Chapter 49: The Breaking Point

The chamber trembled as the battle raged on. The mirror's energy pulsed like a living force, twisting the reflections into greater monstrosities. Li Feng gritted his teeth, his muscles burning from the relentless attacks of his own reflection—a version of himself that wielded the Coiled Dragon Ring with absolute mastery, unburdened by doubt or restraint. Every strike it delivered felt like a glimpse into a future he could not escape.

Beyond the battle, shadows moved at the chamber's edge.

Mei Lian, Zheng Wei, and Yan Shun had finally reached the threshold of the inner sanctum. Their eyes widened at the chaos before them—warriors cut down by their own twisted doppelgängers, Shen Longwei fending off his own corrupted reflection, and at the center of it all, Li Feng locked in a brutal struggle against himself.

Yan Shun's fingers twitched toward his blade. His sharp gaze flicked between the Celestial Mirror and the battle before them.

"This is our chance," he murmured. "If we take the mirror now, Shen Longwei loses his advantage."

Mei Lian shot him a glare. "And what happens to Li Feng?"

Yan Shun's expression darkened. "He's already lost in it."

Mei Lian stepped forward, her voice firm. "You're making the same mistake Shen Longwei did. The mirror is a test—not a prize. If you try to take it by force, it will break you."

Yan Shun hesitated, his jaw clenched.

Then a low groan came from behind them.

Zheng Wei staggered forward, one hand gripping his staff, the other pressing against his bleeding side. His injuries from their battle with the stone sentinel had worsened, but he pushed forward.

"It's not about power," Zheng Wei muttered through gritted teeth. "It's about control. Li Feng is fighting himself—if we don't help him now, he won't win."

Mei Lian nodded, turning back toward the battlefield. "Then let's make sure he doesn't fight alone."

Inside the chamber, Li Feng lunged forward, clashing against his reflection. His blade met the dark twin's with a resounding clang, but the force behind it sent him skidding back. His opponent did not hesitate. It moved like water, its strikes fluid, relentless.

"This is what you could be," the reflection taunted, its voice an echo of his own. "Unstoppable. Unburdened."

Another strike. Another searing pulse of pain as Li Feng barely managed to deflect the attack. His vision blurred, his body screaming in protest. Every move the reflection made was effortless, while he struggled just to stay standing.

The Coiled Dragon Ring pulsed against his skin.

A voice—low, insidious—whispered in his mind.

Give in. Let go of doubt. You were meant to wield me without fear.

Li Feng faltered. The reflection smirked and pressed forward.

Then a distant voice broke through the haze.

"Li Feng! Hold on!"

A pulse of energy surged through the chamber as Zheng Wei lifted his staff and chanted. His voice rang with the force of an incantation, his wounded form trembling under the strain. A glow surrounded him, ancient symbols flickering into existence around the mirror.

The chamber's energy shifted. The grip of the mirror's magic wavered.

Li Feng gasped, feeling the weight on his soul lessen. His opponent staggered—its form flickering, unstable.

But the battle wasn't over.

Shen Longwei, seeing the balance tipping, let out a furious growl.

"Enough of this."

He turned from his reflection and sprinted toward the exit, signaling for his remaining warriors to follow. But as he moved, a deep rumble echoed through the chamber. The walls trembled. The air grew heavy.

The tomb was collapsing.

Mei Lian's eyes darted upward. "He's triggering the ruin's failsafe! If he can't have the mirror, he'll bury it—and us—with it!"

Yan Shun clenched his fists. "That coward."

Li Feng, still struggling against his reflection, felt the weight of the choice before him. His blade hovered inches from his double's chest. The dark twin smirked.

"What will you do?" it whispered. "Destroy me, or embrace me?"

Li Feng's grip tightened. His heart pounded.

Then, in a single motion, he lowered his sword.

The reflection's smirk faded.

"You're not my enemy," Li Feng said. "You're part of me."

A pulse of energy radiated from the mirror, the reflection staring at him with unreadable eyes. Then, as if accepting his choice, it slowly faded into mist, dissolving into the air. The Celestial Mirror pulsed, acknowledging his decision.

But the tomb was still falling apart.

"We need to go!" Mei Lian shouted.

With one final look at the mirror, Li Feng turned away.

The battle wasn't over.

It was only just beginning.