The battle between Chen Tian and Xie Ku saw Xie Ku enter his full power state. Chen Tian found it somewhat difficult to contend with Xie Ku, believing he couldn't possibly match him in his current condition. However, reality proved otherwise. Chen Tian remained calm and composed, his expression unfazed. No matter how powerful Xie Ku was, Chen Tian had faced and overcome formidable opponents before. Xie Ku was but a mere obstacle. Chen Tian's body underwent a transformation, enveloped in a golden light, clad in golden armor, his fists now imbued with formidable strength.
Chen Tian's aura slightly surpassed Xie Ku's, though not by much. Xie Ku was astonished by the extent of Chen Tian's recovered strength, unable to fathom that he could contend with his full power even after reincarnation. Chen Tian, in Xie Ku's eyes, was doomed to perish. If only Xie Ku knew this was merely a clone of Chen Tian, his reaction would be immeasurable. Due to the clone's independent consciousness and origin, Xie Ku and his two companions instinctively attacked the clone, mistaking it for Chen Tian himself, as distinguishing between them was impossible. This clone had already transcended its status, becoming indistinguishable from a normal human.
Its origin, however, was from another world. Chen Tian and Xie Ku locked gazes, their eyes meeting. Simultaneously, they moved, the wind and energy shifting as if the heavens themselves were in fear. The surrounding space rippled. Chen Tian and Xie Ku collided, unleashing a colossal explosion. Within the blood-red world, Chen Tian and Xie Ku's battle raged fiercely. The entire surrounding space was drastically altered. Chen Tian's twin blades glowed with various energies, each strike seeming to cleave the heavens and earth, a terrifying sight. Witnessing this, Xie Ku thrust his spear forward, focusing all his power at its tip, and met Chen Tian's attack. Both were sent flying, stabilizing themselves in less than a second. Chen Tian was the first to react, closing the distance and unleashing his twin blades.
Seeing Chen Tian's blades, Xie Ku knew he had lost the initiative and could only defend. As Chen Tian's blades descended, Xie Ku's spear swung in a hundred-and-eighty-degree arc, deflecting Chen Tian's weapons, sending them flying from his grasp. Chen Tian leaped into the air to retrieve his blades. As he caught them, Xie Ku's attack arrived, his spear aiming directly for Chen Tian's abdomen. Chen Tian chose to abandon his blades and endure the blow head-on. He crossed his arms, intercepting the spear with his forearms. Chen Tian was pushed back over ten meters.
The power of this spear thrust was comparable to Chen Tian's full-power attack. Chen Tian stabilized himself, and his twin blades materialized once more. With his mastery of energy, as long as the surrounding energy didn't dissipate, Chen Tian could summon countless weapons. This was why he had so readily abandoned his blades; they would never truly disappear as long as Chen Tian existed.
His ability to control energy meant Chen Tian was never short of it. The energy he utilized was derived from killing intent, with hardly any of his internal reserves depleted. If the battle continued, Chen Tian would ultimately prevail. His internal energy remained at its saturation point, allowing him to outlast Xie Ku. Xie Ku's energy, unlike Chen Tian's, diminished with each use. A cold glint appeared in Chen Tian's eyes as he unleashed a barrage of sword energy, converging into a colossal blade. The assault wasn't over; Chen Tian followed up with dozens more strikes, their fusion creating a blade that moved even faster than the previous ones. The two massive blade energies merged, unleashing an unprecedented surge of power.
Xie Ku dared not underestimate Chen Tian's strike, feeling a sense of crisis. He gathered power into his spear, adopting a throwing stance, channeling energy from within. The spear shot out like a black projectile, colliding with the blade energies. Explosions erupted at the point of impact. Chen Tian's blade energy was eventually pierced by the spear, which slowed but continued its trajectory towards Chen Tian. Chen Tian crossed his blades in front of him and, with a slight upward motion of his arms, caught the spear between the hilts of his blades, deflecting it towards his head.
Chen Tian threw the blade from his left hand at the spear in the sky. With a resounding boom, an explosion occurred, the spear and twin blades detonating together. Chen Tian stared at Xie Ku, who seemed unfazed by the spear's destruction. Xie Ku reached behind him and pulled out another spear, which transformed into a sword. Chen Tian exclaimed, "Oh! It seems the spears behind you are all different weapons. No wonder you're so nonchalant about the spear shattering."
"You're not bad yourself, to force me to use my second weapon. Perish!"
Xie Ku readily accepted Chen Tian's praise. Chen Tian was the first cultivator to push him this far; all previous opponents hadn't lasted this long. The sword in his hand slithered, filling the sky with black sword light. Xie Ku had even comprehended sword intent.
