Chapter 1098: This Thing?

This "Crimson Leaf King" was actually a clone.

Just moments ago, to deceive Heavenly Leaf King and prevent him from acting for a short while, I mentally communicated with the clone inside the Myriad Ants Hive, asking him to transform into the appearance of Crimson Leaf King.

The clone did not possess Heavenly Path True Qi, so he couldn't disguise his Slaughter True Qi. He practiced a simplified version of a Heavenly Path cultivation art, which made it impossible to conceal his cultivation effectively, leading to him being easily seen through by the opponent.

The clone was like an extension of him; as long as they were willing to communicate, a mere thought would allow them to understand each other.

According to the clone, there was no need to waste time; he should just punch the opponent to death.

However, in Zhang Xuan's view, there had never been a good opportunity, and his strength was too far below the opponent's, which was why he had instructed the clone not to act.

Nevertheless, the clone was indeed reckless and ended up taking action. Fortunately, Heavenly Leaf King never expected anyone to dare attack, especially with such speed. He was struck in the head and... instantly killed with a single punch.

Witnessing this scene, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but be stunned.

Even though Heavenly Leaf King's spirit was currently formidable and his physical body wasn't exceptionally strong, he was still an Ethereal Treading realm expert. With True Qi surging within him, he was incredibly brave and powerful. Without the combat prowess of a Saint 4-dan, even a successful sneak attack might not have harmed him.

Yet, the clone had exploded his head with one punch. This power already surpassed the combined strength of Zhang Xuan's physical body, True Qi, and soul.

If he were to exchange blows with this guy again, he probably wouldn't last even half a move before being knocked to the ground.

Is this really my clone?

My cultivation speed isn't as good as the clone's, nor is my combat power... I'll never dare call myself a genius again.

"How did you become so much stronger?" he couldn't help but ask.

This guy used to be comparable to him, evenly matched in strength, and even in a fight, neither would gain an advantage. How did he suddenly become so fierce?

I've also made significant progress, haven't I?

"That Lightning Elemental Orb you gave me, I absorbed it and found it quite useful..." The clone, with a proud expression, was about to explain when he heard a violent rumble from behind, seemingly filled with rage.

"Oh no! Heavenly Leaf King is an Ethereal Treading realm expert; his physical body was destroyed, but his spirit sustained no damage..."

Realizing something, Zhang Xuan's pupils contracted, and he reacted, shouting repeatedly.

For an Ethereal Treading realm expert, the spirit can detach from the body and act independently, unleashing immense combat power. Even if the physical body dies, it has little impact on their true strength.

Heavenly Leaf King was a true Ethereal Treading realm expert; even if his head was shattered, his spirit remained completely unharmed.

While shouting, his hands didn't stop. The True Qi in his body surged brightly, reaching its limit in an instant. His meridians felt a tearing pain, as if they were about to explode.

*Crack!*

The seal before him began to waver, and his fingers finally touched the Seven-colored Earth Qiong Liquid. With a slight movement, he stored it in his storage ring.

He finally pulled his hand out.

"I'll kill you..."

*Whoosh!*

Accompanied by an angry roar, a spirit flew over, its eyes bloodshot. Even before it attacked, it exuded an oppressive aura as if the world were collapsing.

"So powerful..."

Zhang Xuan's heart instantly grew cold.

Although he had encountered several spirits before, compared to this one, they were not even close. If the previous ones were fierce wildcats, this one was a raging tiger.

They were not on the same level at all!

He could imagine that once the opponent attacked, even ten of him combined wouldn't be able to resist.

"This guy always causes trouble; I can't let him out again in the future... If he hadn't exploded his head, even if he had stalled, he could have kept the opponent occupied for a while. What do I do now..."

Full of anxiety, Zhang Xuan abandoned all other thoughts and rushed towards the door, muttering curses under his breath as he went.

If the clone hadn't been so reckless and exploded the opponent's head, the opponent's spirit wouldn't have emerged, nor would it have been so enraged.

Now, just after breaking free from the seal's restraints, he would likely fall into the opponent's clutches, making escape impossible.

"Clone, you caused this mess! Block him for me..."

Forgetting everything else, Zhang Xuan roared. Before he could finish speaking, his eyebrows suddenly twitched. "Hey, don't leave! Stop right there..."

The clone, without a word, darted out of the room even faster than him, vanishing in the blink of an eye and leaving only a disappearing silhouette.

He hadn't expected this guy to be so disloyal and run faster than him. Zhang Xuan's scalp prickled, and he almost died of anger on the spot.

He had known the clone was unreliable, but not *this* unreliable. Knowing that if Heavenly Leaf King's spirit caught up, he would surely die, he abandoned all other thoughts. With a flick of his wrist, the Lightning Elemental Orb appeared in his palm.

This was his strongest item now. Once activated, it could unleash a sea of lightning. Although it was almost impossible with his current cultivation to achieve that, he had no choice but to try.

"Lightning..." He clenched the orb tightly in his palm, True Qi surging wildly. He had only half-shouted the word when he heard a "Crack!", and the orb shattered into powder.

His vision went black, and Zhang Xuan's body went limp.

He had wondered why that idiot had suddenly become so strong. It turned out that during this time, he had completely absorbed the lightning from the Lightning Elemental Orb, rendering the treasure useless!

