Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1370 - 731: Return to the Sect (2)

Defeating a foe and ending their life are two entirely different prospects. For formidable great cultivators, while one might overcome them in battle, securing a kill is notoriously difficult. After all, which of these elite figures from the superpowers does not possess a Great Ability Life-saving Jade Talisman?

If they are determined to flee, at the very least, a Nascent Soul can usually manage to escape back to safety.

"Third Elder Jian, neither the Jade Purity Sect nor the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion desires an all-out war. Yiyi and I simply wish for your pavilion to avoid overstepping in the West Yan region!" Luo Yuan spoke after some reflection. Realizing it wasn't the Sword Elder who had struck, he naturally harbored no true resentment toward him.

"You keep the Jade Purity Sect in check, and I shall handle matters on this side!" the Sword Elder conceded without hesitation.

Even for the prestigious Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, making enemies of two superpowers simultaneously would be a daunting challenge.

This was the primary reason they had retreated so swiftly from the West Yan Continent; they simply refused to be placed in a passive position.

"Very well, it is a deal!" Luo Yuan answered.

The most pressing concern for Great Power Luo Yuan was the recovery of the 'Shenxiao Thunder Pearl'. Lacking this artifact, he felt a loss of authority even when negotiating with the Sword Elder.

The outside world remained oblivious to the disappearance of the 'Shenxiao Thunder Pearl'. Only the inner circle and the great cultivators of the Jade Purity Sect were privy to the loss and actively investigating.

Now, a new crisis had emerged: the death of Great Cultivator Duan Zhang.

Whether tracking the 'Shenxiao Thunder Pearl' or uncovering the truth behind Duan Zhang’s demise, both paths led to the Central State Continent.

Should hostilities with the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion escalate, the sect’s Thunder Cultivators would find it nearly impossible to operate their investigations within the Central State Continent.

Li Yuanba watched in silence as these two figures dictated the fate of superpowers with a few brief sentences—this was the true power that shaped the cultivation world.

"Tell your friend to remain wary of the Jade Purity Sect!" the Sword Elder remarked, stowing his communication token before turning to warn Li Yuanba.

"Luo Yuan wouldn't personally intervene, would he?" Li Yuanba inquired with a hint of anxiety.

He recalled the Sword Elder’s earlier threat to march his sword against the Jade Purity Sect, proving that a direct move by a great power was not beyond the realm of possibility.

"Do not worry, Luo Yuan will not leave the sect; the price for such an action is far too steep and simply not worth it," the Sword Elder explained cryptically.

"In that case, I am relieved!" Li Yuanba said, letting out a breath.

The Sword Elder couldn't help but chuckle at this, realizing that Li Yuanba’s mysterious friend truly did not fear the great cultivators or Thunder Cultivators of the Jade Purity Sect.

Then again, it was only logical that someone capable of slaying Great Cultivator Duan Zhang would not be intimidated by others of that rank.

"It is finished. The Jade Purity Sect will no longer send their great cultivators after you!" With a wave of his hand, the Sword Elder’s form dissolved into nothingness.

Li Yuanba had wanted to ask: even if the Jade Purity Sect was handled, what of the White Emperor Sect?

Given the bloody history between the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion and the White Emperor Sect—including the deaths of a great cultivator and many core disciples—the Sword Elder likely wouldn't interfere further for a single core cultivator like him.

Regardless, with the shadow of a superpower lifted, his burden felt significantly lighter.

Returning to his cave abode, he took his place on a meditation cushion, feeling the spiritual energy pulse beneath him.

Producing the 'Ten Thousand Sword Peak', he began his practice of the 'Sky-Surging Sword Intent Technique', immersing himself in the profound sword intent of the great cultivators stored within the artifact.

Operating with a single mind, he committed ninety percent of his focus to the 'Sky-Surging Sword Intent Technique', using the 'Ten Thousand Sword Peak' merely as a conduit with the remaining ten percent.

