Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1614 - 853: Great Ascendant Cultivator (Part 2)

The Cultivation World maintains an illusion of peace owing to the clashes among Great Cultivators, yet in truth, the level of danger has surged exponentially.

Li Shiming stands as the primary instigator in this affair. His unchecked pursuit of alchemy has caused the worth of Great Cultivator Spirit Medicine to skyrocket dramatically.

Typically, when handled by an ordinary Alchemy Master, one batch of Great Cultivator Spirit Medicine yields merely three Basic-level Spirit Pills, and if fortune smiles, perhaps three Intermediate Spirit Pills.

However, under Li Shiming's expertise, it invariably produces High-level Spirit Pills of assured quality.

This elevates the value of Great Cultivator Spirit Medicine by tens of times, even after covering Li Shiming's alchemy charges.

Thus, securing a single batch of Great Cultivator Spirit Medicine today equals acquiring the equivalent of dozens from before.

Furthermore, these High-level Spirit Pills have fueled swift advancements for Great Cultivators across numerous factions.

So why did the Yuqing Sect and White Emperor Sect swallow their grudges and pent-up anger to join forces with the Ten Thousand Beast Sect in hiring Li Shiming for alchemy tasks?

The reason lies in their discovery that, over recent years, other major powers had pulled ahead, with their Great Cultivators surging in strength thanks to Li Shiming's High-level Spirit Pills.

Despite suffering severe setbacks, these two sects found their Great Cultivators lagging far behind their counterparts.

For instance, take two Great Cultivators once evenly matched; if one gains access to Li Shiming's High-level Spirit Pills while the other lacks them, a stark power disparity emerges in mere ten years.

In such a precarious environment, even though the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion boasts Li Yuanba, an Alchemy Master capable of crafting High-level Spirit Pills, they refuse to fall behind in the scramble for Great Cultivator Spirit Medicine.

Amid this heightened tension, the Sword Cultivator Great Cultivators of Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion remain perpetually on high alert.

That's precisely why, upon the formation's warning blare, two Sword Cultivator Great Cultivators rushed out without delay.

Great Cultivator Lou and Master Teng reached the spot where a remote aura had surfaced, suspending themselves mid-air as they probed for its origin.

"This aura feels oddly familiar—it resembles Yuan Ba’s!" Great Cultivator Lou, having known Li Yuanba longer than most, pinpointed the source right away.

"Has Yuan Ba broken through to Great Cultivator? Why opt to ascend right here?" Master Teng scanned the vicinity, voicing his confusion.

Achieving Great Cultivator status marks a monumental milestone, one that ought to alert the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion for proper arrangements to boost ascension success.

"Everyone harbors their own mysteries!" Great Cultivator Lou retracted his Divine Sense, replying with a grin.

Having confirmed it as Li Yuanba's aura, he chose not to delve deeper, avoiding any risk of offending his fellow through prying.

Master Teng pulled back his Divine Sense too, positioning himself beside Great Cultivator Lou in the skies, patiently awaiting Li Yuanba's completion of ascension and emergence.

Soon enough, the ocean waters cleaved apart, and Li Yuanba's form shot upward from the depths.

Li Yuanba's aura fluctuated erratically, fresh from his ascent to Great Cultivator. Though his primary form, Li Shiming, possessed familiarity with a Great Cultivator physique, his Nascent Soul lacked sufficient Spiritual Power, and his body was still undergoing refinement by the Great Cultivator's Sword Intent Rule—leaving the instability to linger for a while.

Were he within Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, continued seclusion would be the prudent course now.

For in this vulnerable phase, his battle prowess hits its lowest ebb.

"Greetings to the two Junior Masters!" Li Yuanba offered a deep, respectful bow to Great Cultivator Lou and Master Teng.

"Congratulations, Junior Li—from this point, address us as Senior Brothers. Never thought you'd reach Great Cultivator so swiftly!" Great Cultivator Lou reciprocated the bow, his eyes reflecting a mix of admiration as he regarded Li Yuanba.

In scarcely a handful of years, Li Yuanba had attained Great Cultivator as a Sword Cultivator under two centuries old.

Besides, during his Nascent Soul Middle Stage, he already stood unrivaled, wielding strength to challenge average Great Cultivators.

