After the shout for his skill, He Chen explosively dashed out and charged straight to the clone. The devastating force he displayed had convinced everyone that he could obliterate anything on impact.
"Wow!! That attack seems extremely fierce. I think it can beat me in one blow." Sun Wuji was amazed.
"Unfortunately, that's still far from enough to finish the job." Feng Luotian commented after he calculated an approximate damage of the attack.
"…" Mei Yue'er chose to stay silent and watched.
"Die!!" He Chen cried out as his ultimate was about to connect.
A sickening sound signified the attack did some damage this time as his rapier pierced through the clone's chest. However, not only did the clone refused to disappear into a flurry of aurora light, but it also showed no signs of any injury except at the point of impact. All those who were witnessing this could only sigh with sympathy.
"It can't be!!" He Chen became pale.
The rest of the party hung their heads down in despair, their spirits crushed as the hope of defeating this invincible foe faded away.
The ones restraining the clone's movement finally run out of Theríon, finally giving away its freedom.
The moment the clone was given its ability to move, it raised its hand and swung down, unleashing Aurora Slash.
The sound of the attack echoed across the plateau.
The force of the blow sent every member of the party out of the exam, except for He Chen, who managed to cling on despite the overwhelming power of the attack. Even then, he was left battered and bruised, unable to continue the fight.
The clone stood motionless after delivering the genocide attack. Its power evident to all who saw it. It was a formidable foe, one that seemed impossible to defeat.
———
Amongst the spectators outside the exam site, Heron Lord He An, smiled wryly and cupped his hands towards his peers: "It really is embarrassing to let you all see this joke from my son."
Peacock Lord returned the gesture: "Not at all, Heron Lord!! Even though he was overestimating himself a little bit, his courage was still commendable. Not everyone could stand their ground against an opponent several levels stronger."
First Elder added: "Not only that, but Young Master He was also able to lead the fifty-man team to fight until the end. It meant that he had got your leadership and charisma. What he lacks is only a strategic mindset. Once he develops how to properly utilize his skill and his men, he will be a great leader in no time."
"Thank you, Peacock Lord and First Elder. I'll relay your teachings to my son afterward." Heron Lord gave his gratitude after receiving some advice from the two.
Everyone thought that the conversation would end well, but Eagle Lord Ying Tianzheng did not think the same: "How could your useless son compare to a dazzling star-like this grandson of mine? Ignoring that cheating trash, my grandson is still the best of the best. Even if you teach your son for a hundred years, he still can't come close to what Lizhua can achieve. Hahaha!!"
Eagle Lord gleefully laughed as he boasted how impeccable and talented his grandson was.
If it was other people whose son was scorned like this, they would already be trembling with rage.
However, Heron Lord was as calm as a millpond. He was well known for his tranquil personality.
Unless someone harmed his family without a good reason, he would not even blink before any insults or sarcastic remarks.
The rest of the groups only gave out a dry cough.
Although Eagle Lord's words were a bit out of line, he was from the previous generation like Mei Hengkong. If Mei Hengkong did not say anything, juniors like them would not interfere with this matter. Even Mei Hongyi, whose son was branded as "a cheating trash," could only hold back from humiliation.
As of now, Mei Hengkong only focused on the screens, not bothering with the previous conversation. He was curious, like everyone else, about how these youngsters, including his granddaughter, were going to take down this seemingly invincible Three Talon clone.
Being an owner of Thousand Illusion Aurora Peacock bloodline himself, he knew very well that this clone's strength was not just those of the normal Three Talon cultivator.
With the ability growing stronger along with the cultivators, being an Illusion Clone made by Mei Hongyi, who was a Two Wings Master, its strength was probably increased by more than 30%.
In Mei Hengkong's estimation, it should be impossible for these youngsters to defeat such a clone. And not only did Mei Hengkong think so, but the rest of the top-tier group also thought the same.
"Nevertheless, isn't this too harsh, Second Elder?"
First Elder commented as he turned to Mei Hongyi: "To put a Three Talon clone inside the test of the younger generation, I think it's a little too much to bully them like this."
Second Elder quickly found an excuse while chuckling: "Bully? Not at all, First Elder. The more challenging the test, the more promising the qualifiers!!"
Peacock Lord only gave him a glance and continued watching without saying anything.
At the same time, Feng Luotian shifted his focus to the remaining participants who were watching the battle just now.
Behind the ruins and broken walls, there were several figures hiding from the strongest clone's line of sight and would periodically snatch a glance at it without being noticed. Ying Lizhua was also one of them.
Not far away from Ying Lizhua, Feng Luotian spotted five more figures: four men and one woman.
Four men were staying together as a group, probably as one party. Not only that, but they also looked exactly the same, causing Feng Luotian to wonder: "Quadruplets?"
Each one a mirror image of the others in terms of their striking physical appearance. Their faces bore warm, welcoming smiles that contrasted intriguingly with the air of authority they exuded. With broad shoulders and a commanding posture, they effortlessly garnered attention wherever they went, embodying an enigmatic blend of friendliness and dominance that left an indelible mark on all who crossed their path.
Our protagonist focused his mind. Upon receiving intel from Bloodline Sensing, his eyes flashed in bewilderment.
///// Six Fangs Body Splitting Golden Duck
///// [Divided We Stand] : The user can split their body that shares Theríon, damage, cultivation, vision, soul, and death.
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///// Six Fangs Body Splitting Golden Duck …
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///// Six Fangs Body Splitting Golden Duck …
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///// Six Fangs Body Splitting Golden Duck …
"Well, I didn't expect to meet one here." Feng Luotian smiled at the information he had just received.
"Brother Feng, do you know them?" Sun Wuji noticed a change in Feng Luotian's expression, so he asked.
"No. I came across this bloodline info before when I was reading books." Feng Luotian answered.
Sun Wuji gave his brother a dull glance before speaking: "It's you and your book again? When are you going to quit this joke? Anyway, what's with their bloodline that made you so excited?"
"Body Splitting Golden Duck bloodline." Feng Luotian said.
"Body S … What?" Sun Wuji tried to recite the bloodline but it had too many syllables.
Feng Luotian chuckled before elaborating: "Body Splitting Golden Duck bloodline. It is a rare breed that allows users to literally split themselves into several figures. The energy obtained from each figure will be shared, allowing them to increase their cultivation many times faster than others.
"Also, when any of them gets a cultivation breakthrough, all of them will too. This ability, Divided We Stand, could be considered one of the top-tier abilities among all descendants of the divine beast, Phoenix."
"Wow, then they must be quite strong!!" Sun Wuji commented. Although he did not believe Feng Luotian got the information from reading books, he still believed what Feng Luotian said—every word of it—because Feng Luotian had no reason to fool them with nonsense.
"First, it's not they but he. Although the exam's scoreboard regards those four figures as four persons, he has just one identity. Second, at Fang Realm, he's not at his best because the frightening innate skill of his bloodline will only come when he reaches Talon Realm." Feng Luotian casually replied.
"What skill?" Sun Wuji asked.
"A sure-kill skill. Anyone getting too close will die without knowing how they die and what hit them." Feng Luotian said with a profound light flashing across his eyes.
Sun Wuji took one full cold breath.