The Ten Directions Samsara Array was not some grand formation. To be precise, it was a formation genuinely prepared for cultivators engaged in combat, though not for life-or-death struggles. Instead, it was the kind used when cultivation sects competed in the terrifying worlds Luo Yinglong studied—the array's characteristic was absorbing the overflow energy generated by the combatants within, using it to reinforce the arena and simultaneously empower the array itself. This made it easy for those inside to exit while making it difficult for outsiders to enter, thereby serving the purpose of preventing interference during the contest. Meanwhile, adhering to the principle of not wasting excess energy, the overflow was typically dispersed around the venue as ambient spiritual energy. However, Luo Yinglong was now directly claiming this spiritual energy for himself. In other words, as the intensity of Zheng Zha and his partner's fight increased, the effect of blocking external interference would gradually strengthen, and the reserve energy Luo Yinglong received would also grow… This was truly a win-win situation, or so it seemed.

After setting up the array, Luo Yinglong hovered silently in mid-air atop his flying sword. He continuously swept the surroundings with his divine sense. While it couldn't match the infinitesimal precision of a Mental Force controller, it was, after all, a celestial technique of the cultivators, capable of probing hundreds of kilometers away at the very least.

(Damn it, I still can't locate Luo Gandao… Is he truly directionally challenged? That shouldn't be right. The Light of the Mind isn't just for show, and his is the highly advanced AT Field Light of the Mind. Even if it can’t compare to Copy Zheng Zha’s Black Flame Light of the Mind, it far surpasses Zheng Zha’s Hidden Dragon Transformation Light of the Mind. Why can’t I sense the fluctuating aura of powerful beings fighting? This is bizarre… Could 'He' be causing trouble again? That’s possible, after all, the other powerhouses haven't settled their outcomes yet. Even Chu Xuan and the others are still fighting. It seems I need more time to stall. If I reveal a trump card as significant as Luo Gandao too early, the final outcome will become fraught with variables…) In reality, Luo Gandao’s disappearance was indeed due to his AT Field. More accurately, it was the sudden acquisition of an overwhelmingly vast AT Field. It was akin to someone only at the initial stage of Tier Four, not yet fully stepping into Intermediate, suddenly possessing Tier Five power. This brought about a primary issue: insufficient control. While this issue wasn't severe enough to cause a backlash against his monstrously powerful physical EVA, it severely impacted his application of the AT Field, affecting fundamental abilities like sensing. Consequently, Luo Gandao flew off course for over a thousand kilometers, then veered in another direction for an even greater distance, until he saw the ocean. He then flew a distance comparable to the first leg in yet another direction. Compared to the entire Earth, the EVA was minuscule, far smaller than an ant held in a human hand… Time continued to tick by, and Luo Gandao slowly began to master his AT Field.

Luo Yinglong continued his search with palpable frustration. Wang Xia and the others began debating whether to first assist Chu Xuan or move towards Zheng Zha’s battlefield.

Time dragged on… With a crisp sound of "Clang!", two figures met in mid-air and instantly separated, then vanished toward the ground. Their speed was so immense, far exceeding human dynamic vision, that observers could only register a fleeting shadow; nothing more could be discerned.

“The tender green apple will eventually ripen… This feeling of anticipating the harvest, and the sense that it is almost over—it’s so complex I feel like killing something…” Zhao Zhuikong abruptly materialized in the open space. The small, blood-red dagger in his hand looked exquisitely crimson, almost cute, like a mere ornament. Yet, in the hands of this malevolent star, it was more terrifying than any modern weapon. The dagger trembled slightly, and the space before his eyes suddenly began to blur. In a flash, originating from Zhao Zhuikong, the earth and objects within a hundred meters in front of him shattered into sand and rock particles smaller than soybeans. Simultaneously, with a casual wave towards another direction, a burst of blood mist erupted in the void there, and Zhao Yingkong’s body materialized from that spot.

“Little Apple, is this the extent of your growth? Or are you just a decaying fruit…” Zhao Zhuikong licked the red blade on his hand before smiling and speaking.

