Just a Clone? The Stunned Prince!

The Debate Dao Fields of Daoyuan Continent formed an open, level small world, the greatest place in the realm for debating the Dao.

Located at the center of Daoyuan Continent, some said it had formed naturally, while others claimed it had been built by some mighty expert in ancient times.

The Debate Dao Fields were divided into Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow grades.

Heaven, Earth, and Profound grades were respectively provided for first-, second-, and third-rank experts, while Yellow-grade Debate Dao Fields were for cultivators below the high ranks.

Earth-Grade Debate Dao Field No. 39 covered a radius of a hundred li, with viewing platforms both above and below ground.

Naturally, the viewing platforms in the sky offered the best vantage points.

Small floating islands hovered in the air.

Every island was protected by a Boundary Marker Formation that even second-rank cultivators could never breach.

Sometimes, the combatants would even rest atop the protective barrier, allowing spectators to inspect their conditions at close range.

Some floating islands could even fly, adjusting their positions like warships.

The Number One Island where Ji Che was located was known as the Coiling Dragon Viewing Platform, and it occupied the largest area.

Everything was available for leisure and entertainment: beast arenas, Celestial Horse tracks, aquatic beast games, and smaller indoor activities like Liubo, pu, Gewu, Duicao, hot springs, drinks, and delicacies.

When Zhao Xing flew up, he was brought there aboard a special cloud-route pleasure boat.

This was because a duel was currently underway at Debate Dao Field No. 39.

"Boom, boom!"

Two martial artists were fighting. One wore black armor and wielded a blue curved blade, icy energy radiating from his body as he attacked the white-robed Sword Dancer.

However, their battle in the sky lasted only four breaths before they swiftly vanished into an underground wind tunnel.

As expected of an Earth-grade Debate Dao Field. Its combat terrain is incredibly varied. No matter one's profession, everyone can find an environment suited to their strengths, Zhao Xing thought.

What he had just passed was wind-tunnel terrain. Underground lay a cavern roughly a hundred meters in radius. At times, violent winds erupted from it; at other times, they spiraled inward, generating enormous suction.

The two combatants had just been blasted out by the wind tunnel, but the shift between its repulsive force and suction happened in an instant.

Before they could even steady themselves or unleash spells and martial techniques, they might be blown apart by the wind tunnel. It greatly tested a sparring partner's adaptability.

"The Debate Dao Fields here are definitely not just a patch of flat ground where everyone bombards each other. The environments are complex. If you encounter terrain you are unfamiliar with, you may not even be able to use your strength before being defeated by your opponent."

Zhao Xing opened his Heavenly Eye and carefully examined his surroundings. "The focus of the current era is pacifying the Southern Barbarians. Much of the terrain here—

the Celestial Timing, even the vegetation, has been modeled after the environment of the Southern Barbarians."

Though this was merely sparring and debating the Dao, its political leanings were obvious. If one could not defeat an opponent in an environment as complex and harsh as the Southern Wilderness, what kind of expert could one be?

Great Zhou did not need flashy frauds.

"Divine Might Marquis, we have arrived." Once the pleasure boat came to a stop before the palace square, a fair-skinned maid approached and softly reminded him.

"Mm. Lead the way." Zhao Xing nodded.

Two beautiful maids led him off the boat and toward the palace ahead.

He had only just climbed the steps and had not yet crossed the threshold when a bright voice rang out.

"Big Brother! You finally came!"

Ji Che rose from the seat of honor in the main hall, lifted the hem of his robe, and hurried down. The jeweled curtain crown atop his head swayed, and a warm milky-white radiance shone from his entire body.

"Your servant pays respects to Your Highness." Zhao Xing was about to bow. The identities of all the princes had been made public in the seventieth year of the Eternal Governance Era, since they had completed every stage of their training. Ji Che had even been formally named Crown Prince.

"Big Brother, what are you doing?" Ji Che caught Zhao Xing's hands and stopped him from bowing. "This isn't some public occasion."

At that moment, a white-bearded elder behind Ji Che reminded him, "Your Highness is the heir apparent. When Divine Might Marquis pays his respects, Your Highness should return the courtesy to conform with ritual. How can you put your arms around each other's shoulders?"

Zhao Xing glanced at the Ritual Cultivator. His name was Ji Wenchang, and he was a Grand Ritualist responsible for managing royal etiquette.

Ji Che still held Zhao Xing's hand. Hearing this, he said carelessly, "The purpose of ritual is to accord with human feelings. Sage Duke Wen, among his fellow villagers, was respectful and reserved, seeming unable to speak. In ancestral temples and at court, he spoke clearly, but always with caution. At court, when speaking with lower ministers, he was frank and at ease; when speaking with senior ministers, he was respectful and composed."

"This shows that ritual depends on the occasion and must take human feelings into account. Today, Big Brother and I are meeting in private. Putting our arms around each other's shoulders is the etiquette between us."

Zhao Xing smiled inwardly at this.

Ji Wenchang cupped his hands. "Your Highness omitted one line: 'When the ruler was present, he was respectful and composed.'"

Ji Che's expression darkened.

Ji Wenchang might not have been arguing with Wu Emperor, but his latter remark was clearly directed at Zhao Xing, implying that as a subject, he ought to observe a subject's etiquette.

Hearing this, Zhao Xing gently freed himself from Ji Che's grip, brushed his sleeve, and still bowed. "Greetings, Your Highness."

Ji Che had no choice but to return the bow. Only then did he pull Zhao Xing over to sit in the guest seats.

However, Ji Che was not one to suffer a loss. The moment he sat down, he told Ji Wenchang and the other ritual officials, "I have some confidential matters to discuss with Divine Might Marquis. Grand Ritualist, please lead everyone away for now."

