The Legend of the Netherworld

Chapter 189 Still Not Strong Enough

Lin Xiao's eyes suddenly widened, his heart feeling like it was being crushed by a huge rock, making it almost impossible to breathe. The figure before him was actually himself! His face, a mirror image, was practically identical, yet it exuded a sense of oppression, as if every cell in his body was fighting against him.

"This is..." Lin Xiao involuntarily took a step back, staring at himself in front of him, his heart filled with confusion and shock. Could this really be the demon deep within his heart? His enemy wasn't some powerful external enemy, but himself?

The figure chuckled softly, his voice low and cold, like an echo from the abyss: "Do you think you're strong enough to let go of the past? Do you think you can surpass yourself and overcome your inner fear and cowardice? If you can't even defeat your own deepest shadow, how can you talk about a breakthrough?"

Lin Xiao's heart felt like a huge wave, the violent tremors making it almost impossible for him to stand still. He clenched his fists, anger burning in his heart, and whispered, "I'm not a coward! I'm no longer the boy who was afraid of not being able to surpass others!"

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm the turmoil within him. Yes, he had indeed felt lost in the past, overwhelmed by his own failures, but he was no longer the Lin Xiao of the past. He had endured countless trials and tribulations, and overcome countless difficulties. Each failure had only made him more resilient. He was now strong enough to face all his fears and anxieties.

"You..." The figure's smile gradually faded, becoming even more stern. "Can you do it? Can you break free from the shackles you've set for yourself and become a truly powerful person? Can you no longer be bound by the past, no longer be weighed down by the shadows within?"

Lin Xiao's heartbeat quickened, as if he could hear his own inner whispers. His past, his cowardice, his past fears, all the pain and unwillingness of the past, suddenly flooded back like a tide. That invisible force had caused him to stumble repeatedly, to hesitate and waver. However, he was no longer the same person he once was.

Lin Xiao clenched his fists tightly, feeling the surge of strength within him. He was no longer the cowardly young man, no longer afraid of the shadow within him. He wanted to stand up, break free from all restraints, and surpass his past self.

"I can." Lin Xiao whispered, his eyes as firm as iron.

"Really?" The illusory "self" in front of him suddenly smiled, his eyes cold and his voice full of provocation, "Then let me see if you can really break through yourself."

Before he finished speaking, Lin Xiao's figure instantly disappeared, leaving only his echo in the air. At the same moment he disappeared, his "Illusionary Body Skill: Imitating Moves" also unfolded, and two powerful Lin Xiaos appeared, quickly standing shoulder to shoulder with him.

"Illusionary Skill: Imitating Phantom Moves!" Lin Xiao's gaze fixed, and without hesitation, he quickly unleashed his most powerful skill. Instantly, two perfect phantoms appeared behind him, their movements mirroring his own, even sharing the same aura, like clones.

His hands swiftly slashed through the air, unleashing the "Sword Dance Spinning Spin." Sword energy surged like surging waves, tearing through the air. Simultaneously, he quickly activated the "Sword Qi Horizontal Technique," sweeping across with a single blow, bringing with it countless flashes of sword light, each one incredibly sharp.

However, the figure seemed to have anticipated his attack and dodged it like a shadow. He flipped over lightly, his body as swift as the wind, almost without any hindrance, and quickly approached Lin Xiao.

"Too slow." The figure sneered, waved his hands, and released a strong airflow to meet Lin Xiao's sword energy, instantly shattering the sword energy.

A solemn look flashed across Lin Xiao's eyes. Although his attack was powerful, it seemed so vulnerable against this "self". He couldn't help but grit his teeth, and his determination became even stronger: this time, he would never fail again!

"Shadow Spirit Sword Stab!" He growled and quickly launched the second wave of attack. This time he used his sharpest sword skills. The sword energy stabbed forward like a ghost, as fast as lightning, strange and unpredictable.

However, the figure still reacted quickly. With a wave of his hand, a powerful airflow suddenly formed, which quickly swallowed up Lin Xiao's sword energy and rushed straight towards Lin Xiao.

"Not fast enough!" The figure snorted coldly, approached quickly, and forced Lin Xiao into a desperate situation in an instant.

Lin Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly. He knew he couldn't remain passive any longer. He instantly made a decision: "Since I can't win through attack, the only way is to break through my mind."

He suddenly stopped, his mind focused and calmed, his heart as still as water, forcibly suppressing all distracting thoughts. He closed his eyes and entered a meditative state, all his strength quietly flowing through his body, spiritual energy and strength converging like a surging torrent.

He began to recall his past, every failure and struggle, every pain and rise. In these memories, he saw his own weaknesses, but also his own strength. He saw the figure of his father, and the friends and companions who had helped him. He knew he was not alone.

"Breakthrough!" he whispered, suddenly opening his eyes, his gaze sharp and his aura surging.

In that instant, he seemed to be reborn, breaking free from the shackles of his heart and reaching a whole new realm. His aura surged, his sword energy sharpened, and his figure flashed like lightning, instantly piercing through space and appearing before the figure.

