Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1713 - 903: State of Mind

With Little Feng, who had shrunk its form, perched on his shoulder and the Illusion Spirit Dragon condensed into a bracelet, Li Shiming mounted the Golden Winged Dapeng.

The Golden Winged Dapeng, finding joy in flight, readily bore its master through the skies.

Meanwhile, Little Feng and the Illusion Spirit Dragon preferred to remain close to Li Shiming by adopting smaller forms.

Approximately every ten breaths, the Golden Winged Dapeng would execute a spatial shift. While the distance covered by each shift was modest, amounting to several hundred miles, its incredible flight speed ensured its travel was comparable to a late-stage Golden Corpse utilizing the 'Speed Rule Imprint.'

When its spatial movements were factored in, the Golden Winged Dapeng's velocity actually surpassed that of a late-stage Golden Corpse.

This sustained aerial journey taken by the Golden Winged Dapeng was not fleeting; its flight capabilities were virtually limitless.

Legend dictated that the Golden Winged Dapeng, throughout its entire existence, never once touched the ground with its feet. The heavens were its domain, and flying was as innate to it as breathing is to mortals.

Li Shiming, perpetually cautious, had never experienced such a profound sense of ease.

He paid no heed to any formidable cultivators; even within the Cloud Island Sea, a region seemingly rife with adversaries, he felt unconcerned.

As a cultivator who had reached the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul Realm, he harbored no fear of other great cultivators. Even a swarm of them attempting to overwhelm him would prove futile.

It could be asserted that from the moment he attained the peak of the Great Cultivator Realm, he stood as the most powerful cultivator below the ranks of the great powers and half-step great powers throughout the Cultivation World.

Possessing the certainty of a teleportation ring, enabling instantaneous travel, he was confident in his ability to escape unharmed even when confronting a great power.

Furthermore, having resolved to undertake certain actions, he no longer held back his ambitions.

This time, he forewent his mask, and his aura reverted to that of a Thunder Cultivator, displaying the aspect of himself that vied for resources within the Divine Palace.

Though the Cloud Island Sea spanned an immense area, his conspicuous flight, particularly aboard the divine beast-level spiritual pet, the Golden Winged Dapeng, attracted the notice of every cultivator they encountered.

Even after the passage of several decades, the Cloud Island Sea had not forgotten Li Shiming, nor had it forgotten the fearsome Thunder Cultivator who had brought down several Peak Great Cultivators.

The back of the Golden Winged Dapeng offered remarkable stability, and the beast utilized its own energy to provide a protective cocoon, allowing Li Shiming to travel at high speeds while leisurely sipping Spiritual Tea.

He had consulted a map and shared its details with the Golden Winged Dapeng.

Possessing a keen sensitivity to charts, the Golden Winged Dapeng, after cross-referencing various islands, formed a comprehensive mental representation of the Cloud Island Sea.

The outer regions of the Cloud Island Sea were controlled by a multitude of medium and large-scale factions. Only by navigating through these periphery territories could one gain access to the six super forces. These paramount powers, strategically positioned across the six cardinal directions of the Cloud Island Sea, served as the guardians of the largest human settlement within its expanse.

Unsurprisingly, the central domains of the Cloud Island Sea were also demarcated among these six super forces, each fiercely protecting its own vested interests.

Li Shiming's objective lay within the territories controlled by these six super forces, but the specific faction he would confront would be determined by the prevailing circumstances upon his arrival.

Despite achieving the zenith of the Great Cultivator Realm, he harbored no immediate desire to ascend to the level of a half-step great power.

On one hand, he felt inadequately prepared, not in terms of material wealth, of which he possessed an abundance.

His Heavenly Mechanism Treasures were complete, and he had also secured sufficient resources for advancing to a half-step great power from the half-step great powers of the Yuzhu Islands, more than enough for his needs.

However, what he lacked was the practical experience required for advancing to a half-step great power through the 'Heavenly Human Technique,' along with a solidified theoretical comprehension.

Given the unique nature of the 'Heavenly Human Technique,' his prospects of acquiring advancement experience were exceedingly slim, as this cultivation technique was recently developed.

Moreover, the training prerequisites for the 'Heavenly Human Technique' were exceptionally demanding. Even if some remnants of its legacy existed elsewhere, finding advancement experience for a half-step great power seemed highly improbable.

Nevertheless, he awaited the outcomes of his life-bound treasure, IBMz15's, ongoing research concerning the 'Divine Perception Stele.'

Alternatively, upon the next opening of the Divine Palace, he could re-enter its confines to meditate once more before the 'Divine Perception Stele.'

Both paths presented a viable option; the IBMz15 merely needed one significant advancement in its study of the ’Divine Perception Stele’ to manifest a virtual, digital replica.

Should the IBMz15 falter in achieving this research breakthrough within the span of two to three centuries, he would then contemplate a return to the Divine Palace.

A mere two to three hundred years of waiting within the Peak Great Cultivator Realm posed no significant challenge. At just past two centuries old, he was still considered youthful amongst the established Great Cultivators of the Cultivation World.

To put it in perspective, the Peak Great Cultivators themselves had each spent over a millennium in cultivation to attain their current elevated status.

Another compelling factor dissuading an immediate ascent to the half-step great power stage was his insufficient personal accumulation.

While the spiritual power coursing through his five Nascent Souls had indeed reached its zenith, he sensed that these Nascent Souls had not yet attained their ultimate potential. This necessitated prolonged accumulation, a gradual merging of the spiritual power throughout his being, and a careful harmonization of his inner state of mind.

Under typical circumstances, once a cultivator achieved the Peak Great Cultivator Realm, they would commence the arduous task of resource acquisition. This could be accomplished either through dedicated service to their sect or by venturing into perilous territories for lucrative rewards.

Fortunately, Li Shiming found himself unburdened by such concerns. His resources were already secured, leaving him free to focus solely on refining his mindset and attuning the spiritual power within his body.