Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1750 - 921: Physical Body (2)

"Then I’ll trouble you!", Great Power Luo Yuan let out a deep sigh.

To enlist the aid of a half-step great power whose lifespan was nearing its end was an opportunity that arose only by chance.

"The sect has nurtured me, and I must, in turn, repay the sect. This shall be my final repayment!", Lian Lei declared with a serene smile.

Three days later, Su Tong, a Great Cultivator of the Yuqing Sect, departed quietly. He masked his identity and secured a ticket for a long-distance flying boat from Central State Commerce, ultimately leaving the West Yan Continent.

Meanwhile, Li Shiming’s phantom clone was situated within the Treasure Lotus Hall of the Heavenly Person Cave Heaven, leveraging the very environment where his original body, Li Shiming, cultivated.

Following a period of acclimatization, the Nascent Soul within the phantom clone’s energy-based form was undergoing a peculiar transmutation.

Upon noticing this development, Li Shiming permitted the phantom clone to take up residence in the Treasure Lotus Hall. He reasoned that the hall’s exceptionally concentrated Spiritual Energy would provide ample support for the phantom clone’s transformation.

The phantom clone, seated there, now felt entirely like a physical being, shedding the formerly ethereal sensation characteristic of an energy-based form.

Since the Nascent Soul had integrated into its body, it had not only supplied Spiritual Power but also generated a unique form of energy.

This special energy served to nourish the phantom clone’s body, catalyzing a significant metamorphosis of its entirely energy-based structure.

This transformation was unlike anything documented in ancient records. While Li Shiming was aware that a Nascent Soul could bolster a physical body, the alteration of a phantom clone’s fundamental nature into a corporeal form was an unprecedented discovery.

As the Nascent Soul within the phantom clone absorbed the ambient Spiritual Energy, an increasing quantity of this specialized energy was channeled into sustaining the developing body.

However, this newfound solidity introduced unforeseen complications. Previously, the phantom clone could manifest garments through energy manipulation; now, this was impossible, as the body possessed the distinct characteristics of a cultivator’s physical form.

To address this, Li Shiming procured a high-grade, fourth-rank robe for the phantom clone, thereby averting the potential embarrassment of being unclothed.

The phantom clone opened its eyes, rose, retrieved a flying sword from its soul crystal ring, and made a shallow incision on its arm.

A clean wound materialized on its limb, from which blood began to seep.

Collecting a sample of this blood and examining it with his Divine Sense, Li Shiming ascertained that it was a product of the Nascent Soul’s unique energy transformation and contained the essence of a Peak Great Cultivator. Crucially, this blood was distinctly different from his original body’s, proving it was not his own.

IBMz15’s analysis confirmed that this blood belonged to Great Cultivator Hua Ying, indicating the phantom clone’s entire physical form had been reconstructed based on Great Cultivator Hua Ying’s body.

Had the phantom clone’s visage not been fixed in the likeness of the original Li Shiming, it was plausible that its face, too, might have shifted to resemble Great Cultivator Hua Ying’s.

"What a marvelous transformation!", Li Shiming exclaimed, filled with awe.

Despite these bodily shifts deviating from his initial projections, the clone’s attainment of a physical form presented considerable advantages.

With the clone now possessing a physical body and a Nascent Soul, it had effectively become a Peak Great Cultivator.

This meant that, at least while his other clone, Li Yuanba, remained in secluded cultivation, this phantom clone could competently handle a multitude of tasks in his stead.

"Clone, how have you changed?", Yin Shilan inquired upon meeting the phantom clone, immediately recognizing it wasn’t the original Li Shiming.

"Lan’er, how did you discern it was me?", Li Shiming asked, surprised. He had assumed that once the phantom clone acquired a physical body, the visual differences between it and his original self would be minimal, yet Yin Shilan had identified him instantly.

"Shiming possesses an aura of natural tranquility, which the clone lacks. However, this time, upon meeting the clone, it exuded a faint trace of Water Element aura, reminiscent of a true cultivator!", Yin Shilan replied, a hint of bewilderment in her voice.

Li Shiming offered internal commendations for Yin Shilan’s keen perception. Given that she was likely the individual who understood him best within the Cultivation World, it was only natural for her to detect the subtle distinctions between the phantom clone and his original self.

