Wind swept up wisps of clouds and mist, floating past everyone, yet making no sound at all.

At this moment, Kunwu was utterly quiet.

Every face bore expressions of complete incomprehension: Why was it so? How could it be so? What was Xia Houshe thinking? How could one Jian Chou battle another Jian Chou?

This was an unprecedented situation at the Left Three Thousand Assembly, and could be said to be a rare spectacle across the entire Nineteen Continents.

On the same Cloud Sea Plaza, three people with identical faces.

One Jian Chou stood on the plaza below, looking up at the two “selves” above. The “Jian Chou” in imperial robes also saw the Jian Chou bearing Dijiang’s Storm-Thunder Wings across from her, and the two gazed at each other from afar.

Xia Houshe stood below, and no one could read his expression either.

Many, many years later, the nearly omniscient Zhilin Sou would recall this scene and sense an almost fateful implication in it.

The stronger one becomes, the harder it is to find worthy opponents.

In the future’s future, she would be so powerful as to be nearly alone.

The loneliest battle would be when only oneself in this world could serve as a worthy opponent.

Thus…

Just like this moment.

Today’s Zhilin Sou naturally couldn’t think that far ahead yet.

Only when seeing this scene, his eyes already lit up as he rapidly recorded something in the original manuscript of “One Person Platform Notes.”

The field remained quiet for a long time.

Many people still couldn’t believe their eyes, but after the initial shock, they looked at their companions around them. Just seeing their expressions, they knew everything wasn’t an illusion!

Xia Houshe’s phantom body was Jian Chou!

“How is this possible?”

“Heavens, how do we determine victory and defeat?”

“I seem to smell something different…”

“What principle governs these Doors of Right and Wrong and Cause and Effect?”

“This assembly really wasn’t attended in vain—fifty spirit stones for teleportation was truly worth it!”

“Are they about to fight?”

…

After the first voice of discussion arose, everyone became excited as if injected with stimulants.

The Cloud Sea Plaza immediately became noisy.

Even Jian Chou herself was completely unprepared for this development.

She was very clear that her phantom body was her own future; but what exactly was the origin of Xia Houshe’s phantom body?

Obsession?

Inner demons?

Or something else entirely?

…

Meanwhile, the cultivators of Fengmo Sword Sect also began whispering among themselves, though most were frowning.

“Is there some mistake?”

“What is Junior Brother Xia Hou doing?”

“His phantom body fighting for him, and he chose Yashan’s Grand Master Uncle? This is embarrassing for us!”

“Exactly, what’s going on…”

…

Xia Houshe was already an oddity within Fengmo Sword Sect—gloomy in temperament and not well-liked.

Perhaps some respected him, perhaps some feared him, but no one would ever truly like him.

Now with his phantom body’s appearance, everyone immediately began discussing.

At least he was this year’s most promising genius cultivator that Fengmo Sword Sect had sent to ascend the One Person Platform, yet his phantom body was actually his opponent?

What shame!

Even if he won, who would consider this entirely Xia Houshe’s achievement?

The moment Xia Houshe’s phantom body appeared, the true outcome of this battle became completely without suspense.

Who would ascend the One Person Platform was completely unimportant!

What mattered was that there was ultimately only one true victor.

Three Jian Chous appearing simultaneously—this scene was both eerie and marvelous.

What would follow was the unprecedented “battle between Jian Chou and Jian Chou,” which everyone was curious about and anticipating!

Dark red robes completely enveloped his gaunt frame, fitting seamlessly.

A deep red bloodstain at his brow center seemed about to drip blood, carrying a suffocating oppression.

Standing in place, Xia Houshe’s face showed no expression. Amid the varied discussions, he seemed to have heard everything, yet seemed to have heard nothing at all.

In his mind, only scenes from within the Door of Right and Wrong and Cause and Effect appeared one by one…

His emotions suddenly chaotic.

The other “Jian Chou” sat majestically above, her eyes emotionless and unfeeling.

Xia Houshe’s gaze, obscurely troubled, fell upon the six-chi ancient sword gripped in her left hand.

That red mark extending from the sword tip was like a thorn deeply piercing into his eyes and brow center, immediately causing excruciating pain. Only by tightly clenching his fists in his sleeves could he barely endure this heart-rending agony!

Yashan’s Yixiantian!

“Yixiantian…”

This was the murmur from Xia Houshe’s mouth when they first met.

The moment she noticed the change in his gaze, Jian Chou also remembered, but in the next moment, she had no mind to ponder what mysteries lay within.

