The Science of Cultivation [Xianxia]

The representatives from Bloodtear Garden, Twin Steel Order, and Polar Extreme Sect were simultaneously caught off guard at the sudden mention of obtaining a heavenly element. It was not a subject to be broached lightly, as it could affect their entire organization. However, they took control of their nerves quickly as they thought things through. If this new neutral force brought the proposal to all of them, then there must be more to the story.

"And what benefit do you have of asking if we want this heavenly water you speak of?" the woman from the Twin Steel Order asked.

"It's simple. It's located somewhere I would like your assistance in reaching," Li Lang replied.

"Just like that, and you call for all three of us? How did you plan on splitting the spoils, assuming we manage to subdue it?"

"It'll be housed within my organization, Star Gem Academy."

"What?!" Gao Kai yelled. "Then why would we help you if you're going to be the only one to benefit from it?"

The aura of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator flaring up prompted Jun Ziyan to position herself between the older man from the Polar Extreme Sect and Li Lang. Even with a protector in front of him, Li Lang could feel the irritation in the air as Gao Kai emitted pulses of Qi that heated the room several degrees.

"Now, now," Mou Tianran finally broke his silence. "No need to be hasty. Let's hear things out until the end."

He gave Li Lang an amiable nod, gesturing for him to continue.

"Hmm, it seems like your organization has yet to hear much about our Star Gem Academy. That's a problem considering we're from neighbouring territories. Where should I start? Well, I'm sure all of you have heard about the Great Trial of Water Crest, correct?"

"I see." Mou Tianran immediately nodded, as if he understood everything. "Our little friend here is trying to say you plan to subdue and keep the heavenly water in your Spirit-grade artifact and exchange access to it as our reward?"

"That's correct."

"And what type of assistance do you need? Do you know exactly what you must face to reach the heavenly water?"

"We only know that it's located out at sea. I'm sure your organizations are much more knowledgeable about the dangers of what that entails."

The three representatives solemnly nodded in a rare appearance of solidarity.

"The ocean is not to be underestimated. Tell us everything you know."

***

It didn't take long for the three representatives to contact their sect and make the necessary arrangements. Unsurprisingly, they all agreed to Li Lang's terms. The fame of the Crucible had spread far and wide, and every organization showed considerable interest in it. After all, not many Spirit-grade artifacts existed on Violet Isle, and even fewer were owned by someone not in the Spirit Divide Realm.

It wouldn't be an understatement that the Crucible would be their only chance of approaching such a mighty existence.

The preparations his new helpers made did surprise Li Lang, though. He thought they would have some secret route to trek across the ocean with a special technique to bypass the underwater Qi beasts, but none of that was true.

Instead, they gathered around what appeared to be a mundane boat, drawing a formation circles all over it. What further shocked Li Lang was that the three forces didn't bother to send any reinforcements. He expected to have a Violet Core elder escort them, but he only got the same three representatives.

"So, how will this ship help us safely venture out to the heavenly water?" he asked.

"The ocean Qi beasts are much more vicious than those on land," Mou Tianran answered. "They'll seek out to challenge anything that enters their vicinity if they are of similar strength and consume those that are easy prey. The best way to travel through the ocean is to appear as somewhat weak, attracting only the monsters that we can handle while avoiding becoming a snack."

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

His words made Li Lang naturally think of the Wave Dampening Art and Dissipation Technique he employed to hide his cultivation. Ever since he broke through to Foundation Establishment, he never had to use it that often again, as his status as a Foundation Establishment cultivator was too useful to forgo in most cases. That was especially so since he became well known to the public.

"In that case, haven't your organizations developed techniques to suppress your cultivation levels?"

The older man ruefully shook his head.

"If we did that, then we wouldn't be able to exert our cultivation without revealing ourselves. We won't be able to get far that way or enter the depths of the ocean at all."

"Then how does this ship of yours work?"

"It's nothing complicated. A cage that blocks out the spiritual emissions from those within and creates an air bubble around it. It can also broadcast the Qi signature of the person sitting in the center over there."

Instead of just taking his word for it, Li Lang moved closer to get a better look as the woman from the Twin Steel Order continued to work on other parts of the formation.

He didn't shy away from running his hand through the formation circle, trying to decipher each element. It used several runes unfamiliar to him, likely more advanced variations that he had yet to learn. It didn't take long for him to get a basic understanding of what these new runes did. It helped that it wasn't anything completely new, as it was more so new approaches to the same problems.

As with most things, once he started enjoying himself, time passed swiftly. Before he knew it, they were prepared to set sail.

"You have an idea of where to go, correct?" Mou Tianran asked, which elicited a nod from Li Lang. "In that case, you can steer. The control should be similar to that of a Skyrunner. Your companion there can step into the formation."

Long Yi shrugged and did as told. The moment he settled into the formation circle, everyone could see the Qi in their surroundings being dragged and twisted. A moment later, Long Yi's aura was unmistakably being emitted across the entire hull.

Seeing this, Li Lang couldn't help but have the ship slither around, making turns after turns to see how well the aura adhered to the boat.

"Hey, there's no need for that!" Jun Ziyan cried as she grabbed onto Li Lang's shoulder and shook him repeatedly. "Not like any stupid Qi beast would be able to see through this. Stop shaking the ship!"

"Okay, okay. You stop shaking me as well! I've stopped already."

While the woman from Sword Saint Isle eventually stopped, her glare only grew sharper, causing Li Lang to turn away, summoning the fragment of the Thousand Change Sea Breath. It instantly drew the attention of the three representatives, but they remained silent, only watching from a distance.

"No need to stare," Li Lang said. "It's an actual fragment of the heavenly water we're chasing. It's how we'll be able to track it down."

The three solemnly nodded as their journey continued.

Li Lang had already learned that sailing was an art that couldn't be learned in a day or two, but for cultivators, that was no longer true. The use of Qi to control the vehicle was like a cheat. He had minute control over every detail of the ship, able to steer it like a veteran crew by himself.

It wasn't long before they could no longer see land from where they were.

"The fragment says its main body is directly south from here, but deep in the ocean as well. Should I descend?" Li Lang asked the more experienced members of the crew.

"Hurry up and do it, then!" the impatient Gao Kai blurted out. "It takes time to descend or ascend into the depths of the ocean. Might as well get it out of the way now."

The other two nodded, so Li Lang began willing the boat in the right direction. It came naturally to him, and the bow soon tilted downward. The water around it appeared to have been pressed downward by an invisible force. It only became more apparent as it sank further into the ocean until a bubble could be seen fully enveloping the ship while it continued to move underwater.

The breathtaking scene was something those who saw it for the first time couldn't help but marvel at. Unfortunately for the group, the urgent cries from their more experienced members cut their enjoyment short.

"We've got incoming! Your friend Long Yi had better go out to meet it!"

"What? Shouldn't one of you go meet it instead?" Li Lang cried, only for Jun Ziyan to shake her head at him.

"We're only making a move when it's necessary. Our attacks will inevitably send out fluctuations through the water that may attract stronger Qi beasts, rendering this formation we have here pointless. Don't worry, though. Long Yi will be able to handle himself."

"Ha, you can say that again!" the man in question affirmed confidently, thumping a fist against his chest.

He then flew off the deck toward the looming shadow, with the aura comparable to a mid-stage Foundation Establishment, headed directly their way.

Can Long Yi really deal with a Qi beast, a minor realm above him? In the grand scheme of things, we're still fledglings who only stepped into the Foundation Establishment Realm recently!