Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1518 - 805: Primordial Origin_2

Entering the rift within the space barrier, he activated 'Stride to Heaven' anew, materializing just beyond the Taichu Sect's mountain entrance.

Following Li Shiming's assault on the White Emperor Sect's outpost, the Taichu Sect had entered a phase of intense vigilance.

Upon the space barrier suffering an impact, the Taichu Sect's senior figures promptly detected the alert and discerned from the barrier's response that the trespasser wielded Thunder Cultivation.

The Taichu Sect now boasted six Great Cultivators stationed within its bounds, and including the one from the White Emperor Sect, their forces totaled seven Great Cultivators.

These six Great Cultivators formed the unbreakable backbone of the Taichu Sect, and in such dire moments, secrecy held no value.

After Li Shiming's earlier raid on the White Emperor Sect's outpost, the Taichu Sect had roused every secluded Great Cultivator to guard against his potential strike.

"How dare he act with such recklessness?" Qi the Great Cultivator uttered in a grave tone.

To this day, he struggled to accept Li Shiming's sheer nerve.

Long ago, Li Shiming had attended his lectures at the Taichu Sect, and during that period, he had even offered personal instruction to the young cultivator.

No one could have foreseen that mere years later, ties between them would sour so completely, turning former allies into bitter foes.

And that once-frail cultivator had evolved into the Taichu Sect's greatest adversary.

"Don't underestimate him at all costs. We can't rule out that he's brought Master Pei along this time—remember, Master Pei obliterated the Fuliu Sect in the past, so stay wary of his tactics for sneaking in and causing chaos!" The Great Cultivator from the White Emperor Sect warned sharply.

At present, his fate intertwined with the Taichu Sect's in a do-or-die alliance; only if the Taichu Sect repelled Li Shiming's onslaught could he hope to endure.

Provided the Taichu Sect held firm against Li Shiming's offensive, he had already reached out to the White Emperor Sect, with Yan Gao the Great Cultivator en route from there.

Yet even traveling at utmost haste, Yan Gao the Great Cultivator would require almost a full month to arrive.

"The mountain gate stands fully sealed now, barring entry or exit even for our own sect members!" Qi the Great Cultivator declared, having meticulously reviewed reports on Li Shiming and Great Cultivator Luo Pei to devise countermeasures well in advance.

The seven Great Cultivators conversed while advancing swiftly toward the heart of the Taichu Sect Formation, a spot where they could harness its energies most effectively.

They never anticipated that upon reaching their stations, they would spot Li Shiming hovering in the emptiness beyond the mountain gate, poised and awaiting their arrival.

The journey from the sect interior to the formation's nucleus covered a mere short span, and thanks to recent defenses against Li Shiming's sudden incursions, every Great Cultivator lingered in readiness, primed to respond at the slightest provocation.

Nevertheless, the seven Great Cultivators proved slower still than Li Shiming.

"Li Shizhen pays respects to Qi the Great Cultivator!" Spotting Qi the Great Cultivator, Li Shiming offered no slight despite the sects' enmity and inclined his head in a formal bow.

His gesture mimicked a disciple's obeisance, conveying thanks for the guidance Qi the Great Cultivator had imparted years before.

"Li Shizhen, in those days when you sat under my lessons, I too reaped insights in return, so no debts linger between us!" Qi the Great Cultivator exhaled heavily and dismissed the notion with a gesture.

Qi the Great Cultivator knew full well that old affections meant nothing amid the fierce grudge dividing the two mighty sects.

Neither he nor Li Shiming could forsake their sect's vendetta for the sake of bygone mentorship.

"Qi the Great Cultivator, you could still depart at this juncture—lead your followers away from the Dongqi Continent entirely!" Li Shiming stated solemnly.

"Senior Brother, seize this chance; escort the sect's promising talents and flee!" Before Qi the Great Cultivator could reply to Li Shiming's suggestion, a nearby Great Cultivator urged him quietly.

Of the assembled Great Cultivators, only the one from the White Emperor Sect desired Qi the Great Cultivator to remain, while the others all implored him to evacuate with the sect's future hopes.

Li Shiming's incursion struck with unforeseen swiftness, leaving the Taichu Sect no opportunity to enact contingency measures.

Should the sect fall in this clash, no possibility would remain to resurrect the Taichu Sect from its ashes.

