Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1630 - 861: Startled Retreat (Part 2)

Initially, only Cultivator Jian Tianyi was aware of the great cultivator's defense resource point. With nearly forty great cultivators present, there was a glimmer of hope for a confrontation. However, once Li Yuanba caught wind of the location, the morale of those great cultivators plummeted instantly.

Li Yuanba's reputation was built upon a mountain of verified victories; there was no room for luck in his legendary status.

He had single-handedly overwhelmed fifteen great cultivators of equal standing, forced Great Venerable Ming Hai into a retreat, and suppressed countless others across numerous missions, securing resources without breaking a sweat.

"Has Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion lost its mind? Sending two peak sword cultivator great cultivators to one site?" some grumbled in clear frustration.

Why did it seem that Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion’s own experts could snatch resources from everyone else, yet when it was their turn, they utilized such draconian defensive tactics?

Lacking the courage to engage, the first great cultivator retreated, and soon, the others followed suit, abandoning the area entirely.

Watching the nearly forty cultivators depart without a single blade being crossed, Li Yuanba felt the situation was far from right.

"It appears Junior Li is still unaware of the sheer weight his own name carries!" Cultivator Jian Tianyi chuckled heartily.

Grandmaster Wu joined in the laughter, knowing full well that observing Li Yuanba in battle today was no longer in the cards.

"This is incredibly tedious. When exactly will I get the chance for a proper, all-out fight?" Li Yuanba sighed, surveying the deserted landscape.

"If combat is what you crave, that can be arranged. In ten months, join me in seizing resources from the Spirit Realm Cave Heaven. By then, only the most elite combatants will dare to attend!" Cultivator Jian Tianyi promised, heartened by Li Yuanba’s thirst for battle.

"Spirit Realm Cave Heaven?" This was an entirely new term for Li Yuanba.

Following a detailed explanation from Jian Tianyi, Li Yuanba finally grasped what the Spirit Realm Cave Heaven actually represented.

Within the cultivation world, certain cave heavens are tethered to sects; even after those sects inevitably decline or vanish, the space remains.

These sites are stationary, open to be occupied by various factions; once a powerful group takes control, it becomes a prized resource hub.

Having been refined by ancient beings to nurture cultivators and generate wealth, these locations offer yields far surpassing standard cultivation resource points.

The Spirit Realm Cave Heaven that Jian Tianyi spoke of was currently held by the Infinite Sect.

Previously, these sites were considered impenetrable because their security, both in secrecy and defensive power, was far superior to ordinary resource points.

Accessing these areas requires fixed spatial gates, which inherently complicates any attempted incursion.

Yet, despite the rigorous security maintained by superpowers, these locations are eventually uncovered by rival forces over the long march of history.

Naturally, only a select few are qualified to enter; past contests show that the required power level has risen to that of near-peak great cultivators.

Average great cultivators who venture inside often find themselves unable to escape, serving as nothing more than cannon fodder.

Because great cultivators are such vital assets, even the most powerful sects cannot afford to squander them in high-risk missions.

Look at the Yuqing Sect and the White Emperor Sect; following their heavy losses, they have dwindled to the bottom tier of superpowers.

Before Li Shiming and Li Yuanba decimated their ranks of great cultivators, those two sects were at the absolute pinnacle of influence.

With their joint mission solidified, the three sword cultivators waited for the spirit medicine to mature, harvesting and packing it without any further harassment from other practitioners.

For the journey back to Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, Li Yuanba boarded Cultivator Jian Tianyi’s Fourth-grade top flying boat.

As he examined the vessel, he noticed something strange. While the exterior bore the typical aesthetic of the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, the underlying architecture felt distinctively like that of Central State Commerce.

He was fairly certain of his assessment, having seized such vessels in the past; even if they weren't of this specific caliber, the hallmark craftsmanship of Central State Commerce was unmistakable.

"Is this vessel a product of Central State Commerce?" Li Yuanba asked with a casual smile.

"Sharp eyes! It seems you are truly a student of boat engineering. I have hosted many guests, but you are the first to correctly identify its heritage!" Jian Tianyi laughed with gusto.

He waited for Li Yuanba to prepare some Spiritual Tea, accepted the cup, and savored a sip with a satisfied expression.

"For a Fourth-grade top flying boat of this quality, did you provide the raw materials? I haven't heard of Central State Commerce making such high-end craft for just anyone!" Li Yuanba pressed.

Having spent time within the inner circles of Central State Commerce, Li Shiming had gained an understanding of these logistics.

A vessel of this tier defied traditional monetary valuation; due to the complexity of the design, the required Fourth-grade top materials were staggeringly rare.

Using those raw components to forge magical artifacts could easily yield over ten Fourth-grade top treasures.

Moreover, the specialized materials needed for shipbuilding were so scarce that even superpowers often struggled to scrape together a complete set.

This led Li Yuanba to speculate that it was a custom job—materials supplied by the customer, manufacturing handled by the Commerce.

"Haha, it was actually a spoil of war. Two hundred and thirty years ago, the pavilion tasked me with an escort mission. I encountered a greedy great cultivator from Central State Commerce attempting a raid, so I killed him and claimed the vessel as my prize!" Jian Tianyi boasted.

Li Yuanba almost questioned whether he feared retaliation, but considering the man's status and strength, it was clear that Central State Commerce had simply been forced to accept the loss.

"Naturally, one must show the Commerce some semblance of face, hence why I performed some modifications to its appearance," Jian Tianyi explained.

Li Yuanba thought back to the few Fourth-grade top flying boats in Li Shiming’s possession; each carried a history that, if exposed, would reveal a trail of past encounters.

While Li Shiming’s combat power had reached an invincible level within the great cultivator realm, there was always the risk of driving a superpower to reckless revenge if poked too hard.

If Li Shiming commanded a background as formidable as Li Yuanba’s—backed by a major sect and protected by powerful entities—he would have much less to worry about.

He shook the thought away. Li Shiming had navigated his path without the constraints of a superpower, which granted him the freedom to choose his own methods and act without restraint.

Cultivator Jian Tianyi clearly appreciated the conversation; with Grandmaster Wu as his company at the resource point, the difference in cultivation levels and experience had made meaningful discussion difficult.

Alone with Li Yuanba, a peer in strength and status, he was genuinely enthusiastic.

Friendship is a rare luxury for a peak great cultivator, especially when befriending those outside one’s own sect complicates the delicate balance of power.

Throughout the return trip, Li Yuanba gleaned many secrets from Jian Tianyi, gaining a deeper entry into the world of truly elite cultivators.

The perspective from which Jian Tianyi spoke was vastly different from the average cultivator, offering Li Yuanba insights he had never encountered before.

By the time the flying boat pulled into the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, the two powerful sword cultivators had forged a genuine bond of friendship.