Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 703: Chapter 398 Sacrifice

Li Yuanba descended upon another peak, from which he could observe Elder Jing Geng’s position; the distance between the two parties was not too far.

His body sank into the soil, the ground automatically parted, and as his body entered the earth, the ground closed again, leaving no trace whatsoever.

This was the Corpse Refining Talent Ability, allowing one to hide within the earth itself, a talent that was even more effective than some Secret Techniques for concealing one’s presence.

Li Yuanba rarely used his Corpse Refining state, and his current sensation was quite peculiar.

After sinking into the ground, he did not feel suffocated at all; instead, the energy from the earth made him feel comfortable.

Of course, despite feeling comfortable and gaining some benefits from the ordinary soil below, these effects were extremely mild. With his realm, perhaps staying underground for hundreds of years would accumulate energy equivalent to a few months of human state cultivation with Third-grade Spirit Pills.

That was the disparity. The reason why human cultivators could dominate the world was that they could utilize cultivation resources more extensively.

Although he was submerged underground, through drone satellite systems, he could still detect any movements from Elder Jing Geng’s group.

A whole day passed without any activity from Elder Jing Geng, until as the sky gradually darkened, Dong Wei began to retract the Formation, and the thirty-three Golden Core cultivators resumed the Mysterious Mist Secret Array.

During this period, the drone satellite system focused on the changes at the mountaintop, and between the time the Formation was retracted and the thirty-three Golden Core cultivators formed the Mysterious Mist Secret Array, infrared mode detected them.

Li Yuanba emerged from the soil, yet not a speck of dirt clung to his body.

As Elder Jing Geng and the others mobilized, he followed behind them using ”Step by Step Lotus.”

This time, Elder Jing Geng’s group quickened their pace, constantly changing directions among the various peaks, always managing to avoid the mountains inhabited by Great Demons.

Either due to good luck or thorough preparation, they traveled for another eight hours without encountering any great demons.

Li Yuanba checked the map; they had already ventured deep into the core of the Nanyuan Mountain Range. Elder Jing Geng’s group up ahead slowed down, thoroughly scanning the area before proceeding each time.

For Li Yuanba, it was simple: all he had to do was follow the path carved out by Elder Jing Geng, with no need to worry about spirit beasts.

From the looks of it, Elder Jing Geng’s group seemed close to reaching their destination and getting ready.

While contemplating, the thirty-three Golden Core cultivators descended towards the ground below. Since they were flying at a low altitude, they quickly reached the surface.

”Be ready for battle at any moment!” Elder Jing Geng commanded in a deep voice.

No one knew the price the Spiritual Crane Sect and the Endless Sect had paid for the smooth arrival at this location.

Reaching the target location filled his heart with extreme excitement.

His eyes brimmed with hope, seeing this perhaps as his chance to change his fate; he was prepared to give his all to seize it.

Being in the core area of the Nanyuan Mountain Range, where the number of Great Demons was extremely high, actually caused the number of lower-level spirit beasts to greatly diminish.

Elder Jing Geng led the way to the base of a cliff.

He slowly pushed aside a huge boulder, revealing a cave.

Aside from him, the other Golden Core cultivators all showed expressions of surprise and curiosity.

This mission was entirely commanded by Elder Jing Geng; they only knew it involved retrieving an item from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, an item critical for the emergence of a Nascent Soul Ancestor among their ranks.

But the precise location of the item was known only to Elder Jing Geng.

”Dong Wei, leave two people above to set up the entire array of flags prepared, conceal the entrance, and if spirit beasts attack, try to hold them off for as long as possible!” Elder Jing Geng ordered Array Master Dong Wei.

”No problem, Great Elder!” Dong Wei nodded in response.

He took out the Third Grade Array Flag, setting the flags around the cave entrance; soon, the cave entrance disappeared from Li Yuanba’s sight.

This also prevented Li Yuanba from using ”Heavenly Eye” to observe Elder Jing Geng’s lip movements and identify his words through lip reading.

However, he was now certain that the cave was where the treasure lay.

He waited the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, then his figure flashed into the interior of the Formation.

Even before Dong Wei activated the Array, while he was still setting the flags, Li Yuanba had noted the positions, recognizing the Formation used from that alone.

Dong Wei’s Formation inheritance wasn’t particularly unique; it was a typical Formation inheritance from the Beishu Continent.

The database of the original body Li Shiming’s life-bound magic weapon, IBMz15, contained detailed information on the Formation Dong Wei was setting up, which meant that Li Yuanba didn’t even have to break the Formation—he just took advantage of his familiarity with the Formation to appear within it using ”Step by Step Lotus.”

Li Yuanba stood within the Formation, merely three meters from Dong Wei and the other two Golden Core cultivators, yet they were unable to detect his presence.

For an Array Master, the Formation is their weapon, but when the opponent’s understanding of Formations surpasses their own, that weapon can become the adversary’s.

Just like now, although Li Yuanba was not an Array Master, Li Shiming was, which was akin to Li Yuanba also possessing Array Master capabilities.

Not to mention how could a mid-sized sect’s Array Master stand a chance against Li Shiming, an Array Master of higher proficiency.