When Li Luo entered the portal, a brilliant light burst out in every direction, causing everyone to be temporarily blinded. When they reopened their eyes a few moments later, the entire scenery had changed. As he surveyed his surroundings, he discovered that he was inside a structure resembling a large hall. The light dazzled him and the ground was covered in a reflective surface that resembled a mirror. His reflection was perfectly clear.

What was most eye-catching was a gigantic pillar that was tens of feet wide.

The pillar was similarly reflective like a mirror, but it flowed with an enigmatic light, reflecting everything.

Li Luo saw four ancient words carved high up on the Mirror Pillar.

Heart's Root Mirror Pillar

He paused momentarily. Was this the trial of the thirty-second layer?

Still feeling surprised, a message was transmitted into his mind.

"Heart's Root Mirror Pillar, capable of illuminating the depths of one's heart. By pointing out one's innermost desires and flaws, one can thoroughly question themselves and their most core beliefs. Only then can they enter the thirty-third layer."

Li Luo dryly commented, "There truly are a lot of tricks hidden within this place..."

As expected of the Celestial Mirror Pagoda, which the Sacred Void Resonance Sect had poured in a tremendous amount of resources to craft. As a foundational treasure of the sect, it would definitely be coveted by any Heavenly Emperor power. After going through all these trials, a lot of talented individuals with extraordinary beliefs would emerge. To an apex power, such a stream of prodigies was the bedrock for their long-term existence.

While he remained on alert, he slowly stepped forward and stopped in front of the pillar.

He then saw that light flowed within the pillar, and a figure gradually appeared.

This figure had a head of grayish-white hair and was a handsome youth. He was tall and had a straight posture, his facial features sharp and angular with gentle eyes. However, when the smile on his face disappeared, the sharpness could not be hidden.

"What a handsome man." Li Luo sighed to himself. It was no wonder females often snuck glances at him.

"Indeed." Just as Li Luo praised himself, a burst of laughter resounded through the empty, mirror-like hall.

His gaze turned serious and he saw the figure that was identical to him in the mirror smiling. This smile brought about a familiar feeling as it was the same as his own! Then his doppelganger actually took a step forward on his own accord, and before his very eyes, walked out of the mirror pillar, standing before him.

The two Li Luos glanced at each other, making for an awkward moment.

Li Luo then looked at his doppelganger with interest. "Are you a reflection of my inner heart? Then what do I lack?"

The doppelganger grinned. "Do you really not know?"

"I'm all ears." Li Luo smiled back.

The doppelganger softly replied, "The biggest flaw in your heart is Jiang Qing'e. You've suppressed your desires and emotions for her sake, denying what you truly feel in your heart."

"How have I suppressed my desires and emotions?"

"What about your feelings for Lu Qing'er?"

Li Luo's eyes narrowed. "We are friends."

The doppelganger sneered. "Naive. There were many choices you could have made regarding her. You might even have become enemies, but never friends."

"Lu Qing'er accompanied you for a while, giving you plenty of support. She loves you deeply, and the reason why she returned to Golden Dragon Mountain and accepted the Permafrost Sacred Seed's legacy was because she wanted to get stronger in order to follow in your footsteps and do even more for you. Till today, you've only ever had eyes for Jiang Qing'e. This has forced Lu Qing'er to freeze her emotions, turning her into an indifferent ice sculpture. Li Luo, you're truly cruel. You've taken a lively and spirited young lady and frozen her completely, sealing away all of her emotions."

The doppelganger smiled. It was the last sentence that truly cut deep into Li Luo's heart, something that he had felt most sensitive about.

After the doppelganger finished speaking, the pillar once again shone and another figure appeared before Li Luo. It was a clone of Lu Qing'er from her time in the Astral Sage College.

She was wearing the Astral Sage College's uniform, which accentuated her slender body. A spirited and sly smile hung on her beautiful face. Seeing this version of her immediately elicited a feeling of nostalgia from Li Luo. These were his earliest memories of her. She was gorgeous, proud, and lively.

The current Lu Qing'er was nothing like that. Her lively eyes had become cold, sealed away by a layer of ice.

The freezing of her emotions originated from the power of the Permafrost Sacred Seed, and the reason she had accepted the seed in the first place was because she wanted to sever her feelings for Li Luo.

Li Luo fell silent as he looked at her.

The doppelganger continued, "Li Luo, there is no need for you to suppress these emotions for the sake of Jiang Qing'e. You can let them all out."

"Let them all out?" Li Luo mumbled to himself.

The doppelganger smirked and nodded enthusiastically. "So long as you choose to do so, Jiang Qing'e will not reject it. In fact, she would even support you. Thus, you don't have to bother with petty things such as the engagement contract and your responsibilities. Don't be bound by such meaningless things. Let go of yourself and accept all of them. Release your inner desires. Eventually, you'll become an unparalleled individual in this world, and only you are worthy of such things."

𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Li Luo's gaze had turned slightly dazed. "

Them

?"

"Yes! It's not only Lu Qing'er!" The doppelganger's expression turned almost fanatical and he waved his hand. The room suddenly felt like the beautiful blooming of autumn as numerous jaw-dropping women walked out of the pillar.

Li Luo's eyes came to life when he saw them. The first was Cai Wei with her peach blossom-like face. There was also one that elicited a sense of purity, the adorable Bai Mengmeng. This was followed by the regal and curvaceous First Princess. And then the incomparably stunning Fairy of Water, Qin Yi. Oh? After that came the enchanting Li Lingjing with a black snake wrapped around her wrist. The soft-spoken but cold-looking Li Hongyou was next to appear. In fact, there was even one who was dressed in the mentor's garbs, the cold and intellectual Mentor Chi Chan with her face covered by a veil.

Li Luo was dazed for a while at the sight of these women. When he recovered, he glanced over at the clearly excited doppelganger. He fell silent in thought for a few moments before opening his palm, causing the Dragon Elephant Thunder Blade to materialize in his hand. Thunder energy blazed and a beam of sword energy shot out of it.

As the sword energy blasted outwards, Li Luo angrily roared, "Damn it! Is this my inner heart!? Just what sort of scam are you trying to pull?! Die for me!!"

......

Just as Li Luo was expressing his fury, in a similar mirrored hall, Jiang Qing'e was closely observing the figure that walked out of the pillar.

It was a carbon copy of her.

Jiang Qing'e watched indifferently as her doppelganger flashed a smile. "Nice to meet you, Jiang Qing'e."

She didn't reply, only raising her sword and pointing it towards the newcomer.

The doppelganger didn't show any fear as it replied, "Jiang Qing'e, there is no need to be so harsh on yourself. I only wish to ask a single question."

It then stared at her, her soft voice resounding loudly throughout the halls.

"Jiang Qing'e. Who are you?"