Chapter 120: The Cunning Doppelganger

Speak ten, listen eight, see six, remember four. Looking back now, Xu Chen realized he had only managed to retain about twenty percent of what he had learned.

"This world is certainly not friendly to poor students," Xu Chen remarked, looking up at the magnificent Rainbow Tower.

Just then, two figures were ejected from the tower one after the other, having been eliminated. Seeing his two reliable assistants, Xu Chen immediately spoke up. "Don't say a word yet. Quickly, imprint the Dao scripts you saw inside the Rainbow Tower into your memory."

The two nodded and immediately sat cross-legged, beginning to recall the Dao scripts they had witnessed. Three hours later, they slowly opened their eyes.

"Many thanks for the reminder, Junior Brother Xu." Zong Changshou’s expression was filled with excitement; the Dao scripts he had remembered happened to relate to his method of Qi-blood Foundation Establishment. His cultivation had now broken through to a new level.

"These Dao scripts will save us a lot of time when practicing techniques and supernatural powers in the future," Li Chengfu added, his own face beaming with joy.

"Since we’ve all gained something, let’s find a secluded spot to digest it." Xu Chen now wanted to find a hidden place where he could enter the Sacred White Space and give his heart-stabbing doppelgänger a proper lesson.

"Agreed." The two were of the same mind.

They found the Phantom-Colored Dragon Horse hiding in a corner of the Rainbow Tower, and the trio set off once more. As they left the area covered by the tower, the environment immediately turned harsh. The earth was cracked, and deep gullies crisscrossed the landscape.

"There used to be a mountain range in that area; this earthquake has likely split the entire range apart," Zong Changshou noted, studying a map and pointing in a certain direction. As he exchanged information with others, his intelligence grew, and the map in his hands became increasingly detailed.

"Then let's go."

The three headed toward the mountain range. Along the way, they encountered several groups of alien beings, but after exchanging glances, the others decided that Xu Chen’s team was not to be trifled with and steered clear.

"My Qi-blood Foundation Establishment method has reached the 'Intent' level. I might need ten days or half a month to consolidate my strength," Zong Changshou said, his tone brimming with excitement.

"You broke through!" Li Chengfu’s expression twisted—that look of "I’m happy for you, but damn it, why are you doing so well?"

"Keep practicing; you’ll have your day too," Zong Changshou said, patting Li Chengfu’s shoulder with great consideration.

After traveling a thousand miles, the three men and one horse arrived outside the collapsed mountain range. "Truly a great place to hide." The entire range had crumbled, creating a jagged, uneven terrain that was extremely difficult to traverse.

They climbed into the mountains and found a suitable hiding spot within a fractured valley. Xu Chen drew his Ink Shadow Saber and tidied up the area. Beneath a cliff wall, they found a space the size of a basketball court, with three meditation chambers carved into the edge of the rocky ground.

"Now we can all cultivate in peace." The thought of his heart-stabbing doppelgänger ignited a fire in Xu Chen’s chest again. Each of them took one meditation chamber.

Inside the Sacred White Space, Xu Chen pushed open the golden doors, his face full of murderous intent. Above the Underworld Sea, the Pale Moon hung high. The doppelgänger was still on the small island in the center of the lake. This time, Xu Chen didn't waste words; he started the fight immediately.

His Qi-blood energy burned madly as a giant whale leaped over the Dragon Gate behind him. With the strength of eight dragons and five tigers, Xu Chen struck out at his doppelgänger.

*Boom!*

A handprint the size of a house appeared on the island, but the doppelgänger was nowhere to be seen.

"Don't be so irritable, let's chat for a while," a sunny voice called out, the doppelgänger wearing a brilliant smile.

"We can fight and chat at the same time. Tell me, why did you stab my heart?" Xu Chen asked, his face dark with rage as he unleashed a river of force, sending wave after wave of energy toward his double.

The doppelgänger moved like a swimming dragon, dodging through the air. When there was nowhere left to hide, he dove into the Underworld Sea and emerged elsewhere.

"I wanted to talk to you properly, but you couldn't control yourself when you got close to me. I apologize for that." The doppelgänger’s head popped out of the sea, revealing a mouthful of bright white teeth.

"You think I’m afraid to enter the sea!" Xu Chen’s Qi-blood energy surged, and he dove into the Underworld Sea to pursue his double.

But the doppelgänger was even more agile in the water. Even though Xu Chen’s Qi-blood energy far exceeded his, the doppelgänger managed to evade every killing blow. Xu Chen, in hot pursuit, ground his teeth in frustration.

"You brat, look at me!" Xu Chen roared.

"Calm down, anger hurts the body." The doppelgänger swam around like a loach. Xu Chen chased him, unable to even touch his shadow.

"Trying to wear me down, are you? Fine, let's go!" He knew the doppelgänger’s Qi-blood energy was finite. Relying on his own vast reserves, Xu Chen didn't believe he couldn't outlast his double. He maintained his Qi-blood at the level of eight dragons and pursued him at a steady pace.

