I Cultivated Too Long and Got Isekai’d Into a Game

Now that Xu Tao had taken a Condensed True Qi Pill, his reserves were far greater than what the fake one had. He took advantage of this situation, not letting up on his attacks, piling up one small injury after another.

"But this wouldn't be enough…" he thought, feeling threatened.

At the pace he was going, he would definitely be the first to fall from his damaged meridians—long before the fake one could die of a thousand cuts!

"I need to use a technique to seal the deal, but he's not giving me a moment to do so either!"

The fake understood Xu Tao's state as well. Sooner rather than later, Xu Tao would succumb to the reckless use of the Qi Pill. As such, the fake was trying to buy as much time as possible, pouring everything into his defenses.

"Hah! Is this the best you can do?!"

Realizing how Xu Tao's attacks were losing about one percent of their strength with each hit, the fake started taunting him again. "At this rate, dying is your only choice!"

"Shut… UP!"

Loading as much Qi as possible into his sword in an instant, Xu Tao caused an explosion that forcefully separated them both—earning the breathing room they each needed.

"A chance!" Xu Tao thought as he began building up a big move.

Now, it was too late for the fake to stop him. He could only try his best to defend against it… or dodge it entirely. Both, however, were difficult to pull off.

"Dao Law?!" the fake realized what Xu Tao was using, and panicked—at least for a moment. "You think only you can use that?!"

Without missing a beat, he did the same, building up the very move Xu Tao was preparing. The same technique, the same skill, the same mastery… the only difference was timing!

"Take this!" Xu Tao finished first, swinging his sword vertically.

Yes… it was the same technique he had used to cut down the giant cyclops before. A technique that cut through everything that existed where the blade passed.

"None shall remain standing before my blade!"

He recited the tenet as his sword swung down. His heart blazed, his Qi roared, and the space itself cracked—revealing utter darkness beyond the endless white expanse.

"Too slow!" But before he could finish the line, the fake also completed his move. "None shall remain standing before my blade!!!"

Both swung their swords, their Sword Intents colliding. The space warped where their slashes met, creating a singularity for a brief moment before—

CRASH!

The invisible slashes that could cut through everything shattered into a million shards. Neither survived, ending in mutual annihilation.

"Heh… I win."

One of them gained the upper hand in that short exchange—the real Xu Tao!

Using Dao Laws, especially a Sword Law as an attack, consumed vast amounts of Qi. In his normal state, Xu Tao could only use this technique once before exhausting himself. The same was true for the fake before him.

Now, the Qi within the fake was dangerously low, almost entirely depleted. However, instead of showing weakness, his lips curled into a vicious grin.

"Be proud—you forced me to use this technique!" he growled.

Xu Tao's eyes widened. "That technique… don't tell me…!"

His face paled as he realized what the fake was about to do. He needed to stop it before it was completed—but it was too late.

The next moment, the fake Xu Tao's body exuded a blood-red aura. It wrapped around his shoulders like a mantle or feathered robe of crimson. A dense concentration of that same aura gathered around his forehead, shaping into two long, curved horns.

Behind him, two extra pairs of arms formed—each radiating overwhelming destructive power, as if a single grasp could mean annihilation. Finally, a spinning mandala of flames blazed into existence behind his head, forming a hellish halo.

"Six-Armed Ashura Demon King Manifestation!" the fake shouted, almost proudly.

Xu Tao's expression darkened.

The fake's Qi surged, surpassing Xu Tao's—even with the pill. And that wasn't the only problem.

"You used the Forbidden Technique of Ashura Life Conversion?! Do you have a death wish?!"

It was a technique that consumed the user's lifespan—and, in the worst cases, their soul—in exchange for a massive burst of power. Xu Tao had learned it as a last-resort trump card for moments of mortal peril, but he had never dared to use it.

It was simply too dangerous.

"Wanting to die?" the fake grinned, vanishing in an instant.

A low whisper echoed right beside Xu Tao's ear. "I'm just a copy. Who cares about my life? But before that, I'll make sure you die first!"

An attack came, fast and sharp. Xu Tao raised his blade in panic, blocking the sword swing.

"Ugh!"

But that wasn't all. Four intangible fists rained down, all aiming for his vital points.

With the Six-Armed Ashura's curse, anything struck by those fists would be pulverized. Blocking wasn't an option—Xu Tao could only dodge to survive!

Activating Ground Shrink in desperation, he moved over a dozen meters away in a blink. Even so, he could still feel the crushing pressure from the fists that had swung through the air where he'd been moments earlier.

His expression turned grim. "This is getting dangerous."

Just a glancing blow from those fists, and he would be beyond dead.

However, danger brought opportunity.

"With him activating the Forbidden Technique, he can last a minute at most. If I can just hold out that long…"

He paused, the corner of his lips curling despite the cold sweat on his back.

"I… can win this!"

"Can you?"

"…!"

A lapse in attention—no, not even that. He had never let the fake out of his sight, yet in the next instant, he was suddenly there, right in front of him, just inches away!

A sword slashed upward from below. Two arms swept forward as if to embrace him, while the other two reeled back, readying the finishing blow.

A single moment—that was all Xu Tao had before his fate was sealed.

His mind flashed through countless survival scenarios… and found the most optimal choice.

He… threw his sword away!