However, like the shadows that the sun created, martial art projections would always just project a portion of the main figure. Even if this Celestial Eradication Sword Technique martial art projection were wiped out, the other projections would not suffer any damage at all. They would be able to continue being projected in the material world with a martial will of 8,500 points. It would just be as if the sun had changed an angle, creating a shadow of the same hand from another direction.

Although the amount of his powers did not go through any intrinsic changes, there were qualitative improvements in their performance. This was the benefit of going through an intrinsic change in life.

At this very moment, Fang Xingjian discovered that his Stats Window had disappeared.

His present self had completely broken out from the restrictions of the Knights’ martial arts. The path he was on had already become one which he had created himself.

Yet there was still no changes to his lifespan.

‘So this is the power of demonic gods? To think that even after I’ve broken away from my original life state, I’m still restrained by this lifespan.’

Fang Xingjian’s lifespan was still restrained. Nevertheless, as his life state underwent a complete change, his cultivating speed, survivability, battle means, and his realm had all experienced a qualitative transformation as well.

Currently, the entire world was within his view. Even the various changes to the future also kept on flashing in his mind.

‘The boost from the Nine Lives Helix includes the strengthening of the ability to interfere with the group consciousness and the improvement of the ability to cast martial art projections.’

The ability to interfere with the group consciousness helped in the ruling, guiding, and influencing of the human heart, as well as allowing for direct interference through high-dimensional abilities.

The battle prowess of the martial art projections was the ability to interfere with the material world. It required stronger martial arts clones or improved abilities of his original martial arts clones.

However, Fang Xingjian’s original martial arts clones were all cultivating in the Sword Realm, so what he needed to do was create new martial arts clones that were stronger.

For Fang Xingjian who had grasped so many martial techniques, this was not something which was too difficult. Before he created the Nine Lives Helix, he had already come up with the concept of some new martial techniques. It was just that each of his martial arts clones required a tremendous amount of energy to nurture. At present, Fang Xingjian was still unable to mass produce them.

Within the Sword Realm, all sorts of radiations, light energy, heat energy, geomagnetic energy, and many other energy sources in the world were drawn out and gathered together.

Concurrently, seething Dragon Qis descended from the sky and landed amidst the gathered pile of energy, gradually forming a blurry figure.

A new martial art projection was being born.

“This martial technique can be called the Sattva Sword Technique.”

…

On the day of the duel, at the Goddess Gorge in the Qing River…

Right now, many characters from the pugilistic world had converged at the Goddess Gorge itself and in the area within ten lis around it. Countless experts in the world had been drawn over by this duel.

Of course, due to Marie’s battle achievements, most people felt that the chances of the southern forces winning would be higher. They even felt that Fang Xuan might not appear for the duel.

At the location on the Goddess Gorge where the duel was to be held, the valleys on both the south and the north had already been taken over by the imperial court’s armies as well as the southern rebels’ armies. The sentry posts were filled with Xiantian Realm soldiers, and unaffiliated members from the pugilistic world were forbidden from getting close.

Many battleships patrolled along the Qing River, having been placed in charge of keeping the river clear.

“Have all the blockades been set up?” Fang Yuan asked.

Her subordinate replied, “We’ve already cleared the scene on our side. Other than some experts who were invited, the rest of the people from the pugilistic world are being kept out at a distance of three lis away.”

Fang Yuan nodded in satisfaction while keeping her eyes on that beautiful red figure at the top of the gorge. A hint of complicated feelings flashed in her eyes as she watched those long red robes flutter in the wind like a ball of flames.

The Crown Princess sat at the cliff with her feet bare. Her fair and tender feet hung in the air, swinging occasionally, and a demonic red glow flashed on her toes, revealing her dainty toes that were like red rubies.

She drank wine while swinging her legs, looking down at the surging river water like she was not worried about the upcoming battle at all.

On the opposite end of the Goddess Gorge, Eunuch Wang and Zhao Yinglan stood together. Although they were equipped with the Universe Knight System, they still did not have any sense of security when facing that fiery red figure on the opposite side.

Till now, they had yet to get into contact with Fang Xingjian. Anyone who got close to the arsenal would be attacked by Jiuqian.

Time kept on flowing, and the Crown Princess waited quietly on the Goddess Gorge from morning till sunset. However, Fang Xingjian still did not appear.

The crowd who had been waiting patiently started feeling restless. Many people started to doubt if Fang Xingjian had chosen to avoid the battle.

“What the hell… Are we going to just continue waiting?”

“It can’t be that Fang Xuan is scared, right?”

“But Her Majesty’s martial arts cultivation is exceptional. It makes sense that Fang Xuan would be scared to the point of not daring to come.”

Facing the doubts from the rebels on the southern shores, the imperial court’s forces on the northern shores were unable to rebut them. There were even quite a number of people amongst them who had doubts about whether their Emperor dared to meet the challenge.

Just then, the Crown Princess suddenly stood up and laughed while looking toward the sky, “Fang Xingjian, you’ve finally come.”

A white figure slowly descended while stepping on the air. Like a celestial coming down to the mortal world, he gave off an indescribable feeling of ease and calmness.

“Maria, it seems that you’ve made great improvements after this round of training in seclusion,” Fang Xingjian said while stepping in the air and looking down toward the Crown Princess.

The Crown Princess wore a faint smile. “I’d advise you to forget it if you’re still thinking of sealing me. Although I’m still unable to create a seal like yours, I won’t be easily dragged into a lower-dimensional world anymore.”

As the Crown Princess spoke, her body suddenly exploded, turning into a formless golden light that extended out toward the entire sky. In the blink of an eye, she turned into a golden giant that was several hundred kilometers tall and was still continuing to grow.

The Crown Princess had clearly released her Virtual Image from the very start, and her Virtual Image was in her own appearance.

Fang Xingjian went deep into thought, ‘This is very suited to her character. She doesn’t acknowledge that there is anything in this world which is stronger and more respectable than her.’

The Crown Princess’ series of changes made the many countless martial arts cultivators present shocked speechless. At the beginning, they could still make out a blurry human figure. Yet as the Crown Princess’ figure continued to grow, there was ultimately only a stretch of golden light encompassing the entire sky. Everyone was no longer able to see the Crown Princess’ entire appearance.

At the sight of this scene, the worldly perspectives of everyone present were completely destroyed.

“To think that there’s a martial art like this in the world?!” Zhao Yinglan exclaimed in surprise. “How big is Marie right now?”

Despite the Crown Princess’ size, it was completely unable to affect her sharp observations. Seething golden light descended from the sky, accompanied by the Crown Princess’ voice.

“Fang Xingjian, aren’t you going to release your Virtual Image?”

“Virtual Image? I haven’t had it since a long time ago.”

“Hmph.”

With a cold snort, countless rays of golden light instantly slashed out at Fang Xingjian’s body, slashing it into bits and pieces.