not see much use for him.

Setting aside his own prowess, his control over the Spirit Treasure Xingyi Sword and the "Ten Thousand Sword Peak" gave him combat power that exceeded Great Venerable Hongfa’s. Furthermore, he could always call upon Great Cultivator Luo Pei, who possessed the Spiritual Treasure Black Water Sword.

When it came to pure battle strength, Great Cultivator Luo Pei was far superior to Great Venerable Hongfa.

"I am a specialist in space rules! I can construct various types of space teleportation formations!" Great Venerable Hongfa shouted, racking his brain for his most valuable skill.

Li Yuanba’s eyes flashed with interest at those words.

He had been looking for a way to study such techniques and hadn't expected the monk to be an expert in space teleportation formations.

"Open your soul and drop all defenses, otherwise..." Li Yuanba didn't finish the sentence. Instead, the two thousand energy-converted flying swords and the Spirit Treasure Xingyi Sword, shimmering with "Chaos Sword Intent," hummed with a threatening vibration.

Before the threat was even fully voiced, Great Venerable Hongfa bared his soul, leaving it completely vulnerable to Li Yuanba.

Li Yuanba acted instantly. He moved his fingers through the air, weaving a soul recognition master contract rune using a blend of Spirit and Spiritual Power Pattern energy.

The rune settled into Great Venerable Hongfa’s soul. Even as the contract merged with his essence, the monk remained perfectly still, offering no resistance.

"Hongfa pays respects to the Master!" Once the soul recognition master contract was finalized, Great Venerable Hongfa finally relaxed, pressing his palms together in a respectful bow to Li Yuanba.

"Hongfa, I find it hard to understand why you are so easily frightened," Li Yuanba asked bluntly, now that the monk was his servant.

"In my early days at Da Leiyin Temple, I was merely a talisman master. When my affinity for space was discovered, I was chosen to inherit the Divine Foot Skill, which I luckily mastered. Aside from that skill, I am lacking in other disciplines. Consequently, I was always assigned to logistics rather than the front lines of battle.

During my time as a mid-stage Venerable, I happened to grasp a fragment of space rules while researching teleportation formations, which allowed me to break through to Great Venerable. I have almost no experience in true combat and have always avoided conflict. Once I became a Great Venerable, I requested to be stationed here!" Hongfa explained his history.

Li Yuanba was genuinely surprised. This was a perfect example of how certain Buddhist cultivation techniques could allow a person to reach the Great Venerable stage through fortune and specific insights, rather than through blood and iron.

He had never imagined a Great Venerable could exist with practically zero combat experience.

In the brutal "survival of the fittest" reality of the Cultivation World, how could someone like this endure?

Then again, considering he had the massive backing of Da Leiyin Temple, it was possible—though it must have required an incredible amount of luck to pull off.