"Spare your words of persuasion—I was raised within these walls, and I vow to stand or perish alongside the sect!" Qi the Great Cultivator affirmed with unyielding determination.

His declaration served as both rebuttal to his sect mates and direct retort to Li Shiming.

Li Shiming steadied his feelings gradually, his gaze turning cold and devoid of warmth, as the thunderous energy encircling him intensified.

The essence of the 'Yuqing Thunder Scripture', refined through the 'Heavenly Human Technique', far outstripped the presence of fellow Great Cultivators at his level, instantly bearing down on the seven Taichu Sect Great Cultivators with overwhelming force.

"This can't be real—he's only been cultivating for a short while; how does he possess such formidable presence? Even in the Yuqing Sect, just a handful of Great Cultivators could match or exceed it!" The White Emperor Sect's Great Cultivator murmured in disbelief.

He knew the Yuqing Sect intimately, and the instant he felt Li Shiming's 'Yuqing Thunder Scripture' emanation, he identified its source.

Yet Li Shiming's youth was undeniable, scarcely past a century in age; even assuming he emerged as a Great Cultivator from birth, his practice spanned little more than a hundred years.

Among Great Cultivators, such brief tenure marked one as the most novice and vulnerable.

However, the 'Yuqing Thunder Scripture' aura Li Shiming displayed rivaled that of a Great Cultivator with five centuries of refinement, and faintly, a fiercer force lurked within his thunderous presence.

"Keep talking to him, buy some time—our cultivators aren't all inside the formation yet!" In that moment, another Great Cultivator cautioned softly.

"Li Shizhen, by striking the White Emperor Sect's outpost, slaying two of my elders, and massacring almost a hundred brethren, have you steeled yourself for the White Emperor Sect's retribution?" The White Emperor Sect's Great Cultivator bellowed.

Li Shiming cast a look toward the White Emperor Sect's Great Cultivator, his 'God Eye' engaged as his natal artifact IBMz15 dissected the Taichu Sect formation completely, unveiling every hidden aspect; he detected its ongoing fortification.

Without uttering a word, the Taichu Sect's members funneled into the formation, channeling vast spiritual energy to bolster its might.

"As for the White Emperor Sect's vengeance, send Yan Gao after me—I'll grant him an even duel!" Li Shiming feigned ignorance of the Taichu Sect formation's developments and replied casually.

The White Emperor Sect's Great Cultivator recoiled in surprise, unprepared for Li Shiming's bold claim.

He found it inconceivable that Li Shiming remained oblivious to Yan Gao the Great Cultivator's fame. Beyond Yan Gao's exploits across the Dongqi Continent, even on the Central State Continent, he ranked among the elite Great Cultivators known for relentless quests and widespread acclaim.

For a fleeting instant, he considered relaying Li Shiming's provocation back to the White Emperor Sect to deter Yan Gao from hastening to the Dongqi Continent. Regrettably, no window existed to access the Communication Array at present.

Even with a means to reach the White Emperor Sect, Yan Gao, adrift at sea, might struggle to catch their transmission; he'd have to land on the Dongqi Continent first and tap into the Communication Array to link with the White Emperor Sect on the West Yan Continent.

"Oh right, you lack the means to reach the White Emperor Sect—I'll handle delivering the word myself!" Li Shiming let out a soft laugh and remarked.

"Li Shizhen, you're belittling the White Emperor Sect—you'll regret this dearly!" The White Emperor Sect's Great Cultivator, sensing the affront, thundered in fury.

In this exchange, he also unleashed his pent-up frustrations; deep down, he suspected this rift with the Ten Thousand Beast Sect could spell grave peril for the White Emperor Sect.

"Enough—every cultivator has assumed their posts; the formation operates at peak efficiency!" Earlier, a Taichu Sect Great Cultivator had whispered.

Several Great Cultivators sensed a surge of confidence, convinced they had cleverly outmaneuvered Li Shiming.

"Li Shizhen must have let us get ready on purpose, much like what happened at the White Emperor Sect's outpost!" Just then, Master Qiao shook his head with a bitter grin.

With Li Shiming arriving ahead of the Taichu Sect's Great Cultivators yet forgoing the prime moment to launch a preemptive blow, lingering until all seven gathered and even engaging in talk, it clearly showed his plan to allow the Taichu Sect complete readiness before the confrontation.