Cultivation is just so scientific! Chapter 1539 - 816: Facing the Enemy
Previously on Cultivation is just so scientific!...
"The intel collection efforts aren't going well at all—the Ten Thousand Beast Sect's power on the Dongqi Continent is booming, and it's really squeezing the White Emperor Sect's spy network!" Great Cultivator Yan Gao remarked, his brow furrowed deeply.
The reports from his spies had come in, yet they contained barely any valuable details, leaving him feeling like he was operating blind without proper support.
"We're facing the same problem; the Yuqing Sect's information channels haven't turned up anything worthwhile either!" Master Wang He replied with a helpless shrug, his hands outspread.
"Our agents tried to get intel from the allies, but they got turned away flat. This kind of rejection hasn't happened in ages!" Great Cultivator Yan Gao added, his voice laced with fury.
For a mighty power like theirs on a fragile continent such as Dongqi to face this kind of pressure wasn't from their foes in the White Emperor Sect, but from supposed friends.
"You can't fault them for it. Remember, your White Emperor Sect's most recent partner, the Taichu Sect, got completely destroyed by Li Shizhen just for hiding one of your Great Cultivators!" Master Wang He pointed out straightforwardly, without holding back, laying bare the root cause.
Li Shizhen's total wipeout of the Taichu Sect had sent a chilling message echoing across every faction on the Dongqi Continent.
Now, no group dared to offer the White Emperor Sect any real aid through sneaky methods, and they all held the Ten Thousand Beast Sect in terrified respect. At least while this dread lingered, none would risk moves that could provoke the Ten Thousand Beast Sect.
This was precisely the outcome Li Shiming had aimed for; by gaining the might to crush a whole sect, he'd make other powers grasp the need for caution, or face total obliteration themselves.
In the world of Cultivation, those who cultivate cling fiercely to their sects, ready to give up anything—including their own lives—and suffer greatly just to safeguard them.
"Things are way tougher now than during our previous visit. All we've got is the spot of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect's headquarters, and we know Li Shizhen's holed up there. Should we just charge straight at their mountain gate?" Great Cultivator Yan Gao asked, his tone edged with worry.
Honestly speaking, with the combined prowess of him and Master Wang He, storming the Ten Thousand Beast Sect's mountain gate wouldn't be impossible.
That said, it hinged on no equally powerful Great Cultivators being around. The protective grand formation of a top sect could amplify a Great Cultivator's strength by over twice as much, and when powers were evenly matched, that kind of boost would leave even two Peak Great Cultivators doubting their chances of winning.
And that ignored the other Great Cultivators in the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, plus the formidable Spiritual Pets belonging to those experts.
"I've already messaged back to the sect, urging them to buy up any intel they can from the Central State Commerce!" Master Wang He declared gravely, stowing his communication token.
"Smart move. Li Shizhen's got bad blood with the Central State Commerce, and their spy setup is top-tier—they could give us a real edge!" Great Cultivator Yan Gao agreed with a nod.
The messy infighting inside Central State Commerce opened doors; for the right price, you could snag the intel you wanted from one of their rival groups.
"No—there's a Great Cultivator right outside!" While the two Peak Great Cultivators talked, they leaped to their feet in alarm, assuming defensive postures as they yelled.
Just beyond the Concealing Array, Li Shiming's form materialized, having used 'One Step to Reach' to teleport across eight thousand miles and land directly there.
Even with Li Shiming's aura traveling from eight thousand miles off, the sharp senses of the two Peak Great Cultivators would've needed time to pick it up from such a distance.
Yet Li Shiming's 'One Step to Reach' outpaced even his own aura's journey over those eight thousand miles.
So he ended up right near Master Wang He and Great Cultivator Yan Gao, and only then did the pair sense him—meaning a Great Cultivator had snuck up on them undetected.
Incidents like this almost never befell Peak Great Cultivators, not since they'd reached that pinnacle.
But now, even with both together, another Great Cultivator had closed in so near without a whisper—how could they not feel stunned?
Great Cultivator Yan Gao quickly scanned the Concealing Array first; it ran via the Array Plate, and from the materials in its construction, the skill of the Array Master who made it, to its overall quality, everything screamed elite status in the Cultivation World.
Still, despite this Array Plate's shielding through the Concealing Array, a Great Cultivator had pinpointed them, prompting Great Cultivator Yan Gao to suspect a flaw in the Array Plate.
Moments later, he confirmed the Array Plate was functioning perfectly, yet they'd been located anyway by that Great Cultivator.
With a flick of his hand, he stored the Array Plate away—since the foe had already zeroed in on this place, it served no purpose now.
"Li Shizhen!" Master Wang He spotted Li Shiming and instantly knew who he was.
"Master Wang He, who would've thought the Yuqing Sect and White Emperor Sect would team up like this—or are you two sects planning to fuse into one?" Li Shiming taunted, not overly shocked by Master Wang He's presence, as he'd already guessed as much.
Master Wang He might not fully grasp this side of him, but under Li Shiming's other guise as Li Yuanba's incarnation, they'd battled side by side for almost a year, building a solid grasp of the man.