Chapter Forty-Nine: The Doppelgänger?!

Guided by Xu Zhihui, Ye Feng made his way to the rear garden.

There, Xu Yaozu was wielding a Zaoyang spear with dazzling speed, the weapon whirling up and down like lightning, impenetrable by wind or water. When the display ended, his breath remained steady and his face unchanged.

“Excellent!” Ye Feng could not help but applaud loudly, clapping his hands. He then clasped his fists and bowed, saying, “Elder Xu, your skills are truly remarkable, making this junior feel ashamed!”

Xu Yaozu pushed out his ample belly and laughed, “I’m old, so old, not much use anymore! In my prime, after performing this Deadly Three-Spear routine, the fallen leaves in this garden would whirl up, each one shredded to dust.”

Ye Feng bowed again. “Even at your age, Elder, you are no less than us younger men. We should learn from you.”

Xu Yaozu laughed heartily once more. “Of course, of course. One should keep learning all their life. You juniors still have much to learn!”

He was not shy about it.

“But, Elder, I noticed your Deadly Three-Spear is quite different from our Immortal-Slaying Technique. What is the principle behind it?”

“Haha! Feng, you truly are astute, to have noticed!” Xu Yaozu, delighted, began to boast.

“In those days, I followed Marshal Murong in battling demon troops. There was a comrade in the army, strikingly handsome. Though he didn’t practice the Immortal-Slaying Technique, he had his own talents. He could leap to great heights, scale walls as if walking on level ground, and channel his strength into a single point for sudden bursts—breaking stone with a finger, snapping iron with a palm, truly formidable. He called his skill ‘Qi Gong,’ whatever that meant, but I benefited greatly from him.”

Xu Yaozu raised his thumb in praise as he spoke of the man.

“Later, under his guidance, he taught me three moves. I named them the Deadly Three-Spear. Whenever I face a formidable foe, I use them without fail!” Xu Yaozu shook his head with pride.

“Oh? What was that gentleman’s name?” Ye Feng, fascinated, asked.

“Let me think… His name was Pi Pengfei, nicknamed ‘Flying Swallow.’ The demon soldiers and generals called him ‘Iron Palm Lord of the Underworld.’”

Xu Yaozu answered after a moment’s thought.

“So that’s how it is!” Xu Yaozu suddenly remembered he hadn’t yet asked Ye Feng’s purpose for visiting. He quickly inquired, “Feng, enough idle chatter. Tell me, what brings you here today?”

Ye Feng hurriedly bowed. “Elder, lately I’ve been practicing the Demon-Slaying Technique, but I’ve hit a wall and can’t break through. You are knowledgeable and experienced, so I’ve come to seek your guidance.”

“Oh, Feng, you are exceptionally gifted. Perhaps you’re too impatient, or maybe you expect too much from yourself?”

“Elder, you flatter me. Since entering the Split-Soul stage, I’ve lingered there. My foundation grows stronger, yet I cannot progress to the Sovereign stage, no matter how hard I try.”

“Oh dear! Feng, you are so young and have achieved so much, yet you’re still dissatisfied?! When Marshal Murong was thirty-two, he only just entered the Split-Soul stage. With his mastery of the Demon-Slaying Technique, he drove demon armies to despair…”

“Wait, that’s not right. When Marshal Murong used his Split-Soul, what emerged was a fire dragon—the supreme Fire Element Primordial Spirit. But you, Feng, split off another Ye Feng instead! When you use your spirit communication skill, you clearly shape the fire into a dragon. Logically, your Primordial Spirit should also be a fire dragon, not yourself! Something’s not right! Oh, what’s going on?!”

Xu Yaozu suddenly noticed something strange, but no matter how he pondered, he couldn’t make sense of it.

“Elder, what’s happening? I need to improve the Demon-Slaying Technique and lead the campaign against the Demon Kingdom!”

Xu Yaozu furrowed his brow. “I don’t know what’s going on either! How about you recount the process of your practice?”

Ye Feng, anxious, recounted everything: how he secluded himself to train, and at the critical moment, the demon commander Meng Keshou barged in. Shocked, Ye Feng split off a double and fought bravely against Meng Keshou.

Xu Yaozu was astounded. “Feng, is this truly so?”

Ye Feng replied, “It is, Elder. I would never deceive you!”

Xu Yaozu fell into deep thought. “If what you say is true… well, I have a few ideas.”

“Please, Elder, speak freely. I am all ears!”

Xu Yaozu spoke directly. “From what you’ve said, I believe: first, your fortune is unmatched, Feng, and your future is limitless. I have high hopes for you. That is something to celebrate. Second, and don’t take this as discouragement, but I fear what you’ve achieved is not the actual Split-Soul stage!”

Ye Feng, confused, pressed, “If not Split-Soul, then what?”

