Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1347 - 720: Requesting a Pill
The departure was marked by the presence of the same long-distance Flying Boat as before, with Great Cultivator Lou taking the helm to navigate the vessel.
As the long-distance Flying Boat crossed the boundaries of the formation, it was spotted by a Great Cultivator of the White Emperor Sect stationed hundreds of miles away.
The discovery came too late, however; the long-distance Flying Boat surged toward its destination with such speed that the White Emperor Sect’s Great Cultivator had no opportunity to intercept it.
Li Yuanba could perceive the suffocating aura of that distant powerhouse. It appeared the White Emperor Sect had formulated a scheme but was forced to retreat before the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion could act, leaving the White Emperor Sect’s Great Cultivator simmering with resentment.
As they journeyed, the long-distance Flying Boat merged with a second vessel, followed by a third and then a fourth, each carrying a formidable Sword Cultivator.
The collective combat power gathered was now formidable enough to make any cultivator attempting an ambush pay a heavy price.
In truth, only three of the Sword Cultivators maintained their full battle power, as one among them had sustained grave injuries.
The vessel commanded by Great Cultivator Teng was tethered to Great Cultivator Lou’s long-distance Flying Boat, allowing Lou to pilot both ships simultaneously.
This arrangement made it clear that Great Cultivator Teng’s wounds were so severe that even such minor tasks were beyond his current strength.
“Brother Teng, how did you end up in such a state?” Great Cultivator Lou asked, his brow furrowed as he greeted Great Cultivator Teng, who had crossed over from the other long-distance Flying Boat.
Great Cultivator Teng looked pale and his aura flickered instability, yet his demeanor remained composed.
“I have come to see Master Li!” Great Cultivator Teng replied, offering a faint smile.
“I can handle the request for Master Li to refine a Great Cultivator healing spirit pill; you should be focusing on your recovery!” Great Cultivator Lou said, shaking his head in an attempt to persuade him.
“This is a matter I must handle personally; I haven't reached the point where I cannot walk a few steps!” Great Cultivator Teng insisted with a wave of his hand.
While their status as Great Cultivators made requesting a pill from Li Yuanba simple enough, the young man's unique requirements meant that without the proper preparations, they couldn't even cover the alchemy fee.
Great Cultivator Lou had already commissioned Li Yuanba for Great Cultivator Spirit Pills and had the fees ready; if he were to ask again on behalf of another, it would likely result in a debt.
Great Cultivator Teng had no wish to rely on Lou’s favor for this. He intended to speak with Li Yuanba himself, preferring to owe the debt personally.
Relenting, Great Cultivator Lou stopped his protests and escorted Great Cultivator Teng toward Li Yuanba’s quarters.
“Master Li, allow me to introduce Great Cultivator Teng Wei,” Great Cultivator Lou said as they entered.
“Li Yuanba offers his respects to Master Teng,” Li Yuanba said, bowing formally.
“Master Li, your reputation precedes you. I have long wished for a meeting, though I never imagined our first encounter would involve me asking for a spirit pill on credit!” Great Cultivator Teng returned the greeting with a wry, helpless smile.
Sensing the older man's aura, Li Yuanba realized the injuries were critical and were likely beginning to erode his foundation.
Without immediate intervention, his future potential might be extinguished, and his hopes for further advancement destroyed.
In the world of Cultivation, nothing is more terrifying than having one's path forward severed. Even if the odds of reaching supreme power are minuscule, that shred of hope is what drives a cultivator.
Once that hope vanishes, the cultivator's spirit withers, leaving them merely existing rather than living—a shift in state that deeply affects their soul.
“Master Li, our pavilion has prepared several sets of ingredients for Great Cultivator healing spirit pills for this mission, specifically to hire an Alchemy Master. I am aware of the protocols; all these materials are yours, provided you can produce two high-level Great Cultivator healing spirit pills,” Great Cultivator Lou explained.
For an expedition involving four Sword Cultivators, the Sect had naturally provided the necessary Great Cultivator resources.
Healing materials were especially vital, as certain grievous wounds required high-level Great Cultivator healing spirit pills, yet even hiring an Alchemy Master offered no guarantee of success.
Given how rare Great Cultivator Spirit Medicine was, it was standard practice to keep materials ready; if a Great Cultivator fell ill or was wounded, they would seek an Alchemy Master and pray that luck would grant them a high-level pill.
Great Cultivator Lou was aware of Li Yuanba’s high success rate, but healing pills were notoriously difficult to craft.
By offering the surplus materials, Lou hoped to settle the immediate favor. As for the actual alchemy fee, it would be paid to Li Yuanba once they returned to the Sect and Teng recovered; the fee itself could not be skipped, as that would violate the established rules of Alchemy Masters.
“As it happens, I have two high-level Great Cultivator healing spirit pills on hand. Master Teng, please take these for now,” Li Yuanba said after a moment of thought, producing a jade bottle from a soul crystal ring.
These were part of the stock Li Shiming had provided for emergencies. High-level Great Cultivator healing spirit pills were considered premium currency, capable of being traded for the rarest of resources.
Great Cultivator Teng and Great Cultivator Lou stared at Li Yuanba in shock. Seeing a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Practitioner carrying two high-level Great Cultivator spirit pills was enough to make even these veteran Great Cultivators feel a sense of inadequacy.