Chapter 208:

Qiao Mu looked at Dao Ni’s lifeless body beneath his feet and let out a long breath. The battlefield situation in front of the city gate must be very urgent. The three hundred old soldiers are probably not a match for the over two hundred bean generals. The longer the time drags on, the more casualties the old soldiers will suffer. So Qiao Mu, this time, wanted a quick death, even if it was a trap, he still rushed in and cost another life, finally killing Dao Ni. Dao Ni’s cultivation in the immortal path was actually similar to Dao Shun’s, and there was not much difference in their magical accomplishments. The only difference was that Dao Ni was much wealthier than Dao Shun, with a wealthy backer, you could say he was rich and powerful. As long as there were enough spirit stones, cultivators like Dao Ni, proficient in the Taoist soldier technique, could freely purchase mana-replenishing pills, use their own power to create soldiers out of beans, and form a powerful Taoist soldier army capable of overwhelming three hundred ordinary soldiers. As for his own cultivation in the immortal path… it was already irrelevant in the face of such a bean soldier army. Whether it was the old soldiers who died on the main battlefield, or Qiao Mu’s two lives, they could be said to have died in the hands of spirit stones, rather than Dao Ni. "Dust settles." Qiao Mu crouched down and searched Dao Ni, finding a storage bag on him. Storage bags of immortal cultivators usually have restrictions, and generally, only immortal cultivators with higher cultivation than the original owner can forcefully break them. Other than that, there is still a small method, which is to directly destroy the storage bag. The storage bag was destroyed, and the things inside might also be damaged. If lucky, a few intact items might remain, like opening a surprise box. But Qiao Mu didn’t have time to open a surprise box, as he had something else to do at the moment. Qiao Mu was in a hurry before killing Dao Ni. But once Dao Ni died and the main battle ended, Qiao Mu wasn’t in a rush to go back. His mind sank into deep thought, and a stream of information appeared. Death Assessment this time: C (using a smooth combo to kill, leaving no trace of the enemy’s corpse, although dead, it successfully made the enemy lower their guard) Lifespan consumed by death: 6 (3*2) years Remaining resurrection attempts this week: 3/5 Current age: 163 years old Vitality: 27% Ability: Shape Changing Skill (Mastered) Briefly ….. The Death Assessment is consistent with Qiao Mu’s expectations, and it is not high. It is not significant to die recklessly at the hands of the enemy like this. If it wasn’t for the fact that Dao Ni believed the situation was settled in the end, and everyone started communicating and let their guard down, the Death Assessment might have been even lower. Although the evaluation is not high, after six years of diligent practice, the Shape Changing Skill has successfully progressed from "mediocre" to "mastered". This was not accomplished overnight, most of the progress actually came from the previous death. The last time Qiao Mu died, he was studying "flesh clone" but it didn’t work. This time, after six years of non-stop hard work, he finally came up with something new. He studied a peculiar magic trick based on Shape Changing Skill. Flesh clone! He did manage to master it, but the actual effect was a bit different from what Qiao Mu had originally expected. In his imagination, a flesh clone would be like Sun Wukong, able to create a duplicate just by plucking a hair. But what he actually managed to create was completely different. After all, the secret techniques of Flesh Changing Skill and Shape Changing Skill were created by a Martial Saint, Wu Qizheng, who further perfected this extraordinary skill. Naturally, it followed the style of Martial Saint’s martial arts. "The ‘flesh clone’ that I managed to create is not about splitting flesh and creating a duplicate…" Qiao Mu sighed, closed his eyes, and focused on his inner energy. He sneak attack and killed Dao Ni with just one strike, using all his strength and even employing the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method. As a result, his current body has suffered damage to his meridians and has also experienced some loss of qi and blood. Although the duration of the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method is short and doesn’t cause immediate death, it still causes significant internal injuries, which might require several years of dedicated rest to recover his vitality. Now, the question is, where in this solitary city in the desert can he find a place to recuperate? Not to mention the various medicinal herbs needed to treat his body, even the food supplies in this isolated city are scarce. In Qiao Mu’s eyes, this injured body has limited usefulness. "So… let’s do it." Qiao Mu reached out his finger, channeling energy to the tip, and forcefully stabbed it into his own temple. Sёarᴄh the nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I feel so high right now! I’m literally high to the point of almost dying.." Qiao Mu constantly stirred his brain with his finger, causing blood to splatter out. He collapsed and died. Before long, another Qiao Mu emerged from the shadows and looked down at his own body. Death Assessment for this time: D (Do I have any idea how high or how low it is in my heart?) Lifespan consumed by death: 2 (1 multiplied by 2) years. Remaining resurrection attempts for this week: 2 out of 5. Current age: 165 years old. Health: 25%. Skills: Not specified. ……… "So, dressing up as a character doesn’t improve the Death Assessment, huh?" This time, when Qiao Mu died, it was like he aged two years in exchange for refreshing his body to its best uninjured state, and also obtaining a fresh corpse. He crouched down, placing his fingers on the forehead of his own corpse. His fingers moved like living creatures, the skin on the fingertips cracked on its own, connecting with the hole in Qiao Mu’s corpse’s head. After a moment, Qiao Mu stood up again, there was no longer a hole in his corpse’s head, only a trace of blood remaining on the temple. Qiao Mu lowered his head to look at his fingers. His fingers became shriveled, as he had just put a piece of his own flesh into the hole in his corpse’s head. This behavior was actually imitating Wu Qizheng’s previous actions, but with different intentions. Wu Qizheng’s original intention was only to heal, but Qiao Mu’s current action… "Truly a mind-boggling sorcery." Qiao Mu’s corpse crawled up from the ground, locking eyes with Qiao Mu and exclaiming in unison: "I am so strong." This is what Qiao Mu has achieved, the so-called "flesh clone." While pondering on the concept of "flesh clone," he suddenly had a creative idea: Instead of separating out a piece of flesh and hoping to control it with his mind, transforming it into a humanoid clone… It would be better to just use his own fresh and intact corpse. The corpse was very complete and fresh, just recently deceased, with most of the body organs still in an active state, not yet losing their vitality. The most important point is, this is Qiao Mu’s own corpse. Isn’t it better than splitting off a piece of flesh to transform into a clone? And so, Qiao Mu’s "flesh clone" was achieved with a creative approach. Two bodies, one consciousness. And this clone hardly affects Qiao Mu’s original power. He didn’t have any physical damage or power dispersion because of this. However, it’s ultimately a mentally exhausting manipulation from a distance, just like a puppeteer manipulating a puppet through invisible mental threads. The farther the distance, the more mental energy it consumes. Essentially, it’s just a mass of flesh and blood controlled by Qiao Mu. While not as impressive as Sun Wukong’s ability to transform his hair into monkeys, it can still be considered a form of general skill in creating clones. "Shape Changing Skill" is a technique created by Martial Saint and further perfected by Wu Qizheng. And Qiao Mu’s flesh clone is a method derived from this technique. "Although it’s a unique way to create a clone, even I feel that it’s a bit unusual, at first glance it doesn’t look like a martial art skill at all." "These modern methods of the Martial Saint indeed surpass the realm of ancient martial arts." Qiao Mu lied in this lonely city, but there was one thing he didn’t lie about. In the forty years of the Inhuman War, there was indeed a tremendous change in the world of martial arts. Like the "Martial Saint Spiritual Technique" and "Flesh Changing Skill" by Martial Saint, or Hai Wuya’s "Xumi Mountain King Sutra." Although Qiao Mu was not as talented in martial arts as Martial Saint or Hai Wuya, he had more than a hundred years of martial arts experience and had trained in a wide variety of martial arts, reaching advanced levels. He couldn’t become the first-generation ancestor, but being a second-generation ancestor who could refine techniques and create new ones was more than enough. After completing this scene, Qiao Mu glanced at his own body, then began to subtly alter his appearance, changing the features on his face. "Next, it’s time to go to the main battlefield." The two Qiao Mus, one in front and one behind, gradually walked away. …………………………… Inside the Great Dao Sect. Dao Zhen looked at the Message Jade Slip in his hand, which was emitting a faint light, and fell into deep thought. "Dao Ni is also dead, all three hundred of his bean general troops were wiped out, and it happened within a short period of time. This shows that the enemy’s strength is far superior." "Dao Ni’ transmission abruptly stopped. He was probably attacked by someone while in the middle of transmitting…" "Not only that, but the Qiao’s family, who entered the ‘Hundred-mile Desert’, cannot be restrained by the big formation… I have already informed Elder Qingyi, our sect leader, about this, but he is currently in the Imperial Capital and has not responded." Dao Zhen looked at the middle-aged