Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1398 - 745: Return to the Sect_2

In the days to come, his fame would spread across the lands, prompting many to shun a Cultivation path as formidable as his. Such a reputation could even impact the Infinite Sect’s strategy regarding his development.

In truth, Yin Chang of the Central State Commerce and Chang Qing of the Beidou Sect felt the same irritation toward Li Yuanba as Che Lian did, though they masked their feelings behind a veil of indifference.

Li Yuanba ignored Che Lian’s presence, fixing his attention instead on the location where the grotto heaven had once stood. He could still sense a faint leakage of spatial energy where the realm had vanished.

"I wonder how much time must pass before this grotto heaven fully merges with our world. Within three to four centuries, a stable entrance should form, allowing cultivators to journey inside and harvest its treasures!" Wu Qi remarked quietly, noticing Li Yuanba's focus.

While the collapse of a grotto heaven usually results in the destruction of some internal materials, more than half of its riches typically survive the transition. The spatial fractures within such a collapsing realm primarily target living souls rather than inanimate objects.

The grotto heaven will gradually fuse with the primary world, first manifesting as a localized pocket of space. This area remains the original territory of the grotto heaven, yet it evolves into a public zone accessible to all, offering a wealth of resources for cultivators to extract.

This represents the initial phase following a grotto heaven’s downfall. After several hundred or even a thousand years, the space integrates entirely, becoming a permanent addition to the grand world’s geography. During this era, the surrounding terrain shifts subtly to accommodate the new landmass.

This transformation is so gradual that it remains nearly imperceptible over the millennia. Many of the Cultivation world’s most renowned sites for sourcing rare spiritual objects were formed through this very process of collapsed grotto heavens merging with the world.

"I shall take my leave now!" Wu Qi said, offering a respectful salute to the representatives of the other superpowers.

"Farewell!"

The acquaintances exchanged parting words. None felt inclined to linger, particularly those who had secured treasures and were anxious to return to the safety of their respective Sects.

Li Yuanba, having secured the most significant bounty, was especially keen to avoid unwanted attention. His haul was immense, and his primary goal was to return and deliver these gains to his main body, Li Shiming. The riches he had gathered from the grotto heaven were beyond his wildest dreams.

Departing alongside the sword cultivators of the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, Li Yuanba eventually glanced back. His 'Telepathy' alerted him to the sensation of hidden observers. Though the surveillance was expertly masked, his rising realm and strengthened spirit made his 'Telepathy' far more sensitive to such malicious intent.

He understood that these were the envious gazes of greedy cultivators eyeing his spoils. He suspected that once he reached the sanctuary of the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, most would abandon their designs on him.

The return trip proceeded without incident. Few organizations possessed the audacity to ambush a large contingent of sword cultivators from the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion. Furthermore, even fewer could endure the Sect's retaliatory fury. Thus, despite their heavy loads of treasure, the group met no resistance.

Upon his return to the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, no one dared to question Li Yuanba about his specific rewards. The true extent of his harvest remained a mystery; perhaps only the late Langcai Great Power would have known the full scale of what he had taken. Shortly after his arrival, he departed the Sect to reunite with Li Shiming.

Reaching a point on the seabed ten thousand miles away from the Sect, he entered a hidden underwater grotto. His form vanished as Li Shiming drew him into the Heavenly Person Cave Heaven.

Inside the Treasure Lotus Hall, Li Yuanba found his main body, Li Shiming, still deep in a meditative trance. Nearby, Great Cultivator Luo Pei stood. This version of Luo Pei was being steered by a segment of Li Shiming’s consciousness, which was currently manipulating the Heavenly Ghost.

"You have done well, friend! The rewards this time are truly significant!" Great Cultivator Luo Pei remarked with a grin.

"It is a pity there were no spiritual objects specifically suited for boosting our immediate strength!" Li Yuanba replied, shaking his head with a sigh.

While the total harvest was incredible, both he and Li Shiming were in desperate need of top-tier treasures that could accelerate their Cultivation levels. If Li Shiming could break through to become a Great Cultivator, his 'Heavenly Human Technique' would instantly elevate him to the pinnacle of that realm, making him invincible against anyone below the level of a Great Power.

"Resources that can impact the Nascent Soul Middle Stage are exceptionally rare. Even someone like Langcai Great Power, who reached the Mahayana Realm, would likely have no use for such items," Great Cultivator Luo Pei noted with a smile.

"Here is the total haul; I haven’t had the chance to categorize it all yet," Li Yuanba said, producing the items. He knew their Cultivation progress was at a vital juncture.

The Nascent Soul Middle Stage is a precarious rank, pressured by Great Cultivators from above and challenged by rising talents in the Nascent Soul Early Stage. The chasm between a Middle Stage practitioner and a Great Cultivator is vast, almost like a different world entirely; a Great Cultivator can usually crush a Middle Stage practitioner with ease.

In contrast, the gap between the Early and Middle stages of the Nascent Soul realm is defined more by the density and volume of Qi rather than a fundamental change in existence. It is not uncommon for geniuses from superpowers to defeat Middle Stage loose cultivators while only being at the Early Stage themselves.

However, it is a different matter entirely for a Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator to challenge a Great Cultivator. Even the elite disciples of superpowers struggle against loose Great Cultivators; only the rarest prodigies can occasionally perform the miracle of defeating a weak Great Cultivator. Such individuals are hailed as the supreme talents of the era.

Li Shiming already possessed the combat power of a peak Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator and even shared some traits with Great Cultivators, yet his lower realm remained a bottleneck. If he revealed his ability to kill Great Cultivators while still in the Middle Stage, he would be hunted by every faction seeking his secrets, especially since he lacked a backing and was already being pursued by several superpowers. The only clean solution was to reach the Great Cultivator realm himself.

"This Gravity Gold Brick can be merged into the 'Ten Thousand Sword Peak.' IBMz15 has already drafted a plan for the integration. You should stay here for the time being," Great Cultivator Luo Pei suggested as he examined the golden brick.

Ever since Li Yuanba acquired the brick, Li Shiming had been analyzing its data. Leveraging his expertise in artifact refining and formations, he had devised a way to combine the two. While the 'Ten Thousand Sword Peak' was of limited use to Li Shiming now, it was a vital tool for Li Yuanba.

As a Sword Cultivator, Li Yuanba’s options were somewhat limited. His 'Invisible Primordial Magnetism' was potent but only reached five meters. With the 'Ten Thousand Sword Peak' acting as a focus, that range could expand to kilometers, surpassing even the masters of the White Emperor Sect.

Previously, the peak’s gravity could only slow enemies down. Now, with the Gravity Gold Brick providing a massive energy source, it could exert a crushing gravitational force. Furthermore, the brick’s potential was immense; in the hands of a Great Power, it could pressure even those of equal rank. While not quite a heavenly artifact, its quality was nearly there, and its power was just as formidable.

Luo Pei placed the peak and the brick near Li Shiming. As his divine sense washed over them, they were pulled into the machine room space. Using his 0.1-nanometer precision control, Li Shiming began etching a new formation onto the 'Ten Thousand Sword Peak'—one designed specifically to unleash the devastating gravitational field of the Gold Brick without damaging the original artifact.