Cultivation is just so scientific!-Chapter 1662 - 877: Omens of Fate (2)

Although choosing this path poses risks, potentially resulting in him not acquiring a single Heavenly Mechanism Treasure.

But this offers five times the reward, making the risk worthwhile.

Moreover, based on the information obtained from the stone meditation cushion, there’s no danger within the Heavenly Mechanism Garden.

With this in mind, he commanded the other four Nascent Souls to each target a separate Heavenly Mechanism Treasure.

Once the five Heavenly Mechanism Treasures were linked by the five Nascent Souls, he used the method obtained from the stone meditation cushion to collect them.

Soon, five streaks of multi-colored light flew from distant directions and merged into his body.

Before he could observe, he felt his body enveloped by spatial energy, and then he appeared outside the Heavenly Mechanism Garden. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Li Shiming stood still, sensing the situation within his body.

Beside each of the five Nascent Souls, there was an energy cluster, and inside each cluster was a Spiritual Object.

Once he clearly perceived the five Spiritual Objects, he realized they were ones he was extremely familiar with.

He had acquired them before, but this didn’t mean they weren’t precious. On the contrary, their rarity rivaled that of the Golden Winged Dapeng.

The five Heavenly Mechanism Treasures were indeed Cave Heaven Core objects. Though he had obtained them before, seizing a Cave Heaven Core meant obliterating its life force, causing it to slowly collapse without its core.

In the Cultivation World, any Cave Heaven is extremely valuable, even those owned by superpowers are very limited.

Li Shiming knew that many Great Powers had Cave Heavens not constructed by themselves but inherited from superpower Inheritance Cave Heavens.

Typically, only when a Great Power falls can the Inheritance Cave Heaven be transferred to a new Great Cultivator, who then uses Secret Techniques to ascend to a Great Power.

However, this path isn’t guaranteed. Despite increasing the chance of becoming a Great Power many times over, superpowers typically prioritize standard promotions for safety.

When the Great Power of a superpower reaches its Life Span limit, they’ll select a Half-step Great Power from those who’ve ascended normally to become a true Great Power through Inheritance Cave Heaven.

Of course, these Secret Techniques are solely held by superpowers. Other forces, even if they possess Cave Heavens, can’t use them to ascend through Inheritance Cave Heavens.

Li Shiming suspected that suitable Inheritance Cave Heavens for ascending Great Powers must have some special conditions.

The five Heavenly Mechanism Treasures corresponded to the Five Elements Attribute: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. It was uncertain if the Heavenly Mechanism Garden only nurtured Five Elements Heavenly Treasures or if they’d been specially cultivated this time.

Moreover, he found the existence of these five Heavenly Mechanism Treasures quite unique, residing in a semi-energized state, allowing them to remain within him.

With limited time remaining, he chose a direction to focus on acquiring Great Cultivator resources. As for two other targets, given the time constraints, he couldn’t explore them.

He awaited the appointed time to be sent out by the Divine Palace.

On the tenth day, Shen Ze, Ji Chuan, and Liao Yi, the three Great Cultivators of the Righteous Path, finally arrived at the target location, which was none other than the Heavenly Mechanism Garden.

The three Great Cultivators appeared extremely worn, bearing visible injuries.

Their robes showed signs of wear and tear. Checking their soul crystal rings would reveal that most of their magical treasures were damaged, including Great Cultivator Shen Ze’s damaged natal treasure.

"Finally arrived!" Great Cultivator Shen Ze said hoarsely.

His voice was filled with excitement, hard to contain after expending so much to arrive at the specific time.

Fortuitously, the Golden Winged Dapeng hadn’t reappeared in the past few days, allowing the three Great Cultivators to focus on their journey.

To offset previous lost time, they not only hastened their pace but also neglected acquiring Great Cultivator resources.

Though Great Cultivator resources were indeed vital, compared to the opportunities they sought, those resources were negligible.

To secure opportunities, they consumed more spiritual power and used their portable treasures to combat restrictive attacks.

This accelerated approach brought numerous dangers.

Each Great Cultivator expended several life-preserving Jade Talismans, crafted by Great Powers, each possessing unimaginable value in the Cultivation World.

Their Fourth-Grade Magical Treasures were even more precious, yet through fortune, they arrived at the Heavenly Mechanism Garden within the timeframe.

"No battle needed here at the Heavenly Mechanism Garden; let’s recharge our spirits before activation," Master Ji Chuan said, consuming a Spirit Pill.

"Before entering, we must determine who claims treasures first!" Great Cultivator Liao Yi stated, taking a Spirit Pill and speaking with gravity.

"Uncertain how many treasures the Heavenly Mechanism Garden will nurture this time. Last round produced three; logically, it should be more now, ensuring each of us a treasure. As a Water Element cultivator, I shouldn’t clash with you two. Should a Water attribute treasure emerge, I’ll claim it; otherwise, I won’t wrestle for Fire attribute treasures. Allow me precedence, how about it?" Great Cultivator Shen Ze addressed the other two calmly.

Were it not previously impossible due to Li Shiming’s unforeseen presence forcing contractual agreements, they’d now likely be battling to determine the order of claiming treasures.

Great Cultivator Shen Ze possessed a distinct advantage: his choice did not conflict with the other two Great Cultivators.

As a Water Element Great Cultivator, the others were both Fire Element cultivators.

He expressed his intentions, awaiting the other two’s decisions.

"I agree Shen should claim the treasures first. As for me and Ji Chuan, we’ll have to annul our contract for a battle to decide," Great Cultivator Liao Yi considered, speaking gravely.

Though contracts exist, mutual agreement to battle does not breach the contract’s terms.

Agreeing mutually to defy the contract and combat isn’t straightforward.

This doesn’t negate the contract but allows the involved cultivators’ battle to remain unaffected by it.

"Mr. Liao, I’ll hand over all this mission’s collected resources if you offer me the second chance," Master Ji Chuan suggested, his brows slightly furrowed, aware of his unsuitable condition for conflict.

"Why not I hand my entire harvest to you for the second chance!" Great Cultivator Liao Yi chuckled lightly.

Great Cultivator resources, though precious, are obtainable externally. Heavenly Mechanism Treasures are rare in the outside world, potentially elusive for a millennium.

Heavenly Mechanism Treasures are essential for ascending to Great Powers—surrendering this opportunity could mean waiting ages for another chance, perhaps a lifetime of absence.

"It seems we’ll certainly require a duel!" Master Ji Chuan sighed lightly.

"Hold off; let me retrieve the treasures first to bear witness for you!" Great Cultivator Shen Ze interjected.

Unwilling to let them clash now, at least not before securing treasures.

With potential extended duration for dueling, given their consumed journey time, the remaining period for entering the Heavenly Mechanism Garden was scarce.

"Taoist Shen, proceed; we shall wait!" Despite his suggestion seeming excessive, they acknowledged it due to both parties wishing to secure Great Cultivator Shen Ze’s support.

Great Cultivator Shen Ze expressed gratitude and swiftly presented a Jade Talisman to unlock the entrance and proceeded inside.

Each Great Cultivator watched the other warily, fearing prescient entry into the Garden, each aware of their nullified contracts allowing mutual assault.