He tentatively circulated his inner strength to gauge the other party's power, only to discover that the other seemed to possess exactly the same strength as him.
Not only was their cultivation level identical—even their breathing rhythm and the way they looked at people seemed to have been cast from the same mold.
If he had to describe it, it was as though Gu Chen were looking into a mirror!
Realizing this, a faint smile curled onto Gu Chen's lips.
He murmured to himself, "Well now, could the guardian of the Third Divine Hall be another me?"
"I thought this would be troublesome. Who would have thought all I had to do was defeat myself?"
As he said this, Gu Chen wore a thoroughly unconcerned expression.
After all, in his previous life, he had been the foremost Heavenly Emperor among the Three Realms since the dawn of time.
There had been no one in the world who could stand against Gu Chen.
Many times, left with no other choice, Gu Chen could only use his Spiritual Sense to condense a clone of himself and fight it.
Though the clone's strength was evenly matched with his, Gu Chen improved too quickly!
More often than not, while fighting, Gu Chen's cultivation level would advance by leaps and bounds again.
So much so that, many times, even his own clone could no longer satisfy Gu Chen's need for battle.
Returning to reality, Gu Chen looked at the other him before him. He had initially wanted to stretch his limbs properly.
But he still needed to obtain the treasure as quickly as possible and raise his cultivation level, so he had no time to waste here.
"Still observing, are you?"
"As expected of me at this stage. Cautious indeed."
"But even if you observe for longer, what can you do?"
Gu Chen gave a cold laugh, and his figure vanished from where he stood almost instantly!
At the same time, the clone standing opposite Gu Chen vanished as well!
The next second, Gu Chen and his clone appeared simultaneously in midair within the crystal palace.
Boom!
Their palms collided, instantly unleashing wave after wave of majestic energy ripples.
One had to know that Gu Chen had already reached the Profound Gang Realm.
Which meant that his clone was also at the Profound Gang Realm.
When two Profound Gang Realm cultivators clashed palms head-on, the energy they unleashed was terrifying indeed!
In merely the span of a breath, fierce killing intent erupted from Gu Chen's eyes.
Once he set his mind on a goal, no one could stop him.
Not even himself!
As the killing intent in Gu Chen's heart surged, the energy in his palm swelled instantly.
He directly blasted the other him before him into pieces!
After shattering, the clone turned into a fine rain of icy crystals that slowly fell over Gu Chen's body.
From beginning to end, Gu Chen's expression did not change in the slightest.
No one could obstruct his advancing footsteps.
Gu Chen stepped up the crystal stairs one step at a time, eventually standing directly before that halo of light.
The halo continuously spewed vast amounts of spiritual energy in every direction.
So much so that merely standing near it, Gu Chen felt it greatly benefited his cultivation level.
But just as he reached out to touch the halo, a voice suddenly rang through the crystal palace.
"Gu Chen!"
"Give me your life!"
The instant he heard the voice, Gu Chen knew that Shi Mengying had found him.
At the same time, he sensed a powerful killing intent striking from behind!
Compared to the killing intent she had displayed at the entrance to the Lingxu Secret Realm, it was clearly much stronger.
Gu Chen immediately realized that Shi Mengying's cultivation level had improved.
But this was also within Gu Chen's expectations.
He knew that Phoenix Bloodline flowed through Shi Mengying's body.
To a certain extent, this special bloodline was much like his Heavenly Dao Bone.
Both were innate secret treasures capable of accelerating a cultivator's training.
The spiritual energy here was already abundant, and with the enhancement of the Phoenix Bloodline—
Even if Shi Mengying had broken through the Foundation Establishment Realm in one go, Gu Chen would not have been surprised.
The moment he sensed the killing intent, Gu Chen did not move an inch.
Because Gu Chen felt there was simply no need to.
Yet in Shi Mengying's eyes—
It was purely because her speed was too fast, leaving Gu Chen with no time to react!
But in the next second, Shi Mengying was utterly dumbfounded.
Her sword tip, still two fingers' breadth away from Gu Chen, could not advance even a fraction further!
At that moment, Shi Mengying was startled instinctively.
By all rights, her current cultivation level was nearing the Profound Gang Realm.
And no matter how formidable Gu Chen was, his cultivation level could not possibly surpass hers.
What on earth was going on?!
Overwhelming confusion rose in Shi Mengying's heart.
No matter how much force she used, her sword tip seemed to be firmly bound in place!
"Gu Chen, die!"
Shi Mengying flew into a rage.
Yet she still could not break through that thin layer of barrier!
"No!"
"That's impossible!"
While Shi Mengying was still breaking down in bewilderment—
Gu Chen, his back turned toward Shi Mengying, said coldly, "Seventh level of Innate Realm?"
"Stronger than those few. At least you have some skill."
"You haven't disgraced the Phoenix Bloodline within you."
Gu Chen spoke unhurriedly, his tone as casual as if he were chatting with Shi Mengying about everyday matters.
Hearing Gu Chen say this, Shi Mengying was startled once more.
Judging from his words, Shi Mengying felt that he had already met her other sisters!
But upon thinking it over, Shi Mengying found it perfectly normal.
Gu Youwei was Gu Chen's biological younger sister, while Wei Qingyu was Gu Chen's childhood sweetheart.
After being reborn, the first two people Gu Chen would have met must have been Gu Youwei and Wei Qingyu.
If she had not come in advance to wait for Gu Chen in the Lingxu Secret Realm of East Desolation Commandery—
Shi Mengying would likely have had to wait until Gu Chen arrived in Immortal County before she could meet him!
"What's the point of all this nonsense?"
"Gu Chen, you must die today!"
After saying this, an intense killing intent flashed through Shi Mengying's eyes.
The entire crystal palace was filled with the frenzied killing intent spilling from Shi Mengying!
Blue streams of light suddenly flickered behind Shi Mengying.
This was how Phoenix Spirit Fire appeared outside the body after merging with true qi.
With an angry shout from Shi Mengying, countless Phoenix Spirit Fires charged at Gu Chen from all directions.
Yet Gu Chen merely curled his lip, and at last, a trace of change appeared on his face.
But that changed expression carried only a lazy indifference!
The next second, the Phoenix Spirit Fire landed directly upon Gu Chen.
In an instant, it became a blazing inferno, attempting to burn every inch of Gu Chen's flesh and blood to ashes.
Shi Mengying stared at the frenzied currents of flame before her and immediately burst into wild laughter.
"Gu Chen, what are you putting on an act for?"
"I don't know what Evil Technique you used to keep me from getting close to you."
"But you'd better savor the taste of this Phoenix Spirit Fire."
As she spoke, the emotions in Shi Mengying's eyes were extremely complicated.
Shi Mengying had carried this hatred with her from her previous life until now.
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