Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 222: Chapter 157: News_2

Li Shiming also obtained the sixth Foundation Establishment Pill, a quantity that was already twice the minimum standard for those with three spirit root seeds.

Just as he was about to return to his cave dwelling, a message arrived from his Identity Jade Disc; it was a notification from the sect, instructing him to go to the Central Peak Sky Sea Hall.

As a disciple of the sect, he had to go immediately.

Upon arriving at the Sky Sea Hall, a disciple of the hall led him to the Sect Leader’s office.

Li Shiming entered the room and saw Yu Sect Leader, who normally sat behind the large desk, standing to the side while a female cultivator sat behind the desk.

In the middle of the room stood two cultivators, one of whom was He Chuan, whom he had just parted ways with not long ago.

“Shiming is here! Come over and meet Elder Sheng!” Yu Sect Leader said with a smile, waving Li Shiming over.

Li Shiming was slightly surprised and hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects.

Elder Sheng was the only female among the Golden Core Elders of the sect and the third Golden Core Elder that Li Shiming had ever met.

“Li Shiming, stand with those two!” Elder Sheng said with a slight smile, pointing to the two cultivators in the middle and instructing.

Li Shiming stood next to He Chuan and gave him an inquiring look. He Chuan shook his head to indicate that he too was unaware of the reason.

However, Li Shiming noticed that the Qi Refining Cultivator standing with He Chuan had a strength similar to He Chuan’s; he was likely another genius cultivator nurtured by the sect.

Li Shiming did not quite understand why the sect wanted him to stand with two genius cultivators, as he was an Array Master and belonged to the Formation lineage within the sect.

“There will be a Qi Refinement Realm battle at Seven Star Island, involving Qi Refining cultivators from seven sects against foreign Qi Refining cultivators. Although this battle is at the Qi Refinement Realm, it is a battle of honor and we must win to quell the arrogance of the foreign cultivators!

Shang Haoquan and He Chuan are assigned to the mission by the sect, as for Li Shiming…” Elder Sheng paused, looked at Li Shiming with a helpless expression, and then slowly continued, “you killed Du Bingyan of the Holy Ice Sect, prompting them and other sects to jointly demand your participation in the battle, so you also need to partake in this mission!”

Li Shiming was unaware of the current situation on Seven Star Island, but he suspected that a dispute was about to officially begin.

He wanted no part in the vortex there, which was a battlefield for Golden Core cultivators, far beyond what mattered to him as a mere Qi Refining cultivator.

With his slight stature, he indeed had some advantages in the Qi Refinement Realm, but placed in conflicts at the Golden Core level, he was absolutely not even cannon fodder; any minor ripple was enough for him to die a hundred times over.

“Li Shiming, you need not worry, this battle allows any means necessary, and you can completely set up formations in advance for your protection. With the help of your formations, the combat effectiveness of Shang Haoquan and He Chuan can also be increased!” Elder Sheng reassured him.

However, these words from Elder Sheng made Li Shiming even more worried.

What did it mean that any means were allowed? Didn’t that imply that the opponents could also use any means necessary?

If it were a regular battle, his chances of winning might still be greater.

“Alright, whatever you need, speak to Yu Sect Leader, I will send you to Seven Star Island!” Elder Sheng gestured with a wave of her hand.

Li Shiming exited the room with a worried look on his face, along with the other two Qi Refining cultivators, accompanied by Yu Sect Leader.

“Yu Sect Leader, for this fight for the sect, as a support cultivator, I do need help from the sect’s resources!” Li Shiming lamented to Yu Sect Leader.

He Chuan and Shang Haoquan both glanced sideways; others might not be aware, but how could they not know?

Li Shiming alone had slain a team comprised of six late-stage Qi Refining cultivators including Du Bingyan, and it was precisely this combat strength that had prompted the Holy Ice Sect to demand he replace Du Bingyan’s position.

If he was still considered a support cultivator, then what were they?

“Elder Sheng has spoken; anything needed for the battle, the sect’s storehouse is open to you!” Yu Sect Leader said magnanimously.

Yu Sect Leader had instructions from Elder Sheng not to skimp on resources and to ensure the safety of the participants as much as possible.

It must be noted that both Shang Haoquan and He Chuan were genius cultivators of the sect, and Li Shiming also had a relationship with Elder Yin, so the sect did not want to lose any of them.

