Chapter 131: One Qi Divides into Three. The Foundation of the Three Avatars

Lu Chen watched the twelve men flee in panic and let out a cold laugh. "Little Jian, your guqin skill has improved. You scared them so much they pissed themselves."

"

Hahaha!

" Nantian Yijian burst into laughter at Lu Chen's praise. "Boss, there are still twelve more on the other side of the wall. All of them are above the Qi Condensation Realm, so be careful."

"I know. If it's more people you're talking about, we have our own as well," Lu Chen narrowed his eyes as the stone wall rumbled. He shouted, "Golden Snake Nine Variations, Flood Dragon's Threefold Whirlpool!"

A massive projection of his Divine Psyche Incarnation appeared behind him, splitting into three. Lu Chen spat out three streams of blood essence, each forming an avatar.

Wind Dragon's eyes widened as he saw the three figures form behind Lu Chen. "Flood Dragon's Threefold Whirlpool? You're only at the Qi Regulation Realm! How could you already comprehend this move? Even Lord Green Emperor only started learning it at the Earth Core Realm!"

The three avatars stood stiff and silent behind Lu Chen, waiting for his command.

"

Hehehe.

I suddenly gained some insight while recovering earlier. I think it's because my Divine Psyche Incarnation has grown stronger," Lu Chen said.

He turned his gaze to a gentle-looking avatar, whose features and demeanor closely resembled the green-robed Daoist. "I don't know exactly what happened while I was unconscious, but I'm certain it has something to do with them."

Lu Chen shook his head. "No time to think about that now. Let's deal with the trash in front of us first."

***

Meanwhile, two men hovered high above the clouds. One wore green robes and smiled, while the other, clad in black armor, exuded a murderous aura.

"Third Brother, today marks the day we're finally born! This calls for a celebration," the green-robed Daoist said excitedly, pointing at the three avatars below. "Third Brother, why don't you say something? Isn't this worth celebrating?"

"What's there to celebrate? It's destined to end in tragedy."

The man in black flicked his hand, and a void path appeared behind him. The path radiated bone-chilling cold, as if it led straight to hell.

"If you truly want to help him, adapt to this body. It may not be the finest vessel, but it will hold for a while."

The armored man drifted toward the void path. "As for his nature, he's still too softhearted. He won't survive in this world. That same tragedy is bound to repeat itself."

"What are you trying to do?" The green-robed Daoist's smile faded, replaced by anger. "Didn't we agree I would be the one to step forward and change him?"

"You're too slow. I've already left the markers in the mortal world. No one can stop me now."

The black-armored man stepped into the void path, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint, satisfied smile.

"He obviously cares and wants to see the situation for himself, but he insists on putting up a hard front," the green-robed Daoist murmured, watching the fading void. "Still, I hope he can change on his own. After all, we are nothing more than avatars."

***

On the mountain gate stairway.

"Let's go!" Lu Chen shouted.

The three avatars received the command. They glanced ahead, momentarily confused, then imitated Lu Chen, shouting in unison, "Let's go!"

Lu Chen stomped his foot. The Innate Bagua Diagram spread beneath him as he raised his Hunyuan Greatsword. Behind him, the vines of the Green Sovereign Divine Tree unfurled.

One avatar wielded a massive sword forged from the Divine Tree, standing guard behind him. Another held the Yuanyang Twin-Fish Compass, a blazing Fire Phoenix symbol burning on his forehead, and the third had stepped onto the Innate Bagua Diagram, summoning countless Dao Arts that wrapped around him.

Lu Chen glanced at them and nodded with a mix of surprise and amusement. "What? Such intelligence... I only used them once, and they've already learned to imitate me."

The avatars mirrored him perfectly, repeating his words. "What? Such intelligence..."

Lu Chen smiled bitterly. "

Uh...

what's going on? They're just copying me."

Again, the avatars repeated after him. "

Uh...

what's going on? They're just copying me."

Wind Dragon explained through the Hunyuan Greatsword. "When Lord Green Emperor created his avatars, they were already capable of acting independently. It could be due to your lower cultivation level that these avatars need to learn by imitation.

"Don't worry, though. You share a link with them through your Divine Psyche Incarnation. Try directing them through that to attack."

This time, the avatars started imitating Wind Dragon. "When Lord Green Emperor created his avatars..."

"Fine," Lu Chen split his Divine Psyche Incarnation into three portions and sent them into the avatars. "Twelve enemies. That means four for each of us."

The avatars imitated once more, "Twelve enemies. That means four for each of us."

But this time, their stiff movements were loosening; they were gradually learning to act independently.

Lu Chen raised his hand. With a roar, the stone walls collapsed, revealing the twelve attackers behind.

The three men whom Jun Laoye had knocked unconscious earlier had also recovered during this time. They glared at Jun Laoye's unconscious body with eyes full of hatred.

"You... who are you?" Song Gen shouted at Lu Chen. "Hand over that treasure you just used, and we'll spare your life!"

"Who am I?" Lu Chen chuckled softly. "Weren't you the ones looking for me?"

Wang Long warned, "Song Gen, that's him! He's Lu Chen! This kid is dangerous. Lei Bao fell to him without even having a chance to fight back."