As for the phantom clone’s hint of Water Element aura, it most likely originated from the physical form forged by Great Cultivator Hua Ying’s Nascent Soul.

Great Cultivator Hua Ying being a practitioner of the Water Element meant that the enhanced physical body’s energy would invariably carry a Water Element affinity.

To test this idea, Li Shiming had his phantom clone mingle with Master Hu and other esteemed Cultivators from the Ten Thousand Beast Sect; none of them, Master Hu included, could discern the phantom clone’s true nature.

Perhaps it was the phantom clone’s seemingly relaxed disposition that provided Master Hu with an opening.

Master Hu then tasked the phantom clone with exploring various regions across the Dongqi Continent, with Li Shiming’s backing ensuring any rebellious cultivators could be swiftly suppressed.

The current three branch sects were established precisely where the original three main sects once stood.

A portion of the cultivators who were once part of the three major sects were absorbed into the Ten Thousand Beast Sect. While this rapid expansion fostered the sect's growth, it also sowed seeds of potential future trouble.

In earlier times, Li Shiming would have remained detached from such matters, considering the internal affairs of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect inconsequential.

He believed that as long as his personal strength was formidable enough, the Ten Thousand Beast Sect would weather any significant storms.

However, the circumstances had changed. The phantom clone was now a perfect substitute for his original self. Given that even the higher echelons of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect perceived the phantom clone as his true form, undertaking tasks only required him to dedicate a single one of his 191 brains to puppet the phantom clone.

Esteemed Cultivator Su Tong arrived on the Dongqi Continent, and the Yuqing Sect was arranging for him to pose as an Independent Cultivator.

This guise did exist, although the specific Independent Cultivator in question was affiliated with the Yuqing Sect’s outer circle.

Upon disembarking from the long-distance flying boat operated by Central State Commerce, he didn’t draw undue attention, a benefit stemming from the sect's cordial relationship with the Ten Thousand Beast Sect.

Naturally, this lack of scrutiny was also partly due to the strained manpower of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, particularly the scarcity of Great Cultivators, which prevented them from dedicating their full focus to the Dongqi Continent after its subjugation.

The integration and governance of the Dongqi Continent represented a protracted, evolving endeavor, potentially requiring centuries to achieve complete assimilation and solidify the Ten Thousand Beast Sect’s dominion.

Great Cultivator Su Tong produced a communication tablet; it bore the contact details of his sole intelligence operative within the region, a point of contact established by the Yuqing Sect.

He swiftly procured some information from the tablet, a particular detail causing his eyes to gleam with anticipation.

Li Shizhen was slated to journey to the Sun Concealing Branch Sect alongside Master Hu, and he had extended invitations to several smaller and medium-sized nearby factions to convene at the Sun Concealing Branch Sect.

Great Cultivator Su Tong felt an overwhelming sense of fortune, as if the very cosmos conspired in his favor.

Prior to his arrival, he had thoroughly reviewed Li Shiming’s records, acknowledging his reputation as an exceptionally elusive cultivator.

He had contemplated various strategies for approaching Li Shiming, though the probability of success remained uncertain.

Rumor had it that even when the Guiyuan Sect encountered Li Shiming, it was only a clone they faced, let alone ordinary Great Cultivators.

"This is an opportunity you've practically handed me!" Great Cultivator Su Tong muttered under his breath.

Without delay, he set a course towards the Ten Thousand Beast Sect’s Sun Concealing Branch Sect, needing to make preparations before Li Shizhen’s arrival.

In truth, the moment he set foot on the Dongqi Continent, his presence was registered by the drone satellite surveillance system.

However, since Li Shiming no longer maintained heightened vigilance against common Great Cultivators, the appearance of a new Great Cultivator did not set off any alarms.

This lapse was not attributable to Li Shiming's negligence; in the vast Cultivation World, not only ordinary Great Cultivators but even Peak Great Cultivators paled in comparison to him; apart from the truly formidable Great Powers, he had virtually no one to regard with significant apprehension.

The majority of Li Shiming’s mental faculties were engrossed in the contemplation of profound realms, while upwards of ninety percent of IBMz15’s computational power was devoted to dissecting the intricacies of the ’Divine Perception Stele’.