Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 488: Chapter 290: Going Out_2

So even Elder Zhao, having not been in contact with Li Shiming for long, sensed the changes in Li Shiming’s Sword Intent.

“Uncle Zhao, I just happen to have some questions about Sword Intent that I wish to consult with you!” Li Shiming did not want to elaborate on changing his main Cultivation Technique, and since he couldn’t outright contradict, he shifted the topic.

“What do you mean by consult, just speak up if you have any questions!” Elder Zhao understood what Li Shiming meant, and followed along in the conversation.

Elder Zhao also knew that advising Li Shiming to change his main Cultivation Technique was not appropriate, mainly because he didn’t want Li Shiming to waste his talents as a Sword Cultivator.

“Look at my Sword Intent!” Li Shiming had always wanted to consult other Sword Cultivators about his Sword Intent, and he didn’t want to let this opportunity slip by.

He extended a finger, upon which the Sword Intent was strongly apparent, with strands of lightning flashing, making the Sword Intent appear even more fierce.

“This is?” Elder Zhao was startled, he used his Divine Thought to sense it, and finally even reached out to touch Li Shiming’s Sword Intent.

Li Shiming’s Sword Intent contained the Power of Thunder and Lightning, a phenomenon Elder Zhao, as a Sword Cultivator, had never witnessed before.

“How did you manage this?” Elder Zhao temporarily lost the notion of persuading Li Shiming to switch paths; his thoughts were completely captivated by Li Shiming’s Thunder Sword Intent.

“I’m not sure. I was cultivating the ‘Nine Heavens Thunder Strike Technique’, and one day I suddenly had an insight, and thunder and lightning mingled with my Sword Intent!” Of course, Li Shiming couldn’t possibly tell the whole truth, and in fact, he couldn’t provide an accurate explanation himself.

However, he thought the main reason was cultivating ‘Purple Qi Eastward’, utilizing the Farnese Reflector to absorb the Innate Violet Aura over two years.

But the use of the Farnese Reflector to cultivate ‘Purple Qi Eastward’ was his secret and certainly not something he could share with outsiders, so he could only respond ambiguously.

“That can’t be, although ‘Nine Heavens Thunder Strike Technique’ is a decent thunder-based cultivation method, I have never heard of such a function!” Elder Zhao shook his head and muttered to himself.

He glanced again at the Thunder Sword Intent on Li Shiming’s finger, utterly puzzled.

Li Shiming was somewhat disappointed; he had hoped to gain some insights from Elder Zhao, a senior Sword Cultivator, but instead, he found that Elder Zhao was plunged into confusion.

Throughout the rest of the journey, Elder Zhao scarcely spoke to Li Shiming, absorbed in his thoughts. Whenever he approached Li Shiming, it was to have Li Shiming demonstrate his Sword Intent for reference.

The journey was uneventful; they were within the territory of the Righteous Path, marked by Shushan Sect, and traveling in a Taoist treasure-grade large Flying Boat, clearly a conveyance for a Shushan Sect personage; no cultivator would dare intercept them.

They did not hurry on their way and took three days to reach their destination.

Looking at the map’s marks, the place ahead was Fire Cloud Valley.

The number of cultivators nearby was not small. Fire Cloud Valley was a mid-sized sect specializing in Alchemy, with an Alchemy Master presiding over its order, drawing many smaller forces to its vicinity.

With Fire Cloud Valley at its center, a thousand-mile range had formed a cultivator gathering spot, all subordinately aligning with Fire Cloud Valley, making this mid-sized sect, in terms of mobilizable combat power, comparable to some larger forces.

Upon reaching the outskirts of Fire Cloud Valley, Li Shiming cast a communication technique.

He and Elder Zhao were representatives of the Shushan Sect, so they had to communicate formally.

Shortly after casting the communication technique, an elderly but youthful-looking Golden Core Early Stage cultivator flew out from Fire Cloud Valley and approached the large Flying Boat.

“This is Master Tong Yun!” Elder Zhao introduced the newcomer to Li Shiming using a sound transmission method.

Li Shiming nodded and, together with Elder Zhao, went to meet him.

“Junior Li Shiming pays respects to Master Tong Yun!” Li Shiming took the initiative to bow respectfully.

