Chapter 152: Which One Is Real?

“The second segment of the Ascension Path!”

Stepping beyond the range of the white mist, Dongbo Xueying strode along the stone path when suddenly an invisible force pressed down on his soul.

This was all anticipated. The second segment of the Ascension Path was known for an increasing oppression upon the soul, a trial of both soul and spirit! Even those of high cultivation might fail if their spirit had not been adequately tempered. Indeed, reading had a profound effect on one’s inner self.

Life experiences, books, and the comprehension of the natural world could all shape one’s spirit.

After nearly fifteen years of reading countless scrolls left behind by demigods, Dongbo Xueying could feel his spirit transform. As the saying goes, “Without confusion, there is no fear.” Having read so many scrolls and the life stories of countless demigods, Dongbo Xueying had gained a clear understanding of his own future and the true nature of this world.

This understanding freed him from confusion and fear!

“The pressure is quite strong. I heard that Situ Hong gave up halfway!” After walking several miles and reaching halfway up the majestic mountain, Dongbo Xueying was already sweating from the soul oppression. Yet, in his heart, he felt increasingly excited.

Excellent.

The greater the pressure, the better! He walked the Ascension Path to perfect his spear techniques.

…

At a bend ahead of Dongbo Xueying, on an open patch of ground, two hideous native superiors were sitting casually. They were both about two and a half meters tall, wearing animal hide around their waists, bare-chested and barefoot, each with an axe at their waist and a one-handed shield nearby. They were drinking casually together.

“How long has it been? How long has it been since we last tasted fine wine? I never thought before this great battle I could enjoy a drink. Dying in battle with wine in hand isn’t so bad,” said one of the green-skinned native superiors with a sigh.

“Wu Chen! I didn’t expect you to have lost all your fighting spirit after being tortured by the Xia Clan. Dying like this, I can’t accept it! Have you forgotten the Xia Clan’s enslavement and torment of us native superiors?” roared the red-skinned native superior beside him.

“Of course I haven’t forgotten, of course I hate them! We were born from the heavens and earth, meant to be rulers of this world. We will never bow or kneel,” growled the green-skinned native superior through clenched teeth. “But what can we do? The Xia Clan is simply too powerful. Whether to kill or enslave, it is entirely their decision.”

“Then we kill! Kill one and we break even. If we slay one of these human superiors walking this path, we will gain a thousand years of freedom! No more enslavement!” The red-skinned native superior’s eyes burned with hatred. “Killing one would at least relieve some of this pent-up anger.”

In the eyes of the Xia Clan, these naturally born superiors were too stubborn.

Those with strength were difficult to conquer.

In some weaker worlds of superiors, the Xia Clan had completely swept through them. If they truly wished to kill, they could easily wipe them out! Yet the Xia Clan did not do so. In fact, they were willing to accept them, allowing them to live and cultivate freely as long as they became vassals of the Xia Clan. Just vassals… yet most of these native superiors would rather die than bow, with only a few willing to follow.

“He’s coming.”

The two hideous natives simultaneously turned their gaze to the distant corner.

A black-robed youth, holding a long spear, appeared around the bend, walking steadily along the stone path. He suddenly stopped, his gaze falling upon the two native superiors.

“Just you two?” Dongbo Xueying, spear in hand, asked.

“Human, die.”

“Kill.”

The two hideous natives roared in unison, instantly transforming into two blurred shadows. In the blink of an eye, they had already rushed before Dongbo Xueying. Around each of them formed natural forces. The red-skinned native superior was surrounded by scorching flames, raging and burning, hot enough to reduce even stone to powder in an instant.

The green-skinned native superior, on the other hand, was engulfed in bone-piercing cold, spreading frost that froze everything. Dongbo Xueying’s body was protected by supernatural battle aura, yet the moment the bitter cold invaded, he felt his entire body shudder. His protective aura was rapidly being drained.

One, blazing fire; the other, piercing cold.

Opposing forces clashed!

The contrast of ice and fire made Dongbo Xueying feel extremely uncomfortable. He tried to manipulate the power of the world to suppress them, but these two native superiors were clearly naturally adept at control. Their cultivation had both reached the third tier of the Myriad Things Realm, making them impossible for Dongbo Xueying to suppress.

Caught in this icy and fiery environment, the stone path was constantly shrouded in soul oppression. The situation was terrible! And at this moment, he was still facing the threat of death!

Too fast!

They each swung their axes. One axe carried a crimson glow, so powerful that the very void was slashed and twisted. The other axe bore a freezing glow, and wherever it passed, everything seemed to freeze solid.

“Clang!”

Dongbo Xueying quickly leapt backward, his spear shooting out like a striking serpent, blocking the nearest crimson axe.

Boom~~~

A tremendous force surged through the axe, sending Dongbo Xueying involuntarily flying backward, crashing into the barrier wall of the formation beside the stone path. With a plop, his back was completely flattened against a wall of empty space, upon which many formation runes appeared.

“Such immense power! These two superiors must have already reached the peak of the Saintly Rank,” Dongbo Xueying immediately realized their strength.

These two native superiors at the peak of the Saintly Rank had both reached the third tier of the Myriad Things Realm! One specialized in fire, the other in ice—both were very common mysteries.

In terms of physical strength alone, the two superiors completely overwhelmed Dongbo Xueying. After all, Dongbo was only at the peak of the Flying Heaven Rank; the gap was too great.

But in terms of cultivation realm, it was the opposite.

Dongbo Xueying was far superior to them.

These low-level ice and fire mysteries, even if they had formed ‘True Intent,’ were still weaker than Dongbo Xueying’s. His combination of ‘Water, Fire, and Wind’ mysteries was indeed wondrous.

“I can’t overpower them! I must win through cultivation realm!” Dongbo Xueying immediately understood this. At present, he could only match a mid-Saintly Rank superior directly.

“Kill.”

“Kill him!”

The two hideous natives pressed forward, aiming for a decisive strike.

Suddenly, Dongbo Xueying’s figure blurred, and six arms appeared, each holding three black spears. The two hideous natives hesitated for a moment.

Huh?

How did he turn into six arms and three spears? Which one was real?

“Whoosh.” Dongbo Xueying’s figure blurred again, suddenly splitting into three figures.

Three black-robed youths stood before them, each with six arms and three spears.

“This… this…” The two hideous native superiors were even more bewildered.

“Burn him.”

“Freeze him!”

The two hideous native superiors manipulated flames and bitter cold, their powers surging forward. Yet under the blazing heat, the three black-robed youths remained standing, completely unharmed. These illusions were formed from ‘Law Mysteries,’ making them extremely difficult to destroy.

“Take this!” The three Dongbo Xueyings simultaneously shot forward.

Two flanked from the sides, while one descended from above.