Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1427: 760: Arranging the Formation

“The current priority is maintaining a united front against these external foes, so you shouldn't fret over any schemes from Hongguang Venerable. I am keeping a close watch and won't permit you to be mistreated. Besides, rumors say you once struck down Master Ge Guang; I suspect Hongguang Venerable poses little real threat to you!” Master Wu Ge whispered these words to Li Yuanba while glancing toward the distant silhouette of Hongguang Venerable.

Despite his attempt to interfere, Hongguang Venerable showed restraint. He kept his distance, staying near the formation's edge. It was clear that he still harbored deep-seated wariness toward his rivals.

“I will go assist Hongfa. Perhaps we can accelerate the assembly of the formation,” Li Yuanba suggested, hoping to help Great Venerable Hongfa finish the task ahead of schedule.

“It will soon be my turn to rotate into the frontline battle, so I cannot go with you,” Master Wu Ge replied, offering no objections.

Once Li Yuanba joined the effort, the installation speed of the space acceptance array increased several times over.

Li Yuanba utilized a shortcut by linking his mind to the IBMz15. By scanning the formation site with his Divine Sense and ‘Divine Eye,’ the IBMz15 mapped out the exact coordinates for every formation node and provided detailed guidance on connecting the spiritual power lines between them.

Because of this, what was once a mentally taxing labor of Cultivation engineering became as simple as assembling a toy.

Great Venerable Hongfa had originally assumed that his centuries of experience, combined with two years of constant array building, would make him faster than Li Yuanba. He figured that while Li Yuanba might have invented the space acceptance array, he wouldn't have the same level of practical expertise.

However, watching Li Yuanba work completely crushed Great Venerable Hongfa’s confidence. His respect for the young man reached new heights.

A project that was estimated to take three days was finalized in a mere six hours due to Li Yuanba’s intervention.

Once the formation was set, Li Yuanba noticed that the initial group of reinforcements from the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion had yet to arrive.

He escorted Great Venerable Hongfa to a tent situated near Master Wu Ge’s grotto heaven, which would serve as their temporary home.

A cluster of one hundred tents had been erected in this sector for the incoming Sword Cultivators of the Sect.

Tents were used instead of the preferred grotto heavens because Hell Island was quite cramped; only the rear half of the island was actually habitable.

The front half of the island functioned as a zone of exile for disgraced cultivators and was unfit for standard residence.

Li Yuanba stepped inside the tent; while it appeared modest from the outside, the interior was quite spacious.

The structure utilized a spatial formation. Though it lacked the defensive security of a true grotto heaven, it provided similar comforts on the surface.

The interior was partitioned into a main hall and several functional rooms, with the cultivation room drawing its energy directly from the spiritual vein of Hell Island.

“Hongfa, there is no need for you to head out again. I’m going to observe the front lines,” Li Yuanba said after showing Great Venerable Hongfa to his quarters.

“Yuanba, I may not be the strongest, but I still wish to help. If I join the fray, we can eliminate even more Hell Creatures!” Great Venerable Hongfa replied. He understood Li Yuanba’s thirst for combat and didn't want to hide while his companion fought alone.

“Are you not concerned about running into Hongguang Venerable?” Li Yuanba asked, curious about the offer.

Even if Great Venerable Hongfa wasn't a combat specialist, he remained a Great Venerable. He was more than capable of handling Fourth Grade Middle Stage Hell Creatures with ease.

“It is an encounter we cannot avoid forever. We have already crossed paths today, and since we are stuck on this tiny island, Hongguang will simply have to get used to my presence,” Great Venerable Hongfa said with a faint smile.

Li Yuanba could tell that Great Venerable Hongfa had found some inner peace, and though the reason was unclear, it was a positive development.

What Li Yuanba didn't realize was that his constant display of miraculous talent had filled Great Venerable Hongfa with such admiration that he felt his choice to follow Li Yuanba was vindicated.

This psychological shift gave Great Venerable Hongfa the resolve to face his former peers from the Da Leiyin Temple without fear.

The two of them left the habitable zone and crossed into the front half of the island.

The moment they crossed the boundary, the environmental shift was palpable.

The spiritual energy in the front half was only a quarter as potent as the rear, yet the concentration of spiritual power remained stable. However, the level of harmful radiation was ten times higher.

Looking at the geography, the cause was obvious: this area was directly linked to the tunnel leading to Hell Cave Heaven, making it the first place to be hit by the leaking radiation.

They spotted other cultivators here, but their eyes were hollow and devoid of spirit. Though their hearts still beat, they were essentially the walking dead.

In the midst of these broken souls, Li Yuanba recognized a familiar face.

It was Supervisor Sun from the Central State Commerce. Naturally, the man did not recognize Li Yuanba in his current form.

Years ago, Supervisor Sun had sold out Li Shiming's secrets, resulting in an ambush. Once the Central State Commerce discovered his betrayal, he had been banished to this hellish place.

Two or three decades had passed, and the once-portly Supervisor Sun was now nothing but skin and bones, his former cunning replaced by a mask of total numbness.