Chapter 935: Mirror Images

Within the clouds, Xiao Nanfeng and a group of his subordinates flew toward the Immortal city of Tianyue.

Blue Lantern, who was accompanying him, frowned. "Your Majesty, Su Tianxin himself made a move against Ye Sanshui. My junior disciples wouldn't have been able to stop him."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "Worry not. Su Tianxin's trying to get back at me for my proclamation. I'm not blaming Blue Jade and the others. What you need to focus on is how to break their grand formation."

Blue Lantern nodded.

Before long, they reached the peak of a mountain overlooking Tianyue.

From a distance, the massive city was enveloped in thick white fog.

"What's the situation inside?" Xiao Nanfeng asked one of his subordinates.

"Everyone is trapped in the formation, and no one can escape. The interior of the formation is foggy. Anyone from Tianyue who steps outside its borders is attacked and killed by shadowy figures in the fog," the subordinate reported.

"What about Ye Sanshui?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Commander Ye is outside the city and being chased by a group of shadowy figures. The military formations masters have advised him to stay away from Tianyue."

"Just what sort of shadowy figures are these? How can they take on Ye Sanshui?" Xiao Nanfeng asked in surprise.

"I don't know, but they're extremely powerful. There are many of them, each as strong as Commander Ye."

"Impossible! Ye Sanshui is a mid-stage Boundless Immortal. If Su Tianxin had so many fighters at that level, he wouldn't need to employ such tricks," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

"Your Majesty, it looks like Blue Jade's hypothesis was right. This formation is the Formation of the Mirrored Heart."

"The Formation of the Mirrored Heart?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"These shadowy figures that Ye Sanshui has encountered aren't real. They must be mirror images."

"Mirror images?"

"The Formation of the Mirrored Heart observes all targets within it and projects duplicates of them—mirror images—who replicate the target's techniques and power. They're identical to the original and will relentlessly pursue them until the target is killed. Blue Jade told Ye Sanshui to avoid Tianyue because his mirror images are too strong. If he enters the city, the ensuing battle will inevitably harm countless civilians," Blue Lantern explained.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "Mirror images as strong as Ye Sanshui? Can't he handle it?"

"Perhaps he might be able to deal with one, but what if there are an army of such mirror images? Ye Sanshui won't be able to last long," Blue Lantern warned.

"How can such a formation exist? Just how much energy must it consume?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

"Your Majesty, do you remember when I used three bronze compasses to retrieve the fortune stored from 90,000 years ago?" Blue Lantern asked.

"Hm?"

"My sect's founder was a peerless genius who created many such realms to store special resources. The fortune from 90,000 years ago was stored in one such space, accessible only with eight bronze compasses. I could open it with three because of my unique constitution. Another such space, requiring five bronze compasses, holds vast amounts of heart force, which Su Tianxin is now using to fuel the Formation of the Mirrored Heart."

"Heart force?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. He's depleting those vast reserves to maintain this formation."

"How do we break it?"

"There are three approaches: exhaust all the heart force, kill the formations master, or seize control of the formation."

"Can't we take down the formation from the outside?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"We can't. The Formation of the Mirrored Heart is different from ordinary formations. It's far more insidious."

Xiao Nanfeng frowned and pondered the situation.

At that moment, a booming voice echoed from within the dense mist. "Xiao Nanfeng? Are you here?"

Xiao Nanfeng's expression grew serious.

"I know you've come. Xiao Nanfeng, I'll give you a chance to enter and face me directly. If you don't, everyone inside this formation will die!" Su Tianxin roared, his voice shaking the heavens.

The next moment, the agonized screams of the people of Tianyue filled the air.

"Your Majesty, save us!"

"Please, Your Majesty, don't let us die!"

"Don't kill me! No!"

"Do you hear them?" Su Tianxin's laughter reverberated through the mist. "Your people are begging for your help. Will you just stand by and watch them die? Haha!"

Just then, Ye Sanshui roared, "Don't come in, Your Majesty! This is a trap! Su Tianxin is using us to lure you in and kill you. Don't fall for it!"

"Save us, Your Majesty!" the citizens cried out in terror.

