Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1528 - 810: Battle, Part 2

As the raindrops descended, they morphed into sharp ice needles, assaulting the whole region without distinction.

"Impressive technique!" Li Shiming couldn't hold back his praise. Spells of such vast scale and mighty force fall outside the ordinary spell framework; they stem from a peak-level Great Cultivator's profound grasp of rules and advanced spell refinement.

His own insight into rules remained too limited, so he couldn't unleash wide-ranging spells with such potency like Master Ren Mu.

Still, he possessed his own counter, firing up all ten brains simultaneously and launching 'Thunder Cloud Skill.'

'Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer' shimmered brightly, turning the overhead thunderclouds pitch-black like ink, with crackling lightning essence surging endlessly inside them.

The ten instances of 'Thunder Cloud Skill' were building toward a massive release, while the flashing lightning essence also eroded the core clouds from the 'Cloud Dispersal' spell.

"You have great skills too!" Master Ren Mu responded in kind with a shout.

He understood Li Shiming's realm well; even if Li Shiming had stumbled upon some lucky breaks that boosted his offensive might, the core rules of a Great Cultivator couldn't advance rapidly in mere moments.

Lacking a solid command of rules, no one could wield the signature powerful spells of a Great Cultivator.

But Li Shiming took another path: a single spell might fall short, yet ten could surpass the mark.

His water-element flying sword slashed once more, summoning endless mists rising from the ocean depths.

He owed thanks to Li Shiming for picking an ideal battleground, letting him as a water-element Great Cultivator execute these aquatic magics with far less effort.

By now, the clouds from 'Cloud Dispersal' had scattered under the assault of the ten 'Thunder Cloud Skills' thunderclouds, leaving just those dark thunderheads dominating the sky.

The thunderclouds had gathered sufficient thunder essence, and streaks of lightning now plunged earthward.

Most of the bolts aimed straight at Master Ren Mu, who sensed their ferocity and swiftly turned into a rushing current of water, invoking Water Escape.

With the whole zone shrouded in mist, his Water Escape let him glide effortlessly through it, hiding his real form from easy detection.

The lightning showed no patience. Failing to lock onto the exact spot, it hammered the misty expanse at random.

On contact with the mist, each bolt exploded into myriad electric arcs, bathing the covered area in a searing white blaze.

Every lightning strike ignited a burst of blinding white radiance in the mist, turning the entire foggy zone into a glowing spectacle at the height of the barrage.

Li Shiming could spot Master Ren Mu clearly, thanks to 'Divine Foot Skill'; mere mist posed no barrier to his vision.

He'd already observed Master Ren Mu's reactions to the lightning onslaughts, darting nonstop through the fog to dodge the huge bolts from 'Thunder Cloud Skill,' and during the fiercest lightning phases, linking up with the sea via the mist.

No matter its intensity, his 'Thunder Cloud Skill' struggled to harm Master Ren Mu much once he merged with the ocean.

Of course, if he pushed to his limits, he had ways to deal with Master Ren Mu.

But for this clash, he aimed to test his Thunder Cultivator arts head-on against Master Ren Mu, without resorting to extra tricks; it gauged his true fighting strength.

Besides, he held a positive view of Master Ren Mu, harboring no desire to end his life—that mattered most.

Hovering in the empty air, 'Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer' pulsed with light, as he unleashed 'Thunder Fall Skill' repeatedly, this round employing multiple brains to alternate the casts of 'Thunder Fall Skill.'

Every 'Thunder Fall Skill' drew power from the Shenxiao Thunder Pearl in the machine room space for amplification.

'Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer' fired off lightning bolts nonstop, and these focused strikes packed more punch and precision than the wide-ranging ones from 'Thunder Cloud Skill.'

Master Ren Mu noticed the 'Thunder Cloud Skill' weakening, realizing its end drew near.

He activated Water Escape to surge back above the sea's surface, only to face an incoming lightning bolt right away.

Luckily, mist enveloped everything, requiring no gathering, and a barrier formed from seawater sprang up before him.

Not fully confident, he layered on two additional shields crafted from water.

With a resounding 'boom,' the rule-infused water shield shattered effortlessly—not merely one, but all three crumbled.

Keeping up Water Escape and detecting danger, he darted swiftly through the mist.

As he maneuvered amid the fog, fresh lightning strikes pursued, compelling another dodge.

After sidestepping 'Thunder Fall Skill' assaults thrice, he started to feel the strain.

Out of choices, he triggered Water Escape anew, diving into the sea where lightning still rained down overhead, its force piercing the waves to target his escaping form.

Thankfully, the seawater greatly weakened the lightning, scattering it through the depths without delving too far.

Li Shiming halted his offensive, gazing at Master Ren Mu submerged in the sea, understanding the fight couldn't drag on.

Master Ren Mu proved too slippery; would Li Shiming truly have to unleash 'Divine Foot Skill' for speeds that outpaced Water Escape, then slam down 'Chaos Sword Intent' on him?

"Let’s not fight anymore; I concede!" Master Ren Mu declared plainly, accepting the shame of his evasive style, sending his surrender via Spiritual Power Pattern.

"Then, let’s stop fighting!" Li Shiming accepted, stowing away 'Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer.'

From afar, spectating the duel, Master Liu Ziyun gaped in utter astonishment, his jaw nearly unhinging.

Though the showdown between these two Great Cultivators lasted briefly, each unleashed staggering battle prowess; he doubted he could endure even one blow.

Li Shiming's might especially surpassed all his predictions.

He'd long viewed Li Shiming as formidable, yet a notch below peak Great Cultivator Ren Mu.

But now, witnessing Li Shiming's bout with Master Ren Mu conclude with Ren Mu yielding.

Should word of this leak out, it would undoubtedly rock the whole cultivation realm.

Plus, with Li Shiming backing Ten Thousand Beast Sect, securing the biggest slice of Dongqi Continent's resources would face no hurdles.

Armed with peak Great Cultivator-level combat strength, Ten Thousand Beast Sect earned the right to claim the top portion of resources across Dongqi Continent.

"Looks like I must hurry and deliver those traded goods; building ties with Mr. Li is crucial, given his promising path ahead!" Master Liu Ziyun pondered.

Li Shiming's age stayed remarkably youthful, even for Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivators.

Yet he already ranked as a Great Cultivator, boasting fighting power rivaling a peak Great Cultivator.

This alone suggested Li Shiming outshone other peak Great Cultivators in chances of ascending to the Mahayana Realm.

True to a merchant's instinct, one backs the cultivator with brightest prospects; Li Shiming stood as the prime choice.

"Mr. Li, your Thunder Skill can truly put Yuqing Sect to shame!" Master Ren Mu chuckled, tossing out the light comment, unconcerned by triumph or defeat.

Over his long years, Master Ren Mu had faced countless trials, and as part of a force like Central State Commerce, his skill in navigating matters topped that of fellow peak Great Cultivators.

He placed little weight on wins and losses, prioritizing bonds with Li Shiming instead.

He saw Li Shiming's vast potential too, since Li Shiming lingered only at early Great Cultivator stage yet wielded such formidable power; upon hitting peak Great Cultivator, he might rival any non-Mahayana powerhouse in the cultivation world, even Half-step Mahayana experts.

"Mr. Ren, your command of water elements has truly widened my horizons!" Li Shiming replied with a hearty laugh.

The skirmish left a profound mark on him, as he finally beheld a peak Great Cultivator's full might.

He'd encountered peak Great Cultivators before; lacking worthy foes, they handled matters with basic tactics, never revealing their peak capabilities.