The Science of Cultivation

Li Lang watched as the Radiant Wing Sect disciples climbed step by step up the stairs that the Thousand Change Sea Breath had led them to. Due to the pyramid shape of the structure, the steps were wide near the bottom and narrowed as they ascended.

Everyone was on guard as they knew this was likely where the final tests were, near the core of whatever inheritance was left behind by Kan Wuji. That was why they weren’t surprised when several Qi arts of various elements ambushed them. With multiple Foundation Establishment cultivators all invoking various flashy moves to defend themselves, Li Lang got to enjoy the front row seats.

Many of the Radiant Wing Sect disciples used similar mantras, forming barriers of wind, but Mu Hanyue caught his attention the most. The bright wall of light she summoned not only made it hard to look at, but also acted like a physical obstacle. Sharp arrows of stone and ice bounced uselessly off it. It was a scene Li Lang had not expected out of the light attribute at all.

Based on what he knew, he would’ve predicted the light barrier to burn away at any attacks like a fire element barrier would. It was quite stimulating for him to observe light acting as a physical barrier.

I wonder if it’s the technique that has altered the properties of light or if it’s the light attribute qi they practice that is special.

As the righteous cultivators climbed higher, the intensity of the attacks grew. It was still manageable for the most part, but it didn’t prevent Li Lang from furrowing his brows.

Several of his allies occasionally stiffened in place, some for only a split second, while others were locked in place several times longer. If this were a scene of mortal braving the dangers of a heavily trapped tomb, then there wouldn’t be anything amiss. However, the people in question were all experts in the Foundation Establishment Realm. They weren’t the type of people who would be disoriented or distracted that easily, just from a constant onslaught of attacks.

After all, those who had such a flaw would never have survived until now and achieved their first major breakthrough.

Li Lang naturally knew the freezes were probably not the fault of any of the orthodox cultivators. The reason he was frowning was that it showed the theme, for these tests remained split between illusions and defense.

The experts with him had already spoken about how unusual that was. Violet Core Realm experts were decisive people. The norm was to pass on their most treasured technique, with the tests related to this legacy. What he was seeing before him painted an entirely different picture.

For a moment, he hesitated whether this meant there were two techniques waiting for them, but he quickly shook off that thought. Traditions and face were too important to orthodox cultivators. Few strayed from the well-trodden paths lest they be mistaken for one of the mavericks. If Kan Wuji truly left behind two techniques, then it was more likely that he was actually a demonic deviator.

Bringing his attention back to his allies, he found that while the tests grew more intense the further they went up, the Qi arts consistently shot out from the edge of the stairs. With his good allies taking the vanguard role, he was able to note down which particular type of attacks came from which direction. This gave him all the time in the world to prepare before jumping into the fray.