Among the spectators outside the exam site, Heron Lord He An offered a wry, strained smile and cupped his hands toward his peers in a gesture of apology. "It truly is embarrassing to let you all witness such a spectacle from my son."
Peacock Lord Mei Xuankong returned the gesture graciously, his voice smooth and reassuring. "Not at all, Heron Lord. Though he may have overestimated his own strength, his courage is commendable. Few youngsters can stand their ground against an opponent several levels stronger without collapsing in fear."
First Elder Mei Changkong added his own praise, nodding firmly. "Not only that, but Young Master He Chen managed to lead a fifty-man team to fight until the very end. It's clear he's inherited your leadership and charisma. What he lacks is a strategic mindset. Once he learns to properly utilize his skills and his men, he'll undoubtedly become a great leader."
He An bowed slightly in gratitude, his shoulders relaxing an inch. "Thank you, Peacock Lord and First Elder. I will pass on your wisdom to my son."
The exchange seemed poised to end on a harmonious note—until Eagle Lord Ying Tianzheng spoke up, his tone dripping with sharp condescension. "How could your useless son ever compare to my dazzling grandson? Ignoring that cheating trash, my Lizhua is still the best of the best! Even if you trained your son for a hundred years, he wouldn't come close to achieving what Lizhua already has! Hahaha!"
He laughed heartily, the sound booming across the stage as he relished the moment, boasting about his grandson's brilliance without any regard for those around him.
If anyone else's son had been scorned so blatantly, they would have been seething with a dark rage. But He An remained calm, his expression as tranquil as still water. Known for his unflappable demeanor, he was not one to react to insults or sarcastic remarks unless his family was physically harmed without cause.
The others exchanged awkward glances and a few nervous coughs. Ying Tianzheng was speaking out of line, but his standing among the previous generation's powerhouses kept them silent. Even Mei Hongyi could only swallow his humiliation at hearing his son called "cheating trash," his face reddening as the Eagle Lord laughed.
As the group watched the events on the screens, Mei Hengkong remained focused, paying no attention to the petty bickering. Like everyone else, he was curious about how these youngsters—including his granddaughter, Mei Yue'er—intended to defeat the seemingly invincible Three Talons clone.
As a master of the Thousand Illusion Aurora Peacock bloodline himself, Mei Hengkong knew the terrifying truth about this creature. Since the clone's power grew with its creator's cultivation level, and it was crafted by Hongyi, a Two Wings Master, its strength was likely boosted by over 30%.
In his estimation, it was physically impossible for the younger generation to pierce such a defense. He wasn't alone; the other top-tier figures shared the same belief.
"Still, isn't this a bit too harsh, Second Elder?" Mei Changkong remarked, his voice tinged with disapproval as he turned to Mei Hongyi. "To place a Three Talons clone in a test meant for the younger generation—it feels like bullying."
Mei Hongyi chuckled, his eyes darting away as he quickly brushed off the criticism. "Bully? Not at all, First Elder. The more challenging the test, the more promising the qualifiers!"
Peacock Lord gave Mei Hongyi a brief, measured glance, his eyes cold and knowing, but he chose to remain silent. All eyes remained on the unfolding scene, the tension thick and palpable as they awaited the next move.
* * *
Meanwhile, Feng Luotian turned his attention toward the other participants lurking like shadows around the edges of the battlefield.
A large number of them had already given up after witnessing the crushing impossibility of taking down the strongest clone, choosing to retreat into the forest to hunt weaker targets in other areas.
A few determined figures remained. Ying Lizhua stood among them with his arms crossed over his chest, looking as confident as ever despite the defeat he had just witnessed.
Not far from Lizhua, Luotian spotted another group that stood out from the rest—a collection of five figures, four men and one woman. While the four men stood together as a clear party, it was their faces that caused Luotian to pause.
"Quadruplets?" Luotian murmured to himself, his interest piqued.
The four men had identical sharp features and broad shoulders. Each carried himself with an air of authority, yet all four wore warm smiles. That unusual combination of imposing appearance and friendliness drew attention even among the scattered participants watching from the ruins.
Focusing his mind, Luotian activated Bloodline Sensing. His eyes flashed with a brief spark of astonishment as the secret data flooded his vision.
///// Six Fangs Body Splitting Golden Duck /////
///// [Divided We Stand]: The user can split their body into multiple figures, sharing Theríon, damage, cultivation, vision, soul, and even death. /////
"Well, I didn't expect to meet someone with this bloodline here," Luotian said with a small smile, his heart thudding with curiosity.
Noticing the change in Luotian's expression, Wuji asked, "Brother Feng, do you know them? They look like trouble."
"No," Luotian replied, his gaze never leaving the four identical men. "But I've read about this bloodline before in some ancient books."