Lin Lei Zhao Yingkong smiled faintly without responding. There were clear wounds visible on her shoulders and arms. Although none were fatal, over a dozen lacerations had stained her top crimson. It was fortunate she was a member of the Reincarnation Squad whose members possessed superhuman physical capabilities after unlocking their Genetic Locks; ordinary people would have already bled to death without such rapid trauma healing.

(This is difficult. The speed is simply too fast, almost beyond imagination—is it Mach Three? Mach Five? Or ten Mach and beyond? This speed doesn't seem attainable by human limits…) Zhao Yingkong continuously mulled over her next combat strategy. As the primary personality, the genuine centennial genius of the Assassin Family, combat was instinctual for her. Even when severely disadvantaged, her will to fight could not be broken.

(Deceitful brother, your Light of the Mind isn't telekinesis at all; it must be a Light of the Mind related to speed, right? This speed far surpasses even Zheng Zha’s Destruction state. While it hasn't reached the primordial, world-splitting level, it’s still beyond normal human capability. Moreover, even Zheng Zha’s overwhelming speed and strength are the results of applied energy, but brother’s speed is consistently this high, and without any side effects—it must be the inherent Light of the Mind within his body taking effect…) “But what should I do? Should I resort to my ultimate technique?” Zhao Yingkong tilted her head slightly. In this posture, she appeared exceedingly alluring. The primary personality of Zhao Yingkong was noticeably different from the secondary one; while her eyes held icy coldness, her expression carried a girl’s characteristic charm and allure.

“Oh, oh, oh, I can hear you. Little Apple, my ears are quite sharp… What ultimate technique are you referring to? If you don’t use it soon, it might be too late,” Zhao Zhuikong chuckled gently, walking slowly toward Zhao Yingkong. Though he hadn't attacked yet, the atmosphere between them became tense again.

Zhao Yingkong remained still. She suddenly spoke, “This seems rather unfair. Brother, you seem to know me so well. Did Copy Chu Xuan give you all my data? Really, our Chu Xuan is so irresponsible, often using us as bait. So, brother, how about answering three of my questions? Providing me with some information would allow me to exert my full strength. What do you think?” She was gambling… or rather, betting based on a faint hunch deep within her heart… “Hmm. That sounds quite reasonable… Fine, ask away.”

(If the gamble succeeds, then brother's internal plan is…) Zhao Yingkong smiled and didn't hesitate. She asked directly, “If you were to fight Copy Zheng Zha, could you injure him? Or, could you inflict a fatal wound?” “…I could.”

“Second question, if you were carrying someone while running, could you still run that fast?” Zhao Yingkong continued to inquire. “…No.”

“Thank you, brother. Then I shall also unleash my ultimate technique, as repayment for answering my questions…” Zhao Yingkong smiled.

“And the third question, my lovely Little Apple?” Zhao Zhuikong also smiled suddenly, slightly raising his dagger. Zhao Yingkong, who was some distance away, instantly shifted several meters to the side. A trench appeared on the ground where she had just stood—not wide, but extremely deep.

“I haven't decided yet, brother. Watch closely, this is my Light of the Mind, my ultimate killing move.” Zhao Yingkong held the transparent Sword of Victory and Vow upside down and walked step by step towards Zhao Zhuikong. Then, they simultaneously appeared within each other’s sight, while narrow, deep indentations continually appeared on the ground around them.

In both their eyes, Zhao Yingkong’s figure remained perfectly clear. Despite her extreme speed, their reaction times and dynamic vision were far from ordinary, allowing Zhao Zhuikong to keep her locked in his gaze. However, Zhao Zhuikong’s figure was noticeably blurred, occasionally vanishing from his current position to reappear in another sector of Zhao Yingkong’s vision.

In their previous exchanges, Zhao Yingkong had tried several times to close the distance to Zhao Zhuikong but failed. Her primary combat strength lay in intricate close-quarters maneuvering; she was not adept at mid-to-long-range combat, especially against a supreme expert like Zhao Zhuikong, whose mid-range attacks were practically negligible. To truly defeat him, only precise, intricate close-range attacks would suffice… This was evident in her spar with Zheng Zha; had Zheng Zha not attacked with overwhelming power on the level of the Primordial Era, the normal Destruction state would never have dared to engage her in close quarters.

