Chapter 1657
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/
Chapter 1657 Am I… Also Fake?
Boom boom boom——!!
The deep purple lightning danced across the sky like wild snakes. Several blazing explosions lit up the night sky as two figures collided.
In Chang’an city, countless civilians who had survived the disaster knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly upon seeing the two figures battling like deities.
“Evil stars cross the sky, malevolent spirits run rampant, and today Chang’an is stained with blood again… what has become of this world?!”
“We have angered the gods… we have angered the gods!”
“May the Marquis protect us, may the Marquis protect us…”
“…”
In the imperial palace, Emperor Wu of Han gazed motionlessly at the two figures wielding divine powers in battle beneath the night sky.
After some time, Emperor Wu murmured:
“I knew the Champion Marquis possessed extraordinary power, but I never imagined he could reach such heights…
With such divine power, how is the Champion Marquis any different from a deity?”
Li the eunuch paused, then smiled helplessly, “Perhaps there is no difference.”
Emperor Wu remained silent for a long while, a bitter expression crossing his face. “I originally worried that if the Demon Suppression Bureau escaped my control, it would become a threat… Now it seems, if the Champion Marquis truly harbored rebellious intentions, perhaps my entire court combined wouldn’t survive a single finger of his…
If so, what meaning is there in whether I control the Demon Suppression Bureau or not?”
Li the eunuch smiled, “The Champion Marquis’s unwavering loyalty is known to all. Why should Your Majesty worry about this?”
Emperor Wu shook his head slightly, took one last look at the two figures battling in the sky, then turned and walked directly into the palace.
“Li Ying, bring me a brush.”
…
Boom——!!
A figure fell from the sky like a cannonball, crashing violently into the ground. Immediately after, a fierce bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, instantly engulfing the figure in rolling thunder.
A dust-covered hand emerged from the smoke, tearing open a gap in the surging lightning. Huo Qubing in armor, holding a spear, slowly walked out. His armor was already in tatters.
Huo Qubing in robes, his upper body bare, slowly descended to the ground. Under the state of [Emperor’s Crimson Blood], the wound on his back left by [Life-Extinguishing Flash Moon] had temporarily stopped bleeding and no longer hindered his movements.
“If this Marquis hadn’t been injured earlier, you would have already been defeated… Now that we’re both under the influence of [Emperor’s Crimson Blood], how could a fake like you be my match?” the robed Huo Qubing spoke solemnly.
“Still stubborn even at death’s door.” The armored Huo Qubing snorted coldly. “Even if your combat power is slightly higher than mine now, you’re bearing a heavier price than I am… How much longer can your lifespan sustain the [Emperor’s Crimson Blood]?”
“Long enough to kill you.”
The robed Huo Qubing suddenly hurled his spear. Enhanced by the power of domination, it instantly broke the sound barrier, tearing up the ground below!
The armored Huo Qubing narrowed his eyes and pressed his palm against the approaching spear shadow. The same power of domination applied in the opposite direction stopped the spear midair. The spear hung spinning furiously between them, dense electric arcs dancing around it.
Suddenly, the armored Huo Qubing’s aura faltered. The spear seized the opening and whistled through the air, piercing his shoulder and leaving a crimson wound!
The armored Huo Qubing’s pupils contracted violently. He flashed several steps to the side and back, looking at his shoulder with disbelief.
“What did you do? Why is my [Emperor’s Crimson Blood] becoming unstable?”
“This Marquis did nothing,” the robed Huo Qubing raised his right hand, steadily catching the returning spinning spear, speaking unhurriedly. “Your [Emperor’s Crimson Blood] is unstable because your lifespan is about to be exhausted.”
“No, this Marquis should still have a year of life left. How could it be consumed so quickly?”
“A year? That’s for me.” The robed Huo Qubing spoke slowly. “But you… you’re just a counterfeit created by the willow branch. Your lifespan is naturally extremely short. As long as we both activate [Emperor’s Crimson Blood], your lifespan won’t last long at all.”
“This Marquis… is a fake??”
The armored Huo Qubing was stunned. He stared blankly at his gradually whitening body, confusion appearing in his eyes. “How could this Marquis be a fake… This Marquis clearly…”
Clang——!
The armored Huo Qubing’s spear fell to the ground, and his aura rapidly weakened. With his life force depleted, [Emperor’s Crimson Blood] was forcibly terminated, and his flame of life instantly dimmed to the extreme.
“This Marquis told you, a fake is a fake. You… can never replace this Marquis.” The robed Huo Qubing, gripping his spear, slowly walked up to the armored Huo Qubing. Electric arcs rapidly gathered at the spear tip, and a world-destroying aura spread quickly.
The armored Huo Qubing’s expression changed from disbelief to confusion to self-doubt… He looked at the approaching Huo Qubing, stunned for a long while, and finally let out a long sigh.
“So that’s it… so that’s how it is.”
“You are a counterfeit of this Marquis. Now, you should know what you need to do.” The robed Huo Qubing stared into those eyes. “Do you have anything to say?”
The armored Huo Qubing thought for a moment, then shook his head helplessly:
“No, there’s nothing left in my memory. That thing can modify my perception and must have erased everything related to It… Before It erases my rationality, you’d better act quickly.”
The robed Huo Qubing didn’t seem surprised by this answer. He nodded, and his spear instantly pierced through the armored Huo Qubing’s chest!
The armored Huo Qubing didn’t resist. He stood there silently, impaled by the spear tip. Crimson blood flowed from the corner of his mouth as he gazed at the face identical to his own, guilt appearing in his eyes:
“Sorry…”
As the words fell, the armored Huo Qubing’s last trace of life completely vanished. The corpse fell heavily to the ground, and as the pool of blood spread, a willow branch with an eyeball emerged.
Huo Qubing looked at the willow branch corpse with a complicated expression. He deactivated [Emperor’s Crimson Blood], and an unprecedented weakness surged through him!
He supported himself with his spear against the ground, barely maintaining his posture, his face as white as paper.
His lifespan was already nearing its end, and this forced use of [Emperor’s Crimson Blood] had drastically shortened it… He could feel that his time was running out.
“How is this possible…”
A voice came from the distance. Gongyang Wan, who had just arrived, looked at the willow branch corpse on the ground with shock in her eyes.
“He was fake… you’re real? How is this possible? What I saw was clearly…”
Before she finished speaking, she seemed to realize something and stiffly turned her head toward Huo Qubing, pointing at herself:
“My perception was modified… Am I also fake?”
