Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1632 - 862: Departure (2)

Cultivator Jian Tianyi navigated his fourth-grade supreme flying boat with exceptional speed, covering the distance to the target’s location in merely a few moments.

After stowing the vessel away, Jian Tianyi hovered in the void, scanning the horizon with a sharp gaze.

"Since everyone has gathered, I am looking forward to our meeting!" He commented with a grin, then glanced toward Li Yuanba, adding, "Make sure not to hold anything back. Every one of these individuals possesses fatal techniques. Of course, securing a kill won't be simple, as they all carry jade talismans of preservation bestowed by powerful figures."

"I understand," Li Yuanba replied with a nod. With a subtle flick of his wrist, a late-stage Golden Corpse materialized at his side.

This marked the first occasion Cultivator Jian Tianyi had witnessed Li Yuanba’s late-stage Golden Corpse. Upon sensing the raw threat radiating from the construct, Jian could not suppress a twitch of his lips.

His cultivation realm allowed him to perceive any presence that posed a genuine threat to his safety.

To him, this late-stage Golden Corpse felt as formidable as facing a top-tier Great Cultivator of his own rank.

"It would be a tragedy if we didn't reclaim some resources today," he muttered under his breath.

His Qi surged, and a powerful sword intent began to emanate from his body.

From the distance, the presences of peak Great Cultivators flared, as if caught in a silent exchange with him.

Li Yuanba identified three familiar signatures: the first belonged to Great Venerable Ming Hai, whom he had sparred with recently. The second was Cultivator Ren Mu, a peak Great Cultivator from the Central State Commerce and an old opponent of Li Yuanba’s original body, Li Shiming. The final aura originated from the Phoenix Palace Master of Luanyang Palace; it was a surprise to see the Master in attendance.

"Is everyone here early just to challenge Cui Cheng?" Jian Tianyi asked as he closed the distance, laughing.

"Mr. Jian, we are just as in the dark as you; surely you came to challenge Cui Cheng yourself?" Ren Mu countered with a smirk.

His comment drew laughter from the surrounding Great Cultivators, creating an atmosphere that caught Li Yuanba off guard.

There was no palpable tension; the scene felt more akin to a casual assembly of old friends.

"Mr. Jian, is this Li Yuanba? Why not introduce us?" The Phoenix Palace Master fixed his gaze upon Li Yuanba, his eyes shimmering with curiosity.

It must be acknowledged that even in a world where appearance could be easily altered, Li Yuanba’s physical form was of unparalleled elegance.

His looks were the product of rigorous refinement during the original life treasure IBMz15 research conducted by Li Shiming, polished through precision laboratory procedures to achieve perfection.

Beyond mere aesthetics, his mastery of the 'Sky-Surging Sword Intent Technique' and the unique aura provided by his 'Chaos Sword Intent' created a temperament that was truly peerless in the Cultivation World.

Perhaps the Phoenix Palace Master’s interest was harmless, but his attention drew suspicious glares from the male cultivators nearby.

"Phoenix Palace Master, this is my junior brother, Li Yuanba. He has come to broaden his experience, so I hope you will all guide him," Jian Tianyi introduced with a polite smile.

"Fellow Daoist Jian, you are too humble. Everyone is aware that Mr. Li managed to best Great Venerable Ming Hai!" another Great Cultivator interjected smoothly.

The remark was clearly provocative, especially with Great Venerable Ming Hai standing within earshot.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, if you are not satisfied with that result, we can find a place to settle the matter right now," Jian Tianyi remarked, his tone turning frigid as he faced the man.

Jian Tianyi had little patience for such games, and had responded instantly to the provocation. He did not know why Lin was targeting them, but he was prepared to fight.

"Fellow Daoist Jian, Mr. Lin only stated the truth. Why forbid him from speaking?" another stood up to challenge him.

"Mr. Yu, we are all aware of yours and Mr. Lin’s hidden motives. With just the two of you, how dare you hold such ambitions?" Jian Tianyi scoffed, his words cutting through the air.

The gathered Great Cultivators exchanged glances with complicated expressions. Jian’s words had been somewhat guarded, avoiding a direct mention of the Phoenix Palace Master, but everyone understood that Lin and Yu were both vying for the Master’s favor, a rivalry that rarely surfaced in open conversation.

The Phoenix Palace Master remained unfazed, but both Lin and Yu turned crimson with rage, clearly tempted to engage in hostilities.

"Amitabha. It is true that Mr. Li defeated me; I am simply not yet his match," Great Venerable Ming Hai intervened to deescalate the situation.

"Master, it was merely your kindness to concede. The outcome was never truly decided!" Li Yuanba responded with haste.

With the two of them stepping in, the tension rapidly dissipated.

Ming Hai’s attention lingered on the late-stage Golden Corpse, his eyes reflecting a hint of confusion that he kept to himself.

He was not alone; several other Great Cultivators were scrutinizing the entity. These experts were all immensely powerful, and the aura of the corpse core confirmed to them that they were looking at a late-stage Golden Corpse. What rattled them most was the lethal presence it projected, matching the intensity they felt from Jian Tianyi.

Ming Hai sighed internally, realizing that Li Yuanba had certainly held his true power in reserve during their previous encounter.

In the world of cultivation, puppet or corpse refinement is considered a valid expression of one’s strength, as the resources allocated to such a project would otherwise be used to bolster the individual’s own Dantian. It was all a matter of personal choice.

The assembly eventually split into two distinct cliques. Li Yuanba gathered that Lin belonged to the Guiyuan Sect, while Yu hailed from the Beidou Sect; both were seeking to become sons-in-law of the Luanyang Palace.

Unfortunately for them, the Phoenix Palace Master showed no interest in either man, her own strength far surpassing theirs.

Despite the mutual disdain between those two and the Jian/Li duo, they still maintained a circle with their fellow peak Great Cultivators. Having proven his skill against Ming Hai, Li Yuanba now held his place within this exclusive circle as well. Others, however, stood outside this inner gathering, casting envious looks toward them.

Yet, while Li Yuanba stood within the circle, the topics of the peak Great Cultivators were beyond his participation. These figures were effectively representatives of super factions, treating their interaction as a high-stakes diplomatic conference.

"Mr. Li, are you feeling bored?" The Phoenix Palace Master drifted toward him, seemingly intuiting his state of mind, and spoke with a gentle smile.

"I have no taste for politics, as it distracts me from my Cultivation," Li Yuanba admitted honestly.

"You are still young and have yet to see the world. To reach the height of a peak Great Cultivator and pursue even greater realms, one requires the backing of a Sect, which in turn demands dedicated service," she sighed.

Li Yuanba looked at her with surprise, not expecting such a candid admission of helplessness from the ruler of Luanyang Palace.

"The Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion does not force me to engage in such power struggles. I will repay their kindness in my own way," Li Yuanba replied with a calm smile.

Given his proficiency in alchemy, he knew that as long as his cultivation continued to rise, his Sect would always prioritize his needs. Furthermore, he lacked any concern for resources; even if the Sect failed him, he could simply tap into the grotto heaven of his original body to ensure his path to the next realm was never obstructed.