Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1382 - 737: Intimidation (Part 2)

"Very well, but we must establish contact with the other Sects. If we don’t, our losses will be catastrophic, and they will simply reap the rewards of our sacrifice!" Che Lian did not object to the plan; instead, he offered this strategic counsel.

Following this, they reached out to the core Cultivation elites of the other superpowers individually, initiating a clandestine plot.

The formidable reputation of Li Yuanba, combined with the terrifying prowess displayed by that mid-stage Golden Corpse moments ago, had instilled a profound sense of dread in these core cultivators.

With the Infinite Sect and the Beidou Sect leading the proposal, it required very little persuasion for the gathered superpowers to reach a consensus.

The primary point of contention was the timing of the strike: should they launch their assault now, or wait until they had crossed into the Grotto Heaven?

The collective agreement was that an attack outside the Grotto Heaven might allow the Sword Cultivators to use their speed to flee. Conversely, if they waited for the Grotto Heaven to open, the Sword Cultivators would still find a chance to slip inside.

Furthermore, for an operation of this magnitude, it was certain that the Great Cultivators of the various superpowers were standing guard from a distance.

Attacking in the open would make it impossible to inflict any lasting damage on the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, and would only serve to provoke the Sword Cultivators, inviting endless retaliation in the future.

"Something feels off. Yuanba, you must exercise extreme caution once we are inside!" Wu Qi had been monitoring the subtle shifts in the behavior of the core cultivators. Drawing on his years of experience, he sensed a brewing storm and sent a Qi transmission to warn Li Yuanba.

"Brother Wu, I will keep my guard up!" Li Yuanba replied with a focused nod.

"Do not let Corpse Refining become your primary focus; your Sword Dao is what truly needs tempering!" Wu Qi felt compelled to offer further guidance.

He was genuinely concerned that Li Yuanba might stray from the righteous path of cultivation. Even though the mid-stage Golden Corpse possessed devastating combat power, it remained an external tool. No matter how high the Golden Corpse’s level rose, it contributed nothing to his own Foundation.

Rather, it risked fragmenting his concentration, preventing him from dedicating his soul to the path of the Sword Cultivator and squandering his peerless natural talent.

"I appreciate your concern, Brother Wu!" Li Yuanba understood that Wu Qi spoke out of genuine care. With a faint smile, he expressed his gratitude.

"The conditions within the Grotto Heaven are a total mystery; there are no records of the Langcai Great Power’s Grotto Heaven in any ancient texts. It isn't just the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion—according to our intelligence reports, no other superpower possesses any data on this realm. Be wary upon entry; such undiscovered Grotto Heavens are frequently riddled with lethal restrictions and ancient dangers." Wu Qi turned the conversation back to their immediate objective.

Li Yuanba was well aware that this discovery was not the result of a deliberate trail left by the Langcai Great Power.

Had there been intentional clues, it would suggest a trial designed for an heir, making the Grotto Heaven a structured test of inheritance and therefore relatively controlled.

As it stood, the lack of any legacy clues suggested that the Grotto Heaven had reached a point of instability, causing a space gate to manifest and leak its spatial Qi, which was subsequently picked up by wandering cultivators.

A private Grotto Heaven belonging to a Great Power, never intended for public access, would undoubtedly be guarded by formidable sentinels.

Even with the relentless march of time, and even if the Langcai Great Power had long since fallen, the unique environment of the Grotto Heaven could sustain these guardians for millennia without their strength waning.

Regarding the potential restrictions, Li Shiming’s original body had encountered such barriers while scouting the Heavenly Person Cave Heaven of Great Power Zhai Ge.

In that instance, the realm restricted flight and rendered Space Movement Divine Skills useless.

Because the laws governing a Grotto Heaven are dictated by the Great Power who created it, one must submit to these rules unless their Cultivation surpasses that of the original master.

Only by claiming the Grotto Heaven Core and becoming its new master can one bypass these sovereign laws.

