Immortality Cultivation: I can use my clansmen’s energy and blood to add points.

“This is the ‘Shadow of the Dao’ constructed from your form and my power.”

The guardian's voice rang out at the right time, answering his questions.

"He has everything you have."

"Your technique, your power, your realm."

“Even the ‘Tao’ that you have just solidified, which belongs to you.”

"He is you."

"A you who is absolutely rational and will never make any mistakes."

"Defeat him, and you will have passed the final test."

"If we lose..."

The guardian didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

Luo Qingchen's expression became extremely solemn.

Fighting yourself?

This is more difficult than fighting any other enemy.

Because no one knows better than him how strong he is and how difficult he is to deal with.

They know everything about their own strengths, weaknesses, fighting habits, and their opponent.

Moreover, I am an absolutely rational person who is not influenced by emotions and does not make mistakes.

How to fight this?
"Brother Luo, be careful!"

The voices of Lin Wan'er and Su Xiaowan came from not far away.

Although they were kept out by an invisible force and unable to get close, they could still see what was happening in the arena.

When they saw the "Shadow of the Dao" that looked exactly like Luo Qingchen, both women's hearts clenched.

"Yeah!"

Bai Ling'er also waved her little fist, seemingly cheering for Luo Qingchen.

Luo Qingchen turned around and gave them a reassuring look.

Immediately, he turned his head, his gaze sharp as lightning, and stared intently at the "himself" opposite him.

The "Shadow of the Dao" was also looking at him, its eyes calm and undisturbed.

No unnecessary nonsense.

The battle erupted the moment the two locked eyes!

boom!
The two figures vanished from the spot at the same time.

The next second, they were already in mid-air, colliding violently.

Fist against fist, head-on collision.

The energy, a blend of gray and gold with vibrant colors, exploded wildly.

A terrifying shockwave swept outwards in all directions, causing the entire space to hum under immense strain.

Ding Ding Deng!
With a single blow, both men were forced back dozens of steps.

have equal shares!

Luo Qingchen shook her slightly numb fist, her heart sinking.

really.

The opponent's strength was exactly the same as his.

"Come again!"

Luo Qingchen was filled with fighting spirit and charged forward again.

He refused to believe that a mere copy could cause such a commotion!

The power of chaos erupted without reservation.

His fists and feet carried an aura of domineering power that could devour everything.

Each strike was enough to split mountains and shatter rocks.

However, the "Shadow of the Way" on the other side dealt with it flawlessly.

Luo Qingchen threw a punch, and it threw a punch in return.

Luo Qingchen kicked her leg, and it kicked its leg too.

Every move he made was exactly the same as Luo Qingchen's, yet he was even more precise and efficient.

It was as if it were a sophisticated fighting machine, optimizing all of Luo Qingchen's moves to the extreme.

Bang bang bang!

The two engaged in the most ferocious and primal hand-to-hand combat in mid-air.

The dull thuds of punches landing on flesh were incessant.

From the sky to the ground.

They fought from one end of the altar to the other.

The entire entrance to the ancient star ruins became their battlefield.

The violent energy plowed deep, bottomless trenches into the hard star crystal ground.

However, no matter how fiercely Luo Qingchen attacked, he could not gain the slightest advantage.

In fact, as time went on, he gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.

Because every attack from "Shadow of the Way" is the most energy-efficient and most effective.

However, Luo Qingchen might make unnecessary sacrifices due to her emotions and fighting spirit.

As one gains at the expense of the other, the gap begins to emerge.

"puff!"

Luo Qingchen was caught off guard and "Shadow of the Dao" seized an opening.

A hand chop imbued with terrifying power slammed into his shoulder.

Click!

The sound of breaking bones sounded.

Luo Qingchen let out a muffled groan, and was sent flying like a cannonball, sliding across the ground for hundreds of meters before finally coming to a stop.

He clutched his collapsed shoulder, struggled to his feet, and a trickle of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth.

So strong!

This replica is ridiculously good!

It's like a monster, devoid of emotion and pain, born solely for battle.

"Brother Luo!"

Lin Wan'er and Su Xiaowan, who were in the distance, exclaimed in surprise, their eyes filled with worry.

"hateful!"

Luo Qingchen gritted her teeth, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes.

