Cultivation is just so scientific!
Chapter 862 - 477: Settling Down (Part 2)

Chapter 862: Chapter 477: Settling Down (Part 2)

In the secret chamber, there was only a wooden box, which Li Shiming opened with his divine thought.

As soon as the wooden box was opened, a plethora of enchanted needles flew out, making it impossible to dodge in the small space of the secret chamber.

Behind Li Shiming, a phantom of the Taiqing Xuan Turtle appeared. The needles hit his body, making a crisp sound before bouncing off to the ground.

His divine thought grabbed a needle; it was made of third-grade materials, but because the runes inscribed on it exceeded the maximum capacity of the material, the needle could only be used once.

However, its single use wielded enormous power, even reaching the attack strength of a high-level third-grade magical artifact.

If an ordinary Golden Core cultivator was caught off guard in such a sudden attack, they would likely perish instantly.

"Isn’t this overcautious!" Li Shiming realized he had fallen for the opponent’s trap and shook his head while saying so.

Fortunately, despite the sudden incident, any arrangement was ineffective against absolute power.

With a Great Elder level body refinement and the pinnacle Taiqing Xuan Turtle Technique of the Golden Core Stage, such an attack couldn’t break his defenses. At least, it would require a Great Elder wielding a high-level third-grade magical artifact to do so.

After all the needles were spent, the contents of the opened box were revealed.

It was a jade token engraved with the words ’Stepping Cloud’. The jade quality was extremely peculiar, appearing to be non-graded spiritual jade. He pinched it lightly, finding it harder than third-grade spiritual jade.

This was unusual; he had never heard of such jade, making the jade token impossibly difficult to replicate.

His divine thought couldn’t penetrate the surface of the jade token, leaving him unable to perceive its contents.

His spirit had reached the pinnacle of the Golden Core Stage, yet he couldn’t sense the inside, making him even more curious about the jade token’s purpose.

Being meticulously safeguarded by a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, the jade token with such magical traits must be incredibly important.

Li Shiming smiled; since he found it, it was his now.

In his free time, he’ll look into information regarding the words ’Stepping Cloud’.

He pondered a bit and took out a piece of jade. Although he couldn’t replicate the material of the Stepping Cloud Jade Token, he could forge an identical-looking token.

To make it more like the Stepping Cloud Jade Token, he stored the jade in a machine space and inscribed nano-level sturdy runes on its surface, at least giving the forged token similar hardness.

Saying it was similar because Li Shiming couldn’t accurately determine the hardness of the Stepping Cloud Jade Token, as finding out would require destructive testing.

Without fully understanding the origins of the Stepping Cloud Jade Token, he wouldn’t proceed with such actions.

The forged jade token surpassed third-grade spiritual jade in hardness, making the authenticity of the forged token higher.

He stored the jade token in the box, although the needles couldn’t be used anymore. However, he still restored the needle activation array and rearranged the needles into place.

This task was easily accomplished by him, an array master.

Using the ’Step by Step Lotus’ again, he retreated to the storeroom of the cave mansion and restored the array on the wall to its original state.

Then he took out some third-grade array flags and began reinforcing the mansion’s formation, ensuring it couldn’t be easily breached from outside.

In Wuqing Mountain, with protection from a Nascent Soul Ancestor, the mansion’s formation couldn’t be forcibly broken open; such was Wuqing Mountain’s reputation.

After setting up the mansion’s formation, Li Shiming summoned Li Yuanba and then Venerable Huijing.

He had no intention of sending Li Yuanba out to act alone, as he was already a Great Elder and might ascend to the Nascent Soul Stage anytime.

Upon ascending to the Nascent Soul Stage, he would take Li Yuanba to the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion.

In the cultivation room, a fourth-grade Locking Vein Plate was placed at the center, surrounded by a spirit gathering array, plus the mansion’s spiritual energy supply, making the cultivation environment even better than before.

Venerable Huijing, Li Yuanba, and three cultivators practicing together were enough, at least temporarily not needing to worry about the cultivation environment.

He also placed the Illusion Spirit Jiao in the Spiritual Pet Room; the Jiao was still in a dormant state, coiled around the Dragon Vein Source Crystal, unknown how long before awakening.

After resting for three days in the mansion, he left Li Yuanba behind and took Venerable Huijing into the machine space as he left the mansion.

For his personal safety, he would bring Venerable Huijing whenever he went out.

"Fellow, we are neighbors, let’s get to know each other—I’m Wang Fan!" Just as Li Shiming left the mansion and ascended into the air, he heard a cultivator greet him.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Wang; I’m Li Shizhen!" Li Shiming said, using the alias he adopted upon moving into Wuqing Mountain.

Using his real name Li Shiming was risky, as both Heavenly Inquiry Sect and Skywalk Trading Company sought him, making using his true name a poor choice.

Though the Immortal World was vast, even the Dongqi Continent was spacious, at his level, late-stage Golden Core cultivators weren’t numerous, thus drawing attention easily.

"Mr. Li, let’s get together sometime; those of the same rank living in Wuqing Mountain meet regularly to exchange insights and resources!" Wang Fan said with a smile.

Li Shiming sensed Wang Fan’s cultivation was also at the late-stage Golden Core, likely why he extended the invitation.

"When will the next gathering be, so I can prepare early?" Li Shiming asked with interest.

He was thinking about how to connect with the Dongqi Continent’s cultivation world, and here’s an opportunity to exchange with fellows of the same rank—a rare chance indeed.

"Mr. Li, let’s exchange contact information; I’ll notify you when I get news!" Wang Fan said, taking out a token.

Li Shiming also took out his token, and they added each other as friends on their tokens, allowing them to send messages mutually in the future.

"Mr. Li, what secondary professions do you specialize in?" Wang Fan asked curiously after adding each other as friends.

"I have some research in the field of alchemy!" Li Shiming replied with a smile after some thought, choosing to focus on alchemy.

He had decided, even if revealing his alchemical skills, he wouldn’t achieve flawless perfection like on Beishu Continent.

Alchemy must have faults to fit his loose cultivator identity, also reducing risks of having his identity discovered through his alchemy.

"So you’re an Alchemist?" Wang Fan said in surprise.

After uttering this, he glanced around, casually casting a magic spell, erecting a soundproof barrier around him and Li Shiming.

"Yes!" Li Shiming nodded affirmatively.

"Can you refine third-grade spirit pills for late-stage Golden Core?" Wang Fan asked with hopeful eyes.

From the look of it, even in a place with excellent cultivation settings like the Dongqi Continent, alchemists are highly regarded.

"I can only refine Intermediate spirit pills for late-stage Golden Core, but the chance of a full pill is quite high!" Li Shiming said with modesty.

"Heavens, I’ve encountered an Alchemy Master! Master Li, when would you be available; I’d like to invite you to refine a batch of spirit pills for me!" Wang Fan became more excited and respectful.

"After the gathering, I will open the furnace for alchemy!" Li Shiming didn’t reject the request, merely postponed the timing a bit.

Wang Fan didn’t mind at all, as Alchemy Masters usually have their own quirks; Li Shiming’s attitude was exceptionally amiable.

"Master, where are you headed? I’m very familiar with Wuqing Mountain; let me guide you!" He said eagerly.

A late-stage Golden Core cultivator being this enthusiastic, yet Li Shiming didn’t feel uncomfortable; after all, even previously, Nascent Soul Ancestors treated him courteously.