Chen Tian's twin blades reappeared, and then he shook his head, transforming them into twin swords. Dual-wielding swords was Chen Tian's most potent style, but in this life, he favored twin blades. It was worth remembering that Chen Tian's past incarnations, both divine and reincarnation bodies, were all sword cultivators. Upon assimilating their memories, Chen Tian's understanding of swordsmanship reached the pinnacle of the universe. With twin swords in hand, he faced the surrounding black sword light. His hands moved in unison, forming a defensive barrier with his swords, repelling the incoming sword qi. He even deflected the sword qi, causing it to clash with itself.
Xie Ku marveled at Chen Tian's extraordinary swordsmanship. How many weapons did this man master? His twin blades were already executed with divine skill, and now his swordsmanship was beyond miraculous. Chen Tian's power was indescribable, Xie Ku concluded. Witnessing Chen Tian's swordsmanship, Xie Ku shifted his sword technique. When Chen Tian swapped his blades for swords, Xie Ku had initially believed Chen Tian was underestimating him, as he always considered Chen Tian a master of twin blades, his most powerful weapons. Now, it seemed his swords were his true forte.
Chen Tian ceased his defensive posture; all sword qi attacks had been neutralized. He stood his ground as Xie Ku charged forward with his sword. Chen Tian met the attack with a single-handed sword strike. Swordsmanship clashed against swordsmanship, sword moves against sword moves, a duel of combat consciousness and pure sword skill. Xie Ku believed his sword skill was comparable to Chen Tian's, which prompted his aggressive advance. Chen Tian, however, was unaware of Xie Ku's reasoning. Chen Tian's sword skill experience was unparalleled, even by the universe.
Chen Tian possessed an immense repository of sword skill memories, from his reincarnation bodies to his other-world incarnations, all of whom stood at the apex of swordsmanship. Coupled with Chen Tian's ability to seamlessly integrate these memories, he faced Xie Ku's sword attacks effortlessly, even gaining the upper hand. What appeared to be defensive movements were, in fact, forcing Xie Ku onto the defensive.
Xie Ku's body began to show sword marks. How had he sustained injuries while Chen Tian was merely defending? Xie Ku understood. He halted the sword clash, revealing over a dozen sword marks on his arms. With a mental command, the wounds healed instantly, a testament to the formidable regenerative abilities inherent to the Evil Spirit race.
Chen Tian had no expectation of defeating his opponent with mere sword techniques. To truly vanquish him would require Chen Tian to unleash power far beyond his current state, an act that would necessitate his banishment.
A determined glint appeared in Xie Ku's eyes. A spear from his back detached and transformed into a wrist blade, embedding itself on his left forearm. With a wrist blade on his left arm and a sword in his right, Xie Ku attacked Chen Tian with two distinct weapons.
Facing this dual assault with his twin swords, Chen Tian was in no disadvantage. In the ensuing collision, Chen Tian and Xie Ku engaged in a brutal, close-quarters exchange at the epicenter of the explosions, like ferocious beasts. Fists and claws met, and their bodies, clad in armor, endured immense impacts. They exchanged over a hundred blows before both were pushed back.
Xie Ku marveled at Chen Tian's strength, realizing that Chen Tian could now match his current power. If this continued, Chen Tian would soon surpass him.
Chen Tian could not be allowed to live. Xie Ku was unsure if he could defeat Chen Tian alone; it might require the intervention of Xie Ru and others. But this was his battle, and he would not tolerate any interference.
Xie Ku unleashed his torrent of Evil Spirit energy, reinforcing his body. Chen Tian grew solemn. He had been at a disadvantage in their previous exchanges, merely enduring the impact. His arms were already numb and trembling. Chen Tian's current strength was insufficient to kill Xie Ku, though he could contend with him.
Chen Tian was gambling. Based on the current situation, protecting the fortress seemed impossible. However, he could take a chance. He gambled that Xie Ku and his subordinates would perceive his recovered strength and lack the confidence to defeat him, forcing them to retreat and await a future assault.
With Chen Tian's current strength, defending the fortress was an arduous task. He only needed to hold out until his true self returned. Then, everything would be resolved.
Why not let Ling Fengyun intervene? Chen Tian sensed individuals with similar auras to Ling Fengyun lurking in the shadows, likely to intercept him should he make a move.
Xie Ku unleashed his power, his speed now far exceeding his previous pace. He instantly appeared before Chen Tian, his claws clenched, and threw a punch.
Chen Tian's arms reacted a few seconds too late. He was sent staggering back several steps. Seeing this, Xie Ku sneered, "It seems your strength hasn't fully recovered. Then you shall remain here. No other reincarnations will proceed."
"You'll find out if you have what it takes."
Chen Tian said nothing more. Words were useless against Xie Ku; direct combat was the only way to settle the matter. The two clashed.
Shockwaves rolled and billowed, spreading outwards.
The heavens wept, the space trembled, dark clouds gathered, and lightning flashed. It was as if the end of the world had arrived.
The clash between Chen Tian and Xie Ku generated terrifying fluctuations and phenomena.
Xie Ru seemed to sense something and suddenly became grave. "Xie Xie, we will attack together shortly. This is an order from our esteemed leader."