Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 1142: Chapter 617: Following_2

After concealing their aura, if the two sword cultivators use Sword Escape Flight, it will still attract attention.

Li Yuanba is unclear about Tang Xue Ning’s action plan; he can only follow her lead.

Tang Xue Ning says nothing more as the third-grade flying boat automatically flies. She sits with her eyes closed.

Li Yuanba is unable to communicate, so he focuses on contemplating the Jian Family’s Sword Mark inheritance, which has been his recent endeavor.

Though organized and analyzed with IBMz15’s help, the inheritance of the Jian Family’s Sword Mark still requires the insight of sword cultivators who practice the ’Sky-Surging Sword Intent Technique’.

His main body, Li Shiming, has continually been contemplating the Jian Family’s Sword Mark inheritance with the Golden Thunder Nascent Soul, and Li Yuanba now joins this contemplation.

The quiet third-grade flying boat flies through the air; it seems either the sect mark on the third-grade flying boat is effective, or the flying boat hasn’t drawn the attention of other cultivators, as it faces no obstruction during its journey.

Tang Xue Ning’s choice of the third-grade flying boat is thoughtful; it’s commonly used by Golden Core cultivators, and Nascent Soul cultivators are seldom interested in Golden Core cultivators.

Golden Core cultivators are the strongest below Nascent Soul, and their large numbers make the likelihood of attack minimal.

”He Ding Mountain is ahead; we need to approach stealthily to investigate!” Tang Xue Ning’s voice is cold but very careful.

After storing the third-grade flying boat, the two land and proceed towards He Ding Mountain.

He Ding Mountain is a well-known peak in the surrounding area; it originally didn’t belong to Ping’s Three Evil, who seized it.

The movements of Ping’s Three Evil are unpredictable, and settling in one place is unusual for them.

Tang Xue Ning employs a perception-enhancing secret technique, lightly sweeping her fingers over her eyes, which then glow with golden light.

”There’s no Nascent Soul activity; Ping’s Three Evil are not in the cave on He Ding Mountain!” Tang Xue Ning transmits to Li Yuanba.

She has been extremely cautious along the way to avoid alerting Ping’s Three Evil.

Information on Ping’s Three Evil shows they’ve undergone many sieges but always escape effortlessly.

According to Tang Xue Ning’s analysis, Ping’s Three Evil likely have undisclosed intelligence support within the Central State Continent, ensuring any actions against them are anticipated early.

Tang Xue Ning is very confident that this operation hasn’t been detected by Ping’s Three Evil, leaving only two possibilities.

One, Ping’s Three Evil left He Ding Mountain’s temporary hideout for some reason and will return later.

Two, Ping’s Three Evil abandoned He Ding Mountain’s temporary hideout, meaning their trip was in vain.

”I have some expertise in formations; let me break open the cave’s formation to inspect the inside!” Li Yuanba suggests.

”Li Yuanba, are you confident?” Tang Xue Ning asks, somewhat surprised.

”It shouldn’t be a problem!” Despite some distance, Li Yuanba observes with ’Divine Eye’ and finds that He Ding Mountain’s formation is arranged using array plates.

This is quite understandable; if Ping’s Three Evil have little understanding of formations, using array plates to set up a formation is the best option.

If this were the long-term hideout of Ping’s Three Evil, they would naturally invest a lot of resources and invite an Array Master to enhance the cave’s formation.

But He Ding Mountain is just a temporary hideout; Ping’s Three Evil have many enemies and can’t remain here long-term, so the cave wouldn’t demand much investment. Array plates, being portable and simple to arrange, are indeed a top choice.

”Then we’ll proceed together and wait inside the cave for Ping’s Three Evil!” Tang Xue Ning trusts Li Yuanba’s ability greatly, and she’s concerned for his safety, so she suggests entering together.

Li Yuanba doesn’t mind; bringing one person along is not a problem.

