Chapter 149: Qi Xiu! You've Lost!-Demon Slayer: Leveling Up Through Calligraphy(The Silent Fat Boy)

"Me?"

Gazing at the other self in the mirror, Qi Xiu's pupils contracted violently.

The figure reflected in the Two-Mind Mirror possessed a face and physique identical to his own. However, he was dressed in a billowing black robe, and his eyes were dyed a brilliant crimson. Under the foil of this attire, that ordinarily delicate, fair, and scholarly countenance now exuded a demonic, otherworldly handsome aura.

"That's right, I am you!"

Smiling with an eerie twist, the black-robed Taoist priest in the mirror suddenly reached out, grabbed Qi Xiu by the wrist, and dragged him directly into the mirror world.

The space before his eyes instantly inverted.

Instantly raising his protective true essence, Qi Xiu's eyes flashed with thunderous light. Terrifying thunder arts brewed within his body, wrapping countless electric serpents and sparks around him.

"Don't be so tense."

Having shifted to a position a hundred meters away from Qi Xiu without a sound, the handsome Taoist spread his hands, the corners of his mouth curling upward into a chilling, sinister smile.

Frowning as he looked at the handsome Taoist who looked exactly like him, Qi Xiu glanced around.

This was a void space with neither front, back, left, nor right. Beneath his feet lay a surface of water as smooth and clear as a pristine mirror.

At this moment, both he and the handsome Taoist stood upon it, sending ripples spreading outward in all directions until the ripples from both sources touched and annihilated one another.

The mysterious mirror world.

Two individuals with identical appearances yet entirely contrasting temperaments and bearings stared at each other.

Compared to Qi Xiu—whose presence was as deep as an abyss, confident yet unostentatious, carrying the steady, profound weight of one who had weathered countless storms and undergone the precipitation of time—the black-robed handsome Taoist exuded a far more uninhibited and arrogant aura, radiating an oppressive, evil might from head to toe.

Deep within those smiling eyes spread a chilling coldness capable of driving one to despair.

One black, one white.

Standing in confrontation.

"It seems that subduing this Two-Mind Mirror means facing another version of oneself?"

Pulling his sleeves together, after the initial shock, Qi Xiu regained his composure.

The mirror world before him and the handsome Taoist opposite him were clearly the handiwork of the magical artifact known as the Two-Mind Mirror. And the process of subduing the Two-Mind Mirror seemed to be the act of slaying the other self standing right before him.

"The difficulty is quite substantial..."

Murmuring softly, Qi Xiu narrowed his eyes as he looked at the handsome Taoist across from him.

If the Taoist replicated by the Two-Mind Mirror possessed one hundred percent of his own power, then his chances of defeating him successfully were less than ten percent. This was because he knew all too well just how vast and terrifying the power concealed within his own body truly was.

"What's wrong, your aura is rather chaotic; are you worried you won't be able to beat me?"

With purple light flashing in his crimson eyes, the handsome Taoist, employing the [Qi-Observing Technique], easily grasped the shifts in Qi Xiu's state of mind through an inspection of his spiritual energy.

"Don't be afraid. Actually, we don't necessarily have to fight. As long as you agree to lend your body to me for one shichen every day, I can cooperate with you and help you subdue this Two-Mind Mirror. What do you say? Quite a bargain, right? Twelve shichen in a day, and I only want one from you."

Spreading his hands, the handsome Taoist wore an expression of utmost sincerity.

"Alright."

With a faint smile, Qi Xiu agreed to the handsome Taoist's proposal without a second thought.

"Huh?"

Seeming caught off guard by how readily Qi Xiu agreed, a flash of surprise crossed the handsome Taoist's eyes.

Yet in that very instant, the protective true essences of both Qi Xiu and the handsome Taoist violently erupted with countless terrifying sparks of fire. Dozens of indistinct, deeply concealed, and terrifying sword qi crazily stabbed forward—it was the Formless Sword Qi Piercing the Body, hammering directly against their protective true essence!

"As expected! You treacherous villain!"

