Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Yu Xiaoyu were both struggling to keep up.
They found Xu Yi's words surprisingly sensible.
The two exchanged another glance, their faces showing hesitation.
Indeed, how could they prove who was the real one?
"Haha." Xu Yi's expression suddenly softened, and she laughed uncontrollably, "I was just teasing you; you actually took it seriously."
Unexpectedly, Xiong Zhuangzhuang replied with a serious expression, "No, you make sense. We should indeed prove our identities."
Xu Yi's smile gradually faded.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's attitude made her realize the situation was more serious than she had imagined.
"Xu Yi, can you think of a way for us to prove ourselves?"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang sheepishly rubbed his hands together, finding such brain-wracking tasks unsuited for him.
Yu Xiaoyu also looked at Xu Yi expectantly.
"Let me think."
Xu Yi narrowed her eyes, her mind racing.
To distinguish the genuine from the fake, an irrefutable method was needed for proof.
Xu Yi quickly came up with an idea but then shook her head and rejected it after careful consideration.
Although this method could certainly help them identify who was real and who was fake, it also had a fatal flaw, and Xu Yi was reluctant to proceed unless absolutely necessary.
"Tell me in detail, how did you encounter someone impersonating you? Was it a demon disguised?"
"It wasn't a demon," Xiong Zhuangzhuang said sternly. "After I killed a demon earlier, I found a damaged Level Eight artifact beneath it. This imposter emerged from inside it. That artifact was a mirror with a very noticeable crack."
"A Level Eight artifact."
Xu Yi's eyes flashed, and she immediately took out the Spirit Demon Bead from her storage ring, injecting spiritual energy into it.
The Spirit Demon Bead flickered again.
Xu Yi stared intently at Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Yu Xiaoyu. Under their astonished gazes, a wisp of gray mist, almost invisible to the naked eye, floated out from Xiong Zhuangzhuang and was swallowed by the Spirit Demon Bead.
"What is this?"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's face turned extremely ugly.
A look of understanding flashed in Xu Yi's eyes. Xiong Zhuangzhuang must have touched that Level Eight artifact, which was why demonic energy had been left on him.
As for the mirror he mentioned…
Xu Yi pondered for a moment and suddenly asked, "Do you remember what the imposter looked like?"
"Yes," Yu Xiaoyu probably wouldn't forget the scene in this lifetime.
Xu Yi's gaze fell on the conspicuous pouch at Xiong Zhuangzhuang's waist and she slowly said, "Do you remember where the imposter's pouch was?"
"Ah, the position of that pouch was the same as Xiong Zhuangzhuang's..."
Yu Xiaoyu was a bit confused by Xu Yi's question but answered truthfully. However, after only a few words, she suddenly stopped.
She seemed to have understood something, her gaze also shifting to Xiong Zhuangzhuang's waist, making Xiong Zhuangzhuang shift uncomfortably.
"I remember, Xiong Zhuangzhuang's spirit beast bag is on the right, but the imposter's was on the left; they were opposite!"
Yu Xiaoyu exclaimed with enlightenment and excitement.
Previously, Xiong Zhuangzhuang and the imposter were standing together, and she was flustered, not noticing this detail at all, thinking they were identical.
But now, calming down and recalling slightly, she could find a relatively obvious loophole.
Upon hearing Yu Xiaoyu's words, Xiong Zhuangzhuang was startled, then he also reacted, his fierce eyes revealing a look of ecstasy.
To be honest, even he hadn't thought of this.
"Then we just need to pay attention to their clothing and accessories from now on!"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang clapped his hands.
Now they wouldn't have to worry about accidentally harming their companions.
However, Xu Yi poured a bucket of cold water on them.
"This method, although useful, is also easily broken."
If the demonic creature that emerged from the mirror possessed a certain degree of intelligence, it would eventually find a way to resolve this loophole.
"Then what should we do?"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Yu Xiaoyu now followed Xu Yi's lead.
"I haven't thought of a better method yet. Besides this, we can also use essence blood for proof, but forcibly forcing out essence blood will damage cultivation, which is a last resort," Xu Yi said slowly, frowning.
The main reason was that she hadn't seen the imposter in person, so she couldn't think of a better solution just by listening to Xiong Zhuangzhuang's account.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Yu Xiaoyu were a little disappointed but quickly rallied.
At least they now had two methods to distinguish between the real and the fake.
Moreover, with Xu Yi around, they felt like they had found their anchor and were no longer so frightened.
"Our most urgent task is to rendezvous with the others as soon as possible. I hope they don't run into impostor demons."
"Then let's hurry."
The three no longer lingered, heading in a direction they had never ventured before.
...
"The sixth Level Eight artifact!"
Shangguan Yuquan's face turned red, his eyes fervent, and his voice trembled slightly.
He was currently holding a blood-red sword sheath.
His fingers gently caressed a prominent notch on the sword sheath, and his lips twitched with pain.
"If only there wasn't this notch..."
He murmured softly, his touch becoming even gentler.
At this moment, he had cast aside the academy mission and Wanyan Xue; his entire being was consumed by this single artifact.
"Come..."
"Come here..."
"Quick, come..."
A ethereal yet subtly seductive voice echoed in Shangguan Yuquan's mind.
His hands paused, and he looked at the east in shock.
He had a feeling that a top-tier artifact was summoning him from that direction.
At the same time, the sword sheath in his hand also trembled gently, as if silently pleading with him.
Shangguan Yuquan felt as if he had been stunned by a huge pie falling from the sky.
Just a sword sheath was a Level Eight artifact; if he found the matching sword, wouldn't he be able to see a Level Nine artifact, something only heard of in legends?
Thinking of this, Shangguan Yuquan's breathing quickened.
Just as Shangguan Yuquan was about to inexplicably walk east, his body stiffened. A indescribable coolness allowed his cloudy eyes to regain a moment of clarity.
A Level Nine artifact would be excellent, but he also needed the ability to wield it.
Possession of a treasure brings ruin upon the innocent.
If news of him possessing a Level Nine artifact spread, even the reclusive Mahayana Ancestors might be tempted. At that time, forget about the Level Nine artifact, he might not even be able to keep his own life.
Shangguan Yuquan's ability to stand out in the sect competition and join Kunlun Academy proved that he was not a foolish person.
A cold sweat broke out on his back, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of fear.
Forget it, a Level Nine artifact was good, but it wasn't something he could control at his current level.
Shangguan Yuquan shook his head with regret, put away the sword sheath, and was about to leave.
However, after taking just two steps forward, a faint gray light flashed across his eyes.
When Shangguan Yuquan looked up again, his expression had been replaced by fervor.
A Level Nine artifact!
How could he miss this heaven-sent opportunity!
He changed direction and sped towards the east, a hint of madness showing on his face.