Chapter Twenty-Four: The Doppelganger

Black Earth City had already erupted into chaos, yet had Ye Feng truly been oblivious, only appearing now?

Indeed, Ye Feng was wholly unaware!

For days on end, Ye Feng had forsaken sleep and sustenance, devoting himself to his cultivation until his mind was utterly tranquil.

A current of intent surged restlessly within his body, never managing to break free.

He had heard Murong Yan and Xu Yaozu speak of the art of “dividing the self.” To achieve this realm, one must first project their spirit outside the body; only then could the true essence escape the fleshly shell. At that point, the body becomes nothing but a war machine—true essence untouchable, formless as a shadow. The enemy cannot harm the true essence, but the true essence can wound them, its power more than doubled.

But this state of divided self had a fatal flaw: the physical shell. With the essence forced outside, the body becomes numb, impervious to pain or itch—making it a better weapon, yet dangerously vulnerable. Should the body suffer mortal harm, and the true essence cannot return, then in a few days, with the vital energy exhausted, the spectral projection would vanish altogether.

At that time, the flesh rots, the soul dissipates, and there is no hope of reincarnation.

But Ye Feng could not afford to consider any of this. He could only follow Murong Yan’s and Xu Yaozu’s teachings and practice with relentless diligence!

He had neither eaten nor drunk for over ten days, having sunk into the depths of meditation.

Thus, when the world outside thundered with shouting, neighing horses, and booming cannon, Ye Feng, secluded in his quiet chamber, remained unmoved!

Until the moment when the Ferocious Beast kicked open the camp gate.

With a loud crack, the chamber was suddenly open to the tumult outside!

The clang of gongs and drums, the shouts of battle, all burst in at once, nearly rupturing Ye Feng’s eardrums.

The shock nearly stupefied him, his soul seemingly flying out of his body!

Yet fate played its hand—at that very instant, his intent, following his soul, broke free. In a blink, two identical figures stood in the chamber, each with Ye Feng’s appearance.

Ye Feng realized he had achieved the realm of divided self and was overjoyed.

But seeing the Ferocious Beast about to burst into his quarters, he quickly seized his old twin hammers in one form, twin whips in the other, and attacked with all his might.

Thus unfolded the scene witnessed moments before.

Now, the two Ye Fengs emerged from the camp and saw demon soldiers pouring into the city, Murong Yan and the others’ fates unknown. Anger surged in Ye Feng’s breast, his courage rising with it.

Brandishing their weapons, the two shouted in unison, “Ferocious Beast, prepare to die!”

They charged with fierce determination—one attacking from the front, the other circling for a strike from behind.

The Ferocious Beast was dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected Ye Feng, absent for months, to have grown so powerful—already mastering the fourth level of the Demon-Slaying Art: the divided self!

Clearly, this was a grave threat to the Myriad Demons Kingdom—if he did not kill him now, who knew what trouble Ye Feng would bring once he grew stronger?

Resolute, the Ferocious Beast unleashed his full power, his body shaking as he manifested more than a dozen arms, each wielding a weapon, and joined battle with Ye Feng.

So many weapons spun in the air, each like a miniature whirlwind, layer upon layer, round after round…

Even a fly entering that maelstrom would be ground to dust!

Yet Ye Feng, divided into two, each wielding dual weapons and employing his telekinetic skills, set his weapons spinning while his hands fought with fists.

It was as if he had sprouted eight arms himself!

With his skills, four fists and four weapons struck with ghostly speed and endless variation.

The Ferocious Beast secretly admired him, realizing this was no longer the Ye Feng of old—he could not be underestimated.

So he summoned all his demonic energy, spinning his dozen weapons even faster, aiming deadly strikes at the two Ye Fengs’ vital points.

Clang! Clang! Crash! Crash!

Sparks flew in all directions, a barrage of sharp sounds like beans sizzling in a pan—loud and crisp!

So loud the demon soldiers nearby clapped their hands over their ears!

So fierce that Ye Feng and the Ferocious Beast were each forced back a full ten feet.

But they instantly clashed again!

As time stretched on, Ye Feng’s strength began to wane, his movements slowing.

Seeing Ye Feng falter, the Ferocious Beast’s spirits soared, his weapons moving so fast only the wind could be heard, their forms invisible.

Suddenly—“Strike!”—a long blade slashed toward Ye Feng’s chest!

Unable to dodge, Ye Feng braced himself for impact.

But with a swish, the blade sliced through empty air—Ye Feng’s body vanished!

The blade had cut only his divided self.

The Ferocious Beast was shocked. “Where are you, brat?!”

Behind him, wind howled—several weapons were clearly attacking from the rear.

He whirled, swinging his own weapons to block the ambush.

When he turned again, both Ye Fengs stood behind him.

Again and again, the Ferocious Beast’s fierce blows landed on Ye Feng, but each time it was only a phantom.

He grew frustrated—if this continued, he could never harm Ye Feng, yet Ye Feng could harm him. Was he not inviting his own defeat?

Meanwhile, Ye Feng rejoiced inwardly: This old demon may be strong but lacks cunning. All his killing blows land on my divided self—if they struck my true body, my life would end here!

Thus, he used his true self for defense and his phantom for offense, ensuring attack and defense supported each other.

So man and demon battled for another half hour.

“Ye Feng is alive! Young Master Ye still fights! He’s killing the demons!”

The retreating soldiers and townsfolk, seeing Ye Feng, felt as if a savior had arrived. Their morale soared, and they cheered as one.

