"Who are you? Why have you taken my form?"
At that very moment, a third powerhouses shouted out in astonishment.
Then, from the billowing white mist ahead of the third powerhouse, a figure slowly walked out, growing clearer and clearer.
Soon, everyone saw clearly that the figure emerging from the white mist was identical in every way to that third powerhouse.
Quickly, this pair of identical beings also began to fight.
"What in the world is going on?"
Everyone watched as the three pairs of identical beings battled fiercely ahead, all feeling somewhat bewildered.
"I understand now. This must be a trial of this river. Probably, every person who walks to this point will encounter a being identical to themselves. To continue forward, one must defeat this replica of oneself," an old man suddenly said gravely.
"That's right. That must be it."
After hearing the old man's words, everyone suddenly realized.
"My trial has come as well!"
At that moment, a powerhouse who was walking forward suddenly stopped and looked ahead, saying slowly.
Then, a figure emerged from the white mist ahead—sure enough, another being identical to this powerhouse.
Now, everyone completely understood. This situation was indeed a trial of the river.
Afterward, more powerhouses who walked to this point all saw a being identical to themselves walk out from ahead, blocking their path.
Everyone knew that to continue forward, they had to defeat the strange being identical to themselves ahead. Without wasting words, they immediately began to fight.
For a time, more and more terrifying battles erupted ahead.
However, what was surprising was that the battles between those powerhouses ahead did not interfere with each other at all.
Because once a fight started, the two identical beings seemed to enter an independent space, akin to a transparent bubble. Their battle would take place within this separate space. No matter how they dodged or maneuvered, it would not affect the fights of other powerhouses nearby.
"My turn has finally come."
At this moment, Elder Ruan, who had been walking forward, suddenly stopped. Then Ye Yunfei saw a figure identical to Elder Ruan indeed walk out from the white mist ahead.
Whether in appearance or Soul Body aura, there seemed to be no difference at all.
"Tianmu Shenjun's methods are truly astounding. These beings, seemingly replicated, possess identical cultivation techniques, martial arts, realms, strengths, and even combat experience and skills as those powerhouses. These powerhouses are truly fighting themselves. It seems that to pass this barrier and earn the qualification to proceed, one must defeat oneself," Hun Lao remarked, feeling greatly astonished as he watched the continuous battles ahead.
"My turn is finally here."
Just as Hun Lao finished speaking, Ye Yunfei saw a person walk out from the white mist ahead. Whether in appearance or Soul Body aura, it was identical to him in every way.
Without wasting any words, Ye Yunfei took a step forward, launching an attack first.
For the next while, Ye Yunfei engaged in a fearsome battle with that strange being.
After fighting for a short time, Ye Yunfei was shocked to discover that his opponent could actually unleash all sorts of cultivation techniques and martial arts that he himself had practiced before, and the combat power unleashed by these techniques and arts was identical to what he himself could produce.
"Fighting oneself… this truly gives one a headache," the Golden-horned Dragon Silkworm couldn't help but sigh, watching Ye Yunfei battle with increasing ferocity against his identical copy.
"It indeed does give one a headache. Fighting oneself, both sides know each other completely. While it won't be easy to lose, winning is also extremely difficult," Hun Lao said with a bitter laugh.
"Tianmu Shenjun's techniques are truly too incredible! This guy's techniques and martial arts in every aspect are identical to mine. I even suspect he possesses Chaotic Divine Meridians as well."
After fighting for a while and finding himself locked in a stalemate with his opponent, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but laugh bitterly.
During the course of the battle, both sides advanced and retreated, one pressing forward and the other retreating in turn. The longer they fought, the more intense the battle became.
Moreover, Ye Yunfei soon discovered that no matter what technique or martial art he unleashed, his opponent would immediately unleash the exact same one.
Even when he utilized Mind Reading Art, or set up formations or earth arrays, his opponent would immediately use the same means to counter him.
"How can this guy imitate me so perfectly?"
Ye Yunfei couldn't help but laugh bitterly.
As he spoke, Ye Yunfei swung the longsword in his hand at astonishing speed, unleashing over a dozen thick beams of sword radiance. His opponent immediately did the same, sending out over a dozen thick sword radiance beams as well.
Boom, boom, boom…
The sword radiance unleashed by both sides violently collided in the space ahead, shaking this area so much it swayed as if unable to bear the force.
But in fact, this space was extremely sturdy and suffered no damage.
Ye Yunfei immediately used his Mind Reading Art, beginning to interfere with his opponent's thoughts and intentions.
However, in the very next moment, Ye Yunfei found various strange thoughts and intentions starting to arise within his own mind, even an urge to give up the fight.
"The power of Mind Reading Art is indeed formidable. Even with my level of Soul Power energy and quality of Soul Body, I'm still so strongly affected," Ye Yunfei said with a smile. He had finally gotten a taste of what those affected by his own Mind Reading Art usually felt.
"This guy is imitating you. No matter what technique you unleash, he can instantly analyze and mimic it. However, because his speed of analysis and mimicry is so fast, you feel as if he has practiced all the cultivation techniques and martial arts you have.
