Chapter 120: Qingyuan! Qingyuan!

Opposite him stood a figure, identical to Kiyohara in every detail.

His facial features, attire, even the wounds on his body were exactly the same as Kiyohara’s.

This “Kiyohara” across from him stood motionless, clad only in a simple white inner robe, which was stained with black and gray smudges.

The only difference lay in his eyes—they emitted an utterly indifferent light, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

Both shared scorched, curled hair, disheveled clothing, and visible injuries, yet while the real Kiyohara appeared somewhat disheveled, the figure before him stood upright, chest out, expression cold and detached, as if dismissing all else. There was no trace of weakness, only an icy, piercing aura.

Kiyohara’s heart skipped a beat, and instinctively he grasped his iron rod.

The figure opposite him did the same, clutching an identical iron rod.

“This is...”

Kiyohara’s initial shock gave way to focused scrutiny, and only then did he realize that opposite him was not a person but a wall, exceptionally smooth and shimmering with a crystalline glow, resembling a mirror.

“Just a reflection?”

He exhaled, tension easing slightly, yet at that moment, an unsettling realization dawned on him.

This “Kiyohara” across was not identical; subtle differences in expression and demeanor betrayed the notion of a mere reflection. A mirror should not reveal such discrepancies.

A chill ran through Kiyohara as he lifted his gaze. The wall remained glossy, mirror-like, gleaming softly, but it was blank—there was no reflection of himself.

He gasped, a cold shiver running down his spine, and quickly turned around.

There, standing in the center of the empty chamber behind him, was a person.

That person was himself!

Another Kiyohara!

The reflection in the mirrored wall had manifested in the middle of the empty room.

Only now, it was no longer just a reflection.

---

The figure bearing an uncanny resemblance to Kiyohara emerged from the mirror’s image into the empty chamber.

Tall and upright, he stood straight despite the injuries and disheveled garments, yet showed no sign of weakness.

Every detail—appearance, aura, attire, even wounds—matched Kiyohara’s own.

But his expression was sharp and chilling, imbued with a frosty, indifferent ruthlessness.

While Kiyohara remained stunned, the figure suddenly raised his hand.

---

In his hand was a white jade ruler, about three fingers wide and two and a half feet long, adorned with intricate red thunder patterns that spiraled upward with exquisite beauty.

“This is...”

Kiyohara’s heart jolted. This white jade ruler was identical to the one he had manifested in the Conjuring Method Tower, indistinguishable in any way.

If the figure opposite was merely a reflection differing only in eyes and expression, now there was another difference: Kiyohara held an iron rod, but this apparition wielded the white jade ruler.

“Is this the original form of the iron rod?”

Kiyohara’s breath caught slightly. He had long suspected that the white jade ruler manifested in the Conjuring Method Tower was the true form of the iron rod. However, since the iron rod was considered a discarded item of the Purple Cloud Palace, it should not be a treasure, so the matter remained unresolved.

What was the relationship between the iron rod and the white jade ruler? This thought flashed through his mind but was immediately suppressed by his Six-Month Purification Meditation.

The “Kiyohara” opposite remained motionless and silent, as if truly a reflection.

Kiyohara’s mind swirled with doubt, uncertain why this was so.

Suddenly, a dazzling gleam erupted from the eyes of the “Kiyohara” opposite. His expression grew colder as the white jade ruler pointed directly at Kiyohara.

Dark red thunder patterns surfaced on the flesh of his arm, glowing intensely before rushing to the white jade ruler, instantly transforming into a bolt of thunder.

Boom!

The crimson divine thunder struck instantaneously.

Kiyohara’s face changed drastically. He channeled his true energy, using the iron rod to block the thunder.

His face turned pale but quickly regained color, though his body involuntarily staggered backward by several steps, leaving footprints behind.

A numbness spread through his arm, and his heart sank with grave seriousness.

This crimson divine thunder was three times more powerful than the thunder he himself could summon.

Despite suffering a setback, he had at least blocked the thunder. Breathing a sigh of relief, he prepared to counterattack, only to see the “Kiyohara” opposite raise his hand again, now conjuring a sphere of flame.

The flame surged forward in an instant!

Kiyohara swiftly dodged, watching the fire technique strike the rocky wall behind him, instantly scorching and cracking the stone, which fell to the ground in charred black fragments, resembling burnt charcoal.

Before Kiyohara could recover, the earth suddenly cracked open, and a soil spike shot up from below.

His heart tightened; he tilted his head and dodged.

The soil spike, nearly ten feet long, missed him and immediately dispersed, turning into a cloud of sand that surged toward him.

“I cannot be restrained like this...” Kiyohara thought swiftly.

Holding the iron rod horizontally, he charged forward and struck down.

Boom!

He was surprised to find his strength had grown immensely after some healing—his blow pierced through the sand, and he passed through its center.

He finally stood firm, not yet pondering why his energy had increased, when he saw the figure opposite leisurely raise a hand, now holding a water orb.

Kiyohara’s face darkened abruptly. He extended his hand, releasing a burst of flame.

---

The figure tossed the water orb toward him.

Kiyohara sent the flame forward.

Water and fire collided.

But water overpowered fire.

The flames were extinguished while the water orb remained intact, hurtling toward Kiyohara.

“Break!”

Kiyohara struck the orb with his iron rod, shattering it instantly.

The splattering droplets hit the surrounding rocky walls, leaving countless small, shallow craters.

---

“Mastery of all five elements? He also comprehends the Way?”

“Does he understand the divine thunder arts as well?”

Kiyohara’s thoughts raced. With his considerable experience, he roughly understood the situation.

This figure, identical to himself, was evidently an adversary conjured from his own being.

They shared the same cultivation, the same comprehension of the Way, the same divine arts.

The difference was that the thunder arts and elemental techniques wielded by this figure were far superior to those Kiyohara could manifest.

---

These thoughts flashed by in an instant.

Kiyohara did not hesitate. Clutching the iron rod tightly, he thrust forward.

True energy surged; thunder patterns flickered on his forearm, guiding the energy through the rod’s thunder motifs, transforming it into crimson thunder that shot out suddenly.

Simultaneously, the figure opposite raised the white jade ruler.

True energy flowed, thunder patterns appeared on his forearm, spreading along the ruler, which unleashed a bolt of crimson thunder from its tip.

Boom! Thunder roared and echoed.

The empty chamber trembled; the earth shook, and countless rocks fell from the walls.

The two bolts of thunder clashed.

The opponent’s thunder shattered Kiyohara’s crimson thunder and still carried residual power.

Kiyohara barely dodged; though unharmed, the aftershock grazed his arm, causing injury.