Beside the spectral, ghostly green form of Lü Bu, standing on Ji Wuye's right, was another male spectral figure.
This figure stood at 5.8 chi, shorter than Ji Wuye—his height comparable to that of a scholar's calligraphy table.
His unkempt hair floated slightly, as if stirred by an ethereal breeze, framing a face etched with the weariness. He was garbed in a tattered shanku—a traditional two-piece outfit consisting of a long tunic and trousers, the fabric hanging loosely.
Strapped to his spectral form were two jian swords, their shapes and lengths differing from typical jian, retaining merely a resemblance in appearance.
Ji Wuye gazed at the figure, unfamiliarity plain on his face. Unlike Lü Bu, whose imposing presence he easily recognized, this ghost remained an enigma, a riddle waiting to be unraveled.
"Even back then, until now, I still don't know who you are," Ji Wuye said to the spectral figure wearing the strange tattered shanku. The ghost offered no response, its eyes seeming to peer into the depths of Ji Wuye's soul.
Moving past this enigmatic figure, Ji Wuye's attention finally shifted to the last ghostly presence, the one standing on his left.
This final figure was massive, towering even over Lü Bu's imposing stature. He stood at an imposing 6.7 chi, his stature reminiscent of ancient stone pillars guarding the entrances of old temples, silent sentinels against the ravages of time.
He was clad in spectral armor similar to Lü Bu's, resembling traditional lamellar, but the plates seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly iridescence, as if forged from the very essence of the cosmos.
The helmet on his head, inscribed with a subtle cross-like design, hovered just slightly above him, as though unbound by the natural laws of the living world, defying gravity with each subtle movement.
In his hands, he held a massive two-handed longsword, the blade emanating a pale green glow that cast eerie shadows across his spectral form.
At that moment, a transparent screen flickered to life before Ji Wuye, its ethereal glow casting dancing shadows across his face.
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[>>[INFORMATION]<<]
Choose your opponent! The figures before you are legendary giants whose names echo across the seas of history!
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Right then, another screen appeared, hovering above the three spectral figures that surrounded Ji Wuye on all sides. It began with the most familiar figure of the trio: the hovering screen centered above the middle figure—Lü Bu.
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Choose the Middle!
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Ji Wuye shifted his gaze to the right, where the spectral figure, armed with two jian-like swords, stood with an air of mystery. The unkempt ghost's eyes seemed to bore into Ji Wuye's soul, as if challenging him to unravel the secrets of his identity.
Above his head, a hovering screen appeared, its ethereal glow casting dancing shadows across his tattered shanku.
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Choose the Right Side!
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Next, he turned his eyes to the left, where another ghostly figure stood, his massive frame dwarfing even the imposing Lü Bu. This towering spirit, clad in shimmering spectral armor. Above this spirit's head, the same hovering screen appeared.
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Choose the Left Side!
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Faced with three options, Ji Wuye fell silent, his gaze flickering between the ghostly figures like a moth drawn to three brilliant flames. He slowly tilted his head upward, assessing the legendary warrior standing before him—Lü Bu.
'You would be an excellent choice, but....' Ji Wuye mused. The idea of selecting Lü Bu.... a renowned figure from history whose exploits had become the stuff of legends... stirred a sense of honor and reverence within him.
After all, this second phase of the trial was designed to challenge him—testing either his combat prowess or his wits against these famous figures of legend.
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Choosing Lü Bu would indeed be a rare and prestigious experience, a chance to pit himself against one of the greatest warriors of all time.
However...
'No,' he thought, shaking his head subtly, his long white hair swaying with the motion. 'It's better to focus on mastering what I've already chosen in the past.'
Letting out a quiet breath, he glanced briefly toward the spirit on the right, the enigmatic figure whose identity remained shrouded in mystery, before finally settling his eyes on the one to the left.
"Left," Ji Wuye declared. As soon as he spoke, another transparent screen materialized before him.
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[>>[INFORMATION]<<]
You have chosen the left-side opponent! To prove your worth to face this legend, select the way you wish to engage!
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1. Challenge the legendary spirit to a martial duel!
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2. Prove your worth through wisdom or strategy!
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3. Attempt to bind the spirit as a spectral ally!
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Presented with the three options, Ji Wuye began to deliberate carefully, his brow furrowed in deep thought as he weighed the consequences of each choice.
The first option was clear from the description: engaging the legendary spirit in combat. 'A test of my martial skills,' he though. It was a path he knew well.
'As for the second option...,' Ji Wuye mused, his crimson eyes flickering with contemplation.
It represented a battle of wits, a path that required strategic thinking—a type of trial he had never attempted before. 'But some have said it's more than that... a test of the heart of a martial artist,' he recalled thoughtfully.
This sixth floor of the trial was structured into three distinct phases. The first phase tested one's worth. The second phase, however, examined one's true goals, probing the depths of one's motivations and the purity of one's intentions.
In his previous timeline, Ji Wuye had chosen the first option,but...
'It was the hardest of them all...' he reflected, a slight grimace tugging at the corners of his mouth as memories of that grueling trial resurfaced. He had struggled back then, barely emerging victorious—more by sheer coincidence than actual skill.
But now, things were different. Now, he had the strength he didn't possess before. Should he once again choose the first option? Or should he attempt a different path this time, embracing the unknown and challenging himself in ways he had never dared before?
His gaze briefly flicked toward the third and final option: binding the spirit as an ally. 'It would be a wise choice,' he considered, '...if not for the implications it would carry in the last phase.' His thoughts trailed off.