Song Gen sized Lu Chen up from head to toe. "He's only a level-one Qi Regulation Realm cultivator, yet Lei Bao couldn't put up a fight at all? Jun Laoye held us off for so long with his spear, and now this kid can utterly dominate Lei Bao...

"It seems they really have gathered a bunch of treasures this time."

Song Gen glared at Lu Chen and the others ahead. "I don't care what you've acquired to get so strong, but hand it over now."

"

Hmph.

I've got plenty. If you want them, come and take them."

With a violent roar, Lu Chen appeared beside Wang Long, thrusting his sword forward. "The Guardian Capital Academy enforces the sect's laws. How can it tolerate someone like you?"

A sharp sound rang out as Lu Chen's sword qi blasted Wang Long away. Gravely wounded, he screamed, blood spraying from his mouth before he crashed to the ground, unable to rise again.

Song Gen lowered his voice. "This kid is strange. Those three clones aren't just spell constructs. They're more like puppet clones, capable of independent thought."

Lu Chen silently counted, assessing both sides.

One at the sixth level of Qi Condensation, two at the fourth, five at the third, plus three half-dead Qi Condensation Realm cultivators. Including Wang Long, that makes twelve.

"

Little Lu, if you take out Wang Long and the three half-dead ones, there are still eight Qi Condensation cultivators who can fight.

"

Wind Dragon's phantom emerged from the Hunyuan Greatsword. "No need to drag this out. Stronger opponents are already on their way. Go all out, cripple half, and then retreat."

"I understand. Time is short, so I'll let them have a taste of the Heaven-Splitting Six Yang Palms!"

Lu Chen nodded. His three avatars unleashed their movement arts, engaging the eight remaining cultivators.

He placed both hands on his chest, circulating the spirit qi of the Heavenly Pool. Heat gathered in his left palm, summoning the fiery spirit qi of the Yang Ocean Pearl, while cold condensed in his right, summoning the icy spirit qi of the Yin Ocean Pearl.

Lu Chen shouted, "Heaven-Splitting Six Yang Palms, Sun and Moon as One!"

A blazing sun rose to his left, while a cold moon appeared to his right. Hung above him, the sun and moon were divided like two horizons meeting at his center, their energies distinct and radiant.

Staring at the celestial duo above his head, Lu Chen marveled. "The Sun and Moon as One is so powerful. Is this really supposed to be an Earth Tier technique?"

Wind Dragon said through the Hunyuan Greatsword, "

Earth Tier? Who told you that? Lord Green Emperor discovered this in a secret realm. It may be incomplete, but it still carries the power to tear open pathways to the Outside.

"

Lu Chen hurled the sun and moon forward. "Tear open pathways to the Outside? Can a person really do that?"

"Of course," Wind Dragon replied. "Back then, Lord Green Emperor stood at the center of the continent. With the Extreme Heavenly Yang Flame and Extreme Heavenly Yin Chill, he shattered the central boundary wall with his bare hands."

His voice stretched with disdain. "The sun and moon he unleashed were far stronger than yours. His techniques sprang into existence at the sound of his words."

Lu Chen scowled at the ridicule. "

Hmph...

I'm not weak either. Once I've mastered it, I'll challenge him myself."

"Enough. We're leaving. I already see people at the top of the mountain gate."

Lu Chen recalled his three avatars, then detonated the twin spheres of sun and moon amidst the crowd.

Song Gen bellowed, "Not good, that's a top-tier spell! Run!"

He dragged Wang Long away like a fleeing beast.

"Too late!!" Lu Chen clenched both hands, and eight stone walls emerged in the air, closing in to trap the twelve cultivators. "Enjoy yourselves. I hope we meet again in the inner sect."

With a cold command, he summoned back his avatars and flung the Hunyuan Greatsword skyward. "Wind Dragon, we're leaving. There's no longer any need to challenge the upper steps of the mountain gate. Head straight for the Serene Void Academy."

"Understood."

Wind Dragon split into his six true bodies midair. He howled in the direction of Jun Wudi, then carried the Serene Void Academy's disciples into the clouds.

***

From the top of the mountain gate, murmurs rose among the spectators.

"Boss Di Qing, they're leaving. Should we go after them?"

Di Qing slapped the cultivator's head. "Idiots! Do you have a death wish? Didn't you see Wang Long already defeated? Are you stronger than him?"

The man hesitated, "But... they're only at the Qi Regulation Realm. How can they be this strong? Maybe they're using external power. If we swarm them, we could—"

"You may know they use external power, but do you know how much they still have? With just the technique he unleashed, if he uses it again, you'll be ash."

The man glanced nervously at the raging twin spheres exploding on the platform. "Techniques like these are tied to talismans. There can't be many of them... Boss, why don't we send a few to test it?"

"

Hmph!

With courage like yours, you still speak of a siege? You're a fool," Di Qing muttered, vanishing into the forest with his movement art. "Go throw your lives away if you want. I'm going to look for Senior Martial Brother Wunian and ask him to step in."

The man stood frozen on his spot, looking in the direction Di Qing had gone, then at the shattered platform.. "The chief disciple of our Tranquil Mind Academy... Does that person actually exist, then?"

At last, he waved for the gang to follow after Di Qing.

Elsewhere, similar scenes unfolded. Witnessing Lu Chen's power, many chose to return to their academies, seeking their own chief disciples to handle the looming crisis.