Under these circumstances, Zhao Yingkong had consistently planned to force her way close to Zhao Zhuikong, even if it meant enduring attacks to catch up. In a process of pursuit and evasion, she should theoretically have managed to close in, unless Zhao Zhuikong refrained from striking, or his speed vastly exceeded hers. If the latter were true, the power gap would be astronomical, suggesting Zhao Zhuikong would need to be at least at the Advanced Tier Four level of Gene Lock unlocking. Thus, even though Zhao Zhuikong was fast, he hadn't reached a level where he could smoothly retreat while being aggressively pressed by Zhao Yingkong. What was strange was that every time Zhao Yingkong was about to engage in close combat, his speed would abruptly surge, allowing him to dart away at a bizarre velocity. This happened every time, preventing Zhao Yingkong from getting close.

If this were the only issue, Zhao Yingkong had other methods to fight him. But there was another factor that forced her to halt: Zhao Zhuikong’s attack method. Every swing of his dagger allowed for an attack across empty space, with a maximum range of about two hundred meters. Zhao Yingkong’s initial hypothesis was rapid vibrational telekinesis used to achieve this attack power and range. Yet, every time Zhao Zhuikong suddenly accelerated with uncanny speed, even when she had already evaded his initial trajectory line, the trajectory line seemed to curve and strike her anyway. Accumulating over time, her injuries were actually far more severe than she let on.

(Or perhaps, my initial assumption was wrong from the start. The telekinesis brother mentioned… was a lie?) This question surfaced in Zhao Yingkong’s mind, prompting her to ask the previous two questions. The first question aimed to ascertain whether Zhao Zhuikong relied on his inherent speed and telekinesis to achieve his current power level. The second question confirmed whether her brother had lied about the first point.

Putting those two questions aside for a moment, as they resumed their offensive exchange, Zhao Yingkong continued to press towards Zhao Zhuikong, disregarding potential injury. This time, Zhao Zhuikong’s face held a smile as he suddenly accelerated. The dagger didn't swing just once; it began to vibrate continuously. Then, everything before his eyes started to shatter. If observed through their dynamic vision, it looked as if even the void was breaking into glass shards, and the entire ground was sliced into fragments the size of soybeans. Yet, the one who caused all this, Zhao Zhuikong, was sent flying backward.

Zhao Yingkong, who should have been within the attack range, suddenly appeared tens of meters away from Zhao Zhuikong. In the instant Zhao Zhuikong unleashed that attack, he had already taken several successive strikes to his abdomen and chest. One sword scar even scraped past his left chest, reaching his shoulder—though it only broke the skin, the thrust had been aimed at the heart, a nearly fatal blow.

“A strange attack, my dear Little Apple. Your Light of the Mind is quite impressive… But why do I feel like I’m facing two enemies? One attacked me, while the other escaped my attack range…” Zhao Zhuikong slowly stood up from the ground. He looked down at the wound on his chest and then smiled at Zhao Yingkong.

(Acute… This beast-like sharpness of intuition, perhaps… Brother, you might be the strongest genius the Assassin Family has ever produced.) Zhao Yingkong smiled without speaking. Neither moved to attack again; the atmosphere settled into a quiet calm.

“Little Apple… Do you understand the significance of this final battle?” Zhao Zhuikong suddenly looked up at the sky, speaking after a long pause.

“…What do you mean, brother? Are you going to talk about fate or continue playing the madman?” Zhao Yingkong asked curiously.

“No, it’s not such a trivial matter…” Zhao Zhuikong lowered his head. The smile remained, but the frenzy in his expression had vanished. He said, “It’s a different kind of feeling, one I’ve only just begun to grasp recently… though it’s better if you don't know. If we speak of fate, does our battle count as one? Day after day, looking forward to Little Apple growing up quickly, day after day anticipating Little Apple’s maturity. I never thought that when Little Apple finally stood before me, I would feel a touch of reluctance.”

