148: Chapter 148 Do you want to see her?

"You, do you want to see your wife?"

This voice was like a sudden crack of thunder, exploding within the silent lake of Li Taiping's heart!

He snapped his eyes open, his body tensing to the limit in an instant, like a cheetah ready to pounce.

His eyes, which had just regained a hint of clarity, were once again filled with heavy alertness and violence.

He spun around abruptly.

Then, he froze.

Standing before him was not some bizarre monster, nor was it an enemy.

It was someone... who looked exactly like himself!

The same face, the same height, and even that faint, slightly roguish smirk at the corner of the mouth was identical.

The only difference was that this "Li Taiping" was wearing clean, tidy black casual clothes that were completely out of place in this wasteland world.

His gaze was calm and deep, like an ancient well with no visible bottom, exuding an unfathomable mystery.

"Who are you?"

Li Taiping's voice was ice-cold, and the Telescopic Greatsword appeared in his hand once more, the tip pointing toward the other man from a distance.

Although the life aura emanating from the other party was only at the Excellent Grade peak level,

for some reason, this Imposter gave him—a genuine epic grade powerhouse—an unprecedented and immense sense of pressure.

That feeling was like a mouse seeing a cat; it was suppression coming from a higher dimension and a deeper level.

"Me?"

The Imposter "Li Taiping" let out a soft chuckle upon hearing this, as if he found Li Taiping's question quite amusing.

He didn't answer but simply repeated his previous words, his tone carrying an irresistible temptation.

"You, do you want to see your wife?"

Li Taiping's pupils constricted sharply.

His heart began to pound uncontrollably.

See her?

How could he see her?

Wasn't she already...

"She isn't dead."

The Imposter spoke indifferently, as if seeing right through Li Taiping's thoughts.

"The demise of the physical body does not mean the annihilation of the soul. Moreover, in this inherently fake world, death itself is a definition that can be rewritten."

He extended a finger, pointing toward the towering, ancient Bronze Bell Tower in the distance.

"Her soul is suppressed beneath that tower."

"Topple that tower, and you will be able to see her."

Li Taiping didn't speak; he just stared fixedly at him, his mind racing at high speed.

Topple the tower and see her?

This sounded like a clumsy scam.

A trap tailor-made for someone like him, who had just lost a loved one and was distraught and vulnerable.

But...

What if?

What if what he said was true?

As long as there was even the slightest chance to see Su Jie again, he was willing to try.

Even if it were an abyss of eternal damnation, he would dare to jump!

"Why should I believe you?" Li Taiping asked coldly, but his grip on the sword hilt loosened slightly.

"Whether you believe it or not is up to you."

The Imposter shrugged indifferently.

"I have already given you the chance. As for whether you can seize it, that's up to you."

After saying this, he actually turned around, seemingly preparing to leave.

"Stop!"

Li Taiping let out a thunderous shout.

This fellow was too bizarre.

Unknown origin, unknown purpose, and he knew so much inside information that Li Taiping didn't.

He absolutely could not let him leave so easily!

However, just as Li Taiping was about to move and forcibly detain him,

the Imposter suddenly struck.

"Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!"

His figure left a faint afterimage in place, and like a phantom, he instantly appeared before Li Taiping.

In his hand was a withered branch he had picked up from the roadside at some unknown moment.

That seemingly fragile branch became the most lethal weapon in his hand, following a mysterious trajectory as it pointed toward Li Taiping's throat.

So fast!

Li Taiping was startled.

The opponent was clearly only at the Excellent Grade peak, yet his speed was actually a notch faster than his own epic grade speed!

He didn't have time to overthink; his epic grade strength erupted, and his Telescopic Greatsword instinctively met the attack.

Clang!

A crisp sound of clashing metal rang out.

Li Taiping felt a massive yet incredibly subtle force transmit through the blade of his sword.

His heavy, powerful strike was actually neutralized with ease by that tiny branch, as if deflecting a thousand pounds with four ounces.

He was even forced back half a step, losing control of his balance.

How is this possible?!

For the first time, a look of horror appeared on Li Taiping's face.

This was no longer a gap in power levels.

This was a difference in skill, in realm, and in the understanding of the Dao; they were completely in different dimensions!

"Too many openings."

While easily parrying Li Taiping's storm-like attacks, the Imposter even had the leisure to comment calmly.

"Your sword has only brute force and no soul."

"To possess epic grade power yet be unable to defeat even an Excellent Grade swordsman is truly a disgrace to me."

His words were like poisonous stings, stabbing deeply into Li Taiping's heart.

"Shut up!"

Li Taiping roared, no longer limiting himself to swordsmanship.

With a thought, he activated his Spatial Power; his figure instantly vanished and reappeared behind the Imposter in the next second, thrusting his sword forward.

However, the Imposter acted as if he had eyes in the back of his head and didn't even turn around.

His body suddenly became illusory, as if merging into the air.

Li Taiping's sure-fire strike actually passed right through his body, hitting nothing but air.

"Etherealization?"

Li Taiping's pupils shook with shock.

This was a technique he had only just begun to grasp after reaching a very deep level of understanding with his Spatial Talent!

How could this guy use it so proficiently?

"Is your understanding of space also this shallow?"

The Imposter's voice came from all directions, carrying a sigh of disappointment.

Immediately following that, four identical Imposters appeared around Li Taiping, attacking him simultaneously from four different angles.

"Split-body Attack?"

Li Taiping felt his worldview being completely overturned at this moment.

This Imposter's application of Spatial Laws had reached a realm where he could do as he pleased, as easily as moving his own arms!

Everything Li Taiping knew, the opponent also knew, and was even more proficient at it!

The things Li Taiping didn't know, the opponent handled with ease, performing them even more skillfully than if they were second nature!

How could he even fight this?

"Damn it! I'm going all in!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Li Taiping's eyes.

If his skills weren't as good, he would use absolute power to crush him!

Boom—!

The silver-white mecha once again covered his entire body, and his aura surged at this moment, directly reaching the epic grade peak!

However, seeing this, the Imposter across from him only gave a faint evaluation.

"As expected of myself, the efficiency is high."

Immediately after.

An identical set of mecha was also summoned onto his body.

And his aura skyrocketed like a rocket.

epic grade peak...

Initial stage of the Perfect Grade...

Middle stage of the Perfect Grade...

Finally, it stabilized at—the Perfect Grade peak!

A suffocating, almost desperate and terrifying pressure enveloped the entire area.

At this moment, even Li Taiping's breathing stopped.

He finally understood.

Although his own life level was epic grade, all of his Talents were still stuck at the Excellent Grade.

As for this Imposter, while his life level was only at the Excellent Grade, all of his Talents had likely... all reached the Perfect Grade, which was above the epic grade!

This was an all-around, ultimate hexagon warrior with no blind spots!

Was this... a future version of himself?

...