187: Mirror Image Backlash and True Form Cracks

The chill of the mirror surface seeped up through the soles of his shoes, like pressing against a layer of thin ice.

Liu Shan stared at his own reflection, watching those eyes shimmering with purple-black — that was his deepest fear, the mark of having been contaminated by the half-body, now infinitely magnified by the Mirror Domain, terrifyingly clear.

The corner of the reflection's mouth curled into a mocking smile, overlapping with the expression of the demigod in his memory.

"What are you afraid of?" the reflection suddenly spoke, its voice identical to his, yet carrying a cold hardness stripped of all warmth. "Afraid that one day you will completely lose control and become a monster just like him?"

Liu Shan gripped his Sword of Light and Darkness tightly, his knuckles turning white. He could feel an invisible suction coming from the mirror surface, attempting to pull his consciousness into the reflection, replacing the "perfect" self that had no attachments.

"Liu Shan, don't listen to it!" Lin Qingxue's voice was urgent. Her reflection was pointing a soft sword at its own throat, with blue-gold light flickering on the blade. "This mirror is provoking our mental defenses!"

Liu Shan turned his head to look, only to see Lin Qingxue's reflection whispering softly: "Do you really think you are worthy of him? Your Spiritual Vein is not as pure as his, your strength is not as powerful as his, you will only hold him back..."

"Shut up!" Lin Qingxue shouted angrily, her soft sword sweeping across, but only creating a ripple on the mirror surface. The reflection passed through the ripple, appearing behind her, its fingertips almost touching the back of her neck, with movements identical to her usual sneak attack posture.

The situation on Shi Yan's side was even more bizarre. His reflection was standing in front of a Pill Furnace that had appeared out of thin air, holding a black pestle in its hand, while the medicinal liquid churning inside the Pill Furnace actually exuded an aura similar to the remnants of the Purple Abyss.

"Using a little bit of Chaos as a primer, the effect of the Medicinal Pill will double," the reflection's voice was seductive, sounding exactly like Shi Yan's focus when studying a Pill Formula. "No one will notice, just a little bit..."

Shi Yan's face turned pale, and he almost crushed the Pulse Stabilizing Pill in his hand. He slammed his eyes shut, muttering to himself, seemingly reciting some kind of heart-cleansing mantra, but the reflection's voice was like a maggot on a bone, drilling into his ears along with the vibrations of the mirror surface.

Liu Zhi's reaction was the most direct. His reflection had already drawn its short blade, the star patterns on the blade flickering with a fierce light, slashing fiercely towards "Liu Zhi"!

"Damn it, even if you look the same, I'll still hack you!" Liu Zhi roared as he met the attack, the two short blades colliding on the mirror surface, emitting a harsh metallic sound. But his movements were clearly delayed by half a beat — the reflection knew his Move like the back of its hand, and every parry landed precisely on his weak points.

"You can't beat me," the reflection's voice carried arrogance, yet also a hint of sorrow. "You know in your heart, you will always be the one holding everyone back. Without them, you couldn't even guard Luoxia Valley..."

"Bullshit!" Liu Zhi's offensive became even fiercer, but also exposed more weak points. His arm was soon slashed open, and the blood dripping onto the mirror surface was instantly absorbed, leaving no trace behind.

Liu Shan's heart sank.

The terrifying aspect of the Mirror Domain was not its power, but its ability to precisely capture everyone's weaknesses — his fear of losing control, Lin Qingxue's lack of sense of worthiness, Shi Yan's secret desire for power, and Liu Zhi's inferiority and impulsiveness.

The reflections didn't use any fancy Moves; they just kept repeating those most hurtful words, attacking with the most familiar postures, each time poking at the most painful spots.

"This won't do." Liu Shan said in a low voice, Light and Darkness Power circulating in his palms, trying to find a weak point in the mirror surface. He suddenly remembered Elder Xuan Jin's words — the Eye of Nothingness reflects fear, so what about the Mirror Domain? Perhaps what it reflects is not the outward appearance, but the suppressed "True Self."

If that was truly the case...

He suddenly looked at Lin Qingxue, just happening to meet her gaze. A flash of realization crossed both their eyes at the same time.

"Shi Yan, Liu Zhi, focus!" Liu Shan shouted. "Don't be led by it, think about why we are going to the Summit of the Star Core!"

Before he even finished speaking, he suddenly sheathed his sword, letting his own reflection slash a blade towards his chest!

"Liu Shan!" Lin Qingxue exclaimed.

But the moment before the blade touched his chest, it suddenly froze on the mirror surface. A look of astonishment appeared on the reflection's face, as if it didn't understand why he didn't dodge.

