Outside the White Cloud Sect's Clear Cloud Hall, rumors surged like a flood. Hun Dan's mirror had deliberately magnified the rumor that "Xiao Feng and Yun Yun are having an affair." At that moment, the elders inside the hall wore grim expressions, while Yun Yun was bound in the center by the Heart-Clearing Chain, her eyes filled with indignation.
"Yun Yun, do you know your crime?" The First Elder slammed the table and stood. "What punishment do you deserve for consorting with spies from the Soul Clan?"
"First Elder, please see reason!" Yun Yun struggled to explain. "Xiao Feng is a pillar of the Xiao Clan, absolutely not a spy!"
Just as the atmosphere grew taut as a drawn bow, Xiao Feng and Xiao Yan burst through the window. Emperor Flame and Flame Emperor Fire erupted at once, shattering the Heart-Clearing Chain. Xiao Feng nodded to Yun Yun. "Sect Master Yun Yun, sorry I'm late."
The First Elder roared, "How dare you! You actually barged into Clear Cloud Hall!"
Xiao Yan sneered. "Barged in? We're here to catch the spy—the real spy is right among you!"
He pointed the Heavy Xuan Ruler at a gray-robed elder in the corner. The man's pupils shrank, and he turned into black mist and fled. Xiao Feng was ready for him: Emperor Flame Chain wrapped around his ankle, and the gray-robed elder screamed as his true form emerged—he was a Shapeshifting Soul Cultivator of the Soul Clan!
"First Elder," Xiao Feng said with clasped hands, "this Soul Cultivator disguised himself as an elder of the White Cloud Sect and deliberately spread rumors to divide our alliance."
The First Elder's expression shifted. Though he believed them seven parts out of ten, he still kept a stern face. "Even so, the matter of Yun Yun having an affair with an outsider..."
"Silence!" Yun Yun suddenly drew her sword. "Xiao Feng and I are completely innocent. If you keep spouting such nonsense, don't blame me for what I do!" She turned to Xiao Feng, her gaze softening. "Young Master Xiao, thank you for trusting me."
Xiao Feng was about to speak when a sudden cry came from outside the hall: "Look! Xiao Feng is meeting a mysterious woman in secret behind the mountain!"
Everyone rushed out of the hall. In the woods behind the mountain, Xiao Feng was whispering to a masked woman, their manner intimate. Xiao Yan's pupils shrank—that was clearly Mirror Xiao Feng! He was about to expose him when Yun Yun had already charged forward with her sword. "Young Master Xiao, you..."
Mirror Xiao Feng turned around, a crafty red light flashing in his eyes. "Sect Master Yun Yun, long time no see."
Yun Yun froze on the spot. That voice was exactly the same as the real Xiao Feng's! Her hand trembled around her sword. "Who are you, really?"
The mirror chuckled and raised a hand to pull off the mask, revealing a face identical to Xiao Feng's. "I'm the real Xiao Feng—and that one is a mirror made by Hun Dan." He turned to Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yanzi, you can't even recognize your own brother?"
Xiao Yan gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler and sent his voice to the real Xiao Feng. "Third Brother, this mirror is too crafty. It's actually accusing us of being the fakes!"
Xiao Feng frowned and activated Soul Movement Three Thousand to probe the mirror's soul, only to discover that its spiritual sea was exactly the same as his own—Hun Dan had actually copied his memories!
"First Elder," Mirror Xiao Feng said with clasped hands, "these two are impersonating Xiao Yan and me. They infiltrated the White Cloud Sect to destroy our alliance. Please capture them at once!"
The First Elder's gaze shifted from side to side; he didn't know which side to believe. Yun Yun bit her lip, then suddenly slashed at the mirror with her sword, but he easily dodged. "Sect Master Yun Yun, why are you attacking me?"
"Because..." Pain flashed in Yun Yun's eyes. "The real Xiao Feng would never put me in such a dilemma."
Xiao Yan seized the chance to throw out the Emotion Purification Potion. It turned into a luminous mist that enveloped the mirror, and system code indeed surfaced across his body. The mirror cried out in fury. "You dare..."
Xiao Feng unleashed Emperor Flame, joining forces with Xiao Yan to knock the mirror back. "Xiao Yanzi, use Dual Emperor Resonance to lock onto his energy fluctuations!"
Their Heavenly Flames merged, coalescing in midair into a true image of Xiao Feng that stood in stark contrast to the mirror—the true image was gentle as jade, while the mirror exuded the icy aura of code. Seeing this, the First Elder finally gave the order. "Seize the Soul Clan spy!"
