The Sanatan Flame Sect had covered the ten-mile stretch, crossing the vast wasteland that stretched endlessly beneath the violet sky. The air shimmered faintly with remnants of spiritual energy, whispering through the cracked stones and fractured hills. Ahead, the landscape darkened — the shadow of something ancient loomed.

Before them stood a city.

Ruined. Hollow. Dead.

The once-grand walls now lay broken, the colossal gates half-buried in sand and silence. Shattered towers leaned like skeletons of a forgotten age. Time had eroded every edge, yet a faint, eerie pressure hung around the ruins — as if the city itself refused to let go of the past.

Shaurya and his disciples stopped before the cracked gate. His golden eyes glimmered faintly, scanning every fragment of ruin. A cold breeze brushed across his face, carrying the scent of dust and decay.

Elder Feng Yu narrowed his eyes, his voice steady yet curious.

"A city? Who would create a city inside a secret realm?"

Shaurya took a step forward, his boots crunching on the gravel. His tone calm, deliberate.

"This place wasn't built for living," he said. "It was built to protect something… something of great value."

He closed his eyes, letting the silence deepen. For a brief moment, everything seemed to still — even the wind. Then, his voice came, low and certain.

"The city you're seeing… is a trap. A defense mechanism to guard the treasure."

When he opened his eyes again, a crimson glow flickered within his pupils — the activation of his Immortal Eyes. Threads of spiritual energy appeared to him, glowing faintly like veins of light weaving through the ruins. They pulsed, alive, ancient, and waiting. A faint smile tugged at his lips.

He saw it — faint traces of a different energy. Someone else had already disturbed this place.

Deactivating his Immortal Eyes, he turned toward his sect.

"Seems like someone arrived before us," he said lightly. "Let's move. We'll claim the treasure before they do."

His disciples and elders answered in unison.

"Yes, Master!"

They stepped through the broken gate, their figures swallowed by the ruined city.

Not far from them, within the heart of the desolate city, blood stained the ground. Dozens of bodies lay sprawled across the cracked stone road, their robes dyed red and torn — all bearing the emblem of the Blood Saber Sect.

Zhou Xian, the Young Lord of the sect, stood among the carnage. His breath was ragged, blood dripping down the corner of his mouth. The remaining elders and disciples stood behind him, pale and trembling, their weapons slick with gore.

Before them rose an ancient altar of white jade, veined with golden lines that still shimmered faintly despite the decay of centuries. Four towering pillars surrounded it, each etched with runes that glowed softly in rhythm with a strange energy.

At the center of the altar, a massive stone hand reached upward, its palm open toward the heavens. Floating above it — a mirror. It emitted an unsettling silver glow, its surface alive with writhing, blackened silver threads that looked like serpents frozen in motion. Within those threads were crystalline shards of pure void — points so dark they devoured the light itself.

Zhou Xian's lips curved into a manic smile. His laughter echoed eerily through the ruins.

He turned to a broad, white-bearded elder beside him. "Is this what we came for? Tell me… did we find it?"

The elder bowed deeply, his voice trembling with reverence.

"You're right, Young Lord. This is the treasure our Sect Master desired — the Mirror of Sovereign Will."

Zhou Xian's smirk widened. His eyes gleamed with obsession.

"Good… very good. We've done it. None in our sect could achieve this — but we did."

He stepped onto the altar. The moment his foot touched the stone, a shockwave exploded outward. The ground cracked. The elders and disciples were thrown back, coughing blood.

While, Shaurya and the Sanatan Flame Sect halted mid-step as the tremor rolled through the air. Dust and debris lifted in ripples.

Shaurya raised an eyebrow. "We're late."

Then he vanished, a blur of golden light. His disciples followed, streaking through the ruins like comets, their robes fluttering violently in the storm of energy ahead.

Zhou Xian stood before the mirror, his hands trembling with excitement.

"So this is the power my sect dreamed of."

He reached forward, his fingers brushing the surface. The mirror responded instantly — thin threads of silver energy surged from it, wrapping around his arm, his chest, his entire body. The glow intensified until he was engulfed in its light.

He cut his palm, letting his blood drip onto the mirror. The silver deepened — alive, pulsating.

Shaurya and his sect burst into the clearing just as Zhou Xian raised the mirror. Shaurya's eyes widened in alarm.

"Stop—!"

But before he could act, one of the Blood Saber elders shouted, "Protect the Young Lord!"

Their formation shifted instantly. Elders and disciples lined up in defense, weapons drawn, forming a living wall.

And then—

A blinding silver column of energy erupted from the altar, reaching the heavens.

"Protect yourselves!" Shaurya roared.

But it was too late. The wave of light swallowed them whole.

Silence.

Then — stillness.

The light faded. The Sanatan Flame Sect Memebers lay scattered across the ground, dazed and blinking.

Shaurya groaned, pushing himself up. His golden eyes flickered open.

The sky was no longer violet.

It was black — a vast void swallowing the stars.

The city around them had changed. Buildings floated in fragments, suspended in midair like shattered glass. The air was heavy, filled with echoes of whispers — the weight of another reality.

Lin Shu stumbled to her feet, her voice trembling.

"What's… going on?"

Elder Liya stepped forward, her face pale.

"We're inside the Mirror of Sovereign Will."

The disciples turned to her in confusion. Luo Chen frowned, glancing at Wang Tian.

"Hey, what is this mirror exactly?"

Wang Tian's expression hardened, his arms crossed.

"The Mirror of Sovereign Will is an Immortal-grade — low grade treasure, but extremely dangerous. It doesn't just reflect images… it traps people within its mirror dimension. Everything inside this mirror happens according to the will of the one who holds it."

