Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1620 - 856: The Beginning (Part 2)

Nevertheless, maintaining the formation to isolate the area precisely when the Great Cultivator’s resources reach maturity demands excessive energy; it is far less efficient than merely applying a temporary reinforcement to the protective barrier.

This development serves as the definitive indicator that the Great Cultivator’s resources are ripe. Detecting this shift, every Great Cultivator present rose in unison.

Li Yuanba alone remained seated, intent on monitoring the defensive posture of the Infinite Sect’s resource outpost.

Beyond the Great Cultivator resource site, excluding Li Yuanba, there stood twelve other Great Cultivators. It could be argued that this assembly possessed sufficient power to dismantle the defensive formation guarding the location.

This assumption holds true only if the number of Great Cultivators stationed inside is not significantly large, as the formation’s support exponentially bolsters their defensive capabilities.

Inside the resource site, the aura of three Great Cultivators erupted. Simultaneously, the site’s formation shimmered as runes materialized and blazed within the void.

They were leveraging the localized spiritual veins of the resource site to push the formation to its peak output.

By coordinating with these three defending Great Cultivators, they merely needed to endure the two-hour window of maturity. Once the defenders harvested the resources, the conflict would naturally conclude.

Skirmishes over Great Cultivator resources are notably more civilized than typical duels between cultivators, largely because all major factions compel their Great Cultivators to abide by strict protocols to ensure the resource sites remain untouched.

This unwritten code has constrained how Great Cultivators compete for resources, establishing a firm, tacit understanding.

Even in the Cultivation World, seasoned Great Cultivators are bound to uphold this convention.

Among the twelve observers, the four who had formed a temporary alliance kept a cautious eye on Li Yuanba’s position, despite facing the resource site.

Observing that Li Yuanba made no move, they joined the other Great Cultivators in launching a coordinated assault against the formation.

Suddenly, they realized Li Yuanba had vanished, and he was entirely absent from their perception; not even a trace of his aura lingered.

"To where has Li Yuanba gone? Did anyone catch his movements?" one Great Cultivator demanded in frustration.

"I cannot say. Rumor persists that he has mastered the divine technique of Space Movement. Could he have retreated?" another asked, clearly perplexed.

Yet, they understood the likelihood of that was slim. Li Yuanba had waited for days; it was implausible he would depart without even engaging in combat.

Li Yuanba had executed 'One Step to the Goal,' his form flickering directly inside the formation. He hovered just meters away from the three defending Great Cultivators who were currently harmonizing with the defensive barrier.

Just as the trio sensed a disturbance, Li Yuanba’s silhouette vanished once more, leaving them unable to confirm his location.

By this moment, Li Yuanba had breached the interior of the resource site. The exterior formation served as the primary defense, while an inner layer existed to ensure the stationed cultivators did not disrupt the delicate growth phase of the Great Cultivator resources.

Every type of Great Cultivator resource demands its own unique, specialized environment for survival.

Any protected Great Cultivator resource point must prioritize shielding this fragile habitat, preventing both internal and external interference.

Consequently, multiple layers of defensive formations are essential; every measure is taken for the preservation of these precious Great Cultivator resources.

Li Yuanba moved into the internal formation, which served as the gateway to the primary cultivation area.

With a subtle motion, he summoned his Late-stage Golden Corpse to guard the threshold while he ventured deeper inside.

The area protected was a meadow dense with Spirit Energy, filled with patches of vibrant Spirit Grass resembling a miniature prairie.

Hidden within the greenery were two small, withered patches. At their heart grew two clusters of golden silk green spirit grass—a rare form of Great Cultivator Spirit Medicine.

During its developmental stages, golden silk green spirit grass is indistinguishable from the ordinary variety, but upon reaching maturity, it drains the vitality of all neighboring vegetation.

Li Yuanba was certain that beneath this expanse lay a specialized wood-type Spirit Stone Mine; it provided the precise conditions for the spirit grass to flourish, and the site had likely existed for eons to foster such a specimen.

