The rosy dawn illuminated the skies as Xu Mu and Zhou Jie were teleported onto an independent white cloud battle stage.
Gazing at the youth standing opposite him, smiling faintly, Zhou Jie's expression was clearly surprised.
In his imagination, even if Xu Mu didn't refuse this battle, he wouldn't have reacted this way. The latter's demeanor suggested he completely disregarded Zhou Jie.
Was it simply because he was a Stage Three cultivator?
With that thought, Zhou Jie let out a cruel smile. Black mist condensed in his right hand, conjuring a sharp battle saber made of Candle Dragon bone. He then spoke to Xu Mu:
"If you believe that you can defeat me with a mere stage advantage, you are mistaken. For I have slain more Stage Three ability users across stages than you can possibly imagine."
"Mu Longcuo, the sword cultivator from Black Mountain; Ji Qin, the merman from the Northern Sea; Liang Cuo, the foremost evil cultivator from Laojun Mountain. They were all Stage Three, yet in the end, all were slain by me."
"You, are no exception."
Hearing Zhou Jie's words, Xu Mu's expression remained calm, completely unfazed, as he hadn't heard of any of those names.
However, those outside the white cloud battle stage had.
Their faces grew solemn, and a young, talented cultivator among them gasped, exclaiming:
"Mu Longcuo was a Stage Three peak sword cultivator from Black Mountain, dedicated to punishing evil and promoting good. He studied under the Black Mountain Sword Pavilion and was immensely powerful. Ordinary Stage Three peak demonic beasts were no match for him. My senior brother, who was at the same stage, once fought him and was defeated."
"Originally, my senior brother intended to wait until he broke through to the Stage Three peak before challenging him again. But Mu Longcuo died unexpectedly half a year ago, killed by a mysterious ghost cultivator. I never imagined that ghost cultivator to be Zhou Jie!"
"What!"
Upon hearing this, everyone exclaimed in shock.
A Stage Three peak prodigy, yet slain by Zhou Jie, how was this possible!
Thus, someone couldn't help but ask:
"Which sect do you hail from? Was it because your senior brother was too weak that he lost to that Mu Longcuo?"
The young man turned his head, his expression stern as he replied, "My name is Chang Ji. Chang, as in the Chang of the Bai Clan's Chang family. I study under the foremost sect of the Jin Hai Great Domain, the Heavenly Dragon Sect."
"My senior brother is one of the personal disciples of the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master. He was also renowned in the previous Myriad Races Assembly. His talent and strength are beyond doubt, yet he was still defeated by that Mu Longcuo."
"Heavenly Dragon Sect!"
Those outside, upon hearing these three words, also felt a secret apprehension. For the Heavenly Dragon Sect was one of the few rogue cultivator sects in the Bai Clan territory that could contend with the influence of the Great Clans.
Although they rose to prominence on the Chang family's territory, they were not under the Chang family's jurisdiction. On the contrary, due to the Heavenly Dragon Sect's power, the Chang family, as one of the Bai Clans, even sent their own geniuses to study there. Chang Ji was an example of this.
Therefore, a terrifying question arose.
The Heavenly Dragon Sect's strength was undeniable, and the talent and combat power of the Sect Master's chief disciple were naturally extremely high, yet he still lost to Mu Longcuo at the same stage.
But that Mu Longcuo was then killed by Zhou Jie.
And Zhou Jie was only Stage Two.
Just how strong was he then?
"Hmph, Serves you right!" Ye Gong stood on a cloud, listening to the discussions with a mocking tone.
"It seems the Jiang family's dream of competing for the top spots with outside help is about to be shattered. This Mu Xu might be beaten to death by Zhou Jie, unless he voluntarily surrenders."
The geniuses of the Jiang family's faces turned grim upon hearing this, but they had no retort. Even the strongest three among their clan were no match for Ye Gong, let alone Zhou Jie, who could kill a Stage Three peak prodigy.
This was not speculation, but fact, as a genius of the same level as Jiang Zheye, Jiang Zhuo, had once fought Zhou Jie and suffered a crushing defeat.
"I don't think so." Seeing that no one was speaking, Qian Qian spoke up, directly confronting Ye Gong. "I believe that Zhou Jie might not necessarily win against Brother Mu Xu."