He paused grimly. "If anyone wants to escape, they must either possess power greater than the mirror itself — which is nearly impossible — or kill the one who wields it."

Luo Chen's jaw dropped. "So… we're completely helpless?"

Wang Tian lowered his head, his voice heavy. "Sadly… it's true."

Elder Liya's expression tightened. "I've seen this artifact once before. Its power… it's unnatural. If we can't find a way out…" She stopped, trembling. "We might never return alive."

Elder Wan placed a comforting arm around her shoulders.

"Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you."

Wang Tian's eyes darkened.

"Tch… even if we combine our strength, it won't matter. I doubt we can use our spiritual energy at all."

The disciples glanced at each other anxiously, trying to channel their energy — but nothing happened. Their faces paled.

Elder Liya spoke in a low voice, "The wielder of the mirror controls everything. Cultivation level means nothing here."

Shaurya stood apart, hands in his pockets, his golden aura dimmed. He looked around quietly before murmuring inwardly, Systu… I hate to admit it, but it seems we're in serious trouble. Can you help me?

The system's calm voice echoed in his mind.

Host… I can't help you.

Shaurya's expression darkened. "What do you mean? Is this… our end?"

I never said that, the system replied. I said I can't help you — because you don't need it. You can help yourself.

His brows furrowed. "Can you explain it clearly."

If someone's mental power surpasses the Mirror of Sovereign Will — though nearly impossible — that person can control the mirror dimension itself more accurately than the wielder. They can bend it to their will.

Shaurya went silent. A faint, knowing smile tugged at his lips.

"So… you're saying I can control this dimension — like the wielder of the mirror?"

Your mental power is unmatched in this world, the system said simply. Now it depends on you — how you use it.

Shaurya exhaled slowly, his smile widening.

"Then let's begin."

He closed his eyes. Within his mind, he could feel the pulse of the mirror — a heartbeat of reality itself. The rules of existence bent under his focus. Power surged, invisible yet absolute.

The ground trembled.

The disciples staggered, looking around in panic. Elders raised their guards, preparing for an unseen threat. The blackened sky cracked open, spilling crimson light. From the rift above, figures descended — the Blood Saber Sect.

Ninety-seven disciples, seven elders, all floating in silver aura, laughing maniacally.

And from behind them descended Zhou Xian, his body wrapped in silver light, his expression dripping with arrogance.

Hovering above them, he spread his arms.

"Sanatan Flame Sect — your timing is perfect. Or maybe… I'm just too lucky. I've obtained the Mirror, and now I have the perfect prey to test its power."

He thrust out his hand. The ruined buildings around them shattered into fragments — then twisted, transforming into countless floating swords. Each blade hummed with energy, their edges glinting with killing intent.

Sanatan Flame Sect members stared in horror. Without their spiritual energy, they couldn't defend themselves.

Zhou Xian sneered.

"Don't worry — I won't kill you instantly. That would be boring. I'll enjoy your suffering first."

He dropped his hand.

The blades screamed through the air.

Lin Shu looked at Shaurya in terror. He stood still — calm, eyes closed. The chaos swirled around him, yet he didn't move.

Then —

He opened his eyes.

Golden pupils gleamed like twin suns.

He raised his right hand, fingers snapping into position — middle finger and thumb joined.

"So noisy," he murmured softly.

Snap.

A spectrum of impossible colors tore through space — shattering the three-dimensional world into sheets of light. Space shattered into ribbons of spectral light. The entire battlefield flickered between frames like a broken animation reel.

The swords vanished — erased from existence. For a moment, everyone existed as sketches on a blinding page. Then the world snapped back.

Silence. The floating ruins stilled. Everyone froze, eyes wide in disbelief.

Zhou Xian blinked, disoriented. "Huh? What just—"

Shaurya laughed. His left hand stayed in his pocket as he began to float upward, golden aura illuminating the dark mirror world. The members of Sanatan Flame Sect stared, awe replacing their fear.

He turned slightly, glancing down at them with a faint smile.

"Did you really think something bad would happen… while I'm here?"

At his words, all traces of dread melted from their faces. Lin Shu smiled through the shimmer of tears.

"You saved us again…"

Shaurya winked.

Zhou Xian roared, "Nonsense! How are you using your power?! Why can't I control you?!"

Shaurya chuckled lightly.

"Seems like you don't understand. If one's mental power surpasses the mirror, he becomes a god within it."

He spread his arms wide, golden light flaring behind him.

"We are not prey… we are predators."

The world trembled. The blackened sky tore apart as golden energy radiated outward. The Mirror Dimension itself quaked beneath the sheer force of his will.

Zhou Xian's eyes widened in disbelief.

Shaurya smirked — and snapped his fingers again.

Reality twisted.

The landscape shifted to a monochrome world of pure black and white — a razor-sharp realm of endless lines and blinding light. Then, with a flicker, it returned to normal.

Suddenly, Shaurya was right in front of him.

Zhou Xian gasped.

"Boo," Shaurya whispered.

Zhou Xian flinched violently, stumbling backward. He roared, throwing a punch — but Shaurya snapped his fingers once more.

The dimension warped. Spectral colours tore through like ribbons. Zhou Xian's body flickered — flattening from three dimensions to two, like a painting, before snapping back into reality. His attack failed, jaw dropped with confusion. He have no idea what happened. He quickly retreat towards his sect memebers.

Shaurya descended gracefully, landing before his sect members. His hands slipped casually back into his pockets.

"The game," he said, his tone calm yet absolute,

"has just begun."

He raised his right hand again.

Snap.

Spectral Light flicker then, a white flash that consumed everything.

To be continued…

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