The “Jian Chou” on the white bone throne gazed at the opposite “Jian Chou” for a long while, her eyes falling upon those Storm-Thunder Wings wreathed in electric serpents and golden light, finally showing a hint of interested expression.

She rarely rose from her seat, standing upon the nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine skulls.

Thus, the majestic imperial robes displayed their full appearance before everyone: pure black robes embroidered with deep red thread like fresh blood, stitching evil spirits, giant dragons, skulls one by one…

In one hand, a fierce ghost axe, radiating evil aura; in the other, an ancient simple sword, righteously imposing.

Nearly contradictory temperaments all converged upon her.

No one knew whether she was righteous or evil, nor could anyone predict what manner of existence she truly was.

The gaze from the “future” seemed full of danger, making the Jian Chou bearing Dijiang’s Storm-Thunder Wings instantly aware.

With one wing beat, she was already approaching like lightning!

Terrifying might immediately swept forth.

Lightning spread throughout her body, hurricanes carried her soaring upward.

Her choice was actually to strike first!

“Rumble!”

Nine-heavens thunder descended majestically.

Thick lightning bolts carried terrifying spheres one after another, wrapped in bone-chilling awesome power, descending from heaven.

Storm-Thunder Wings swept out in an arc!

Thunder shook, actually following the trajectory carved by the Storm-Thunder Wings, charging toward the Jian Chou wearing the twelve-tasseled crown!

Too fast, too close!

In just a blink, they were face to face, eye to eye!

One pair cold and icy, one pair emotionless and majestic.

Just that instant, quick as lightning.

The “future” Jian Chou’s eyes flashed with that fraction of light, and at this critical moment, she thrust out one hand!

Her pale palm, under sunlight one could still see the winding blue veins upon it—on ordinary days this would surely be a pleasing sight, but now passing through countless lightning bolts was terrifying beyond words, composed to the point of being abnormal.

Crackling sounds!

Lightning carrying nearly destructive aura immediately struck down upon it, yet couldn’t damage her skin in the slightest!

The Jian Chou who was Xia Houshe’s phantom body immediately had her pupils contract drastically, but it was too late to dodge.

The massive Dijiang Storm-Thunder Wings, still carrying tremendous momentum, were at this moment firmly pressed down by those seemingly ordinary five fingers!

Imperial robes flowing, might profound and heavy.

Between Future Jian Chou’s brows lay both murderous aura and immortal qi. When looking at these Storm-Thunder Wings, her eyes held several traces of admiration.

Time seemed to freeze.

The sensation beneath her hand was so real, as if these Storm-Thunder Wings formed entirely through dao seals condensing spiritual power actually existed substantially.

Little by little, she examined them carefully. In her originally plain gaze, there suddenly appeared an extremely obscure vicissitude, and…

Nostalgia!

The Jian Chou bearing Dijiang’s Storm-Thunder Wings couldn’t understand such a gaze, even feeling momentarily bewildered.

But in the next moment, a sense of crisis surged into her heart!

That gaze from the future never moved to her person, only looking at this spread of wings. Then her lips curved slightly, yet her voice was utterly cold, as if devoid of any emotion.

“How wonderful it would be if they could forever remain Dijiang’s wings?”

A sigh.

Everyone on the entire plaza, including Jian Chou, was collectively stunned: What did this mean?

But in the next moment, this question vanished from everyone’s minds with no time to ponder—

Because…

Just as these words left her mouth, that “Jian Chou” wearing the crown and imperial robes had already, with complete calm, extended her other hand to grasp these massive wings that rode wind and commanded thunder, pulling them apart with force and viciously tearing!

Rip!

Amid the interweaving of brilliant golden light and lightning, a spray of gorgeous blood scattered!

The massive Dijiang Storm-Thunder Wings were actually torn in two under this rending!

Bare-handed tearing of ancient divine wings!

That woman standing in mid-air had blood staining both hands, yet her expression showed no change whatsoever.

Electric serpents exploded, golden light shattered!

But it wasn’t over yet…

“You will possess something better…”

Nearly murmured whispers emerged from Future Jian Chou’s mouth.

Her hands gripped Dijiang’s wings without releasing them, and after successfully tearing them once, she continued downward!

Horror!

The pain of tearing immediately spread!

A struggling, nearly twisted expression of agony appeared on the face of the Jian Chou who was Xia Houshe’s phantom body.

She tilted her head back unbearably, mouth wide open, seeming to want to scream from this tearing pain, but…

No sound!

What tremendous power was this?

Even the strongest protective light could hardly resist!

