Chapter 633: Chapter 363: An Invitation
Li Yuanba sat in the cultivation room, the Ten Thousand Sword Peak Treasure floating in front of him. His Sword Intent entered the Ten Thousand Sword Peak, resonating with the Sword Intent within, and after being enhanced, it flowed back into his body.
Although he was only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, the Qi and blood in his body were extremely terrifying.
This was a manifestation of his “Fiery Sun Jade Body Technique” reaching the pinnacle of the Golden Core chapter; in fact, not only the “Fiery Sun Jade Body Technique,” but even his Corpse Refining state’s “Evil Corpse Spirit Record” had also been cultivated to the extreme of the Golden Core stage.
Regrettably, due to insufficient Spiritual Power, his Golden Core and Corpse Pill in his body still remained at the early stage of the Golden Core realm.
The effects of ten drops of the fourth-grade “Heavenly Immortal Milk” allowed both his human Body Refinement state and Corpse Refining state to reach the peak of the late-stage Golden Core, infinitely close to the level of a Great Elder.
With an even sturdier body, Li Yuanba could withstand a stronger Sword Intent, which allowed for tremendous growth in his Sword Intent recently, unrestricted by physical limitations.
Unlike his original self, Li Shiming, he had no miscellaneous affairs to attend to; his only task was to cultivate.
Ever since the fall of the two Great Arhats from Qianye Temple, coupled with the conflict between Ancestor Lu and Venerable Huijing, it ironically granted Li Yuanba a rare period of tranquility.
In the months that followed, aside from listening to Deacon Yue Xing’s work reports, Li Yuanba dedicated himself completely to cultivation.
“Junior Li, Brother Jiang Pu is here to visit!” just as he was preparing to practice the “Sky-Surging Sword Intent Technique” once more, a communication technique flew in.
He was slightly startled; Jiang Pu was a Guardian Golden Core at the Jieshan Mountain Pass of the Senluo Sect and rarely left his post. Why would he come here?
Generally, even if there were gatherings, it was Li Yuanba who would go to the pass for the meetings.
He deactivated the Formation and his figure soared out.
“I’ve seen Brother Jiang!” Li Yuanba stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
“I hope you’ll forgive my abrupt visit; I won’t sit down inside. This time, I’ve come to invite you to a third-grade resource gathering mission!” Jiang Pu smiled in return, standing above the Guardian Mansion as he spoke.
Li Yuanba was aware of the third-grade resource gathering missions. In certain areas of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, there were fixed amounts of third-grade resources, which were under the control of the sect.
During each ripening period of the resources, only powerful Golden Core Elders would be sent for collection.
When Jiang Pu said it was an invitation, it was actually a way to introduce Li Yuanba into the core circle of Golden Core members within the sect.
This mission required experienced Golden Core Elders to invite qualified ones to participate. The third-grade resource sites were considered the sect’s most precious assets, and only the most trustworthy Golden Core cultivators could join the mission.
Of course, there was a certain level of danger involved in the task. These wild third-grade resources were guarded by Great Demons.
The Great Demons and the Golden Core Elders of the Senluo Sect had a competitive relationship. Normally, the Great Demons guarded the third-grade resources, and when they ripened, it was the strength of the Golden Core Elders and the demons that determined who got the share.
This was also why the sect did not have to worry about the security of the third-grade resources; normally, the guardianship of the Great Demon was meticulous, more conscientious and responsible than human cultivators.
“Elder Brother Jiang, when do we depart?” There was no way Li Yuanba could refuse; participating in such missions, not to mention the rewards, the mere fact of entering the core circle of the sect’s Golden Cores was reason enough for him to join.
“This mission is quite urgent. If you’re willing to join, we need to leave immediately. For some reason, the ripening period of a batch of third-grade resources has been moved up by half a year. The sect discovered this and immediately issued the mission!” explained Jiang Pu with a bit of helplessness.
The ripening period of third-grade resources was almost fixed, and the sect had accurate records as well as arrangements made years in advance for these missions.
But this time, the early ripening of a batch of third-grade resources had disrupted the sect’s arrangements.
Golden Core cultivators, especially those strong enough and at the core of the sect, often had important tasks—or they might be in seclusion, or already out on missions.
Cultivators of Golden Core Elder level rarely had leisure time. Moreover, with the urgency of the task, the best option was to mobilize the nearest Golden Core Elders for the mission, making the selection of candidates difficult.
If the abilities of Golden Core Elders were not up to the mark, they would be unable to take back resources from the Great Demon, effectively gifting the resources to the demon.
The number of Golden Core Elders from the Senluo Sect going to gather resources should not exceed three. While Great Demons are considered third-grade among spirit beasts, and similar in realm to Golden Core cultivators, their combat abilities far exceed those of cultivators.
According to the agreement between the Senluo Sect and the Spirit Beast Clan, the competition for gathering resources should consist of three Golden Cores from the sect—any more would be a breach of the agreement.
The Spirit Beast Clan was very powerful, and the Senluo Sect did not wish to incite conflict with them.
The peaceful coexistence of the Spirit Beast Clan and human cultivators on the Beishu Continent was not because the cultivators were easy-going, but because the Spirit Beast Clan had sufficient strength to make the cultivators yield part of their living space.
Li Yuanba needed no preparation; he sent a message to Deacon Yue Xing and followed Jiang Pu.
“Elder Brother Jiang, who else will be joining us this time?” asked Li Yuanba curiously.
“Brother Qi Jin is guarding the Zheng’an Mountain Range. The source of the third-grade resources is right beside the Zheng’an Mountain Range, so we’ll go there and meet up with Brother Qi!” Jiang Pu replied while flying.
To be referred to as a ‘Brother’ by Jiang Pu, that person’s strength must be even greater than Jiang Pu’s.
Li Yuanba extended his Divine Thought into the Jade Scroll map to locate the Zheng’an Mountain Range—it was a mountain range on the border of the territories of the Spirit Beast Clan and the Senluo Sect.