The clash of palms and claws, a continuous barrage of impacts, the battle between Chen Tian and Li Yunfeng caused the surrounding space to crack, a testament to their immense power.
Both combatants retreated, a perplexing question lingering in Li Yunfeng's mind. This young man, despite the palpable danger he emanated, had fought him to a stalemate. Was he still testing his strength?
Such a thought was impossible. The sense of crisis was intense. Why did he feel this way?
His intuition was correct. Clones inherited the full might and presence of their original bodies. Fundamentally, they were the same entity, and as the original grew stronger, the clone was influenced, instilling a sense of impending doom.
Dismissing further thought, Li Yunfeng attacked decisively. His fists clenched, power surged, and a punch descended like a mountain, aiming straight for Chen Tian's face. Faced with the oncoming assault, Chen Tian defended by crossing his arms, forming a barrier to parry the incoming fists.
A series of loud cracks echoed, and waves of energy erupted, a tempestuous surge. The resulting shockwaves were like a tsunami, incinerating everything within thousands of miles. In the epicenter, the two fighters faced each other.
Both had unleashed their full power in attack and defense, a scenario neither had anticipated. In the center, they both shifted their stances. Chen Tian, his arms still crossed, swung them rapidly, unleashing crescent blades that streaked towards Li Yunfeng's face.
Fists morphed into palms, which then extended, striking repeatedly. The palms met the blades, and with a swift rotation, the blades seemed to cling to Chen Tian's palms, spinning with him.
After his spin, he slightly opened his palms and flicked his wrists, sending the blades back. This maneuver slightly surprised Li Yunfeng; he hadn't expected such a technique, nor that the blades would be returned. Fortunately, he had a counter.
These were his own moves, and he knew how to nullify them. His palm transformed into a blade-like edge, and with rapid chops, he sliced the returning blades in two.
An explosion occurred behind him. Chen Tian had appeared at his back, his palm descending. Fortunately, Li Yunfeng reacted swiftly, executing an extreme dodge that narrowly avoided the strike.
While evading, he unleashed a barrage of blades, encircling Chen Tian. He wondered how he would counter this onslaught.
Unflustered by the surrounding blades, Chen Tian gathered power in his legs, forming a vortex. This swirling energy coiled around his legs as he unleashed a series of kicks.
A gentle vortex of air gradually formed, and under its influence, all the blades were drawn in and shredded within the whirlwind.
As the dust settled, they stood opposite each other. The previous exchanges had revealed their comparable strength. However, this was merely a clone. If the original Chen Tian were present, Li Yunfeng would have no chance to retaliate.
"Hmph!"
Li Yunfeng's expression turned grave. He was starting to take this seriously. This young man was not easy to deal with, and that persistent feeling of unease remained. He might have a trump card, so he needed to be more cautious.
Without understanding the full extent of his opponent's strength, he dared not unleash his own power. That would be suicidal. He had to probe, for the sense of death and crisis was too strong. He wondered what this trump card could be.
If Chen Tian knew Li Yunfeng's thoughts, he would have burst into laughter. He had no trump card; the feeling was merely an echo from his original body.
Caution was paramount. He dared not attack.
Seeing this, Chen Tian realized his opponent would not initiate. He moved first. With a flash, he was before Li Yunfeng, his fists erupting with speed. In a single second, he unleashed hundreds of punches, their shadows filling the air.
Facing the onslaught, Li Yunfeng employed a simple defense: a head-on confrontation. Fist met fist, a series of impacts resounding. When the sound died down, both retreated slightly. In this exchange, Chen Tian held a slight advantage.
However, it was not a significant one. Gripping energy longswords in both hands, it was clear the fight would now involve weapons. Li Yunfeng drew a long saber from his back.
The saber and sword flashed, their sharpness glinting, emanating a cold radiance that shook the very space around them.
With a swift movement, Chen Tian's sword became a clear streak of light, while Li Yunfeng's saber transformed into a golden beam. The two lights collided, appearing from a distance like the meeting of horizons.
As light met light, a void instantly appeared at the center. When the void vanished, their figures were gone; they had been pulled into it to continue their battle, the space in this world unable to withstand the force of their clash.
Inside the spatial rift, the sword moved with ethereal grace, its trajectory unpredictable. The saber was broad and powerful, yet possessed a hint of both brute force and subtle finesse.
Chen Tian's sword tilted upwards, his intention clear. Li Yunfeng reacted in kind. His sword thrust downwards, but it couldn't quite lift the saber. Adapting to the move, Li Yunfeng gripped the saber's hilt and swept it horizontally.
As the saber swept across, Chen Tian shifted his sword horizontally. Sword energy condensed on the blade, and with a simple clang, the immediate threat was neutralized.
Next, Chen Tian's sword darted forward, its edge slicing through the air, unleashing a torrent of sword energy that formed a net aimed at Li Yunfeng's face.
Seeing the approaching net, Li Yunfeng gripped his saber with both hands, channeling all his strength into the weapon. With a single strike, it seemed as though he could cleave through anything.
This sword net was split in two by his attack, and the internal sword energy dissipated. Chen Tian flashed from above, his figure descending.
The saber defended, blocking the strike. The tip of Chen Tian's sword met the body of the saber, sparks flying and a sharp sound ringing out.
Raising his hands, Li Yunfeng was forced to retreat, barely managing to evade the blow.
As they stood facing each other again, phantom images of energy materialized around both the sword and the saber, indicating that this battle would now be prolonged.
"Boy, I admit you have some skill, but this alone is not enough to kill me."
"Then you can try. Outsiders should leave this place."
Chen Tian and Li Yunfeng's gazes met, sparks seeming to fly between them. Their auras were equally matched.
The sword and saber moved, two beams of light crossing in the void.
The resulting collisions were as beautiful as fireworks.
The sounds of impact were like clear, resonant musical notes.
A fierce battle unfolded in the void. Meanwhile, in China, Wang Xue watched as the vortex in the sky continued to widen.
"Something's wrong. I stopped fighting, so why is this vortex still here, and why is it expanding?"
This thought puzzled her. Could it be?
Suddenly realizing something, she vanished, heading in another direction. If she was correct, had the other two fused their keys with themselves, thus summoning that place?
If the battle continued, it would not cease. It absolutely could not be allowed to descend upon this world.
"Alas, it's a pity. After today, we can no longer stay in this world."
Wang Xue sighed. After their secrets were exposed, this world could no longer accommodate them.
At least the cosmic consciousness wouldn't. Their existence disrupted the order of the world.
The worst-case scenario was that they could cause the universe to shatter.
She flew towards the other two battlefields, determined to stop their fighting.