The venture was clearly worth the effort; securing two clusters of golden silk green spirit grass at once would suffice to refine six furnaces of Great Cultivator Spirit Pills.

Having personally engaged in the acquisition of these resources, he finally grasped the sheer magnitude of the struggle involved.

Had the initial group of Great Cultivators not departed, dozens might have been vying for these two stalks of medicine.

Li Shiming’s original body had spent countless sessions refining Great Cultivator Spirit Pills and had never once considered the logistical nightmare of procuring the source materials.

Of course, in less chaotic times, every major power maintained their own stable, private supply of Great Cultivator resources.

The current situation showed even superpowers could no longer safeguard their own yields, proving that the scramble for Great Cultivator resources had spiraled completely out of control.

The three Infinite Sect Great Cultivators guarding the perimeter were trapped in a classic dilemma.

Outside, twelve aggressive Great Cultivators were battering the walls, while inside, an intruder had breached the very center of their operation.

After a momentary hesitation, the three finalized their strategy.

They chose to deactivate the formation. Since its destruction was inevitable and they lacked the time for further delays, releasing the energy would at least salvage some control.

"Everyone, a Great Cultivator has infiltrated the interior! Let us drive him out before negotiating further!" one Infinite Sect member broadcast to the twelve attackers outside.

"Li Yuanba has already breached the perimeter!" shouted one of the allied Great Cultivators.

The other attackers felt utterly betrayed, having exerted themselves in combat only for him to swoop in and claim the prize. This was an intolerable slight.

"Expel him first!" a voice roared.

With the other cultivators in total agreement, the fifteen former rivals joined forces, turning their collective hostility toward Li Yuanba.

An Infinite Sect defender manipulated their control jade, pulling down the internal formation barriers as well.

The defensive veil dissolved, revealing the central corridor. This remained the sole access path, as violating any other point would risk damaging the fragile environment where the spirit grass matured.

Blocking the entrance to this narrow corridor stood the Late-stage Golden Corpse.

The creature radiated the unmistakable pressure of a Fourth Grade Late Stage corpse core, confirming its status as a Late-stage Golden Corpse, even if its exterior lacked the standard metallic sheen.

Among the Great Cultivators, it was well-known that Li Yuanba, a fearsome Sword Cultivator, often utilized Golden Corpses.

Li Yuanba had achieved notoriety in the Cultivation World precisely for this, and the unique abilities of his Golden Corpses had briefly sparked a trend among his peers.

Unfortunately, no one else could replicate the specific craftsmanship of Li Yuanba’s creations, and the craze had eventually withered away.

The assembled Great Cultivators were stunned to face a Fourth Grade Late-Stage entity. Li Yuanba had only recently entered the rank of Great Cultivator himself, yet he already possessed such a formidable companion.

"It is merely a Late-stage Golden Corpse; annihilate it!" one Great Cultivator bellowed.

As he spoke, he drew the immediate attention of the construct.

The Late-stage Golden Corpse bore no weapons or armor, as the combatants understood Li Yuanba could not risk showing gear that could be linked back to his ties with Li Shiming.

Dashing forward, the Late-stage Golden Corpse launched itself into the ranks of the Great Cultivators.

Though the fifteen adversaries shared a singular goal, they possessed zero trust in one another.

The group was splintered into factions, each watching the other as much as they watched the foe.

The sudden, violent charge of the Golden Corpse caught them off guard; they had never expected such a reckless opening gambit.

Invoking its 'Speed Rule Imprint,' the entity moved faster than their reactions allowed. By the time they tried to pivot, it had already hammered a fist into the chest of the one who had spoken first.

The strike was layered with the 'Power Rule Imprint.' Lacking any external refinement, the construct relied entirely on its base physical mastery, which possessed speed and force far beyond any standard Great Cultivator.