He can't lose!

If we lose here, everything will be over!
Going home, protecting—it all becomes a joke!
"I don't believe you can really do everything!"

Luo Qingchen roared angrily.

The nascent soul in his dantian suddenly opened its eyes.

Those eyes, one of chaos, the other of stars.

It was the manifestation of the supreme power that he unleashed after fusing with the fragments of the Heavenly Dao at the moment of his death.

An aura that transcended the laws of nature erupted from him.

"Certainly!"

Luo Qingchen raised her hand and pointed towards the "Shadow of the Dao" opposite her.

The surrounding space and time seemed to freeze at this moment.

This is his trump card.

He didn't believe it; this copy could even do this!
however.

The scene that terrified him unfolded.

At the same time, the "Shadow of the Way" opposite him also raised his hand and made the exact same gesture.

One is the same Eye of Chaos, the other the Eye of the Stars.

The same supreme aura.

"Certainly!"

Two invisible forces collided violently in mid-air.

There was no sound, no light.

But Luo Qingchen felt as if his head had been hit hard by a ten-thousand-pound hammer.

With a whoosh, everything went black, and I almost fainted on the spot.

The power that imprisoned time and space was broken in an instant.

The "Shadow of the Dao" on the other side only swayed slightly before returning to normal.

Clearly, in this contest of pure strength, its absolutely rational and intelligent calculations resulted in it consuming far less energy than Luo Qingchen.

It’s over.

Luo Qingchen's heart sank to the bottom.

They didn't even use their strongest trump card.

How is this played?
Am I really going to lose here?

Do not!
I cannot lose!

In Luo Qingchen's mind, the loving faces of her parents, the worried eyes of Lin Wan'er and Su Xiaowan, and Bai Ling'er's innocent smile flashed by.

An intense, overwhelming sense of resentment erupted once again from the depths of his soul.

There must be a way!
There must be things I can do that it can't!

What is it?
what exactly is it?
Strength? Technique? Strike?

It knows it all.

Is there anything it can't do?

Luo Qingchen's brain was working at lightning speed.

He looked at the expressionless "himself" opposite him, approaching him step by step.

Looking into those eyes, which had form but no emotion whatsoever, suddenly...

A flash of inspiration, like lightning, streaked through his mind.

He had an idea.

He thought about the biggest difference between himself and this replica.

It is neither power nor technique.

It is... experience! It is... willpower! It is... the human heart!
This replica is perfect, it is rational.

It will calculate the optimal way to fight.

It would never do anything risky, unprofitable, or foolish that would result in injury for injury.

And I will!

A crazy idea began to take root in Luo Qingchen's mind.

As he watched the approaching "Shadow of the Dao," a ferocious yet resolute smile suddenly appeared on his face.

"come!"

He abandoned all defenses and opened his arms as if welcoming death.

A hint of confusion, like a data stream, flashed in the eyes of "Shadow of the Dao".

But its movements did not stop at all.

In its calculations, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a chance to strike and kill.

It concentrated all its power into its right fist.

Gray-gold and colorful light flashed wildly.

This punch was enough to completely obliterate Luo Qingchen, along with his nascent soul!

"Brother Luo! No!"

Lin Wan'er and Su Xiaowan let out heart-wrenching screams.

They didn't understand why Luo Qingchen would give up resisting.

however.

Just as the "Shadow of the Dao" was about to strike Luo Qingchen's chest.

Luo Qingchen moved.

He neither dodged nor blocked.

Instead, he used his intact hand to strike "Shadow of the Dao" in the chest at an odd angle.

He actually wanted to trade his life for his life!
The movements of "Shadow of the Dao" suddenly froze.

A contradiction suddenly appeared in its calculations.

Continuing the attack might kill the opponent, but it would also inevitably result in severe damage to oneself, and there is even a risk of being destroyed.

Retreating to defend might save yourself, but it would mean losing this excellent opportunity to kill your opponent.

Reason tells it that it should back down.

Because preserving oneself is the optimal solution.

however.

That's it, less than a fraction of a second, the hesitation.

The final outcome of this battle has been decided.

Luo Qingchen, this is the moment I've been waiting for!
He wasn't trying to trade his life for another at all!
He is gambling!