Speaking in absolute unison, Qi Xiu and the handsome Taoist exchanged smiles.

In truth, both of them had intended to use verbal maneuvering to lower the other's guard, seizing the opportunity to launch a surprise attack with the Formless Sword Qi and secure a kill in a single strike.

Yet, although their temperaments were vastly different, this treacherous and cunning mindset was cut from the exact same cloth.

"I suppose I overthought it; I truly had no absolute certainty of taking you down. But neither do you have any certainty of defeating me."

Seeing that the handsome Taoist had likewise attempted to execute a decapitation strike using the Formless Sword Qi, Qi Xiu's solemn expression gave way to a light smile.

Indeed. The handsome Taoist was his replication. Whatever he lacked absolute confidence in, this duplicate lacked just as well!

"Alas, that sole opportunity..."

Regretfully patting his own forehead, the handsome Taoist lowered the corners of his eyes, his smiling face gradually growing cold.

"Truly worthy of being my original body, just as cunning as I am. Since petty tricks are of no use, then I suppose..."

Boom!

With a thunderous explosion, transforming instantly into a streak of thunder-fire light and carrying an overwhelming, scorching might, the handsome Taoist lunged right before Qi Xiu in a fraction of a second, his hands spreading wide with ink-black fingers!

"I'll just take you down directly!"

Siphoning Stars Art!

The very first move was the most terrifying and ferocious killer strike! The handsome Taoist had clearly made up his mind to secure victory in the shortest time possible.

Clang—

Two pitch-black, dim palms collided across the empty air, as if a transparent wall stood between them, continuously emitting sharp, piercing frictional screeches!

Overbearing, peerless, and vicious suction forces confronted one another head-on, gradually condensing into a miniature black hole right between their palms!

Cinnabar Fire Divine Thunder!

Simultaneously forming incantations with their left hands, the two employed the exact same move once again!

The two bolts of thunder radiance erupted like an active volcano, unleashing a deafening roar. As they collided, the air formed a massive, brilliant rainbow pillar, and countless tidal waves of thunder surged forth like dragons breaking out of their nest, roaring and sweeping across all directions!

Amidst the violent impact of immense power, the two figures separated heavily, each flying backward for several hundred meters!

"Suppressing Talisman Sealing Method! Release!"

Synchronously lifting the seals upon themselves, five golden chains simultaneously emerged from the bodies of both Qi Xiu and the handsome Taoist.

Crack, crack—

A succession of metallic snapping noises intertwined. The auras of both men erupted with terrifying might, completely uninhibited as they unleashed their full power to the absolute limit. Pillars of energy rose from the ground, bursting into concentric rings of scorching white shockwaves that churned the surrounding space in a terrifying display.

Forty-eight Primordial Pearls!

The vast, surging Primordial True Essence was over a hundred times that of an ordinary cultivator at the peak of the Dao-Entering Realm! On ordinary days, in order not to attract too much attention, Qi Xiu would seal away a portion of his cultivation using the Suppressing Talisman Sealing Method. Over time, even he no longer knew just how formidable he truly was when operating at full, unreserved strength.

Bang!

Without a word of surplus nonsense, Qi Xiu and the handsome Taoist once again transformed into invisible streaks of extreme light, engaging in a frantic collision within this mirror world!

Thunder essence surged! Sonic booms resounded!

The two figures condensed into brilliant bolts of lightning, crossing distances of thousands of meters in the blink of an eye and leaving behind countless charred impact marks in the air. Their figures seemed to fill the entire mirror space as they exchanged blows thousands of times without a hint of fatigue.

Bang!

Thud!

With one fist smashing squarely into the handsome Taoist's face, Qi Xiu was simultaneously kicked hard in the chest.

Both retreated hundreds of paces.

Qi Xiu clutched his chest, breathing slightly heavily. Across from him, the handsome Taoist rubbed his cheek as droplets of sweat slid down his chin.

Evenly matched!

A peerless, textbook match of rivals!

