Chapter 224: Chapter 216: The Third Eye
"Master!" Over a thousand figures bowed simultaneously, each possessing Invincible White Hole level strength.
Wang Xu opened his eyes and stood up, his life force as powerful as ever.
The clones produced by the "Formless Sacred Image" would not cause any separation from Wang Xu, similar to performing a secret technique. As long as he consumes energy, Wang Xu can continually produce clones.
"Condense!" Wang Xu formed one mysterious seal after another with his hands, drawing on Cosmic Energy, gradually gathering into a transparent energy form.
This transparent energy form in Wang Xu’s hand slowly began to manifest an identical figure and face as Wang Xu.
Unlike creating clones, Wang Xu kept performing complex hand seals, outlining Cosmic Energy and using the recently comprehended "Void Great Will" to forge this transparent energy form.
A moment later.
Cold sweat appeared on Wang Xu’s forehead, and the speed at which he formed hand seals became faster and faster, until his hand movements became too rapid for the naked eye to follow.
The transparent energy form flickered, suddenly becoming solid, then quietly turned transparent and shapeless again, finally shattering with a soft "pop".
"It’s still not working." Wang Xu wiped the sweat from his forehead, showing a bitter smile.
Since obtaining the "Formless Sacred Image", Wang Xu had relentlessly cultivated it, from the first Chapter "External Incarnation" to the current third Chapter "Thousand Shadows". Wang Xu could now instantaneously produce over a thousand clones, each with Invincible White Hole level strength.
Upon reaching the fourth Chapter "Ten Thousand Masses", the information in Wang Xu’s mind became vague and elusive. Clearly, it was a limit of his current realm; unless he raised his realm, he wouldn’t be able to access the fourth Chapter’s content.
Thus, Wang Xu temporarily set aside the cultivation of clones and began to concentrate on forging the Sacred Image.
The crafting of a Sacred Image is independent from the methods of cloning; the "Formless" and "Sacred Image" described in the "Formless Sacred Image" were intrinsically two separate entities. Practicing one was possible, but practicing both could create a complement, providing enormous benefit.
Therefore, Wang Xu’s over a thousand clones could be so powerful now. Although they are energy bodies, their actual combat power is not inferior to an ordinary Invincible White Hole level.
However, attempting to forge a Sacred Image is exceedingly difficult.
What Wang Xu had just performed was the most fundamental "Shape Condensation" of the Sacred Image.
Similar to the principle of cloning, energy needs to be condensed into a form within the mind.
But after trying hundreds to thousands of times, Wang Xu couldn’t even achieve the most basic shape condensation of the Sacred Image.
Later, after Wang Xu comprehended the third Chapter "Thousand Shadows", he realized that condensing the shape wasn’t just about gathering energy; it also required the help of will laws to construct, to birth the form of a Sacred Image.
But even after spending years and making hard-earned progress on the Void Great Will, Wang Xu still couldn’t accomplish the most basic step of shape condensation.
"No wonder even the Immortal Saint Venerable couldn’t decipher it, despite exerting great effort, only to produce a defect." Wang Xu sighed.
The "Formless Sacred Image" is a secret scripture, superior to secret techniques, practiced by figures like Celestial Gods and Saint Venerables.
It was also the signature method of the Immortal Saint Venerable.
Yet, even the Immortal Saint Venerable himself couldn’t completely master the creation of the Sacred Image.
This shows just how exceptionally challenging it is to condense a Sacred Image.
"You guys from the abyss, come out—" Wang Xu was about to resume his practice on the "Formless Sacred Image" when suddenly, a sharp voice shattered Wang Xu’s silence, piercing from tens of thousands of meters in the external world into the depths, reaching Wang Xu’s ears.
Wang Xu frowned at once. He was at a location tens of thousands of meters from the surface, and he had already concealed his aura. Even those beyond the Invincible White Hole level would unlikely detect his existence, let alone in a perilous place where no Cosmic Martial Artist would linger.
Yet someone had discovered him, and judging by the life aura he sensed, it was a Cosmic Martial Artist whose real strength had reached the Initial Mixed Universe Realm.
"Go and drive him away." With a thought, Wang Xu sent a clone soaring upwards towards the surface.
At this moment, in the outside sky, three figures stood.
The three of them were clad in heavy purple battle armor, with the unique emblem of their Cosmic Country on their chests, stained with a trace of already dried blood, which they hadn’t wiped off, clearly intentionally left there.
The Cosmic Martial Artist standing in front let out a gruff snort from his nose, with the third eye on his forehead emitting an aura of bloodlust.
"Who are you?" Wang Xu’s clone emerged from the ground, standing expressionlessly opposite them.
"Make them all come out! Hmph, just a mere thousand Initial White Hole levels, and you hope to survive? Dream on!" the Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist snarled viciously.
This Cosmic Martial Artist had a keen sense for life aura and had already detected the existence of over a thousand life auras deep within the abyss, tens of thousands of meters below. However, what puzzled him the most was how eerily similar all these life auras were.
However, this did not affect the decision of the Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist. Thousands of life forms all had the Initial White Hole Level aura. Decades ago, all the weak had already been purged from the Thousandfold Divine Country. The lowest among those who survived were Invincible White Hole Level.
