As Qi Ping activated his Treant Clone talent, an array similar to the Life-Bound Pact slowly formed before him. Under the mysterious influence of eerie green and blood-red energy, a figure with an aura nearly identical to Qi Ping's gradually coalesced.
Through this formation, Qi Ping's own essence, the Sun-Blaze Wood, and the fledgling body nurtured within the tree all began to channel their power into the Treant Clone. With the fusion of these three sources, the clone rapidly took shape.
'No wonder a Life-Bound Pact must be established before a Treant Clone can be manifested!'
Qi Ping realized the truth as he sensed the unique resonance of the clone's power. The reason this clone could replicate most of his strength was the profound connection between himself, the Sun-Blaze Wood, and the secondary body inside it. Only with such a link could a powerful duplicate be born.
Condensed in just under two days, the process was far less taxing than establishing the initial pact. Most of the burden was carried by the Sun-Blaze Wood and the internal body. Since the tree was situated within his Natural Sanctuary, Qi Ping wasn't worried about its recovery.
Once the Treant Clone fully materialized, Qi Ping felt a wondrous new sense of awareness.
'It truly feels like an extra limb!'
He perceived this new body as a specialized extension of himself—not two souls controlling two bodies, but rather a hand he could operate across a distance. Initially, the sensation was incredibly jarring; after all, he had lived with only one body for many years. Seeing his clone face-to-face was particularly unsettling.
In terms of appearance, the clone was indistinguishable from his main body, save for a mystical sigil of blood-red and eerie green on its chest. However, the strangeness didn't last long. He soon adapted, and his control over the clone became increasingly fluid.
"Not bad at all!"
"Once you get used to it, this is actually more convenient than before!"
Through experimentation, he discovered that having a clone made multitasking effortless. Tasks that previously required him to be in two places at once could now be handled with ease.
'Next, I need to test the basic and special powers of this clone...'
Qi Ping began a systematic assessment.
'Physical strength, spiritual energy density, and soul power don't just split fifty-fifty; it's more complex. But in terms of overall combat efficacy, it is indeed roughly half of my main body's.'
'Special skills like Plant Growth, Natural Perception, Heart of Nature, Animal Companion, and Wild Shape seem unusable...'
'However, Healing, Barkskin, and Beastmaster's Flame are all accessible, though their potency is reduced.'
'The buffs from Beastmaster's Will, Yang-Fire Body, Bewitching Spirit Seal, and Three-Colored Spirit remain active, albeit at a lower intensity. Beyond that, the clone possesses a spark of power from the Sun-Blaze Wood—an unexpected bonus.'
After thorough testing, Qi Ping gained a comprehensive understanding of the clone's capabilities. In short, his basic attributes and the passive boosts from his talents were all present, just scaled down. Skills he had mastered deeply remained available because they were part of his fundamental understanding.
Abilities like the Hundred-Eyed Demon Realm, which he understood but had not yet mastered, could still be used, but with significantly less power than when his main body cast them. However, unique class talents like Animal Companion were strictly tied to the main body and could not be channeled through the clone.
'Given all this, the clone's actual combat power is roughly seventy percent of my own. While weaker, it's more than enough to handle ordinary early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.'
'It has little impact on my ability to manipulate arrays. All the spells and techniques I've learned in the cultivation world can be used normally, just without the same level of foundational support.'
Combined with his arrays, Qi Ping felt the clone could exert eighty percent of his full lethality.
'This combat power is better than I expected!'
With this, he wouldn't have to worry too much when the clone ventured out.
'Finally... how far can I control this clone?'
This was the most critical test, as it determined the clone's practical utility. If it could only operate near his main body, its value would be severely limited.
A few days later, a look of pure delight crossed Qi Ping's face as he uttered three words:
"The Azure Heaven Domain!"
He had controlled the clone while using his self-created Myriad Transformation Art to hide its appearance and aura, taking it on a long journey. He confirmed that he maintained strong control within the general range of the Azure Heaven Domain. The connection only began to fray as the clone approached the domain's outer edges.
"It's settled then!"
'I wonder if the control range will expand as my cultivation grows? Regardless, with a clone that can travel this far, the possibilities are endless!'
Qi Ping had already brainstormed several uses for this ability. Most importantly, while his main body stayed safe in the territory to cultivate and nurture spirit herbs, the clone could do everything he previously feared to do. This included executing Black Market tasks and purchasing rare second-grade spirit herbs.
But before he sent the clone out, there was one thing he had to do. He needed to learn a truly terrifying, absolute self-detonation technique!
Qi Ping had come to realize the true horror of this cultivation world. Upon returning from his last trip, he had felt a lingering chill.
If his suspicions were correct, this cultivation world was essentially a giant ranch! Mortals and Qi Refinement cultivators were nothing more than free-range livestock kept in the dark. The "protection" they received was only so they could produce specific "breeds" useful to mysterious entities. Anyone who tried to break the mold or uncover the truth would be erased!
Once a cultivator reached Foundation Establishment, they began to graze the truth of the ruling class. One's every move might be watched. To those mysterious entities, any talent that rose from the bottom was worth observing; if useful, they were "raised" until harvest. If threatening, they were culled.
Qi Ping understood that in this hostile environment, every transaction or inquiry he made would leave a trace. If he showed any abnormality, he would attract unwanted attention. Even with a clone, he couldn't afford to be careless.
Thus, a flawless self-detonation technique was essential! This technique had to consume the clone's flesh, soul, and everything else, leaving no trace behind while unleashing a devastating explosion!
If anyone dared to corner his clone, they would receive a very explosive parting gift.