The news spread like wildfire—soon the entire city knew. The demon soldiers quaked in fear, while the loyalists and townsfolk were emboldened, and the tide of battle began to shift.

The demon soldiers could advance no further. The loyalists’ and people’s battle cries shook the heavens.

The situation reversed—some demon soldiers, battered, began to fall back in defeat.

Yet Ye Feng was in dire straits. His mental strength could not match the demon’s power, and the longer the fight dragged on, the more exhausted he became!

The enemy’s weapons were too fast to follow with the naked eye. Ye Feng, with two bodies, four fists, and four weapons, could not hope to match so many arms and blades.

But he knew he could not retreat!

He was now the pillar of the soldiers’ and townsfolk’s spirits; if he fell back, their hope would be lost.

In no time, Black Earth City would fall, and the old and young would be slaughtered.

Then, all would be lost, beyond salvation!

Others didn’t know, but the Ferocious Beast understood: Ye Feng was at the end of his strength, nearly spent!

The demon rejoiced, having also noticed Ye Feng’s true body among the phantoms—his weakness. If the true body was destroyed, the true essence would dissipate, never to reincarnate!

With this fatal blow, he would earn great merit for the Myriad Demons Kingdom!

On the brink of victory, fearing only some last-minute mishap, he used his long weapons to seal Ye Feng’s escape and sent his short weapons stabbing for Ye Feng’s vital points.

Ye Feng saw himself surrounded—deadly weapons on every side. There was no advancing, no retreating.

He knew death was inevitable. Yet he swore: Ferocious Beast, old demon! If I, Ye Feng, must die today, I’ll at least stain you with my blood and leave my mark upon you!

Just as he was about to gamble everything and lunge forward with his whips, a sudden chorus of screams rose up behind him!

He glanced back quickly.

A troop had charged into the ranks of the demon soldiers!

At their head were two youths—one fat and tall, the other short and thin.

The fat one was a giant, fully ten feet tall, broad-faced and big-eared, with a pillar of wood three yards long and nearly eight inches thick tucked under his arm; each sweep felled a swath, each smash left corpses in a line.

The thin one was as small as a monkey, barely two feet tall, but agile—leaping six feet high, bounding thirty feet in a flash, his hands clawing and snatching, his feet kicking and stomping, wounding a dozen demon soldiers in seconds.

He wielded a golden dragon claw, six feet long, smashing, sweeping, stabbing, poking, snatching—driving the demon soldiers to wail and scatter.

Behind them surged over a thousand more, clad in all manner of garb, wielding every weapon imaginable, charging in with a murderous air!

Seeing this, the Ferocious Beast was thunderstruck and shouted, “Who are these two brats? Why are you attacking my soldiers?!”

From afar came a hearty laugh, and a voice boomed, “Ferocious Beast, my old friend, Xu the Elder has returned! I brought these children just to deal with you—what do you think? Do they meet your standards?!”

The speaker, portly and red-haired, with a bristling beard, was none other than Xu Yaozu.

He rode at the rear, calling out as he swung his mighty spear, felling stray demon soldiers with every sweep.

At the sight of Xu Yaozu, the Ferocious Beast was livid!

He cursed inwardly: Old scoundrel, you’ve caused me endless suffering! I searched for you everywhere, and now you return!

He abandoned Ye Feng and charged straight for Xu Yaozu, shouting, “Old thief, today I’ll kill you to avenge your treachery and that sneak attack with the spear!”

His dozen weapons flashed with cold light as he charged like a devil incarnate.

But the two youths, tall and short, blocked his way!

The tall one bellowed, “Old—old—old demon, let’s see you fight!” and swung his pillar like a grinding stone, smashing down with terrifying force.

The Ferocious Beast raised his saber to block—

Crash!

With a shattering sound, the saber was sent flying, vanishing into the sky!

“What strength!” the Ferocious Beast gasped, terror-stricken, stumbling back.

The short one let out a sly giggle, “There’s—there’s—there’s someone even—more—more—more powerful!”

He stammered, short of breath, but as he spoke, he leaped forward in a blur, darting into the Ferocious Beast’s arms, his ten fingers sharp as blades, clawing at the demon’s face with lightning speed.

Never having seen such agility, the Ferocious Beast frantically swung his weapons, sending arcs of cold light to guard his head.

But the little one kicked hard, landing a blow to the demon’s chest, flipped in midair, and vaulted thirty feet away.

Struck, the Ferocious Beast felt a searing pain in his chest, blood rising in his throat. With a cry, he spat a mouthful of hot blood!

Before he could recover, agony shot through his arm.

“Aagh!” he screamed.

Looking down, he saw a huge chunk of flesh and skin torn from his arm by the golden dragon claw—bone gleamed through the wound!

Terrified, the Ferocious Beast shouted, “Retreat!” and fled in panic.

The demon soldiers had already been hard-pressed by the loyalists and townsfolk. Now, routed by this wild charge, they panicked. At their leader’s shout, discipline collapsed and they scattered, each scrambling for their lives.

The loyalist soldiers and townsfolk, their blood boiling, would not let the demons escape so easily. With a roar of “Kill!” they gave chase, hacking and stabbing, felling demon soldiers by the dozens!

Others, terrified, tripped and crushed each other underfoot—many more died in the chaos.

Ye Feng, seeing the Ferocious Beast flee, raised his twin whips to pursue.

But before he could leap, three gusts of wind surged behind him, aiming for his head and shoulders!

Startled, Ye Feng shivered. What now? Could the Ferocious Beast have more helpers?

He dodged back in haste.

Turning to look, who were these helpers?

It turned out to be the two strange youths!

———

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