It wasn’t just the spectators that were stunned. Even Fenley, standing in the battle ring, was equally caught off guard by Dalen’s sudden use of the Spectral Clone Technique.
Since when did the Shadow Citadel have such an advanced technique? Even more surprising was Dalen’s skill mastery, which rivaled Jude’s.
Fenley’s sharp eyes struggled to distinguish the real Dalen from the clones. It was clear that Dalen’s proficiency in the Spectral Clone Technique had reached a near- perfection level, which couldn’t be achieved overnight.
No wonder Dalen had managed to defeat Jude. It turned out he was equally proficient in the same technique.
As they said, “Understanding your opponent is key to victory.” He leveraged his understanding of the technique to identify and exploit the weaknesses.
Fenley had to acknowledge that Dalen was adept at masking his true talents. Yet, even with the surprise, he wasn’t intimidated. The Spectral Clone Technique might be tricky, but it was nothing he couldn’t tackle. It simply meant he would need to put in some extra effort.
“That’s impressive, but it won’t change anything. You’re still going to lose,” Fenley said coldly.
“We won’t know who will win until we fight!” Dalen shot back as he charged forward.
With a twist of his folding fan, a three- inch blade sprang out. He wielded it like a sword and lunged at Fenley’s chest. He knew he couldn’t hold back against such a formidable opponent, as any hint of weakness would lead to defeat.
“You’re pushing your luck!” Fenley scoffed and stood his ground. He raised his palm and thrust it forward.
A thunderous sound echoed as the ethereal divine spirit behind him mirrored the movement. A massive palm shadow, as large as a truck, barreled toward Dalen with unstoppable force.
“Split!”
Dalen quickly formed a hand seal with one hand. As he sprinted, his body split into three.
While dodging the palm shadow, each clone attacked Fenley from different angles. Their forms were indistinguishable from one another.
“Get lost!”
Fenley spread his arms wide and struck with both palms to hit the two Dalen figures approaching from either side. At the same time, he launched a kick at the third one that was charging straight at him. His movements were precise and perfectly timed to intercept all three figures.
“Split!”
Just as Fenley launched his counterattack, Dalen’s body trembled and split again-each clone multiplying into three. In a heartbeat, those three became nine. Soon, the ring was filled with his clones, and telling the real one apart was impossible.
“His Spectral Clone Technique rivals Jude’s.”
“Honestly, I think Dalen’s technique is even better than Jude’s. He can dodge Fenley’s attacks while cloning himself.”
“You’re right. His timing and execution are better than Jude’s.”
Dalen’s impressive performance set the crowd murmuring.
When Dalen defeated Jude in the previous match, most believed it was pure luck. Jude had underestimated Dalen from the start, losing his advantage and sustaining serious injuries.
Although Jude managed to bounce back and use his ultimate technique, he wasn’t at his best. In the end, Dalen found an opening and took him down.
Jude’s arrogance and Dalen’s fortune created the perfect storm for an underdog victory. At least, that was how the spectators viewed it.
But now, after seeing what Dalen was capable of, their opinions changed. His win wasn’t based on luck. It was based on his skill and strength that ordinary eyes couldn’t perceive.
After multiplying into nine clones, Dalen pressed his attack. He darted in and out to strike at Fenley from all angles.
“Clones, huh? I can do that too!”
Fenley’s expression hardened as another surge of internal energy erupted within him. The ethereal divine spirit behind him shapeshifted. It grew two more heads and four additional arms, transforming into a three- headed, six-armed entity.
The crowd couldn’t believe their eyes. They hadn’t anticipated that Fenley’s Four Elements of God’s Technique could possess so many transformations.
He had unlocked this skill only after breaking through to the ultimate grandmaster level. For him, breaking through wasn’t just about cultivation. It also meant a significant leap in his speed, reflexes, understanding of martial arts techniques, and their application.
“Die!”
With a low growl, Fenley commanded the three-headed, six-armed ethereal divine spirit to unleash a relentless barrage on Dalen’s nine clones.
The palm shadows fell like a storm. They were powerful and unrelenting as if they could break through anything in their path.
Fenley didn’t care about the Spectral Clone Technique or which one was the real Dalen because he wanted to kill all of them.
As the storm approached, Dalen’s nine clones darted to evade the incoming strikes. But the overwhelming tide of blows was relentless and inescapable.
One by one, the clones were blasted apart and dissipated into thin air. In just two breaths, only two of Dalen’s figures remained. Yet, Fenley showed no signs of stopping and destroyed the other clone.
“I’ve got you now!” He sneered as he focused on the last remaining Dalen. He directed his ethereal divine spirit to strike and sent all six palms crashing down from every direction as if to crush an ant underfoot.
