Within the Snake-People Kingdom's Ten Thousand Snake Cave, Queen Medusa sat on her throne, her gaze shifting between Xiao Feng and Xiao Yan. She tapped the throne's armrest with her fingertips, producing a crisp sound. "You want a fragment of the Nether Chapter? Fine. But you must pass the Snake-People Kingdom's Three Trials—and Xiao Feng must challenge them himself."
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. "Your Majesty, why single out my brother?"
Medusa's lips curved slightly. "He once took an attack from King Nine-Nether in my place. If I simply gave him the fragment, wouldn't that make it seem as though the Snake-People Kingdom repaid kindness with ingratitude?" She turned to Xiao Feng. "Young Master Xiao, do you dare accept?"
Xiao Feng nodded helplessly, though he knew in his heart that this was Medusa's "roundabout compensation." Although the system bug had been fixed, she still wanted to use the trial as an excuse to give the fragment to the Xiao Clan.
Inside the first trial, the Snake Shadow Labyrinth, countless Spirit-Devouring Snakes darted between the stone pillars. Xiao Feng used his Heavenly Demon Wings to weave and dodge, but deliberately left an opening and let the snakes drive him into a dead end. Medusa chuckled softly from the shadows and waved the snakes away. "First trial, passed."
In the second trial, the Fire Python Trial, Xiao Feng faced a Nine-Headed Fire Python fused with Heavenly Flames. He performed the Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations, but at the last moment, he "ran out of strength" and was caught in the python's coils. Xiao Yan was just about to intervene when Medusa beat him to it, sweeping her tail through the Fire Python and wiping it out. "Second trial, passed."
Before the third trial, the Realm of Heart and Soul, Xiao Yan sent him a warning telepathically. "Third Brother, this trial tests your emotional weaknesses. Be careful of Queen Medusa's illusions!"
Xiao Feng nodded and stepped into the illusion. The scene before him was exactly like the Gu Clan's marriage recruitment. Medusa, Xun'er, Yun Yun, and Gu Ling appeared all at once, each confessing her love for him. He shook his head with a wry smile. "The system bug's already been fixed. How come the illusion's still this outrageous?"
He used Soul Movement Three Thousand, turning his soul power into Xiao Yan's voice of complaint. "Third Brother, is this a romantic tribulation or a nightmare?" The illusion shattered in an instant, revealing Medusa's phantom. A note of approval flashed in her eyes. "Your will is resolute. Third trial, passed."
When the trials were over, Medusa handed the Nether Chapter fragment to Xiao Feng. But as it touched his palm, her fingertips trembled slightly—the "contract memories" left behind by the system bug were still at work. She quickly withdrew her hand and said formally, "Take the fragment. But the next time we meet, I want to dissolve our contract for good."
Xiao Feng clasped his hands in salute. "I'll be there." As he turned away, he heard Medusa murmur softly, "Actually... you'd make a better ally than Xiao Yan."
Xiao Yan was holding back his laughter so hard that his face had turned red. Only after they walked out of the Ten Thousand Snake Cave did he burst out laughing. "Third Brother, Queen Medusa just confessed to you in her own way!"
Xiao Feng rubbed his forehead helplessly. "You're the one who was supposed to get the fragment. How did I end up taking the trials?"
Xiao Yan shrugged. "What can I say? You're too charming. But seriously, Third Brother, which girl are you interested in? I'll help set you up."
Xiao Feng shot him a look. "Worry about yourself first. Did you reply to Xiao Yi Xian's letter?"
Xiao Yan's smile froze. Ever since the system was fixed, Xiao Yi Xian had been writing to him frequently, her letters full of concern, but he had no idea how to respond. He scratched his head. "I'll deal with it after we take care of Hun Dan."
As the two were talking, a thunderous roar sounded in the distance. A Snake-People scout came running over, stumbling as he went. "Your Majesty! The Soul Clan's Emotion Mirror has attacked Medicine Saint Mountain! Miss Xiao Yi Xian has been captured!"
Xiao Feng and Xiao Yan exchanged a glance and leaped into the air at the same time. "Let's go!"
Inside Medicine Saint Mountain, Xiao Yi Xian was imprisoned in an Emotion Cage. Facing her stood a mirror image of Xiao Feng, cold system codes flickering in his eyes. He raised a hand and flung a cloud of black mist, which corroded all of Xiao Yi Xian's poison. "Hand over the Starfall Chapter fragment, or else..."
"Impossible!" Xiao Yi Xian gritted her teeth. "Brother Xiao Yan left that for me!"
"Oh?" The mirror image raised an eyebrow. "But Xiao Feng is right here—" He lifted a hand and stroked Xiao Yi Xian's cheek. "He told me to tell you that he's the one truly chosen by fate."
Xiao Yi Xian's pupils contracted. Although she had feelings for Xiao Yan, she was also grateful to Xiao Feng for saving her life. Seeing "Xiao Feng" act so strangely, she was filled with confusion.
Just as the mirror image was about to attack, Xiao Yan's Fire Lotus burst through the window, with the Heavy Xuan Ruler close behind. "Let her go!"
At the same time, Xiao Feng flung out an Emperor Flame Chain, wrapping it around the mirror image's neck. "Xiao Yanzi, save Xiao Yi Xian! Leave this to me!"
Xiao Yan nodded, swung his ruler, and smashed the cage, then shielded Xiao Yi Xian behind him. She looked at him, tears welling in her eyes. "Brother Xiao Yan, that Xiao Feng..."
"He's a fake!" Xiao Yan said urgently. "It's a mirror image created by Hun Dan!"
The mirror image of Xiao Feng suddenly chuckled, his body turning into black mist that burrowed into Xiao Yi Xian. "Since you can't tell the real from the fake, then you can suffer together!"
Xiao Yi Xian let out a pained groan as a spell made of system codes appeared on her skin. Xiao Feng's pupils contracted. His Emperor Flame surged to its limit, forcibly driving the black mist out of her body.
"Third Brother, use Dual Emperor Resonance!" Xiao Yan shouted. "Like last time!"
The two unleashed their Heavenly Flames at once. The Fire Lotus and Emperor Flame joined in midair to form the character "Purify," cleansing the mirror image's black mist into specks of light. Xiao Yi Xian sank limply into Xiao Yan's arms and whispered, "I knew it... you were the real one."
Xiao Feng saw the flush on his little brother's ears and deliberately coughed twice. "Ahem. Miss Xiao Yi Xian, are you all right?"
Xiao Yi Xian hurriedly stood up, her cheeks red. "Brother Xiao, thank you... and thank you, Brother Xiao Yan."
The system notification sounded:
Ding! Successfully rescued Xiao Yi Xian. Obtained an Emotion Purification potion (can break mirror-image illusions).
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