Ji Wenchang looked helpless. Since they were discussing confidential matters, Ritual Cultivators like them, who regulated conduct and speech, naturally could not remain to listen.

It seemed he had still underestimated Divine Might Marquis's standing in His Highness's heart.

Even making one brief comment had been unacceptable.

Ji Wenchang and the three Ritual Cultivators respectfully rose and bowed. "This servant obeys."

They then led the Ritual Cultivators out.

Once they had left, Ji Che changed from kneeling upright to sitting with his legs stretched out. He grabbed a cushion and reclined against it, removed his jeweled crown and sash, casually tossed them beside the mat, loosened his collar, and let out a long breath.

"Phew. They're so annoying. I only came out to have fun with my sister, yet the Grand Ritualist had to bring people along to record every word and action of mine."

Zhao Xing also relaxed, returning to the way he interacted with Ji Che in private. "That's the Grand Ritualist's livelihood. You can't exactly leave them with no food to eat. By the way, Fifth Brother, did you come with the Eldest Princess?"

Ji Che shook his head. "Not Eldest Sister. Seventh Sister."

Seventh Sister was Ji Yingluo, the Thousand Year Princess who would later create the "insects."

Ji Yingluo was already eighty years old, but as the emperor's biological elder sister, she was destined to live for a very long time.

So she was still considered very young.

"Seventh Sister is playing at Duicao Hall with the granddaughters of Duke Yang and the Duke of Wei."

Zhao Xing nodded slightly. "What is this about the prince from Morse Country in the West Sea? How exactly has he been arrogant? Why do you insist on making him suffer?"

Wu Emperor was broad-minded. Under normal circumstances, he would certainly not care about a mere prince from a vassal state.

The West Sea vassal states were tiny places. Let alone a prince, what did it matter even if he were a king? Ji Che would never have taken him seriously.

"Para Jinko wants to marry Seventh Sister! A minister from a tiny barbarian state actually dares entertain such thoughts!" Ji Che said agitatedly. "Big Brother, tell me, isn't he arrogant?!"

"Oh? Did he submit a state letter and formally present a memorial? Why haven't I heard about it?" Zhao Xing asked in confusion.

"Not exactly."

"Then did he make some grand declaration or act arrogantly?"

"Not quite. He merely courted her for several months and even followed her to Daoyuan Continent—wasn't that obvious enough?!"

Zhao Xing fell silent.

Well, it seemed the incident with Youruo Princess had still left Wu Emperor with psychological scars.

The man had done nothing except court her a few times, yet Ji Che had bristled. No matter how one looked at it, he simply found the prince of Morse Country unpleasant.

Both during the reign of the Grand Ancestor and during Wen Emperor's reign, such precedents had existed. Even if the man truly submitted a memorial, it would not have been a major matter.

The West Sea vassal states differed from the Four Great Royal Courts of the Southern Wilderness. They had always bowed their heads in submission and had always offered tribute.

Merely thinking about it, Zhao Xing felt that this truly did not count as "arrogance."

But Ji Che would not accept that.

Merely thinking about it? Even thinking about it was fucking unacceptable!

"Big Brother." Ji Che sat upright. "You came at just the right time. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to beat him up personally, so help me teach that Jinke Prince a lesson and crush that foolish idea of his!"

Zhao Xing nodded. "What do you want me to do?"

Seeing Zhao Xing agree, Ji Che immediately smiled. "Jinke Prince is at the middle stage of the Heavenly Luck Realm. He has brought five experts from his country with him, all at the perfected Heavenly Luck Realm. He boasts about the achievements of those five experts to everyone he meets."

"I cannot refute him because Father Emperor just praised them. Those five experts really did achieve something in the war against the Sith Clan."

The Morse Clan was a vassal of Great Zhou, but the Sith Clan was not. They did not submit to Great Zhou and often attacked its vassal states. They had been expanding throughout the Western Extremity, harboring great ambitions.

That place was too distant and bitterly cold, making it unsuitable for agriculture and development.

If they wished to cultivate the land, they would need Li Boqian, the Grand Agriculture Official, to bring the Solar Terms Decree divine artifact there and spend several centuries melting part of the glaciers.

Yet melting the glaciers could produce uncontrollable consequences, such as releasing ancient viruses frozen within the ice.

Therefore, Great Zhou had never intended to occupy that territory. It merely supported several vassal states and planted a few banners there.

Great Zhou was currently in a period of transition between old and new. The Morse Clan had rendered meritorious service in resisting the Sith Clan, and Jing Emperor had just praised Jinke Prince. Ji Che could not openly express his dissatisfaction.

Nor could he send out the experts under his command to beat Jinke Prince up, so he could only seek someone else.

Since his little brother had asked, Zhao Xing was naturally happy to handle such a trivial matter.

He had come to find experts to spar with anyway, so it was convenient.

But he still needed to learn the details of his opponents.

"It's not impossible to fight, but you need to tell me roughly how strong those warriors are."

"The one who came is only a clone forged from peak eighth-rank materials. I can't afford to capsize in a gutter."

"If this single clone takes the field, the True Self Faction's spells will be mostly unusable. I cannot use the Transformation of Seasons Art either. I can only fight with the Celestial Timing Art and the Earthly Advantage Method."

"This clone was refined somewhat, but its grasp of spells is probably only around eighty percent of my true body's."

"If they are too strong, I will need to summon my true body here," Zhao Xing said.

In any case, they were all on Daoyuan Continent. His true body would only need a few days to get here, and delaying his comprehension of the Soldier Envoy Divine Art by ten days or half a month did not matter.

Helping Wu Emperor regain some face and strengthen their relationship was more important!

"I prepared this long ago." Ji Che beckoned, and an Earth Mirror immediately floated over from the side.

"Big Brother, take a look. These are records of Jinke and his five warriors in battle."

