Chapter 78: A Familiar Feeling

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Xu Chen snapped back to reality, gazing blankly at the unfamiliar cultivation chamber as he walked out in confusion. He realized he was at the teleportation point of the Ten-Thousand-Mile Road.

“Senior, why was I sent out without warning?” Xu Chen found the supervisor from before.

“Oh, it’s you. I forgot to mention when you first went in—each entry to the Ten-Thousand-Mile Road lasts a maximum of one hundred days,” the supervisor replied. “The first time, you get an extra five days, making it one hundred and five days, three and a half months in total. I saw you had entered a state of enlightenment, so I imagine you gained much from this journey.” He smiled at Xu Chen.

“A modest harvest,” Xu Chen replied. With that, he took his leave from the teleportation hall of the Ten-Thousand-Mile Road.

“Young Master Xu Chen?” A powerful cultivator, at least at the Returning Void realm, approached Xu Chen with a courteous smile.

“I am Xu Chen, and you are?” Xu Chen observed the man’s attire and had a guess.

“Master Longevity instructed me to wait here for you and escort you home,” the man said, still beaming. “Would you like to return to Leizhou Capital or to the Great Creek Sect?”

“I’ll head to Leizhou Capital. Thank you for your trouble, senior.”

“Oh, please don’t call me ‘senior,’ Young Master Xu Chen. It’s too much for the likes of me. Just call me Xiao Liu,” the man replied, leading Xu Chen to a luxurious spirit vessel fifty zhang long.

“This…” Xu Chen couldn’t help but mutter, “Brother Longevity is really going out of his way.”

He had been sent off with a carrier-class vessel, and now was being picked up with a destroyer-class ship. It seemed this second-generation cultivator spared no effort to show him honor.

In Leizhou Capital, inside the Myriad Records Shop.

“I’d like a price catalogue of all goods in Leizhou Capital for the past half year,” Xu Chen said to the attendant.

“That will be 2,500 spirit coins.”

The task he’d accepted was to span three months to a year. Now, nearly four months had passed—reporting back early would also save him some spirit coins.

On his way back to Leizhou Capital, Xu Chen entered the Sacred White Space for a moment. Seeing a new door had appeared, he felt reassured and returned to his affairs.

At the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall of the Great Creek Sect.

Xu Chen, smiling, handed the jade slip containing the half-year price catalogue to Chief Steward Bai.

Seeing no one else around, Xu Chen addressed her directly as Sister Bai.

“Back so soon? It must have gone smoothly,” Steward Bai replied with a gentle smile.

“It was all thanks to your support, Sister Bai.”

“All right, I have other matters to attend to. You go on with your work.” She turned, her three tails swaying as she headed toward the inner hall.

A skylark landed gently at his doorstep. After dismounting, Xu Chen found neither Niu Dali nor Hu Yue at home, so he went straight inside.

Within the Sacred White Space, Xu Chen gazed at the bronze door marked with the Seven Forms of Celestial Evolution and pushed it open.

Inside, the Celestial Evolution double sat quietly cross-legged. When Xu Chen entered, it merely nodded slightly.

“Aren’t you going to decorate a bit?” Xu Chen, sensing this doppelganger’s mild temperament, asked conversationally.

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“No need. In fact, I find the emptiness quite comfortable,” the doppelganger replied, dressed in white robes with a serene air, like a high monk.

“Seems each of you doppelgangers has your own personality.”

“So, how should we do this? Should I just face you directly in battle?” Xu Chen asked.

“I’d like to let you through, but the rules forbid it.” The doppelganger rose slowly.

“You have a knack for the Seven Forms of Celestial Evolution. Have you considered comprehending the unity of form and intent through your own cultivation?”

“I’d like to, but there’s no time. In this grand age, I want to make my mark,” Xu Chen answered candidly. “So I must accumulate strength rapidly if I’m to obtain everything I desire in the future.”

“Well said. Clarity of heart, understanding of self—you do this well,” the doppelganger affirmed, then assumed a basic attacking stance. “Come, let’s spar as we talk.”

“All right~”

In a heartbeat, the illusory image of a raging sea filled the battlefield, towering waves crashing toward the doppelganger.

Xu Chen held nothing back, attacking with full force.

As soon as they crossed blows, Xu Chen realized this was another troublesome doppelganger.

Every move he made was as forceful as thunder. The resounding power shook the battlefield, and the sounds of flesh and blood colliding echoed constantly.

Yet no matter how he attacked, the doppelganger easily blocked and countered.

Its vital energy wasn’t especially strong, but every move seemed to possess a magical quality, perfectly restraining Xu Chen’s techniques.

Xu Chen now possessed the strength of one dragon and seven tigers, while the doppelganger had one dragon and five tigers.

Since overcoming the Sacred Ape Six Forms doppelganger, this was the first time Xu Chen had been outmatched by someone with weaker vital energy.

Bang!

The doppelganger landed a punch on Xu Chen’s chest. The force of one dragon and five tigers pierced through his protective aura and struck his viscera.

Blood spurted from his mouth, but the immense vitality within his organs rapidly mended the internal injuries.

“Your combat thinking is too rigid. A true master would spend the first twenty moves observing you, and the next twenty to finish you.”

“You’re gifted in battle, but all these years of being bested by your doppelgangers have made you fight purely on instinct.”

“Fighting requires brains, too. Watch and learn.”

The doppelganger closed in and, using the simplest moves, killed Xu Chen outright.

Within the Sacred White Space, Xu Chen’s consciousness reformed, and he unhesitatingly pushed open the bronze door of the Seven Forms once more.

Xu Chen felt a familiar rush of excitement, his fighting spirit rekindled.

Inside, the doppelganger greeted him with a gentle smile. “You’re full of energy. Let’s fight and talk as before.”

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“All right.” Xu Chen charged forward again.

This time, he began to observe the doppelganger’s moves, but no matter how he analyzed things, each of his own actions was perfectly anticipated and countered.

Before long, he was eliminated once more.

The third time Xu Chen pushed open the door.

“The Seven Forms of Celestial Evolution is a subtle art. If you want to calculate, don’t use the same methods as last battle.”

“Understood~” Xu Chen launched himself at the doppelganger.

A fourth time.

“You’ve improved, but there’s still a bit to go.”

“Again—let’s fight as we talk.”

“Okay~”

Xu Chen continued his assault.

Sixteen times in succession, until his spirit was utterly exhausted, and only then did he collapse into a deep and satisfied sleep.

The next morning, as soon as Xu Chen stepped out of his small courtyard, he saw Hu Yue sparring with Niu Dali.

Hu Yue moved with agility and decisiveness, each strike aimed at Niu Dali’s vital points, though failing to break through his defenses.

Upon seeing Xu Chen, the fox and the ox immediately crowded around him joyfully.

“Brother Xu!”

“Xu Chen!”

“It’s been a while,” Xu Chen said with a smile.

“Little Hu Yue has improved greatly lately.”

“That’s because Brother Niu has been letting me win,” Hu Yue said, scratching her head shyly.

“Brother Xu, we’ve been looking forward to your return,” Niu Dali exclaimed. “Come, let’s spar with weapons.”

“Gladly.”

On the small square, Xu Chen wielded a blade, while Niu Dali gripped a pair of axes.

“Brother Niu, give it your all.”

“Of course!”

“Moo!” Niu Dali bellowed, charging at Xu Chen.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Xu Chen’s blade was already at Niu Dali’s throat.