Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

Jiang Chen sat cross-legged and began to comprehend the Shadow Body Technique.

Once a Martial Skill reached the Earth Tier, the consumption of one’s own True Essence would be immense, far surpassing that of a Profound-Tier Martial Skill.

Even though Jiang Chen possessed nine ultimate True Essence Spirit Seas, his True Essence reserves were far greater, more abundant, and more powerful than an ordinary expert of the same rank. His reserves were even ten times that of an ordinary expert. Even so, when comprehending an Earth-Tier High-Level Martial Skill, just one or two attempts could consume a massive amount of True Essence.

Of course...

This wasn’t to say that a Martial Artist’s True Essence consumption would be this great when using an Earth-Tier High-Level Martial Skill in actual combat.

Comprehending a Martial Skill is a process of creating something from nothing.

It is also a process of exploration and experimentation.

Each move executed is not in its most perfect form, and the toll on one’s True Essence and the strain on the physical body are both unknown.

It was for this very reason that Jiang Chen chose to comprehend the Martial Skill in the Sword Pool.

This place had an endless supply of Spiritual Qi, enough for him to use extravagantly. With the terrifying Devouring Power of the Profound Yellow Undying Technique, he could increase the speed of his comprehension by dozens of times!

’The Shadow Body Technique can instantly split into nine doppelgangers. Including my original body, that’s ten bodies acting at once. Moreover, in battle, I can freely switch which body is the true self. This means that with ten bodies appearing simultaneously, unless someone can destroy all ten at the same time, or kill my real body before I can switch, it’s impossible to kill me!’

Jiang Chen’s gaze was profound as he firmly committed the secrets of the Shadow Body Technique to memory.

The Shadow Body Technique uses True Essence to split off doppelgangers.

At the same time, it uses Divine Thought Power to control them. This was also why Jiang Chen had chosen the Shadow Body Technique from among the many Earth-Tier High-Level Body Techniques in the Scripture Pavilion.

’Condensing nine doppelgangers with True Essence will probably be a huge drain. I’ll give it a try first!’ Jiang Chen took a deep breath. The movement patterns of the Shadow Body Technique appeared in his mind, and his True Essence surged like a mighty, endlessly flowing river.

Wave after wave of powerful True Essence coursed through his body.

BUZZ—

Strands of True Essence shot out from his body, condensing into a humanoid shape beside Jiang Chen.

But soon, with a BANG, the True Essence humanoid exploded.

’A failure? When I was executing the Secret Technique just now, my True Essence paused for a moment. That must be where the problem is!’ Jiang Chen reflected on the reason for his failure and immediately tried again.

Once...

Twice...

Thrice...

Jiang Chen tried again and again, tirelessly. He himself had lost count of how many attempts he’d made.

"Shadow Body Technique—Split!"

Jiang Chen’s figure trembled violently. His body suddenly blurred, and one after another, figures split off from within him.

A full nine doppelgangers appeared at Jiang Chen’s side.

Ten "Jiang Chens" stood in the Sword Pool. They glanced at each other, the corners of their mouths twitching into an enigmatic smile. "If ten of me were to suddenly appear when facing an enemy, they’d probably be scared witless! Good, it only took half a day to get a preliminary grasp of the Shadow Body Technique."

BUZZ—

The nine doppelgangers all dissipated, vanishing into thin air. Jiang Chen shook his head with a wry smile. "Unfortunately, I can’t maintain them for very long—only three breaths at the moment. But I can’t rush this. I’ll just have to cultivate slowly and strengthen my control over the Shadow Body Technique! Next up, it’s time to cultivate the Cyan Lotus Sword Song and the Mystic Wind Nine Swords!"

The Cyan Lotus Sword Song and the Mystic Wind Nine Swords were both Earth-Tier High-Level Swordsmanship techniques. One was a Water Attribute Martial Skill, the other a Wind Attribute Martial Skill.

Adding in the Infinite Sword Technique, which leaned toward the Fire Attribute.

