Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 527: Chapter 310: Face

Ying Hou’s arrival on the battlefield did not improve the situation.

Li Yuanba’s three sword lights split again, becoming six, their power weakened further, yet they still made it difficult for Xin Tong to continue.

Even Ying Hou, who had just joined the fight, had to switch from attack to defense, because the Sword Intent within the sword light was too fierce, and not defending with full effort could be fatal.

The two Golden Core Middle Stage cultivators were being completely overpowered by Li Yuanba, an Early-stage Golden Core cultivator.

Fortunately, with Ying Hou’s assistance, Xin Tong was able to hold off defeat a little longer.

Li Yuanba was merciless towards his enemies, and upon realizing he could not defeat Xin Tong and Ying Hou right away, he prepared his killing move.

He stretched out his right hand, and a small mountain peak appeared in his palm.

Jiang Pu, who was dealing with the Righteous Path’s Mu Peng with ease and had spare energy to observe the other battle, had a sudden change in expression when he saw Li Yuanba take out the small mountain peak.

He certainly knew what that small mountain was, a powerful treasure capable of suppressing a Late-stage Golden Core Cultivator, and against the less fortunate Golden Core cultivators on the Righteous Path, if struck by the Ten Thousand Sword Peak Treasure, it would certainly be a death sentence.

“Junior Li, hold back, don’t kill them!” Jiang Pu shouted.

As Jiang Pu shouted for them to stop, the Ten Thousand Sword Peak Treasure had already left Li Yuanba’s hands, transforming into a huge mountain peak in mid-air, covering Ying Hou and Xin Tong, the two Golden Core Middle Stage cultivators.

Ying Hou and Xin Tong, the two Golden Core Middle Stage cultivators, felt a tightness all over as a heavy force field descended upon them, binding their bodies and leaving them unable to move.

Above their heads, the terrifyingly massive Ten Thousand Sword Peak threatened to fall and grind them into dust at any moment.

The sense of impending death made them want to explode with power, but under the force field of the Ten Thousand Sword Peak, even their Golden Cores could not be easily utilized.

Just as the Ten Thousand Sword Peak Treasure was about to fall, Li Yuanba heard Jiang Pu’s words, but the treasure was easy to release yet difficult to retract, so he could only shift the attacking position of the Ten Thousand Sword Peak Treasure away.

A thunderous explosion followed by flying dirt and rocks filled the sky with dust.

Jiang Pu, who was fighting earlier, along with the Righteous Path’s cultivator Mu Peng, stopped their combat, staring blankly at the ground.

Because of the force field from the Ten Thousand Sword Peak Treasure, Ying Hou and Xin Tong, the two Golden Core Middle Stage cultivators, felt as if they were pulled into the earth alongside the falling treasure.

To the onlookers, it looked as though they were crushed into the ground by the Ten Thousand Sword Peak Treasure.

The battlefield went silent until the dust was blown away, revealing the disheveled figures of Ying Hou and Xin Tong on the ground, covered in dust from head to toe.

This was a rare sight for cultivators, who were usually protected by a Spiritual Power Pattern, keeping dust and the like at bay.

Their disheveled appearance indicated that under the Ten Thousand Sword Peak Treasure’s might, they had completely lost the ability to defend themselves.

“Are you two alright?” Jiang Pu asked with concern.

This tone of concern made even Li Yuanba wonder if Jiang Pu was about to join the Righteous Path forces, not at all something a Golden Core Elder of the Demon Sect Senluo Sect should say.

“Good thing you called out in time. Didn’t you explain the rules to him?” called out Ying Hou, whose fear from his narrow escape was still evident.

Jiang Pu also felt helpless; he didn’t want to lose face, which was why he had called for Li Yuanba’s help.

But how could he have known that Li Yuanba would be so fierce, battling two Mid-stage Cultivators without needing the Ten Thousand Sword Peak Treasure, and even suppressing them.

And the last moment when he took out the Ten Thousand Sword Peak Treasure for a lethal attack, Jiang Pu had been closely watching, thus he immediately issued a warning when he saw Li Yuanba take it out.

“Junior Li is new here. However, you were about to make us lose face this time. It’s good nothing happened, just be more careful in the future!” Jiang Pu responded with pride.

“You have the audacity to call him a junior, he is much stronger than you!” Ying Hou, having recovered, retorted with disdain as he began to fly.

Jiang Pu knew Ying Hou was in a bad mood and simply smiled without responding.

“Thank you, Mr. Li, for holding back!” Ying Hou gave a bow to Li Yuanba out of gratitude.

Li Yuanba, unaware of the context, did not know how to respond and simply returned the bow.

“Junior Li, we stand off against each other year-round, and if we fought to the death every time, we wouldn’t know how many times we’d have died by now. The rule here is that the Golden Core defenders may be injured, but their lives should not be harmed. Mainly because if these two died, the replacement Golden Core defenders would have to re-establish contact, and who knows how long it would take to reopen the trading routes!” Jiang Pu did not hide the truth and explained with a laugh.

For the sake of benefits and cultivation resources, compromises are always necessary.

If Li Yuanba had killed Ying Hou and Xin Tong today, the Righteous Path would certainly retaliate, undoubtedly sending a Late-stage Golden Core Cultivator over.

Once the battle started, both sides would deploy many Golden Cores, resulting in losses for both parties.

Furthermore, the hard-earned cooperative relationship would also disappear, and the difficulty of re-establishing such a relationship would increase manifold, incongruent with the interests of both parties.

Li Yuanba finally understood the relationship on both sides of the Jieshan Mountain Pass—cooperation was the mainstay, while the face-saving conflicts were just embellishments.

Such great sects, while verbally advocating that the Righteous and Demon paths cannot coexist, had more than just conflict among their cultivators; there were also human emotions and worldly wisdom.

Recalling the profit he had received earlier, he felt the restraint he showed just now was nothing significant.

“We admit defeat today!” Ying Hou bowed to Jiang Pu and Li Yuanba.

While bowing to Li Yuanba, he purposely lingered a bit longer, to show his respect for Li Yuanba.