"Jinke himself fought only one battle, but his five warriors have already fought more than a dozen here."

Zhao Xing took the Earth Mirror. Before he had time to examine it, cheers and frustrated cries rose from outside.

"His 'Ice Chart King' won again." Ji Che snorted.

Listening carefully, Zhao Xing discovered that young masters and noble ladies in several distant halls were placing bets.

It seemed this Ice Chart King had won many battles already, causing them to lose quite a bit of money.

The money itself was insignificant. The main problem was that they could not save face.

Ji Che appeared to be smiling, but inwardly he was already cursing furiously.

The moment Zhao Xing heard this, he roughly understood what had happened. As the prince of a vassal state, Jinke was somewhat tactless. The others had not sent out their true experts, letting him pick opponents at will to display his warriors' prowess, yet he kept winning without giving the future emperor any face at all?

Zhao Xing began examining the records carefully while evaluating them inwardly.

"Five warriors, all at the perfected Heavenly Luck Realm. Judging solely from these thirty-odd battles, the other three are all second-tier experts above the standard. They have mastered a single first-rank true intent, cultivated at least one top-tier spell to major mastery, and possess abundant combat experience."

"One can see from how they make use of the environment that nearly all of them can easily distort the rules of heaven and earth."

Distortion was not alteration; it was still within the scope of second rank.

"Only Ice Chart King and Kro King can be considered first-rate." Zhao Xing thought. "Of course, they still do not qualify as peerless geniuses."

The standard for second rank corresponded to second-rank true intent and the ability to distort rules within a small area.

Those above the standard had mastered a single first-rank true intent and brought at least one top-tier spell or martial technique to major mastery. They counted as second-tier.

The first tier consisted of those who had mastered multiple first-rank true intents and several powerful top-tier spells or martial techniques to major mastery. They had generally mastered one or two ultimate moves and could preserve their lives against a first-rank cultivator.

Above first-rate were peerless geniuses. At the second-rank realm, they could already cultivate a domain of laws. Ye Yukong was such a person. More than a hundred years after entering second rank, he had already cultivated the Bright Moon Domain.

Zhao Xing had yet to form a domain of laws, and he did not know what it would be like if he went all out.

"I possess all five elemental true intents and multiple top-tier spells at major mastery. Even without a domain, with techniques nearing the Dao, I may not necessarily be weaker in actual combat than someone who has just comprehended a domain of laws."

"If my true body fought with the Ten Thousand Laws Clone, that technique would be too powerful. Back then, it was said Xu Xing could use the Ten Thousand Laws Clone to fight ten Li Boqians at once. Even if one's Dao was slightly inferior, it could still create an overwhelming advantage."

"The level of one's Dao can be viewed as internal power. Spells are techniques, moves are applications of the Dao of heaven and earth, turning comprehension into powerful attacks."

"One cannot simply compare numbers. Actual combat still matters."

"Ice Chart King and Kro King are both first-rate martial artists. My clone should be enough."

As for the other three, Zhao Xing did not take them seriously.

For a prince from a tiny vassal state visiting the superior kingdom, bringing two first-rate experts was already quite impressive.

As for experts above first-rate? Even with Great Zhou's enormous population, there would not be more than fifty people with such talent. How could a small nation produce them so easily?

After observing for a while, Zhao Xing reached a conclusion: although Ice Chart King and Kro King were holding something back, the possibility that they were above first-rate experts was exceedingly slim.

"Big Brother, how is it?" Seeing Zhao Xing put down the Earth Mirror, Ji Che could not help revealing an expectant expression.

"No problem." Zhao Xing smiled. "However, Fifth Brother, you can first arrange matches against the other three warriors to let me warm up. I have not fought in quite some years."

"Fine. Big Brother, rest for a moment. I'll make the arrangements now." Ji Che flashed his white teeth in a delighted grin.

As for Zhao Xing, he secretly summoned out his true body from Shangluo Academy. After all, he had not fought in a long time.

If something proved wrong after three battles, he could still have his true body take the field.

Losing to an expert from his own country was one thing. But if he lost to an expert from a vassal state? Even if only his clone lost, it would still be humiliating—and humiliating before foreign nations.

Zhao Xing estimated that his true body would not be needed against experts from a vassal state, but he had always preferred to prepare for every possibility. Thus, while Ji Che made arrangements, his true body also left Shangluo Academy.

Two and a half days later, Ji Che arranged for Zhao Xing and Jinke Prince of Morse Country to attend the same banquet.

Ji Che's intimate attitude toward Zhao Xing at the banquet aroused Jinke Prince's curiosity. "Your Highness, this superior officer is spirited and extraordinary in bearing. May I ask which expert of the Celestial Dynasty he is?"

"Jinke, this is Divine Might Marquis Zhao Xing of our dynasty." Ji Che smiled. He did not introduce Zhao Xing in detail, afraid that Jinke might not dare to fight if he knew too much.

"Prince." Zhao Xing paused his chopsticks and gave a slight nod in place of a salute.

Such an arrogant attitude immediately made the warriors beside Jinke Prince frown slightly.

A mere marquis did not properly salute their prince, did not offer a cup of wine, and only nodded?

However, their displeasure remained internal. As they saw it, Zhao Xing was merely a marquis. They were all kings within their own country, and Zhao Xing was not worthy of having them challenge him first.

They would not challenge him, but Zhao Xing intended to make them take the initiative. "I hear that Your Highness has five warriors under your command who performed well in the war against the tiny Sith state. Why not perform a sword dance and display your heroic might, adding to His Highness's enjoyment?"

The moment those words came out, Ji Che felt immensely satisfied and nearly laughed aloud.

Princess Yingluo, seated first on the lower left, had a strange glint flash through her eyes.

The descendants of the other princes, dukes, and nobles all considered it perfectly natural. They showed no reaction at all and even waited for the Morse prince to send someone forward to perform a sword dance.

