Dao Yuanming was also well aware that due to the projection screen of the Sacred Dragon Tower, Xin Ci's second personality, Mu Qingqing, could not transform into a female body and fight against Ming Huang's clone in front of everyone.
This was why Dao Yuanming believed that the eighth level of the Sacred Dragon Tower would be Xin Ci's limit.
Nie Li and Shi Kai had already exited the Sacred Dragon Tower, both having stopped at their respective limits.
When Nie Li and the others emerged and saw Xin Ci reaching the eighth level, they were all stunned.
"This guy actually defeated Master's clone. Xin Ci, what kind of monster are you?"
Nie Li sighed inwardly.
He had barely managed to reach the seventh level himself, but before his Master's clone, he was defeated in less than three moves, fleeing in embarrassment.
Yet Xin Ci had actually defeated Master's clone, proving his strength was far beyond his imagination.
From this, it was evident that Xin Ci's talent and potential were definitely superior to both himself and his Master.
Jin Huan, who had previously held resentment towards Xin Ci, was silenced upon witnessing Xin Ci's strength.
Knowing that Xin Ci's strength surpassed his own, Jin Huan naturally did not dare to court death by provoking him.
Inside the Sacred Dragon Tower.
Having just defeated Ming Huang's clone, Xin Ci did not rush to the eighth level.
Instead, he sat cross-legged on the ground, doing his best to recover his true essence and comprehend the reward for clearing the seventh level—the insights of Ming Huang's Sword Intent.
This Ming Huang clone was indeed terrifying. He had used high-level true essence multiple times to defeat it, resulting in a severe depletion of his true essence.
The clone on the seventh level was already so difficult to deal with; the eighth level of the Sacred Dragon Tower would undoubtedly be even more challenging.
He had to maintain his optimal state to proceed to the eighth level.
After comprehending Ming Huang's Sacred Light Sword Intent, Xin Ci's sword intent purity had also improved considerably.
If he were to duel the Ming Huang clone again, his sword intent would no longer be inferior to Ming Huang's Sacred Light Sword Intent.
The eighth level!
Xin Ci took a deep breath and stood up.
The challenge on the eighth level of the Sacred Dragon Tower would be a life-and-death struggle.
And the opponent on the eighth level was, as Xin Ci had predicted, a clone of Ming Huang at his peak Heavenly Venerate realm.
Just standing there exuded a suffocating pressure.
Compared to the clone on the seventh level, the oppressive aura was several times more intense, and the sword intent was even more refined.
Even without drawing his sword, he exuded an edge that was sharp and formidable.
Although this Ming Huang clone was only at the peak Heavenly Venerate realm, the danger it emanated made Xin Ci feel as if he were facing a Sacred Emperor realm expert.
Xin Ci stared intently at Ming Huang's clone, proceeding with extreme caution.
But Ming Huang merely took a step.
The next second, he vanished into thin air as if he had evaporated, disappearing from Xin Ci's sight.
Danger!
A chilling sense of crisis surged through Xin Ci's heart.
Clang!
Before Xin Ci could even react, Ming Huang, wielding twin swords, had already struck him.
Fortunately, the moment Ming Huang vanished, Xin Ci had decisively formed a chain cage around himself with the Sixteen Star Moon Chains.
Ming Huang's twin swords struck the chains, and the sharp, peerless sword light actually transferred along the chains.
The Sixteen Star Moon Chains trembled, seeming unable to withstand Ming Huang's power and on the verge of shattering.
Xin Ci quickly transformed the chains into starlight, preventing the Sixteen Star Moon Chains from being destroyed.
He also immediately used the Lingxu Step to dodge Ming Huang's twin swords and retreated a dozen yards.
Xin Ci panted slightly, recalling the thrilling scene just moments before.
Ming Huang's speed was almost unbelievably fast; he didn't know if he could dodge the next attack.
Furthermore, it was the first time he had seen someone at the Heavenly Venerate realm capable of destroying a high-grade True Artifact.
If Xin Ci had not dispelled the Sixteen Star Moon Chains just now, his chains would likely have been shattered by Ming Huang's sword intent.
Ming Huang was truly a formidable opponent.
Without giving Xin Ci a chance to breathe, Ming Huang attacked again, his figure vanishing once more.
Xin Ci no longer held back, revealing all his skills.
Eye of True Sight!
His eyes turned orange-gold, the pupils flowing with a brilliant radiance, dazzling like a piece of glazed crystal.
However, even with the Eye of True Sight activated, he could only barely glimpse Ming Huang's figure.
Each time Xin Ci dodged, he was caught by Ming Huang's sword intent.
In less than three rounds, Xin Ci had sustained several wounds.
The gap between him and Ming Huang at the peak Heavenly Venerate realm was too vast. If he lasted a few more breaths, Xin Ci would be defeated and forced to withdraw.
The spectators outside the Sacred Dragon Tower did not mock Xin Ci's predicament upon witnessing this.
After all, his opponent was Ming Huang at his peak Heavenly Venerate realm. Even if all of them went up together,
Ming Huang could likely annihilate them all with a single sword move.
"Xin Ci reaching the eighth level is already impressive. Why hasn't he given up yet?"
"Yes, considering Xin Ci is only a Four-star King, how could he possibly defeat Ming Huang at the peak Heavenly Venerate realm!"
"This is a leap of an entire major realm. No genius prodigy in the Eternal Continent has ever been able to defeat an opponent across a major realm."
...
In their view, Xin Ci's hope of victory was slim.
They could only wait for the moment he was defeated and emerged from the Sacred Dragon Tower.
Elder Han also sensed the formidable power of this Ming Huang, knowing that Xin Ci could not defeat this clone. He advised, "Xin Ci, there's no need to continue. This Ming Huang, even placed in the Sacred Lands of the Chanting Sacred Domain, is a peerless genius among the very best."
"Your ability to defeat him within the same realm has already exceeded my expectations. As for the essence blood of the Saint Rank demonic beast, we can find other ways."
Upon hearing Elder Han's words, Xin Ci shook his head.
He had no intention of giving up. He had gone through so much hardship to enter the eighth level of the Sacred Dragon Tower, and he was only one step away from the ninth level.
The materials needed to forge bodies for Elder Han and Mu Qingqing were only missing this one item!
Xin Ci gritted his teeth, his gaze firm as he looked at the Ming Huang clone before him, his fighting spirit undiminished.
However, in the face of Ming Huang's absolute strength, Xin Ci was defenseless. He was sent flying by a sword move, crashing violently against the wall.
But strangely, he felt no pain.
After Xin Ci stood up, the crowd outside the Sacred Dragon Tower noticed that a set of blue-gold armor had appeared on Xin Ci's body.
This armor contained profound power, capable of negating Ming Huang's Sacred Light Sword Intent.
Furthermore, there was a beautiful star wheel insignia on the chest of the armor.
"What is this? A True Artifact?" someone asked uncertainly.
"I'm not sure, but the armor can block Ming Huang's Sacred Light Sword Intent! It must be an extraordinary item," another person replied.
Ming Huang's eyes outside the Sacred Dragon Tower flashed with surprise.
Because he sensed that this armor was not a True Artifact, but was condensed from a strange mass of energy.
As for what that energy was, he was also unsure, so he asked Dao Yuanming, "Old Gambler, what's going on with the armor on Xin Ci?"
"I'm not sure about this either. Xin Ci has never displayed this strange armor before,"
Dao Yuanming was equally perplexed.