Ten days later, at the border between the Human Starfield and the Technology Starfield, on a planet in what had once been the Endless Territory, Lu Yin sat cross-legged. Behind him, the enormous Prison Dragon lay sprawled, breathing in and out as the starry sky trembled.
His Wireless Gu vibrated. Lu Yin answered it.
"Ready to repair at any time." Four words, from Chuangtian Institute.
Lu Yin put away the Wireless Gu, took out Supreme Mountain, and released Xia Shenji.
Since imprisoning Xia Shenji, Lu Yin hadn't let him out—not even to say a word. Now it was time.
Xia Shenji tumbled out of Supreme Mountain and hit the ground.
Lu Yin had grievously wounded him, and his ancestral power had all but dissipated. He could barely sense it. Then the Prison Dragon had crushed him mercilessly, leaving him weaker than even a Half-Ancestor.
Lu Yin sat calmly, gazing at Xia Shenji's wretched clone. The Hero Ranking Platform stood beside him, the Prison Dragon loomed behind him, and he was alone.
Xia Shenji struggled to his feet and swayed as he looked at Lu Yin, but said nothing.
"Not curious why I let you out?" Lu Yin asked.
The clone sneered and glanced around. "Whatever your purpose is, just say it. But let me tell you this: I'm a clone."
Lu Yin rubbed his head in frustration. "I know. A clone isn't afraid of dying. I've met more than one clone like you. The first one joined forces with me to kill his original, then became the original himself."
Xia Shenji's gaze turned cold.
"The second one also joined forces with me to kill his original," Lu Yin continued.
Xia Shenji's eyes grew colder. Whether it was the first or the second, a clone replacing its original meant that the