Because in their eyes, Divine Might Marquis Zhao Xing was completely qualified to say such things.

For the Divine Might Marquis of Great Zhou to ask this little prince to perform a sword dance for entertainment was already giving him face. Shouldn't he accept it gratefully?

Morse Prince's expression turned somewhat ugly. As for the other five experts, anger flashed through their eyes.

They had heard too much flattery lately and had won battle after battle, so they had become somewhat carried away.

Then a mere marquis suddenly appeared and wanted these "kings" to perform a sword dance for entertainment?

It was not impossible for them to perform a sword dance for Ji Che, the heir apparent of Great Zhou. But if Ji Che himself said it, they would consider it an honor. What right did a mere marquis have?

Such an arrogant stance—he really didn't take them seriously at all!

Beside Jin Ke, a blue-haired middle-aged man immediately spoke. "The hall is too cramped to fight properly. Why not head to the arena for a spar to liven things up?"

"This Lord Zhao, since he was granted the title of Divine Might Marquis by the heavenly court, must possess remarkable abilities. How about a match with me, Suo Suo?"

Zhao Xing put on a reluctant expression. "Fine, I'll stretch my muscles a little."

Those words made Jinke Prince, Suo Suo, Ice Chart King, and Kro King grit their teeth in fury.

A mere marquis, and only at the mid second rank, yet he dared say that facing us would just be stretching his muscles?

He really knew how to put on an act!

Ji Che pretended to mediate. "The two of you need only stop at the right point. Do not harm the harmony between us."

Zhao Xing nodded. "Rest assured, Your Highness. I will show restraint."

The moment he heard that, Suo Suo truly could not endure it any longer. Fire seemed to blaze from his eyes. "Fine, fine! I, Suo Suo, would very much like to see how you intend to show restraint!"

"Whoosh!" With that, he ignored all etiquette and charged out directly.

"Leaving without a word—how rude!" Ji Wenchang frowned.

Hearing this, Jinke Prince could only force a smile and cup his hands in greeting to preserve his poise before Ji Yingluo.

Yet inwardly, he was extremely dissatisfied. Why had Ji Wenchang said nothing when Zhao Xing was being rude?

After cupping his hands in salute, Zhao Xing swiftly flew out of the hall as well.

Ji Che smiled and raised his wine cup. "Come, Jin Ke. Let us continue drinking while we watch!"

"Thank you for the wine, Your Highness." Jin Ke raised his cup and began laying the groundwork. "If Suo Suo accidentally injures someone, I hope Your Highness will not blame him."

"Why would I?" Ji Che grinned. "Would I be so petty? Drink, drink."

Only then did Jinke Prince feel reassured.

Once Suo Suo and Zhao Xing flew out of the formation surrounding the floating island, they were immediately randomly transported by the rules formation.

Because the arena simulated a battlefield environment, it took all kinds of circumstances into consideration.

The initial distance between combatants was not fixed either. Sometimes they would be far apart, allowing spellcasters to set up in advance. Sometimes they would be close together, simulating an encounter battle with very little reaction time.

Of course, so long as a spellcaster was present, there would be at least three thousand meters between them. After all, a mage could not possibly charge on the front line and engage in face-to-face brawling, could they?

Whoosh, whoosh. Zhao Xing and Suo Suo randomly appeared above the Wind Tunnel Area, ten thousand meters apart.

Suo Suo was a wind martial artist. Seeing that they had drawn the Wind Tunnel battle zone, a cold smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

Boom!

A mass of cyan airflow erupted from his body, circulating and intertwining before eventually forming the phantom of an ice ram behind him. Without another word, Suo Suo activated his Golden Body Dharma Form. He wanted to defeat Zhao Xing as quickly as possible and show the future emperor of Great Zhou what a warrior of Morse Country was!

A distance of ten thousand meters was not far for someone in the Heavenly Luck Realm.

Barehanded, Suo Suo took one step forward. The cyan airflow beneath his feet suddenly twisted, and in the next instant, he crossed a thousand meters.

"Using Wind True Intent to distort the rules and achieve an effect similar to shrinking the earth into inches." Zhao Xing smiled faintly and calmly cast Supporting Cloud.

Even if he stood still, Suo Suo would need ten breaths to reach him from ten thousand meters away.

But Suo Suo was cunning as well. For the first eight thousand meters, he advanced at a uniform pace, each step covering exactly one thousand meters, no more and no less.

Yet for the final two thousand meters, he suddenly erupted, crossing the distance in a single stride and rapidly catching up to Zhao Xing.

"Get down!"

His Golden Body Dharma Form, originally two zhang tall, radiated a hazy glow and instantly expanded to twenty zhang.

Whoosh!

As he threw a punch, the ice ram roared toward the heavens. Dozens of cyan vortices emerged, and the cyan wind generated a powerful suction force.

It dragged Zhao Xing toward Suo Suo's fist.

Buzz!

The figure disappeared, but Suo Suo had struck nothing solid.

"An afterimage? When did he leave the locking range of Storm God Fist?" Suo Suo was startled.

Before he could find Zhao Xing's whereabouts, however, a chill ran down his back.

Boom!

The Three Yin Thunder Seal struck Suo Suo in the back, instantly smashing him from the sky to the ground.

A huge crater immediately appeared in the earth. Momentum sent Suo Suo plowing a long trench through the ground, dust scattering in every direction.

With Supporting Cloud covering the area, the Nether Thunder Law was simply impossible to predict.

Hidden within thunderclouds, Suo Suo could not tell whether it was natural lightning essence or a Nether Thunder Law spell. The essence of nether was concealment—stealthy and difficult to detect.

"Not a bad move, but your reactions are a little slow." Zhao Xing's voice rang out from the clouds, evaluating him like a superior.

