Chapter 526 - 442: Manhandling the Doppelganger, the Original Gets Jealous

’So, Jiang Qiu must be a scion of the High Heavens. As for which Celestial Realm, she didn’t dare to imagine, nor could she guess. She just felt he was a god-like being who had descended to this world and would eventually return to his own. She just hoped that when he went back, he might take her with him—if that was even a possibility.’

’She buried this thought deep in her heart. She wasn’t sure why, but perhaps it was because she had heard that many in the Demon Race disliked being demanding. Those cunning Demons outside, especially, were fond of hiding their true intentions. She knew that revealing too many of her own thoughts would surely lead to a bad outcome.’

Jiang Qiu couldn’t perceive the many thoughts hidden deep in her heart, nor could he read the subtle changes in her expression. After all, it wasn’t as if he were a high-Realm member of the Demon Race, and his current skill level was not yet sufficient to peer into the minds of others.

Instead, most of his attention was on the small, one-tailed girl. He bent over and stroked her head. The soft, silver hair flowed through his palm like water, exceptionally smooth. "It’s real. This [Nine-tailed Form] of yours is quite interesting."

Indeed, he had only provided a framework for the cultivation, and couldn’t have predicted the exact outcome. He was naturally surprised by this result.

Originally, according to his calculations, the clone created through the Nine-tailed Fox’s Refinement should have existed as little more than a phantom, hovering between the real and the unreal—perfect for offense or evasion.

But now, the tangible sensation was a pleasant surprise. It felt as if the Nine-tailed Fox’s development of the [Nine-tailed Form] had already progressed along a path he hadn’t foreseen.

She had her own way of adapting to the Cultivation, even integrating it into this Cultivation Technique. It was as if she had improved, merged, and supplemented it to make it her own. It would likely continue to evolve in the future; it all depended on how far the Nine-tailed Fox herself could take it.

His curiosity piqued, Jiang Qiu took hold of little One-tailed’s wrist and gave it a small shake. "Such delicate skin. So she’s really real..."

This was simply unbelievable. The more he observed her, the more delighted he became. This clone actually possessed the aura of a living being, as if a younger version of the Nine-tailed Fox truly existed.

Crucially, the moment his hand touched her wrist, her whole body trembled reflexively, and the small, white tail behind her swayed back and forth.

Suddenly, she lifted her head and peeked sideways at the tall Nine-tailed Fox beside her, her cheeks blushing a vibrant crimson, like a spring peach.

’How strange. It’s like there’s an independent consciousness in her gaze...’

"Ma... Master."

She turned back coyly but didn’t dare meet Jiang Qiu’s eyes, her gaze immediately darting away. Her other small hand clutched the delicate vines on her skirt, her fingertips toying with a flower. Her entire presence seemed quite reserved.

"Interesting. Is this your consciousness?" Jiang Qiu, amused, glanced at the Nine-tailed Fox. "At this Realm, you’ve already mastered consciousness transference?"

’At the Transformation Realm, one should indeed be able to master many Secret Techniques, but consciousness transference is still no easy feat.’

’It means transferring one’s own consciousness into another thing with similar characteristics and then controlling it. That requires immense Mental Power, as well as the ability to manipulate Heaven and Earth Spirit Charm.’

’Without a unique Talent, it’s theoretically very difficult even for someone at the Transformation Realm. And even if they could manage it, it would be a major distraction and might not provide much of a direct advantage in combat.’

So, in essence, the Clone Secret Technique Jiang Qiu had initially intended to impart was a simple one, meant merely for substitution, like a Substitution Technique or a phantom. The clones would simply act according to the logic programmed into them during their Casting Body process.

Tell it to attack, and it would attack. Tell it to defend, and it would defend. Tell it to evade, and it would evade. Then it would quickly dissipate, requiring a new clone to be summoned.

That was Jiang Qiu’s original intent. However, after studying the Nine-tailed Fox’s physique, he discovered that her nine tails could correspond to nine clones and modified the technique accordingly.

But now, the Nine-tailed Fox had used her own Talent to modify it further, and it had developed to this unexpected stage.

