Cultivation is just so scientific!

He leapt from his cave dwelling and transformed into a streak of light flying across the sky.

Apart from a few exceptional species born with unique bloodlines, most Fourth Grade spirit beasts choose to transform their bodies into human forms.

Because the human form is the most recognized by the rules of Heaven and Earth, it is the most conducive to cultivation and makes it easier to connect with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

Just like that, the wolf-headed human-shaped Fourth Grade spirit beast broke through the limitations of life and race to achieve the Fourth Grade.

In terms of talent and opportunity, he was truly a favored child of Heaven and Earth.

It is known that it is extremely difficult for spirit beasts to reach the Fourth Grade. Were it not for their lifespans far exceeding those of humans, giving them more time to cultivate, there wouldn't be so many Fourth Grade spirit beasts today.

The wolf-headed human-shaped Fourth Grade spirit beast thought of the Corpse Lotus. It was a special corpse he had come across by chance—a corpse with an extremely terrifying aura that even he could not directly face back then.

Intending to make use of that corpse, he thought of employing a Corpse Lotus. Luckily, he had acquired the seedpod of a corpse lotus, though only a second grade, the uniqueness of a Corpse Lotus lies in its ability to absorb corpses of any grade, which would then determine its own grade.

It had been more than a thousand years since then, and after devouring the Corpse Lotus, his strength could increase yet again.

Probably only the lengthy lifespans of spirit beasts allowed them to engage in the cultivation of spiritual medicine like this, for even a Nascent Soul Ancestor among human cultivators would only have a lifespan of a thousand years at most, making it quite unlikely to witness the maturation of a Corpse Lotus.

When Li Yuanba sensed the auras of the Golden Core cultivators disappearing one after another, he continued to move forward from his hiding spot.

He moved with extreme caution, and the Yin Cold power of his environment had a bolstering effect on his Corpse Refining state, greatly enhancing the effectiveness of his concealment as he moved.

Of course, part of this was due to Elder Jing Geng focusing all his attention on the changes occurring within the space, never expecting there to be a cultivator infiltrating secretly.

Dong Wei, who was left at the entrance, had a communication talisman that directly connected him to Elder Jing Geng. At this distance, even without a Communication Array, contact could still be made.

If any cultivator managed to breach the Formation and enter, Elder Jing Geng would be notified in advance to be prepared.

Because of this, Elder Jing Geng's sensitivity towards his surroundings was greatly diminished, allowing Li Yuanba to sneak closer.

Especially upon reaching the area near the gap, Li Yuanba found it heavily laced with various Formations.

For other cultivators, this presented many difficulties.

But for Li Yuanba, it offered a significant advantage.

Taking cover behind the Formations and utilizing their isolating effects, he was able to get even closer to Elder Jing Geng's position.

He did not attack Elder Jing Geng. With the combat strength of such a Great Elder, he could not guarantee that he would be able to handle it.

As Li Shiming himself was at the Great Elder level, Li Yuanba had a deeper understanding of Great Elders.

Although Li Shiming was a Great Elder Level Body Refining Golden Core, it reflected the uniqueness of a Great Elder.

Li Shiming's Body Refinement strength had already surpassed the Golden Core Stage and was between the Golden Core Stage and the Nascent Soul Stage, touching upon the edge of the Nascent Soul Stage.

Therefore, theoretically, Elder Jing Geng, in some aspect of his Magic Cultivation Technique, had also reached the fringe of the Nascent Soul Stage.

Such an enemy, if not eliminated with a single strike, would pose a fatal threat to Li Yuanba once they counterattacked.

His Body Refinement was not perfect and had not reached the Great Elder level.

Though his Body Refinement was just a bit short of the Great Elder level, that little bit made a vast difference between his Body Refinement and that of a Great Elder level.

His Body Refinement was still at the Golden Core Stage, while Great Elder-level Body Refinement had transcended the Golden Core Stage.

With the help of the Formations, he managed to move above Elder Jing Geng's head, where through the gap, he could see the situation within that space.

Li Yuanba, with his 'Divine Eye', could see even more clearly.

Seeing that lotus and considering the disappearance of the twenty-nine Golden Core cultivators, he speculated whether Elder Jing Geng had sacrificed those Golden Core cultivators through some means for the sake of that lotus.