"You are not me." Liu Shan looked at the reflection, his voice calm. "I am afraid of losing control, but I am even more afraid of losing them. This bit of fear cannot trap me."

He pressed his palm against the mirror surface, and Light and Darkness Power erupted simultaneously with the blue-gold Lingmai Power! The twin seals lit up on his palm, and the four-colored light spread along the mirror surface; wherever it passed, the purple-black aura of the reflection rapidly receded.

"Impossible!" the reflection roared, attempting to resist, but gradually became transparent in the light of the twin seals.

Lin Qingxue immediately understood his intention. She no longer dodged the reflection behind her, but instead turned around, her soft sword pointing directly at the reflection's glabella: "I may not be strong enough, but I know that what Liu Shan needs is not a perfect companion, but someone willing to become stronger with him."

The blue-gold light on the soft sword surged, the reflection's eyes changing from mockery to panic, and finally, it turned into a wisp of blue smoke, dissipating on the mirror surface.

Shi Yan suddenly opened his eyes. The reflection in front of the Pill Furnace was just pouring a spoonful of black powder into the medicinal liquid. He did not attack, but simply said calmly: "The true meaning of the Dao of pills is balance, not overdrawing. I cannot refine this medicine."

As soon as he finished speaking, the pestle in the reflection's hand suddenly snapped, and the black powder spilled into the Pill Furnace, instantly triggering an explosion, and the reflection dissipated in the firelight.

On Liu Zhi's side, his reflection was slashing a blade towards his shoulder. Liu Zhi did not parry, but instead stepped forward with even faster speed, his short blade pressed against the reflection's throat: "I may not be as good as them, but I know that guarding behind them is better than being a coward who only knows how to hide!"

The reflection's movements froze, the arrogance in its eyes fading away, revealing a hint of relief, and then it dissipated into points of light.

The four reflections disappeared simultaneously, the mirror surface began to vibrate violently, and spiderweb-like cracks began to appear on the smooth surface.

Silver-gray light seeped out from the cracks, resonating with the light of the twin seals.

"It seems... you have passed." An old voice came from deep within the cracks, like the aura of that previous outline, but weaker. "The Mirror Domain reflects the True Self; only those who can face their own imperfections are worthy... of possessing the key."

As the voice fell, the cracks in the center of the mirror grew larger and larger, revealing the scene behind — it was a bridge floating in the Void Realm, composed of countless star tracks. At the end of the bridge, one could vaguely see a huge silver gate, with a pattern similar to the twin seals carved on it.

"The Third Corridor, the Bridge of Star Tracks." The voice sounded again, carrying a hint of warning. "There are no illusions on the bridge, only... forgotten obsessions. Watch your step; one wrong step, and you will fall into the Void Realm..."

When the voice faded, the mirror surface completely shattered, turning into countless points of light, condensing into a staircase leading to the Bridge of Star Tracks beneath their feet.

Liu Shan looked down at his palms; the light of the twin seals was brighter than before, four colors interweaving, faintly revealing the shape of a key. He could feel that with every corridor passed, this key would become more complete, and the connection to the Summit of the Star Core would become even closer.

But a hint of unease also rose in his heart.

The test of the Mirror Domain had been too smooth, smooth enough that it felt like... someone was deliberately guiding them to pass.

He looked up at the Bridge of Star Tracks. The star tracks on the bridge were slowly rotating, emitting a cold light, like a dormant giant snake.

Elder Xuan Jin wriggled gently on his wrist, its golden vertical pupils staring into the depths of the bridge, letting out a vigilant hiss.

Liu Shan took a deep breath and gripped Lin Qingxue's hand tightly.

"Let's go."

The four people and one snake stepped onto the staircase and walked towards the Bridge of Star Tracks.

The moment he stepped onto the bridge, Liu Shan suddenly heard a very faint, familiar humming sound.

It was a nursery rhyme from Luoxia Valley, a tune Lin Qingxue often sang when she was a child.

The singing came from deep within the bridge, as gentle as a mother's hand, luring him step by step forward.

He subconsciously quickened his pace, but was held back by Lin Qingxue.

"Listen." Lin Qingxue's voice was grave. "This singing... is a bit wrong."

Liu Shan stopped and listened carefully.

In the singing, besides the gentleness, there was also a hint of extremely faint, imperceptible resentment hidden within.

It was just like... someone smiling while handing you a cup of poisoned wine.

He looked sharply towards the depths of the bridge. In the shadows where the star tracks rotated, a blurry figure wearing a blue cloth dress was standing with her back to them, gently humming the nursery rhyme.

The outline of that figure looked exactly like Lin Qingxue.