"N-Not exactly, Master," the Nine-tailed Fox said, poking her fingers together guiltily. "One-tailed and I... our hearts and minds are connected, but... they’re also a little different."

"Hm?"

Jiang Qiu paused, not understanding her meaning at first. ’A clone she refined herself doesn’t have her own consciousness?’

’Did she just give herself a split personality?!’

It wasn’t unheard of for a clone to gain sentience. He had heard plenty of such stories back in the [Primordial] world-cluster.

There were all sorts of Cultivators who practiced with clones, and for various special reasons, their clones would inexplicably gain sentience. Some would possess the original body, while others would sever the connection, causing grievous injury to their creator.

Of course, there were also those whose Realm would plummet by a major level due to a mishap with a clone. This, however, typically only happened to those who followed a clone-based Dao, where the bond between clone and host transcended normal limits.

Speaking of which, wasn’t his Hundred Ghosts Dao just another form of a clone-based Dao? Except it involved refining the other half—the clone—and merging it into his main body.

But now, there was no sign of [Snow]. Not a single thread of connection remained, and deep within his Soul, he no longer felt that familiar resonance.

It was as if his current self was no longer the person he used to be, and so [Snow] naturally wouldn’t remain bound to this new version of him.

And yet, they had been bound at the Soul, so much so that they had almost fused into a single entity. They were practically the same person. Still, the Dragon Emperor Secret Realm had severed the connection to [Snow], leaving him all alone.

*Sigh.* Thinking of this, Jiang Qiu was filled with emotion. His yearning for a higher Realm intensified. He had to break through the entire Dragon Emperor Secret Realm, return to the Dusk Secret Realm World, and complete the final, crucial step of his fusion with [Snow] to enter the Harmonization Realm!

And kill his enemy, [Zuo Xuan]!

This was Jiang Qiu’s most fervent desire, though it seemed incredibly distant right now. The Dragon Emperor Secret Realm wasn’t something that could be cleared in one go—it was uncertain if he could clear it at all. The current First Celestial Realm was already this difficult, and he was still in the dark about so much. Who knew what other variables awaited in the thirty-five Celestial Realms that lay above.

But, pulling his thoughts back to the present... ’How could the Nine-tailed Fox’s first clone have a consciousness of its own?’

Harboring this question, Jiang Qiu gently pinched One-tailed’s cheek, which felt like molding a piece of soft clay. Her large, bright eyes blinked open, showing a faint trace of resistance, yet they were also filled with yearning.

’The resistance is probably because she didn’t expect to have her cheek pinched. The yearning, though... that’s understandable. The Nine-tailed Fox herself sometimes has that same look in her eyes.’

’No matter how I look at it, this miniature Nine-tailed Fox—One-tailed—is just a smaller, slightly purer version of her creator. She’s like the Nine-tailed Fox as a child. There’s no fundamental difference.’

’Oh, but she lacks the unique, ferocious aura of a Great Demon. She’s just so adorable. If she were to walk out alone, other members of the Demon Race would have their eyes on her in minutes, ready to eat her up. She has no aggression whatsoever.’

"Master..." The Nine-tailed Fox watched, wide-eyed, as Jiang Qiu toyed with her first clone. Her heart involuntarily began to race, and a blush crept up her cheeks as if she were the one whose face was being pinched. "Gen... gently..."

’Does it hurt to have your cheek pinched? No, it doesn’t. Jiang Qiu wasn’t even using much force. Besides, as a Great Demon of the Transformation Realm, the skin of her clone couldn’t possibly be hurt by such a low level of power.’

’And besides, it wasn’t even *her* face being pinched.’

But she had let the words slip out unconsciously. There was a faint, sour tang of jealousy to them, but she didn’t dare speak any louder, because the one doing it was her master.

She had spoken so softly, swallowing the words back down, that it was like a whisper in her own heart. Naturally, Jiang Qiu hadn’t heard a thing.

However, a fleeting glance was enough for him to see her White Jade-like hand clench into a loose fist and her lips press together. An emotion inevitably spilled from her eyes. It wasn’t intense, but it was instantly soul-piercing— ’A kind of awkward envy.’