Guizou truly went easy this time. He brandished the longsword, an army of ethereal weapons of all kinds floating behind him. He swung the blade forward, a translucent sky blue clone of himself sent to fight.

Wu Tian wondered how his master was doing such things. In the end, he judged for it to be possible within illusions as such. He did not stay still however, carefully taking a stance. Pointing his own longsword forward, his bent right knee extended.

Wu Tian's blade reaching the clone, it pierced its chest perfectly. Thinking about it some more, Wu Tian realized this clone to be much weaker than himself. Therefore the fight was easy.

"Level two." Guizou's voice resonating, another clone wielding a longsword came out. Its sprinting could not stop Wu Tian's second stab. Hesitating, the young man still kept it steady. No need to cancel the martial method, why not see it through the end?

The blade hung at chest height was then placed above. A third clone coming, Wu Tian cleaved down, splitting it in half. The clones were getting stronger, but from their meagre abilities, Wu Tian expected the next one to be around the fourth layer of the Mortal Realm.

Indeed it was, not much of an improvement. But he knew this thought process to be invalidated later on.

The tip of the blade left on the ground, it suddenly rushed to the left and then the right. [Imperial Cross]! Watching Guizou's clone of light be split in half from the chest, both arms incapacitated as well, Wu Tian felt a boost of confidence.

Were his earlier defeats only because of cultivation? He wondered if Guizou could use his full power in this place.

A fifth layer Mortal appearing, it managed to reach Wu Tian as he pulled his sword above his head. But before the clone could do anything, it was suddenly cleaved in half from the clavicle down to its thigh.

A level six Mortal next, it was split vertically in half from underneath, the level seven one faring not much better, ending the same way but from the opposite direction.

A level eight Mortal ready for battle, it was suddenly helped by two others. A level nine Mortal and level one Warrior. Still confident, Wu Tian's left arm kept swinging in all directions. [Imperial Lucid Madness]!

Hands, arms, legs, torsos, heads and so on severed. A discomforting sigh to behold took place, the three clones butchered like fish on the chopping board.

"Interesting. But what about a level two Warrior?" Knowing his temperament, Guizou expected Wu Tian to become smug at the challenge. What was a level two Warrior to him now?

But instead, he only saw Wu Tian frown. Apparently, he had been seen through. "Hmph!" Snorting, Guizou waved the longsword of pale blue light, a clone forming.

Wu Tian immediately took the proper stance. Once the clone was twenty meters away, his right knee burst forth with power. The clone was wielding an identical longsword with its right hand. Seeing Wu Tian's heartfelt stab, it raised the blade defensively, pushing it toward the left while taking a sidestep right, its body twisting slowly.

A moment passing, Wu Tian was in disbelief. A clone he could indeed tell to be weaker than himself easily defended his attack. Still questioning reality for a mere instant, the clone pulled back the longsword above its head before cleaving down on Wu Tian's neck. Trying to dodge as best he could, Wu Tian still lost, the blade managing to chop off a good third of his head.

Healed, he was left in a daze. Guizou on the other hand, was somewhat amused. "How did you lose to a level two Warrior? What an embarrassment! Get a grip!" Seeing the clone step back, awaiting, Wu Tian patted his face, sweeping the uncomfortable feeling.

With gritted teeth, he took back his position. "I'm not done yet!"

"That's better." The clone expressionless, it immediately kicked the ground, a single jump putting it ten meters ahead. Still thirty or so meters away, Wu Tian aimed the sword in front. His right leg exploding even more furiously, he blurred, closing the gap in a couple seconds, the blade impaling the opponent's sternum as the clone was still mid-air. But before Wu Tian could celebrate, the clone moved. They were falling from a couple centimeters in height, immediately reaching the ground. This short spring effect aided the clone's downward slash even more. Wu Tian was still stuck, his blade lodged into the clone.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

The moment he finally let go of the sword, it was already too late.

His split parts falling down, they mended on the spot. Guizou was disappointed. "Even after all of this, you didn't stick to the method? What comes next?" Remembering it easily, Wu Tian suddenly blushed. "It's... [Imperial Cleave]..." He clearly had realized his mistake. His sword was already into the opponent, while the clone still needed to make a move. In short, Wu Tian had the overwhelming advantage and would have won a crushing victory had he stuck to the method and split the clone in half.

Guizou also understood his point of view. It was natural to think the blade to truly be stuck. But he was a cultivator, he should have known better. Especially when facing a weaker opponent.