The principle is like looking in a mirror. Before you look in the mirror, there isn't actually you inside it; the mirror doesn't know what you look like. But the moment you start looking at it, the mirror immediately uses the laws of light to reflect your appearance. That's why you see an identical version of yourself in the mirror.
It's the same with the guy in front of you. In truth, before you make a move each time, he doesn't know which cultivation techniques and martial arts you've practiced, nor their true power. But the moment you start attacking, this guy uses incredible analytical and mimicry abilities to instantly simulate the techniques and arts you unleash. He can even simulate the level of power you can unleash when using these techniques."
Just as Ye Yunfei grew more and more alarmed the longer he fought, he suddenly received a Sound Transmission.
"Senior, it's you!"
Ye Yunfei was overjoyed, immediately recognizing the voice—it was Sword Elder.
Ye Yunfei knew this was the Soul Power mark left by Sword Elder within his own longsword speaking to him.
Although just a Soul Power mark, it possessed Sword Elder's insight and knowledge, and Sword Elder was a top-tier swordsman from the ancient Sword Realm.
"So that's how it is! This guy can actually analyze and imitate my cultivation techniques and martial arts in an instant, achieving a perfect simulation."
Hearing Sword Elder's words, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but be greatly shocked.
"Tianmu Shenjun excelled at pupil techniques, said to be able to see through anything in the world with a single glance. What blocks your path is actually a strand of Soul Power energy left behind by Tianmu Shenjun. This strand of energy possesses the matchless pupil techniques Tianmu Shenjun wielded in his day, enabling it to analyze and simulate your techniques and arts in an instant. Tianmu Shenjun excelled at many techniques and martial arts, reaching exceptionally high levels in many fields. But if we speak of Tianmu Shenjun's most formidable techniques, pupil techniques must be among them."
Sword Elder's Sound Transmission rang out once more within Ye Yunfei's soul sea.
"I see!"
Upon hearing Sword Elder's Sound Transmission, Ye Yunfei suddenly realized.
"Tianmu Shenjun's pupil techniques truly live up to their reputation!"
Ye Yunfei couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
To see through, analyze, and mimic an opponent's cultivation techniques and martial arts in an instant—such a method was unbelievable. It was Ye Yunfei's first time encountering such a thing.
"Tianmu Shenjun was one of the top powerhouses in the Chaotic Void Sea during ancient times, suppressing entire eras. That isn't an empty boast," Hun Lao also spoke up, sighing in awe.
"To deal with this opponent identical to you, you must prevent him from simulating you. Every time he simulates your cultivation techniques and martial arts is in the instant you unleash them. Of course, preventing him from simulating you is difficult—after all, this is a pupil technique left behind by Tianmu Shenjun."
At this moment, Ye Yunfei received another Sound Transmission from Sword Elder.
"Senior, how should I go about preventing this guy from simulating me?" Ye Yunfei asked.
"This guy can use pupil techniques to see through you in an instant and then simulate you. As soon as you make a move, he understands you as clearly as if observing his own palm. But conversely, because his techniques, secret arts, even his combat experience and skills all originate from you, you also understand him just as clearly.
To prevent him from simulating you might be rather difficult for others, unless they possess particularly formidable strength or extraordinary comprehension. However, your advantage lies in having two Soul Bodies, and you have also practiced one of the core hereditary secret arts of the Soul Race, allowing you to simulate even more Soul Bodies.
You can, in an instant, utilize both your Soul Bodies and those Soul Force Orbs capable of simulating soul forms, each unleashing different cultivation techniques or secret arts to launch attacks.
I estimate that although this guy can rapidly and precisely simulate every single technique or secret art you unleash, if you use several dozen Soul Bodies to simultaneously unleash several dozen different techniques and secret arts, he may not necessarily be able to simulate all of them successfully in one go. After all, his simulation ability must also have limits. He can successfully simulate a single 'you' in an instant, but attempting to simulate several dozen 'yous' in an instant would pose a certain difficulty."
Sword Elder thought for a moment before replying.
"That makes sense!"
Hearing Sword Elder's words, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but be overjoyed.
"However, you'd best not be hasty. Wait for the best opportunity to arrive. When the moment comes, use several dozen different Soul Bodies in an instant, simultaneously unleashing several dozen different cultivation techniques and martial arts to attack him. Once he can't keep up with the rapid simulation, you might be able to defeat him."
Sword Elder added.
"Good! I'll try this method right away. It should be effective!"
Ye Yunfei said excitedly.
After speaking, Ye Yunfei fiercely charged forward, launching a savage assault against that being identical to himself.
In the ensuing battle, Ye Yunfei continuously waited for the optimal opportunity.
As Sword Elder said, although the opponent could successfully simulate the cultivation techniques and secret arts Ye Yunfei unleashed in an instant, and understood Ye Yunfei thoroughly, the reverse was also true—Ye Yunfei also understood him thoroughly.