Now elevated to Great Cultivator, his fighting capabilities must have leaped even higher.

Without the disruptive phenomenon of Li Shiming in the Cultivation World, Li Yuanba's genius would blaze like the midday sun; ironically, it was Li Shiming—the premier young Great Cultivator—who dimmed his spotlight.

Nevertheless, Li Yuanba's breakthrough to Great Cultivator remains a joyous milestone for Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion.

Henceforth, the pavilion gains yet another supreme Great Cultivator warrior.

"This calls for real celebration; I need to notify the pavilion so all can share the news!" Master Teng exclaimed with enthusiasm, dispatching multiple communication spells on the spot.

The location sat near Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion's entrance, well within communication spell range.

Of course, distance hardly matters—a Sword Cultivator's Communication Magic Sword can transmit across vast expanses regardless.

"Junior Li, we should return to the pavilion at once; rest is essential for you!" Great Cultivator Lou, mindful of Li Yuanba's state, urged promptly.

Though proximate to Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, lingering beyond the gates exposed him to ambush risks, where his current form offered scant defensive might.

"Yes, let's fly back to the pavilion as a group!" Master Teng agreed with a nod, having finished his messages.

The pair of Sword Cultivator Great Cultivators refrained from questioning Li Yuanba's choice to ascend outdoors; they understood boundaries all too well.

They even pondered if a submerged cave mansion lay below but resolved to erase the thought upon return, speaking no word of it.

Li Yuanba's debilitation wasn't severe. He expressed gratitude for the two Sword Cultivator Great Cultivators' worry and soared alongside them toward Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion's gates.

Assaults didn't concern him; despite his condition, he held defensive measures aplenty.

Even his Late-stage Golden Corpse could clash with a Peak Great Cultivator.

Crossing into Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion's gates, Li Yuanba spotted a cluster of airborne cultivators awaiting his arrival.

"Yuan Ba, you've outpaced me once more!" Master Jian Wuwei approached with a hearty laugh, clapping Li Yuanba's shoulder firmly, his tone blending pride and mock grievance.

The assembled cultivators easily detected the profound pride woven into his statement.

Jian Wuwei currently resides at Nascent Soul Middle Stage, having grasped the ’Void-breaking Sword Intent’, placing him at the pinnacle of combat strength among such Sword Cultivators.

Moreover, as a core Jian Family descendant, Jian Wuwei commands immense prestige within Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion.

He had trailed Li Yuanba in cultivation level earlier and devoted himself to rigorous training; bolstered by Jian Family support, he unlocked the ’Void-breaking Sword Intent’ and advanced to Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

Yet, unexpectedly, over those intervening years, Li Yuanba had vastly overtaken him anew.

Still, his heart brimmed with delight, utterly free of envy.

In the Cultivation World, the master-disciple tie binds tighter than any other.

The spirit pills his master consumed in practice were all forged with Li Yuanba's aid. In turn, Li Yuanba reaped benefits as Jian Family direct disciple, tapping into their legacy and elevating his pavilion standing via that lineage.

"Master, you'll overtake me before long!" Li Yuanba replied with a smile to Jian Wuwei.

"That's right, I'll close the gap soon—mark my words!" Jian Wuwei declared with vibrant energy.

"Congratulations, Junior Master Li!"

"Congratulations, Junior Li!"

Those hailing him as Junior Master came from his old peers, since Li Yuanba's rise to Great Cultivator preserved only his bond with Jian Wuwei unchanged, while other Nascent Soul Middle Stage experts must now greet him as Junior Master.

The ones terming him Junior were, of course, fellow Sword Cultivator Great Cultivators.

Among the welcomers stood the familiar Grandmaster Wu and an unfamiliar Sword Cultivator Great Cultivator.

Not knowing every Sword Cultivator Great Cultivator was perfectly ordinary. Many secluded themselves for decades or centuries amid his rise.

For a Sword Cultivator Great Cultivator, decades-to-centuries-long retreats were routine; Li Yuanba hadn't matured in Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion from youth, so his acquaintance with most Sword Cultivator Great Cultivators stemmed from his alchemical prowess.

Li Yuanba's attention gravitated to the stranger Sword Cultivator Great Cultivator, detecting the unmistakable vibe of a Peak Great Cultivator emanating from him.