Chapter 74: Essence Avatar (1)

Chapter Twenty-Two: Essence Clone

"Your Highness, the Azure Dragon and White Tiger are fighting!" Liu Jin said, his face filled with confusion.

"What? Impossible!" Mo Yu Xi immediately stood up.

Mo Yu Xi wiped the tears from the corner of her eye and rushed out.

Yan Chuan glanced oddly at Liu Jin, for he too recalled how deep the brotherhood between Azure Dragon and White Tiger ran—were they really fighting?

Liu Jin nodded in affirmation.

"Let's go!" Yan Chuan strode out of the command tent.

The moment they stepped outside, a fierce gust of wind swept past, making Yan Chuan’s clothes flutter violently.

Three thousand soldiers guarded the tent, led by Huo Guang. Their spears pointed toward a distant direction, and the wind caused their armor to clatter with a sharp, metallic sound.

Mo Yu Xi stood at the forefront, gazing solemnly into the distance.

Yan Chuan stepped forward, his gaze following hers.

In the distance, at the origin of the gale, White Tiger was facing off against Azure Dragon.

Both threw their palms forward, pushing against each other. White Tiger’s back was to the group, but Azure Dragon’s face was visible—twisted in a fierce, sinister expression.

"Big brother, what are you doing? What’s wrong with you?" White Tiger cried out anxiously.

"Get out of my way!" Azure Dragon shouted angrily.

"Your Highness! Over there—White Tiger and Azure Dragon suddenly started fighting, though I don’t know why!" Huo Guang quickly stepped forward to report.

"Something’s not right," Yan Chuan said, his expression tightening.

At the same time, Mo Yu Xi narrowed her eyes.

"Essence clone? What is Azure Dragon trying to do?" Mo Yu Xi asked, troubled and uncertain.

Azure Dragon was surrounded by a surge of violent, azure mist, and in the corner behind him, a faint figure seemed to be sitting.

"I see it! How is there an extra person?" Liu Jin exclaimed in astonishment.

"No, that’s Azure Dragon! The one sitting in the corner is Azure Dragon, but the one fighting White Tiger is also Azure Dragon—how can there be two?" Huo Guang shouted.

"Your Highness?" Liu Jin looked to Yan Chuan.

"It’s Azure Dragon. The one asleep in the corner is his true body. The one fighting White Tiger is only an essence clone," Yan Chuan explained.

"Your Highness, what is an essence clone?" Huo Guang asked in confusion.

"You don’t have the cultivation yet. When you reach the stage of refining spirit and transforming it, you’ll be able to do it—using your own essence and will to create a clone, which can defend against external enemies for a short time," Yan Chuan replied.

"A clone?" Huo Guang’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

The world of cultivators was truly marvelous. Huo Guang’s eyes brimmed with longing.

"However, Azure Dragon’s current state is unusual. His essence clone has been controlled," Yan Chuan said coldly.

"Controlled?" Mo Yu Xi immediately turned to him.

"The Nightmare you’ve all been searching for has finally shown himself. He targeted Azure Dragon," Yan Chuan said, his eyes narrowing.

"Nightmare?" Mo Yu Xi’s eyes shone.

"Azure Dragon must have fallen asleep just now. The Nightmare seized the opportunity, trapping him in a terrifying dream and tricking him into releasing his essence, forming the clone, and then taking control of it," Yan Chuan stated firmly.

"Master Yan, now that the Nightmare has appeared, does that mean we can...?" Mo Yu Xi suddenly looked at Yan Chuan with hope.

"Yes, but it depends on Azure Dragon. If he can awaken within the dream, with his strength, he should be able to destroy the Nightmare. But, people rarely realize they’re dreaming while in a dream. It’s incredibly difficult," Yan Chuan said, worried.

"You’re not my brother?" White Tiger pressed his palm against the essence clone of Azure Dragon, speaking in a deep voice.