Ye Gong let out a sneer, "Qian Qian, what right do you have to speak? That Mu Xu can't even defeat me, yet you hope he can fight the strongest of the Jialan clan, Di Sha? Are you sure your brain is working properly?"
Upon hearing this, Qian Qian's eyes sharpened as he retorted, "Ye Gong, don't forget, who was it that drove you off Tian Qiong Peak, and who was it that gravely injured Qi Ye of the Qi family!"
This statement immediately caused a stir among the crowd. Ye Gong's face turned even uglier as he said, "So what? If you hadn't had the numerical advantage, could that Mu Xu have beaten me!"
"At this point, instead of thinking about how to collect his corpse, you have the audacity to spout such nonsense. Aren't you afraid of embarrassing your Jiang family when he's instantly killed later?"
Ye Gong sneered. At this moment, Zhou Jie and Xu Mu in the battle stage had already closed the distance. They were locked in a head-on confrontation, their fists and kicks striking like the booming of bells, neither giving way to the other.
Seeing this, Ye Gong let out another mocking laugh, "A Stage Three physical cultivator, confronting a Stage Two ghost cultivator head-on, and still unable to achieve a crushing victory? I truly don't know what you all have to be so arrogant about."
Qian Qian's expression turned grim as he opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Jiang Taixu loudly interrupted him, "Enough! Are you not ashamed of embarrassing the Jiang family enough already!"
"But I believe he will win!" Qian Qian looked at Jiang Taixu, unconvinced.
Jiang Zhuo turned to look at Qian Qian, a faint murderous intent hidden in his eyes, "I was defeated by that Zhou Jie. Yet you say that Mu Xu can defeat him. Are you implying that I am inferior to this outsider?"
"I didn't mean that, but after all, he is Stage Three." Qian Qian did not answer directly but chose a more tactful approach.
Hearing this, Jiang Zhuo's murderous intent surged to its peak, but he couldn't make a move here, so he could only give up and look back at the white cloud battle stage.
"If he loses, you will pay the price for the shame you have brought upon the Jiang family."
Qian Qian pursed his lips and said nothing more, turning his gaze back to the arena. He watched Xu Mu's continuously swinging iron fists, his heart filled with confidence.
"Dong dong dong dong dong!"
Muffled colliding sounds echoed. Xu Mu unleashed countless straight punches, all smashing against Zhou Jie's hardened bone saber. The latter abruptly stopped his spin and slammed downwards, a vast and resentful energy converging as it descended with overwhelming force.
Xu Mu dodged to the side. Zhou Jie's saber strike cleaved the ground formed by the white clouds, creating a massive沟壑. Ghostly energy, corrosive to all, surged out, exposing the original Dao talismans beneath the battle stage, which shimmered with golden light.
Seeing this, Xu Mu's expression became somewhat solemn.
He hadn't expected Zhou Jie's physical strength to be so formidable. In the recent exchange, he had already used nearly ninety percent of his strength, enough to clash with Stage Three peak demonic beasts, yet Zhou Jie had still endured it.
Why was this so?
As Xu Mu pondered these questions, he noticed the black bone armor Zhou Jie wore. It seemed alive, vibrating at an imperceptible frequency, as if releasing some special energy.
And within that released energy, lay his ability.
"So that's how it is," Xu Mu understood and chuckled, "borrowing external objects to compete with me in terms of physical strength? If your pride is only this much, then I advise you to surrender."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jie's expression turned extremely grim.
This set of bone armor was a precious treasure he had obtained from a ghost general in an alternate dimension when his ability advanced some days ago. It fit him perfectly, but now Xu Mu's iron fists had cracked it.
This small crack had a significant impact on the whole. At the very least, he could no longer forcefully clash with Xu Mu in terms of physical strength as he had done moments before.
"He is too arrogant, relying on his bone armor to dare engage in a head-on physical contest with a Stage Three physical cultivator," an elder from the Jialan clan outside said with a displeased expression.
They knew that Zhou Jie could be so reckless in his clash with Xu Mu because of the bone armor. The material of that armor was special, taken from a ghost general in an alternate dimension, capable of absorbing most of the damage from external abilities. It was no exaggeration to call it a supreme treasure.
