Chapter 193: Chapter 143: Doppelganger
Li Shiming and his doppelganger fought each other while using various methods to observe if the doppelganger was revealing any other external auras.
Apart from the formations, both the main body and the doppelganger kept their spiritual thoughts open continuously.
After spending the whole night, he did not discover any abnormal situation with the doppelganger.
He left the doppelganger in the “Netherworld Ghost Realm Array,” where the doppelganger transformed into the state of Corpse Refining.
The doppelganger could no longer cultivate the “Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique” as the spiritual energy vortex had already reached saturation, and continuing cultivation would risk a breakthrough.
He still needed to wait a bit longer to verify some ideas before considering letting the doppelganger attempt a breakthrough.
Moreover, the doppelganger’s breakthrough also needed to reach its limit before attempting one; the doppelganger’s state of life had indeed reached its limit — in physique, spiritual power pattern, and spiritual thoughts — far surpassing an ordinary cultivator at the peak of the Qi Refinement Realm.
However, the doppelganger’s state of Corpse Refining had not reached its extreme yet.
Li Shiming was not well-versed in the Living Corpse state of his doppelganger, but he followed his own judgment to wait until the Corpse Refining body also reached its peak before considering its promotion.
And with the “Netherworld Ghost Realm Array,” reaching the extremity of the copper corpse state in Corpse Refining was not a difficult task, and it wouldn’t take too long.
Just as his own copper corpse was, it could not stay in the “Netherworld Ghost Realm Array” but was always inside the corpse bag.
Li Shiming had obtained the copper corpse less than three years ago, and it had reached the epitome of a copper corpse under the influence of the “Netherworld Ghost Realm Array.”
He sent a message to Yu Yong’an from the Hidden Dragon Trading House to order a High Grade Sword Artifact of the gold attribute, not considering defensive magic tools and the like.
Even the High Grade Sword Artifact of the gold attribute was for temporary use, as after the doppelganger’s advancement to Foundation Establishment, what needed consideration would be either a Super-grade Sword Artifact or a Spiritual Artifact.
Although there was a Spiritual Artifact Longsword, it was non-gold attribute, not particularly suitable for the doppelganger.
The reason for not purchasing defensive artifacts was because the defensive power of a High Grade Defense Magic Tool might not even match the defensive strength of the doppelganger’s skin, and it was even debatable whether a Super-grade Defense Magic Tool provided stronger defense.
Of course, although the doppelganger did not have a convenient weapon, he could still use the Third Grade Sword Base at any time, which was much more powerful than any Spiritual Artifact used during the Foundation Establishment, except that it could not attack remotely, surpassing all else.
Yu Yong’an responded quickly, telling Li Shiming that the trading house had a High Grade Sword Artifact of the gold attribute that met his specifications, and he would send it right away, with a selling price of three thousand spirit stones.
Less than thirty minutes later, Li Shiming received the ordered High Grade Sword Artifact called “Golden Light Breaking Sky Sword,” which was of high quality.
Li Shiming directly used the “Dragon Drawing Technique” to refine it, the peculiarity of his connection with the doppelganger allowing them to use magic artifacts interchangeably, a point they had practiced during training.
Whether it was a magic artifact refined by the main body or the doppelganger, it was considered self-refined for both bodies.
The only exception was their respective Third Grade Sword Bases, which fused with the body, recognizing the body’s control, not the soul.
Li Shiming also refined the Super-grade armor he had obtained from the Yun Family as compensation, called “Vajra Armor,” which seemed serendipitously linked to him.
This Vajra had no connection with the Buddhist Vajra but was named after a material called Vajra Crystal embedded in the armor.
When making magic artifacts, artifact makers would name their creations, which could be known along with the usage details during refinement.
This “Vajra Armor” was characterized by comprehensive protection, with two forms: one that fit within the robes for close body defense, and another that upon activation covered the head, hands, feet, and other parts in full armor for enhanced protection.
Regrettably, with the current strength of the Qi Refining Fifth Level, the “Vajra Armor” could only withstand up to ten seconds before exhausting the spiritual power.
The doppelganger could use it for now, though its effectiveness was minimal because the doppelganger’s defense was so robust that Li Shiming deeply doubted whether the defense of the Super-grade “Vajra Armor” could match that of the doppelganger.
Li Shiming had another pressing issue to address, which was the problem with the Foundation Establishment Technique.
He was accustomed to preparing for a rainy day. He himself was still a long way from advancing to the Foundation Establishment Stage, but the doppelganger was close.
Given the doppelganger’s capabilities, he wouldn’t consider ordinary Foundation Establishment techniques, but currently, he couldn’t even access basic techniques for that stage.
He prioritized resolving this issue; otherwise, even if the doppelganger advanced to Foundation Establishment, it wouldn’t have a primary cultivation technique to pursue.
He contemplated soliciting a Foundation Establishment Technique from his sect once he became a high-level Array Master, as he was learning array knowledge swiftly. Nowadays, his Array Formation Starlight Sea had expanded more than double; he felt achieving the high-level Array Master status might be faster than trying to break through at the Qi Refining Ninth Level.
When cultivating the “Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique,” a flash of insight struck him as he looked toward the doppelganger in the state of Corpse Refining within the “Netherworld Ghost Realm Array.”
Upon exiting the “Netherworld Ghost Realm Array,” the doppelganger transformed into a human upon leaving the Ghost Domain environment.
“Much obliged, fellow!” Li Shiming said with a smile.
“Helping you is helping myself!” The doppelganger’s handsome smile was too dazzling to behold directly.
Li Shiming had just had a flash of insight, realizing that both he and the doppelganger were cultivating the “Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique” and both belonged to the Qi Refinement Realm.