Chapter 1721: I Was Really Silly

Just as they charged towards Zhao Hao in the center, Right Guard General Guo Zhi roared, attempting to lead his Imperial Guards to rescue him. They were well aware that the physical body is extremely vulnerable when the soul leaves it, and thus needed to be in a completely safe place.

However, the Daoist masters wouldn't let them have their way. A group led by Elder Xuandu and Monk Jiese desperately blocked their counterattack, preventing them from providing support. Meanwhile, both sides were closely observing the situation and witnessed two new figures suddenly appear. One was a handsome middle-aged man in loose robes, with a striking beard around his mouth and a self-satisfied, somewhat sinister smile playing on his lips, giving him a roguish yet unctuous air. The other person had a gloomy expression, his body crackling with lightning. He had a tortoise-shell-like sword box on his back, and eight precious swords flew around him.

Guan Chouhai was startled. He had considered countless possible reactions from Zhao Hao, but this scenario had never crossed his mind. Why did the person before him look exactly like him? They had the same appearance, build, and demeanor; even their clothes and weapons were identical. Not only could others not tell them apart, but even Guan Chouhai himself, and his women, couldn't distinguish between them. And where was Zhao Hao? Could it be an illusion?

Just then, the "Guan Chouhai" opposite him waved his hands forward, and his pair of Vajra Bracelets shot out, leaving countless afterimages, directly colliding with the Vajra Bracelets Guan Chouhai had just launched.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A flurry of crisp metallic sounds erupted as the Vajra Bracelets scattered and flew everywhere from the impact. Guan Chouhai's heart sank as he realized that his opponent was not an illusion, but a tangible entity. But he simply couldn't understand. The Vajra Bracelets were treasures passed down through generations in Lihentian; why did his opponent also possess an identical pair? Could it be that the Vajra Bracelets weren't just a pair, but four in total? If he could acquire the opponent's pair as well, wouldn't his strength greatly increase?

Before he could ponder further, the "Guan Chouhai" opposite him suddenly spun rapidly, then weaved through the center of the flying Vajra Bracelets, attacking him almost instantaneously.

"Poison Dragon's Grand Spin?" Guan Chouhai immediately recognized this as his unique secret technique. But at this moment, the opponent's hands were like drills, already attacking him. He had no time to think and could only hastily raise his hands to meet the attack.

Since he created this move, he naturally knew its intricacies and weaknesses. He quickly slipped between the opponent's palms, pried them outwards, then pulled them behind him. Immediately after, he stomped his foot on the ground, using the power of the earth to execute his ultimate technique, the Star Shift. He not only fully counteracted the opponent's attacking force but also added his own offensive power. Even Xuan Bajing would likely end up severely wounded if he encountered this move.

To his surprise, the "Guan Chouhai" flipped his body, planted his feet on the ground, and then his body writhed like a noodle, as a massive surge of power returned from his opponent's hands.

"Star Shift?" Guan Chouhai was aghast. This was a secret technique of Lihentian, never passed on. Why did his opponent also know it? His body automatically executed the Star Shift, returning the power once more.

With a deafening boom, both were sent flying in opposite directions by the immense impact. Guan Chouhai felt a sweetness in his throat, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. The rapid back-and-forth counterattacks of such immense force were almost unbearable, even for him. The only thing to be thankful for was that a trace of blood also spilled from the corner of his opponent's mouth, clearly indicating he was also severely wounded.

On the other side, Xuan Bajing was equally baffled. While Guan Chouhai could still wonder if there was another pair of Vajra Bracelets, Xuan Bajing's eight swords, apart from a few ancestral ones from Kunlun Xu, were mostly acquired by him with great effort over the years through extensive searching. How could his opponent possibly have eight identical swords? This must be an illusion!

However, a flying sword immediately cut through his sleeve, and a stream of blood spurted out.

Xuan Bajing: "What?"

Although he speculated that what was before him was likely an illusion, he didn't dare risk letting the opponent attack. If a sword were to chop off his head and it turned out not to be an illusion, he would have no time for regrets. Left with no choice, he could only control his own flying swords to meet the attack.

