Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1616 - 854: Consolidation (2)

With the impressive speed of the Thunder Beast, traveling between the Central State Continent and the Dongqi Continent takes a mere four to five days for a full round trip.

For Li Shiming, the minor task of alchemy at the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion will not face significant delays due to cutting the line.

Li Yuanba’s late-stage Golden Corpse handles the delivery of the Great Cultivator Spirit Medicine to the "Phantom Clone," and the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion has absolute trust that he will not covet the materials entrusted to him.

An Alchemy Master skilled in creating high-quality Great Cultivator Spirit Pills possesses a status that far outweighs the worth of the raw ingredients themselves.

During his year of seclusion, Li Yuanba consumed a vast quantity of High-level Spirit Pills, a regimen that granted him the ability to solidify his realm at a pace far beyond that of a typical Great Cultivator.

As he slowly opened his eyes, he focused on the Nascent Soul residing deep within his frame.

At this moment, the presence of his Nascent Soul felt exceptionally keen; the "Sword Intent Rule Imprint" appeared notably clearer than it had a year prior, while the "Chaos Sword Intent" permeated every fiber of the Nascent Soul.

While an ordinary Nascent Soul is merely the amalgamation of spiritual power and the human soul, the Nascent Soul of a Sword Cultivator carries the added essence of sword intent.

This distinct characteristic is precisely what enables Sword Cultivators to elevate their combat prowess without ever needing to rely on a Nascent Soul Dharma Form.

With nothing more than a flick of the wrist, a Sword Cultivator can unleash devastating energy, and if the "Sword Intent Rule Imprint" is merged into that intent, the total power is effectively doubled.

"Incredible!" he mused, quietly assessing his own state.

His strength operated differently than that of Li Shiming’s original body. Li Shiming focuses on the "Heavenly Human Technique," seeking a balanced growth across body refinement, spiritual power, and spirit, even utilizing the "Chaotic Spiritual Power" to channel both Thunder Cultivation and Sword Cultivation tactics.

Li Yuanba’s power, conversely, is rooted strictly in sword cultivation. His physical form has been completely reshaped by the "Chaos Sword Intent," and within just one year, his sword body has ascended to the Great Cultivator Realm.

At this level, the sword body truly fulfills the meaning of its name, distinguishing itself completely from conventional body refinement.

A sword body at the Great Cultivator Realm permits the physical form to resonate perfectly with the razor-sharp intent flowing within, rendering the immense physical durability a natural byproduct rather than a primary goal.

Li Yuanba felt as if his entire existence had become a flying sword: his flesh acted as the blade, his Nascent Soul functioned as the sword intent, and together they manifested as the perfect tool of a Sword Cultivator.

He was confident that if they were to face off at the same tier, his sword techniques would surpass those of Li Shiming’s main body, owing to the seamless harmony between his physical form and the pure focus of his Nascent Soul.

Of course, the fighting capacity of Li Shiming’s main body was not merely limited to a Great Cultivator Sword Cultivator; that was only one modest facet among his many diverse skills.

What Li Yuanba required most urgently now was actual combat to adjust to the intensity of fighting at the Great Cultivator level and to further hone his "Chaos Sword Intent."

The current potency of the "Chaos Sword Intent" was forged through Li Yuanba’s relentless strife and the subsequent refinement through battle.

Because Li Shiming rarely utilized sword attack skills during real engagements, he relied almost entirely on Li Yuanba’s battlefield experiences to refine his understanding.

The primary purpose of the clone is to act as a buffer for the main body, absorbing the inherent risks of life-or-death struggles.

After activating a communication technique and waiting briefly, Li Yuanba heard his master, Jian Wuwei, arrive at the entrance of his cave dwelling.

Since reaching the Middle Stage of the Nascent Soul, Jian Wuwei had begun taking on leadership responsibilities within the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, refining his administrative capabilities.

As a core member of the Jian family branch, the leadership of the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion is historically reserved for the Sword Cultivators of this lineage.