"You..." A hint of surprise flashed in the figure's eyes, but it was too late.

Lin Xiao thrust his sword forward, aiming directly at his own heart. The sword's energy was indestructible, piercing through his illusory opponent with utter determination and strength, striking at his deepest fear and weakness.

At that moment, the "self" before him finally collapsed, turning into a puff of smoke that dissipated into the air. Lin Xiao stood quietly, his fists clenched, and the pressure and confusion in his heart also disappeared.

He finally defeated his inner self and broke through the last layer of inner demons.

"I, finally... came out." Lin Xiao took a deep breath, looked into the distance, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, and the surging energy in his body gradually calmed down. He stood there, gazing at the empty forest around him. The rustling of leaves in the breeze reached his ears, as if silently celebrating him.

Although he had overcome his inner demons, Lin Xiao knew that the real challenge had just begun. He silently recalled the beliefs that had once sustained him, took a step forward, and prepared to continue his journey of trial.

At that moment, a powerful wave suddenly entered his perception. He stopped abruptly, his expression stern, and quickly scanned his surroundings. The wave carried a strong murderous aura, clearly not the work of a kind person.

"Someone's coming," Lin Xiao whispered, quickly hiding in the bushes nearby. He held his breath and carefully observed the movements of the newcomer.

Soon, a figure entered Lin Xiao's sight—a man in a dark robe, with an aged face and a fierce aura. His steps were steady, his eyes flashing with a cold light, clearly a warrior seasoned in battle.

"Jiayin Ninth Realm!" Lin Xiao was shocked, sensing the powerful aura. Clearly, this old man's strength far surpassed his own.

The old man held a long whip in his hand, the tip of which dragged along the ground, making a slight rustling sound. His aura was cold, like a beast from the abyss, as if he could easily crush everything.

Lin Xiao didn't rush to act, but quietly observed the old man's every move. He knew that in this situation, rashly taking action would likely cause unnecessary trouble, so the best way was to first understand the other party's background.

The old man walked very slowly, each step appearing extremely cautious. Lin Xiao noticed that although he did not obviously use any spells, a heavy sense of oppression was constantly spreading over him, as if even the air was distorted by this power.

Suddenly, the old man stopped, raised his head, and glanced around, as if he had noticed something. Lin Xiao held his breath nervously, feeling uneasy. He knew he had to make a decision quickly.

"Who is hiding?" The old man's voice resounded throughout the forest like thunder, carrying an unquestionable deterrent force.

Lin Xiao's heart trembled, knowing he could no longer hide. He took a deep breath and decided to face him head-on. Perhaps it was time to fight this powerful being and see if his current strength was enough to carry him further.

He quickly jumped out from his hiding place, flew over, looked directly at the old man, and asked coldly: "What are you looking for?"

A look of surprise flashed in the old man's eyes, and then he sneered: "Humph, a junior of the Jiayin Eighth Realm dares to be so arrogant in front of me."

Before he finished speaking, the old man swung his long whip, which shot out like a dragon, aiming directly at Lin Xiao. His speed was so fast that he reached Lin Xiao almost instantly. With a sharp sound of wind, the tip of the whip tore terrifying cracks in the air.

Lin Xiao was startled and quickly used his "Dragon Swimming Across the Seas" technique, retreating swiftly like a nimble dragon to avoid the whip's attack. At the same time, with a thought, a sharp sword suddenly formed in his hand, and he unleashed his "Sword Qi Horizontal Technique" to meet the old man's whip.

"Dang!" With a loud bang, the sword energy and the long whip collided in the air, sparking a burst of sparks. Lin Xiao's body was knocked back several steps by the recoil force, but he quickly steadied himself and looked at the old man with a cold gaze.

"Not bad, kid, you're quite capable." A disdainful smile appeared on the old man's face, and he was obviously impressed by Lin Xiao's reaction speed. "But do you think you can compete with me with these?"

"Give it a try!" Lin Xiao's eyes turned cold, and he suddenly exerted his strength, swinging his sword again and rushing towards the old man. This time, he was no longer as cautious as before, but instead released his strength without reservation. The sword light rolled like a torrent, with a fierce momentum.

Seeing this, the old man's eyes flashed with anger. He swung his long whip, and like a thunderbolt, he slashed at Lin Xiao fiercely. The whip shadow was like a snake, quickly entangling Lin Xiao's sword energy, and the force was so strong that Lin Xiao could hardly breathe.

However, Lin Xiao did not back down. He had an idea and used the "Illusionary Body Skill: Imitating Phantom Moves" to leave a shadow on the spot, and he instantly disappeared from the old man's sight.

The old man's gaze suddenly changed, and he quickly turned around, realizing that Lin Xiao had vanished. But then, he felt a powerful presence coming from behind him. The old man shouted and whipped his whip to block the attack, but it was too late. Lin Xiao's "Shadow Spirit Sword Stab" was incredibly precise, piercing the old man's defenses and striking directly at his chest.

