However, Xin Ci was the protagonist, and Mu Qingqing believed he had the ability to challenge and defeat the clone of this strongest Saint Emperor.
Xin Ci took out the Sixteen-Star Moon Chains from his Sumeru Ring, suspended them around him, forming a chain formation.
He wanted to first test the strength of this Ming Emperor clone.
With a thought, four silver light chains transformed into four sharp spears that stabbed directly at the clone.
The Ming Emperor clone's hands transformed into two long swords. With just the tip of his left-hand sword, he blocked in front of him.
The four spear-like chains struck as if hitting an invisible barrier, unable to advance further.
The Ming Emperor clone's right-hand sword was also not idle. With a single strike, dazzling holy light erupted.
This was the Ming Emperor's Holy Light Sword Intent.
Due to the blinding glare of this sword strike, Xin Ci decisively gathered the remaining chains in front of him, forming a chain wall.
But to his surprise, the Ming Emperor's Holy Light Sword Intent transformed into countless tiny light swords in an instant, piercing through the gaps in the chains.
They came towards him like a needle rain.
For a moment, Xin Ci's pupils contracted.
The transformation and speed of this Holy Light Sword Intent were too fast.
Xin Ci dared not be careless and directly summoned the mid-grade true artifact, the Scarlet Flame Cauldron, to block in front of him.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Innumerable sword qi fell onto the Scarlet Flame Cauldron, emitting fierce sounds.
Only then did he block the Ming Emperor clone's attack.
After retracting the Scarlet Flame Cauldron into his Sumeru Ring, Xin Ci's expression became much more serious.
He had to use two true artifacts to block that unpredictable sword strike from the Ming Emperor just now.
The Ming Emperor was indeed worthy of the title of strongest Saint Emperor.
Xin Ci also knew very well that the Ming Emperor clone's attack just now was merely a minor test.
The real battle was yet to come.
The Ming Emperor continued to draw his sword, and waves of Holy Light Sword Intent assailed him like a storm.
Under such rapid sword techniques, Xin Ci found it difficult to resist and could only choose to retreat, constantly dodging.
But how could the Ming Emperor's sword techniques be so easily dodged? They were unpredictable and impossible to guard against.
Golden sword energy soon surrounded Xin Ci, leaving him nowhere to escape.
Seeing this, Xin Ci could only unleash his martial skills and contend with the Ming Emperor's sword techniques.
He condensed his true essence into blade-like forms in his hands, and the Undying Phoenix Flame coiled around them.
He crossed his two Red Lotus Phoenix Swords forward, but the Undying Phoenix Flame, capable of burning spiritual energy, could not diminish the sharpness of the Holy Light Sword Intent.
Instead, his Red Lotus Phoenix Swords were pierced by the Holy Light Sword Intent, heading straight for his heart.
Xin Ci used the Ethereal Step, his figure disappearing into the void, and only then did he dodge the attack.
This Holy Light Sword Intent was truly formidable, not only incredibly sharp and fast, but more terrifyingly, it was incredibly versatile.
Outside the Sacred Dragon Tower
Everyone saw Xin Ci falling into a disadvantage, but not a single one of them showed surprise.
After all, that was a clone of the Ming Emperor.
The reason the seventh floor of the Sacred Dragon Tower was so difficult to pass was due to the powerful presence of the Ming Emperor's clone.
Shen Wei shifted his gaze from the projection of the Sacred Dragon Tower to Dao Yuanming and said with a smile, "Old gambler, your student's talent is good, but he is ultimately too young. If he cannot break through my Holy Light Sword Intent, Xin Ci will likely be stopped on the seventh floor of the Sacred Dragon Tower."
"Shen Wei, don't jump to conclusions too quickly. Xin Ci's strength is more than just this," Dao Yuanming replied with a faint smile.
"Oh, does he have other moves?"
Shen Wei looked interested and turned his gaze back to the projection of the Sacred Dragon Tower.
While the Holy Light Sword Intent was strong, Xin Ci was not without countermeasures.