The period of waiting concluded swiftly. A few hours later, Li Yuanba sensed a violent surge of spatial fluctuations erupting from the mountain peak.

"The space gate is manifesting! Prepare yourselves!" The core cultivators from every superpower shouted orders simultaneously.

In an instant, a kaleidoscope of light erupted as Nascent Soul Middle Stage specialists cast protective barriers over themselves and their disciples. Those possessing defensive magic treasures activated them without hesitation.

The Sword Cultivators were more direct, relying on personal defensive spells, as few among them bothered with defensive magic treasures.

A vibrant emerald glow shimmered around Li Yuanba as his 'Innate Wood Divine Power' surged. He extended this 'Innate Wood Divine Power' to Wu Qi, the four other core Sword Cultivators, and Tang Xue Ning.

This represented a sophisticated application of the Wood element, a technique derived from the recent enlightenment of his true self, Li Shiming.

Since beginning the 'Heavenly Human Technique', Li Shiming had found his mastery over the Five Elements Divine Techniques reaching new heights, with his power scaling alongside his progress in the technique.

Naturally, these advancements in divine skills were shared instantly with his avatar, Li Yuanba.

Although Li Yuanba lacked an innate Wood Element Talent, the energy gathered within his 'Innate Wood' Divine Power Rune allowed for ten activations of the skill.

With this new enhancement, the 'Innate Wood Divine Power' could now linger within a target's body, providing instantaneous, automatic healing the moment an injury occurred, lasting until the divine energy was spent.

In terms of pure regenerative capability, this effect was comparable to consuming a Fourth-grade Advanced Healing Spirit Pill suitable for the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

"I never imagined we Sword Cultivators could benefit from such high-tier auxiliary support!" Wu Qi remarked with a grin, feeling the potent life force of the 'Innate Wood Divine Power' circulating through his Meridians.

The other core Sword Cultivators shared his sentiment. Having a companion like Li Yuanba, who could provide such healing, significantly bolstered their confidence against the unknown.

Though Tang Xue Ning was not a core member of the Sect, her friendship with Li Yuanba ensured she received the same elite protection.

With a flick of his wrist, Li Yuanba recalled the mid-stage Golden Corpse. It was uncertain if the art of Corpse Refining would be suppressed within the Grotto Heaven, so it was safer to keep it stowed until the environment was scouted.

He gripped the 'Ten Thousand Sword Peak'; the treasure was currently dormant, though it could unleash its dual force fields in a heartbeat.

Furthermore, the 'Ten Thousand Sword Peak' served as a formidable shield, as its overlapping fields could deflect or disrupt any hostile magic treasures.

"We shall proceed with the standard protocol: one core cultivator from each superpower enters first, followed by ten rank-and-file disciples. Then, all remaining core cultivators will enter, with the rest of the disciples bringing up the rear," Yin Chang announced with booming authority.

This sequence was a blood-earned tradition designed for survival. A core cultivator would secure the landing zone, followed by a small squad to establish a defensive perimeter for their respective Sect.

This strategy had been refined through the bitter experiences of countless generations of cultivators.

"Fellow Daoist Li Yuanba cannot be the first to enter!" Che Lian of the Infinite Sect suddenly interjected, his voice heavy with warning.

His declaration was immediately seconded by other core cultivators. They were terrified of allowing Li Yuanba to enter as the vanguard for the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion.

Given Li Yuanba’s individual strength and that mid-stage Golden Corpse, he could easily slaughter the other core cultivators as they arrived one by one. Even a group of ten ordinary disciples would likely fail to restrain him.

Che Lian’s assessment was based on the fact that Li Yuanba was widely considered the most dangerous Nascent Soul Middle Stage practitioner alive. Despite his personal grudges, he did not dare mock Li Yuanba’s martial might.

In the world of Cultivation, a reputation built upon the corpses of the powerful is never an exaggeration.

This was why even those who had never traded blows with Li Yuanba accepted his status as the premier expert of the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

"Then I shall lead the way for the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion!" Wu Qi stepped out, taking the lead.