Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1364 - 728: Captured (Part 2)

Li Yuanba's heart plummeted as the formidable pressure emanating from Great Cultivator Duan Zhang's Great Cultivator Realm bore down relentlessly.

Finding resistance futile, he briefly contemplated before abandoning his fierce struggle.

A faint smile graced Great Cultivator Duan Zhang's lips; a bolt of electricity struck Li Yuanba, manifesting as a thunder rune that penetrated his body, effectively sealing Li Yuanba's Nascent Soul.

Li Yuanba's Nascent Soul became immobilized, its inner Spiritual Power Pattern and spirit completely sealed, rendering him akin to a mere mortal.

Great Cultivator Duan Zhang, not yet finished, unleashed a chain that swiftly encircled Li Yuanba, binding him tightly.

This particular chain possessed spirit-restricting properties, specifically designed for the imprisonment of Nascent Soul Cultivators.

These dual restrictions showcased Great Cultivator Duan Zhang's considerable regard for Li Yuanba—one magical spell for imprisonment and one magical artifact for restraint—ensuring that even if Li Yuanba possessed special capabilities, he could not activate them at this critical juncture.

Great Cultivator Duan Zhang then dissipated the 'Cage of Electric Light.' Despite having set up a Concealing Array, such proximity to the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion meant that even a minor leakage of aura could cause significant trouble, even for a Great Cultivator.

Although the esteemed masters of Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion rarely ventured out, any disturbance in their vicinity might prompt them to investigate.

With the 'Cage of Electric Light' dispelled, Great Cultivator Duan Zhang approached Li Yuanba.

His Divine Sense swept across Li Yuanba's form, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Li Yuanba's spatial items and natal magical artifacts were all integrated into his Nascent Soul through an energy transformation process.

The most straightforward method for Great Cultivator Duan Zhang to acquire Li Yuanba's soul crystal ring and natal artifact would be to simply kill him.

However, the White Emperor Sect had explicitly stipulated that Li Yuanba must remain alive, and Great Cultivator Duan Zhang had already received substantial compensation; thus, killing Li Yuanba was not an option at this time.

Naturally, had he known Li Yuanba possessed two Spiritual Treasures or the sheer quantity of Great Cultivator Spirit Pills and Spirit Medicine contained within Li Yuanba's soul crystal ring, he might have disregarded the benefits offered by the White Emperor Sect.

Li Yuanba's personal wealth surpassed that of ordinary Great Cultivators, particularly the magical artifacts he possessed, which could rival those of true masters.

Typically, masters possess only one Spiritual Treasure, yet Li Yuanba commanded two.

Reluctant to slay Li Yuanba at this moment, Great Cultivator Duan Zhang's form flickered, transforming into a streak of electricity and vanishing into the distance.

Mere moments after his departure, Great Cultivator Luo Pei arrived at the scene.

Great Cultivator Luo Pei glanced in the direction Great Cultivator Duan Zhang had taken; at his current speed, catching up was an impossibility.

Meanwhile, within Treasure Lotus Hall, Li Shiming meticulously converged his Cultivation Technique, requiring some time to conclude his cultivation of the 'Heavenly Human Technique.'

A burning fury consumed his heart, as the Yuqing Sect had repeatedly caused him trouble.

The 'Shenxiao Thunder Pearl' incident had forced him into this predicament, and he had never anticipated the Yuqing Sect extending its reach to his clone, Li Yuanba.

He had no concerns about locating Great Cultivator Duan Zhang; he and his clone, Li Yuanba, shared an interdimensional awareness that transcended space and distance.

Regardless of his clone Li Yuanba's whereabouts, as long as he remained within the Cultivation World, even within a secluded grotto heaven, Li Shiming could sense his precise location.

Especially now, being on the Central State Continent, where he had deployed a drone satellite system overhead.

The drone satellite system had already locked onto Great Cultivator Duan Zhang's rapidly moving position; for Li Shiming, Great Cultivator Duan Zhang's location was utterly transparent.

After approximately a cup of tea's time, Li Shiming concluded his cultivation, his figure shimmering as he exited the Heavenly Person Cave Heaven into the exterior world.

With a mere wave of his hand, Great Cultivator Luo Pei was drawn into the Heavenly Person Cave Heaven.

