Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1601 - 847: Luan Phoenix

Yin Shilan found herself entranced by the entrance to Luanyang Palace, where a collection of grand edifices drifted atop an immense expanse of clouds.

Bathed in the sun's glow, the structures shone with a radiant golden brilliance, while now and then, female cultivators dressed in vibrant robes stepped out from the assorted buildings.

The gateway to Luanyang Palace resembled a masterpiece scroll, portraying a heavenly realm beyond mortal reach.

Though Li Shiming's 'illusion clone' lacked the use of 'Divine Sight,' his Great Cultivator Realm allowed him to notice details that escaped Yin Shilan's view.

From his vantage, he recognized the cloud sea as a massive array, suspending the entirety of Luanyang Palace's structures in the air.

That was merely one aspect; he detected the cloud sea steadily drawing in ambient energy, fostering some hidden essence at its core.

Every structure seamlessly merged with the cloud sea array, forming a flawless loop of energy flow.

This was the extent visible from afar; a deeper inspection would demand venturing inside.

A lengthy cloud bridge stretched out from Luanyang Palace's cloud sea, where Master Li guided the flying vessel to land on it before stepping off first.

Li Shiming, Yin Shilan, and the five late-stage Golden Corpses all exited the flying boat.

The cloud bridge under their soles was unusual; it yielded softly like fluff, yet bore their weight firmly without giving way.

Even though Li Shiming and the five late-stage Golden Corpses possessed flight capabilities, he respected the traditions of the place; Luanyang Palace had extended the cloud platform as an invitation, signaling their wish for visitors to avoid soaring through the air.

"Shilan, come with me!" Master Li motioned to Yin Shilan, then addressed Li Shiming, "Mr. Li, the fog will open to show a path; the test lies inside that path. Clear it, and you can proceed inside!"

Yin Shilan cast a look at Li Shiming, who offered a grin and a gentle wave to urge her forward.

Master Li guided Yin Shilan toward the cloud sea, their forms shrouded and then lost to sight.

Li Shiming felt no rush; after all, this was a sect dedicated to female cultivators, so such protocols made perfect sense.

He even picked up on multiple watchful eyes upon them, mostly channeled via arrays monitoring the area.

"That's Li Shizhen; he appears so youthful!"

"Didn't they mention a clone was arriving? Yet he doesn't seem like one at all!"

"Aunt Li confirmed it's a clone; that has to be accurate!"

"They claim his battle strength is peerless beneath the heavens, save for those supreme powers!"

"It's unfortunate it's only a clone; we won't get to see his fighting skills in action!"

Sounds echoed throughout the cloud sea, all from female cultivators, varying from soft and melodic to charming and elegant.

"How's the preparation coming along?" a velvety voice asked.

"Palace Master Gu, everything's set, but deploying the grand array for this seems overly elaborate, doesn't it?" the Luanyang Palace's Array Master responded.

"This is a prodigy who stirs the entire realm; a basic trial might make him disdain our Luanyang Palace!" Palace Master Gu answered in a gentle tone.

While Li Shiming awaited, the cloud sea parted, unveiling a corridor spanning thirty meters across.

Before he advanced into the corridor, pillars of cloud surged upward from the misty floor.

In just three breaths' time, the broad thirty-meter corridor morphed into a dense woodland.

A peculiar glint appeared in Li Shiming's gaze; he hadn't foreseen that Luanyang Palace's trial would involve an array.

Yet, on reflection, it struck him as reasonable; as an energy clone, a direct fight would be unwise. Should Luanyang Palace expect his 'illusion clone' to deplete its energy and shatter during battle, it could breed hostility instead of alliance.

He scanned the woodland; without the prior glimpse of the cloud pillars emerging, it might have taken him slightly longer to assess.

Nevertheless, the emergence of those cloud pillars had revealed the array's critical nodes.

For typical Array Masters, this revelation might hold little value, but for him, it supplied prime computational input to IBMz15, his vital auxiliary tool.

He relayed the observed details via the 'illusion clone' to his primary form; IBMz15 required merely two breaths to deliver a thorough breakdown of the array.

As he neared the woodland, he flicked his hand, sending a thread of divine sense into it, subtly disrupting the spiritual power threads at key nodes.

His stride stayed steady, and upon entering the array's woodland, the freshly conjured forest array dissolved right as he crossed the threshold.

An open corridor stretched ahead, free of any barriers to his progress.

"What's happening? Why did the array disappear?" Palace Master Gu queried in bewilderment.

"Odd, weren't they saying a clone was on the way? How did the clone unravel the array with such ease?" the Array Master murmured, puzzled.

"Wasn't the array assembled correctly? Even under brute assault, it shouldn't crumble that quickly!" Palace Master Gu challenged the Array Master's proficiency.

"Palace Master, this array is a fresh creation, free of flaws; his expertise in arrays probably outstrips every Array Master in the Cultivation World!" the Array Master replied, shaking his head helplessly.

As an Array Master herself, she couldn't help but recognize the extraordinary feat Li Shiming had accomplished.

When it came to dismantling arrays, brute force breaking stands as the most straightforward approach; overwhelming power crushes the nodes, provided the might proves adequate.