Battle Through the Heavens: He possesses extraordinary comprehension and is born a Battle Emperor!

Chapter 96 The Real and Fake Xiao Chong

"Brother Chong, I have a feeling that what we are looking for is hidden in the mirror."

Zi Yan stepped forward and reached out to touch the mirror. The image in the mirror rippled with her touch, gradually revealing scene after scene. Each scene seemed familiar, yet it was filled with unknown dangers.

"It seems we need to enter these scenes separately to find clues about the 'essence of sand'," Xiao Chong analyzed.

"But it's too dangerous to split up," Zi Yan said with some worry.

"Don't worry," Xiao Chong said, gripping Zi Yan's hand tightly. His unwavering gaze gave her boundless courage.

Then, the two of them each stepped into the world within the mirror.

The moment Xiao Chong stepped into the mirror world, the scene before him left him speechless.

All around was a dazzling vortex of colors, with various strange reflections intertwining and overlapping as the light flowed, as if each reflection led to a completely different world.

He took a cautious step, but it felt as if he were stepping on empty air, without any sense of reality.

"Where is this...?" Xiao Chong muttered to himself, his eyes scanning his surroundings warily.

Suddenly, a familiar yet unfamiliar scent wafted over him, causing his smile to freeze involuntarily.

"Xiao Chong, long time no see." A voice sounded behind him, as if it were his own voice, but with a hint of coldness that was hard to detect.

As he turned around, a man who looked exactly like him stood before him, the only difference being the coldness and cunning in his eyes. This was another Xiao Chong, or rather, a reflection of this mirror world—the "fake Xiao Chong."

"Who are you? Why do you look exactly like me?" Xiao Chong asked warily, clenching his fists.

The fake Xiao Chong smirked coldly: "Who I am is unimportant. What matters is that here, I am the rule, and you are the intruder. If you want what you want, you'll have to get past me first."

Before he could finish speaking, the fake Xiao Chong suddenly appeared in front of Xiao Chong, delivering a straight punch with a whistling sound.

Xiao Chong dodged to the side, his hands quickly forming hand seals as he unleashed a "Flowing Cloud Palm" strike at his opponent's shoulder. The two figures clashed amidst the colorful light and shadow, their speed dazzling to the eye.

"You are strong, but in my own world, I am invincible," the fake Xiao Chong provoked, his every attack accurately predicting Xiao Chong's movements.

Xiao Chong knew perfectly well that relying solely on brute force was not the best strategy; he needed to find his opponent's weakness. Just as he was pondering a countermeasure, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of a reflection in the mirror, where something seemed to be hidden.

"Something's not right, the reflection here..." Xiao Chong deliberately revealed a flaw, luring the fake Xiao Chong to launch an even fiercer attack.

As expected, the fake Xiao Chong fell for the trap and threw a heavy punch at Xiao Chong's open space. Just as the wind from the punch was about to hit, Xiao Chong's body suddenly split in two, one being the real him and the other being a mirror image.

"I see. Using the reflection in the mirror to confuse the opponent is quite an interesting technique." For the first time, the fake Xiao Chong's tone showed surprise.

"It's not just about technique," Xiao Chong smiled faintly, "Here, every reflection can become my power. You may be able to imitate my appearance, but you can never replicate the real me."

After speaking, the mirror image shattered into countless fragments, each reflecting a different Xiao Chong, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. The real Xiao Chong seized the opportunity to approach, striking the fake Xiao Chong on the back with a palm strike. A surge of pure power flowed in, causing the fake Xiao Chong to momentarily lose his footing.

"Impossible! How could you..." For the first time, panic showed in the voice of the fake Xiao Chong.

"Because I know myself better than you do," Xiao Chong said slowly. He knew that everyone has their own weaknesses hidden deep inside, even their own reflection.

Just as Xiao Chong was preparing to deliver the final blow, the colorful surroundings suddenly trembled violently, and a suction force surged from all directions, pulling him toward an unknown direction.

The figure of the fake Xiao Chong gradually blurred in the chaos until it disappeared.

As the mirror world shattered, Xiao Chong was suddenly swept into a vortex of time and space by an irresistible force. The surrounding scenery changed rapidly like a carousel. Finally, he staggered and steadied himself, finding himself back inside the familiar yet mysterious giant sycamore tree.

The surroundings were quiet, with only his slightly heavy breathing echoing in the air.

Looking around, Xiao Chong felt an indescribable sense of loneliness.

Although he had just defeated his own reflection, the joy of victory turned bitter because of Zi Yan's silence. He pursed his lips and decided to try to reconnect with her again.

"Ziyan, are you there? It's me, Xiao Chong." He closed his eyes, concentrated his mental energy, and gently cast the question into the depths of his mind, hoping to receive even the slightest response.

Time seemed to stand still; apart from the sound of his heartbeat, everything was quiet.

Just when he was about to give up, a voice so subtle it was almost imperceptible rang in his mind, like a whisper in the wind, ethereal and fragile.

"Xiao Chong...is that you?" Zi Yan's voice was filled with uncertainty and surprise.

"It's me!" Xiao Chong was overjoyed and immediately increased his mental output, hoping to make the conversation clearer.

"This world... is dangerous, you... be careful." Zi Yan's voice was broken and intermittent, clearly she was going through some kind of difficulty, which made Xiao Chong's heart clench.

"Ziyan, tell me your location. No matter what happens, I will come to save you!" Xiao Chong's tone was firm and left no room for doubt.

"No...you can't come...this is my battle..." Zi Yan's voice grew weaker and weaker, and then disappeared completely, leaving Xiao Chong with only a vast silence.

Xiao Chong opened his eyes, a resolute light flashing within them.

He understood that even if Zi Yan didn't want him involved, as her partner, he couldn't stand idly by. He began searching the giant tree for possible clues; any detail could be key to rescuing Zi Yan.

Suddenly, a faint light caught his attention, emanating from an ancient stone platform at the center of the giant tree. Upon closer inspection, he saw that the platform was engraved with intricate runes, and in the center was a gem that shimmered with an unusual light.

Xiao Chong recognized it as the very medium that had guided him into the mirror world—the Key of Time and Space.

"If this is the only way to contact Zi Yan..." he murmured to himself, gently touching the gemstone with both hands. A warm and familiar power flowed from his palms, as if resonating with Zi Yan's soul.

Just then, the gem shone brightly, the surrounding space began to distort, and a phantom image slowly emerged. It was Zi Yan trapped in a dark place, surrounded by constantly writhing dark creatures. Her figure appeared particularly thin, yet she still resisted resolutely.

(End of this chapter)