Many floating spheres hovered in the distance, spinning as they recorded the sounds and images of the two combatants and transmitted them to the Earth Mirror.

Inside the hall, surprise flashed through Jinke Prince's eyes.

Ice Chart King and Kro King also turned toward the Earth Mirror. They had not expected Suo Suo to be completely crushed.

In a single exchange, he had been knocked into the dust.

Rumble! The ground shook violently. Sensing the battle nearby, the subterranean wind tunnels changed at once, and a powerful repulsive force surged up from underground.

Riding the gale, Suo Suo shot into the sky.

"If that was your strongest move, then you may as well surrender." Zhao Xing looked down at Suo Suo from above. "You are not even enough to warm me up."

That was the truth. Of Zhao Xing's Eighty-One Cloud Gates, eighteen enhanced the Rain Art Heavenly Eclipse, and another eighteen enhanced the Profound Heaven Thunder Law.

But the greatest enhancement was for Tears Scale Horizon, because Tears Scale Horizon itself was a Cloud Art!

Zhao Xing had grasped first-rank Five Elements True Intent and mastered two top-tier arts. With the amplification of Supporting Cloud, Suo Suo had no chance of even touching him.

"Surrender? Your thunder law is nothing more than a scratch to me!" Suo Suo shouted. "Take one punch from me, and you won't be able to get back up! Take this!"

He charged forward again.

Zhao Xing still stood motionless, waiting to see whether Suo Suo had any stronger moves.

"Roar!" Suo Suo bellowed. The ice ram Dharma Form behind him grew even larger, while the range covered by the cyan vortices expanded as well.

Borrowing the repulsive force produced by the wind tunnels, Suo Suo moved even faster this time, and the power of Storm God Fist increased greatly.

Unfortunately, the gap between them was simply too great.

"Nothing special." Zhao Xing sensed that the power of Suo Suo's move had increased somewhat, but not by much. It had not reached the level of a first-rate Heavenly Luck Realm cultivator.

Crackle!

A great mass of purplish-black lightning suddenly appeared within the thunderclouds. Bolts of lightning pierced heaven and earth, and once they emerged, they did not fade. In an instant, they twisted together, lightning after lightning interweaving.

Cold Shattering Thunder Domain!

Faced with the freezing thunder that left nowhere to hide, Suo Suo could only endure it head-on.

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

The black lightning within the thunder domain churned violently. After enduring it for merely three breaths, Suo Suo felt suffocated. His entire body was wracked by agony and freezing cold, as if death itself had descended upon him.

Buzz!

The protective rules of the earth-grade arena activated. After determining that Suo Suo was in mortal danger, an orange-yellow light lit up around him. Then he was instantly transported out of the thundercloud region and thrown back onto the floating island.

Lightning flared as Zhao Xing shouted toward a spherical Earth Mirror Recorder, "Your Highness, I have not had my fill yet. Why not have Jinke Prince's other warriors come down and try as well?"

"Good!" Ji Che immediately set down his wine cup and looked at Jinke Prince. "Jin Ke, what do you think?"

With matters having reached this point, what else could he say?

Jinke Prince immediately replied, "As Your Highness wishes."

Then he looked toward Ice Chart King. "Yang Bing, you go."

Yang Bing was Ice Chart King's Great Zhou name.

"Yes." Yang Bing immediately rose, cupped his hands toward Ji Che, and flew out of the hall.

Seeing Ice Chart King flying toward him, Zhao Xing was not surprised.

Unless Jinke Prince was utterly foolish, he would not send the other two, whose strength was roughly equal to Suo Suo's, to lose as well. The top-tier arts of these vassal states really are weaker. I defeated Suo Suo easily. I wonder how Ice Chart King will fare.

How could a small vassal state possess so many top-tier inheritances? They could be counted on one hand, and Ultimate Laws were simply nonexistent.

Of course, Morse Country had obtained quite a few stronger arts from Great Zhou over the years, but it was impossible for them to acquire the top-tier core teachings.

Arts like the Ten Thousand Laws Straw Puppet, a top-tier art that pointed directly toward the Ultimate Law, could never be passed outward.

Yang Bing appeared ten thousand meters away, enveloped in a layer of protective Golden Light. Zhao Xing's clouds also disappeared when the battle restarted.

They appeared above a vast wilderness.

Buzz!

When the protective Golden Light vanished, Yang Bing's entire body immediately turned transparent. He became like an ice crystal before completely disappearing into the air.

"Hm? This move really has some tricks to it." Zhao Xing activated Heaven's Eye Art, yet he still could not see where Ice Chart King had gone.

"Frost Martial Body, complete transparency of the Golden Body. He has grasped the first-rank water true intent, Heaven One True Water. Combined together, they make Ice Chart King's movements completely invisible."

Due to environmental factors, the martial artists of Morse Country generally followed the path of the Qi Sect, believing that the body was the finest weapon.

Ice Chart King was considered a rare advanced type among martial artists.

"An ice martial artist. This concealment technique is why Ice Chart King so easily defeated his opponents in more than a dozen previous matches."

Heaven One True Intent also perfectly complemented his martial skills and battle body—the elusive one that escaped between heaven and earth, ethereal and traceless.

Being able to use Heaven One True Water to construct his martial body made Ice Chart King a first-rate expert.

"His speed is faster as well." Zhao Xing did not dare lower his guard and immediately cast Supporting Cloud.

Among the eighty-one Cloud Gates, Zhao Xing's figure entered the clouds through one of the gates.

Ice Chart King frowned, because he could no longer catch Zhao Xing's trail either.

"How can this be? I have grasped Heaven One True Intent. By all logic, the water in the clouds should tell me where he is. How has he vanished completely?"

As he pondered, the clouds rapidly expanded and soon covered the entire dueling area.