deacon in front of him. This deacon was in charge of the Sect Secret Realm and was also responsible for rescuing disciples in the Secret Realm. At this moment, his expression became increasingly serious. Dao Shun made a major mistake, perhaps due to his carelessness or incompetence. He messed up big time. But such matters can only happen once and cannot be repeated. Dao Ni was well prepared and known for being careful. Even he had an accident, which indicated signs of the Immortal Gate losing control in the "Hundred-mile Desert" of the Sect Secret Realm. "I understand, I will take action," nodded the Secret Realm deacon. In fact, there was another person, Dao Xu, who entrusted him to act. But this was within his responsibilities, so it was appropriate for him to take action. The deacon was about to soar into the sky, but saw a beam of light descending from above, transforming into a white-browed old Taoist with a sinister expression. "You’re going to take action? Are you rushing to your death?" said the cold-faced white-browed old Taoist. "Why is Elder Qingzhuo here too?" the deacon quickly bowed, feeling uncertain and surprised. This Elder Qingzhuo, like Elder Qingyi, was a figure of the same generation as the current sect leader. Even if the "Hundred-mile Desert" suddenly collapsed, it probably wouldn’t alarm such important individuals, right? Why did Elder Qingzhuo come here? And from his tone, it seemed that he had some understanding of this matter? In the Secret Realm, Deacon looked unconsciously to the side at Dao Zhen. "How did Uncle Qingzhuo come?" Dao Zhen’s eyebrows twitched. "Your master has been busy recently, busy with the task of conquering and dividing the land," said Taoist Qingzhuo. "King Qin has already gained power, and next is the task of conquering and dividing the land, establishing another Earthly Immortal Kingdom within the Zhong Province." "However, this matter couldn’t be kept a secret from the other Eight Immortal Gates. Aside from the Nan Province Xuantian Sect, which suffered losses before, the other Eight Immortal Gates will probably follow the lead of our Great Dao Sect and establish Earthly Immortal Kingdoms in various states, while the Immortal Gate will remain hidden behind the scenes…" Since the last incident, Xuantian Sect has suffered a big hidden loss, even our sect’s treasured "Tianwu Mirror" was taken away. Although our foundation is still there and the other Eight Immortal Gates dare not go too far, we are already starting to fall behind the other Eight Immortal Gates. "One step wrong, all steps wrong. Xuantian Sect’s greed is the cause of this disaster." Taoist Qingzhuo sneered a few times and continued: Although this matter is ordinary, it is also crucial to the Immortal Gate’s plan. Taoist Qingzhuo, unable to attend, informed me about this. "He is shrewd, calculating that I would not refuse…" "Could it be because of Qiao’s family? Qiao’s family cannot be trapped by the big formation, which is very suspicious," Dao Zhen quickly said. He has always been interested in Qiao’s family. The more he secretly observes, the more he feels that they are extraordinary. And the matter of the solitary city is related to his origin, so he has always been concerned about it. That solitary city in the desert should be destroyed. The forty-year tragic story has no meaning. It’s better to end it early and find peace in the grave. It can be considered a good deed. Continuing on this path leads to nowhere, only causing more torment. However, when Dao Zhen said this, Taoist Qingzhuo couldn’t help but laugh. "Dao Zhen, your perspective is still shallow," Taoist Qingzhuo chuckled without saying anything. "An ordinary person who cannot be captured… Although this matter is strange, it’s not enough to make me come over. After all, he is just an ordinary person." "Does Senior Qingzhuo mean that he knows why the formation cannot capture souls?" Dao Zhen asked. "There are only two possibilities," Taoist Qingzhuo casually said: "Either the Qiao family is not an ordinary person with a complete soul, but a strange and soulless creature…" "Or it could be the work of other powerful beings… even the influence of ancient gods is possible. For example, some ordinary people who believe in ancient gods and demons have contaminated souls, so the soul-capturing formation is not comparable to them." "Although these things are rare, they are not unheard of, and they wouldn’t make me personally come over…" Taoist Qingzhuo didn’t pay much attention to these details. Obviously, what startled him was not the matter of Qiao’s family that Dao Zhen mentioned, which cannot be captured. "Does Senior intend to take action personally?" Dao Zhen exclaimed. He originally thought that asking the Secret Realm deacon would be enough, but he didn’t expect this matter to also startle the elders of the Immortal Gate, who are on the same level as his master. He knew that among the elders of the Immortal Gate who established the Great Formation forty years ago, there was Taoist Qingzhuo.