Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1397: 745: Return to the Sect

“Has anyone spotted the cultivators from the Infinite Sect, Central State Commerce, or the Beidou Sect yet? Have they not emerged?” Wu Qi scanned the practitioners who had already escaped and couldn't resist questioning.

The gathered cultivators all shook their heads in ignorance, explaining that they had transitioned away from the sea of flowers much earlier.

“It is certain they traveled deep into the grotto heaven; what remains uncertain is exactly how far they ventured!” Li Yuanba replied in a clear voice.

“This is problematic; with the grotto heaven on the verge of total collapse, they might fail to exit in time!” Wu Qi noted, his gaze fixed on the violently shuddering space gate.

It was obvious to everyone that the space gate was reaching its limit. If it were destroyed, any cultivators still inside would be trapped without an exit, even if they reached the portal's location.

They would be forced to face annihilation alongside the grotto heaven, leaving nothing behind.

“Someone is coming through!” An exclamation rang out just as Wu Qi finished speaking, as the space gate began to flicker.

The figure that appeared was Yin Chang, who was shrouded in a strange aura. Panic was etched across his face as he stumbled through the space gate back into the mortal world.

The surrounding cultivators recognized that peculiar energy immediately; it was the signature of a life-saving jade talisman.

Yin Chang had triggered his ultimate survival treasure, choosing to flee alone while abandoning his fellow Sect members.

However, no one criticized his actions. In a desperate struggle between life and death, prioritizing one's own survival is considered the natural path of Cultivation.

The space gate continued to flash as several more appeared. These were all core practitioners who had utilized their own life-saving jade talismans.

Che Lian of the Infinite Sect and Chang Qing of the Beidou Sect were among those who emerged. This made it clear that only the core disciples of the superpowers possessed such precious life-saving jade talismans; such resources were beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators.

The space gate began to tremble with even greater violence. A core practitioner from the Infinite Sect, perhaps hesitant to expend his jade talisman, had reacted a moment too late.

He only began his passage as the portal reached its breaking point.

Just as half of his body crossed the threshold, a sharp, crystalline snapping sound echoed, and the space gate abruptly shattered into nothingness.

While half of the practitioner’s body had made it out, the remaining half stayed within the gate, vanishing instantly as the portal collapsed.

What was truly horrific was that the destruction didn't just claim half his physical form, but severed half of his Nascent Soul as well.

This left him with no possibility of body seizing. Under the watchful eyes of many Nascent Soul middle stage practitioners, his mangled remains tumbled to the earth.

The cultivators from every Sect fell into a heavy silence, words failing them.

They knew that if they had delayed by even a few breaths, that gruesome fate would have been theirs.

“Mr. Li, were you aware beforehand that the grotto heaven was going to collapse?” Che Lian demanded, his eyes burning with fury as he glared at Li Yuanba.

“Che Lian, what are you implying? Are you suggesting my Junior Brother saved the wrong people?” Wu Qi snapped back before Li Yuanba could even open his mouth.

The sword cultivators of the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, the women from Luanyang Palace, the venerables from Da Leiyin Temple, and the practitioners from the Guiyuan and Feiyu Sects all turned their wrathful glares toward Che Lian.

It seemed certain that if Che Lian uttered another insult, these cultivators would tear him limb from limb.

Even if some among them held secret grudges against Li Yuanba, they could not show it now. They were obligated to stand with the majority.

Li Yuanba had just rescued them; to turn on him now would utterly destroy their reputation within the Cultivation World.

Che Lian was nearly blinded by his own rage, which led to his lapse in judgment.

The Infinite Sect had suffered catastrophic losses this time. Only four core practitioners had made it out, meaning several vital members were lost forever.

As the leader of this expedition, he had no idea how he would justify these losses upon his return to the Sect.

To make matters worse, they had gained nothing from their dangerous trek into the depths. They had seen the golden path and the shattered remains of the puppets, but little else.

While the puppet fragments might have held some value, their inspection revealed they were crafted from the corpses of cultivators. Their essence had already been drained, leaving the remnants practically worthless.

In truth, every time the Great Cultivator’s sword puppet had manifested a flying sword, it had used its own essence for the refinement.

The creation of ten consecutive flying swords had completely exhausted the sword puppet's essence, leaving behind only useless scrap.

When they had navigated the golden road, they found stairs ascending to a higher level, yet they found only a void at the top.

Markings on the ground suggested a massive structure had once stood there, but the building itself had vanished.

Only then did the tremors begin, signaling the imminent destruction of the grotto heaven.

The source of Che Lian’s greatest fury was the fact that he had risked his life in the depths only to come away empty-handed.

It would have been far more productive to scavenge for resources in the first area like the other superpower practitioners.

“My apologies, I let my emotions get the better of me!” Che Lian realized a wise man does not pick a fight he cannot win. Recognizing his blunder, he immediately bowed in apology.

Nevertheless, the looks directed at him by the other cultivators were thick with contempt.

He felt a deep sense of regret for his outburst, knowing it was a mistake to attack Li Yuanba at such a critical time.

Li Yuanba was the one who had prevented them from being entombed in the collapsing grotto heaven.

Whatever perils they faced during their exploration had nothing to do with him.

In the eyes of the Cultivation World, blaming Li Yuanba immediately after being saved by him was nothing short of despicable.