75: Chapter 75: Mirror Image

From the thousandth step onwards, the difficulty of the Immortal Climbing Ladder increased sharply.

With every step climbed, the pressure intensified.

Not only that, but various illusory attacks began to manifest on the steps.

Phantom blades and swords, Five Elements Spells, Heart Demon whispers... all sorts of interference emerged one after another.

Xiao Ran circulated the Guixu Demonic Light, devouring the incoming attacks one by one and converting them into pure spiritual power to replenish himself.

Having now recovered ninety-nine percent of his condition, his pace was exceptionally steady.

Though his speed wasn't fast, his primary focus was stability.

Up ahead, Li Tianxing and Ling Jianxin had already pulled ahead.

Their cultivation levels were higher than the others, so they remained in the first tier.

The two had already climbed to around the fifteen-hundredth step.

They chased after each other, neither willing to yield.

White Bone Scholar, Jian Wuchen, Liu Ruyan, Su Qinghan, and the others were steadily advancing at the thirteen-hundredth step.

Li Changsheng was at the twelve-hundredth step.

His Dao Embryo resonated with the nature of heaven and earth, resulting in him receiving the least pressure and interference.

Even though he lagged behind, his climbing speed was actually faster than that of White Bone Scholar and the others.

Meanwhile.

Because Ba Dao had fallen back a hundred steps, he had to restart his climb from the eight-hundredth step; he had now reached the thousandth step, fueled by a surge of grim determination.

"Most of the time has passed again."

Xiao Ran glanced at the sky; there was no sun or moon there, but he kept time in his heart.

The pressure was immense.

Xiao Ran decisively increased his speed.

As he climbed, he carefully experienced the pressure and attacks on the steps.

His Guixu Body was frantically devouring these energies; although most were used to sustain his climb, a small portion still went toward strengthening his Physical Body and Meridians.

"This Immortal Climbing Ladder... is itself a form of Cultivation."

Xiao Ran had a moment of realization.

Within that pressure and those attacks were fragments of Dao laws from ancient immortals and demons.

Though fragmented, they were all nutrients for the Guixu Body.

His aura was slowly and steadily rising.

...

A day passed in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Ran stepped onto the nineteen-hundred-ninety-ninth step.

Up ahead, the platform of the two-thousandth step was clearly visible.

The platform was empty, with only nine light gates quietly floating there.

"The second hurdle has arrived."

Xiao Ran took a deep breath and adjusted his state.

Although he had climbed for a whole day, his injuries had been completely healed under the dual effects of the Medicinal Pills and his Guixu Body, bringing his condition to its peak.

But facing an unknown trial, he still needed to be cautious.

He looked at the others.

Li Tianxing and Ling Jianxin were already standing at the edge of the platform but hadn't entered recklessly.

White Bone Scholar and the other three arrived one after another.

Li Changsheng also arrived; he didn't even spare Xiao Ran a glance.

However, the mental link was already buzzing with noise.

Finally, Ba Dao arrived.

All nine people were gathered.

"Second Hurdle: Combat Trial."

Elder Gu's voice rang out.

"Enter the light gate and battle yourself."

"The winner advances, the loser... dies."

"Time limit: One incense stick."

Death!

This word made everyone's expression turn solemn.

"Battle yourself?"

"Could it be..."

White Bone Scholar frowned, some thoughts forming in his mind.

"Mirror Image."

"It should be a battle against a Mirror Image that perfectly copies oneself; only by defeating yourself can you continue forward."

Li Tianxing said indifferently.

He was already prepared and turned to look at the crowd: "Everyone, I wish you luck."

Having said that, he was the first to step into a light gate.

Ling Jianxin followed closely behind.

The others no longer hesitated and each chose a gate to enter.

The moment Xiao Ran stepped into the light gate, the scenery before his eyes changed.

He appeared on a white jade arena about a hundred zhang square.

On the opposite side of the arena stood another Xiao Ran.

Identical appearance, identical clothing, even the gaze was exactly the same.

Cold, determined, and carrying the unique devouring aura of the Guixu Body.

"Is this... my Mirror Image?"

Xiao Ran narrowed his eyes.

The Mirror Image didn't speak; it simply raised its hand.

Guixu Demonic Light transformed into a grey vortex and lunged straight for Xiao Ran!

"Good timing!"

Xiao Ran likewise performed the Guixu Demonic Light.