“It’s loneliness, isn’t it, brother…” Zhao Yingkong smiled gently, her gaze devoid of any icy coldness now, filled only with a tenderness one reserves for a loved one. She continued, “I share the same loneliness as you, brother. But I lack your burden; you carry all those sins and pains upon yourself. I, however, could only remain in slumber like a child. Brother, is that why you killed my other personality? Was it because you couldn't bear it, or because of loneliness?”

“But I am luckier than you, brother, because I found companions worth entrusting myself to. My emotional side is already overflowing with feeling, a sensation so warm and secure that even the part of me in slumber could sense it. That’s why I understand your loneliness even more, and why I awoke… Because I know it’s my turn to bear all of this. I don’t know the meaning of this final battle, brother, but for us, this is our final battle!” With that, she vanished from her spot again.

“Is that so?” Zhao Zhuikong didn't move. He suddenly reached out and waved toward his side. Strangely, Zhao Yingkong’s figure appeared there. Although she was still approaching Zhao Zhuikong in a running posture, her speed was slowing down progressively.

“Little Apple, that is not the answer I hoped for… If you insist on this answer, then I can only pluck you down, peel away your tender skin, slice open those warm muscles, and pick out the white bones… Such a Little Apple would surely rot. The thought alone excites me to the point of climax!” Zhao Zhuikong violently shook his dagger, sending a visible, fine blood-red line slicing towards the distance along the path of the blade. Everything the line passed through was severed, as if even space itself was fractured like shattered mirror pieces. This line was aimed precisely at Zhao Yingkong, whose speed was rapidly diminishing. In a split second—faster than speech—an invisible greatsword swept towards him from diagonally below, from left to right. This attack was utterly sudden, yet Zhao Zhuikong reacted as if he had anticipated it; his dagger blocked lightly, and he used the force of the greatsword’s swing to propel himself away.

But just as Zhao Zhuikong moved half a meter, a hand reached out from the direction he was moving towards. This hand was fair as jade, small and delicate, but Zhao Zhuikong dared not let it touch him. As the hand extended, his body suddenly accelerated again, moving almost directly away from the hand’s reach. In the blink of an eye, Zhao Zhuikong had moved nearly ten meters away, distancing himself from the hand. Yet, an invisible greatsword was now pressed against his retreat path. This acceleration caused the greatsword to pierce him from the back into his abdomen, though he managed to flash away after only a few centimeters of penetration. Nevertheless, this was the first time Zhao Yingkong had managed to harm him since the fight began.

“Truly beautiful, Little Apple… or perhaps two Little Apples?” Zhao Zhuikong touched his back, laughing as if feeling no pain. Behind him stood a smiling Zhao Yingkong, holding a transparent greatsword. A few beads of blood clung to the tip of the blade, making it look as if droplets of blood were suspended in the void.

“Brother isn’t bad either. Even though your Light of the Mind is spatial in nature, you described it as mere common telekinesis. You were lying, brother,” Zhao Yingkong stated softly.

Both shared a tacit understanding; they now had some insight into each other's Lights of the Mind.

The Light of the Mind is the deepest ability of a living being; every life form, even bacteria, possesses its unique Light of the Mind, which can also be seen as a life imprint. However, this Light of the Mind is dormant in the deepest recesses of human consciousness, even deeper than the subconscious mind—a place generally considered the essence of life itself. Except for a very small minority of naturally gifted individuals, most people never touch their Light of the Mind in their lifetime. Even those rare few can, at most, sense its existence; using it is utterly impossible. Returning to the topic, the word 'Lock' in Genetic Lock explains the issue well: by gradually unlocking the Genetic Lock, upon reaching Tier Four, everyone can begin to use their respective Lights of the Mind. However, subsequent use of the Light of the Mind will release the demon lurking in the deepest layer of consciousness—the so-called Inner Demon. Zhao Zhuikong’s sister, Zhao Ruikong, directly contacted this deepest level of consciousness and was controlled by the Inner Demon, leading to the subsequent tragedy. This can be considered the greatest obstacle to finally obtaining the Light of the Mind.

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