This meant that the three major Sword Intents Jiang Chen had mastered now had corresponding Martial Arts Sword Techniques.

Once he mastered these two Sword Techniques, Jiang Chen’s strength would rise to another level.

’The Cyan Lotus Sword Song was created by the Sword Saint Li Zhibai. It has three techniques: the First Technique, Clear Wind Embracing the Moon; the Second Technique, Jade Fall and Yellow Springs; and the Third Technique, Nine Heavens Milky Way. I must strive to master all three before dawn tomorrow!’

A sharp glint in his eyes, Jiang Chen began to cultivate the Cyan Lotus Sword Song.

This was a Sword Technique that integrated Water Sword Intent!

Jiang Chen immersed himself in the Water Sword Intent. Around his body, specks of blue Water Spiritual Qi were extremely active, gathering to form streams like blue rivers.

"Clear Wind Embracing the Moon..."

The sword moved. Azure ripples of water spread out, and within them, a crescent moon seemed to hang in the sky.

The blue water ripples contained an unmatched Destruction Power. As they surged forward in a mad torrent, wave after wave, the very space before him trembled violently. In their midst, the crescent moon burst forth with a silver radiance—a Sword Aura condensed to the extreme. It tore through the air to kill, like a spinning crescent moon unleashing a flash of silver light!

RUMBLE...

Violent waves erupted upon the lake of Spirit Liquid. The Spirit Liquid churned, endlessly regenerating.

"Again..."

Jiang Chen’s gaze focused. He cultivated relentlessly, simultaneously using the Profound Yellow Undying Technique to devour the Spiritual Qi in the lake of Spirit Liquid and replenish his body’s expenditure.

Throughout the Main Sword Pool, sword light pulsed and sharp auras flared.

One moment, a storm was sweeping through.

The next, a Sword Curtain filled the sky.

Then, it would change again into ten figures striking with their swords at once, a myriad of blades unleashed...

Before he knew it, Jiang Chen’s time limit for cultivating in the Main Sword Pool was up. From outside the door came Elder Zou’s urging voice: "Jiang Chen, your time is up. You need to come out now!"

"Hurry up and get out, or we’ll start docking your Contribution Points!" Elder Zhang’s gloomy voice sounded particularly impatient.

BOOM!

The stone door swung open, and Jiang Chen walked out from within.

HISS!

Elder Zhang and Elder Zou both sucked in a sharp breath of cold air, swallowing the words that had been on the tips of their tongues.

The two of them exchanged a glance, a look of shock appearing in their eyes.

At this moment, Jiang Chen’s entire being exuded a sharp, cutting edge. The aura fluctuating around him was several degrees more powerful than it had been a few days ago.

Elder Zou swallowed hard and asked hesitantly, "Jiang Chen, did you break through?"

"A minor breakthrough!"

Jiang Chen smiled. "I must also thank you two Elders for giving me the opportunity to cultivate in the Main Sword Pool!"

"You broke through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm?" Elder Zhang asked, his face a mask of astonishment.

Jiang Chen shook his head. "Not quite there yet."

"Whew... you scared me to death. I thought you’d broken through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm after just a few days." Elder Zhang let out a breath of relief, but the shock in his eyes had not diminished in the slightest. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

With his discerning eye, it wasn’t hard to see that although Jiang Chen hadn’t stepped into the Heavenly Destiny Realm, he wasn’t far from it.

He was just one step away!

Jiang Chen didn’t answer, just smiled faintly. He then said, "Elders, this disciple has other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave."

"Mm."

The two nodded.

They escorted Jiang Chen all the way to the door and watched his back disappear into the distance before finally breathing a sigh of relief. They both wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads. "We’ve finally seen off that plague god!"

Elder Zhang nodded, a cold glint appearing in his eyes as a Communication Token materialized in his palm.

A wisp of True Essence flowed into the Token.

After a message was sent, a sardonic smirk appeared on Elder Zhang’s face. He put the Token away, a vicious light pulsing in his eyes. ’Jiang Chen... did you really think this elder’s fury would be so easily appeased?’