The old man felt a sharp pain. He looked down and saw that his chest was stained with blood. The sword energy had penetrated deeply, almost piercing through his entire body.

"You..." The old man's face suddenly changed, his lips trembling, obviously unable to accept this result. "You are just a junior in the Jiayin Eighth Realm, how could you possibly..."

Lin Xiao looked at him coldly, his words icy: "You overestimate yourself, old man. You can die now."

With Lin Xiao's final blow, the old man's body instantly faded like a candle in the wind. Lin Xiao stood silently. Although he appeared calm on the surface, he felt a strong shock in his heart.

He knew that this trial was far from over, and that even more dangerous challenges awaited him. However, his steps became more determined, no longer fearing any enemy.

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, watching the old man's body slowly fall to the ground. His blood quickly seeped into the soil. The air around him seemed to grow still with the end of the battle. His mind had long since calmed down. Killing was no longer an impulse for him, but a calm judgment and execution.

He did not leave immediately, but bent down and carefully searched the old man's body. After rummaging around for a while, Lin Xiao found a yellowed sheepskin scroll from the old man's clothes. The scroll was sealed with a complex formation, which was obviously not simple.

"It seems this old man is not just a trial-taker." Lin Xiao thought to himself. He put the scroll into his cloth bag, then stood up and looked around. This place was quite far from the junction of the plain and the island. The closer he got to the edge of this area, the stronger the sense of danger became.

Lin Xiao didn't rush to leave, but instead slowed down his pace and cautiously moved deeper into the dense forest. Just as he took a few steps, a cold breath quietly hit him. Lin Xiao's eyes suddenly changed, and his body instinctively burst out with powerful energy, and he jumped away in an instant.

"Whoosh!"

A black shadow flashed through the forest like lightning, rushing straight towards Lin Xiao's chest. The shadow was extremely fast, with the power to tear through the air, but Lin Xiao had already prepared for it, and suddenly swung out with both hands to catch the incoming attack.

"boom!"

The two powerful forces collided, creating a deafening sound. Lin Xiao steadied himself and looked sharply at the black shadow that was attacking him.

The black shadow gradually revealed its shape. It turned out to be a huge black eagle with broad wings, feathers as hard as iron, and extremely sharp claws. Its entire body seemed to be able to smash a mountain with one blow.

Lin Xiao frowned and became slightly alert. The strength of this black eagle was obviously extraordinary. Even an ordinary spirit beast could not have such a strong attack power.

"call out!"

The Black Hawk's sharp cry pierced the night sky, and its claws suddenly stabbed at Lin Xiao again. Without any hesitation, Lin Xiao immediately used the "Dragon Swimming Across the Seas" technique, his body quickly soaring into the air, avoiding the Black Hawk's attack. At the same time, his eyes focused, and the sword in his hand suddenly glowed.

"Shadow Spirit Sword Stab!"

Lin Xiao's figure instantly appeared behind Black Hawk like a ghost, the tip of his sword piercing its back. Black Hawk twisted its body suddenly, blocking the attack with its wings. Lin Xiao's sword energy rubbed against Black Hawk's feathers, producing a violent friction sound.

However, the black eagle didn't stop its attack; instead, it became even more ferocious. Seeing its two eagle claws coming for another strike, Lin Xiao quickly unleashed his "Illusionary Body Skill: Imitating Phantom Moves," instantly summoning two phantoms to distract the black eagle's attack and disrupt its judgment.

Black Hawk's eyes flickered, and he finally spotted Lin Xiao's phantoms and pounced on one of them. However, Lin Xiao's main body quietly leaped up from the other side, and his sword energy transformed into a blue light that slashed towards Black Hawk's neck.

"laugh!"

The sword energy was like thunder that cut through the sky, instantly passing through Black Hawk's neck, blood spurting out. Black Hawk screamed, and his body fell rapidly, landing in the mud in the forest with a plop.

Lin Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly as he quickly stepped forward to examine the Black Hawk's corpse. Sure enough, the Black Hawk didn't have any conspicuous items on its body, but its claws were covered in special runes, like some kind of special control talisman.

"These talismans..." Lin Xiao thought to himself, "It seems that this black eagle is not a natural existence. It must be controlled by some powerful person through secret techniques or magic arrays."

Lin Xiao's eyes became more cautious. He knew that the environment he was in was far more complicated than he had imagined, and the power hidden behind it was the real challenge he needed to face.

Without further hesitation, Lin Xiao removed the Black Hawk rune, quickly placed it in his bag, and continued on his way to the target area. He encountered no more significant resistance along the way, and by dusk, he had finally reached the edge of the plain.

The scene here was completely different from what he had expected. There was no movement on the plain. No one was around, only the wind rustling the dry grass. Lin Xiao raised his eyebrows. This silence made him feel uneasy.

"Have they all evacuated?" Lin Xiao became suspicious. He checked the surroundings again and found nothing unusual. He then quietly walked under a big tree and hid his body.