The seedpod within the Corpse Lotus kept growing larger, and the dark golden color along with the surrounding petals made the Corpse Lotus appear even more sacred.

Suddenly, Li Yuanba's expression drastically changed, as he received a warning from his main body, Li Shiming.

Through the unmanned drone satellite system's feed, an image blurring the void itself was approaching at a tremendous speed.

From the distance, it would arrive in just a few breaths.

It was too late for Li Yuanba to escape, the only ones capable of producing such a void-blurring image were Nascent Soul Ancestors.

Giving thought to this being a Fourth Grade resource, it was highly likely that the owner was on their way.

Being in this place, to that owner, he would appear as a thief trying to steal the Fourth Grade resources and would naturally be eradicated on sight.

At this moment, the Corpse Lotus had reached full maturity, and Elder Jing Geng, unaware of the outside developments, opened the spatial rift in the formation.

A refreshing and heart-stirring fragrance wafted through, the mere scent causing Elder Jing Geng's inner energy to churn. He had a feeling that by consuming this Corpse Lotus, he would certainly ascend to the Nascent Soul Stage.

He looked at the Corpse Lotus with an irrepressible sense of urgency.

For this Corpse Lotus, he had sacrificed so much, and today he would finally have his wish fulfilled.

Turning over, he crossed through the rift into the space, carefully taking out a jade box with spatial storage effects, a Third Grade treasure specifically prepared for the Corpse Lotus.

He didn't dare to touch the water, using Divine Thought to control the jade box as it flew next to the Corpse Lotus, and a flying sword shot out, severing the stem of the Corpse Lotus below.

As the Fourth Grade Corpse Lotus fell, it was caught by the opened jade box.

Just as he retrieved the jade box, another white lotus appeared next to it, almost leading him to believe another Corpse Lotus had emerged.

But then, a terrifying Corpse Refining creature appeared on the white lotus, it snatched the jade box in one grab, and the white lotus disappeared without a trace.

Elder Jing Geng was stupefied; it never crossed his mind that at this crucial moment, a cultivator would intervene and snatch the Fourth Grade Corpse Lotus from his hands.

This was a Fourth Grade Corpse Lotus, the hope for his ascent to the Nascent Soul Stage.

It had taken him and his disciples over six hundred years and countless efforts to attain this Fourth Grade Corpse Lotus.

Just by inhaling the fragrance of the Fourth Grade Corpse Lotus, he felt an imminent breakthrough, confident that actually consuming it would definitely allow him to advance.

The moment of shock for Elder Jing Geng was transient, he quickly came to his senses, realizing that the Corpse Refining creature had used a technique, the 'Divine Foot Skill,' known as 'Step by Step Lotus.'

'Step by Step Lotus' didn't have the ability to break through barriers, meaning that the Corpse Refining creature was still inside this space.

Previously, this Corpse Refining creature had been hiding nearby undetected, indicating that it possessed immensely powerful stealth techniques.

His breath erupted, the presence of a Great Elder enveloping the entire space, of course, he could only cover above the surface of the water, unable to affect what was beneath.

Even with his strength, he did not dare to make contact with this pool, the Yin Cold Power within the water could also cause him great harm.

"Not here, how could it not be here?" he bellowed in anger.

He couldn't understand, it was clearly 'Step by Step Lotus' and he was standing at the rift, blocking the gap, so how could the Corpse Refining creature possibly use 'Step by Step Lotus' to leave this space.

Unwilling to accept defeat, he commanded the flying sword to sweep back and forth across the space.

If the Corpse Refining creature indeed had some special stealth technique, it would still be unable to avoid the indiscriminate sweep of a sword treasure.

"There's..." Just at that moment, Elder Jing Geng received a message from Dong Wei, with whom he had maintained constant communication.

Yet even so, Dong Wei managed to say just one word before falling silent.

Elder Jing Geng's whole body broke out in cold sweat, an intense fear rising within him, an instinctual response from the body.

His face paled, no longer concerning himself with the Fourth Grade Corpse Lotus, he hastily retrieved a golden talisman from his storage space and without a hint of reluctance, activated it.