As they approach the cave, he casually dismantles three warning formations, which are also set up with array plates.

To an Array Master, formations arranged with array plates are rigid and easily deciphered.

Li Yuanba shares knowledge from his main body, Li Shiming, making him a top-tier Array Master in the field, even without the Array Formation Starlight Sea.

The Array Formation Starlight Sea is crucial for Array Masters to swiftly analyze formations, and while Li Yuanba doesn’t possess it, he uses IBMz15’s capability as a substitute.

Tang Xue Ning follows behind Li Yuanba, seeing him easily dismantle three warning formations, boosting her confidence in Li Yuanba’s abilities.

”Fourth-grade high-order array plate—does Ping’s Three Evil think the higher the array plate’s quality, the stronger the formation?” At the temporary hideout, Li Yuanba muses as he observes the cave’s formation.

Fourth-grade high-order array plates are undeniably high-quality among array plates, but they signify the material’s quality, not the Array Master’s skill.

Certainly, the formation laid with the fourth-grade high-order array plate reached a level of fourth-grade high stage, though its effect doesn’t match even a fourth-grade early-stage formation set up with array flags.

Li Yuanba’s divine sense moves through the array’s spiritual power lines, forcibly creating a passage at the cave’s entrance.

He enters the cave as if he owns it.

”Seems Ping’s Three Evil haven’t abandoned it!” Upon entering the cave’s hall, Li Yuanba transmits, smiling at Tang Xue Ning.

A fourth-grade tea set on a table in the hall implies that abandoning the cave would unlikely leave such a valuable item behind.

Going further inside, three fourth-grade vein-locking plates are found in the cultivation room, each containing Nascent Soul Middle Stage Spiritual Veins, confirming his assessment.

”I know why Ping’s Three Evil would settle here!” Tang Xue Ning points to a room next to the cultivation room.

The room is an Artifact Refining Room with earth fire; the original owner here was a renowned Artifact Refining Master.

Now, the earth fire is channeled into the refining room, burning intensely—a result requiring special techniques and considerable resources.

This earth fire is sufficient to smelt top-level fourth-grade materials, with a few storage bags nearby holding some combustible spiritual objects outside them.

This refining room setup indicates preparation for artifact crafting, likely for a top-level fourth-grade magical treasure.

It all explains why Ping’s Three Evil occupied the cave to craft a top-level fourth-grade magical treasure at He Ding Mountain.

As for why Ping’s Three Evil aren’t in the cave, it’s related to their operational style—they never separate as three Nascent Soul Middle Stage Practitioners.

Presumably, they needed to purchase spiritual objects, trust their infamous reputation, as well as the cave’s fourth-grade upper array plate, deeming a short leave harmless.

”Li Yuanba, we’ll prepare at the cultivation room entrance; once Ping’s Three Evil enter the hall, we will attack with all our might!” Tang Xue Ning asserts her plan.

Li Yuanba examines the setting; the cultivation room’s entrance faces the hall, with its entry point not spacious. Once inside, Ping’s Three Evil would likely let their guard down, confident in the safety of their lair.

The hall’s entrance doesn’t favor Nascent Soul cultivators; activating Nascent Soul Dharma Forms is near impossible, and even using magical treasures might be affected.

Data shows Ping’s Three Evil belongs to a rare group using Spirit Bow magical treasures, most affected in such a space.

In such conditions, the flying sword of the sword cultivators is most effective, leaving Ping’s Three Evil no room for evasion and forced to withstand its assault.

Of course, this plan is optimal only if Ping’s Three Evil can’t detect the hidden Tang Xue Ning and Li Yuanba; otherwise, the confined cave would trap them, losing maneuverability.

Concealing himself isn’t difficult for Li Yuanba, evident from the cave’s arrangement and Ping’s Three Evil’s lack of formation knowledge. Li Yuanba sets up a concealing array with a fourth-grade array flag in the cultivation room.