Mirror Duel: Five Elements Break Clone

The entrance to the sixth floor of the Sword Tower had no stone door, only a shimmering silver light curtain. As Ling Yun stepped through, the scene before him suddenly changed—it was no longer a cramped stone room, but a circular space constructed entirely of mirrors. The floor, walls, and even the ceiling reflected his image, clearly mirroring the dark green blade and grooved hilt of the Sky-Rending Sword, as if he were in countless overlapping worlds.

"This is the trial ground for 'Sword Intent Clones'," Elder Sword's voice carried a hint of caution. "The mirrors will condense clones based on your Sword Intent. The clones' strength and sword techniques will be exactly the same as yours, and they can even imitate the complex sword moves you've just learned. The most dangerous part is that the clones have no pain or fatigue; they will attack optimally and continuously. You must find a flaw before your own sword energy is depleted."

Before he finished speaking, the surrounding mirrors rippled. A figure identical to Ling Yun emerged from a mirror, also wielding a "Sky-Rending Sword" (a replica condensed by the mirrors). Five-colored sword energy—green, brown, gold, purple, and light blue—swirled around him, originating from the same source as his own. Even the aura of the Sword Intent Bead, formed by his recent breakthrough to the Swordsman Realm, was replicated flawlessly.

"Interesting," the clone spoke, its voice identical to Ling Yun's but with a chilling, mechanical tone. "Let's begin."

As soon as it finished speaking, the clone moved. Its figure darted out like a flowing wind, and the replica Sky-Rending Sword traced a pale green arc. The "Wind Song" sword technique broke through the air, its wind blade thrusting directly at Ling Yun's chest. The angle, force, and even the speed at which the sword energy was condensed were exactly the same as when Ling Yun had performed "Wind Song" yesterday, as if he were fighting another self.

Ling Yun's pupils contracted slightly, and he instinctively crossed his sword to block. Clang! The two swords collided, and a familiar force traveled up the blade, numbing his wrist. The clone not only imitated the sword techniques but also replicated the load-bearing characteristics of his Chaos Sword Body. If he hadn't been prepared, this blow would have likely sent him reeling and exposed a weakness.

"Don't respond conventionally! The clone's sword techniques are imitations based on your past combat data, with a momentary lag!" Elder Sword's voice urgently rang out. "Use Clear Sword Heart to capture the gap in its sword strikes!"

Ling Yun immediately activated Clear Sword Heart, and the clone's movements instantly slowed down. He clearly saw that after performing "Wind Song," the clone's sword recovery motion was half a breath slower than his own. This was an inherent flaw in imitation; the clone needed to first capture his Sword Intent trajectory to replicate it, inevitably creating a time difference. However, this gap was so short that without Clear Sword Heart, it would have been impossible to detect.

"Now!" Ling Yun seized this half-breath gap. The five-colored Sword Intent within him surged madly. The Sky-Rending Sword no longer defended but instead followed the clone's sword recovery trajectory, unleashing the "Heaven and Earth First Form." This time, he didn't simply receive the force but infused the sword with the unyielding might of the gold element and the heavy solidity of the earth element. Pale brown and pale gold sword energy wrapped around the blade, striking the clone's sword spine.

Hum! The clone's replica blade bent slightly under the impact but still counterattacked stubbornly. Its left hand formed a fist, imbued with the vital force of the wood element, and struck directly at Ling Yun's dantian. This was a close-quarters move Ling Yun had used against a puppet yesterday, and it had been completely imitated.

Ling Yun slid backward, evading the fist while sharply rotating his right wrist. The groove on the hilt of the Sky-Rending Sword aligned with the gold, earth, and wood Sword Intent crystals he had previously obtained. With three soft clicks, the three crystals were embedded in the groove. The ancient patterns on the sword body instantly lit up, and the five-colored sword energy flowed along them, forming a closed loop. The previously dispersed elemental Sword Intents had, at this moment, formed a preliminary Five Elements cycle!

"Try the power of the Five Elements Flow!" Elder Sword's voice was filled with excitement. "Gold generates water, water generates wood, wood generates fire, fire generates earth, earth generates gold. Let the sword energy circulate; the clone cannot imitate this dynamic balance!"

Ling Yun understood. The Sword Intent Bead within him spun rapidly, and the five-colored sword energy was no longer released individually but flowed according to the order of Five Elements generation. Gold elemental sword energy merged into the sword body, significantly increasing the Sky-Rending Sword's hardness. Earth elemental sword energy sank into the ground, stabilizing his stance. Wood elemental sword energy repaired the meridians damaged during the previous block. Water elemental sword energy (light blue) condensed at the sword tip, increasing the agility of his sword moves. Fire elemental sword energy (residual fire seeds he had absorbed earlier) was hidden within the blade, waiting for an opportune moment to erupt.