“Quickly, no need for such formalities. How could I deserve such a great courtesy from Master Li? I have always held great admiration for Master Li!” Master Tong Yun had no airs of a senior and returned the gestures very politely.

Master Tong Yun had heard much about Li Shiming and was even more astonished upon meeting him in person.

Li Shiming had already reached Half-step Golden Core, which, at his young age, indicated the height of his cultivation talent — feared to be unmatched by many cultivators in the Beishu Continent.

His cultivation talent was extremely high, and his alchemy talent was even more so, needless to say.

If it were not for Li Shiming’s insufficient realm, which prevented him from concocting some complex third-grade spirit pills, perhaps the strength rankings of alchemy masters would have been overturned long ago.

Even so, the alchemist community was indecisive about Li Shiming’s ranking, currently placing him outside all alchemy masters without ranking him.

It was estimated that once Li Shiming became a Golden Core cultivator, his alchemy ranking would leap to the forefront.

“I have seen Master Tong Yun!” Elder Zhao was very respectful towards Master Tong Yun, a true alchemy master capable of concocting most third-grade spiritual medicines.

The status of an alchemy master in the cultivation world was inherently very high, so the respect shown by Elder Zhao was entirely normal.

Master Tong Yun returned the greeting and then gestured for Li Shiming and Elder Zhao to enter into Fire Cloud Valley together.

The three flew ahead, with a large flying boat carrying the alchemists from Shushan Sect following behind.

After Li Shiming entered the formation of Fire Cloud Valley, he immediately felt the uniqueness of this place.

The air was filled with a faint medicinal fragrance, from which he discerned the scents of various third-grade spiritual medicines.

He could analyze the names of the contained spiritual medicines just by their complex fragrances, relying mostly on the help of IBMz15.

Fire Cloud Valley had set aside an area specifically to serve as the venue for the alchemist gathering, and other areas of Fire Cloud Valley were not open.

However, with enthusiastic guidance from Master Tong Yun who, after leading the Shushan Sect’s alchemists to the venue, also took Li Shiming and Elder Zhao for a tour of Fire Cloud Valley.

Fire Cloud Valley, being a sect specialized in alchemy, revealed its characteristics everywhere.

There were fields of medicinal herbs, ranging from low to high quality, tended by professional spirit plant cultivators.

The fields contained first and second-grade spiritual medicines, and their planting area was the largest Li Shiming had ever seen.

“Is that the ‘Fiery Sun Sky Fruit’?” Li Shiming smelled the scent of a spiritual medicine and saw a swath of red clouds around the mountainside ahead, and he couldn’t help but ask in surprise.

The ‘Fiery Sun Sky Fruit’ is a third-grade spiritual medicine, and he was aware of the growth environment for the ‘Fiery Sun Sky Fruit,’ which matched exactly with the scene before him.

“Master Li has great eyesight to know from such a distance that this is where the ‘Fiery Sun Sky Fruit’ is planted!” Master Tong Yun did not intend to conceal it, as the sect was based on Fire Cloud Valley precisely because of the ‘Fiery Sun Sky Fruit.’

This was not a secret at all; all the major sects knew this.

And the ‘Fiery Sun Sky Fruit’ harvested here, part of the spirit pills made from them would be sold to the three major Righteous Path sects.

With the protection of the three major Righteous Path sects, there was no worry about other cultivators spying on this place.

Of course, Fire Cloud Valley having the secret technique to cultivate the ‘Fiery Sun Sky Fruit’ was also a crucial reason for them to hold this location.

Li Shiming did not request to enter into the red clouds, as that area, heavily fortified by formations, was certainly the most confidential part of Fire Cloud Valley.

“Truly a sect with a heritage of alchemy, being able to cultivate third-grade spiritual medicine by themselves is indeed awe-inspiring!” he remarked.

“That area of red mist is the reason why Fire Cloud Valley got its name and is also the essential condition for the growth of the ‘Fiery Sun Sky Fruit’!” Master Tong Yun explained proudly.

Afterwards, Master Tong Yun and Li Shiming began to exchange their experience on concocting ‘Fiery Sun Heavenly Spirit Pills,’ and they got along very well for a time.

It was tough on Elder Zhao, however, who could not understand the exchange at all and could only fulfill his duty of protection.

This visit lasted for two hours, and it was completely enjoyable for both host and guests.