While most pleaded for help, a few voices urged Xiao Nanfeng to stay put and prioritize his own safety.

Outside, the officials accompanying Xiao Nanfeng grew alarmed.

"How vile Su Tianxin is! He's using the people's lives to blackmail His Majesty."

"Your Majesty, Tianyue was only recently conquered. Its citizens are not yet truly loyal to our empire. There's no need to risk yourself for them."

"Your Majesty, this is clearly a trap. You can't let Su Tianxin manipulate you!"

Xiao Nanfeng turned to Blue Lantern. "Can you seize control of the formation?"

Blue Lantern frowned. "It'll be difficult. Su Tianxin is no weaker with formations than I am, and he has five bronze compasses. I will at least be able to defend myself, but seizing the formation—I can't imagine having more than a one-in-a-hundred chance at success."

"That's good enough. I'll enter with you. I'll distract Su Tianxin while you focus on taking control of the formation. If things go badly, I'll extract us both with my candleflame powers," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"I understand." Blue Lantern nodded.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" the officials protested in alarm.

"Enough. Focus on guarding yourselves," Xiao Nanfeng ordered.

Then, he grabbed Blue Lantern and headed deep into the fog.

Within the Immortal city of Tianyue, with a deafening crash, the city's defensive formation was shattered.

Countless shadowy figures stormed into the city.

Screams of terror echoed as soldiers and civilians alike fell victim to their mirror images, who mercilessly slaughtered everyone in their way.

"Hold the line! Dazheng will send reinforcements!" a city guard shouted.

"Reinforcements? Our city was just conquered. Why would they care about us?"

"We're done for! These shadowy figures fight just like our commander. Who'll be able to stop them?!"

"Su Tianxin, I curse you!"

Cries of anguish filled the air.

Su Tianxin smirked coldly from the depths of the fog. "This formation exists only to lure Xiao Nanfeng in. If you want to live, beg him to come save you."

"Su Tianxin, you bastard! We were once citizens of Dachi. How can you massacre us like this? Don't you fear the reckoning of the world?!" someone shouted.

Su Tianxin sneered. "You are no longer my people. You belong to Dazheng now. I am merely killing Dazheng's citizens. Who would condemn me for that? If you want to live, call for your emperor to save you."

"You vile scoundrel!" the people cursed.

"Don't you think that you should be cursing Xiao Nanfeng instead? He's the one who's refusing to come in and save all of you."

Su Tianxin was unfazed by their curses. To him, these people were nothing more than bait for Xiao Nanfeng.

Of course, even if Xiao Nanfeng didn't take the bait, this was still a win for Su Tianxin. After all, Ye Sanshui was trapped in the formation too.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Afar, Ye Sanshui was forced back by a group of his mirror images. He continued to flee.

If Ye Sanshui were to fall, Dazheng's army would lose its commander, and morale would fall sharply. It would be trivial for him to send this formation to Yongding next.

"Su Tianxin, I am here. Dispel these mirror images," Xiao Nanfeng proclaimed.

Everyone turned to see Xiao Nanfeng emerging from the fog, glowing with golden light.

"His Majesty is here to save us!"

"Kill Su Tianxin, that demon!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The people of Tianyue cheered, their despair giving way to hope.

Many were certain that Xiao Nanfeng wouldn't risk himself; this was clearly a targeted trap.

Xiao Nanfeng's arrival filled them with gratitude. It was clear that he was willing to put his own life on the line to rescue them.

"Guards of Tianyue, activate the city's defensive formations fully! Guard against the mirror images and protect the people. I will take control of the battlefield beyond the city," Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the guards of Tianyue chorused.

"Cultivators of Tianyue, assist the guards to the best of your ability. Protect your family and friends. After the battle, you will all be rewarded for what you've done," Xiao Nanfeng continued.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the cultivators in the city shouted.

Xiao Nanfeng's presence inspired newfound unity and resolve. The people of Tianyue, along with the city guards, blocked the first wave of mirror images.

Su Tianxin's smirk deepened. He waved a hand.

Beside Xiao Nanfeng, black fog swirled. It manifested into a certain figure, one whom Xiao Nanfeng knew intimately—himself.

Xiao Nanfeng's mirror image shot toward him.