“Your shadow?”
“You think too highly of yourself.”
The shadow not only rejected Chu Feng’s claim but seemed deeply offended by it.
*Swish—*
As it spoke, the shadow lunged at Chu Feng again.
By now, Chu Feng had drawn his Blue Jade Mandarin Duck Sword.
Instead of retreating, he swung the sword, engaging the shadow in combat.
The more they fought, the more certain Chu Feng became that this was indeed his shadow.
It possessed all his techniques, and aside from those, it used no others.
Even its attack patterns and fighting habits mirrored his own.
If it wasn’t his shadow, what else could it be?
“My shadow, if I defeat you, can I take the War God’s Halberd?” Chu Feng asked while fighting.
“I’ll say it again: I’m not your shadow. My status is far nobler than yours,” the shadow retorted. “And you can’t defeat me. Your life is in my hands.”
“I may not be able to beat you, but you can’t beat me either. Since you’re my shadow, how about a deal—let me win?” Chu Feng proposed.
“Hahaha…” The shadow burst into wild laughter at Chu Feng’s words.
“Trying to trick me? Foolish. A fool like you deserves to die here.”
With that, its attacks grew fiercer, no longer a mere spar but a clear intent to kill.
“Damn it.”
Chu Feng didn’t dare underestimate the situation.
The shadow’s attacks were so real that a single misstep could lead to his defeat.
Losing to anyone else would be one thing, but losing to his own shadow would be too humiliating.
“Chu Feng, you must end this quickly. The longer it drags on, the more dangerous it becomes,” a voice suddenly echoed in his ears—the Ox-Nosed Taoist.
“Senior?” Chu Feng glanced around, searching for him, but found no trace.
“Don’t look for me. I’m not in your world,” the Taoist’s voice continued. “You’re trapped in an illusion created by the War God’s Halberd. You have only the time of one incense stick to defeat it. If you fail, the halberd will unleash its true power, and you won’t stand a chance.”
The Taoist’s tone was grave, convincing Chu Feng he wasn’t joking.
“So, this isn’t my shadow but the War God’s Halberd itself?” Chu Feng asked.
“You could say that,” the Taoist replied. “When you entered, the halberd replicated all your powers—your treasures, weapons, everything. But it only copies what you had before. To defeat it, you must surpass your past self. You know what to do, don’t you?”
As he spoke, the Taoist’s voice grew faint.
“Chu Feng, remember, you have one incense stick’s time and one chance. Defeat it, or you may face mortal danger,” he said with effort before his voice faded completely, as if even he could no longer communicate with Chu Feng.
“Surpass my past self?” Chu Feng muttered.
He knew what it meant—to defeat his past self, he had to master a stronger technique now.
But with the shadow pressing him relentlessly, he couldn’t afford to lose focus, let alone find time to improve.
And what new technique could he even use?
“Wait, the secret skill!” Chu Feng suddenly thought of the secret skill taught by the Blood Devouring Demon Venerable.
“Senior, can you lend me your power?” Chu Feng tried to communicate with the skill, but it ignored him, unresponsive even to insults.
Frustrated, Chu Feng felt helpless.
“Damn it, as expected… in times like this, I can only rely on myself.”
Instead of despairing, determination flashed in his eyes.
*Swish—*
Abruptly, Chu Feng retreated far back, stopping only after a great distance.
Gripping the Blue Jade Mandarin Duck Sword with both hands, he raised it high and slashed toward the War God’s Halberd with ferocious intent.
The move was so swift and fierce that the halberd, thinking Chu Feng was unleashing a powerful technique, didn’t dare advance and even retreated slightly.
*Swish—*
But when the slash landed, no powerful technique or martial power emerged. It was just a motion, not an attack.
Chu Feng paused, stunned, then raised his sword and repeated the same motion.
Once, twice, thrice, five times, ten times…
In moments, he had performed the motion over twenty times, each without any destructive power.
“Are you mocking me?” the halberd demanded coldly, its voice laced with anger, clearly provoked by Chu Feng’s actions.
Yet Chu Feng ignored it, continuing the motion with utmost seriousness, occasionally pausing to think before resuming.
His persistence only fueled the halberd’s rage.
“You dare toy with me? You’re courting death!”
With a furious roar, thunder rumbled.
Countless black lightning bolts, like giant dragons, surged through the sea.
It was Chu Feng’s strongest attack, the Immortal Forbidden Blood Thunder Technique!
Chu Feng knew its devastating power well.
Yet he didn’t dodge, continuing his slashing motion toward the halberd.
*Boom—*
Soon, the black lightning bombarded him relentlessly.
With no attempt to evade or defend, Chu Feng was quickly obliterated by the thunder’s power.
But as the Blood Thunder Technique’s assault ceased, five elemental forces emerged, intertwining. Chu Feng’s body reformed.
It was the power of the Five Elements Secret Skill!