"What? Such a vast range?" Ice Chart King was immediately shocked.

No matter which direction he looked, he could not see the end of the clouds.

"Every attack leaves a trace! I found you!" Ice Chart King carefully sensed the surroundings, then immediately rushed toward a certain direction within the clouds.

He prided himself on the strength of his martial body. Even if he entered his opponent's domain, he was not afraid.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Diamond-shaped ice crystals appeared around Ice Chart King, radiating terrifying power as they blanketed Zhao Xing's position.

"He really has something. He can draw power from my Cloud Art and absorb my cloud essence to form ice crystals for attack."

Watching the ice shards shoot toward him, Zhao Xing retreated behind a Cloud Gate.

In the next second, he emerged from another Cloud Gate in a different direction.

"Hm?"

Ice Chart King discovered that he had missed and immediately frowned. "What kind of Cloud Art is this?"

He felt that Zhao Xing had suddenly become extremely far away.

With such a massive leap in distance, there was no way he could attack his opponent.

Buzz!

The eighty-one Cloud Gates began rotating at once, surrounding Ice Chart King layer upon layer.

"Ice Shattering Palm!"

Ice Chart King struck at one Cloud Gate, and a speck of blue light emerged from his palm.

The blue light instantly covered the Cloud Gate, then began breaking it apart inch by inch, shattering one of the gates.

Yet in the blink of an eye, another layer of Cloud Gates appeared in the original position. "Break!"

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Ice Chart King continuously struck out with his palms, trying to rush out after shattering the gates.

Every strike invoked frost power and warped the space around the Cloud Gates, successfully fixing a gate in place before shattering it.

But there were too many Cloud Gates. No matter how many he broke, Zhao Xing could instantly produce new ones.

Moreover, the clouds were constantly flowing. As a result, eighty-one gates always revolved around Ice Chart King as their center, making escape impossible!

"Close!"

Zhao Xing began compressing Ice Chart King's living space.

Bang!

Ice Chart King shattered a Cloud Gate with one punch and tried to break through. Yet no matter how he moved, which direction he flew, or how he used movement techniques to evade, he could never completely escape the Cloud Gate formation.

Meanwhile, the Essence Siphon effect of the Cloud Gates was taking hold. His essence was declining while Zhao Xing's was constantly replenished.

They had both mastered top-tier arts, but Zhao Xing's Dao level was even higher. Ice Chart King could not break free at all.

Very soon, he was engulfed by the Cloud Gates.

He fell into the Layered Cloud Realm.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Passing through one gate led to another cloud space, and this space was filled with gates everywhere.

"This is bad!" Ice Chart King realized that he had entered an exquisite trap.

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

Dense purplish-black lightning contracted as it emerged from the clouds, churning Ice Chart King's martial body.

"Golden Body Dharma Form! Break!"

A white violent bear appeared behind Ice Chart King and roared at the sky. It forcibly blasted through the lightning's strangling force and darted into another gate.

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

The moment he entered another cloud space, dozens of Heavenly Thunder Fingers came straight at him, along with the sight of Zhao Xing disappearing into another gate.

"Damn it! Don't run!" Ice Chart King's fury continued to rise. He endured dozens more Heavenly Thunder Fingers and continued chasing forward.

Whoosh! He entered the next gate and arrived in another cloud space.

Torrential rain poured down!

The top-tier Nine Turns Rain Art, Heavenly Eclipse!

The raindrops were actually black. When they fell onto Ice Chart King's body, he discovered countless tiny holes appearing in his ice crystal martial body.

Smoke rose from the holes as they continuously eroded his Golden Body.

"Swish, swish~"

He endured the pain and numbness, quickly rushing through the next door in pursuit of Zhao Xing's trail.

By the time he emerged from the Heavenly Eclipse Cloud Room, his entire body was covered in black pits and dents. Even his ice crystals had turned murky, making him look like a zebra.

"Shatter Ice Rebirth!"

Ice Chart King's body shook. The ice crystals on him continuously fell away, and he quickly shrank by a full circle. Yet his Frost Martial Body regained its radiance, becoming transparent and flawless once more.

"To last through three rooms in the Layered Cloud Realm, Ice Chart King really is tough." Zhao Xing looked at this second-rank ice warrior. "But after passing through the Heavenly Eclipse Cloud Room, his vital energy has dropped sharply. The consumption was enormous."

"It far surpassed the damage caused by lightning arts."

His top-tier lightning arts had reached mastery, but Ice Chart King's martial body had likewise reached top-tier mastery, and his Golden Body Dharma Form had cultivated to the top-tier force-transformation level. Lightning arts had limited killing power against him.

When lightning arts struck that pure, flawless frost battle body, it was as if they passed straight through it. Much of their power leaked away, at most making Ice Chart King itch a little.

But the Rain Art, Heavenly Eclipse, had instantly drained a large portion of Ice Chart King's vital energy.

"Damn it, this Divine Might Marquis keeps hiding! I can't even catch him!" Ice Chart King was incomparably furious.

"I can break through his cloud-layer barriers, but then I enter another cloud-layer world. If this endless cycle continues, sooner or later my vital energy will run dry, and I won't be able to maintain my Frost Martial Body or Golden Body Dharma Form."

He clearly felt that Divine Might Marquis was at roughly the same realm as him, and the power of his spells was not especially strong.

At the very least, the other party had not comprehended a rule domain. In terms of Dao realm and techniques, the gap between them was not great.

Yet Zhao Xing knew too much. The lightning, clouds, rain, and layered spell spaces he had already displayed had all reached top-tier mastery, leaving Ice Chart King feeling utterly stifled.

"Crack, crack, crack~" Ice Chart King entered the fourth cloud-layer space and faced combined spells.

Heavenly Eclipse and the Five Elements Yin Thunder World.