Xu Yaozu’s expression grew solemn. “Don’t rush, let me explain.” He took up his tea, drained it in one gulp, then continued, “Have you heard of the Three Souls? In ancient times, they spoke of the Heavenly Soul, Earthly Soul, and Human Soul—also known as Primordial Spirit, Yang Spirit, and Yin Spirit. What you forced out is likely your Earthly Soul, your Yang Spirit. Frankly, only when the Heavenly Soul splits forth can it be called the Primordial Spirit. In other words, you have not yet entered the Split-Soul stage. A wall is built brick by brick, a tower floor by floor. Since you haven’t reached the Split-Soul stage, how can you aspire to the Sovereign stage?”

Ye Feng was suddenly disappointed and asked, “Then what should I do? Must I start all over and cultivate the Split-Soul again?”

Xu Yaozu comforted him, “Of course! But don’t lose heart. Didn’t you hear what I said? Your fortune is unmatched, your prospects are boundless. That means something, because once you master the Split-Soul, your power won’t just be you and your Primordial Spirit, but you’ll also have a Yang Spirit. That will make you far stronger than most Demon-Slaying masters at the Split-Soul stage!”

Ye Feng’s spirits rose at these words, yet he still asked cautiously, “What if I fail to master the Split-Soul?”

Xu Yaozu laughed. “Then it’s hard to say! If you don’t achieve the Split-Soul, I advise you to use that skill sparingly. Excessive use will deplete your Yang Spirit, which can be fatal or shorten your life!”

Ye Feng replied resolutely, “To slay demons and rid the world of evil, what does it matter if I live a few years less?”

Xu Yaozu scolded him, “Fool!”

He rebuked, “Live a few years less? If you die, what about my disciple Yan? She is wholly devoted to you—how can you abandon her so callously? She depends on you for her life!”

This lecture made Ye Feng lower his head and hastily apologize, “I was careless! Thank you for your guidance, Elder!”

Xu Yaozu comforted him, “Good child, don’t be dejected. With your dedication and talent, how can you not reach the Split-Soul stage? Besides, let me tell you, Marshal Murong once bestowed upon me a pill called the Fire Dragon Mind-Enhancing Pill, said to be forged from the saliva of fire dragons. It has immediate effects for strengthening the mind in our Fire Element line.”

At this, he called out, “Zhihui, fetch the medicine chest from the cabinet in my bedroom.”

Ye Feng hurriedly declined, “Elder, this is your only keepsake from Marshal Murong. How can I accept it? I absolutely must not!”

Xu Yaozu said, “Good child, you are Marshal Murong’s son-in-law, and Yan is his only heir. If not you, then who? No need to refuse.”

When Xu Zhihui brought the medicine chest, Xu Yaozu opened it, searched among the bottles, and found a small, exquisitely crafted box, antique in style. He opened it with a key, revealing a jade bottle.

Xu Yaozu carefully handed the jade bottle to Ye Feng. “Feng, this is Marshal Murong’s legacy. Take this pill, strengthen your mind, and you must fulfill his last wish—avenge him!”

Ye Feng saw how carefully the pill was preserved and wanted to refuse, but hearing Xu Yaozu’s earnest words, he hesitated.

“Brother Ye Feng, I, Xu Zhihui, have wronged you many times before. My father’s gift is also his way of making amends for me. If you don’t accept it, you disregard your brother.”

Xu Yaozu was greatly pleased at these words. “Zhihui, well said! You’ve finally grown up!”

Xu Zhihui urged, “Please accept it quickly, so that the two of us retain some dignity.”

Seeing the father and son’s sincerity, Ye Feng realized that refusing would offend them. He readily accepted.

“In that case, I gratefully accept!”

He respectfully took the pill and departed for his manor.

Back at his residence, Ye Feng dismissed his attendants and entered the training chamber, sitting cross-legged. He took out the jade bottle from his robe and poured out the pill.

The pill was brilliantly red, lustrous as jade, its fragrance filling the room.

Ye Feng marveled silently: truly a rare and wondrous medicine!

He tossed it into his mouth.

It felt smooth as it entered, filling his mouth with a fresh aroma.

Ye Feng quickly focused his mind, channeling his mental power.

At once, his abdomen burned fiercely, his mind power surged like a tide, coursing through every limb and bone, unobstructed everywhere.

Knowing the medicine was working, Ye Feng intensified his focus, determined to absorb its power fully.

But as he forced his mind power further, sudden pain like knives twisted in his belly.

“Ouch!” he cried,

tumbling to the ground,

and losing consciousness.

His family, hearing the anguished cry from the training chamber, rushed in to check.

They found Ye Feng collapsed and unresponsive.

His breathing and pulse had ceased,

his face was dark and purple, showing no sign of life.

They hurried to fetch doctors and notify Murong Yan, launching a rescue effort.

Will Ye Feng survive? How did he come to such dire straits? Find out in the next chapter.