185 Another self.

While the crowd dispersed, preparing to take their own measures against the events to come, one person stayed.

Ex- sect leader–Xun Fengyung, stood appalled. His robes were loose, moving with the wind. The horror on his face was indescribable. The cold breeze couldn't scare his skin since the chill from Ren Zu's fourth level appearance was still in effect on his back.

He couldn't understand it. How could he? A girl with a completely ordinary talent for cultivation has simply jumped to the fourth level in less than five months.

'Monsters... They are monsters!'

The thought, that he already soured his relationship with both of these monsters was scary enough but the implications of their strength were even more of a reason to be scared. It didn't matter what method she used, if it could put her to the fourth level so fast, then she'll be on the sixth level soon enough. By then, would he be able to keep his neck? Thoughts and possibilities ran through his head, huge sized cold sweat drops ran down his forehead.

He couldn't do anything against Zhi Rui. The oath was already cast and it must be upheld. But she also can't attack him, so although he's wary of her talent, she wouldn' be able to evolve before the competition ends. But Ren Zu can, and her progress speed is even more astonishing. it might've even been Zhi Rui's plan to use Ren Zu against him in the end.

He calmed his beating heart and settled his rough breathing.

He squinted his eyes thinking. Ren Zu's image passe through his head. He sneered, aloud. "Just another slut, Don't blame me girl. Blame your whorish fate."

With a twisted smile, he flew away.

A form emerged from the wall five minutes later. Hilda looked upon the sky, in the direction Xun Fengyun went away. She sighed heavily in relief and praised the ethereal pheanix ability to become ethereal. Not even those in the sixth level can feel her presence.Each time she uses it, she can't stop marveling at the ability. And the price Zhi Rui must've paid for it.

She snapped her eyes wide open and imploded her inner energy inside. Soon her emotions were back to normal. She frowned.

She found herself changing slowly and it bothered her, something like gratitude for her tyrant master was always a laughable matter but it somehow enrooted on her mind. Sighing she disappeared.

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Back in her disciplinary peak, Zhi Rui Didn't bother with other matters and said she'd enter close cultivation.

Right after she had to deal with a pouting Sweety. she barely managed to appease him after praising his knowledge and abilities.

She sat cross-legged right down in the middle of the room. After refining the core, she understood the ability better, and although she expected it, the cost to create another physical self was heavy.

When she got the option on the store, her mind went reeling with possibilities, at first, the ability is a simple puppet type ability. You control a lesser version of yourself to help in battles and distraction. It'd share the core and conscience, of the original, rather than a clone, it was more of an external limb. But then Zhi Rui's eyes shone with desire. What if she could have another main body? With the method of Salomon that she's cultivating, coupled with the ritual she did for talent, maybe it can be possible.

With her ethereal self fused with her consciousness, it's possible to give the clone mind of its own, She pictured another form of herself. A version of herself that lived freely with no pressure. slowly raising itself from zero. something free and unrestrained growing strong freely. running the world freely with her lust, making both of them stronger.

'After the ritual, It'd probably regress to the first level...But since we're connected, would I be affected by it?... I have to make it a separate individual, and not solely a clone.'

It was a long term gain. But Zhi Rui's heart was too moved to even consider stopping.

She threw a palm attack to her own heart. After a dull sound echoed, Zhi Rui's face turned pale white. she felt the blood flowing and she directed it from her heart, all the way up to the throat, the iron taste reached her tongue and Zhi Rui opened her mouth. Essence blood was enveloping a shard of her own core

The moment it left her mouth. Her body went distraught, visibly. Her muscles thinned and she felt her inner energy reaching rock bottom.She felt the same way she did when she was just a malnourished mortal. But she smiled and with her remaining Inner energy, she activated her fourth ability. Her piece of core and blood was enveloped on it like a placenta.

Now it was time for nourishing the clone. Zhi Rui ate beast meat constantly, one after the other. But her energy was being sucked in faster than she consumed meat. She needed more energy. something strong, and nourishing.

A mad thought came to her and she acted. The fire she used for Zhun Xuyin'gs furnace. The one that purifies. A fire that supposedly comes from the phoenix elder of the main Light sect.

Zhi Rui pulled a tiny remnant she took for herself and used its gentle nature to nourish the embryo with her own blood and inner energy.

A whole day and night passed.

Sweety had already done everything he could to help Zhi Rui, but she was looking like someone who'd die of hunger at any moment, Her bones were visible, her eyes seemed to be popping out of her sockets there was dried blood around her eyes and mouth. It wasn't pretty in any way.

The small glob of blood grew bigger and wider. She could see her face inside.

'Now.. for the last step...'

Zhi Rui sighed and cease the energy flowing from her to the embryo She took a deep breath and focused inside herself. her core had already healed, but a piece was taken from it, and she felt her energy that was always strong; dwindling back, the only thing keeping her on the fourth level was the new core ability. but her actual strength barely amounted to the second level.

[Girl, what do you think you're doing?] The one that was silent most of the time spoke

Zi Rui didn't answer and manipulated her mind. It's been ten minutes that she stopped the nurturing of the embryo. The parasitic threads had already gathered energy from outside. And a good amount was converted into her own ethereal energy.

Zhi Rui fused it with her consciousness and separatedherself from the body.

[Girl, think again. Your progress will take a huge hit if you do this.]

Zhi Rui felt a little trepidation on his voice. But it was an act and nothing more. The plan had already formed on her mind, and it includes this ancient barbarian man's actions

Zhi Rui visualized the entirety of herself and clenched her ethereal teeth. Soundlessly,A part of her conscience was separated. A cracking skull headache assaulted her senses. In her last seconds awake, she directed the smaller part of her mind into the embryo.

Hours later. Zhi Rui managed to open her eyes. She couldn't move, but through the corner of her eyes was a beautiful young face, it was a late teen girl with silver hair that seemed ethereal and deep green eyes. she was breathing evenly and relaxed like a child.

It was her own face.

Feeling the familiarity and connection Zhi Rui laughed. Waves of pain spread through her body but Zhi Rui just kept on laughing.

"I succeeded!, I created an individual!Not a mindless a puppet but a human subordinated clone!No, wait, is it better to call her younger sister? Haha!"

Her strength was reduced to ashes, and the underworld event is in less than a week away. But Zhi Rui didn't care. 'A clone, that's taken as human and not as a part of me...everything will be worth it.