Skin tore, flesh and blood splattered, even the bones buried deep in the body, carved by black wind, snapped at this instant!

Tearing wings!

Tearing flesh!

Torn in half!

That was snow-white skin, crimson blood, stark white bones!

At this moment…

The scene was silent.

The plaza was silent.

All sounds disappeared completely clean, even the wind sound froze for this nearly terrifying scene.

The cruel and cold female cultivator, possessing exactly the same face as her opponent, used her seemingly ordinary hands to tear apart her wings alive, and also…

Tear apart that flesh and blood body!

Boom!

Blood rain filled the sky!

Fresh blood splattered on the majestic imperial robes, splattered on her transparent round fingernails, and also splattered in her emotionless eyes…

One “Jian Chou,” under another Jian Chou’s gaze, bare-handedly tore apart another “self,” showing no mercy!

She straightened her spine, standing in mid-air, standing at Kunwu’s very center, standing in everyone’s horrified gazes that were nearly about to scream…

Proud and aloof.

Ruthless.

Coldly beautiful.

The twelve tassels on her crown gently swayed, the blood-embroidered dark imperial robes like a yellow robe of investiture. The expression between her brows showed no fluctuation—stern and cold, exactly like a tyrant!

Fudao Shanren was speechless, Hengxu Zhenren was speechless, and all the elders and disciples of Yashan and Kunwu were also speechless.

Even Jian Chou’s opponent Xia Houshe was horrified at this moment…

Who else could do battle with her?

The blood color filling the sky quickly disappeared.

The body manifested from the six Doors of Right and Wrong and Cause and Effect was originally formed by borrowing rules and gathering spiritual qi. After being thoroughly torn apart, it finally collapsed, transforming into chaotic spiritual qi and returning to heaven and earth.

Thus, the third Jian Chou seemed to have never existed, and the bloody, brutal slaughter also seemed non-existent.

Jian Chou stood on the plaza, never having moved a step.

Just as everyone was watching that “her” in the sky, unable to shift their gazes away, even she herself found it hard to control.

At this time and place, Kunwu held only pervasive silence.

Sharp wind blew from high above, scattering floating clouds, all transforming into ethereal mist threading through the crowds, leaving everyone with only—

Cold!

Their backs were already soaked with sweat at some unknown time.

Victory and defeat were decided, yet no one could have imagined it would be in such a cruel and cold-blooded manner…

Tyrant Jian Chou, in this wind, turned around.

“She” saw Jian Chou, and Jian Chou saw “her.”

In “her” gaze lay not a ripple of waves, as if she had already witnessed many vicissitudes of this world, shedding worldly glamour layer by layer, leaving only deep-sea-like, nearly plain tranquility.

That right hand once stained with blood slowly extended toward Jian Chou…

Separated by distance, yet seeming touchable with one reach.

Righteous?

Evil?

At this moment, Jian Chou couldn’t distinguish clearly.

Only an indescribable yearning rose nearly madly from the depths of her heart.

She couldn’t control herself, nor did she want to control herself!

The moment Future Jian Chou extended her hand toward her, she also extended her own hand.

Those were two identical hands, as if piercing through the barriers of time and space, connecting present and future, just lightly touching together like this…

Jian Chou felt no sense of the other’s existence.

Fingertip to fingertip, what she touched was only a piece of pure power. That future self was a complete void.

But in this instant, that bloody yet cruel tyrant raised her head and showed her an extremely faint smile, nearly imperceptible…

“Whoosh…”

A great wind arose.

The originally solid phantom body immediately transformed back into ethereal shadow, seeming unable to withstand even this wind’s force, scattering like dust and smoke.

On the plaza, under everyone’s watchful eyes, only Jian Chou remained alone, extending her hand, touching a piece of non-existent sky…

No one could read Jian Chou’s expression at this moment, just as no one could understand the words left by the phantom Jian Chou…

Jian Chou seemed to feel none of the horrified or enraged gazes upon her. She only gazed at the sky before her with near-obsession.

The low sky.

She stood at the place closest to the firmament, gazing at that unobstructed expanse of azure blue, as if with one reach, she could touch heaven itself.

An unprecedented intense yearning, at this moment, rapidly took root and grew wildly!

That was her future self, the future Jian Chou!

So powerful as to be heartbreaking…

She stood at an even higher, higher place, looking down at the former “self”…

And at higher places, there would be more beautiful scenery.

Never had there been such a moment when she yearned to become more powerful, to climb those steps one by one, to see those vistas one by one…

When could she match all heroes under heaven, ascend to the absolute peak, and see all mountains small below?