Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1617 - 855: Mission

Over the course of much time, the secret locations of numerous resource sites belonging to great cultivators have gradually come to light.

Previously, to maintain stability and avoid the outbreak of war, various sects had established a system for allocating these valuable spots. However, that status quo was shattered as soon as Li Shiming began openly accepting commissions for alchemy.

Now, whenever a source of resources for great cultivators nears maturity, a multitude of experts flocks to the area to seize what they can.

While no cultivator dares to destroy such a site—an act that would immediately make them a common enemy to all powers—simply plundering the mature resources is permitted.

Thirty years ago, these raids were carried out in the shadows, where a few cultivators would coordinate a sudden strike the moment the resources were ready.

As the value of these spiritual items grew, the number of participants increased, eventually drawing in even the super-powers who used their superior intelligence networks to join the chaotic skirmishes.

The consensus among all forces became that with sufficient power, one could claim these riches without triggering a full-scale war.

In truth, no organization has the stomach for all-out conflict over stolen goods, especially when so many parties have their hands in the pot.

Three decades later, the situation has spiraled to an extreme; even with the locations of super-power resource sites exposed, greedy great cultivators descend upon them regardless.

The current state of the cultivation world is perhaps the most frantic period for great cultivators in over a millennium, with even those long in seclusion or roaming the world being recalled to compete for these treasures.

Li Yuanba surveyed the list of available missions, noting the various ripening resource points that required cultivators to participate in the upcoming scramble.

These sites are scattered far beyond the Central State Continent, appearing across every known region.

It is little wonder that Jian Wuwei previously noted the lack of combat-ready great cultivators within the pavilion; the sheer scale of the demand makes it impossible for them to be everywhere at once.

Indeed, if the sword cultivators of the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion were to attend every single grab, there would be nowhere near enough of them to traverse the continents.

Deciding to remain on the Central State Continent, Li Yuanba chose to avoid the risks of leaving, as he had many foes and could not risk losing the protection of his sect.

He opted for a mission attached to an Infinite Sect resource point, fully aware that even they were powerless to stop the swarms of marauders.

Shortly after selecting the task, his Identity Jade Disc updated with full details on the site and a list of rivals expected to attend.

This is the immense benefit of operating within the Central State Continent, where the intelligence gathering of the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion is at its most precise.

Since the resources wouldn't ripen for another seven days, he felt no need to rush, allowing for a leisurely travel pace.

He inspected his gear; following his ascent to the rank of great cultivator, his Lifebound Flying Sword Spirit Treasure, the Xingyi Sword, had seen a massive surge in potency.

A spirit treasure requires a true master to unlock its potential, and he knew he was currently utilizing only a fraction of its power.

The 'Ten Thousand Sword Peak' had also seen improvements; while the energy-converted sword itself remained consistent, its greatest enhancement came from the gravity field amplified by the 'Gravity Gold Brick.'

Now that he had reached the Great Cultivator stage, he could wield the 'Gravity Gold Brick' heavily, casting a field that could easily slow down early-stage and middle-stage great cultivators.

The battlefield performance of these two items, however, would still require real-world testing.

Upon departing the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, Li Yuanba activated his 'Divine Foot Skill.' While he could not sustain the technique indefinitely, it served perfectly for short-distance travel.

Every blink through space covered eight thousand miles, a speed that surpassed the conventional flight of his peers and added a vital layer of defensive mobility.

In the past, his Nascent Soul middle-stage movement had fatal gaps between each 'Instant Limbo' jump, leaving him vulnerable, but that limitation had been resolved.

Now, he could cover eight thousand miles in a single bound with energy to spare, allowing for quick exits whenever he chose.

He withdrew a small mirror and tapped its surface a few times.

This served as a receiver for drone satellite signals, a relic of a past that still functioned efficiently.

Even after decades of neglect, the system above the Central State Continent remained operational, as the upgraded satellites were built to endure for a century.

Because Li Shiming was no longer on the Central State Continent, the IBMz15 remained out of range, unable to communicate directly with the overhead satellite network.