Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1651 - 872: Exploration

Great Cultivator Shen Ze and Great Cultivator Zongjing were the ones who stepped inside. Right as they entered, Great Cultivator Shen Ze gripped a treasured mirror, while Great Cultivator Zongjing positioned a white bone barrier ahead of himself.

They feared Li Shiming could have already eliminated the pair of Great Cultivators who went in first after he himself had entered.

It was no case of excessive worry; considering the formidable fighting strength Li Shiming displayed, confronting a single righteous Great Cultivator and a single devil Great Cultivator solo, he possessed a high chance of subduing both swiftly.

Particularly in the Divine Palace's surroundings, should Li Shiming succeed in pushing those two Great Cultivators beyond the white tile zone, they would suffer numerous restrictions, rendering them defenseless with minimal additional action required from Li Shiming.

The arrival of the remaining two righteous and devil Great Cultivators restored the scenario to its original equilibrium.

"Mr. Li, restrictions here shift every hundred years. The map I possess works only as a guide. Please collaborate with us and split off once we arrive at your desired spot!" Great Cultivator Shen Ze retrieved a Jade Scroll and offered it to Li Shiming while speaking.

Earlier, outside the gate, their promises of alliance with Li Shiming rang hollow since his survival remained uncertain.

Yet now, Li Shiming had shattered the scheme crafted by the righteous and devil factions alike.

The factions had intended to pass through the gate ahead, and once all six Great Cultivators were within, Li Shiming's decision would dictate the next move.

Should Li Shiming opt to enter, the six Great Cultivators would seize that instant of delay to strike him down.

Should Li Shiming choose to stay out, he would forfeit any claim to this chance.

Although the Divine Palace's interior spans immense distances with abundant treasures, the spoils available to Great Cultivators remain finite, meaning an extra Great Cultivator dilutes each one's share.

Access to the Divine Palace comes but once in ages; every Great Cultivator here sacrificed vastly to gain entry.

Accepting diminished rewards was utterly intolerable to them.

Nevertheless, Li Shiming's triumph in breaching the Divine Palace depths left the six Great Cultivators reluctant to clash with him when unprepared.

During fights inside the Divine Palace, triggering restrictions by mishap looms as a grave risk.

Even absent combat, merely handling restrictions proves perilously taxing; igniting them mid-battle spells catastrophe.

"Mr. Li, dangers abound in this realm. Let us maintain peace and venture forth as allies!" Devil Cultivator Grandmaster Leng Hong added his plea.

"I will cooperate with everyone!" Li Shiming nodded in agreement.

Internally, he scoffed, aware that none of these Peak Great Cultivators were straightforward foes. A slower response from him would have trapped him in indecision, advance or retreat equally fraught.

Moments ago, he had deployed 'Divine Sight' alongside IBMz15 to probe the restrictions, yet none were detected.

Therefore, delving into the Divine Palace's core demanded alliance with these Great Cultivators.

"Here's a peace contract—please imprint it with your true name!" Great Cultivator Shen Ze produced a contract parchment, directing it to all present Great Cultivators.

He suspended the contract parchment mid-air, ensuring every Great Cultivator viewed it plainly.

Li Shiming observed the parchment mimicked an Ancient Contract in style, though freshly made. Evidently, Great Cultivator Shen Ze had command over deploying such Ancient Contracts.

Examining the terms inscribed, he found them direct: no assaults permitted among them inside the Divine Palace, enforced via a spirit oath.

A Great Cultivator's spirit imprint caused their name to manifest upon it.

Li Shiming pondered the fallout of a false name; luckily, he had disclosed his real one earlier, sparing any issue.

After verifying the contract parchment held no deceptions, he imprinted his spirit too, whereupon 'Li Shiming' materialized on it.

One after another, the Great Cultivators imprinted their spirits on the parchment; once the final one did, it dissolved into seven golden rays that entered each of the seven Great Cultivators' bodies.

Li Shiming sensed the contract imprint settle. Rather than lodging it in his main brain, he directed it to a spare one.

Should he violate the terms, likely only that spare brain would endure the penalty.

This contract imprint forged a link among the seven Great Cultivators, easing all tensions.

Prior to this, mutual strikes lingered as a threat, but with the imprint secured, none dared brave the soul backlash from targeting fellow Great Cultivators.

"Mr. Li, your cultivation realm stands lowest—position yourself centrally. Brothers Ji and Liao take point ahead, you and the other three follow, Leng at rear!" Great Cultivator Shen Ze, wielding greatest authority among Peak Great Cultivators, assumed leadership.

The three righteous path Cultivators occupied the vanguard, the deadliest spot.

In truth, this was Li Shiming's assumption; judging by the devil path trio's grim looks, the backline offered no sanctuary either.

"Mr. Li, your Thunder Skill boasts the swiftest strikes with ample might. Kindly bear the brunt of any restriction assaults as best you can!" Righteous path Master Ji Chuan pivoted after forming up and implored Li Shiming.

"Rest assured, I'll hold the line with all my strength!" Li Shiming pledged resoundingly.

Through the contract, he now knew all six Great Cultivators' true names, revealed plainly in the imprint.