The surrounding clouds turned pure black, without the slightest trace of light.

Even the raindrops were black. Ice Chart King erupted with energy, trying to raise his Dharma Form, but the raindrops still pierced through it.

Heavenly Eclipse broke through his defenses, and black yin lightning followed closely behind, seeping through the tiny holes pierced by the raindrops.

"Aahhh—"

Ice Chart King finally felt intense pain. The yin lightning penetrated his bones, and the agony seeped into his marrow.

He immediately unleashed Shatter Ice Rebirth, intending to charge out.

But at that moment, the clouds suddenly vanished.

Ice Chart King discovered that he could see the light again.

Zhao Xing stood not far away, looking down at him.

"That's enough, Yang Bing. You're very good."

Zhao Xing did not continue tormenting him. Ice Chart King had absolutely no ability to escape. Continuing would not be a spar; it would be pure torture.

"Thank you for showing mercy, Divine Might Marquis. I concede." Given an excuse to back down, Ice Chart King naturally took it.

Ice Chart King was convinced as well. He had never been toyed with so miserably by someone of the same rank.

After all, Zhao Xing's clone had only displayed the aura of the Middle Heavenly Luck Realm, while he himself had already reached the completion of the Heavenly Luck Realm!

At least the other party had not beaten him until the protective rules activated and threw him out. Of course Ice Chart King had to seize this chance to concede.

"Swish, swish~"

Zhao Xing grabbed Ice Chart King's body and sent a layer of vital energy into him. By the time they flew back to the floating island, Ice Chart King's body had mostly recovered.

"This is—first-rank Wood True Intent?" Ice Chart King was stunned. "You have mastered two first-rank True Intents?"

True Intent constructed one's Dao body and martial body, and one's vital energy would undergo changes as well.

Just now, Ice Chart King had sensed an immense vitality!

He did not know which kind it was, because he had never seen it before.

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded. The Wood True Intent he had mastered at the Ten Thousand Dao Tree had been Azure Firmament True Intent.

Its vitality was immense. Not only did it make his life force extraordinarily vigorous, but his true essence also possessed powerful restorative effects.

"The Celestial Dynasty truly has experts everywhere." Ice Chart King could not help but sigh inwardly. "The people we defeated before probably could not even be considered true experts."

They were second-rank Heavenly Luck Realm cultivators, carefully selected by their country and raised with vast resources. After coming to Daoyuan Continent and defeating some ordinary second-rank cultivators, they had naturally become complacent.

Now that he had fought Zhao Xing, he immediately recognized reality.

"If even one Divine Might Marquis is like this, then what kind of strength would king-rank experts possess?"

After returning to the great hall, Ice Chart King dropped to one knee and said, "Prince, Your Highness, I am inferior to Divine Might Marquis. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly."

Jinke Prince's expression was somewhat unpleasant, because he had just seen Ice Chart King's battered, ruined body.

His second-strongest subordinate had lost just like that?

And he had even accepted the defeat wholeheartedly?

"Hahaha." Ji Che was extremely delighted. "What a fine Dao Debate Tournament. I am very pleased. Someone, bring out a flask of thousand-year Purple Jade Nectar and reward it to Yang Bing."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Ice Chart King gave his thanks respectfully.

Jinke Prince found it rather strange. Why was the reward not given to Divine Might Marquis?

How could he know that the gifts Ji Che gave Zhao Xing during holidays and festivals had already filled dozens of barrels in Zhao Xing's home?

A single flask? Could that even count as a reward for Big Brother? That would be too embarrassing! Besides, Big Brother was one of their own. He had merely helped fight a battle, so what reward was there to discuss?

Seeing that Zhao Xing was also accustomed to this, Jinke seemed to grasp something. This Divine Might Marquis appeared to be quite extraordinary.

But why had he never heard of his reputation? He was not on the Dao field rankings either.

Zhao Xing was about to take his seat when Kro King beside Jinke Prince suddenly spoke. His tone was both excited and respectful. "Divine Might Marquis, this subordinate humbly asks for your guidance."

Zhao Xing looked at Kro King and considered for a moment. "Kro King, when I watched you fight earlier, your opponents' spells and martial techniques distorted and weakened considerably whenever they faced you. Are you skilled in soul secret techniques?"

According to his public information, Kro King was a Five Elements spellcaster. His spells were highly refined, and he knew more techniques than Ice Chart King.

In his earlier battles, he had easily dealt with every opponent. Whether martial techniques or spells, before their attacks could even touch him, their power would greatly decline.

Thus, Zhao Xing guessed that Kro King was a soul spellcaster.

"Divine Might Marquis truly has keen eyes. That is correct. My strongest move is a soul secret technique." Kro King became even more interested. He greatly wanted to fight Zhao Xing.

"You are not my opponent," Zhao Xing said. What a joke. What soul secret technique could compare to the Derivation God Art?

Even if this clone possessed only one-tenth of his soul power, it was still not something Kro King could contend with.

"Prince, Your Highness, please allow me to compete with Divine Might Marquis." Kro King's lips moved as his eyes filled with yearning.

Among cultivators of the same rank in their country, they could practically find no opponents. Kro King in particular had long been lonely at the top.

Now that he had encountered someone as powerful as Zhao Xing, he was unwilling to let the opportunity go.

Jinke Prince was already feeling frustrated. Seeing Kro King so eager, he barked, "Do not be presumptuous!"

"Jinke, don't spoil the mood." Ji Che smiled. "What harm is there in letting him try?"

Were you not so proud earlier? Why were you afraid now?

That would not do. He had to let him see the gap!

Ji Che gave Zhao Xing a look.

Zhao Xing felt helpless, so he nodded. "Since Your Highness has said so—Kro, make your move here. Use the soul technique you are best at."