Li Yuanba had learned of these political nuances from Jian Wuwei before entering his seclusion, which incidentally paved the way for their current collaboration on alchemy.

"Master, you’ve arrived!" Li Yuanba greeted him with a welcoming grin as he stepped inside.

He had already prepared a fresh pot of Fourth Grade Spirit Tea, which reached the final stage of steeping just as Jian Wuwei entered.

"Make sure to spare some of that tea for me!" Jian Wuwei’s eyes flared with interest as he caught the faint, intoxicating scent of the Fourth Grade Spirit Tea.

He recognized the aroma immediately; within the Cultivation World, only two individuals were known to distill such a brew: Li Shiming in the Beishu Continent and Li Shizhen over in the Dongqi Continent.

Considering the recent news of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect suddenly aligning with the Beishu Sect—the result of a merger among the original seven sects—and knowing Li Shiming served as the mastermind behind the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, the pieces fell into place.

These observations, combined with Li Shiming’s masterful alchemy, led Jian Wuwei to the conclusion that Li Shiming and Li Shizhen were one and the same.

His conviction only deepened after obtaining a portrait of Li Shiming from the intelligence branch.

Sensing the presence of the tea today, Jiang Wuwei confirmed that his disciple shared a deep connection with Li Shizhen.

Given that Li Yuanba had formerly been friends with Li Shiming in the Beishu Continent, it made perfect sense that he would also be linked to the latter's alter ego.

"If you enjoy the flavor, take what is left; I'll give it all to you!" Li Yuanba smiled, sliding a jade container toward his master.

Jian Wuwei accepted the gift without hesitation, reflecting the strength of their bond.

"Tell me the truth, did you get Li Shizhen to handle these spirit pills for you?" Jian Wuwei inquired after savoring the taste of the tea.

"Master, while my alchemy is capable of crafting top-tier Great Cultivator Spirit Pills, I simply lacked the time to finish them myself, so I requested a favor from Mr. Li," Li Yuanba replied honestly with a smile.

He then produced the requested high-level spirit pills for the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion and set them before Jian Wuwei.

"I suppose the way geniuses conduct their business is simply beyond my comprehension!" Jian Wuwei chuckled, casting his eyes over the jade bottles.

The Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion had requested these pills from Li Yuanba for a pittance, but securing the same output from Li Shiming would have cost a literal fortune in resources.

Without a profound bond between the two, such a commission would never have been accepted.

Moreover, Jian Wuwei knew that Li Shiming’s request queue was backed up for at least a decade, meaning Li Yuanba’s pills had undoubtedly jumped the line.

"Now that your realm is stable, you require combat to sharpen your skills. I am happy to report that the pavilion has several suitable tasks that require exactly your expertise!" Jian Wuwei said as he pocketed the bottles.

"That is precisely what I was hoping to hear!" Li Yuanba beamed in response, his mind already drifting toward potential combat scenarios.

While most major organizations would never dream of sending a premier alchemy master into the meat grinder of the battlefield, the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion saw it differently. Li Yuanba’s value wasn't confined to the laboratory; his combat talent was equally formidable.

For any true practitioner of the sword, frequent battle is a rite of passage required to reach the pinnacle of their art.

It is precisely this dedication to the front lines that has earned the disciples of the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion the reputation of being "sword maniacs" across the Cultivation World.

After his master departed, Li Yuanba pulled out his Identity Jade Disc. Following his recent promotion, his permissions had been upgraded, granting him access to duties previously reserved for high-level experts.

He scanned the new list of tasks, feeling a slight shock at the sheer volume of available work.

Over a dozen different missions populated his display, a clear indicator of the rising turbulence regarding the control of resources at the Great Cultivator level.

As he scrolled through the options, he noted that most revolved around the same recurring theme: the desperate struggle to seize and control Great Cultivator resource zones.

These valuable resource points were almost always claimed, and major factions went to incredible lengths to conceal their locations and protect their interests.