Mirror Crisis: Perfect Brother and Xiao Yan's Daily Complaints

Inside the Dou Emperor Ancestral Hall of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Feng lay quietly within a green jade coffin. The patterns on his Emperor Scale were dim and lusterless, with only the Flame Emperor Fire Mark on his chest resonating faintly with the fire lotus of Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan sat by the coffin, clutching the tattered scroll of the Dou Emperor Inheritance brought back from the Soul Burial Abyss, his brows tightly knitted: "Yao Lao, why is Third Brother's soul power still unable to recover?"

Yao Lao's phantom emerged from the ring, gazing at the ancient characters on the scroll: "The records state that the Emperor Flame and the Flame Emperor were originally the same source of different fires; they require 'Dual Emperor Resonance' to awaken the complete inheritance. Perhaps... you must use the Flame Emperor Fire as a guide to help your brother reshape his soul."

Xiao Yan nodded and was about to raise his hand when a commotion erupted outside the hall. The sound of Queen Medusa's snake tail lashing out arrived first: "Xiao Yan, I must speak with you regarding the contract!" This was immediately followed by Xun Er's attempts to dissuade her: "Your Majesty, please remain calm; Xiao Yan is currently in seclusion..."

"Just in time." Xiao Yan gave a bitter smile. "I shall resolve these romantic debts first, then save Third Brother."

Outside the hall, the moment Medusa saw Xiao Yan, a flicker of confusion crossed her eyes—though the system bug had been repaired, the "contract memory" regarding Xiao Feng still lingered. Seeing this, Xun Er quickly explained: "Your Majesty, the previous misunderstanding was caused by Hun Dan tampering with your memories; Xiao Yan is the one who..."

"I care nothing for your system!" Medusa whipped her long purple hair. "That day in the Soul Burial Abyss, it was Xiao Feng who blocked the attack from King Nine-Nether for me; this debt of gratitude I must repay!" She turned to Xiao Yan. "But as for the contract, I only recognize the successor of the Flame Emperor."

Xiao Yan rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache brewing. Ever since the system was repaired, although Medusa had confirmed his status as the Destined Protagonist, she remained filled with guilt toward Xiao Feng, coming to "visit" the Xiao Clan every few days, leading the entire clan to believe she had "transferred her affections."

"Your Majesty, why not help me awaken Third Brother first?" Xiao Yan said helplessly. "Once he wakes, you can clarify things face-to-face, how about that?"

Just as Medusa was about to speak, a telepathic message from Yun Yun arrived from afar: "Young Master Xiao Yan, the White Cloud Sect is under attack by the Soul Clan, I implore your assistance!" At the same time, a message came from Gu Ling's jade slip: "Little Brother Xiao Yan, there is an anomaly with the 'Burning Heaven Chapter' fragment of the Gu Clan!"

Xiao Yan looked up and sighed: "Yao Lao, I now believe what you said about the 'Protagonist Halo' being a burden."

Yao Lao chuckled: "Kid, handle the sect crisis first; perhaps you will find a way to awaken Xiao Feng along the way."

Just as Xiao Yan prepared to depart, the figure of Hun Dan suddenly appeared above the ancestral grounds, holding a crystal ball. Inside the ball, a mirror image of Xiao Feng was sealed—but the image's eyes were sinister, and the Emperor Scale glowed with an ominous purple light.

"Little brat of the Xiao Clan, taste the flavor of a 'perfect brother'!" Hun Dan grinned and waved his hand. The mirror image shattered and emerged, identical to Xiao Feng, save for a cold arc at the corner of his mouth. "This is a system mirror; it possesses your brother's strength but none of his emotions—he will help me destroy the Xiao Clan!"

The mirror Xiao Feng stepped through the air, the Emperor Flame dancing in his palm, yet tainted with the black mist of Soul-Devouring Insects: "Xiao Yan, surrender."

Xiao Yan's pupils constricted: "You are not my brother! He would never raise a hand against me!"

"Oh?" The mirror image raised an eyebrow. "Then look at this—" He raised his hand, and the green jade coffin flew out from the hall, leaving Xiao Feng's physical body suspended in mid-air. "If you do not wish for him to have his soul scattered, hand over the Dou Emperor Inheritance scroll."

Medusa and Xun Er struck simultaneously, only to be repelled by the mirror image's "System Barrier." Xiao Yan gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler, but when his Flame Emperor Fire collided with the mirror's Emperor Flame, a violent repulsive reaction occurred—this Emperor Flame was actually laced with Soul Clan secret arts!

"Xiao Yan, don't be impulsive!" The real Xiao Feng's voice suddenly echoed in his consciousness. "This is a mirror image created by Hun Dan using my genetic code; only 'Dual Emperor Resonance' can break it!"

