Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1436: 764: Arrival_2

Great Venerable Hongfa stood nearby in a protective stance, having served as a guardian by his side throughout five days of non-stop warfare. This was a grueling undertaking for a Great Venerable who did not specialize in direct combat.

Thanks to Li Yuanba’s intervention, the Hell Island’s grand array suffered only negligible depletion. Even among the criminal cultivators, casualties were nonexistent; only a few unfortunate souls were grazed by stray wisps of evil energy because they had momentarily lowered their guard. Such a feat was nearly impossible to imagine, yet it had unfolded right before their eyes.

“The reinforcements from Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion have made landfall!” Master Wu Ge shouted a reminder, causing a wave of jubilation to sweep through the ranks of the criminal cultivators. These men were present to seek redemption, and although their current existence was agonizing, they had no desire for a true death. The arrival of fresh troops signaled that the moment to launch a counter-offensive had finally come.

Hearing the news allowed Li Yuanba to finally breathe a sigh of relief. While his direct combat involvement had been limited, the volatile nature of the battlefield demanded absolute focus and a constant vigilance against hidden threats. He felt that the intensity of these few days was comparable to two full years of his previous mission training. Having survived such a blood-soaked theater of war, his ‘Chaos Sword Intent’ had gained a solid foundation for growth. He knew that once he returned and meditated on these experiences, his intent would see a rapid breakthrough. It was clear that sword cultivators are forged in fire; without the baptism of battle, a sword cultivator’s path remains incomplete.

“The reinforcements from Da Leiyin Temple have arrived as well!” Venerable Hongguang remarked with a grin, having sensed their approach. Despite the arrival of these forces, Li Yuanba did not immediately leave the front lines. The new arrivals needed to be organized, and even more units were still en route. Coordinating how these various powers would enter the fray required detailed planning and time. Until then, the passage connecting Hell Cave Heaven and Hell Island could not be left vulnerable, meaning Li Yuanba’s presence was still vital.

The sky above Hell Island grew crowded as massive flying boats began to descend in succession. Beyond Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion and Da Leiyin Temple, other major powers were also arriving. Because Li Yuanba had successfully stabilized the defense, these factions had been granted the luxury of time to coordinate their arrival schedules. Originally, the plan dictated that the sword cultivators of Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion would arrive first to desperately establish a defensive perimeter. Unexpectedly, Li Yuanba had held that line single-handedly, allowing his Sect brothers the time to meticulously prepare their resources before departing.

“Mr. Li, I’ve brought the corpse refining materials I requested from Luanyang Palace. Please, take them!” A female Great Cultivator from Luanyang Palace glided onto the field, offering a Mustard Seed Ring to Li Yuanba.

“You certainly moved fast. Here are the corpse refining resources I had Guiyuan Sect prepare!” A Great Cultivator from the Guiyuan Sect followed immediately after, greeting the woman with a nod before passing another Mustard Seed Ring to Li Yuanba. Subsequently, other high-level representatives from the various powers stationed on the island stepped forward, each presenting Li Yuanba with gifts of corpse refining materials. Even Venerable Hongguang of Da Leiyin Temple took a Mustard Seed Ring from a newly arrived peer and handed it over. This was their agreed-upon compensation; over the past few days, Li Yuanba’s five mid-stage golden corpses had endured significant trauma. Even with his ‘Innate Wood’ divine skill providing healing, it was obvious to everyone that the damage from such a high-intensity battle went deeper than mere surface wounds.

“Mr. Li, you may withdraw your golden corpses now. We will take over the defense from here,” the female Great Cultivator said kindly. Li Yuanba nodded and, with a simple gesture, recalled the five mid-stage golden corpses along with the Ten Thousand Sword Peak. Upon inspecting the rings, he found them packed with premium corpse refining materials. These were not only sufficient to restore his current corpses but were enough to refine several late-stage fourth-grade golden corpses. He smiled; while he didn't lack basic supplies, top-tier corpse refining materials were rare. Such items were usually controlled by the resource lands of the great sects, and his own Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion was one of the few powers that lacked such territories. Furthermore, since sword cultivators rarely practiced corpse refinement, such resources were scarce within his Sect. With these high-quality materials, he could finally finish gathering what he needed to process the corpses of Great Cultivators into refined materials.

It was a shame that his current cultivation and that of his original body, Li Shiming, were still insufficient. They needed to reach the peak of the Nascent Soul Middle Stage at the very least. Only then would Li Shiming’s spiritual power be strong enough to truly command late-stage golden corpses.

As Li Yuanba retreated to the rear, many Nascent Soul Middle Stage practitioners from the major sects flocked to the front to observe the breach leading to Hell Cave Heaven. Li Yuanba kept a low profile, avoiding the gaze of the newcomers. Many of these practitioners were core disciples of their respective organizations.

“I’ve heard that golden corpses are the best tool for guarding this spot. Apparently, five mid-stage golden corpses held back the hell creatures for nearly six days!” one cultivator remarked while watching the portal. He showed no dread toward the monsters, pointing at the passage as if he could dispatch the threats with a flick of his wrist.

“Mr. Wu, you have eight mid-stage golden corpses under your command. You’re positioned to reap a massive fortune this time!” another cultivator chimed in with a dramatic tone.

The cultivator named Wu looked visibly proud. Having heard that Li Yuanba—a sword cultivator—had defended the island with only five corpses, he had rushed to the front. His own collection was larger, and he harbored the belief that the Beidou Sect’s expertise in corpse refinement far surpassed anything a sword cultivator from Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion could manage. The Great Cultivators nearby wore strange expressions, but none of them, not even the one from the Beidou Sect, bothered to correct him. By claiming the threat could be solved easily with golden corpses, Wu was inadvertently insulting the efforts and presence of the Great Cultivators who had been struggling there.

Wu remained oblivious to the offense he had given. He saw the crowd as an audience and wanted to bolster his reputation. For a cultivator, fame was a currency that dictated resource distribution and core disciple status within a Sect. It also made travel and trading much easier. With a grand sweep of his sleeve, Wu summoned eight mid-stage golden corpses. They radiated a heavy, powerful aura, showing they had been meticulously nurtured to a high level. Wu certainly had talent in his craft, and his luck in successfully refining eight of them was remarkable, explaining his arrogance. With these eight, most Nascent Soul Middle Stage practitioners would struggle to match him.

“Attack!” he commanded. The eight golden corpses surged forward, forming a wall as they marched into the ten-meter-wide passage with overwhelming momentum. The first golden corpse collided with a Hell Bull Head Spirit. These creatures were known for their relentless, full-power charges. To Wu’s shock and disbelief, his golden corpse was sent tumbling backward by the impact. Before it could even hit the ground, a Hell Horse Head Spirit lunged, unleashing a flurry of strikes on the defenseless corpse.