Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1619 - 856: The Beginning

Li Yuanba kept his eyes shut, resting in silence while ignoring the group of great cultivators stationed nearby.

He planned to bide his time until the great cultivator resources reached maturity, at which point he would breach the resource point’s formation and seize them for himself.

One should not be misled by the high standing of these individuals; the pursuit of great cultivator resources is a grave undertaking that demands extreme caution.

Great cultivators must exercise precise control over their output, as any reckless disturbance to the environment would inevitably invite retaliation from all other parties involved.

Detailed instructions regarding these constraints were clearly outlined in the mission briefing provided by the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion.

Curiously, these strict requirements placed sword cultivators at a distinct advantage.

It is common knowledge that other great cultivators usually rely on wide-area techniques to maximize their combat effectiveness, yet such methods were strictly forbidden within the confines of the resource point.

While they might unleash their full potential to shatter the barrier, they would be forced to restrain their power immediately thereafter to ensure their strikes caused no collateral damage to the surrounding area.

As he pondered this, a great cultivator stood abruptly, soared into the sky, and vanished into the distance without uttering a syllable.

Only a short while later, a second individual followed suit, launching himself into the air and departing.

Among those still remaining, some cast scornful glances at the retreating pair, clearly mocking their perceived cowardice, while others hesitated, weighing the merits of abandoning the endeavor as well.

Li Yuanba didn’t need to peer at them to know that the two who had fled were the very same ones he had encountered within the Hell Cave Heaven.

Any great cultivator who had personally witnessed the display of Li Yuanba’s strength would surely be factoring in his further evolution since advancing to his current stage.

Evidently, these two possessed enough self-awareness to realize the futility of competing in a theater of war that favored sword cultivators.

Furthermore, it was common knowledge that Li Yuanba lacked mercy; he had already claimed the lives of several great cultivators in previous encounters.

Having been responsible for a massive count of deaths back in the Hell Cave Heaven, his ruthless efficiency was well documented among everyone present.

"Mr. Li, I shall take my leave and decline participation in this quest for resources. We shall meet again when opportunity allows!" Great Cultivator Sun stood up, offering a courteous smile.

"Mr. Sun, I appreciate your concession," Li Yuanba acknowledged, opening his eyes to give a brief, respectful bow.

Since the man had opted for an honorable withdrawal, Li Yuanba felt it proper to extend a measure of courtesy.

Upon hearing this, Great Cultivator Sun took to the air with a grin, though his true internal state remained a mystery.

Regardless, it could not have been a pleasant experience. Having accepted the mission under such high stakes, walking away empty-handed after so much effort was surely a bitter pill to swallow.

However, he possessed the clarity to accept that engaging with an expert sword cultivator like Li Yuanba for resources that were not yet secured was simply not a tenable risk.

Moreover, performing such a timely exit served as a strategic gesture to build a connection with a formidable rival.

With only six great cultivators left, a brief observation of the tension caused two more individuals to depart.

The final four remaining did not bow to Li Yuanba’s reputation, even though they were well aware of his fame.

The title of being the most formidable in the Nascent Soul Middle Stage failed to intimidate those who had never witnessed his lethality during that earlier point of his cultivation journey.

The quartet exchanged meaningful glances and, through a series of private transmissions, moved closer together in what appeared to be a tactical alliance.

Li Yuanba remained indifferent; even if these four joined forces, they represented little to no threat to his position.

Another two hours crept by when yet another great cultivator arrived from the horizon.

"How peculiar, why are there so few participating this time around?" The newcomer asked upon arrival, looking over the sparse gathering of five.

Li Yuanba did not recognize the man and, as expected, chose not to engage.

The four allies, preoccupied with keeping a watchful eye on Li Yuanba, similarly chose to ignore the new arrival.

"Surely the skirmish hasn’t commenced prematurely. With so few hands available, shattering the formation will prove quite a chore!" The man mumbled to himself, unbothered by the chilly reception.

After assessing the atmosphere and sensing the underlying tension, he decided to keep his distance, settling down in a remote corner by himself.

Over the following days, a handful of additional cultivators appeared.

It remained a mystery whether news of Li Yuanba’s position had spread, but those who had previously encountered him in the Hell Cave Heaven remained absent; every newcomer was a total stranger to him.

These later arrivals remained suspicious of the four-man alliance, but while they monitored Li Yuanba closely, they seemed less fixated on him than they were on the organized group.

As the moment of maturation for the resources drew near, every person outside the formation could feel the mounting energy fluctuations leaking from within.

This served as a clear indicator that the formation had boosted its isolation protocols, a measure taken when the internal treasures reached their peak to ensure no aura escaped.

If the formation failed to suppress these tremors, the scent of the maturing resources would surely permeate the air, luring in every cultivator and spirit beast for miles around.