The Black and White Domain was like a tattered scroll stained with ink, its light and shadows bleeding together.
Gu Mo tapped off the ground. The Grand Void Sword traced a silver-white blossom of sword light, its momentum crashing toward Ling Xiao's throat like a sudden downpour. Yet the sword edge passed straight through his shoulder, stirring only a wisp of insubstantial air. Gu Mo spun and switched techniques, crimson flames rolling over his right palm. The scorching palm wind warped the surrounding air, but it too passed directly through Ling Xiao's body.
Gu Mo lowered his stance and twisted his body, unleashing Innate Protective Qi once more, but he still could not touch Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao was like a phantom pressed against a mirror's surface. True qi and true intent ground over him, yet he remained unscathed, as though he did not exist within this space.
"It is useless," Ling Xiao said. "My physical body is both my support and my restraint. The moment you killed my physical body, it meant that you and I were destined to end in a draw.
"This is the Ascension Realm. Ascension means transcendence, and transcendence is an elevation of one's Life Level. Though I stand before you, we exist in different worlds. I need a vessel as a physical body to harm others, and that also means others can only harm my vessel."
Gu Mo smiled. "So, fundamentally speaking, you believe you cannot kill an Inner Demon because its Life Level is higher as well."
"Yes." Ling Xiao nodded slightly. "But the Ascension Realm is already the highest level we humans can attain. Perhaps only the legendary Immortal Realm possesses something capable of killing an Inner Demon, but the Inner Demon guards the Heavenly Gate. We cannot enter.
"Back then, I