Possessing identical power, the battle between Qi Xiu and the handsome Taoist could be described as the performance of an exquisite art. While launching all-out attacks against one another, both men continuously probed each other's thoughts and strategies, seeking out flaws to secure a fatal opening.

One could say that every single exchange between them flashed with countless stratagems in a split second.

The intense depletion of physical stamina, true essence, and mental focus was far beyond anything an ordinary Dao-Entering realm cultivator could ever imagine.

"You must be down to your very last Primordial Pearl."

Straightening his posture, the handsome Taoist brushed away the sweat from his brow, smiling lightly as he looked at Qi Xiu opposite him.

"And you? Do you happen to have two left?"

Pacifying his breathing, Qi Xiu made subtle hand gestures beneath his billowing sleeves.

Forty-eight Primordial Pearls, battered down until only a single one remained—testament enough to the soul-stirring intensity of their battle.

Silently staring at each other for a moment, the handsome Taoist's mouth curved upward into an evil smile that sent chills down one's spine:

"Qi Xiu, the truth is, you've already lost."

"Oh? Pray tell, how so?"

"Though our strength is equal, our innate natures differ. You are like a towering, steadfast peak—stable and heavy, standing unyielding even through raging storms and bitter gales. But I am different. My temperament is like a fish swimming against the fierce current; progress or perish, leaping over the dragon gate to soar straight up into the clouds! And just now, I have comprehended something even better!"

Thick black mist abruptly surged around his entire body, and from behind the handsome Taoist, a ferocious, grim ink-scaled python with emerald pupils slowly slithered out.

"The Dao you pursue is the profound principle of Yin-Yang mutual generation and Primordial secrets. The concept of this path is set far ahead, hanging high in the firmament. Yet its sole flaw is that it is simply too steady. In blindly seeking stability, it is difficult to perceive the vanguard of opportunity! We who practice the Dao are inherently defying the heavens. Since we defy the heavens, how can we adopt such a mediocre path? If we are to walk, we must walk the path of the ten-thousand-fathom precipice!"

Clasping his hands together fiercely, the ink-scaled python behind the handsome Taoist raised its head and roared to the heavens.

The next instant, the Taoist pressed a single hand against his lower abdomen, and a roaring, purple tiger was forcefully expelled from his body.

"Using the Yang to supplement the Yin, seizing the ultimate Dao alone! The Supreme One, known as the Grand Yin!"

Amidst shouts that shook all directions, the handsome Taoist pointed a finger, and the emerald-eyed ink-scaled python lunged forward, ferociously tearing into the purple tiger forced out of his body.

Bitten by the ink-scaled python, the purple tiger instinctively roared in resistance. Yet under the deliberate suppression of the handsome Taoist, the purple tiger was utterly no match for the python, being thoroughly devoured within the span of a few breaths.

Having entirely consumed the purple tiger, two bumps suddenly protruded from the top of the ink-scaled python's head, and its lower abdomen split open, growing three dragon claws out of thin air!

A python transforming into a dragon!

With the pure Yang energy of the purple tiger serving as nourishment, the ink-scaled python shed the greater part of its python form, growing dragon claws while its dragon horns were just a hair's breadth away from fully sprouting.

"Behold, this is the true path of the ultimate Dao! Your *Supreme Primordial Dragon-Tiger Scripture Secrets* tries to encompass too much, commanding all techniques and embracing all phenomena! But that path is far too long and distant—so far that even you cannot see its end or destination. My path takes Yin as the ultimate, evolving the divine into the true. When Yin reaches its ultimate, the divine is boundless! When the divine is boundless, techniques are infinite! When techniques are infinite, the Great Dao is achieved! This is the *Grand Yin Wuji Scripture*!"

Wearing a face of unrestrained smiles, having abandoned the *Supreme Primordial Dragon-Tiger Scripture Secrets* in favor of comprehending the *Grand Yin Wuji Scripture*, the handsome Taoist's aura surged madly once again. In the blink of an eye, boundless and chilling black mist nearly flooded the entire space.

"Qi Xiu, you are doomed to lose!"

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