"But you haven't woken up yet!" Xiao Yan sent back. "How can we resonate?"

"Use the scroll!" Xiao Feng's voice sounded strained. "The Flame Emperor Fire within you is connected to my soul; try it..."

Xiao Yan realized in a flash. He unfurled the scroll, and the Flame Emperor Fire transformed into golden runes that merged into Xiao Feng's physical body. Miraculously, Xiao Feng's Emperor Scale began to regain its luster, while cracks appeared on the mirror image.

"Impossible!" Hun Dan exclaimed. "He is clearly still in a deep slumber!"

Xiao Yan seized the opportunity to unleash the "Dual Emperor Sky-Breaking." This time, without needing Xiao Feng's cooperation, the fire lotus resonated with the phantom of the Emperor Flame in the void, directly blasting the mirror image into fragments. Seeing the situation turn, Hun Dan fled once more, leaving behind a harsh threat: "Xiao Clan, next time, you shall not escape!"

After the crisis was averted, Medusa looked at Xiao Feng's body and suddenly spoke: "Perhaps... I can help him awaken." She took out the Snake Clan Sacred Artifact, the "Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python Inner Core." "Using my origin power as a guide, it might awaken his soul."

Xun Er also offered the Gu Clan's "Soul-Returning Spirit Liquid": "This liquid can repair soul trauma."

Yun Yun brought the "Soul-Guiding Bell" from the White Cloud Sect: "The sound of the bell can guide the soul back to its place."

Xiao Yan looked at the three women and smiled bitterly: "Are you all... competing to offer treasures?"

Medusa snorted: "Don't misunderstand; I just don't want to owe any favors."

Xun Er chuckled: "After Brother Xiao wakes, he will still need to help the Gu Clan decipher the Ancient Emperor Jade fragments."

Yun Yun shook her head: "The White Cloud Sect owes the Xiao Clan a debt."

Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly, yet felt a pang of emotion in his heart—even with the system repaired, his brother's charm remained undiminished. He fused the inner core, the spirit liquid, and the bell's chime, transforming them into a beam of light that poured into Xiao Feng's body.

Ding! Host has triggered the "Beauty's Assistance" plot; Xiao Feng's soul power has recovered 30%!

Reward: "Guardian of the Brother" title (Female character favorability +10, Xiao Feng awakening progress +5%).

Xiao Feng's eyelashes fluttered. Seeing this, Xiao Yan quickly leaned in: "Third Brother?"

"Xiao Yan..." Xiao Feng opened his eyes weakly. Looking at Medusa, Xun Er, and Yun Yun surrounding him, he raised an eyebrow at his brother. "It seems the system is repaired; your Protagonist Halo has returned?"

Xiao Yan shrugged: "It has, but someone's romantic debts haven't been cleared yet." He deliberately raised his voice. "For instance, Queen Medusa is still waiting to dissolve your contract!"

Medusa's face flushed slightly, but she bit the bullet and said: "Xiao Feng, the contract that day was a misunderstanding, I..."

"No matter." Xiao Feng smiled lightly. "Once I have fully recovered, I shall go to the Snake-People Kingdom to dissolve it with you in person." He turned to Xiao Yan. "But before that, we have more important matters—Hun Dan will not give up; we must gather the Ancient Emperor Jade fragments as soon as possible to summon the true Emperor Flame."

Xun Er nodded: "The Gu Clan's 'Burning Heaven Chapter' fragment has been confirmed to be in the hands of the Soul Clan; my father is currently gathering the experts of the Gu Clan."

Yun Yun added: "The White Cloud Sect will also send disciples to assist."

Medusa lashed her snake tail: "The Snake-People Kingdom is willing to provide fifty thousand snake warriors."

Xiao Yan looked at his brother and suddenly grinned: "Third Brother, it seems your 'Best Supporting Actor' title is about to be upgraded to 'Continent-Wide Male God'."

Xiao Feng shook his head helplessly: "Forget it, your 'Destined Protagonist' title is more worry-free—at least you don't have to deal with so many misunderstandings."

The system notification sounded right on cue:

Ding! Xiao Feng's awakening progress has increased to 40%; "Brotherly Combo" hidden plot unlocked.

Outside the ancestral grounds, Hun Dan hid in the black mist, grinning as he looked at the "System Remnant" in his hand: "Twin sons of the Xiao Clan, next time, I will use the most perfect mirror—that mirror will have no emotional weaknesses!" He looked up toward the Soul Burial Abyss: "The remnant soul of King Nine-Nether should also be awakening soon..."