The clone attacked again, this time imitating the composite sword energy vortex he had used on the fourth floor. But as the clone's replica sword condensed intertwined green and brown sword energy, Ling Yun swung his sword to meet it. The Sky-Rending Sword traced an arc interwoven with five colors. The sword energy was no longer a simple spiral but formed a flowing halo that instantly engulfed the clone's sword energy vortex.

"Five Elements Flowing Slash!"

Ling Yun grunted. The five-colored sword energy within the halo nourished each other, continuously strengthening. As soon as the clone's replica sword energy touched the halo, it was dismantled and assimilated by the power of the Five Elements cycle, transforming into pure spiritual energy absorbed by the Sky-Rending Sword. A flicker of "confusion" flashed in the clone's eyes; it clearly could not comprehend this sword move that exceeded its imitation data and could only instinctively perform "Wind Song" again, attempting to create distance.

But this time, Ling Yun would not give it a chance. With the aid of the Five Elements Flow, his speed was thirty percent faster than before. The Sky-Rending Sword cut into the clone's sword move trajectory, its tip precisely stopping in front of the clone's brow—the core where the clone's Sword Intent was condensed, and also the weak point of the mirror's imitation. As long as the core was shattered, the clone would dissipate.

"It's over." Ling Yun's wrist dipped slightly, and the sword tip condensed by five-colored sword energy gently touched the clone's brow.

Boom!

The clone instantly dissolved into countless silver light particles, merging into the surrounding mirrors. The mirrors rippled one last time before returning to calm, leaving only the residual, assimilated sword energy in the air, which was automatically absorbed by Ling Yun's Chaos Sword Body. The Sword Intent Bead in his dantian solidified further.

A cold, mechanical voice sounded as expected: "Sword Intent Clone trial, passed! Reward: one 'Sword Intent Resonance Stone', which can enhance the affinity with divine artifacts; unlock access to the seventh floor 'Sword Intent Stele' entrance!"

An egg-sized, milky white crystal stone fell from the air. Ling Yun caught it. The moment it landed in his hand, it resonated with the Sky-Rending Sword. The three Sword Intent crystals in the hilt's groove lit up, and the five-colored halo flowing through the ancient patterns on the sword body became even more intense. Clearly, this resonance stone was perfect for accelerating the Sky-Rending Sword's awakening and making it more compatible with his Chaos Sword Body.

He looked up at the mirror walls. On the deepest mirror, he indeed saw Murong Shuang's sword mark. This sword mark was deeper than those on the previous floors, surrounded by pure composite sword intent of the wind and wood elements. Beside it was inscribed a line of small text: "Mirrors are not real, Sword Heart is real; clinging to imitation will never lead to surpassing."

"Sword Heart is real..." Ling Yun softly repeated, tightening his grip on the Sky-Rending Sword. The battle with the clone made him fully understand that the true essence of the sword path was never to copy others or repeat oneself, but to break through the past in every battle and create one's own sword techniques—just like the "Five Elements Flowing Slash" he had just used. Without combining the Fragment of the Five Elements Sword Manual with the characteristics of the Chaos Sword Body, he could never have defeated the clone imitating him.

"The Sword Intent Stele on the seventh floor is the inheritance of basic Sword Intent left by ancient sword cultivators," Elder Sword's voice carried anticipation. "You now possess the strength of the Swordsman Realm and have mastered the Five Elements Flowing Sword Intent. It's the perfect time to use this to comprehend basic Sword Intent, laying the foundation for breaking through to the Sword Master Realm. Remember, when comprehending Sword Intent, do not pursue it deliberately. Simply clear your mind and let the power of the Sword Intent Stele naturally integrate into your Sword Heart."

Ling Yun nodded, his gaze falling on the center of the mirror wall. A staircase leading to the upper floor had appeared there, surrounded by pale golden sword energy—purer and heavier than the Sword Intent of the previous six floors, clearly emanating from the Sword Intent Stele. He could feel the power of "intent" contained within that aura, as if it could draw sword energy from heaven and earth, forming his own domain.

"Seventh floor, Sword Intent Stele..." Ling Yun took a deep breath, tucking the Sword Intent Resonance Stone into his embrace. The Sky-Rending Sword in his hand trembled slightly, as if also anticipating contact with the Sword Intent Stele. He stepped onto the staircase, his figure disappearing into the pale golden sword energy. This time, he would not only pass the trial but also comprehend basic Sword Intent, advancing towards a higher realm of the sword path, and taking another step closer to his goal of revenge.