Chapter 125: Mirror of the Twins

Qi Xiao nodded inwardly. The Polar Star Light Crystal was considered rare even among materials at the official wizard level, far surpassing the Fire Dragon Bone he had used previously. Furthermore, it appeared to be perfectly suited to Fae’s elemental affinity, which explained why she looked so delighted.

The group’s attention shifted to Midier, who only calmly remarked, "It is a spatial spell; it is not convenient to demonstrate."

Qi Xiao gasped. His teacher’s acquisition was certainly no less than Fae’s, and if the spell proved practical, it might even surpass it. After all, for any family or faction, the inheritance of a spell was the core of their existence. The value of such knowledge was beyond words, let alone a spell that perfectly aligned with one’s own school of cultivation.

Lorses offered a brief congratulation and said nothing more.

Soon, Korent began setting up the spirit array again. This time, Eleanor was primarily responsible for the spirit items and magical materials. Practice made perfect, and the array was completed quickly.

This time, Korent and Eleanor entered together. The remaining wizards were taciturn, and Qi Xiao, not wishing to make a nuisance of himself, closed his eyes and began to read.

Korent and Eleanor spent significantly longer in the gate than Midier and Fae. Just as Qi Xiao was hesitating whether to ask his teacher what was happening, the pair finally emerged.

Korent’s expression was sour, clearly indicating his gains were mediocre, while Eleanor hummed a little tune, appearing in high spirits. Her harvest was quite obvious—it was slung across her back.

"A... guitar?"

Perhaps sensing Qi Xiao’s confusion, Eleanor took the guitar down and chuckled, "This is an exceptional-grade guitar, quite rare. I have no idea where the Gate of Winter finds these things; the gate is truly miraculous. Guitars have only recently become popular, so it’s quite keeping with the times."

She then turned, smiling playfully at Korent. "What about you, Lord Huisheng? You wouldn't say a word inside, but you should be able to bring it out now, shouldn't you? Surely you don't intend to break the ancient rules of the Frozen Sanctuary?"

Korent sighed deeply and spread his hands. An alchemical tool resembling a ruler appeared in his palm.

"An excellent-grade Observation Ruler... It can measure celestial phenomena and confirm landscapes. It is an auxiliary alchemical tool with little use in combat."

Korent was uninterested and gave a brief, perfunctory introduction before tucking the ruler back into his storage item. Qi Xiao glanced at it; in his estimation, the ruler was quite decent, a top-tier item within the excellent grade, but it paled in comparison to what the others had obtained. It was hard to say if it could even cover the cost of the materials used to open the gate.

Korent set up the array again. This time, there was no need for the Ten Thousand Spirit Cellar to provide funds. Once it was hastily prepared, Lorses removed his glasses and stood before the gate.

Qi Xiao looked up and happened to lock eyes with Korent, who forced a smile. "You cannot withstand the residual energy generated when a spirit array of this grade is activated. You will be allowed to enter separately later; do not be impatient."

Qi Xiao was naturally not in a hurry and nodded with composure.

Lorses’s speed was astonishing. Perhaps because the flow of time within the Gate of Winter was different, Qi Xiao felt as though only seconds had passed before Lorses walked back out.

Lorses held a massive egg in his arms, his expression somewhat strange. Seeing everyone looking at him, he explained, "This is a dragon egg. The specific species is unclear and requires detailed examination, but one can sense the powerful life force contained within."

The group was surprised; the value of a dragon egg was self-evident, especially for a wizard. If successfully hatched, it would be a tremendous asset in future combat or research.

Qi Xiao looked on with curiosity. He had seen an Abyssal Dragon egg at the Purple Gold Auction before, but this was completely different. The surface of the egg in Lorses’s arms was covered in ink-green scales, each etched with fine lines and shimmering with a metallic luster. It was about half a person’s height, and according to Lorses, it was heavy to the touch and radiated a faint warmth.

"It should be an Ink Dragon or Green Dragon egg, right? Or perhaps something from the Sprite Dragon line... We really must have someone check it and prepare the necessary food for the hatchling in advance. I recall there is a Scroll Dragon at the Qingtian Pavilion; we could have him take a look." Eleanor recalled her knowledge of dragon eggs and offered a suggestion.

Lorses nodded but did not seem overly excited. The value of a dragon egg was undeniable—if one could hatch and raise it to adulthood, the benefits would far exceed those of spells or exceptional-grade alchemical tools. However, hatching a dragon egg was a massive challenge. Most dragons had extremely high environmental requirements and long incubation periods; without specific methods and sufficient patience, success was rare.

Furthermore, after hatching, they required vast amounts of rare materials to consume. Daily sustenance was no small expense and could easily bankrupt an official wizard. Raising one to adulthood would take hundreds, if not thousands, of years, making their value primarily a legacy for the next generation.

Still, it was a dragon egg. Even if one chose not to hatch it, selling it would fetch a sky-high price, so Lorses remained in a fairly good mood.

