Li Yuanba handed over the âResting Soilâ to Li Shiming, then parted ways with him.
He had to complete the mission of slaying, and for a long time to come, he would spend his days in constant battle.
As for the âTen Thousand Sword Peakâ, it would stay with Li Shiming for now, allowing him to enhance its quality.
With Li Yuanbaâs current combat power, the âTen Thousand Sword Peakâ wasnât much of a help to him anymore.
He took out a Fourth-Grade Lower Stage Flying Boat, sat cross-legged inside the cabin, feeling the changes in the âSix Yang Spirit Fireâ while on his way.
After devouring the Purple Flame Earth Fire, the âSix Yang Spirit Fireâ had advanced significantly, and he regretted it a bit as the âPurple Flame Earth Fireâ should have been left for Li Shiming to absorb.
Since Li Yuanba rarely engaged in alchemy or artifact refining, and even if he did, he wasnât as skilled as Li Shiming.
In alchemy, Li Yuanba couldnât achieve the 100% success rate of the âHundred One-point Pill Techniqueâ. Truly precious Spirit Pills were better refined by Li Shiming, ensuring both yield and quality.
In artifact refining, Li Shiming had a unique mastery of 1-nanometer control in the chamber space, granting him unparalleled refining techniques.
If Li Shimingâs âRed Sun Spirit Fireâ had absorbed the âPurple Flame Earth Fireâ, then both his alchemy and artifact refining time could be reduced.
However, since it had already been devoured, the âSix Yang Spirit Fireâ had already been upgraded, and even if Li Yuanba wanted to spit it out, he couldnât.
The improvement of the âSix Yang Spirit Fireâ shortened the time for refining Great Cultivator Spirit Pills, and controlling the âSix Yang Spirit Fireâ became more adept.
Anyway, it was all in the family pot, so he didnât have to worry too much.
Feeling the âSix Yang Spirit Fireâ, he sensed an imbalance within him and frowned slightly, speculating in his mind.
Without hesitation, he transformed from a human state to a corpse refining state. Once in corp refining state, he discovered the âXuanyin Ghost Fireâ inside the golden corpse was absorbing energy from the void, rapidly improving its quality.
Sure enough, the Yin Yang balance of the Taiji Dao Body allowed for automatic balancing when transitioning between human and corpse refining states if there was any imbalance related to Yin Yang energy.
Since Li Yuanba hadnât cultivated any fire-based cultivation methods, the energy of his âSix Yang Spirit Fireâ couldnât be quickly replenished once used, requiring him to switch to the corpse refining state to indirectly restore the âSix Yang Spirit Fireâ energy through absorbing Yin Cold Energy with the âXuanyin Ghost Fireâ.
Feeling the balance within his body, he restored to his human state again.
In human state, the energy of the âSix Yang Spirit Fireâ was somewhat depleted, but it wasnât a problem. When he had time, by switching to the corpse refining state, replenishing the âXuanyin Ghost Fireâs energy would automatically restore the âSix Yang Spirit Fireâ energy.
While on his journey, short-term state conversions were fine and wouldnât attract attention, but if he traveled long-term in corpse refining state, it would likely be mistaken by Righteous Path cultivators as a Devil Cultivator, which was undesirable.
Even normal Devil Cultivators would conceal their aura instead of openly exposing it like this.
Li Yuanba arrived at the first suspected hiding place of Huang Ming provided by the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion Intelligence Department, which was a market place.
When he saw the marketâs insignia, he knew its background wasnât simple as it was backed by the Central State Commerce.
Such markets, marked openly with the Central State Commerce insignia, are either operated by Central State Commerce itself or run by affiliates.
Such affiliates are usually Central State Commerceâs core members using its channels to amass wealth outside. Central State Commerce, being a commercial force, doesnât oppose its members conducting business activities.
But only core members can do business in the name of Central State Commerce and display its insignia.
"Huang Ming sure has many friends to be able to hide here. Without ties to the marketâs background, who would believe this?" thought Li Yuanba.
Huang Ming was a Cultivator from the White Emperor Sect, and the conflict between the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion and the White Emperor Sect was well known to the forces across the Central State Continent.
Even though it was uncertain whether Huang Ming was hiding here, since the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion Intelligence Department provided this intel, it indicated at least a past concealment by Huang Ming in this area.
Upon thinking this, Li Yuanba scanned himself with his Divine Sense and changed into an unmarked robe, erasing his distinct Sword Cultivator aura and replacing it with that of an ordinary cultivator.
He entered the market, immediately spotting several Nascent Soul Cultivators upon stepping inside due to the high standards of the market.
The slaying mission had outlined Huang Mingâs aura and appearance, so as Li Yuanba walked and sensed, he felt confident that if Huang Ming was in the market, heâd have left some trace of aura.
Leveraging the IBMz15âs analytical capability, Li Yuanba could determine if even the slightest hint of aura belonged to Huang Ming.
As he observed the market, Huang Ming was also observing Li Yuanba discreetly through the windows on the fourth floor of a shop.
The shop had a protective formation isolating Huang Mingâs aura, and since Huang Ming purposely watched Li Yuanba through the corner of his eye without emanating any killing intent, Li Yuanba didnât notice him.
Just before, Huang Ming had received a notification from the White Emperor Sect that Li Yuanba had been listed as a key capture target.
The reward for this mission was extremely lucrative, tempting even any Nascent Soul Middle Stage Practitioner.
Huang Ming identified Li Yuanba not by his aura but by his appearance.