Finally, after careful consideration and weighing his options, he reached his conclusion.
"Option 1," Ji Wuye stated calmly.
In the next moment, all the transparent screens began to fade into the background, their ethereal glow dissipating like mist in the morning sun.
The retreating forms of the other spirits followed, leaving only the towering spirit—the one taller than Lü Bu—remaining.
This spirit, clad in spectral armor that shimmered with an otherworldly iridescence, wore a strange helmet adorned with a subtle cross-like design.
As it raised its massive, unique sword, the very fabric of reality seemed to tremble in its presence. The jagged cliffs above, like the fangs of some primordial beast, shuddered as if stirred from an ancient slumber.
The golden light, long obscured by the oppressive black clouds, shimmered faintly, casting fleeting glimmers across the desolate landscape that danced like ghostly apparitions.
Though the scenery seemed to react dramatically to the spirit's movements, the changes remained momentary, ephemeral whispers of power that hinted at the true depth of its legend.
Under Ji Wuye's crimson pupils, he discerned that this brief disturbance in the surroundings was caused by the spirit before him—whose mere act of raising its colossal sword from its downward-stabbing position sent ripples through the unearthly air, as if reality itself bent to its will.
The sword was unique in both design and size, a weapon that defied conventional categorization. Its distinctive hilt featured forward-sloping quillons and a basket-like hand guard, a design that stood apart from any greatsword known in Jianghu.
But to Ji Wuye, this weapon was no stranger. His gaze lingered on it, recognition flickering in his eyes as a small smile crept across his lips. 'It's been a long time,' he thought to himself.
Without further hesitation, he issued a silent command: 'Inventory.'
A sudden burst of blinding light erupted, causing the surroundings to momentarily blur as if reality itself had been disrupted.
From this glow emerged not his usual jian, but an enormous, single-edged Cháng Dāo, its blade gleaming with a razor-sharp edge that promised to cleave through even the most formidable of foes.
Despite its massive size and length, Ji Wuye easily grasped the massive sword in a single hand, his muscles rippling with coiled strength. He raised it effortlessly, its sharp tip extending upward toward the sky like a silent challenge to the heavens themselves.
"Let's have a proper match, Ma-" Ji Wuye said.
But, before he finished speaking, the towering spirit had already moved, its movements a blur of speed that defied its immense stature.
It raised its colossal greatsword high, gripping it with both hands as if the weight of the world rested upon its shoulders.
The unique weapon glinted in the strange light as the spirit's massive figure launched forward with astonishing speed, appearing directly before Ji Wuye in an instant, the air crackling with the force of its charge.
CLANK!
A massive shockwave erupted from their clash, blasting the ground beneath them into a web of deep, jagged cracks like a giant spider's web.
The once-silent battlefield, littered with scattered and broken weapons, was thrown into chaos as debris surged into the air, whipped into a frenzy by the raw force of their collision.
Even the golden light shining over them bent and distorted momentarily from the sheer force of impact, as if reality itself trembled at the might of these legendary combatants.
The collision between their weapons generated a fiery spray of sparks, illuminating the rising dust cloud with a crimson glow that danced like ethereal flames.
The towering, spectral figure wasted no time, swinging its colossal, uniquely-designed greatsword in a powerful horizontal slash toward Ji Wuye, the blade cleaving through the air with a haunting whistle.
But, then...
SWOOSH!
Giving no pause, the spirit moved with unnatural speed, its movements a blur that defied its immense stature.
It raised the massive blade skyward, the muscles in its spectral form rippling with coiled strength, and then brought it crashing down in a devastating vertical strike, the very air seeming to part before the weight of its descent.
CLANK!
The impact reverberated fiercely, sending another tremor through the battlefield as the ground beneath their feet shuddered and cracked.
The spirit brought tremendous momentum to the strike, a force that should have crushed even the mightiest of foes, yet somehow, another resounding clash of metal was heard—a counter that stopped its attack dead in its tracks, the shockwave of their collision rippling outward like a sonic boom.
Even the massive, spectral figure seemed momentarily stunned, taken aback by the unexpected resistance. Not even a breath passed before it adjusted, landing a second full-force attack on Ji Wuye, yet how could this opponent possibly react to the second attack?
But, then...
BOOM!
Abruptly, the towering ghost was flung backward, the force of its failed attacks rebounding upon itself with devastating consequences.
Its massive body carved a trail through the earth, scattering debris like falling meteors as it skidded across the battlefield, the impact sending tremors that caused the surrounding scattered weapons to ricochet and clatter violently.
Strangely, despite its green, spectral form, the ghost's impact caused the surrounding scattered weapons to react as if struck by a physical force, a testament to the sheer power behind its strikes.
"So this was my limit in the past," came a muttered voice from within the swirling dust cloud, calm and resolute amidst the chaos.
Emerging from the haze, Ji Wuye stood tall, unscathed, his crimson eyes burning with a fierce determination that seemed to defy the very laws of the mortal realm.
The gigantic Cháng Dāo was now held diagonally across Ji Wuye's chest, its enormous blade still gleaming from the forceful clash. Not a single scratch marred either Ji Wuye himself or the weapon, which rested calmly in his grip, as if the weight of the massive sword was but a feather.
At the same time, a transparent screen hovering within Ji Wuye’s crimson pupils.
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[!] Your passive skill, Deflecting Blows (B), has been triggered!
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