It was unclear whether Nalan Yanran was happy because she received a gift or because Xiao Feng had not forgotten to bring her one.
Under Yun Yun's subtle influence, Nalan Yanran began to develop feelings for "Feng Xiao" that she shouldn't have.
Admiration for strength is a natural human instinct, and "Feng Xiao" was the first Dou Ancestor expert she had ever encountered. It was inevitable that she would feel a sense of reverence toward him.
Furthermore, every time Yun Yun mentioned "Feng Xiao," she always had a look of bliss on her face, which directly led Nalan Yanran to associate him with the ideal, peerless man.
"Yanran, your master and I have something to discuss. We'll be taking our leave first."
After speaking, Xiao Feng bent down, lifted Yun Yun into his arms, and flew toward her residence.
Watching their departing figures, Nalan Yanran unconsciously tightened her grip on the white jade pill bottle in her hand, determination gleaming in her beautiful eyes.
Her future husband should be a peerless hero like her grandmaster, not some local genius like Xiao Feng.
She had to win the Three-Year Agreement!
Only by defeating Xiao Feng in a fair fight and dissolving their arranged engagement could Nalan Yanran pursue her own happiness.
...
Time flew by during cultivation, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed.
"Copy! Mirror Lord!"
A deep voice echoed through the secluded training chamber as Xiao Feng activated "Asauchi," which radiated dazzling light before transforming into a palm-sized silver-white mirror.
After nourishing it with his soul for some time, Xiao Feng had finally obtained his very own Zanpakutō, learned its name, and could now initiate its Shikai.
His Zanpakutō was called "Mirror Lord," and its ability was simple—it could copy the abilities of other Zanpakutō.
Gazing at the mirror-shaped blade for a moment, Xiao Feng then took out the Zanpakutō [Hyorinmaru].
Swish!
As Xiao Feng activated [Mirror Lord]'s ability, a silver-white beam of light erupted from the mirror, enveloping [Hyorinmaru] completely.
Soon, the light was reabsorbed into the mirror, and a miniature projection of [Hyorinmaru] appeared on its surface.
While [Mirror Lord] could copy other Zanpakutō's abilities, it required scanning a physical Zanpakutō with its mirror light to record its projection.
"Sit upon the frozen heavens—Hyorinmaru!"
As Xiao Feng chanted the release command while holding [Mirror Lord], a blinding white light flashed, and the mirror transformed into a silver-white katana. A half-moon-shaped chain dangled from its hilt—the unmistakable form of [Hyorinmaru] in its Shikai state.
However, [Mirror Lord]'s version of [Hyorinmaru] was entirely silver-white, significantly differing from the original in appearance.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
With a gentle swing of his copied [Hyorinmaru], thick ice instantly formed wherever the blade passed.
After copying [Hyorinmaru], Xiao Feng proceeded to retrieve three more Zanpakutō, including [Shinsou], and recorded their abilities using [Mirror Lord].
Once [Mirror Lord] had copied the abilities of four Zanpakutō, Xiao Feng discovered two major limitations:
First, [Mirror Lord] could not use multiple abilities simultaneously.
If he transformed [Mirror Lord] into [Hyorinmaru] during battle, he would have to change its form again to use [Shinsou].
The second limitation was that [Mirror Lord] could not exceed the copied Zanpakutō's original power level.
Since Xiao Feng had only unlocked [Mirror Lord]'s Shikai, it could only replicate the Shikai states of [Hyorinmaru] and [Shinsou], without accessing their Bankai forms.
Staring at [Mirror Lord], which had returned to its mirror form, Xiao Feng narrowed his eyes. "It can freely copy Zanpakutō abilities… Does that include the Arrancar's Zanpakutō?"
To test his hypothesis, he gathered all the Arrancar under his command and began scanning their Zanpakutō with [Mirror Lord].
As expected, [Mirror Lord] could indeed copy the abilities of Arrancar Zanpakutō.
However, when Xiao Feng used these copied abilities, his state resembled Hollowfication, as a white bone mask formed on his face.
Ever since Xiao Feng raided a Soul Hall branch, the number of Arrancar under his command had swelled to several hundred, with many awakening formidable abilities. Now, they had all become part of his trump card.
...
As the golden sun set in the west and the bright moon rose in the east…
In the northern region of Central Continent, at the Hong Clan of Tianbei City…
"Alliance Leader, this is the training scroll for the Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body!"
Feeling the increasingly unfathomable aura emanating from Xiao Feng, the Hong Clan's patriarch respectfully handed him a silver scroll.
The Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body was a secret technique of the Wind Lightning Pavilion, strictly forbidden from being passed to outsiders.
The only reason the Hong Clan's patriarch had obtained this scroll was that Hong Chen, the young master of the Hong Clan, had recently been accepted as a direct disciple by Fei Tian.
Fei Tian, the North Pavilion Master of Wind Lightning Pavilion, was an Eight-Star Dou Ancestor with immense influence, second only to Lei Zun-Zhe himself.
Normally, Hong Chen wouldn't have had the qualifications to become Fei Tian's direct disciple.
However, after absorbing the Demon King's Blood bestowed by Xiao Feng, Hong Chen's strength surged dramatically, awakening a Blood Ghost Art that allowed him to control lightning.
To outsiders, Hong Chen's sudden power spike and his newfound lightning-related ability made it seem like he had awakened a unique physique attuned to lightning.
Since Wind Lightning Pavilion specialized in lightning-based cultivation techniques and battle skills, Fei Tian accepted Hong Chen as his direct disciple.
Becoming a core disciple granted Hong Chen access to the Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body technique, which he secretly delivered to the Hong Clan.
Whoosh!
With a casual wave of his right hand, Xiao Feng pulled the silver scroll into his palm and began reading through its contents in front of the Hong Clan's patriarch.
According to the scroll, the Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body had three levels: Micro, Mastery, and Perfection.
At the Micro level, a practitioner's clones would have one-third of the original's strength.
At the Mastery level, the clones would possess two-thirds of the original's strength.
And at the Perfection level, the clones would be as powerful as the original.
(End of Chapter)
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