Chapter 105: The Cycle of Cause and Effect—Fated Destiny

After walking for an unknown length of time, Meng Youyuan finally came to a halt. Seeing this, the others stopped not far behind her, watching intently. The place where they stood was vast and desolate, devoid of any wild grass. Beyond the endless expanse of land, only a profound aura of spiritual essence lingered, imbued with a deep loneliness. The others could not fathom the significance of such an ordinary place that had drawn them here, but Meng Youyuan was different—she remained focused, her gaze fixed ahead with unwavering concentration, as if searching for something unseen.

Her expression was that of a child seeking the way home—partly confused by the unknown ahead, yet tinged with a faint hope. Her demeanor moved and pained those who observed her deeply.

Meng Youyuan gazed forward with such intensity for a long time, yet showed no sign of discovering anything. The others grew restless and bored. Just as their patience wore thin and someone was about to step forward to pull her back, Yu Shang suddenly collapsed to the ground, causing everyone to freeze. He felt a searing pain within, as if his internal organs were shattering. His vital energy surged chaotically, attempting to break free from his body.

What was even more terrifying was that his blood inexplicably rushed toward his heart, nearly causing it to rupture under the immense pressure. Fortunately, as Yu Shang writhed in agony, a mysterious portal spontaneously opened within him. From this gateway burst forth a powerful force, taming the frenzy of his vital energy and stabilizing the turbulent blood flow. Then, a luminous pearl emerged from his body, floating gently toward Meng Youyuan and coming to rest before her.

Startled by the sudden appearance of the pearl, Meng Youyuan paused momentarily before softly clasping it in her hand. Instantly, beams of violet light radiated forth, shattering the invisible barrier ahead. Before their eyes, a modest yet exquisitely simple cottage materialized. In that brief moment, an overwhelming surge of inexhaustible spiritual essence flooded the surroundings, as if the very air had been reborn, invigorating everyone present.

Even more incredible was what happened next. The once barren land around the cottage blossomed with life: vibrant flowers, tender grass, flourishing trees, and flowing lakes—all sprang into existence before their astonished eyes, etching themselves into their hearts in an unforgettable vision. Even the usually composed old dean could not suppress a soft exclamation of amazement.

While everyone was still entranced by this miraculous transformation, Meng Youyuan suddenly and boldly entered the cottage. At last, the others snapped out of their reverie and hurried after her. Inside, they discovered an intoxicating fragrance and delicate silk curtains. The wooden table and chairs were intricately carved with blossoming flower buds, revealing the secret yearnings of a young maiden’s heart. It seemed this cottage was the residence of the heroine from the ancient immortal realm.

Yet, a strange mystery soon presented itself: Meng Youyuan had vanished. They had seen her enter, but no sign of her remained. Spotting an unassuming beaded curtain nearby, they approached and lifted it to peer inside. There, to their surprise, stood Meng Youyuan, dazed and motionless, alongside the silhouette of a woman seated before a mirror, combing her hair. Sadly, the woman's face remained hidden, and no reflection appeared in the mirror.

Alarm spread among them. Who was this stranger? If Meng Youyuan was already in a confused state, might she be in danger? Unable to contain himself, the old dean charged forward to rescue his granddaughter. But as he stepped into the inner chamber, a beam of yellow light shot from the seemingly ordinary mirror, forcefully striking him and hurling him backward.

Fortunately, Yu Shang reacted swiftly, catching the old dean before he could fall, preventing a grievous injury. Amidst their relief, curiosity stirred—what kind of treasure was this mirror that even the seasoned old man could not withstand its power? Its mere emitted light had inflicted serious harm, a force beyond even Yu Shang’s blade.

Despite knowing they were no match for this formidable artifact, someone still dared to try. Lan Bingxian recklessly darted forward, desperate to rescue the woman she loved. The injured old dean grasped her arm firmly, pulling her back, then exclaimed bitterly, “Master, why do you stop me? You must understand—Youyuan is in grave danger and could perish at any moment. I have to save her immediately!”

The old dean, dragging his weakened body, replied with a sigh, “You reckless child, even I cannot overcome the Bone-Eroding Mirror. Do you truly believe you can subdue it? Listen well: going in now is a death sentence. No one can save that girl. Though it pains me to admit it, I cannot bear to see you harmed either. But this treasure is beyond our control; rushing in is but a futile sacrifice that solves nothing.”

“The Bone-Eroding Mirror? That old relic is the infamous Bone-Eroding Mirror, one of the most renowned divine artifacts, nearly ruling the world in its prime!” Xiaoyin exclaimed in astonishment, his shock nearly rendering him speechless. Everyone was curious about what power this mirror held to elicit such a reaction.

