White Cloud Pure Cultivation: Rumor Storm and Mirror Maze

Outside the White Cloud Sect's "Clear Cloud Hall," rumors surged like a tide. The whispers of "Xiao Feng and Yun Yun's illicit affair" were deliberately amplified by Hun Dan's mirror, leaving the elders inside with ashen faces. Yun Yun, bound by the "Heart-Clearing Chain" in the center, her eyes filled with indignation.

"Yun Yun, do you know your crime?" the Grand Elder slammed the table, rising to his feet. "Consorting with a Soul Clan spy, what crime is that?"

"Grand Elder, please see reason!" Yun Yun struggled to explain, "Xiao Feng is a pillar of the Xiao family, by no means a spy!"

Just as the atmosphere reached a boiling point, Xiao Feng and Xiao Yan burst through the window. Emperor Flame and Flame Emperor Fire erupted simultaneously, shattering the Heart-Clearing Chains. Xiao Feng nodded to Yun Yun, "Sect Master Yun Yun, apologies for being late."

The Grand Elder roared, "How dare you! You dare to trespass in Clear Cloud Hall!"

Xiao Yan sneered, "Trespass? We're here to catch a spy—the real spy is among you!"

He pointed his ruler at a gray-robed elder in the corner. The latter's pupils constricted, and he transformed into black mist, attempting to flee. Xiao Feng was prepared; Emperor Flame chains wrapped around the elder's ankles. The gray-robed elder screamed as his true form was revealed—a Soul Clan "Shapeshifting Soul Cultivator"!

"Grand Elder," Xiao Feng cupped his hands, "this soul cultivator disguised himself as a White Cloud Sect elder and deliberately spread rumors, intending to divide our alliance."

The Grand Elder's expression shifted. Though he believed seven parts of it, he still maintained a stern face, "Even so, Yun Yun's affair with an outsider..."

"Silence!" Yun Yun suddenly drew her sword, "Young Master Xiao and I are innocent. If you speak nonsense again, don't blame me for being impolite!" She turned to Xiao Feng, her gaze soft, "Young Master Xiao, thank you for your trust."

Just as Xiao Feng was about to speak, a shout suddenly came from outside the hall, "Look quickly! Xiao Feng is meeting a mysterious woman behind the mountain!"

Everyone rushed out of the hall and saw, in the woods behind the mountain, Xiao Feng whispering to a masked woman, their actions intimate. Xiao Yan's pupils constricted—that was clearly a mirror image of Xiao Feng! Just as he was about to expose it, he saw Yun Yun had already charged forward with her sword, "Young Master Xiao, you..."

The mirror image Xiao Feng turned, a cunning red light flashing in his eyes, "Sect Master Yun Yun, long time no see."

Yun Yun froze on the spot. The voice was indistinguishable from the real Xiao Feng's! Her sword-wielding hand trembled, "Who exactly are you?"

The mirror image chuckled, raised a hand, and pulled off the mask, revealing a face identical to Xiao Feng's, "I am the real Xiao Feng—and that one is a mirror created by Hun Dan." He turned to Xiao Yan, "Little Yanzi, you don't even recognize your own brother?"

Xiao Yan clenched the Heavy Xuan Ruler, transmitting his voice to the real Xiao Feng, "Third Brother, this mirror image is too cunning, it's actually accusing us of being fake!"

Xiao Feng frowned, activating "Soul Movement Three Thousand" to probe the mirror image's soul, only to find its sea of consciousness was identical to his own—Hun Dan had copied his memories!

"Grand Elder," the mirror image Xiao Feng cupped his hands, "these two impersonated me and Xiao Yan, infiltrated the White Cloud Sect, and intended to disrupt the alliance. Please apprehend them immediately!"

The Grand Elder's gaze wavered, unsure whom to believe. Yun Yun bit her lip and suddenly swung her sword at the mirror image, but it was easily dodged, "Sect Master Yun Yun, why attack me?"

"Because..." a flicker of pain crossed Yun Yun's eyes, "the real Xiao Feng would never put me in such a dilemma."

Xiao Yan seized the opportunity and threw out an "Emotion Purification Potion." The potion transformed into a mist of light that enveloped the mirror image. System code indeed appeared on its surface. The mirror image was shocked and enraged, "How dare you..."

Xiao Feng's Emperor Flame erupted, and he and Xiao Yan attacked in unison, repelling it, "Little Yanzi, use 'Dual Emperor Resonance' to lock onto his energy fluctuations!"