Seeing the tide turn against him, the mirror became black mist and fled. Before disappearing, he left behind a mocking remark. "Xiao Yan, guess why Sect Master Yun Yun saw through me? Because she..."
Yun Yun's cheeks flushed faintly. She turned and walked toward Clear Cloud Hall. "Young Master Xiao, Young Master Xiao Yan, come with me. The Starfall Chapter fragment is in the secret chamber of Clear Cloud Hall."
Inside the secret chamber, Yun Yun took out the fragment, but when she handed it to Xiao Yan, her fingertips trembled slightly. Xiao Feng noticed and deliberately said, "Sect Master Yun Yun, what the mirror said just now..."
"Pay it no mind," Yun Yun interrupted. "Let's hurry to the next place. The Soul Clan won't give up."
As they left the White Cloud Sect, Xiao Yan watched Yun Yun's retreating figure and said softly, "Third Brother, I think she misunderstood."
Xiao Feng patted his shoulder. "You can't rush matters of the heart. Once Hun Dan is dealt with, we'll have plenty of time to explain." He turned to look at the horizon. "Our next stop is the Gu Clan. Miss Xun'er must be in trouble too."
Just as Xiao Feng had expected, the Gu Clan was now caught up in a battle for the Burning Heaven Chapter fragment. Hun Dan's mirror had taken the form of Gu Ling's "beloved," infiltrating the matchmaking gathering in an attempt to seize the fragment. By the time the Xiao brothers arrived, the mirror was gazing "deeply" into Gu Ling's eyes, while the elders around them nodded in approval.
"Miss Gu Ling," the mirror said gently, "give me the fragment, and I'll protect you for the rest of your life."
Gu Ling chuckled. "Protect me? You don't even dare admit who you really are." She turned to Xiao Yan. "Little Brother Xiao Yan, could you do me a favor?"
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, understanding at once. He unleashed Flame Emperor Fire, and the mirror's true form, made of code, appeared in the flames. Gu Ling swept out her sleeve and released Ancient Spirit Cold Flame. Joining forces with Xiao Yan, she drove the mirror into a desperate corner.
"You Xiao Clan brats can't win!" the mirror roared. "King Nine-Nether is about to awaken. All your efforts are futile!"
Xiao Feng gripped the Ancient Emperor Jade fragment, the patterns of Emperor Scale gleaming with golden light. "Even if it's futile, we still have to try—because we're children of the Xiao Clan!"
A system notification rang out:
Ding! Obtained the "Starfall Chapter" and "Burning Heaven Chapter" fragments. Ancient Emperor Jade progress: 6/7! Reward: "Dual Emperor Resonance · Advanced" (combined attack power +30%), "Mirror Insight" skill.
Late that night, in the Xiao Clan's ancestral grounds, Xiao Feng gazed at the six fragments in his hand as he sat facing Xiao Yan. Yao Lao's phantom appeared inside the ring. "Only the final 'Main Chapter' fragment remains—and that fragment is in Hun Dan's hands."
Xiao Yan nodded, his gaze resolute. "Tomorrow, we'll make a beeline for the Soul Realm, seize the fragment, and summon Emperor Flame!"
Xiao Feng frowned. "Hun Dan won't show himself easily. He'll certainly have a trap waiting. Xiao Yanzi, tomorrow, we must not leave each other's side."
Xiao Yan was about to answer when the phantom of Queen Medusa suddenly appeared. "Xiao Yan, Xiao Feng, the Snake-People Kingdom is ready to move out. Meet me at the Soul Burial Abyss at the fifth watch tomorrow."
Xiao Feng clasped his hands. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Medusa's gaze lingered on him for a moment before she spoke softly. "Be careful."
After the phantom vanished, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. "Third Brother, Her Majesty's concern for you seems to go beyond simply 'returning a favor.'"
Xiao Feng gave a bitter smile. "Stop teasing me and focus on cultivating. Tomorrow's battle may be the endgame." At that, he turned his gaze to the horizon.
"Next stop: the Gu Clan. Miss Xun'er's side must be in trouble too."
Meanwhile, deep in the Soul Realm, Hun Dan gazed at the "Main Chapter" fragment in his hand as it fused with King Nine-Nether's skeleton. A look of madness flashed in his eyes. "Xiao Clan twins, just you wait. I'll show you what the true 'System Destiny' is!"
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