Inside the secret chamber, the newly summoned clone slowly opened his eyes.Liu Ming met his gaze, and in that instant, both saw the same indescribable astonishment mirrored in each other's eyes.
This clone looked nearly identical to Liu Ming himself!
The same brows, the same features, the same face. Were it not for the thick, messy beard covering the clone's cheeks, while Liu Ming's own remained smooth and pale, even those most familiar with him would have difficulty telling the two apart at a glance.
"Success…" Liu Ming whispered, touching his own face, still trembling from the shock of what had just happened.
Moments earlier, he had attempted something daring.When the system had asked whether he wished to assign an item to his clone, he had chosen to allocate a part of his own appearance.
If even a finger could be distributed, then why not his own features?The thought came, and he acted.
And to his amazement—it worked.
The moment the clone materialized, he distinctly felt a portion of his own visage being peeled away by an invisible force, transferred directly into the clone's body.Thus, the newly born Liu Ten now carried a face uncannily similar to his own.
This revelation meant that in the future, when summoning clones, he could exercise a degree of customization over their appearances!
Though this was but a tentative first step, as his research into the system deepened, perhaps one day he could shape them into any image he desired. With such clones at his disposal, infiltrating, gathering intelligence, or impersonating others would all become infinitely easier.
After a moment of silent excitement, Liu Ten calmed himself and walked toward Liu Meng, beginning to circulate the Xuanpin Art.This time, he did not intend to cultivate the Blood Feast Mantra. For him, being bound as Liu Meng's thrall was an advantage, not a drawback—should she wish it, he could be slain with a single thought.
To others, such a restriction was a shackle to be feared.For him, it was the perfect safeguard: a guarantee that if ever seized or controlled, no forbidden secrets could be forced out of him.
Once done, Liu Ten moved to the stone desk reserved for talisman crafting. He picked up the brush, dipped it into spiritual ink, and began imitating Liu Nine's movements.But he barely reached halfway before the brush flared with violent instability— "Zzzt!" The entire talisman sheet turned to ash in a wisp of smoke.
Glancing at his own hands, Liu Ten shook his head.Not even a flicker of intuitive "feel" had arisen. This body was simply unsuited to talisman creation.
Abandoning the attempt, he turned to the copied scroll of the Rites of Poetry Scripture. He read intently.And here, to his surprise, comprehension flowed effortlessly. What had been obscure and tangled to his original body now seemed crystal clear.He could even feel a faint trace of haoran qi condensing within his dantian, on the verge of forming a new strand of spiritual power.
His affinity with the scripture surpassed even Liu Meng's.
Yet just as that strand of qi was about to take shape, Liu Ten abruptly closed the book.
He could not cultivate the Rites of Poetry.
Were he another clone, detached from Liu Meng, it would matter little. But Liu Ten was different:He was both Liu Meng's thrall and too strikingly similar in face to Liu Ming himself.
If anyone discovered him cultivating a righteous-path scripture, he could be mistaken for a spy sent by the orthodox sects—placing his true body in danger.
The chance was slim, but he could not gamble.
Besides, even if he mastered the scripture, what good would it do now?He had not encountered a single upright cultivator who could be of use—save for Lin Qingwan, trapped and broken within the soul banner, hardly capable of lending aid.
For now, the Rites of Poetry would remain merely a hidden card, not something to openly pursue.
Instead, Liu Ten returned to his original plan: sacrificing himself to infiltrate the Three Talents Workshop.
If fortune favored him and he ended up in an alchemy or forging site, he could absorb knowledge of immense value. Even if those crafts demanded more resources than talismans, foreknowledge was priceless. Equipping his true body with such insights could only prove beneficial.
With resolve, Liu Ten donned plain robes of an ordinary cultivator and quietly departed the cave-dwelling.
He disguised himself as a wandering cultivator seeking supplies and approached the familiar cliffside.As expected, a spirit ship of the Treasure Pavilion floated silently at its mooring.
Without hesitation, he boarded.The steward at the prow appeared as lazy as ever, and the rules remained unchanged—those who had purchased from the pavilion in the past were granted free passage.
The ship rose into the sky, swiftly carrying him to the Treasure Pavilion's gates.
Inside, Liu Ten did not linger among the dazzling wares but strode straight to the counter. Ensuring no one else was near, he lowered his voice and asked the dozing old shopkeeper:
"Shopkeeper… I seek something. Do you happen to carry a guiding talisman… to Luo Feng City?"
At those words, the old man's eyes snapped open, and he shot upright from his chair.With sudden force, he pushed Liu Ten's head down, leaning close to hiss in a low, urgent tone:
"Where did you hear of Luo Feng City?"
"I—I heard it from a senior brother," Liu Ten stammered. "He said… if I can join Luo Feng City, the soul-brand in my spirit would be lifted, and I'd be free from the Mother Mantra's control… Is that true?"
The old man's fierce expression eased, replaced with a sly grin. He tapped his own ear with a bony finger.
Understanding, Liu Ten leaned closer.
"Of course it's true," the shopkeeper whispered, his voice dripping with temptation. "But I've no stock left of such talismans here. However… I've heard the Treasure Tower still keeps a few. You might try your luck there. Just remember—keep it quiet. Tell no one else. Do you understand?"
Treasure Tower?The name stirred something familiar in Liu Ten's mind.
He forced a conflicted look onto his face. "But… I cannot yet fly. How am I to reach this Treasure Tower?"
"No problem!" the old man chuckled, baring yellowed teeth. "Our pavilion's spirit ship is idle. I'll have it take you there."
"My thanks, Shopkeeper!" Liu Ten cupped his fists with feigned gratitude.
Soon, the spirit ship lifted once more, bearing him toward another lofty pavilion.This one bore a grand plaque inscribed in bold strokes: Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
Inside, Liu Ten wandered through the halls.The wares here resembled those of the Treasure Pavilion—cheap consumables aplenty, but anything rare or precious was sharply priced, some even marked up.
Yet no shopkeeper appeared.
He frowned, preparing to ask a clerk for directions, when a familiar voice suddenly called from behind him:
"Honored guest—could it be you've found nothing of interest? Tell me, what is it you wish to buy?