The two vortexes collided in the air, devouring each other and finally annihilating at the same time.

Evenly matched!

"As expected, it's a perfect copy."

Xiao Ran's heart sank.

As everyone knows, the person who understands you best is ultimately yourself.

A Mirror Image is something that is strong when you are strong and weak when you are weak.

There was once a Sun God who fell before his own Mirror Image.

So Xiao Ran had to be exceptionally careful.

But the Mirror Image gave him no time to think; with a flash of its body, it was already close.

"Three-Part Return to Origin Finger!"

Three finger energies attacked the upper, middle, and lower paths separately.

Xiao Ran quickly reacted, countering with the Three-Part Return to Origin Finger as well.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

The finger energies collided, exploding into waves of air.

Xiao Ran was shaken back three steps, and the Mirror Image also retreated three steps.

Exactly the same.

"This won't do. If we keep fighting like this, how long will it take?"

"I must think of a way."

Xiao Ran's mind raced.

Suddenly, he thought of a move.

"The Mirror Image only copied my Cultivation Technique and combat style, but it has no emotions, no creativity... this might be my chance!"

Xiao Ran took a deep breath and changed his strategy.

No longer meeting force with force, he maneuvered and circled.

The Guixu Demonic Light protected his body, devouring the aftershocks of the Mirror Image's attacks to replenish his own consumption.

The Mirror Image pursued relentlessly, with various moves emerging one after another.

Guixu Demonic Light, Three-Part Return to Origin Finger, Blood Shadow Escape, Nether Bone Escape Technique...

Xiao Ran responded to all of them with the same moves; although he was at a disadvantage, he barely managed to hold on.

Time passed minute by minute.

The wounds on Xiao Ran's body grew more numerous, and his aura became weaker.

But his gaze remained sharp as lightning as he built up for a major move.

Meanwhile, the Mirror Image was tireless, its offensive like a rising tide.

Just then.

Within the Soul link, Li Changsheng's voice suddenly came through:

"Xiao Ran, I'm finished on my end."

"So fast?"

Xiao Ran was surprised.

"Though the Mirror Image is strong, it doesn't know how to adapt."

"I used a Dao Embryo Phantom move to make it attack the phantom, while my true body successfully launched a sneak attack."

"Does your Guixu Body... have any abilities that the Mirror Image cannot use?"

Li Changsheng said.

An ability the Mirror Image cannot use?

A flash of inspiration struck Xiao Ran's mind.

There was!

The System!

The Mirror Image could copy his Cultivation Technique, Physique, and combat experience, but the System... it couldn't copy that!

"Changsheng, I f*cking figured it out!"

Xiao Ran's eyes lit up.

He stopped maneuvering and stood still.

Seeing this, the Mirror Image's Guixu Demonic Light erupted with full force, transforming into a ten-zhang vortex that pressed down!

This strike was meant to decide the winner.

Xiao Ran neither dodged nor avoided it; he even closed his eyes.

"System, exchange for Guixu Finger!"

This was a secret technique in the System Mall that he had long had his eye on, specifically tailored for the Myriad Dao Guixu Body.

He had been reluctant to exchange for it, but now was the time!

"Ding! Consumed 30,000 points. Exchange successful."

In an instant, a massive amount of information flooded into Xiao Ran's mind.

Guixu Finger, a forbidden killing move within the Guixu Demon Scripture.

By condensing Guixu power into a single finger, it could break all laws and devour heaven and earth.

Although he was just a beginner, it was enough to deal with the Mirror Image!

Xiao Ran opened his eyes and raised his hand.

He pointed his index finger.

There was no earth-shattering power, only a thin grey-black line shooting from his fingertip.

Everywhere the thin line passed, space itself distorted.

The Mirror Image's Guixu Demonic Light vortex was easily pierced, torn apart, and devoured by the thin line!

"Pfft!"

The thin line sank into the Mirror Image's forehead.

The Mirror Image's movements froze, a hint of blankness flashed in its eyes, and then it dissipated into dots of light.

"Winner: Xiao Ran."

A voice rang out, and a Medicinal Pill manifested in the center of the arena.

"Healing holy medicine: First-Revolution Soul-Returning Pill. Consume it to recover from all injuries."

Xiao Ran picked up the Medicinal Pill and swallowed it without hesitation.

The pure medicinal power dissolved, and the wounds on his body healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

His depleted spiritual power rapidly recovered, and even his lost essence blood was being reborn.