The ghost turned around and found the first four apparitions coming at him.
He had already defeated them before but they were semi-immortal too, that is, they had already recovered.
For a moment the ghost had assumed that his master, Zhao Luo was the owner of those steps and felt excited but this excitement was crushed the moment he found out that it was just his master's apparitions.
"AHHH."
Letting out a loud shout, he pushed his toes on the dark floor and pulled back his fists.
'Whooosh.'
Launching, like a rock from a catapult, the ghost had used the speed of 'half walk' to enhance the explosive power of its punches and came towards the four apparitions in a blink of an eye.
"BOOM!"
The four apparitions who were returning to avenge their defeat with pride were blown away once more.
The two apparitions who were left alone stopped in their tracks.
Their faces turned towards their laid-back master who was watching them getting tortured, and their eyes showed a sign of plea.
"I guess, I should start."
Zhao Luo slowly got up from his spot and started walking towards his ghost.
'He isn't just a copy. He can feel and think almost on the level of humans. While his fighting technique comes from me and what I have seen but never tried.'
Zhao Luo had finally realized the true potential of his ghost but there was no fear in his eyes nor his confident steps.
"I can defeat him."
Zhao Luo decided but bringing down the ghost who was an equally powerful image of himself was next to impossible.
With only one last day remaining before the tournament started, Zhao Luo stood in front of the ghost facing him like he was his biggest adversary till now.
"Come at me."
Zhao Luo commanded the ghost.
'Nod.'
The ghost nodded and used the half walk to rush at Zhao Luo.
The moment he appeared, an image of yin and yang was expanding at his fists as the ghost's fists were coming at Zhao Luo.
"Hmph."
Zhao Luo smirked and instinctively raised his heel while pushing down his toes.
'Mini walk.'
Zhao Luo mumbled while blinking from his spot and appearing two steps away from his ghost who was in the midst of releasing a big move.
Zhao Luo's fist touched on the ghost's stomach, but right before his fist landed on its stomach, the strength of the fist dissipated instantly.
"Calming Fist."
Zhao Luo bellowed as the ghost turned his face towards Zhao Luo while looking down at its stomach.
'Boom.'
His stomach exploded inwards but before he could be thrown away from the impact, Zhao Luo launched another fist at its chest.
"Bullet fist."
Zhao Luo said in the coldest tone possible.
A hole was left on the chest of the ghost as he was finally sent flying away.
THUD!
After a few seconds, the ghost finally fell on the dark surface causing a loud crash.
"Checkmate!"
Zhao Luo smiled.
Indeed, it was a checkmate as a fight at this level was all about who counters who first.
And countering always depends on who's thinking a step ahead of the other.
In this fight, it was Zhao Luo who could be seen looking at the place where his ghost had dropped.
"Hahahaha."
Ghost got up while laughing like an edgy teen.
"Did he hit puberty after my fist mangled him?"
Zhao Luo scratched his head while the ghost came at him again with full speed.
"Again!"
Zhao Luo also smiled as this was the kind of training that he was always expecting.
Both Zhao Luo and his ghost started with using mini walks, continuously.
Zhao Luo was still a step ahead of his ghost.
Even though their strength was the same, Zhao Luo realized that his tactics were better than his image.
Appearing right behind his ghost, Zhao Luo lowered his body while pulling back both of his fists at the same time.
"Bullet Fist of Yin and Yang."
A yin-yang sigil grew out of Zhao Luo's fist and as his fist struck the back of his ghost, a gate of destruction was opened.
"Whooom."
The ghost was completely destroyed.
"..."
"What?"
"Don't tell me, Senior Tang Zi had never pushed his ghost to such a limit."
Zhao Luo wondered if his ghost had vanished completely after taking on his fist of yin and yang 'back' on.
Zhao Luo hurriedly sat down on the place he was standing on and closed his eyes.
"Mhmmmmmm."
"Hmmmmm.'
Zhao Luo started meditating while humming like a bee.
He definitely needed some guidance on this part.
Zhao Luo made a perfect image of himself in his mind and right after the image was done, the ghost had appeared in Zhao Luo's dark space again.
"Good."
Zhao Luo felt relieved as his ghost looked better tha ever and ready to fight.
"But..."
Zhao Luo mumbled and to his left and right.
"Where are they?"
Zhao Luo questioned as he couldn't find his apparitions.
The moment Zhao Luo turned around he was shocked to his core.
'These lazy bastards.'
The apparitions were lying on their bellies while enjoying Zhao Luo's fight with his ghost.
All the apparitions were rooting for Zhao Luo as they had been bullied by their master's image.
Thus seeing the ghost being blown to obliteration gave them a sense of satisfaction.
But now they were being stared at by Zhao Luo while the ghost was back.
".x.x."
Zhao Luo gave them a weird look while walking towards them.
The apparitions got up from their chilling positions
'Gulp.'
And felt nervous as they could feel that something bad was going to happen to them.
"Switch with me."
Zhao Luo tapped on the shoulder of two of them and sat at their spot.
The nine apparitions were tasked again.
Their task was once again, taking down their master's lookalike.
"Fight him as one."
Zhao Luo shouted at his apparitions.
Then he looked at his ghost who was already looking this way.
"And you...you can't use that attack again."
Zhao Luo instructed the ghost.
From 'that' attack he was obviously signaling at the bullet fist of yin and yang.
Thus all the apparitions moved towards the ghost in unison.
"Let's start the game again."
Zhao Luo waved his hand the second fight between the ghost and his apparitions had started.
While 20 hours were left before the outer disciple ranking tournament starts.
