As the Ripple Sword Intent merged into them, three streams of Sword Qi rapidly overlapped, erupting in an instant with Sword Light no weaker than the projection's.
Just as Li Hao thought this strike could force a draw, the projection suddenly unleashed three streams of Sword Qi as well, likewise infusing them with Ripple Sword Intent. In an instant, its Sword Radiance surged, illuminating the entire world.
Li Hao froze in astonishment, his pupils contracting slightly. He immediately grasped how difficult the True Venerable Tower's challenge was.
Whoosh!
He hurriedly dodged, but that terrifying sword strike tore through his Sword Qi and pursued him.
He used Return to Emptiness Teleportation, yet the projection's eyes seemed to discern his route through the Return to the Ruins, and its Sword Light chased after him.
Li Hao scrambled to evade it, narrowly avoiding that stream of Sword Qi, but the projection followed him through the Return to the Ruins.
"Break!"
Li Hao abruptly turned and attacked.
The projection reacted with incredible speed, instantly swinging its sword down. Despite the hurried strike, its overwhelming strength easily broke through Li Hao's charged attack.
Whoosh.
The projection did not stop. As it shattered Li Hao's Sword Light, it immediately rushed after him.
Li Hao finally understood why Old Wang had said enlightenment was difficult here. The projection's attacks never paused for even a moment. Only someone truly stuck at a bottleneck, with an insight already taking shape, might achieve enlightenment amid such fierce combat.
And if that enlightenment did not bring a significant increase in strength, even achieving it would hardly turn the tide.
A twofold difference in power was practically a leap of half a major realm.
Li Hao chose not to engage. Instead, he evaded battle and observed the weaknesses in the projection's attacks.