Soon, 16 flying swords clashed together in a chaotic battle. Xuan Bajing was renowned for his flying swords, wielding his eight with divine mastery. Yet no matter how exquisite or unpredictable his swordsmanship was, the opponent's swords always managed to parry and counterattack in time. He used to enjoy seeing his enemies in disarray when facing his elusive flying swords, but now it was his turn to be flustered by these flying swords. He felt an immense sense of frustration, as if he were fighting himself, unable to determine a victor.

However, he was, after all, a sect leader, and quickly composed himself. He had no reason to lose to a fake. "You can imitate my face, you can imitate my swords," he thought, "but can you imitate my thoughts exactly?"

So he suddenly recalled his eight flying swords, which then merged into one, forming a giant sword that he thrust towards the opponent. When the opponent's eight flying swords met this giant sword, they were instantly knocked away. The "Xuan Bajing" opposite him quickly waved his hand, and his eight swords flew back. He also raised a giant sword to meet the attack.

The two giant swords were about to collide. This level of direct confrontation allowed no deception; such a clash usually resulted in one death and one injury, and if their cultivation levels were truly equal, it was even more likely to be a mutually destructive outcome.

Just then, a strange smile suddenly appeared on Xuan Bajing's lips. In the next second, with a flash of lightning, he vanished. Simultaneously, the giant sword, now without a wielder, instantly dissolved into thin air.

Having lost its target, the "Xuan Bajing" thrust his full-powered sword into empty air. His entire being was instantly racked with discomfort from the surging qi and blood. It was this momentary weakness that provided the opening. A flash of lightning appeared by his side, and Xuan Bajing was already there.

Thunder Flash Technique!

A sword in his hand, fast as lightning, pierced directly towards the vital spot between the opponent's ribs. The "Xuan Bajing" glowed with lightning, instinctively flashing to dodge, but was still a half-step too slow and was struck by the sword.

Xuan Bajing smiled confidently. He didn't know where this impostor came from, but an impostor was still an impostor, no match for him. The "Xuan Bajing" opposite him looked down at the wound in his ribs, showing no sign of panic. Instead, he raised his head and gave a strange smile. Seeing his opponent's smile, Xuan Bajing frowned, unable to understand why he would smile like that.

Just then, his expression suddenly changed. He looked down at his own ribs, where a blood spot suddenly appeared on his clothes, followed by the spread of blood, quickly staining half of his clothing crimson. Xuan Bajing felt a sharp pain and could no longer stand steadily. He half-knelt on the ground, barely leaning on his long sword to avoid falling completely.

"How is this possible!" He was utterly bewildered. His sure-kill move had clearly struck the opponent, yet the wound was on his own body. Even if it were an illusion, he couldn't possibly have swung his sword to stab himself. With his many years of cultivation and experience, he completely failed to understand how the opponent had achieved this. Earth Immortals are indeed unfathomable...

Seeing Xuan Bajing fall, Guan Chouhai was terrified. At this point, he no longer hoped to harm Zhao Hao's physical body. He had only one thought left: "Escape!" Unfortunately, though he wanted to run, the "Guan Chouhai" opposite him wouldn't allow it. The Vajra Bracelets in his hands transformed into countless bracelet afterimages, entangling his feet.

Left with no choice, he could only deal with this impostor first. But when he thought of how Xuan Bajing had clearly defeated the impostor, yet it was Xuan Bajing himself who was severely wounded and lost combat ability, a wave of despair washed over him.

In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged a dozen moves. Suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind: Since Xuan Bajing stabbing the impostor had instead wounded himself, then if he did the opposite, wouldn't he be able to harm the impostor?

Embracing death to live!

Similar principles were not uncommon in Daoist teachings. As soon as he thought of this, he immediately acted, directly slapping his own vital chest point with great force. He didn't dare strike his head, fearing he might truly kill himself. However, his strike was still very forceful, hoping to catch the opponent off guard before they could react and prepare.

"Ugh!" A large mouthful of blood spewed out. He felt his qi and blood churning, and his entire body's meridians throbbed with excruciating pain. Ignoring his own injuries, he looked at his opponent with eager anticipation. To his astonishment, the "Guan Chouhai" opposite him was completely unharmed and instead wore a mocking smile.

"Damn it, I acted rashly! I'm truly foolish, truly..." Overwhelmed by anger and despair, Guan Chouhai immediately fainted.