Silver light rippled beneath Lin Qing's feet as he shot across the Mirror-Plains, gliding over fractured stone like the world had quietly turned into a pane of glass. The pillar of light marking the realm's center flared again in the distance—violent, bright, impossible to ignore.
Li Chun clung to him like a terrified backpack.
"Heir Lin Qing—! Slow down! My mortal veins weren't built for this!"
"I am slowing down."
"No, you're not!"
Tian Ke ran beside them effortlessly, her steps light and precise. She didn't even look winded.
"Li Chun," Tian Ke said, "if Heir Lin Qing actually slowed down, the other geniuses would catch up, and several of them are already looking for a reason to kill him."
Li Chun tightened his grip. "Never mind! Faster, please!"
Lin Qing sighed. "This is why I don't teach you movement techniques."
The sky cracked with a sudden pressure. Fang Jian shot past them on a blade of compressed wind, riding it like a personal storm.
He glanced back with an infuriatingly confident grin. "See you at the center."
Lin Qing rolled his eyes. "Someone's enjoying this too much."
Not far behind, Yue Qianhan glided across the air on a crescent of moonlight, her focus locked entirely on the pillar of light. She didn't acknowledge anyone—her eyes glimmered with cold determination.
To the left, Jiang Tianlong thundered forward like a walking avalanche, each step shaking the ground.
Above them all, Qi Hongxuan descended slowly, crimson flames rippling behind him like a royal cloak. The pressure from his bloodline distorted the air.
Tian Ke's voice dropped. "The strongest of the younger generation… all gathering at once. If you hadn't awakened that inheritance, none of them would take this trip seriously."
"I'm starting to regret being born today," Lin Qing muttered.
"You'll regret it more if they reach the center first."
"Fantastic."
The terrain warped as they drew closer. Cracks in the earth flickered with silver light. Trees shimmered like reflective illusions. Even the air felt heavier, as if saturated with someone else's intent.
"The Mirror Emperor designed this place as a training ground," Tian Ke explained. "Perception and willpower are tested every step. The closer we get, the more the realm loses its grip on normal reality."
"So which part kills me if I blink wrong?"
"Both."
Li Chun whimpered.
"You also asked earlier about the rankings people keep mentioning," Tian Ke said, matching Lin Qing's pace. "This is a good time to explain."
Lin Qing groaned. "Please do. Preferably before something else tries to kill us."
She nodded. "There are three systems you need to understand."
"Of course there are."
"First, the Divine Region Lists. Each region of the Azure Heaven Continent has a ranking of young geniuses. Qi Hongxuan is top ten for the southern region. Fang Jian and Yue Qianhan are on it too."
Lin Qing grimaced. "So they're all professional prodigies."
"And you joined their league by accident."
"That tracks."
"Second, Violet-tier realms. Secret realms are graded from Black-tier up to Immortal-tier. Violet-tier are extremely rare. They contain opportunities capable of pushing geniuses directly into True King realm."
Li Chun looked sick. "W-we're inside something that dangerous…?"
"It's worse," Tian Ke corrected. "This realm is personal. Tailored. The Mirror Emperor's will lingers here."
Lin Qing pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why does everything have my name on it?"
"Third," she continued, "Mind Realms. A system the Mirror Emperor created to measure soul strength and perception."
"Finally, something that sounds useful."
"Your fight earlier… it showed your soul has already touched the second level."
Lin Qing stumbled. "I beg your pardon?"
"Second Mind Realm," Tian Ke repeated. "Equivalent to someone at peak Spirit Sea. And you did it without training."
Li Chun shrieked. "HEIR LIN QING PLEASE STOP BREAKING THE RULES OF EXISTENCE."
"I'm not doing it on purpose!"
The pillar of light suddenly bent slightly toward Lin Qing—as if drawn by him.
All the geniuses in the distance stopped and stared.
Fang Jian nearly dropped his spear.
Yue Qianhan's moonlight flickered.
Jiang Tianlong tripped over a very large rock.
Qi Hongxuan's flame dimmed for a heartbeat.
The realm was acknowledging Lin Qing.
Tian Ke grabbed his arm. "This is serious. It's reacting to your presence."
Li Chun screamed, "THE REALM LIKES HIM MORE THAN US, WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE."
They reached a steep drop, overlooking a massive basin filled with silver sand. In the middle stood a colossal mirror-monolith cracked straight down the center, spilling light into the sky.
The Realm's Heart.
Tian Ke exhaled. "We're here."
Lin Qing stared at the monolith. "Right. And touching that kills me how?"
"Potentially in every imaginable way."
Li Chun fainted.
Four shadows landed around the basin at once.
Fang Jian twirled his spear.
Yue Qianhan's moonlight sharpened.
Jiang Tianlong rolled his shoulders.
Qi Hongxuan rested a hand on his sword.
All four stared at Lin Qing.
And Fang Jian smirked.
"Well, Mirror Heir. Looks like things are finally getting interesting."
Lin Qing sighed.
"Of course they are."