"Damn it..."

Knowing his greatest reliance was gone, Zhang Xuan was on the verge of tears. He looked at Heavenly Leaf King's charging spirit, filled with despair. Just as he was about to close his eyes and await death, he felt a gust of wind tear past his skin.

Turning to look, he saw that Heavenly Leaf King had already flown past him, continuing to charge forward as if he hadn't seen him.

"Huh?"

Zhang Xuan was bewildered.

He was standing right there. The guy must have seen him, so why didn't he attack? Why did he go forward instead?

Storing Purple Leaf King back into the Myriad Ants Hive, he flickered to the entrance. Only then did he see the clone standing not far away, looking at Heavenly Leaf King like a clown, beckoning with a finger, with a provocative gaze, and a loud voice: "Come... hit me!"

Zhang Xuan's eyes widened.

"Could it be... after absorbing the Lightning Elemental Orb, the clone's strength reached the Ethereal Treading realm? He can defeat Heavenly Leaf King? If that's the case, there's no need to run..."

He had thought the clone had disloyally fled, but it turned out he wanted to lure the opponent out for a duel... It seemed the clone's strength had reached a point where he could defeat the opponent, so there was no need to worry so much.

"You're seeking death..."

Heavenly Leaf King was about to explode with rage. With a roar, he threw a punch.

The clone also met the punch.

"Excellent! Let's see who's stronger..."

Seeing the clone's bravery, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. His eyes widened, eager to see who was more powerful. Immediately after, he saw that the clone's fist was still far from the opponent's spirit when Heavenly Leaf King's punch landed on his head.

*Splat!*

The clone's head was flattened like a photograph.

"Pfft..."

Zhang Xuan's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and he almost fainted.

Weren't you very fierce?

To be beaten like this in one hit... Why were you so arrogant just now?

"He was deliberately attracting the opponent to let me escape..."

After a moment of stupefaction, Zhang Xuan understood. His body swayed, and daring not to linger, he quickly darted forward.

It seemed that although the clone's strength had increased significantly, it was still far from being able to challenge Heavenly Leaf King in a duel. The reason he had so arrogantly confronted the opponent just now was to deliberately attract Heavenly Leaf King and buy himself time to escape.

What a noble clone!

I just misunderstood him...

His eyes reddened slightly. After only two or three steps of escape, he saw the clone, whose head was flattened like a photograph on his neck, running even faster than him, vanishing again. As he ran, the clone shouted, "You fight him yourself! I'm no match... And Heavenly Leaf King, don't chase me! He's Zhang Xuan, I'm just a clone..."

Zhang Xuan's body swayed, and he nearly coughed up blood.

He had seen people being tricked, but never to this extent.

After all that, this guy wasn't noble; he just wanted to show off, and it failed...

With a face full of frustration, he looked up and saw the bloodshot-eyed Heavenly Leaf King turning his head to look at him.

"Don't catch me! He's Zhang Xuan, *I'm* the clone... When have you ever seen a clone run faster than the main body?" Zhang Xuan took a few steps back.

"I'll kill you first, then I'll go kill him..."

Heavenly Leaf King was enraged, his face twisted in a ferocious snarl, he roared again and lunged forward.

*Whoosh!*

The air seemed to tear apart. However, before the hand reached him, the young man not far away showed no panic; instead, the corner of his mouth lifted into a smile.

"If you want to kill me, wait a moment..."

As he shouted, the young man stomped his foot heavily on the ground.

With a rumble, the numerous formations ambushing outside the hall immediately activated. A white mist, in the blink of an eye, enveloped Heavenly Leaf King's spirit.

He had studied this formation when they first arrived. Now, with the clone's help, he successfully lured the opponent into it and activated it in one go.

"The formation was set by him; it won't trap him for long, nor can it kill him. Move quickly..."

Knowing that while he could activate the formation to trap the opponent, killing him was still impossible, Zhang Xuan hurriedly leaped over the formation and rushed forward.

"I'll kill you..."

*Crackle! Crackle!*

He had just left the formation's range, walking less than a dozen steps, when he heard a violent rumble behind him. The grand formation that had trapped Heavenly Leaf King shattered into pieces in the blink of an eye.

These were merely peak 7-star formations. While trapping Ji Yan and others was easy, completely trapping Heavenly Leaf King, who was very familiar with formations, was still extremely difficult.

Furthermore, formations require a master to unleash their full power, and his current strength was insufficient to fully control a peak 7-star formation.

"Run!"

Knowing the formation had shattered, and that he would surely be killed if he didn't escape, Zhang Xuan dared not linger. He followed closely behind the clone, charging straight ahead.

"Such powerful energy fluctuations... Oh no, Heavenly Leaf King must have discovered Master Zhang, and they're fighting!"

The people resting in their hiding place felt the strong energy fluctuations and their pupils constricted.

"Quick, let's go see..." Master Wu exclaimed in a low voice, being the first to rush out.

The others followed closely. Not long after stepping out of the formation, they saw a creature with a flattened head on its neck charging towards them, followed closely by a guy with a charred face and exploded hair.

"What is that? Is that not Master Zhang..."

Everyone was dumbfounded.