Jinke's expression changed. "This is the great hall. How can that be allowed? What if Your Highness and the princess are disturbed?!"

Ji Yingluo spoke, "A princess of Great Zhou is not as delicate as you imagine. I believe Divine Might Marquis can control the scope of the match. Prince, simply let your subordinate try."

Ji Che's face darkened. Why was this fellow worrying about the princess now?

Was that something he should be worrying about?!

Jinke read the room. Seeing this, he could only helplessly nod at Kro King.

"Divine Might Marquis, please!"

Kro King rose to his feet, his pupils dilating as soul power suddenly emerged from his eyes.

They were clearly two soul spears. The soul spears were incomparably solid, seeming entirely real, their blackness enough to seize one's soul.

And at the instant they shot forward, the two soul spears actually merged into one.

"Buzz~"

Even the light within the great hall seemed to dim.

Zhao Xing remained unmoving as a mountain, but his soul took a step forward and suddenly left his body, gripping the black soul spear with one hand.

"Pop~"

The soul spear trembled for a second before being crushed directly. At the instant it exploded outward, Zhao Xing rubbed his hands together, compressing the explosive aftershock between his palms.

Several breaths later, the black spear had completely disappeared.

Zhao Xing's soul glowed with faint golden light, immediately brightening the great hall once more.

Then he returned to his clone's body.

"Huff~" Kro King's face immediately turned pale, his eyes vacant as he gasped for breath. His body shook without stopping.

"Kro!" Jinke Prince was instantly alarmed.

Kro, whom he had always considered invincible, had actually ended up like this?

"He is fine. Drink some Purple Jade Nectar, and he will recover after half a month of rest," Zhao Xing said.

When he had crushed the other party's soul spear, he had done so rather slowly, allowing Kro King time to control the backlash.

Otherwise, recovering in half a month would not have been enough for him now.

"Thank you for showing mercy, Divine Might Marquis. Only today does Kro realize how vast heaven and earth are." Kro King cupped his hands while trembling, his eyes filled with shock.

Seeing his two strongest subordinates both beaten into submission, Jinke Prince instantly lost his temper.

When an opponent was powerful to a certain extent, one no longer had any desire to compare oneself against them.

"Hahaha, splendid!" Ji Che laughed heartily and clapped in praise. "To exchange moves with one of Divine Might Marquis's clones—truly worthy of being warriors of Morse Country."

"What? A clone?!"

Upon hearing that, Jinke, Kro, Suo Suo, Ice Chart King, and the others were instantly dumbfounded.

Ji Che grinned. "Allow me to introduce him again. Before you stands the vice president of Shangluo Academy, the second person in the world to cultivate the Ten Thousand Laws Clone—Great Zhou's Divine Might Marquis."

Zhao Xing felt helpless. The kid really had to twist the knife after killing them.

Sure enough, the people of Morse Country were so shocked that they fell completely silent.

"So, so you are that Zhao Xing—" Jinke Prince suddenly remembered. It seemed that he had heard this name a long time ago.

However, Zhao Xing had kept a low profile for over a century. They were far away in the Western Extremity, and had gradually forgotten him.

Only when the Ten Thousand Laws Clone was mentioned did Jinke Prince connect the dots.

"One clone subdued all the experts under my command?

"Great Zhou's strength is truly terrifying." Jinke Prince's scalp immediately went numb. He shuddered, seeming to realize the meaning behind this battle.

He immediately rose and came to the center of the great hall, bowing as he said, "This minister from a small country failed to recognize the name of Divine Might Marquis and was disrespectful earlier. Please forgive me, Your Highness. Please forgive me, Divine Might Marquis."

Ji Che happily rose, lifted the hem of his robe, and walked down to help Jinke Prince and the five generals to their feet.

"Why would you say such a thing, Prince? Please rise quickly."

"All of you are subjects of Great Zhou and meritorious warriors. My father instructed me that since you have come from afar, I must fulfill my duties as host and ensure that you enjoy yourselves to the fullest."

"Come, come, please take your seats!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Jinke Prince and the others bowed again in unison. Only after shouting their thanks did they return to their seats.

Seeing that Jinke Prince kept his gaze straight ahead and no longer glanced toward Ji Yingluo, his bearing becoming much more upright, Ji Che clapped his hands in satisfaction.

"Someone, bring on palace music and summon the dancers!"

"Today, I will drink with all of you until we are thoroughly drunk!"

Ji Wenchang wanted to say that only court musicians could perform palace music, and that this violated protocol. He opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing, merely closing his eyes.

Out of sight, out of mind!

Ji Yingluo held her wine cup, smiling as she watched Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing noticed this from the corner of his eye, and his heart skipped a beat.

This is bad. The kid didn't make me fight this battle because he had some other idea, did he?

He had better not learn some one-stone-three-birds trick from Old Jing!

As the banquet grew lively, Ji Che began arranging Liubo games for entertainment.

By coincidence, Zhao Xing and Ji Yingluo were assigned to the same group.

Damn, kid, do you really want me to become your brother-in-law? How could Zhao Xing not know that the Wu Emperor intended to matchmake them?

What random grouping... was that not something done with a flick of the hand?

Rigged! Completely rigged!

Being her brother-in-law would not be impossible, but she's a pervert who plays with bugs. Couldn't you choose someone else? Zhao Xing complained inwardly.

Just as he was considering how he should get along with Ji Yingluo, that perverted princess, a palace attendant suddenly entered the great hall from outside to report.

"Your Highness, Princess, Divine Might Marquis."

"The duel between Shangluo Academy President Liu Tianning and Profound Heaven Academy Vice President Ling Tianchen will begin in a quarter of an hour."

"The location is Heaven-Ranked Debate Dao Field No. 1."

"The Eldest Princess invites Your Highness, the princess, and Divine Might Marquis to go to the upper city to watch the battle."