The two异火 (different fires) merged, forming Xiao Feng's true image in the air, a stark contrast to the mirror image—the true image was gentle as jade, while the mirror image exuded a cold, coded aura. Seeing this, the Grand Elder finally gave the order, "Apprehend the Soul Clan spy!"

Sensing the unfavorable turn of events, the mirror image transformed into black mist and fled, but before disappearing, it left a mocking remark, "Xiao Yan, guess why Sect Master Yun Yun could see through me? Because she..."

Yun Yun's face flushed slightly, and she turned back towards Clear Cloud Hall, "Young Master Xiao, Young Master Xiao Yan, please follow me. The 'Starfall Chapter' fragment is in the secret chamber of Clear Cloud Hall."

In the secret chamber, Yun Yun took out the fragment, but her fingertips trembled slightly as she handed it to Xiao Yan. Xiao Feng keenly noticed and deliberately said, "Sect Master Yun Yun, about what the mirror image said earlier..."

"No need to mind it," Yun Yun interrupted, "Let's go to the next location quickly. The Soul Clan will not give up."

As they left the White Cloud Sect, Xiao Yan looked at Yun Yun's retreating back and said softly, "Third Brother, she seems to have misunderstood."

Xiao Feng patted his shoulder, "Matters of the heart cannot be rushed. Once Hun Dan is dealt with, there will be plenty of time to explain." He turned to look at the sky, "Next stop, the Gu Clan—Miss Xun Er should be in trouble there too."

Just as Xiao Feng predicted, the Gu Clan was currently embroiled in a battle for the "Burning Heaven Chapter" fragment. Hun Dan's mirror image, disguised as Gu Ling's "beloved," had infiltrated the marriage selection ceremony, intending to seize the fragment. When the Xiao brothers arrived, the mirror image was "gazing affectionately" at Gu Ling, with the surrounding elders nodding in approval.

"Miss Gu Ling," the mirror image said softly, "give me the fragment, and I will protect you for life."

Gu Ling chuckled, "Protect me? You don't even dare to admit your true identity." She turned to Xiao Yan, "Little Brother Xiao Yan, can you do me a favor?"

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and, understanding, unleashed the Flame Emperor Fire. The flames actually reflected the mirror image's coded true form. Gu Ling waved her sleeve, unleashing the Ancient Spirit Cold Flame, and attacked in unison with Xiao Yan, forcing the mirror image into a desperate situation.

"Xiao Clan brats, you cannot win!" the mirror image roared, "King Nine-Nether is about to awaken, your efforts are all in vain!"

Xiao Feng clenched the Ancient Emperor Jade fragment, the Emperor Scale patterns glowing golden, "Even if it's in vain, we must try—because we are Xiao family disciples!"

The system prompt sounded:

Ding! Obtained "Starfall Chapter" and "Burning Heaven Chapter" fragments. Ancient Emperor Jade progress reaches 6/7!

Rewards: "Dual Emperor Resonance · Advanced" (Combined attack power +30%), "Mirror Insight" skill.

Late at night, in the Xiao family ancestral land. Xiao Feng looked at the six fragments in his hand, sitting opposite Xiao Yan. Yao Lao's phantom appeared in the ring, "Only the last 'Main Chapter' fragment remains—and that fragment is in Hun Dan's hands."

Xiao Yan nodded, his gaze firm, "Tomorrow, we will first strike the Soul Realm, retrieve the fragment, and summon Emperor Flame!"

Xiao Feng, however, frowned, "Hun Dan will not appear easily; there will surely be a trap. Little Yanzi, in tomorrow's battle, we must not be separated by an inch."

Just as Xiao Yan was about to reply, Medusa's phantom suddenly appeared, "Xiao Yan, Xiao Feng, the Snake-People Kingdom is ready. We will meet at Soul Burial Abyss at Yin hour tomorrow."

Xiao Feng cupped his hands, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Medusa's gaze lingered on him for a moment, and she said softly, "Be careful."

After the phantom dissipated, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, "Third Brother, Her Majesty's concern for you seems to go beyond 'returning a favor.'"

Xiao Feng gave a wry smile, "Stop teasing. Let's focus on cultivating. Tomorrow's battle might be the final one."

Meanwhile, deep within the Soul Realm, Hun Dan looked at the "Main Chapter" fragment in his hand, which merged with King Nine-Nether's skeleton. A madness flashed in his eyes, "Xiao family twins, let me show you what true 'system destiny' is!"