Singularity

In appearance, the Demonic Dragon looked somewhat like a sea slug. However, it possessed scales, each one immense, as well as limbs. Its forearms in particular were slender and covered in countless tiny scales arranged in ring after ring, giving its claws an exceptionally delicate, bony look. Furthermore, its mouth was enormous, the corners stretching all the way down to the base of its neck. In other words, when it opened its mouth, its entire neck opened with it—hardly a pleasant sight. Even though Siberian Rat had called it a dragon, neither Zhang Shou nor Yu Xian thought it looked anything like one. As for what on earth it actually was, heaven only knew. Following Zhang Shou's directions, Yu Xian soon spotted the three-clawed bird imprint within the Demonic Dragon's soul. The mark resembled a claw, yet also looked like a bird, which was why Zhang Shou had dubbed it that. Yu Xian studied it for a long while without making any sense of it. After a moment's thought, he simply activated his ability, touching the imprint directly with the power of Chaos and Myriad Phenomena. The next instant, the imprint responded. It was no three-clawed bird at all. When the three lines forming the tips of the claws joined together, an eye opened. It cast a single glance at Yu Xian and Zhang Shou before dissolving away a second later. "Interesting!" Yu Xian couldn't help laughing at the sight. "What is it?" Zhang Shou looked at him, curious. "He's here." Instead of answering, Yu Xian looked up toward the space ahead and smiled. A man who looked at least ninety-nine point nine percent identical to him appeared out of thin air above the Demonic Dragon. He wore a dragon-hide trench coat, with a white dragon coiled around his body and a series of Extreme Dragon rings hovering behind his back. "Holy crap, Salty Fish, your brother? Could your dad have..." Staring at the newcomer, Zhang Shou couldn't resist cracking a joke. Yu Xian cut him off with a glare. "That's me from a parallel world. What's there to make a fuss about?" He looked at the man, whose expression shifted into one of understanding. "So this is another singularity. Between parallel worlds, there are bound to be countless similarities. But what happens when versions of ourselves from two parallel worlds both leave their worlds behind? "The myriad realms encompass all things, and everyone's actions bring about different changes. You and I from parallel worlds will ultimately drift further and further apart due to different choices. "Yet all things under heaven still hold the potential to intersect once more. That is what we call a singularity." "I see. So running into yourself from a parallel world in the myriad realms isn't actually that rare?" Zhang Shou asked in surprise. Yu Xian smiled. "Quite an interesting theory. I'll buy it for now." "My name is Xu Xian. And you?" the man asked, looking at Yu Xian. Yu Xian grinned cheerfully. "I'm Yu Xian. Never thought another version of me from a parallel world could become a Mighty One too. I thought I was the only one." "Heh, I had roughly the same thought. But I believe having me around is more than enough." Xu Xian hadn't spared a single glance at Zhang Shou from beginning to end; his eyes remained fixed on Yu Xian. Naturally, Yu Xian caught the implication behind his words, and his bright smile faded slightly. Because of Yu Tian, he didn't hold much prejudice against alternate versions of himself. But if someone arrived with ill intent, he was hardly a pushover either. Still, he refrained from striking first, asking curiously instead, "What did you do to this dragon?" "No harm in telling you. This dragon was originally known as the Guardian Dragon of this world, yet for some reason it underwent a demonic fall and became the Sinful Dragon of this realm. I was curious about the reason, so I left a mark on it to observe," Xu Xian answered candidly. Yu Xian nodded. "In other words, its fall had nothing to do with you?" "Demonic fall phenomenon?" Xu Xian was clearly not as well-informed as Yu Xian and hadn't encountered any information on the subject. Yu Xian wasn't stingy and promptly shared what he knew about the demonic fall phenomenon. After listening, Xu Xian sank into thought, muttering to himself, "So that's how it is. No wonder, no wonder..." "Looks like you've run into this sort of thing before too," Yu Xian said, watching him. Xu Xian gave a noncommittal shrug, then suddenly remarked, "Family, love, friendship, human sentiment—they're all obstacles in the end. Having an excuse to strike with a clear conscience is actually quite nice." The very next moment, with complete disregard for martial honor, he launched a sudden sneak attack. His method of attack was peculiar. Rather than acting personally, he influenced the Demonic Dragon below, striking through it. The dragon, which had been completely immobilized, suddenly opened its maw, unleashing a massive beam of light straight at Yu Xian and Zhang Shou. "So weak." "Is that all you've got?" "Mighty Ones come in tiers too, and it looks like you belong to the unranked sort." Zhang Shou's voice drifted out from the blinding radiance. The next instant, a saber flash flared. The beam instantly dissipated, and the Demonic Dragon was cleaved in two in the same breath. "You're a Mighty One too?!" Xu Xian stared at Zhang Shou, dumbfounded. "What, does me being a Mighty One get you that worked up? Since you're Salty Fish from a parallel timeline, you must know my counterpart over there. What happened to the me from your world?" Zhang Shou rested his saber on his shoulder and asked curiously. Xu Xian's expression flickered. One Mighty One against two—he was clearly at a disadvantage. *No.* *I have to get out of here first.* Taking a deep breath, he said, "You mean Zhang Shou? True to his name, one day his beastly nature took over and he tried to assault a girl from the next class, only to be beaten to death by all the boys in the grade." "Do you buy that?" Hearing this, the corner of Zhang Shou's mouth twitched, and he turned to Yu Xian. Suppressing a laugh, Yu Xian nodded to indicate he totally believed it. Zhang Shou grumbled, "As if! Even if my personality were completely flipped, I wouldn't be that extreme, would I?" *Now's my chance.* *Run!* Seeing that Zhang Shou and Yu Xian hadn't locked onto him, Xu Xian immediately tried to flee. Yet just as he prepared to teleport away, he saw an open palm swinging toward him. A slap landed square on Xu Xian's face, sending his body spinning like a top. "What's the rush? Didn't you say having you as a Mighty One was more than enough?" Yu Xian said with a beaming smile. Zhang Shou appeared on Xu Xian's other side a moment later, sneering, "This guy's personality really is just like yours. A pure-and-simple bad egg." "What do you mean, just like me, a pure-and-simple bad egg?" Yu Xian stared at Zhang Shou, eyes wide. Zhang Shou chuckled. "Go ask around the Zhen Realm and see what the players have to say about you." "..." Yu Xian was left utterly speechless. Although countless players had tried to butter him up after he became the universally acknowledged number one, people gradually learned that he was impervious to both flattery and threats after running into wall after wall, so they began keeping a respectful distance. Still, if asked for their honest opinions, Yu Xian knew all too well that nine out of ten wouldn't have a single good word to say about him. Right then, Xu Xian erupted with power. His body rapidly transformed into a colossal dragon, while several Extreme Dragons surged out of his rings, moving to shield and rescue their master. Yet the moment they emerged, Yu Xian's power of Chaos and Myriad Phenomena washed over them in the blink of an eye, turning them into his obedient dogs. "Dragon power cultivated to the level of a Mighty One—not bad, but too bad for you that you ran into me!" Yu Xian smiled, watching Xu Xian, who had already flown far into the distance. Origin Chess Player activated. In the blink of an eye, Xu Xian, who had already fled far away, was snapped right back to where he started. Yu Xian smiled at him. "Stop running. Unless you defeat me, there's no running away." "You'll eventually run into a version of me stronger than you! Cut me down today, and someone will cut you down tomorrow!" Xu Xian roared in terror. Zhang Shou asked, intrigued, "Did the alternate versions of yourself you murdered in the past say something similar?" "..." Xu Xian was left utterly speechless.