I'm betting that this copy, devoid of "humanity," will make the most "rational" choice when faced with the threat of "death"!

He made the right bet!

"Die!"

A dazzling light burst forth in Luo Qingchen's eyes.

His punch aimed at the opponent's chest was just a feint!

His real killer move is his crippled, collapsed shoulder!

Suddenly, with all his might, he slammed forward!
With his shattered shoulder bone, like the sharpest dagger, he slammed it fiercely into the neck of "Shadow of the Way"!

This is the most reckless move that street thugs would use in a fight!

Completely beyond the calculation scope of the "Shadow of the Dao"!

puff!

A dull thud as a sharp weapon pierced flesh.

Luo Qingchen's shoulder bone pierced deeply into the neck of "Shadow of the Dao".

The raging chaotic power surged wildly into the wound!
The body of "Shadow of the Dao" suddenly stiffened.

Its body, made of starlight, began to flicker violently, like a television screen with a poor signal.

It lowered its head, looking at the hideous hole in its neck. For the first time, a trace of emotion called "collapse" appeared in its usually calm eyes.

Its computational core is incomprehensible.

why?
Why would the opponent use this tactic that inflicts 800 damage on the enemy but also 1000 damage on themselves?

This is unreasonable!

This is not "rational"!
"you……"

It opened its mouth, as if it wanted to say something.

But Luo Qingchen didn't give it that chance at all.

"Give me... pieces!"

Luo Qingchen let out a deafening roar, and the chaotic power within his body, like a flood bursting its banks, poured into the body of "Shadow of the Dao" without reservation.

boom!
The body of "Shadow of the Dao" could no longer be maintained.

With a muffled, unwilling thud, it exploded with a deafening roar!

It transformed into countless stars and dissipated into the air.

"Huh...huh...huh..."

Luo Qingchen knelt on one knee, panting heavily.

His face was as pale as paper.

The wound on that useless shoulder was even more gruesome, almost revealing the stark white bone inside.

Every part of his body was intact.

But he smiled.

He laughed heartily, with unbridled joy.

He won.

They won this battle, which seemed almost impossible to win, in the most disheveled and undignified way.

"Brother Luo!"

The invisible barrier that separated them quietly dissipated.

Lin Wan'er and Su Xiaowan rushed over immediately, supporting his swaying body from either side.

"How are you? You're badly injured!"

Seeing Luo Qingchen's miserable appearance, the two girls couldn't help but shed tears again.

"It's okay, I can't die."

Luo Qingchen grinned, which aggravated the wound on his lip, causing him to wince in pain.

"Yeah!"

Bai Ling'er also ran over, reached out her little hand, and gently touched his wound.

A warm and pure energy emanated from her small hands, easing Luo Qingchen's pain somewhat.

"You have passed the final test."

The guardian's majestic voice rang out once more.

This time, its voice seemed to carry an indescribable meaning.

There was approval, emotion, and even a hint of... relief?
Luo Qingchen looked up.

Then, the towering, star-like figure, ten feet tall, slowly walked towards him.

The light emanating from it was no longer so blurry, but had become much more solid.

It walked up to Luo Qingchen and slowly bowed its noble "waist".

That was a gesture similar to bowing.

"Welcome, inheritor."

The guardian's voice was no longer the grand, emotionless voice of law it once was.

Instead, it transformed into a gentle yet aged male voice.

"The successor?"

Luo Qingchen was stunned.

"I am Xinghun, the First Dragon Guard under the Star Dragon Emperor."

The guardian, who called himself "Star Soul," spoke slowly.

"My mission is to protect this place and wait for a successor who can carry on the hopes of my people."

"One hundred thousand years."

"You are the first person to pass all three tests."

Xinghun's tone was filled with endless vicissitudes.

"Has no one been here before?"

Su Xiaowan couldn't help but ask curiously.

"came."

Xinghun shook his head.

"But they all fell victim to the test."

"Some people are lost in the illusion of their own minds, sinking into false happiness, never to be reborn."

“Some people, while seeking the Dao, become confused and their Dao heart collapses, turning into nothingness and dust.”

"Many more fell at the third level, mercilessly annihilated by their own strongest 'Shadow of the Dao'." (End of Chapter)