Lin Heng walked along the path leading to the Xuanming Palace.
We arrived at a place that was shrouded in gloom and rain.
What appears before us is a landscape surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a wide lake in the middle.
Looking around, a small dark shadow could be seen in the lake.
Upon closer inspection, it was clear that a person was lying flat on the lake, drifting with the current.
They sensed Lin Heng's presence.
The figure on the lake slowly floated up and then flew towards Lin Heng.
As the other party drew closer, Lin Heng was able to see their face clearly.
It has a bird's head, a human body, and wings spread across its back. A thumb-sized green snake hangs from each of its ears.
"You're Lin Heng?"
The other person approached, their gaze icy, and asked indifferently.
Lin Heng smiled calmly, nodded, and cupped his hands in reply:
"Junior Lin Heng greets Senior Xuanming."
Xuanming remained indifferent. After glancing at Lin Heng, he plucked a hair from his own head.
Just as Lin Heng was wondering what the other party was going to do, Xuanming Ming put the hair in front of his mouth and blew on it.
It seemed like he was just blowing a breath casually.
But as Xuanming exhaled, Lin Heng could feel a surge of immense energy being poured into that strand of Xuanming.
When the energy was fully infused into his hair, Xuanming loosened his grip on the strands, and the hair flew away.
While still in mid-air, the strands of hair rapidly changed.
As it rapidly expanded, a soft light enveloped its hair strands.
There was only a few breaths left.
The soft light faded, and the strands of hair that had been there before vanished.
Emerging from the soft light was a striking replica of Xuanming.
The only difference was that their auras were on completely different levels.
And those empty eyes revealed that the other party was nothing more than a puppet.
Xuanming glanced at the clone he had created and said coldly:
"This is an avatar with the strength of Sovereign Sixth Grade."
"If you want to pass this test, then use all your strength to kill him."
As Xuanming finished speaking, his body gradually became ethereal in mid-air until it vanished into the void.
'Whoosh!'
Lin Heng's gaze was still fixed on the spot where Xuanming had disappeared, unaware that the puppet had already launched an attack.
Upon hearing the noise, Lin Heng reflexively raised his hands, crossed them in front of him, and used them as a defensive gesture.
'Bang!'
Xuanming's clone's iron fist slammed heavily into Lin Heng's arm.
The powerful attack sent Lin Heng flying hundreds of meters away.
Having landed a successful blow, the Xuanming clone gave Lin Heng no chance to catch his breath.
Lin Heng had just lowered his hands when he saw Xuanming's clone rushing close.
Seeing that his opponent chose to engage in close combat, Lin Heng also went to meet him head-on.
The two sides immediately engaged in a fierce battle upon meeting.
The brutal, hand-to-hand combat resulted in dozens of punches being landed on the opponent in just a moment.
During the exchange of blows, Xuanming's clone constantly shifted its position.
In no time, Lin Heng and his Xuanming clone moved the battlefield to the lake.
The two ignored the continuous rain that was falling on them.
But the battle didn't last long.
At some point!
Lin Heng, who was enjoying a thrilling battle, suddenly frowned.
While he continued to use his Power of Origin to clash head-on with Xuanming's clone.
Lin Heng noticed something strange.
When I operate my own source, I no longer seem to be so easily swayed by my will.
Before Lin Heng could think further, the Xuanming clone pressed forward again, launching a frenzied attack on Lin Heng.
Lin Heng raised his hand to block the attack from Xuanming's clone, while simultaneously trying to shift his position to move the battlefield away from his current location.
Xuanming's clone seemed to have guessed Lin Heng's intentions and launched a fierce attack to block Lin Heng's actions.
At that moment, Lin Heng vaguely understood.
Xuanming had been planning this battle from the very beginning.
No wonder Dijiang reminded himself of the characteristics of the Xuanming Power of Origin.
This drizzle didn't seem particularly special on the surface.
However, on the battlefield, this rain, which is infused with the power of the Xuanming Power of Origin, will gradually erode your body.
Lin Heng discovered it early.
The rain wasn't having a significant impact on him yet.
If this continues, Lin Heng might really suffer a setback.
Ultimately, it's not impossible that this gloomy rain would erode his Power of Origin, leading to his defeat at the hands of this Sovereign Sixth Grade's clone.
Now that Lin Heng knew Xuanming's intentions, how could he let him have his way?
"Give me my refund!"
Just as the Xuanming clone charged forward again, Lin Heng unleashed his full Power of Origin, blasting it away.
Taking advantage of the opening when Xuanming's clone was repelled.
Lin Heng Lin Heng his hands outstretched, and the Origin of Heaven Yang transformed into dazzling golden light in his hands.
"The red sun rises high."
"Avoid all evil!"
As Lin Heng shouted, the power of the Heavenly Sun in his palms began to surge upwards.
The dazzling golden light rose high into the sky, and the dense dark clouds that had been hanging in the air gradually dispersed.
As the dark clouds were dispersed by the power of the sun, the continuous rain also disappeared.
"Huh?"
In the void, Xuanming let out a surprised sound.
Clearly, Xuanming hadn't expected that Lin Heng would still be able to notice the rain during such an intense battle.
The rain he orchestrated was indeed specifically aimed at Lin Heng.
However, the impact of rain on the Power of Origin increases gradually.
These subtle changes are usually difficult to detect.
By the time the other party realized it, they were already unable to resist the suppression of their own Origin of Water.
Xuanming used this move to outwit many powerful individuals.
Even when Dijiang sparred with Xuanming back then, he suffered some pain from this move.
But Lin Heng's ability to discover it so quickly surprised Xuanming.
"Could it be because of the eight Power of Origin?"
This was the most likely possibility that came to Xuanming's mind.
Just like Lin Heng, Mu Chen quickly cracked this move back then.
The only thing the two have in common is that they both possess the Power of Origin.
But there's no need to dwell on this now.
Now that Lin Heng has cracked his first trap.
Xuanming was also starting to look forward to it, wondering if Lin Heng could handle the next surprise he had prepared for him.
" Lin Heng, it seems the master's choice of you as his successor is indeed due to your exceptional qualities."
"But don't think that just because you've broken the Rain's Bewilderment, you've won this battle."
"The real battle is only just beginning."
The voice of Xuanming, hidden in the void, entered Lin Heng's mind.
Unlike his previous cold tone, Xuanming spoke much this time, which was quite unusual.
Clearly, the battle was not over yet, but Lin Heng had already begun to win Xuanming's approval.
Lin Heng wasn't too surprised by this.
The twelve guardians have always recognized only strength.
Just like Dijiang and Zhu Rong.
Wasn't the first meeting also cold and distant?