But now, it was cracked by Xu Mu's fists. The cost was undoubtedly immense, as they had no way to repair it.
"No need to worry. That is merely a piece of equipment. Zhou Jie's abilities are special, and when he breaks through to Stage Three, he will acquire even more powerful items," the Jialan clan patriarch said in a low voice, his gaze towards Xu Mu filled with hatred. For his son, Jialan Lou, had died because of Xu Mu.
Zhou Jie's choice to fight Xu Mu also had his tacit approval behind it.
Other elders of the Jialan clan nodded in agreement, saying in hoarse voices, "Yes, no need to worry. With Zhou Jie's abilities, such treasures and artifacts will only increase, not decrease."
"Furthermore, from now on, as long as he can successfully unleash his ability, even if that Jiang family's Mu Xu possesses immensely powerful physical strength, it will be of no avail."
On the white cloud battle stage, Zhou Jie looked at Xu Mu. The green birthmarks on his face writhed until another face identical to his own appeared on them, before slowly stopping.
"That was merely a probing attack. I didn't expect you to have some actual strength. Therefore, I intend to get serious as well, and kill you."
As Zhou Jie spoke, his body was suddenly engulfed by pure black Yin energy, which slowly spread across the ground like a domain, exhibiting a peculiar regularity.
Xu Mu frowned, sensing the special nature of this energy. He immediately channeled his Dao Source, but even his Dao Source could not prevent the energy from flowing past his feet.
"Next, you will witness what true despair is," Zhou Jie said, licking his lips with a bloodthirsty grin. His dark energy had completely enveloped Xu Mu, forming a space of its own.
"This is my ability, and also a space. You can think of it as my domain, although I am not a Lord of this domain."
As Zhou Jie spoke, the green birthmarks on his face began to open their mouths, continuously spewing forth Yin energy. Terrifying sonic waves vibrated through the space, and dozens of phantoms appeared around Xu Mu. A dense ghost resentment connected to their bodies, as if trying to siphon something away from him.
Xu Mu frowned, feeling increasingly irritated. He attached his Dao Source to his body and took a step forward. The blood energy between heaven and earth roared, scattering all the surrounding phantoms. However, they immediately reassembled.
They continuously absorbed power from Xu Mu's body – his blood energy, his abilities, and even his soul. Xu Mu's brows furrowed, and he even felt a chill down his spine.
Because he could feel his strength rapidly draining from his body, yet he felt no pain, as if that energy was still within him.
"My ability is actually quite simple. It utilizes the characteristics of this alternate space to forcibly create clones for you. All of your physical strength, cultivation stage, soul, etc., will be evenly distributed among these clones."
Hearing this, Xu Mu turned his head with a sudden realization. No wonder his strength was being drained without any pain; it turned out he was creating clones for himself.
And although these clones would obey his commands, they would disperse his strength. Calculated individually, their cultivation stages could barely be considered as newly entered Stage Two.
"You can still surrender now. It's not too late," Zhou Jie said, his birthmarks now covering his entire face. They were terrifyingly green, and barbs grew from the bones on his back. His bone armor also seemed to have fused into his flesh, doubling his size.
"Monster, stop with the nonsense. If you're looking to die, hurry up and come over," Xu Mu said with disgust, looking at Zhou Jie.
The latter before him could no longer be called human, but a living demonic creature.
Hearing this, Zhou Jie let out a roar, his demonic voice overlapping with his original one. Converging the ghost resentment in the space, he charged towards Xu Mu, "Then go die!"
Xu Mu's expression grew solemn. His eight bodies shifted positions, each stepping onto a different point of the Innate Eight Trigrams: Qian, Kan, Gen, Zhen, Xun, Li, Kun, Dui. The eight Great Divisions were stepped upon by his clones.
*Buzz!*
The Eight Trigrams formation disk rotated, countless characters connecting with each other. Various Dao techniques were formed, from the frigid thunder and snow of winter, to the scorching fire of summer, the swamp and wood of earth, and the grandeur of mountains. Countless Dao techniques erupted simultaneously, dense as a torrential flood, impossible to evade.
*Rumble!*
Zhou Jie, who had just rushed forward, saw this scene. Before he could even process what was happening, he was swallowed by the torrent of countless energies!