Chapter 1038

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

And that mirror image's cultivation was still at the first layer of Spirit Transformation.

Single Spirit Root, Earth Grade Golden Core, Inferior Nascent Soul.

At Xu Zhangqing's peak, such an opponent could be crushed with a single finger.

But now, his cultivation had fallen to Nascent Soul, one realm lower than the other party.

The mirror image did not wait for him to adjust, nor did it give him a chance to catch his breath.

As the Third Question ended, its figure approached like a ghost, one palm wrapped in ink-green Law Power, striking plainly at Xu Zhangqing's chest.

This palm had no technique whatsoever, just the most direct, most brutal Law attack.

Wood-element Law compressed to the extreme turned into sharp vine phantoms, shooting out from the palm wind, everywhere they passed the air was drawn into piercing shrieks.

Xu Zhangqing almost subconsciously raised his hand to take this palm head-on.

Boom!

The moment the two palms met, the gray-white ground beneath his feet for a hundred zhang cracked simultaneously, dense cracks like spiderwebs spreading in all directions.

The violent Law remnant shock turned the air within dozens of zhang into a vacuum state, the shockwave wrapped in shattered stone fragments spreading outward, forming a visible ring-shaped air wave.

Xu Zhangqing's figure was sent retreating dozens of zhang by this palm, his feet plowing two deep grooves in the ground, his ankles submerged in shattered stone and soil.

The other party's cultivation was clearly only the first layer of Spirit Transformation, and its physical body far inferior to his own, yet relying on the purity of Wood-element Law and that fearless attack will, it suppressed him in strength.

One palm had just landed, the next palm had already arrived.

On the gray-white ground, two people with identical appearances engaged in the most primitive and cruel close-quarters slaughter.

One was the main body whose cultivation had fallen to Nascent Soul, with sluggish magic power and chaotic breath.

The other was the mirror image at the first layer of Spirit Transformation, Single Spirit Root, yet using Wood-element Law to the extreme.

Every clash of fists and palms triggered deafening roars, tearing the surrounding gray-white land into ferocious cracks.

"Senior Brother Zhu's calamity, you can't help!"

"Hu Bugui's death, you can't stop!"

"Bei Qingtang's life, you can't save!"

Xu Zhangqing's condition rapidly deteriorated, countless wounds cracking open on his Dao Heart.

The questioning voices were like rusty blunt blades, repeatedly cutting at the "wound."

Xu Zhangqing endured the mirror image's storm-like attacks, his figure constantly retreating, the ground beneath his feet a mess.

Every step back left a deep pit in the ground.

However, the mirror image's forward pressing speed was faster than his retreat speed.

In those eyes of surging gray mist, there was no emotion, only the obsession to completely devour the other party.

Because in its view, it was the true Xu Zhangqing.

Xu Zhangqing without a system, without opportunity, abandoned by the world, yet gritting his teeth to survive.

Not this fellow before him who possessed everything.

Or rather, the Xu Zhangqing before him should not exist.

Bang!

Another palm came slapping down ferociously.

The vines condensed from Wood-element Law turned into a thick green whip, lashing heavily at Xu Zhangqing's chest; he only managed to cross his arms to protect his front, his whole body sent flying backward by this blow, rolling dozens of zhang in the air before heavily crashing to the ground.

His whole body smashed into the cold ground, smashing out a zhang-deep human-shaped pit, shattered stones trickling down from the pit's edge.

"Cough~"

Xu Zhangqing lay in the shattered stone and soil, looking quite disheveled.

The magic power within his body was chaotic to the point of almost being unable to circulate.

The Wood, Earth, and Water element Law lights surrounding his body also became dim, like candlelight that could extinguish at any moment.

The mirror image slowly approached, looking down at him from above.

In those eyes of surging gray mist, there was neither mockery nor pity.

Then it questioned again: "Without the system, which one is the real you?"

Xu Zhangqing was stunned: "This..."

The mirror image coldly said: "Is it the spirit farmer who planted spirit rice in the Spirit Field for half his life, and died unremarkably?"

"Or this Qingmu Sect Sect Master who possesses everything, yet carries regrets?"

The mirror image's voice echoed across the vast gray plain.

Every echo exploded in Xu Zhangqing's sea of consciousness, tearing his already cracked Dao Heart even wider.

However, Xu Zhangqing not only did not doubt himself as the other party expected, but at this moment, he couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Hehe~"

The laughter was not loud, but exceptionally clear.

In the laughter there was no arrogance, no contempt.

Only the relief of having struggled out of the mire and finally figured everything out.

He was disheveled to the extreme at this moment, but his eyes shone astonishingly.

The mirror image was startled: "Hmm?"

"You are right."

Xu Zhangqing spoke, his voice not loud, but every word clear: "Zhu Shi, I truly cannot help with your calamity.

Lao Hu's death, I truly felt lucky about it.

Qing Tang's matter, I truly understood too late.

These are all facts, and I accept them!"

The mirror image fell silent, because it discovered that the "self" before it had an unbroken Dao Heart.

Xu Zhangqing stood up while saying seriously: "Although I have a system by my side, I am not some sage, unable to attend to everything.

Unable to care for this one, care for that one.

My energy, my abilities, these are all limited."

The mirror image spoke fiercely: "It is you who killed them!"

Xu Zhangqing raised his head, narrowed his eyes, and countered: "Even if I helped them, would these people not die?"

The mirror image fell silent: "……"

Xu Zhangqing rose into the air, his gaze growing firmer: "I merely have a longer lifespan, I am not immortal and indestructible.

Those beside me can be helped for a time, but not for a lifetime."

He raised his head; what lit up again in his pupils was not spiritual light, but a purer, more unshakable thing.

The next moment, the Qi Sea grasped by an invisible hand suddenly jumped once.

That was not a jump of magic power, but the throb of the Dao Heart.

The Dao Heart Lotus Embryo trembled slightly, as if responding to its Master's Heart Realm.

On the mirror image's face, in those eyes where gray mist surged, fluctuation appeared for the first time.

Those struggling, twisting shadows stagnated for an instant, as if digesting the meaning of these words.

"I cannot save everyone, that is a fact."

"I cannot stop every disaster, that is also a fact."

"Do one's best, and have a clear conscience!"

Xu Zhangqing finished speaking, then took a step forward.

It seemed merely an ordinary step, coming out from the edge of the shattered pit.

But once this step was taken, the whole person's aura changed.

No longer the one being questioned, tortured, and suppressed who retreated, but a Spirit Transformation Venerable who, after seeing himself clearly, stood up again.

The cracks on the Dao Heart silently mended in this step.

Not repaired by external force, but by some purer power surging from within the Dao Heart itself, filling those cracks on its own.

To save or not to save, to protect or to lose, are not the "cause," but the "result" he is destined to face after choosing this path!