Wuji gave him a dull, flat look and let out a heavy sigh of annoyance. "You and your books again? When are you going to stop using that same old excuse? Anyway, what's so special about their bloodline that actually got you excited?"
"Body Splitting Golden Duck bloodline," Luotian replied.
"Body Splitting Gold… what?" Wuji tried to repeat the name but stumbled over the words, his tongue tangling over the unfamiliar name.
Luotian chuckled and began to explain. "The Body Splitting Golden Duck bloodline is a rare lineage that allows the user to split their single body into multiple figures. All of these bodies share the same energy, cultivation, and breakthroughs. This allows them to grow in strength many times faster than a normal cultivator."
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping an octave. "If one of the bodies experiences a breakthrough, all of them do at the exact same moment. This ability, Divided We Stand, is considered one of the top-tier bloodline abilities among the descendants of the Divine Phoenix."
"Wow! They seem insanely strong!" Wuji said, his eyes widening as he fully engaged with the explanation. While he still didn't believe the "book" excuse, he trusted Luotian's judgment implicitly. He knew his brother wouldn't waste breath on useless nonsense.
"Indeed, but first, it's not 'they'—it's 'he.' While the scoreboard counts them as four separate participants to fill out the ranks, they are actually just one person with one identity," Luotian clarified. "Second, the real terror of this bloodline is its innate skill that comes at the Talon Realm."
"What kind of skill?" Wuji asked, a cold shiver running down his back.
"A sure-kill skill," Luotian said. A profound, dark light flashed in his eyes as his tone became deadly serious. "Anyone who gets too close will die without even knowing how or what hit them."
Hearing this, Wuji drew a sharp breath, his skin prickling with a sudden chill. "That's terrifying…" he muttered, looking at the smiling quadruplets with a new sense of dread.
Yue'er thought deeply for a moment before speaking. "If you put it that way, then he would become nearly invincible once he reaches the Talon Realm. But the world isn't that simple. There has to be a catch—a weakness."
She didn't doubt Luotian's words for a second. She had known him her entire life, and she understood that he never spoke without a solid reason. As for where he actually got his information, she didn't care to press him; his secrets were his own, and his safety was all that mattered to her.
"Right you are, Yue'er," Luotian replied with a small smile, clearly appreciating her sharp observation. He continued, his voice dropping slightly as he broke down the mechanics of the power. "That incredible ability does come with its share of flaws. First, when he splits his body, his physical durability is divided as well. It makes him much more fragile than a normal warrior. Even a small, shallow injury can quickly become a serious, life-threatening wound."
"Second, while he has multiple bodies, he still only possesses one mind. Without an elite multitasking ability or specific skills to split his focus, trying to control all those bodies at once in a chaotic battle is a nightmare for the brain."
"And third," Luotian added, his brow furrowing as he highlighted the most dangerous part, "the damage he takes is shared across every single one of his bodies. If all four of them are caught in one large, sweeping attack, the damage he suffers is effectively quadrupled in an instant."
He concluded with a firm nod. "So, while his bloodline grants him a terrifying offensive power and a superhuman cultivation rate, he has to tread very carefully. Every step must be cold and calculated, even if he has strong defensive measures in place."
Mei Yue'er and Sun Wuji nodded in understanding as they watched the Wei group from a distance. Yue'er let out a quiet sigh, her tone tinged with a bit of pity. "That's unfortunate. To live with such a constant risk..."
She couldn't help but wonder if having such a powerful bloodline was truly a blessing from the heavens or a cruel curse.
"True," Luotian said, "but I wouldn't worry about him too much. From what I can see, he handles himself exceptionally well. In fact, I think he might actually be the most talented participant in this entire exam."
"What do you mean by that?" Wuji asked, eager to understand.
"!!"
Wuji and Yue'er exchanged startled looks as they understood. If the scoreboard had counted Divided We Stand as one person's power, his four bodies would have a combined score of well over a thousand points. That would put him far ahead of every other candidate.
"Not only that," Luotian continued, his gaze narrowing on the quadruplets, "he's barely taken a single scratch. That means he understands his flaws perfectly and moves with extreme caution. To stay that vigilant while earning that many points—this guy is incredibly strong."
Yue'er remained silent, her mind racing as she processed the hidden threat, while Wuji gasped and blurted out, "How has a monster like him stayed unknown in the city for this long?"
"Let's meet up with Lizhua first, and then we'll decide our next move," Luotian proposed, shifting the focus back to their immediate goal.
"Okay!" Yue'er and Wuji nodded, their faces serious.
Just before they left, Luotian glanced at the modest-looking girl standing about fifty meters from the Wei party. They exchanged a subtle nod, acknowledging each other without saying a word.
With that quiet interaction finished, Luotian turned and led Yue'er and Wuji toward the spot where Ying Lizhua was waiting.