Purple Mist Mountain is no longer the same as it was eight hundred years ago. Back then, even the bravest residents of the nearest village wouldn't go near it when the full moon cast a purplish haze over its peak. Now, a magnificent temple stands there-the Twin Moon Temple, with two gleaming domes reflecting the moonlight, creating the illusion of two moons floating above the mountain peak. Back to Zhao Lingyun and Lin Fengtian and where the Mirror of Immortality was.Zhao Lingyun's words echoed in the magnificent yet deserted temple room. Zhang Qingxuan looked at him with a gaze that was hard to interpret-between anger and astonishment. Wei Xuan, on the other hand, looked like he was seriously considering his disciple's words.“Uncertainty...” muttered Wei Xuan slowly, ”is a dangerous concept, young man. The world runs on a foundation of certainty. The sun rises from the east. Water flows downward. The realms of light and shadow are separate. That's the indisputable law of nature.”L

Zhao Lingyun and Lin Fengtian stood at the edge of Mirror Lake, gazing at its calm, glassy surface. Although its name was “lake”, its size was so vast that the opposite shore was barely visible to the naked eye. Even more amazing, the surface was so calm that it reflected the sky perfectly-creating the illusion that they were standing on the threshold of two worlds.“This place...” Lin Fengtian whispered, “it's different from what I imagined. The energy is... complex.”Zhao Lingyun nodded in agreement. He could feel the waves of energy flowing around the lake-not just pure light or shadow energy, but a mixture of both that moved in complex and harmonious patterns.“If this is one of the Seven Star Formation points,” Zhao Lingyun said as he scanned his surroundings, ”there should be some sort of ancient altar or structure around here.”Lin Fengtian closed his eyes, using the energy-tracking technique he'd developed during his years living in the shadow realm. “I sense... something... u

The air grew thinner and colder as Zhao Lingyun and Lin Fengtian climbed the steep path to the Valley of Ice Mirrors. All around them, snowy mountain peaks towered, covered in mist that was occasionally parted by strange flashes of light. The journey from the Forest of Whispers had taken five full days, with numerous obstacles and several near-captures by Purity Guard patrols.“They're getting more and more organized,” Lin Fengtian commented while observing the trail of the patrol they had just evaded. “Zhang Qingxuan must have mobilized his entire network to look for us.”Zhao Lingyun checked the badge in his hand. “Three dots are glowing, and the fourth is blinking faster and faster. We're almost there.”As they neared the top, the sight before them left them both transfixed. The Ice Mirror Valley sprawled out-a giant basin whose entire surface was covered in perfectly clear ice, creating a natural mirror that reflected the sky and mountains around it. But even more amazing was what

The sun was setting faster than usual, as if the sky itself was in a hurry to welcome the dangerous plan they were about to carry out. Zhao Lingyun and Lin Fengtian were now sneaking through the secret tunnels beneath the village-an ancient pathway that Elder Zhang said had been used for centuries by the Balance Keepers.“Are you still angry?” Lin Fengtian broke the silence, his voice echoing softly against the damp stone walls of the tunnel.Zhao Lingyun didn't answer right away. His hand was tightly gripping the bronze badge of the nine-tailed fox that Elder Zhang had given him-their ticket to meet the Demon King.“I'm not angry,” he finally replied. “Just... trying to make sense of all this. All my life, I was raised to believe that demons were our natural enemies, dangerous creatures to be avoided. Now I know that demon blood flows in my own body.”Lin Fengtian touched his younger brother's shoulder. “That's all doctrine that Zhao Liangyu and the conservative elders deliberately i

“Hurry!” Yingmei exclaimed, rushing towards the bridge of glowing light. “The Moon Bridge won't last long!”Lin Fengtian swiftly helped Zhao Lingyun who was still panting. “Can you walk, little brother?”Zhao Lingyun nodded weakly, trying to stand upright even though his vision was still blurry. Every step felt heavy, but the determination in his chest was far stronger than his physical exhaustion.“The dragon army is almost here!” one of the soldiers shouted, pointing to the sky where black shadows were approaching.“You three go first,” the commander of Yingmei's troops drew his sword. “We'll hold them off as long as possible.”“But-” Yingmei was about to protest.“Your Majesty,” the commander bowed respectfully, ”this is our duty. The fate of the two realms depends on your success tonight.”Yingmei gazed at her soldiers with teary eyes behind the mask, then nodded firmly. “Your bravery will be forever remembered in the history of the Fox Clan.”Without wasting any more time, Yingme