“That’s right,” the old dean confirmed, “as you said, this is the world-shaking Bone-Eroding Mirror. What puzzles me is how it came to be here.” He stared at the mirror, his heart unsettled, then glanced at his blood-related granddaughter, emotions surging like a storm. What should they do now? He prayed that the stranger would not harm Youyuan.

“So this is the legendary Bone-Eroding Mirror. Seeing it now, its reputation is well deserved. But I heard it was destroyed by the combined efforts of the gods of the immortal realm. How can it appear here intact? And Master, you frequently come here to cultivate—did you never sense the mirror’s formidable aura?” Leng Huaiyi questioned with genuine confusion, for it seemed impossible that such a presence escaped his detection.

“Not only this exquisite mirror, but I have never seen this cottage nor that stranger before. If Youyuan hadn’t discovered this hidden place today, I might never have had the chance to come here in my lifetime,” the old dean sighed softly. He was baffled how, despite his cultivation, he had no awareness of this place, yet Youyuan had.

“This is just an artifact—why are you all so amazed? If I gathered all the fragments of my Shadow Blade and reforged it, its power would rival this mirror!” Yu Shang said bluntly, unimpressed by the so-called Bone-Eroding Mirror. It had only wounded the old dean—there was no way it could surpass his blade.

“Young man, you don’t understand,” Xiaoyin warned, eyes serious. “Many great warriors have fallen to this Bone-Eroding Mirror. Rumor says any strong being or artifact absorbed into it is dissolved—even the bodies of ancient gods are no exception. That’s why it’s called Bone-Eroding: it can dissolve even divine bones into a pool of flesh and blood.”

“Everyone knows the bodies of ancient gods are invincible, impervious to any artifact’s harm. Yet you claim this mirror can dissolve them? That sounds like an exaggeration,” Yu Xiaoran chuckled, skeptical of such claims. Still, seeing the old dean wounded by the mirror brought him great satisfaction.

“Though the Bone-Eroding Mirror forged a legend, the Shadow Blade later eclipsed it. During the Immortal Underworld War, the two clashed, and unfortunately, the mirror was defeated. Regrettably, the mirror was destroyed by the gods, and the Shadow Blade was maliciously shattered by unknown forces. Neither ended well,” Xun Mishuang lamented.

“But now both treasures stand before us; perhaps those rumors are not entirely true,” Lan Wu said dismissively. She cared little for legendary artifacts, especially since she would never possess them. Her sole concern was Youyuan’s safety—whether the stranger had harmed her. Yet, both figures inside the cottage remained motionless as if frozen in time.

“Though both survive by a stroke of luck, my Shadow Blade remains incomplete, and that mirror no longer holds its former strength. Look closely—the mirror’s surface bears a faint crack, proof it is no longer what it once was,” Yu Shang observed with some regret. No wonder he felt no awe toward the Bone-Eroding Mirror; it was a natural rival to his blade.

Still, he pitied the mirror, once a coveted artifact, now destroyed by sanctimonious gods. Though it had somehow escaped total ruin, it was no longer whole. Interestingly, this fate mirrored his own blade’s. He wondered if, upon meeting again, the two relics might sympathize, lamenting their shared lost glory.

“Yu brother’s right; I see the crack myself. Though it lacks its former might, it remains formidable. After all, it was able to wound our strongest among us—what can we do?” Yan Xuesu sighed with a furrowed brow, weary of the misfortunes that seemed to plague Youyuan. “Heaven truly toys with human hearts and breaks their spirits.”

“Since the Shadow Blade and Bone-Eroding Mirror counter each other, and both are diminished now, why not let them duel once more to settle the score?” After a long silence, Yin Boxuan suggested quietly, hinting that Yu Shang should wield the Shadow Blade to confront the mirror, rescue Youyuan, and finally unveil the mysterious woman’s face.

“Yes, the Shadow Blade is superior to the mirror and can surely defeat it again to save Youyuan! Yu brother, please!” Lan Bingxian, seeing a glimmer of hope, pleaded earnestly. Now, only Yu Shang could rescue Youyuan. Begging him was easy—she would gladly give her life if necessary.

“I will rescue Youyuan for sure. There’s no need for such pleas. You’re all my brothers and friends. How could I stand by and watch you suffer?” Yu Shang smiled calmly, as if the Bone-Eroding Mirror was nothing to fear. He was curious to see what would unfold when these two ancient artifacts met again after so many years.

“Young man, don’t underestimate the danger. Whoever wields the Bone-Eroding Mirror is no simple foe. Be cautious; do not act recklessly,” Xiaoyin warned softly, concern evident in his eyes.