Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1741 - 917: Captured

Great Cultivator Hua Ying perceived that the illusory clone of Li Shiming, employing its Thunder Skill, was incapable of breaching his defenses. This granted him the crucial moment needed to assess the predicament of Great Cultivator Yi Xiao.

The engagement on the other side had concluded, and he observed Great Cultivator Yi Xiao ensnared by four late-stage Golden Corpses, held fast by restrictive artifacts.

Despite the presence of six Great Cultivators by his side, the fierce battles waged at the apex of Great Cultivator power were far beyond their capacity to influence.

A realization dawned upon Great Cultivator Hua Ying: the illusory clone was the linchpin. The four late-stage Golden Corpses were manipulated by this clone, and perhaps its dissolution would weaken the control over the Golden Corpses.

With this strategic insight, he initiated an immediate assault aimed squarely at the illusory clone.

The illusory clone, utilizing its 'Limitless Horizon' ability, shifted instantaneously to another secure location within the oceanic expanse. Simultaneously, its 'Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer' unleashed a lightning bolt, hurtling towards Great Cultivator Hua Ying.

Great Cultivator Hua Ying opted not to evade. Instead, he produced a defensive artifact – an ice shield meticulously crafted from a Fourth Grade Top Ice Crystal. Upon activation, this artifact enveloped him in a shimmering layer of ice.

The lightning strike met the ice shield, posing negligible danger and failing even to impede Great Cultivator Hua Ying's momentum.

Yet, any sense of relief was short-lived. Great Cultivator Hua Ying felt a surge of unease, his anxiety mounting as he discovered the illusory clone possessed the formidable Divine Foot Skill.

Concurrently, although six Great Cultivators from the Bitao Sect had stepped forward to engage the four late-stage Golden Corpses, their efforts could only stall the powerful automatons for a mere two breaths.

He understood the dire necessity of neutralizing the illusory clone within these scant two breaths – an exceptionally brief timeframe, especially when confronting an adversary wielding the Divine Foot Skill.

Great Cultivator Hua Ying's aura abruptly intensified. The protective formation safeguarding the safe point, which had previously isolated the seawater, suddenly faltered. A torrent of ocean water surged inwards, morphing into his weaponized form as it swept towards the illusory clone.

Positioned beneath the sea, the safe point presented a significant environmental advantage. As a peak Great Cultivator specializing in the Water attribute, this battleground was supremely conducive to his strengths.

The illusory clone's brow furrowed slightly. Its Divine Foot Skill was confined to operation within the safe point's formation. This formation incorporated a spatial-shielding property, effectively preventing the clone from breaching it to employ its footwork technique.

This restriction drastically curtailed its maneuverability. Furthermore, the seawater now under Great Cultivator Hua Ying's command was rapidly constricting its available space.

"Annihilate him!" the illusory clone commanded internally.

Great Cultivator Hua Ying considered the Golden Winged Dapeng a mere mount. However, this particular Golden Winged Dapeng represented the most formidable entity within a collective of powerful Divine Beasts.

As the illusory clone issued its directive, the Golden Winged Dapeng erupted with blinding golden radiance. Two powerful wing beats unleashed a cascade of golden flying needles from its pinions.

These needles, meticulously forged from solidified Gold Element Spiritual Power and empowered by the Golden Winged Dapeng's innate Talent Ability, possessed terrifyingly potent penetrating capabilities.

The volleys of golden projectiles sliced through the seawater manipulated by Great Cultivator Hua Ying. Upon impacting the ice shield encasing him, they produced a cacophony of metallic clinks and clashes.

Despite their diminutive size, the sheer volume of golden needles was overwhelming. The relentless impacts forced Great Cultivator Hua Ying to involuntarily recoil.

In that precise moment, the Golden Winged Dapeng vanished from its prior position, its form instantly reappearing within the confines of Great Cultivator Hua Ying's protective ice shield.

The interior of the ice shield offered limited room. The Golden Winged Dapeng forcefully intruded, positioning itself in extremely close proximity to Great Cultivator Hua Ying.

Unlike the caught-off-guard Great Cultivator Hua Ying, the Golden Winged Dapeng was a master of close-quarters combat, a crucial battle strategy honed by formidable Divine Beasts.

Caught unprepared, Great Cultivator Hua Ying had not foreseen the Golden Winged Dapeng breaching the defensive barrier established by his artifact.

A piercing cry escaped his lips as the Golden Winged Dapeng's two pairs of razor-sharp talons clamped onto his shoulders. Its menacingly sharp beak poised to strike at his vulnerable body.

Great Cultivator Hua Ying possessed a potent life-saving Jade Talisman, complemented by a Water Escape Secret Technique. Being submerged in the sea provided access to a multitude of Water Secret Skills.

Yet, in this critical juncture, he found himself utterly helpless. Even within his oceanic domain, the Golden Winged Dapeng, though not inherently adapted to aquatic combat, pinned him with its talons. This physical restraint effectively negated his ability to deploy any techniques.

Witnessing the Golden Winged Dapeng's sharp beak descend, poised to strike Great Cultivator Hua Ying, it was clear that such an attack, given the Dapeng's immense power, would result in Great Cultivator Hua Ying's instant demise.

With unwavering resolve, the Great Cultivator Hua Ying, just as the Golden Winged Dapeng's beak was about to pierce his flesh, caused his Nascent Soul to emerge from his physical form.

The Nascent Soul of a Great Cultivator at their peak was remarkably substantial, their eyes blazing with both hatred and stark terror.

Emerging the Nascent Soul and forsaking the physical body represents the direst fallback for any Nascent Soul Cultivator.

Such a decision negates any future possibility of ascending to the Half-step Great Power realm; even if they were to reach the pinnacle of cultivation in the future, they would only revert to their current standing.

However, the Nascent Soul had no luxury of emotion; immediate departure was paramount.

The figure of the illusory clone flickered, momentarily obstructing the path of the escaping Nascent Soul.

A collision occurred between the Nascent Soul and the illusory clone's form; both being entities of pure energy, the impact was a clash of soul upon soul.

The illusory clone's soul energy was not particularly vast, and this impact caused considerable disturbance.

Yet, the illusory clone possessed formidable energy defense, distinct from the energy comprising the Nascent Soul. The energy within the illusory clone mimicked a cultivator's physical body, acting as a shield for the soul.

Conversely, the energy within the Nascent Soul was a composite of soul and spiritual energy, rendering the Nascent Soul exceedingly fragile.