After five hours of stalemate, Xu Chen realized something was wrong: the doppelgänger’s recovery speed in the Underworld Sea was identical to his own. Looking at the loach-like figure ahead, Xu Chen’s Qi-blood energy exploded, rising beyond the strength of nine dragons.

"Die!"

*Boom!*

A massive force erupted within the Underworld Sea. Even his strongest strike only grazed the doppelgänger.

"Fine, fine, you want to play it like this?" Xu Chen’s orifices bled, his vitality waning, and eventually, he died in the Underworld Sea.

In the Sacred White Space, Xu Chen’s consciousness materialized again. "Heavenly Star Iron and Sharp Moon Steel—fused together, they can forge a Wind-Piercing Spear." After saying this, he pushed open the door to the smithy. "Please craft ten Wind-Piercing Spears with a quality of 90 or higher."

While Xu Chen was locked in a bitter struggle with his doppelgänger, Zong Changshou had entered a state of enlightenment on the small plaza outside the meditation chambers. A profound aura surged from his body, growing increasingly turbulent, yet it remained hidden behind the movements of his Qi-blood Foundation Establishment method. He sat there, his presence completely erased.

Li Chengfu, watching from the side, couldn't help but feel a mix of envy and jealousy. "If this guy hides his presence like that, even Junior Brother Xu would have a hard time finding him. I need to cultivate hard, too; I can’t let him leave me too far behind."

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. Inside the Sacred White Space, Xu Chen had five Wind-Piercing Spears strapped to his back, with five more stuck into the island to be used at will.

"Come now, doppelgänger, let’s have a proper chat." Xu Chen smiled as he entered, while the doppelgänger maintained a distance of 400 zhang.

"Weren't you the one who wanted to chat? Now that I’m here, you’re unwilling?" Xu Chen pulled a spear from his back, a smile still fixed on his face.

For this entire time, Xu Chen had been playing a game of cat and mouse. Even with the spears, he still couldn't corner his double. On average, he needed a hundred throws to land a single hit. He was betting everything on a single, fatal strike. As for why he used spears, it was because bows made of ordinary materials couldn't withstand his strength. Only spears could barely handle the power.

"If you won't talk, then keep running." A dangerous smile touched Xu Chen’s lips. His Qi-blood surged to the level of eight dragons and five tigers.

*Boom!*

He hurled the spear, a sonic boom echoing through the space as the weapon shot toward his double like a missile.

"Give up, you’ll never catch me!" The doppelgänger turned and dove into the Underworld Sea. The spear in mid-air adjusted its trajectory to follow him.

*Bang!!*

The Underworld Sea formed a hand and swatted at the spear, but the weapon pierced through the watery palm and drove deep into the sea.

"Don't rush, let’s take our time." Xu Chen leaped through the air toward the spot where the spear had entered the water.

Five hours later, a Wind-Piercing Spear struck the doppelgänger in the depths like a bolt of lightning. The immense force stored in the spear exploded inside the double’s body. Xu Chen, bleeding from his seven orifices and completely drained of Qi-blood, stared intensely at his double. But the doppelgänger in the Underworld Sea was far tougher than he had imagined, surviving the spear imbued with nine dragons of force.

His consciousness faded, and his avatar materialized again in the Sacred White Space. "I was so close this time!" Xu Chen gritted his teeth, his fists clenched. "Again. I don't believe this guy can be this lucky forever."

The meditation chamber door opened. Xu Chen pulled out his Ink Shadow Saber and jumped out of the pit to find some alien beings to vent his frustrations on.

In a corner of the plaza, light flickered, and Zong Changshou appeared. "Junior Brother’s temper has been getting worse lately. Who on earth is provoking him?" Zong Changshou scratched his head, watching the direction in which Xu Chen had disappeared.

Two hours later, Xu Chen returned, dragging a sheep-like alien beast. Zong Changshou and Li Chengfu were practicing on the plaza.

"Brother Li, please roast this for us. We haven't had a decent meal in a while," Xu Chen said, having successfully vented his anger.

"No problem, leave it to me. I’ve been craving roasted meat lately." Li Chengfu quickly took the beast and began to skin it.

"Junior Brother, did you notice me when you came out earlier?" Zong Changshou asked hopefully.

"A mortal body is, after all, different from stone or wood. Brother, you are too attached to these things," Xu Chen said with a smile. He had never understood Zong Changshou’s obsession with hiding right under his nose.

"Fair enough. Thank you for the advice, Junior Brother." Zong Changshou understood, though he felt a bit dejected.

Li Chengfu had already butchered the beast and was marinating the legs.

"Brother Zong, I see you've reached the strength of six dragons and five tigers. Shall we test your combat power?"

"Forget it. Junior Brother’s combat power is beyond normal. Sparring with you would just break my Dao heart. I’d better find someone else." Zong Changshou waved his hands frantically. Junior Brother was in a foul mood lately; it was best not to provoke him.