Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1752 - 922: Captured_2

For a moment, even the phantom division was thrown off guard, and the activation of the 'World at Your Fingertips' was delayed, rendering it unable to evade the colossal hand in time.

The massive hand enveloped the phantom division and then drew it through the spatial gate.

The entire sequence of events unfolded with blinding speed. Grandmaster Hu and Grandmaster Chai found themselves utterly suppressed by the formidable pressure emanating from the giant hand. By the time they recovered their senses, the phantom division had already vanished.

"Shizhen!" Grandmaster Hu cried out in alarm.

He had intended to strike at Master Su Tong, but the four late-stage Golden Corpses were swifter. The phantom division, initially just thirty meters from Master Su Tong, was essentially within reach given the velocity of a late-stage Golden Corpse.

Before Master Su Tong could unleash his hidden power, the four late-stage Golden Corpses were already upon him.

The half-step Great Power, Lian Lei, was occupied with the phantom division at that very moment. He had not anticipated the external conflict concluding so swiftly, with Master Su Tong's strength failing to endure even a single breath.

Master Su Tong's physical form and Nascent Soul were instantly annihilated by the assault of the four late-stage Golden Corpses.

In a move that none foresaw, two of the late-stage Golden Corpses seized Grandmaster Hu and Grandmaster Chai, respectively, and made a rapid retreat from the main hall.

Simultaneously, the remaining two late-stage Golden Corpses produced Fourth Grade Array Flags. They scattered several of these flags onto the ground, establishing a Formation centered around Master Su Tong's demise.

At this juncture, it was no longer the Golden Corpses acting independently but rather Li Shiming's four consciousnesses directing them. He had assumed control of the four late-stage Golden Corpses the instant the phantom division came under attack.

Li Shiming immediately identified the sudden appearance of the large hand as an offensive maneuver from a half-step Great Power. Having previously endured such an attack, he understood precisely how to counter it.

A half-step Great Power cannot depart their Grotto Heaven unaccompanied; the Grotto Heaven itself must be transported by a cultivator. Without this, the Grotto Heaven's anchor point cannot be freely relocated.

Li Shiming was adept at dealing with the anchor points of a half-step Great Power's Grotto Heaven. By employing a spatial formation, he could effectively sever the spatial link between the Grotto Heaven and the outside world.

Admittedly, the efficacy of a hastily erected spatial formation was transient. However, it was sufficient to isolate the half-step Great Power for a brief period, allowing him to extract Grandmaster Hu and Grandmaster Chai.

Once they were beyond the reach of the half-step Great Power's offensive capabilities, the formidable entity would be rendered incapable of harming them.

On the scene, Li Shiming's sole concern was the welfare of Grandmaster Hu and Grandmaster Chai; he remained indifferent to the safety of the other cultivators.

Based on his comprehension of a half-step Great Power's limitations, he deliberately hoped the half-step Great Power would focus its attention on the remaining cultivators. Every exertion on the half-step Great Power's part would deplete its strength.

"Master, it is Shizhen. Grant me control of the Sun Concealing Sect Array!" a late-stage Golden Corpse commanded Grandmaster Hu in a deep baritone.

Grandmaster Hu relinquished a jade token to the late-stage Golden Corpse without a moment's hesitation. These late-stage Golden Corpses were the product of Li Shiming's Corpse Refining techniques; only he possessed the ability to command them. Li Shiming's request was thus non-negotiable.

"What is your current status? Are you in peril?" Grandmaster Hu inquired further, his tone laced with concern.

Both he and Grandmaster Chai cast watchful glances toward the late-stage Golden Corpse, acutely aware that Li Shiming's continued safety was paramount to the future of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect.

Should Li Shiming encounter misfortune, the ramifications would extend far beyond mere control of the Dongqi Continent; the very survival of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect would hang in the balance.

The sect's current reliance rested entirely upon Li Shiming's formidable strength.

"It is merely my phantom division. My true self remains at the Ten Thousand Beast Sect's mountain gate!" the late-stage Golden Corpse clarified to Grandmaster Hu as he expertly manipulated the jade token.

Grandmaster Hu harbored no resentment regarding Li Shiming's earlier deception. Instead, he felt a profound sense of relief that it was only a phantom division and not Li Shiming himself.

Regarding the phantom division's capacity to impersonate Li Shiming's actual presence, Grandmaster Hu entertained no doubts. He understood his own cultivation level was vastly insufficient to grasp the profound abilities of Li Shiming, a Peak Great Cultivator.

