"No, if this keeps up, I might actually die here!" Ye Liang panicked.
They both used the exact same techniques, yet his opponent's strength was superior!
Such situations had been mentioned in novels from his past life—either break through and catch up to the opponent again, or find reinforcements for help.
Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be any backup around here.
Ye Liang glanced at the ground littered with White Zetsu corpses. It was already lucky the enemy hadn't called for backup!
Damn it!
The two clashed again with Shinra Tensei. Since their techniques were identical, the battle gradually turned into a contest of chakra reserves.
Wait!
I have the Nine-Tails, but he doesn't!
Ye Liang suddenly remembered an important fact.
Although they used the same techniques, he had earned the Nine-Tails through his own effort. Therefore, even if the opponent possessed a System, there was no way he could have the Nine-Tails too!
In the same world, each tailed beast exists only once!
[Shinra Tensei]! The two collided with another powerful impact.
This time, Ye Liang spat out a mouthful of blood—but he smiled.
Right! His enemy's chakra was gradually depleting. He was panting heavily, clearly nearing exhaustion!
"Hmph! Want to drag this out into a war of attrition?!"
Fake Ye Liang panted, obviously seeing through Ye Liang's plan.
But he wasn't afraid at all.
[Tailed Beast Mode]!
A surge of vast blue chakra slowly rose from Fake Ye Liang's heart, instantly enveloping his entire body.
It was the Tailed Beast Mode!
Ye Liang felt surprised!
That was an ability exclusive to a Jinchuriki. But the other one shouldn't have the Nine-Tails!
"It's Isobu! Although I don't have the Nine-Tails, I possess the power of the Three-Tails Isobu," Fake Ye Liang explained briefly before smugly walking toward Ye Liang.
"You imposter! Even though you impersonated me and got to the Hidden Leaf Village first, in the end, you lack true conviction. Do you really think your feeble abilities are enough to control the entire Naruto World? Dream on!"
He stepped forward heavily while panting slightly, and the cursed blade in his hand still exuded a chilling blade aura.
"Who said I ever wanted to control the Naruto World?" Ye Liang muttered helplessly. This guy kept babbling nonsense, calling him a phony like it was real!
Ye Liang pondered his own identity.
Could it be that I'm the fake?
Then who am I?
He shook his head.
He hadn't lost his memories. The moments from his past life were deeply rooted in his heart—his quiet nature, his close friends, and his parents. Those bonds were carved into his very soul.
How could he possibly be a counterfeit?
"You're the fake one," Ye Liang said calmly. He casually shifted into a fighting stance.
Even if he couldn't beat him, he'd still make him pay!
Just then,
The cursed blade previously held by Fake Ye Liang suddenly fled from his grip as if running for its life. It circled in midair a few times before gently stopping right in front of Ye Liang.
"Traitor! What do you think you're doing?!"
Fake Ye Liang exploded in rage, cursing the sword furiously before rushing over immediately.
What's going on here?
Ye Liang hesitated for a moment, suddenly sensing an indescribable connection with the cursed blade before him—as if their bloodlines had merged.
Extremely pleasant.
"You're acknowledging me as your master?" Ye Liang asked.
The cursed blade trembled.
"Buzz buzz buzz!"
It seemed to have understood Ye Liang's words, nodding silently again and again.
"I get it now!"
Ye Liang seized the sword in one hand and slashed at Fake Ye Liang charging toward him.
A red arc of sword energy!
Like a waning crescent moon on the first day of the lunar month, it came crashing down onto Fake Ye Liang.
Fake Ye Liang startled, hastily using Shinra Tensei to block, but this crescent moon of sword energy completely ignored the repulsive force of Shinra Tensei, cleaving Fake Ye Liang straight in half!
Fake Ye Liang transformed into a White Zetsu and collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
"Damn you, Onikiri! You impostor! Just you wait—I'll come after you for this!" After transforming into a corpse of White Zetsu, he didn't stir again.
Now Ye Liang understood why there were so many corpses near the cave entrance; those White Zetsu must have been slain by this Onikiri!
Truly terrifying!
"So, is that all then?" Ye Liang reexamined the cave entrance. Apparently, besides the White Zetsu corpses, there was genuinely nothing else around.
He crouched beside Fake Ye Liang and began rummaging through his pockets.
Being someone who'd transmigrated from another world,
looting dropped items from defeated foes was naturally a common occurrence.
"Huh? What is this thing?"
Ye Liang's hand tightened around something—he pulled out a circular lock with a square center and an aged map.
Outside the Sword Cemetery.
Kasuka Kazahana's heart sank to her stomach.
Six hours had passed. The original crowd of spectators had long since dispersed from the Sword Cemetery, leaving only a handful of royal family members behind.
"Mr. Mifune," the Honored Elder Daimyo asked Mifune solemnly, "when you said Ye Liang entered the Seventh Layer, was that true?" After so long without any sign, no one wanted to wait pointlessly anymore.
"Of course! Brother Ye Liang truly is no ordinary man; actually figuring out to use stones to solve the riddle from the Land of Craftsmen—admirable and impressive!"
"But even after so long?" the Elder Daimyo asked again.
Mifune also showed a worried look on his face.
According to logic, if Ye Liang indeed had the ability to pass the sixth test, there was no reason he should remain so long in the seventh. Because Mifune's ancestor once mentioned, aside from the national treasure Onikiri, there were no other guardians in the seventh layer.
"Could it be Brother Ye Liang has already perished inside?" He began to suspect.
After all, the searing heat within was more than any human could survive.
Mifune nearly cooked alive after just four hours—how could Ye Liang possibly survive six?
"Father, since so much time has passed, let's withdraw now. That Ye Liang definitely won't return."
"Yes, father, quickly announce the winner of the Martial Valor Festival." Several princes couldn't contain themselves anymore, immediately proposing suggestions to the Elder Daimyo.
The Elder Daimyo frowned.
In truth, he himself also believed Ye Liang wouldn't come back. Yet due to Mifune's presence, he couldn't directly declare Ye Liang dead, otherwise it would mean questioning Mifune's authority.
"How about we return to the Daimyo's mansion first?" The Elder Daimyo cast his gaze toward Mifune, who also wore a helpless expression.
At that moment, an attendant waiting to greet suddenly shouted.
"Look! Someone's coming out again!"
"What?" Everyone exclaimed in shock.
In the Sword Cemetery, Ye Liang could be seen far away, slowly walking out while leaning on a cursed blade.
He staggered with every step, struggling to move forward.
The return journey still meant facing scorching heat. The Artisan Key, originally used to cool him down, had completely dissipated after he cleared the seventh level—the Lava Zone.
"Lord Ye Liang!" Kasuka Kazahana rushed over, her voice filled with excitement. Meanwhile, attendants brought Ye Liang water, and he gulped it down greedily.
He was dying of thirst.
Experiencing that kind of heat again would be lethal!
Though the Artisan Key had restored his body before, it only lowered his temperature. The moisture within Ye Liang's body had genuinely been lost.
"Let's go back. I found the longsword you wanted!"
Ye Liang raised the cursed blade high into the air!
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