Chapter 31: The Library Spirit’s Challenge

“This is the mage’s library. Although the magic books within have long since weathered away, a spirit still guards it.”

“My sister never eliminated it, precisely so it could protect the staircase leading to the upper levels. It’s the reason those evil spirits dare not ascend. If you touch the stairs to the higher floors, it will stop you.”

Having heard Aruola’s explanation, Zhang Luan scrutinized her, his gaze filled with a hint of distrust, despite her calm demeanor.

“Is that all?” he questioned. “Don’t tell me some new trouble will pop up once I reach the top.”

“There’s nothing else,” Aruola replied. “Besides, you didn’t ask me, so I didn’t say.”

Seeing Aruola about to argue further, Zhang Luan waved his hand, cutting her off.

“Alright, alright, enough with the chatter. What kind of power does that spirit in the library possess? What level is it?”

Aruola blinked her large, pale blue eyes, pondering for a moment before she spoke.

“Its abilities were modified by my sister. It will have the same level and power as you, and it will also replicate your rank. You have to defeat yourself; even if you have help, it will be useless. It’s immune to all damage except from the copied entity.”

“I see.”

Zhang Luan gazed at the staircase leading to the upper levels, deep in thought. After a moment, he gripped the Bow of Demise, notched an arrow, and switched its mode to [Chixiao] state. Crimson currents of electricity surged, stimulating his wrist.

He walked towards the staircase, then turned to glance at Aruola. She floated in mid-air, watching him, a pot she’d brought from the room earlier suspended before her. She expressionlessly ate the remaining half of a boiled egg.

Zhang Luan abandoned the idea of relying on her for reminders. He took a step forward, and in an instant, the world spun. The surrounding space seemed to transform into mirrors, reflecting Zhang Luan’s figure from all directions.

A book-shaped spirit hovered in mid-air, its pages fluttering continuously. This, he presumed, was the Library Spirit.

He raised the Bow of Demise, aimed at it, and fired an arrow. The arrow circled once, then curved to strike.

The Library Spirit sensed the attack, and a mirror appeared before it. An identical arrow shot from the mirror, colliding with Zhang Luan’s projectile.

“Hmph, it’s not that simple, after all.”

Just then, a replica identical to him slowly emerged from one of the mirrors reflecting his image.

The replica’s eyes were vacant, completely devoid of spiritual energy. It held a longbow identical to the Bow of Demise, though it was clearly a crude imitation, lacking even the signature electrical currents.

Gray-black Starsurge Flames manifested around the imitation, coalescing into fireballs that flew towards Zhang Luan.

Zhang Luan didn’t evade. With a sweep of his hand, a wall of Starsurge Flames erupted from the ground, instantly devouring the fireballs.

Evidently, its replication of the Starsurge Flames’ power was a dismal failure.

Zhang Luan looked at his own handsome, yet lifeless, face reflected in the replica, and couldn’t help but click his tongue.

“Ah, it truly pains me to kill such a handsome fellow.”

Despite his words, Zhang Luan showed no mercy. Starsurge Flames condensed into blades in mid-air, and he unleashed his Sword Control Technique, launching them forward.

The replica also employed the same technique. The two sets of flame swords negated each other, but it was clear that Zhang Luan’s Starsurge Flames burned hotter. He initiated his most familiar tactic, beginning to constantly run around the arena. With the [Super Spicy] buff, his speed was so great that he left afterimages.

Although his HP would continuously deplete, the [Exquisite Delicacy] buff perfectly mitigated this negative effect.

Conversely, the replica also began to run, but it was evident that while it might have copied the God of Cookery’s Spicy Pot, it simply had no time to prepare food.

In terms of speed, Zhang Luan emerged victorious.

Under the 100% arrow speed boost from the Bow of Demise, Zhang Luan’s attacks were always slightly faster than the replica’s. The light flickering on the replica’s wrist indicated it also triggered this effect, but perhaps due to the inability to perfectly replicate a mythical item, its speed boost was certainly not 100%.

The battle seemed to have devolved into a one-sided affair. Yet, after a full five minutes of suppression, Zhang Luan realized something was amiss.

Logically, based on his understanding of himself, his HP was quite low, as were his defense and resistance. He had suppressed the replica for five full minutes, inflicting enough damage in that time to take down Yanate. Yet, the replica remained steadfast.

‘Just how much HP does this guy have?’

Zhang Luan shifted his gaze to its combat panel, only to discover that the copied health bar displayed ‘???’.

This meant its HP was either so high he couldn’t see it, or it was simply infinite.

“Tsk, so this thing has infinite HP, no wonder it’s lasted this long. Though, getting to look at such a handsome face for so long isn’t bad. How am I supposed to kill it… through magic power?”

The Bow of Demise’s form switched to [Black Moon]. Dark currents accompanied every arrow he fired.

Upon striking the replica, mana continuously flowed back into his body. The mimic also began to emulate him, switching the form of its copied longbow.

Another five minutes passed. Zhang Luan struck the replica’s face over a hundred times, not to mention countless other hits to its body. Yet, he saw no sign of weakness. Instead, its experience seemed to grow, and its replication improved, now barely keeping pace with his attack speed.

This couldn’t continue. If things went on like this, he would eventually be dragged down and defeated.

“Aruola, do you know how to deal with this thing?”

Hearing Zhang Luan call her, Aruola set down the freshly brewed hot tea and nodded.

“I do.”

“Then why didn’t you say anything? I’ve been fighting here for ages!”

To Zhang Luan’s exasperated question, Aruola offered the same reply.

“You didn’t ask.”

“Alright, alright, fine, I didn’t ask. Just tell me now!”

“Mhm, just kill that… Book Spirit. The energy used by its copied entities comes from the darkness of the lower levels. Unless an attack capable of completely devouring darkness appears, you won’t be able to kill the replica. However, the Library Spirit doesn’t possess such power. You can… eliminate it.”

If he had to destroy that book, it was not beyond his capabilities.

Zhang Luan made up his mind. Seizing an opportunity, he drew his bow and fired. Several Spiral Arrows shot towards the book.

As expected, a mirror appeared before it, replicating his attack.

Just as the attacks from both sides were about to cancel each other out, the Power of Genesis attached to his arrows analyzed the surrounding space, pinpointing the book’s coordinates.

All the arrows bypassed the replicated projectiles, streaking straight into the Book Spirit. Spatial ripples shattered its body, and the Spiral Arrows pierced through its pages. Everything unfolded seamlessly.

But at that very moment, an anomaly occurred: fluctuations of power began to emanate from the replica’s body.