Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1438 - 765: Wondrous Item (2)

As Li Yuanba's reputation continues to soar, even the Great Cultivators from external sects have offered their heartfelt praise upon discovering that Lou Wu was accepted as his student.

Currently, Li Yuanba's mastery of alchemy is a secret held strictly within the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion. Had the outside world realized his talent in concocting pills, Lou Wu’s apprenticeship would have sparked intense envy and resentment rather than simple congratulations.

"Understood, Master!" Lou Wu answered. With a lighthearted grin, he inquired, "Master, is the rumor true? Did you actually hold back the assault of two Great Cultivators and a hundred Nascent Soul Middle Stage Practitioners all by yourself?"

"Where did you pick up such nonsense?" Li Yuanba asked, caught off guard. He couldn't help but react with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

"We heard it from the exiled cultivators as soon as we arrived!" Lou Wu replied candidly.

These exiled cultivators, often referred to as criminal cultivators, frequently originate from prominent superpowers.

Despite their banishment, many maintain ties with the incoming reinforcements, making it inevitable for battle reports to circulate quickly.

Still, the level of exaggeration among the exiled cultivators was beyond Li Yuanba’s expectations.

If his strength truly reached such heights, he would have stormed the Hell Cave Heaven long ago to claim the 'Hell Disgust Crystal Essences' on his own, rather than waiting for assistance.

"Don't let such rumors mislead you. I had two Great Cultivators standing with me and the support of a hundred exiled cultivators. It just so happens that my five Mid-stage Golden Corpses excel at defense, allowing me to play a significant role!" Li Yuanba explained, dismissing the tall tales with a wave of his hand.

"Master, would it be possible for me to cultivate a corpse as well?" Lou Wu asked eagerly.

"Absolutely not!" Li Yuanba and Great Cultivator Lou shouted in unison.

The two men exchanged a look and shared a laugh. Great Cultivator Lou then nodded toward Li Yuanba, silently asking him to clarify the matter for Lou Wu.

"The five Mid-stage Golden Corpses I possess were refined using unique materials and the assistance of a friend with specialized techniques. More importantly, a Sword Cultivator must dedicate their entire focus to their Lifebound Flying Sword; any distraction can hinder one's progress in the Dao of the sword. Furthermore, typical Mid-stage Golden Corpses are easily destroyed by a single strike from a peer-level cultivator. It is far better to invest your resources into your sword path than to waste them on corpse refinement!" Li Yuanba lectured his disciple.

"I only brought it up because many of the arriving cultivators were inspired to try corpse cultivation after hearing of your exploits, Master!" Lou Wu admitted. Realizing that both his father and his Master were firmly against it, he accepted that a Sword Cultivator should stay away from such paths.

"Just a moment ago, a cultivator from the Beidou Sect lost eight Mid-stage Golden Corpses instantly to Hell monsters. Centuries of cultivation effort were wiped out in a heartbeat!" Li Yuanba added, citing the recent tragedy.

"Do not measure yourself against your Master. Even without those Golden Corpses, he is the undisputed leader among Nascent Soul Middle Stage Practitioners. For him, those corpses are merely tools for support. Besides, reaching the Nascent Soul Middle Stage at only a hundred years old means he has plenty of time to pursue higher realms, even with minor distractions!" Great Cultivator Lou remarked, though his words left Lou Wu feeling slightly deflated.

While Lou Wu possessed respectable talent and was considered young for a Nascent Soul Early Stage Practitioner, he paled in comparison to a monster like Li Yuanba.

"Yuanba, the Sword Elder requested that I deliver this to you. It is a token of the Pavilion's appreciation, and they hope it will help you make an even greater impact!" Great Cultivator Lou said, shifting his attention back to Li Yuanba while presenting a jade box.

"What might this be?" Li Yuanba asked as he took the container.

"See for yourself. Just be sure to establish an isolation spell before opening it so the aura doesn't leak out!" Great Cultivator Lou advised with a grin.

Before Li Yuanba could act, Great Cultivator Lou flicked his wrist, manifesting several Spiritual Power Patterns that created a secure barrier around them.

Li Yuanba opened the box with anticipation, finding a heart-shaped piece of wood resting inside.

The moment the lid was lifted, a powerful surge of life Qi washed over him, and he felt a profound, instinctive connection to the object.

"This is an Innate Jianmu Tree Heart. It only manifests within the Grotto Heaven of a Great Cultivator who specializes in wood-element Qi. When used alongside your 'Innate Wood' divine skills, it can drastically amplify their power and serve as a permanent reservoir of energy for them!" Great Cultivator Lou explained.

Li Yuanba could immediately tell that the 'Innate Jianmu Tree Heart' was no ordinary magical tool, but a rare and precious treasure. Although he didn't know how the Sword Elder had acquired it, he knew it was perfectly suited for his needs.

He performed a Master Recognition Technique, guiding his essence to merge with the artifact.

As the technique took hold, the 'Innate Jianmu Tree Heart' suddenly dissolved into a vibrant green light and surged into his body.

Startled, he immediately focused his mind inward to inspect his condition.

Within his Nascent Soul, specifically where the 'Innate Wood' divine skill rune and the rune short sword resided, he found the heart had taken root.

The heart pulsed rhythmically. With every beat, it pumped green energy into the 'Innate Wood' divine skill rune, while energy from the rune cycled back into the heart.

The 'Innate Wood' rune now seemed to possess a life of its own, with the green energy circulating through it like blood driven by a heartbeat.

He realized that his control over the 'Innate Wood' divine skill had become natural. Previously, even though he shared the insights of his main body, Li Shiming, the skill felt somewhat foreign because he lacked innate wood-element talent.

That barrier had now vanished. The divine skill felt like a natural extension of his own body, ready to be deployed at a whim.

Great Cultivator Lou watched Li Yuanba closely, a hint of astonishment crossing his face. It was clear he hadn't expected such a dramatic reaction from the 'Innate Jianmu Tree Heart,' though the Sword Elder likely knew exactly what would happen.

"It appears the Innate Jianmu Tree Heart is indeed a perfect match for you!" Great Cultivator Lou noted cheerfully.

"I believe my 'Innate Wood' divine skill has actually surpassed its previous realm constraints!" Li Yuanba said, still marveling at the rune with a touch of uncertainty.

"Test it on me!" Great Cultivator Lou suggested, his curiosity piqued.

After a moment of thought, Li Yuanba nodded and began to channel the energy from the 'Innate Wood' rune.

Almost instantly, a glowing projection of the rune appeared in his palm. Within a single breath, it transformed into a beam of emerald light that struck Great Cultivator Lou.

Enveloped in the green glow, Great Cultivator Lou closed his eyes, an expression of pure bliss washing over him.

"Ah!" He let out a long, satisfied breath after a few moments.

"Yuanba, your 'Innate Wood' divine skill is potent enough to affect even a Great Cultivator! I wasn't even hurt, yet the energy made my entire body feel rejuvenated—it even began healing some of my lingering old wounds!" Great Cultivator Lou shouted in surprise.

Li Yuanba might not have fully realized the gravity of this, but Great Cultivator Lou knew that Li Yuanba's value had just reached a whole new level.

Nearly every Great Cultivator suffers from hidden internal injuries, usually the result of countless life-and-death struggles or the side effects of pill consumption.

To advance, Great Cultivators must rely on Spirit Pills. However, most available pills are only of Intermediate quality, containing impurities that accumulate over centuries of use.

These toxic residues gradually erode a Great Cultivator's foundation, and no matter what methods are used, some stubborn impurities always remain behind.