"Should this phantom division be annihilated, would it significantly impact you?" he inquired, a critical realization dawning upon him as he continued his questioning.

"My strength will only be impacted by less than one percent!" The late-stage Golden Corpse considered for a moment before giving its reply.

This response was not entirely accurate; according to IBMz15, the actual impact would be one out of one hundred and ninety-one. Losing just the spiritual aspect of the phantom division would feel like a grievous wound to his soul, causing a significant decline in all abilities.

However, given that Li Shiming possessed one hundred and ninety-one brains, the loss of a single one translated to an impact of merely one in one hundred and ninety-one.

As Grandmaster Hu and Grandmaster Chai’s anxieties began to subside, Li Shiming, through the late-stage Golden Corpse, activated and manipulated the Sun Concealing Sect Array. This action imposed a further spatial blockade upon Master Su Tong’s location.

This spatial obstruction was more than sufficient to completely isolate that Grotto Heaven anchor point.

If only Li Shiming’s true self were present, accompanied by the essential treasures for formations, such intricate maneuvering would not have been necessary.

Within the Grotto Heaven belonging to the half-step Great Power Lian Lei, after the phantom division was ensnared by the colossal hand, Li Shiming observed the venerable half-step Great Power Lian Lei.

"Are you Li Shizhen?" the half-step Great Power Lian Lei inquired dubiously, gazing at the phantom division.

The phantom division, held fast by the immense hand, displayed a formidable Spiritual Power Pattern. However, the claim that it could effortlessly vanquish numerous Peak Great Cultivators seemed somewhat exaggerated.

At its present stage, the division's combat prowess was, at best, on par with that of an average Peak Great Cultivator, with little to spare.

Consequently, the half-step Great Power Lian Lei harbored some uncertainty regarding whether the captured Peak Great Cultivator was indeed Li Shizhen.

"Before you question me, don't you believe you should introduce yourself first?" the phantom division retorted coolly.

Despite being apprehended by the half-step Great Power Lian Lei, the phantom division exhibited minimal apprehension. Being merely a phantom division, its destruction would only signify the loss of the spirit from one brain.

These were not irretrievable injuries. It would merely require a period of recuperation to fully reclaim the lost brain’s spirit by practicing the 'Heavenly Human Technique'.

Most crucially, this phantom division served as a shield, protecting Li Shiming’s actual self from an almost certain catastrophe.

During his previous encounter with the half-step Great Power Yang Xing, Li Shiming had been fortunate; Yang Xing had succumbed to berserk rage, leading to his defeat at Li Shiming's hands.

This current situation was markedly different. The half-step Great Power Lian Lei before him, despite his aged demeanor, possessed a cultivation and realm far exceeding that of Yang Xing.

The phantom division scrutinized the environment within the Grotto Heaven. It observed a prevalent motif of lightning, with dense clouds blanketing the sky and the rules of thunder exerting suppression over the entire Grotto Heaven.

Regrettably, this Grotto Heaven appeared desolate to the division, akin to a world teetering on the precipice of annihilation.

A dawning realization struck the division. It surmised that this was likely the impetus behind the half-step Great Power Lian Lei’s journey to the Dongqi Continent, seeking an opportune moment to act.

A half-step Great Power nearing the twilight of his existence has nothing left to lose, to the extent of even expending energy on futile attacks.

"Such immense courage! I am Lian Lei of the Yuqing Sect!" The half-step Great Power Lian Lei offered praise rather than anger, subsequently introducing himself.

"Li Shizhen of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect greets Daoist Lian!" The phantom division inclined its head slightly, a gesture constrained by the grip of the large hand.

"You are already my captive. I have several inquiries for you, and I trust you will provide honest answers," the half-step Great Power Lian Lei stated with a tone of solemnity upon confirming the division’s identity.

"Wait a moment. Before you declare me your prisoner, perhaps you should ascertain the situation outside this Grotto Heaven!" The phantom division subtly urged, a faint smile playing on its lips.

The half-step Great Power Lian Lei was visibly startled. He hastily examined the exterior of the Grotto Heaven, only to discover that the Grotto Heaven anchor point had been sealed.

He attempted to breach the seal but found that the Grotto Heaven’s connection to the outside world depended upon the spatial anchor point. With this now sealed, accurate targeting of the exterior for an attack became impossible.

Naturally, with sustained effort, his intimate familiarity with the Grotto Heaven would eventually reveal the location of the spatial anchor point seal, enabling him to utilize his energy to shatter it.