Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1528 - 810: Battle, Part 2
Previously on Cultivation is just so scientific!...
As raindrops descended, they morphed into sharp ice needles, striking the whole region without distinction.
"Impressive technique!" Li Shiming couldn't suppress his admiration. Spells of such vast scope and immense strength fall outside the usual spell framework; they emerge from a peak-level Great Cultivator's profound grasp of rules and advanced spell refinement.
His own insight into rules remained too limited, preventing him from unleashing massive, potent spells like those of Master Ren Mu.
Still, he possessed his own counter, firing up ten brains simultaneously and unleashing 'Thunder Cloud Skill.'
'Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer' shimmered brightly, while the sky's thunderclouds grew pitch-black like ink, crackling with endless lightning essence inside them.
The ten instances of 'Thunder Cloud Skill' were building toward a massive release, and the flashing lightning essence was also eroding the core clouds of the 'Cloud Dispersal' spell.
"You have great skills too!" Master Ren Mu responded with equal surprise.
He understood Li Shiming's capabilities well; even if Li Shiming had stumbled upon lucky breaks that boosted his offensive might, the core rules of a Great Cultivator couldn't advance rapidly in mere moments.
Lacking a solid command of rules, no one could wield the distinctive, mighty spells of a Great Cultivator.
But Li Shiming took an alternate path: a single spell might fall short, yet ten could surpass the mark.
His water-element flying sword slashed once more, summoning endless mists from the ocean depths.
He owed thanks to Li Shiming for picking this ideal battlefield, letting him, a water-element Great Cultivator, execute such aquatic sorcery with far less effort.
By now, the clouds from 'Cloud Dispersal' had been scattered by the thunderclouds of the ten 'Thunder Cloud Skills,' leaving just the thunderclouds dominating the heavens.
Those thunderclouds had gathered sufficient thunder essence, and jagged lightning bolts crashed down toward the earth.
Most of the strikes aimed at Master Ren Mu, who sensed their ferocity and swiftly turned into a flowing stream of water, invoking Water Escape.
With the whole zone shrouded in mist, his Water Escape let him glide effortlessly through it, hard for anyone to pinpoint his real form.
The lightning showed no patience. Without locking onto the exact mark, it hammered the misty expanse without restraint.
When it clashed with the mist, the lightning burst into myriad electric arcs inside, igniting the misty zone with blinding white flares.
Each lightning strike on the mist sparked a burst of glaring white brilliance, turning the entire misty field into a glowing spectacle at the height of the barrage.
Li Shiming could clearly spot Master Ren Mu, thanks to 'Divine Foot Skill'; mere mist posed no barrier to his vision.
He had observed Master Ren Mu's reactions to the lightning onslaught, darting nonstop through the mist to dodge the huge bolts from 'Thunder Cloud Skill,' and during the fiercest lightning storms, linking up with the ocean via the mist.
No matter its potency, his 'Thunder Cloud Skill' could barely harm Master Ren Mu once he merged with the sea.
Of course, if he pushed to his limits, he had ways to deal with Master Ren Mu.
Yet this clash, he aimed to test his Thunder Cultivator prowess in straight-up battle against Master Ren Mu, avoiding other tricks; it gauged his true fighting strength.
Besides, he held a positive view of Master Ren Mu, harboring no desire to end his life—that mattered most.
Hovering in the empty sky, 'Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer' pulsed with light, and he unleashed 'Thunder Fall Skill' repeatedly, this round employing several brains to alternate the casts of 'Thunder Fall Skill.'
Every 'Thunder Fall Skill' drew power from the Shenxiao Thunder Pearl in the machine room space.
'Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer' hurled lightning nonstop, and these focused blasts proved stronger and simpler to direct than the scattered strikes from 'Thunder Cloud Skill.'
Master Ren Mu noticed the 'Thunder Cloud Skill's' force waning, realizing it neared its close.
He executed Water Escape to rise above the sea's surface, only to face an incoming lightning bolt right away.
Luckily, mist enveloped everything, requiring no gathering, and a barrier of seawater formed before him.
Not fully confident, he layered on two additional shields crafted from water.
With a resounding 'boom,' the rule-infused water shield shattered effortlessly—not merely one, but all three crumbled.
Keeping up Water Escape and detecting danger, he dodged swiftly amid the mist.
As he maneuvered through the haze, fresh lightning assaults struck, compelling another evasion.
After dodging 'Thunder Fall Skill' strikes thrice, he began to feel the strain.
Out of choices, he triggered Water Escape anew, plunging back into the sea, where lightning kept plummeting over the waves, its force piercing the depths to target his escaping water form.
Thankfully, the seawater greatly weakened the lightning, scattering it in the ocean and limiting its reach.
Li Shiming halted his assault, gazing at Master Ren Mu submerged in the sea, understanding the fight couldn't go on.
Master Ren Mu proved too slippery; would Li Shiming truly have to deploy 'Divine Foot Skill' for speeds that outpaced Water Escape, then unleash 'Chaos Sword Intent' on him?
"Let’s not fight anymore; I concede!" Master Ren Mu declared plainly, accepting the shame of his evasive style, sending his surrender via Spiritual Power Pattern.
"Then, let’s stop fighting!" Li Shiming replied, stowing away 'Heavenly Strike Thunder Hammer.'
From afar, observing the duel, Master Liu Ziyun stood stunned, his mouth nearly agape.
Though the showdown between the two Great Cultivators lasted briefly, they both unleashed staggering battle might; he doubted he could endure even one blow.
Li Shiming's prowess, in particular, surpassed his wildest guesses.
He'd long viewed Li Shiming as formidable, yet a step below Peak Great Cultivator Ren Mu.
But now, witnessing the end of Li Shiming versus Master Ren Mu with Ren Mu yielding.
Should word of this leak out, it would undoubtedly rattle the whole cultivation realm.
Plus, with Li Shiming backing Ten Thousand Beast Sect, securing the biggest slice of Dongqi Continent's resources would pose no issue.
Armed with Peak Great Cultivator-level fighting strength, Ten Thousand Beast Sect earned the right to claim the prime portion of Dongqi Continent's bounty.
"Seems I must hurry those traded goods over; building ties with Mr. Li is key, given his promising path ahead!" Master Liu Ziyun pondered.
Li Shiming's years were truly few, even for Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivators.
Yet he stood as a full Great Cultivator, boasting battle might rivaling a Peak Great Cultivator.
This suggested Li Shiming outshone other Peak Great Cultivators in chances of ascending to Mahayana Realm.
True to a merchant's instinct, one backs the cultivator with brightest prospects; Li Shiming topped the list.
"Mr. Li, your Thunder Skill could leave Yuqing Sect green with envy!" Master Ren Mu chuckled, tossing out the lighthearted comment, unconcerned by the outcome.
Over his long years, Master Ren Mu had faced countless trials, and as part of a force like Central State Commerce, his skill in navigating matters outstripped other Peak Great Cultivators.
He cared little for wins or losses, prioritizing bonds with Li Shiming instead.
He saw Li Shiming's vast potential too, since Li Shiming lingered at early Great Cultivator stage yet wielded such formidable power; upon hitting peak, he might rival any non-Mahayana foe across the cultivation world, even Half-step Mahayana experts.
"Mr. Ren, your mastery of water elements has truly broadened my horizons!" Li Shiming laughed back.
The duel left a profound mark on him, as he finally beheld a Peak Great Cultivator's full might.
He'd encountered Peak Great Cultivators before; lacking worthy rivals, they handled matters with basic tactics, never revealing their peak potential.