Some might argue that once Truth Mages and other scholarly types can no longer drive Technique Spirits and Magic Power, their combat power is definitely far inferior to that of Body Technique Masters who have trained their skills and honed their muscles.

This perception is correct in other lands and even used to be correct in the Kingdom of Senluo, but during the past two hundred years in the Senluo Wasteland, it no longer holds true—the Destruction Mist Sect could even become popular in the Wasteland, illustrating the immense pressure of survival there.

Ash and his companions did not have a smooth journey during the day, as the roads between towns were filled with green-twisted creatures. These creatures, varying in forms, present different shapes after green-twisting according to their species: humans often turn into savage beasts with rotting wings, Beastmen's bodies rot like mud, Goblins instead become tall and sensual with three heads and six arms, Fishman develop multiple oral apparatuses capable of long-range attacks through sound... and if the twisted one is a Mage, many more unknown mutations could occur.

The most terrifying aspect was that the green-twisted creatures did not attack Ash and his team.

Even though they showed no sign of the overwhelming power of a Mage, the green-twisted creatures only dared to stealthily observe them from afar. Even when they stopped to rest, no monsters dared approach them within half a step. However, when they encountered a group of travel merchants subjected to a green-twisted ambush, the creatures scattered and fled as soon as they saw them approaching, not giving them any opportunity to unleash their prowess.

Not only are the green-twisted creatures intelligent, but they also possess even more sensitive reconnaissance abilities, able to keenly identify powerful Mages. Naturally, this made them too scared to attack the great Sects, but it didn't mean they were afraid to backstab those who were alone.

Every town they passed through organized guards to patrol around the edges during the day. Yet even so, green-twisted creatures waited for the gaps in patrols and rushed into towns to hunt. It was only because Ash and his fellow companions had already reached high-ranking positions of power within Senluo that they could chase after the Silver Lamp—otherwise, traveling alone would have been a great challenge.

For the weak, the green-twisted creatures were undoubtedly a 'green disaster.'

In this environment, people born on the surface must master the combat skill to fight against the green-twisted creatures, and the rigorously disciplined Tribulation Fire Sect did so even more. Weiser's soul was weakened due to the Secret Poison of the Illusion Mirror Dragon, which in turn affected her physical strength—as the soul and body rely on each other, the weakening of one affects the strength of the other—thus, she had to rely even more on her combat skills to protect herself.

Furthermore, driven by a deep sense of insecurity, even after Weiser climbed to the Holy Domain, she never ceased her training in combat techniques. After the Four Pillars God Sect annihilated many other Sects, she managed to get her hands on their scriptures, and in spite of the severed traditions of knowledge in Senluo, she became adept in more than 20 different Magic Factions.

Originally, her greatest weakness was her frail physical condition, but that was no longer a problem after she replaced it with silver dragon blood.

Clang!

Chain Gloves knocked Ash's sword blade aside from the side, and Weiser aimed her palm at Ash's chin, pushing forward—a hit sufficient to shatter the jaw and tear the neck!

Ash has retreated to gain some distance, but instead of advancing, Weiser drew closer, and Ash instantly decided to abandon his sweet words and a hidden dagger approach to grapple with her in close combat!

He too had access to the Golden Level Fist Claw Faction combat skills shared by the Witch—who was to slap whom!?

However, after several rounds of intense combat, Ash started to regret why he had discarded his weapon—he was a bit outclassed.

The Ya Sha Jin Sect's "Crow Slaughter Dance," the Tribulation Fire Holy Temple's "Annihilation," the Whirling Light Sect's "Helical Strike," the Destruction Mist Sect's "Fog Erosion"... Weiser combined the Body Technique combat skills of various sects into her own Combat Skill. All of Ash's counterattacks couldn't escape her predictions. The fierceness of her attacks, like a violent sudden rainstorm, pressurized Ash to the point where he could barely catch his breath.

He felt as though he was like the Fish-Slicing Dragon whose every move was predicted, as if he was a part of Weiser's skillful performance. Were it not for his Gold Level Magic intuition that enabled him to barely block fatal strikes, he would have been beaten down by the Silver Lamp long ago.

Ash glanced to the side and noticed the Observer exchanging blows with another Silver Lamp; their dual swords were like a tightly woven net, almost impervious, even holding a slight advantage. However, no winners could be decided in a short time.

Now he was unable to use his Magic Power, Igula and the others weren't here, and the hall had been sealed off, rendering the pre-planned ambush ineffective...

If I lose...

Weiser sharply detected a change in Ash's movements, but it was pointless. Armed with Silver Dragon Blood, she far surpassed Ash, and her combat skills also—

Snap!