"Let's resume." Guizou's figure remained still. He observed Wu Tian be challenged again. The exact same scenario happened, this time favoring Wu Tian as he used the next move, splitting the clone in half.

However the next opponent would equal his strength.

Seeing the level three Warrior approach dangerously, Wu Tian did not halt the martial method. [Imperial Cross]! Slashing from left to right once the enemy was ten meters away, Wu Tian saw the clone suddenly stop its momentum in a heartbeat, the blade missing. Watching the enemy's longsword thrust forward, Wu Tian raised the longsword behind him. [Imperial Retreat]! The enemy longsword reaching closer and closer, Wu Tian did not stop even when the sharp tip impaled his right pectoral. [Imperial Cleave]! Slashing down, one longsword was lodged into Wu Tian's chest, another one inside the clone's neck.

The opponent decapitated, it limped before shattering into countless light fragments. Wu Tian fell on his knees, still uncomfortable. Guizou was then heard. "Not bad. You actually won... yet still lost. With the injury sustained, you might have died of many things. Blood loss, infections, diseases, a third party's sneak attack, and so on... Only with my help would you have lived with certainty. Not good enough!"

Guizou thought about leaving a trail. "Think about it more. Was the [Beginner Imperial Sword Art] method all that I ever gave you?"

A bright light flashing into his eyes, Wu Tian smiled. "No! Thank you for your guidance, master!" Cupping his fists, Wu Tian felt the need to remain respectful when being taught so sincerely. As he heard Guizou snapping his fingers from the horizon, another clone at the same cultivation level came out.

"Then let's see how much further you can go!"

The tall clone sprinting ahead, Wu Tian held his ground, using the [Mountainous Incarnation]. His skin was soon covered in dirt and stone. He wore this full body armor with confidence. Brandishing the longsword, he aimed the tip at the distant horizon. The clone became faster and faster, and before Wu Tian realized it, the clone spoke for the first time, a vast amount of dark red liquid covering its right fist, having exchanged which hand wielded the blade. "[Blood Palm]." A mere ten seconds later, they were within range of each other.

The clone bend forward, slithering ahead with its right arm extended. Wu Tian's right knee burst forth with explosiveness, propelling him forward.

The longsword having the reach advantage, Wu Tian expected to land a hit first. However, the blade missed by a hair's breadth, grazing the clone's right shoulder. His opponent now right beneath him, Wu Tian paled behind the layer of protection.

A red fist loosening, it opened into a bloody palm of bright red, shining with viciousness. Able to tell when something had gone wrong, Wu Tian tried to take a step back, soon hit on the left side of his abdomen, a large crack spread from this point on, his armor crumbling slowly. The pieces of stone and dirt dissipated into fragmented pieces of light as Wu Tian realized himself to still be somewhat fine.

His organs had been struck under the turbulent shockwaves, but remained functional. His skin was not even torn, his muscles and bones still intact.

But before he could rejoice, the clone's left arm swung by along its strange distorted voice. "[Mirrored Strike]." The longsword held tightly in its blue ethereal hand came from above, attempting to sever his right clavicle. Shocked, Wu Tian remembered the name. That's the first part of- His eyes widening, he was cut short by a sharp force splitting his left clavicle instead. But thinking about it some more as he collapsed, his entire torso severed diagonally, he indeed knew himself to have failed. That's... the first part of that method... shit... I... I should've known! His vision darkening, this same vision brightened as he was healed.

"Aiz... kiddo, do remember that opponents will use unknown methods of all kinds. They won't just stand still or just run forward without thinking... sometimes."

Wu Tian slowly stood back up, furious about these words. How was I supposed to know? How was I supposed to expect any of this!? You never sent a clone like this the... the... what... the ten... thirteen or whatever amount of times prior?! How was I supposed to... never mind, this old man won't even say anything other than what? Oh, but you should always be on guard! Or something like that...

His old master only scoffed at his face. "Come on brat. Get on with it! We still have two and a half hours remaining! Let's at least get you up to par with the other weapons before we move on to a proper opponent."

Shocked, Wu Tian suddenly remembered the many ethereal weapons floating behind his master. "Don't tell me..." A blue translucent clone appearing, it held not a longsword this time, but a halberd. It closed the distance extremely fast, the halberd thrusting forward.

Skewered like a piece of meat, Wu Tian was deflated. "Are you serious..."

"Damn you..." His head lopped off, his body collapsed as usual. This is... so unfair... Get me out of here!!