“I need second-grade Iron Spirit Wood, Green Crystal, Flame Crystal, Binding Soil Stone, and wood-iron!” Li Shiming almost did not think before blurting out his demands.

Yu Sect Leader almost ran out of breath—what Li Shiming requested were second-grade Array materials, specifically the extremely precious Five Elements Array Materials.

The sect’s warehouse indeed had them, and Li Shiming, being an Intermediate Array Master of the sect, was well aware of this.

“Are you planning to use the Five Elements Array for combat?” Yu Sect Leader asked with some suspicion.

“Of course, this is a battle formation I’ve considered for a long time!” Li Shiming said boldly, telling an outright lie.

The requested second-grade Five Elements Array materials were naturally not all for battle; he had ulterior motives.

Mainly, after hearing He Chuan’s suggestions for breaking through the Foundation Establishment, he recalled a part content from the ‘Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique.’

It was a rather vague description, implying that to increase the chances of breaking through Foundation Establishment with the ‘Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique,’ one could use external force to facilitate the transformation of Spiritual Power Patterns in the body.

The descriptions in the ‘Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique’ merely pointed to a general direction; much of the process was speculative.

By the time Li Shiming reached the late-stage Qi Refining, he had gained a systematic understanding of cultivation.

He did not agree with the speculation, thinking it somewhat fantastical.

But after hearing He Chuan’s words, he thought of that description.

He wondered if it was possible that the creator of ‘Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique’ crafted this Cultivation Technique specifically for cultivators with Four Spirit Roots.

How difficult it was for those with Four Spirit Roots to break through the Qi Refinement Realm—looking at the vast sect, even the luckiest Foundation Establishment Cultivators, given what favours and opportunities they had, needed at least Four Spirit Roots talent for a slight chance of reaching Foundation Establishment, and even that hope was very slim.

It was pointless to even consider Five Spirit Roots; it was like having defective spirit roots. Forget about reaching Foundation Establishment; there wasn’t much hope of achieving the Qi Refining Middle Stage either.

Originally, Li Shiming only paid brief attention to this part of the ‘Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique,’ letting IBMz15 analyze and study it. But when Elder Sheng suggested making requests from the sect, wasn’t this the perfect opportunity?

“Second-grade Iron Spirit Wood, Green Crystal, Flame Crystal, Binding Soil Stone, and Wood-Iron, I’ll count it as an exchange for your good deeds!” Yu Sect Leader said through gritted teeth.

“Well, I just used up all my good deeds, not one left. Maybe we can keep it on credit?” Li Shiming said as he shook his Identity Jade Disc.

“Let’s put it on credit then. You can repay it by completing missions in the future!” Yu Sect Leader said reluctantly, waving his hand.

“Since it can be on credit, I would like to credit one more thing—the ‘Hundred Revolutions Spirit Thought Method’!” Li Shiming boldly took the opportunity to ask for more.

An opening by Yu Sect Leader like this was rare; second-grade materials weren’t something an Intermediate Array Master could exchange for, not even with good deeds.

For materials of the second grade, one had to be either at the Foundation Establishment Stage or a High-level Array Master, otherwise it was out of the question.

Now, if he didn’t seize this opportunity, it might never come again.

He Chuan’s eyes suddenly lit up, and his gaze towards Li Shiming changed.

Yu Sect Leader still knew some information—only a few people in the sect knew that Li Shiming had Spiritual Thought, and he was one of them.

“You’re clearly robbing us!” Yu Sect Leader pointed at Li Shiming, his expression becoming somewhat excited. Then he raised his voice, “‘Hundred Revolutions Spirit Thought Method’ costs 20,000 good deeds, and you must repay it within three years!”

Yu Sect Leader seemed very dissatisfied with Li Shiming, but whether it was Li Shiming, He Chuan, or Shang Haoquan all could tell he was not really upset; he was completely helping Li Shiming.

Li Shiming made demands recklessly, and Yu Sect Leader, under the name of Elder Sheng, fulfilled them one by one.

If Elder Yin had been in charge of this matter, then Yu Sect Leader would have had to consider Elder Yin’s relationship with Li Shiming to avoid causing a negative impact on Elder Yin.

But it was different with Elder Sheng being responsible; Elder Sheng had no relations with Li Shiming.

“Do you two have any requests?” Yu Sect Leader turned to He Chuan and Shang Haoquan and asked in a deep voice.

His tone almost suggested that if they dared make any excessive requests, he might just kill them with one slap.