Moreover, he also possessed sword intent. Xin Ci took a step forward, and a sharp, unparalleled white rainbow rose from beneath his feet.
The Ming Emperor clone also unleashed a beam of golden sword energy.
The two powerful sword intents collided, and spatial sword energy raged, leaving multiple sword marks on the walls.
However, after the resistance, Xin Ci was still repelled several steps.
Indeed, in terms of the purity of sword intent, the Ming Emperor was superior.
But Xin Ci's objective was not to compare the superiority of their sword intents, but to dissolve the Holy Light Sword Intent.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Sixteen-Star Moon Chains found the best timing for an attack.
They erupted from the ground with a roar, forming a chain cage that enveloped the Ming Emperor clone.
The Ming Emperor clone would not passively wait to be defeated. He swung his twin swords, and countless golden light swords condensed from true essence floated around him.
This was the Ming Emperor's true essence, the Thousand Light Afterimage Sword!
It seemed he intended to forcefully break through the chain cage, but how could Xin Ci let him succeed?
As the thousand light sword shadows were about to touch the chains, the chain cage suddenly dissipated into countless tiny starlight dots.
What greeted him was Xin Ci's Void Condensing Sword Technique.
He, too, had blade-like forms condensed from true essence floating around him.
In an instant, Thousand Light Afterimage Sword versus Void Condensing Sword Technique.
However, the Thousand Light Afterimage Sword was only a mid-level true essence. Facing the Void Condensing Sword Technique, a high-level true essence, it could not last for more than a few seconds before it collapsed.
The Ming Emperor outside the Sacred Dragon Tower, seeing this, was slightly surprised. How vast was this kid's sea of true essence? He could still remain unfazed after unleashing a high-level true essence.
The blade-like forms formed by the Void Condensing Sword Technique pierced through the golden light swords and headed directly for the Ming Emperor clone.
Just as the Ming Emperor clone was about to move to dodge, he discovered that tiny star-like dots had appeared on his body at some point.
Under the astonished gazes of everyone, these star-like dots transformed into chains that bound the Ming Emperor's body, rendering him immobile.
The transformation was not limited to the Ming Emperor's Holy Light Sword Intent; Xin Ci's Sixteen-Star Moon Chains possessed this characteristic as well.
Thus, the unprepared Ming Emperor clone was pierced by the myriad sword blades materialized by the Void Condensing Sword Technique.
This Ming Emperor clone was finally defeated successfully!
Seeing the Ming Emperor clone defeated by Xin Ci, the people outside the Sacred Dragon Tower could not help but widen their eyes, open their mouths, and show expressions of shock.
Someone had actually managed to defeat the clone of the strongest Saint Emperor.
Xin Ci had now set a record for Mingguang City.
Dao Yuanming's gaze towards Xin Ci shone brighter and brighter. He proudly turned his head and said to Shen Wei beside him, "I told you this kid Xin Ci could win. Once this kid steps into the Saint Emperor realm, your title of strongest Saint Emperor will likely be in jeopardy."
"Look at you getting smug. It wasn't you who defeated me. If you have the guts, come and spar with me. If you win, I'll give you the title of strongest Saint Emperor on the spot," Shen Wei retorted irritably.
Dao Yuanming burst into laughter, but quickly composed himself and said seriously, "Xin Ci has likely reached his limit by passing the seventh floor of the Sacred Dragon Tower."
"That's right, to have achieved this much is already unprecedented," Shen Wei agreed with a nod.
The reason they thought so was that the eighth floor of the Sacred Dragon Tower was not an ordinary challenge.
Guarding this floor was a clone of the Ming Emperor from his peak Heavenly Venerate realm.
At that stage of his life, the Ming Emperor's true essence, sword intent, and even formations had reached a complete and mature level.
In the absence of a Saint Emperor, it was basically impossible for anyone to decisively defeat this clone.
Although Xin Ci's strength was not bad, he was, after all, only in the King realm.
No matter how heaven-defying, he could not exert combat power comparable to a Saint Emperor.