Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1775 - 934: The Trap

Unbeknownst to Li Yuanba, a handful of formidable forces had set their sights on him. Currently, he found himself at the esteemed Ten Thousand Beast Sect, engaged in an official exchange. Present at the sect was the crucial matter concerning the Xingyi Sword.

With his advancement to the Peak Great Cultivator stage, a persistent feeling gnawed at him; the power of the Xingyi Sword felt inadequate, failing to fully manifest his combat prowess.

Indeed, any other Sword Cultivator privy to such a sentiment would likely be driven to apoplectic rage.

When had a Spiritual Treasure ever failed to satisfy a cultivator at the zenith of their power? These legendary artifacts were exclusively reserved for the mightiest Great Powers.

Still, one couldn't entirely fault Li Yuanba. The Xingyi Sword possessed immense latent potential, a potential his current cultivation level couldn't quite unlock.

The core issue stemmed from Li Shiming’s prior limitations in artifact refinement. At that time, he could only commit to one primary enhancement direction for the Spiritual Treasure.

The Xingyi Sword was bestowed with four hundred million speed runes and fifty million sturdy runes.

The intention behind the vast quantity of speed runes was to augment the sword’s velocity. Upon completion of the refinement, the Xingyi Sword achieved a 'Speed Rule Imprint'.

However, the fifty million sturdy runes merely bolstered the sword’s resilience; the insufficient number of these runes prevented the formation of a corresponding rule imprint.

When contrasted with Li Shiming’s other spiritual treasures, the Xingyi Sword was an early creation, significantly lagging in refinement techniques and the density of inscribed rune incantations.

As Li Yuanba's Lifebound Flying Sword, its efficacy was intrinsically tied to the Sword Cultivator's own might.

Upon arriving at the Ten Thousand Beast Sect and conferring once with Li Shiming, Li Yuanba was accommodated within a guest cave residence.

His Lifebound Flying Sword was entrusted to Li Shiming; a Sword Cultivator venturing forth without their Lifebound Flying Sword was unthinkable.

Now in possession of the Xingyi Sword, Li Shiming's capabilities had vastly expanded from his earlier days. He now commanded numerous top-grade fourth-grade refining materials.

These precious resources were procured through the vanquishing of Great Cultivators from powerful factions and daring expeditions into the Cloud Island Sea.

For this particular upgrade, Li Shiming utilized a material known as 'Rainbow Illusion Gold,' a superior fourth-grade refining component originating from the Divine Palace in the Cloud Island Sea—a gold-elemental refining material hitherto unknown in this Cultivation World.

The defining characteristics of 'Rainbow Illusion Gold' included its dazzling and blinding qualities. When infused with spiritual power, it erupted in vibrant rainbow light and could, at will, unleash an intensely blinding radiance.

Furthermore, the aesthetic appeal of 'Rainbow Illusion Gold' was profoundly captivating. The allure of a rainbow-hued flying sword was potent, and this very luminescence possessed the ability to subtly mask other energies within the metal.

The procedure for refining the Xingyi Sword was straightforward. Employing 'Rainbow Illusion Gold' for its enhancement essentially meant purging the existing runes and inscribing new ones.

Within the specialized refinement chamber, a precision level of 0.05 nanometers was achieved, allowing for the maximum density of rune incantations to be etched, limited only by the structural integrity of the 'Rainbow Illusion Gold'.

The critical consideration was ensuring the harmonized integration of these newly engraved runes with Li Yuanba’s current cultivation level.

He dedicated himself fully to the task, concluding the refinement of the Xingyi Sword in just twenty days.

Li Shiming, now holding the enhanced Xingyi Sword, sought out Li Yuanba at his guest quarters.

This act was a calculated move, designed to foster the perception among cultivators that he and Li Yuanba were allies.

It was noteworthy that he would typically decline meetings with emissaries from some super forces, delegating such interactions to the Ten Thousand Beast Sect. Yet, he had met with Li Yuanba not once, but twice in swift succession, with the latter engagement being his own initiative.

Although the truth of Li Yuanba being Li Shiming's clone could not be disclosed, their future interactions would necessitate a plausible pretext.

"Fellow Daoist, your flying sword!" As Li Shiming stepped into the cave residence, he casually presented the Xingyi Sword to Li Yuanba with a simple declaration.

Released from Li Shiming’s grip, the Xingyi Sword seamlessly transitioned into Li Yuanba’s control.

The Xingyi Sword hovered and maneuvered beside Li Yuanba as he rapidly attuned himself to the sword’s transformed attributes.

"Ten billion speed runes, ten billion sharpness runes, four billion sturdy runes!" Li Yuanba exclaimed in astonishment.

A subtle rainbow luminescence flickered across the Xingyi Sword, obscuring its true Spiritual Treasure classification, thereby allowing him to wield it without drawing undue attention to its formidable quality.

Naturally, annihilating the target directly is still the primary objective when launching an attack.

Provided their cultivation is high enough, cultivators can discern the Xingyi Sword's quality even when facing it.

The Xingyi Sword is, without a doubt, the zenith of Li Shiming's artifact refinement endeavors.

Imprinting twenty-four billion rune incantations onto a petite flying sword, and bestowing it the strength of 'Rainbow Illusion Gold,' was achieved through his exceptionally precise engraving skill of 0.05.

While numerous cultivators in the Cultivation World possess the ability to refine spiritual treasures, Li Shiming stands alone in crafting them with fourth-grade refining materials.

Spiritual treasures typically demand fifth-grade refining materials for their creation; however, Li Shiming employed his distinctive refining technique to elevate an artifact, originally of the fourth grade, into a fifth-grade spiritual treasure.

"The Golden Winged Dapeng will escort you!" Li Shiming declared with a wave.

As he would remain with the Ten Thousand Beast Sect for a considerable period, and Li Yuanba required extensive combat to solidify his standing and gather the insights necessary for advancing to Half-step Great Power, the Golden Winged Dapeng's assistance would drastically shorten their journey.