In reality, his main body, Li Shiming, had allocated a portion of his own brain to remotely analyze the sword intent within the ten Fourth Grade Energy Flying Swords of the 'Ten Thousand Sword Peak', funneling those revelations back to Li Yuanba.

Li Yuanba was resolved to dedicate every waking moment to his cultivation from this point forward.

He never wanted to experience the humiliation of being captured again; that feeling of helplessness was a stain on his pride.

Furthermore, Li Shiming’s strength was skyrocketing thanks to the 'Heavenly Human Technique'.

If Li Yuanba failed to keep pace, he would eventually become useless, and the very purpose of his existence as a split would be lost.

Meanwhile, Li Shiming returned to the Heavenly Person Cave Heaven, finding Great Cultivator Luo Pei standing in a daze.

He understood that the Heavenly Ghost inside Luo Pei was still processing the essence gained from the recent battle, rendering the puppet temporarily inactive.

The remains of Great Cultivator Duan Zhang were stored within the machine room space. As Duan Zhang had been a powerhouse of the Jade Purity Sect, Li Shiming remained cautious.

Having overheard the conversation between the Sword Elder and Luo Yuan through Li Yuanba, he knew that killing Duan Zhang would have repercussions.

Fortunately, he had no intention of leaving. He possessed ample resources and the 'Heavenly Human Technique', a peerless cultivation method.

Unless a great power personally hunted him, he could evade even the most elite great cultivators.

Li Shiming cast his consciousness into the machine room to inspect Duan Zhang’s corpse. Such a high-level body from a superpower would be a legendary treasure for any Devil Cultivator looking for corpse refining materials.

He had already instructed Li Yuanba to quietly acquire Fourth Grade Corpse Refining Resources when possible.

Li Yuanba held many Fourth Grade Spirit Pills, which served as a universal currency; offering them in exchange for refining materials would surely attract Nascent Soul cultivators eager to trade.

He planned to conduct these exchanges discreetly over time to avoid drawing attention.

The robes on Duan Zhang’s body were top-tier fourth-grade garments. However, as a member of a superpower, the robe lacked built-in defensive spells, focusing instead on utility spells.

This made sense; no static defensive spell on a robe could rival the Thunder Shield Skill of a great cultivator like Duan Zhang.

The defensive capabilities of a Fourth Grade Magical Treasure were often negligible at the level of superpower elites.

Only those lacking confidence in their own techniques would rely on a robe for protection, a sentiment Duan Zhang clearly shared as a Thunder Cultivator.

Consequently, the robe’s value as a standalone treasure was modest. Li Shiming left it untouched, deciding it could remain on the body once he refined Duan Zhang into a corpse puppet.

He then searched Duan Zhang’s soul crystal ring for loot.

The most prominent item was a Fourth Grade Upper Stage Flying Boat, but Li Shiming didn't bother to claim it. His standards had been spoiled by the 'Jiguang Xunying Boat', making all other vessels seem like junk.

"Wait, why does he have so many Great Cultivator Spirit Medicines?" He was stunned to find ten such medicines tucked away in jade boxes within the ring.

Great Cultivator Spirit Medicines were incredibly rare. Even with his and Li Yuanba’s alchemy skills, the most he had ever processed at once was four batches.

That had only happened because a client had spent years hoarding them; most cultivators were lucky to have one or two.

Compared to Duan Zhang’s stash, every other great cultivator he had met seemed like a beggar.

Li Shiming was unaware that half of these were a bribe from the White Emperor Sect to entice Duan Zhang into capturing Li Yuanba. Without such a massive incentive, even the stubborn Duan Zhang wouldn't have risked operating so close to the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion.

The White Emperor Sect’s price had been too high to ignore, and it had ultimately cost Duan Zhang his life.

The other five were Duan Zhang’s personal savings, intended to be combined with more ingredients later to hire a high-level Alchemy Master for a breakthrough attempt.

He never could have guessed that his entire life's savings and his blood money would end up in his enemy's pockets.

To Li Shiming, however, these ten Great Cultivator Spirit Medicines were merely a pleasant bonus.