Chapter 26: Grave Danger

Forbidden items are rare and ominous weapons or artifacts imbued with Death Qi, harnessing the raw power of death itself.

Such items are typically wielded by dark mages, Soul Reapers, or necromancers—practitioners of the dark arts who walk the fine line between life and the afterlife.

However, these artifacts are strictly prohibited by the rest of the world, feared for the devastating consequences they bring.

The use of these forbidden items comes at a terrible price. For those who lack Death Qi within their cultivation, the items demand something far more precious—either the wielder's life force or a greater, often bloodier, sacrifice. The sinister energies within these artifacts are unrelenting, feeding on their user until the debt is paid in full, leaving ruin in their wake.

The Phantom Mirror of Yore is a powerful and forbidden artifact, one that taps into the darkest corners of the soul. It draws upon the user's negative energy—emotions like rage, sorrow, and hatred—to summon malevolent spirits.

The stronger these negative emotions, the more powerful evil spirits are summoned. These spirits are not mere phantoms; they are the souls of those who have died but could not let go of their deep-seated hatred or unfulfilled desires in the immortal world.

Their bitterness has transformed them into evil spirits, and upon death, they are transported to the eerie domain known as the Phantom Realm, where all such tormented entities reside.

Those who wield the Phantom Mirror can command these evil spirits to serve them, using their immense power for any purpose they desire—be it battle, protection, or dark magic.

However, the bond between the summoner and the evil spirit demands a price. For simple tasks, the spirit drains the summoner's life force. To forge a deeper contract, the summoner must help the spirit fulfill its lingering hatred, regret, or unfinished business that binds it to the living world.

Only once these lingering grievances are satisfied can the spirit transcend their tortured existence.

When an evil spirit's wish is finally fulfilled, they undergo a transformation, shedding the malice that once consumed them. In that moment, they become a natural spirit, freed from their burdens.

They are then transported to the Spirit Realm, a place of peace and harmony, where they can rest, or, in some cases, be reincarnated into a new life, starting their journey afresh. If not, their soul finds eternal rest, free from the torments of their past existence.

The Phantom Mirror, though an incredible tool, is a double-edged sword, demanding not only mastery over dark forces but also a willingness to confront and resolve the deepest agonies of the spirits it calls forth.

As Reon watched Ming Yuen prepare to unleash the Phantom Mirror of Yore, a deep sense of dread tightened in his chest. His mind raced through the events of the original novel, where Ming Yuen had used this very artifact, but under vastly different circumstances.

In the story, Ming Yuen had already advanced to the Intermediate Stage of his sword technique, his strength considerably greater. Even then, the power of the mirror had been overwhelming, leaving him in a coma for two long months.

But now—things were different. Ming Yuen was weaker, his mastery far from the level he'd reached in the novel, and yet he was about to wield this dangerous artifact far earlier than intended.

The consequences could be catastrophic. A cold wave of fear swept over Reon as the grim possibilities dawned on him.

The strain of summoning such a powerful spirit with Ming Yuen's current abilities might do far more than incapacitate him—it could utterly destroy him.

Worse still, the entire battlefield could be consumed by the mirror's cursed power, its dark energy spiraling out of control.

If Ming Yuen overreached, he might not survive, or worse, be lost within the mirror's cursed realm. What if he couldn't even attend the Inner Sect Disciple Selection Ceremony?

The very path that shaped his future could be shattered, all because he had summoned the Phantom Mirror too soon.

But before Reon could utter a word, Ming Yuen had already activated the artifact. A chilling wind swept through the battlefield as the Phantom Mirror of Yore unleashed its power, casting an eerie, unnatural glow across the ground.

"Everyone, get back! It's dangerous!" Reon's voice rang out with urgency, cutting through the rising tension. His warning snapped everyone to attention, and without hesitation, the crowd quickly backed away from the fight scene, retreating to a safer distance as the air around Ming Yuen darkened with ominous energy.

Dark tendrils of ominous energy spiraled out from the mirror, twisting and writhing like living shadows. The air grew thick with malevolent intent, and in an instant, a towering figure began to materialize—a spectral form, cloaked in hatred, its eyes glowing with a sinister light as the evil spirit tore its way into the world.

Yang Lie's eyes widened in shock as he beheld the entity before him, a twisted form radiating pure malevolent energy. It took only a moment for him to recognize it—a powerful evil spirit.

Panic flickered through him as he remembered the terrifying truth: physical attacks were useless against such beings. Cold sweat trickled down his back as the realization sank in—he was in grave danger, facing a foe far beyond the realm of ordinary combat.