Her hand sliced through Ash's shoulder, but he neither avoided nor retreated. Instead, he surged forward, grabbing Weiser in a tiger's grip, revealing a calm face and a set of white teeth under his mask—

"Mmph!"

Weiser grunted, unable to break free from Ash's clamp. She brutally kicked at his shin, a short-distance kick that could bring excruciating pain even without force. However, though Ash fell, not only did his hands not let go, his teeth clenched harder, fiercely tearing into Weiser's neck!

Intense pain spread through her body like poison, but Weiser's eyes grew brighter and brighter. She used her tongue to lift the fox mask and bit Ash's throat with her mouth!

The two embraced and tumbled on the ground, intimate as lovers, yet each bite aimed to crush the other's windpipe! Just as the battle of jaw strength seemed about to yield a victor, they were suddenly pulled apart by an exterior force.

The Observer held Ash aloft, while Yooran cradled Weiser, having silently agreed to save the half of the Fate Twins first.

Ash wiped the blood from his mouth and stood up, saying, "I almost had her."

Weiser put her mask back on, her voice lazy and mocking, "Were you licking my neck, Ash Heath?"

The four stood facing each other, then clashed again in battle! But this time, Ash charged at Yooran, while Weiser went after the Observer!

The injury to the throat was sure to affect combat power, and Ash obviously planned to have the stronger Observer kill Silver Lamp quickly while he intercepted the other Silver Lamp; Weiser, on the other hand, was curious to see who Ash's Fate Twin was.

However, as soon as they engaged, Ash felt the difference between the two Silver Lamps. Compared to Weiser's ferocity and lethality, Yooran's fight was more effortless and refined, specializing in leveraging force. Her movements were not fast, but she always managed to throw Ash off balance and hit him.

Not lethal, but within a dozen seconds, the back of Ash's head, his back, the small of his waist, his buttocks, and even his cheeks were struck. If fighting the real Silver Lamp was like wrestling a wild beast, then fighting the Illusion Silver Lamp was like a child being toyed with by an adult!

Kicked in the buttocks, Ash adjusted his posture in time, but his heart was still extremely frustrated, without any grand hopes left. He originally thought that for someone like Silver Lamp, at least one of his Fate Twins would have an opposite destiny here, but it turned out that although this half of Silver Lamp was somewhat different, the character was just as vile—a nest of snakes and rats!

But Weiser was also having a tough time. Although talented at close combat, the Observer's dual swords gave her no chance to get close. The Truth Mage was inwardly irate: why was Ash's half stronger than the original, while her half had decreased in combat power due to a fondness for leisure?

Yet an Ash that was stronger, more composed, and less prone to mistakes... Weiser suddenly asked, "Do you have a name?"

The Observer, disregarding her, continued the rhythmic alternation of his swords, giving Weiser no chance to breathe, but she still found a gap in the Sword Net to negotiate, "As soon as Ash dies, you'll be the only Ash Heath. All he owned will be yours; you won't just be his twin, his half, but the real him."

"You can freely pursue your dreams, weave your Fate, rather than exist as a 'false Ash' or become 'another Ash'; you can be yourself."

"What do you think of my proposal?" Weiser sidestepped a sword's edge, "Of course, you might worry about becoming outnumbered two to one... But when we attack Ash, you can freely choose which one to backstab. No matter what, only two will leave this hall."

"You don't need to answer." Weiser retreated rapidly, breaking away from the Observer's Sword Circle, "I'm off to kill Ash now, you just need to decide who will survive through your actions."

Weiser didn't lower her voice, so Ash naturally could hear her proposal.

But he didn't look over, focusing instead on Yooran.

As if to echo Weiser's offer, Yooran's attack suddenly intensified. Ash's left hand had already been in bad shape from Weiser's injury, and it was now even more difficult to hold up, so he had to be ruthless again, attempting to embrace Yooran.

Yooran seemed to have anticipated his reaction, but she didn't evade Ash's grapple. Instead, her hands wrapped around Ash's wrists like water snakes, and with a trip of her left foot, she brought Ash down hard, pinning him beneath her!

She leaned close to Ash, his face nearly pressed by her fox mask, and he looked into the indifferent pupils behind the mask, hearing gentle yet cruel whispers from behind it, "Look at me, don't be scared, it'll be over soon."

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Ash heard the footsteps of Weiser nearby, his body tensed, his heart racing. Yet unexpectedly, there was no anger or fear, only a cold chill began to seep into his pupils—

Clang!

After a dizzying moment, Ash realized he was once again in the Observer's grip. Weiser raised her hands to protect Yooran, a clear Sword Trace visible on her arm, blood seeping through her clothes.

"What a pity," Weiser said coldly in words Ash couldn't understand, "You aren't it either."

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