But for these weak Cosmic Martial Artists to survive until now, they must have some treasures on them!
"Before my mood turns completely terrible, you better leave quickly," Wang Xu’s clone said in a deep voice.
"Ridiculous! I can crush you completely with just one finger!" The Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist sneered, his large hand suddenly pressing down. A finger expanded to tens of thousands of meters wide, covering the sky, enveloping Wang Xu’s clone.
The terrifying pressure spread out, and Wang Xu’s clone couldn’t even react as his body cracked inch by inch and turned to ashes.
"Haha..." The Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist laughed heartily, withdrawing his hand, "See that? If you don’t obey my orders, you will all be crushed like him!"
The Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist laughed wildly. Behind him, two Cosmic Martial Artists, who surpassed the Invincible White Hole Level but lacked the third eye on their foreheads, echoed loudly, their voices rumbling and spreading towards the abyss below.
"Hmm? He didn’t have a Space Ring?" The Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist’s gaze focused. He prepared to retrieve Wang Xu’s clone’s Space Ring but didn’t sense anything at all. He didn’t know that the Space Ring was just an Energy Body conjured by Wang Xu, completely useless. With the clone dead, the Energy Body naturally collapsed and dissipated.
Beneath the abyss, the voices reached Wang Xu’s ears, and his expression darkened.
"You disturbed my cultivation and killed my clone. With just these two crimes, none of you three will leave today!" Wang Xu’s gaze sharpened as he stepped onto a blue, edgeless Sword Shadow and soared into the sky.
In just the span of a breath, Wang Xu’s figure appeared before the Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist.
"Hmm? How does he look exactly like the Cosmic Martial Artist I just killed? Could they be twin brothers?" The Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist wondered, but his expression quickly turned arrogant and conceited. He looked at Wang Xu, a mocking smile on his lips, and said, "Your brother has already died by my hand. If you don’t want to die, obediently hand over your Space Rings without hiding anything, or else... you’ll join your brother in death!"
The Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist displayed a contemptuous smile. To him, Initial White Hole Level would have only one outcome no matter how many came.
If these weaklings knew what was good for them and obediently offered their Space Rings and treasures, he might still consider letting them leave, as a group of Initial White Hole Level Martial Artists didn’t even interest him to make a move.
"Die!" Wang Xu’s eyes sharpened as he moved his hand. Instantly, multiple Light and Dark Blade Auras leapt and shuttled through the void, heading straight for the Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist!
Bang!
The Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist had no time to react, but as the Light and Dark Blade Auras approached him, his third eye emitted a purple glow, forming a faint purple Energy Barrier that enveloped the Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist.
"What!" The Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist jumped in shock. The moment the purple Energy Barrier enveloped him, he hadn’t yet reacted. It wasn’t until he saw the energy barrier ripple violently that his expression changed dramatically.
Was that an Initial White Hole Level attack? When did he make a move, and why didn’t I notice at all?
Luckily, luckily I obtained the "Ancient Eye Inheritance." The Ancient Eye can automatically protect its master, otherwise, that single strike would have sent me to the afterlife!
The Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist’s heart was filled with lingering fear. He knew the strength of the purple Energy Barrier. Even Initial Chaos Universe Realm experts hadn’t caused such severe ripples, yet this Initial White Hole Level managed to accomplish it, which alone was enough to pierce through his body!
"This is... Ancient Inheritance!"
Wang Xu furrowed his brows. He knew the power of the Light and Dark Blade Aura. Over the years, it had improved significantly, and multiple Blade Auras attacking together could injure even a Void Chaos Realm expert if caught off guard.
But the strange third eye on this Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist’s forehead emitted a purple light shield that enveloped him. The Light and Dark Blade Aura struck the Energy Barrier without leaving a scratch.
Wang Xu didn’t sense the presence of a Celestial God from this strange eye, clearly indicating it wasn’t a Divine Treasure.
If it wasn’t a Divine Treasure but could still help an Initial Chaos Universe Realm figure withstand his attack, it could only be explained by Ancient Inheritance.
"Damn you, I almost got ambushed! I’ll cut you down for sure!" The Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist roared angrily, charging forward, wielding the large axe in his hand, and chopped down fiercely.
Wang Xu quickly shifted his body, trying to dodge the attack.
"Die!" However, the Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist’s third eye flickered with purple light, penetrating Wang Xu’s next move. The axe turned directly towards Wang Xu, slashing horizontally.
Wang Xu’s eyes widened. He hadn’t anticipated that with his Body Technique, he’d be hit by such a clumsy attack, sending him flying backward, pain shooting through his chest.
"Such a powerful physique!" The Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist’s gaze trembled. His axe carried the power of the Initial Chaos Universe Realm, supported by Great Will, yet when it landed on this Initial White Hole Level, it couldn’t even leave a wound!
The pain in Wang Xu’s chest subsided like a receding tide. With Endless Life, he remained in peak condition at all times.
Wang Xu observed coldly. It had only been a few decades since he last ventured out, and the external world had changed so much that any random Cosmic Martial Artist possessed Ancient Inheritance.
"It seems I must re-engage with the outside world. You’ll be my first prey!"
Wang Xu charged towards the Three-Eyed Cosmic Martial Artist, holding the White Jade Long Saber!