He executed the 'Swift Ascent,' converting the Heavenly Person Chaos Energy within him into the energy required for the 'Swift Ascent' Divine Skill. Due to this energy containing spatial rules, its consumption during execution was significantly reduced.

This allowed him to freely perform 'Swift Ascent' for a short duration without fearing excessive energy depletion.

At his current realm, using 'Swift Ascent' within a two-hour period would not substantially impact his combat prowess; beyond that timeframe, his internal energy would drop below optimal levels.

His 'Divine Eye' had undergone significant enhancement under the blessing of 'Heavenly Human Technique' energy, extending his sight range to eight thousand miles.

This extended his maximum space movement distance for 'Swift Ascent' to eight thousand miles, instilling confidence that he could catch Great Cultivator Duan Zhang, even after being delayed by a cup of tea.

Furthermore, his Divine Sense range had transformed, expanding from the three-kilometer radius of the Nascent Soul Early Stage to an eight-kilometer radius, now that his realm had recovered to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

This range was two to three times that of typical Nascent Soul Middle Stage Practitioners, enabling him to launch preemptive attacks against enemies before they could retaliate.

Li Shiming's figure flickered repeatedly, utilizing five minds to simultaneously execute 'Swift Ascent,' allowing for almost continuous spatial movement spanning forty thousand miles.

He didn't require the full two-hour period; within less than an hour, his 'Divine Eye' caught sight of Great Cultivator Duan Zhang.

Great Cultivator Duan Zhang, clutching Li Yuanba in one hand, was employing Thunder Escape to travel, confident that his Great Cultivator aura would deter any cultivator from interfering.

His plan was to first return to a secret base of the Yuqing Sect on the Central State Continent, then notify the White Emperor Sect of the completed mission.

Afterward, he would disengage from the matter entirely, heading directly back to the West Yan Continent.

By the time Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion discovered Li Yuanba's disappearance, he would already be over the ocean; as for the Chongxiao Pavilion finding Li Yuanba, that would be an issue between Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion and the White Emperor Sect.

While lost in thought, he sensed a deeply familiar aura, compelling him to look toward its source.

The reason this aura was so unforgettable was that it belonged to an individual wanted by the Yuqing Sect, designated as a primary target by their masters.

Similar to Li Yuanba for the White Emperor Sect, Li Shiming was the Yuqing Sect's foremost fugitive.

Coincidentally, Great Cultivator Duan Zhang, along with numerous Yuqing Sect Thunder Cultivators, had remained on the Central State Continent, all in pursuit of Li Shiming.

"Such fortune!" Great Cultivator Duan Zhang murmured to himself.

He spotted Li Shiming, who was now nearby.

Li Shiming had refrained from using 'Swift Ascent' during the final stretch.

Li Yuanba was held in Great Cultivator Duan Zhang's hand; should a battle erupt, given Li Yuanba's body with its sealed Spiritual Power Pattern and spirit, even a minor shockwave could prove fatal.

Li Shiming inherently understood the Yuqing Sect's intense desire to apprehend him; by revealing himself, he believed Great Cultivator Duan Zhang would undoubtedly be tempted.

Great Cultivator Duan Zhang was, indeed, tempted; capturing Li Shiming would certainly earn him favor with the Yuqing Sect's masters.

He produced a Spirit Pet Bag, placing Li Yuanba inside.

He then hung the Spirit Pet Bag at his waist, concerned about accidentally killing Li Yuanba; though somewhat undignified, this was the safest approach.

Li Shiming observed Great Cultivator Duan Zhang placing Li Yuanba into the Spirit Pet Bag, recognizing that Great Cultivator Duan Zhang was preparing to engage.

Through the drone satellite system, he assessed the surrounding situation, discovering many cultivators nearby, particularly an important market from Central State Commerce not far off.

He neither wished for his existence to be discovered by other cultivators nor wanted them to witness his combat capabilities.

He feigned just noticing Great Cultivator Duan Zhang, then turned to flee, his figure transforming into an electric flash and escaping into the distance.

Great Cultivator Duan Zhang could not permit Li Shiming to escape, thus activating Thunder Escape to pursue him.

Both utilized Thunder Escape, maintaining a distance of tens of miles between them.

Theoretically, Great Cultivator Duan Zhang, as a Great Cultivator, should possess an absolute advantage in Thunder Escape speed, yet he found the distance between himself and Li Shiming was closing at a remarkably slow pace.