Finally, it was his turn. Qi Xiao felt inexplicably nervous, watching Korent set up the array with unwavering focus.

The status of a wizard apprentice was clearly much lower than that of an official wizard. Qi Xiao calculated that the materials used for the array cost around thirty thousand magic crystals. More importantly, it took up one of the slots to enter the gate. It was no wonder Korent had looked so heartbroken earlier.

"Come."

Korent beckoned Qi Xiao onto the platform. Qi Xiao looked up at his teacher, and upon receiving a nod of assurance, he took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage.

The Gate of Winter slowly opened. Qi Xiao felt an indescribable sensation as a majestic, mysterious aura surged forth. It was a profound and ancient presence, similar to the feeling brought by the pink pearl, yet entirely different, as if the gate connected to endless dimensions and secrets.

He had felt nothing while standing below the platform...

Qi Xiao steadied himself and stepped into the gate.

As he advanced, he could feel time and space fluctuating. Each ripple seemed to tell an ancient story, causing his heartbeat to accelerate. There seemed to be a voice calling out to his soul—a summons from the distant past, filled with mystery and temptation.

"Follow your heart..."

Qi Xiao had previously asked his teacher what was behind the gate and what he should do upon entering. Midier had only given him these four words.

Qi Xiao adjusted his breathing, firmed his steps, and walked toward the call he sensed. Although the summons was filled with temptation, he felt no malice.

After taking a single step, he found himself instantly transported into a bizarre environment. It was a labyrinth constructed of ice crystals; the walls, floors, and ceilings were made of transparent ice, reflecting seven-colored light like a dreamlike crystal palace. It reminded him of the Mirror Spirit’s realm he had entered before becoming a wizard.

Qi Xiao traveled through the twisting passages. At every turn, his reflection mirrored back at him, giving him the illusion that countless versions of himself were exploring different paths. In the crystal labyrinth, light refracted into brilliant shadows; some danced on the walls, while others flowed across the ground like living creatures.

The mysterious sense of summons grew stronger. Qi Xiao could feel it coming from the depths of the labyrinth, guiding him forward. As he traversed the maze, he discovered that he had an inexplicable intuition for its paths. He seemed to be able to perceive the end of every passage and the scenery behind every corner. This feeling allowed him to move through the maze with unusual ease, as if he had walked these paths countless times before.

As he ventured deeper, Qi Xiao noticed faint traces of light appearing on the ground from time to time. These marks seemed to guide his direction, coinciding perfectly with the intuition in his heart.

Before long, Qi Xiao arrived at the center of the labyrinth. It was an open space featuring a high platform, and upon it sat a bronze mirror radiating a soft light.

It was an ancient mirror. The frame appeared to be made of pure copper and was covered in complex runes. The mirror surface was exceptionally clear, without a speck of dust, and the edges were inlaid with a circle of filigree gold. There was no other decoration, yet Qi Xiao was instantly suffocated, with only one word echoing in his mind:

*Mysterious Object!*

Qi Xiao dared not move, as if afraid that any motion might scare the mirror away. Sensing the familiar yet unique aura of the mirror, Qi Xiao was absolutely certain that this was a complete Mysterious Object, not one of those items merely stained with a mysterious aura that could at best be considered "half-step" mysteries.

*Can one obtain a Mysterious Object within a Mysterious Object?*

The theory felt like a nested doll, but the Gate of Winter was special, and Qi Xiao’s mind was in such chaos that he couldn't think clearly. He felt his breath quicken, unsure whether to reach out or take another step.

However, the bronze mirror seemed to grow impatient. It rose from its place, drifted through the air toward Qi Xiao, and then, as gravity ceased to affect it, landed directly in his hands.

Qi Xiao scrambled to catch it, his sense of unreality finally subsiding. He had nearly suffocated when the mirror rose; Mysterious Objects were simply too precious. One only had to look at the Gate of Winter to know how vital such items were to wizards. Even a "chicken rib" curiosity like "Thermiles’s Peerless Treasure," which could only emit rosy clouds, had sold for a staggering thirty million magic crystals. This mirror, at a glance, was clearly far more significant.

With trepidation, Qi Xiao injected his magic power into the mirror. Though the bronze mirror provided no feedback and didn't even spark the slightest change, a wealth of information flooded his spiritual sea.

*"Lin Cai’s Twin Mirror"*

The name alone made Qi Xiao tremble. His thoughts swirled, and he didn't know where to begin.

Every curiosity possessed its own innate name; by injecting magic power or the "mana" of other cultivation systems, one could obtain basic information. That was how he had learned the name "Thermiles’s Peerless Treasure." But "Lin Cai" was not only someone Qi Xiao knew—he was currently treating him for the Blood Plague. This was truly terrifying...

A coincidence? Qi Xiao found it hard to believe. The name was not a common one like George or Roland, and the surname was also quite rare. He could not believe it was merely a shared name.

Though Qi Xiao felt that a storm was brewing, the moment the Twin Mirror entered his hands, the world’s sense of rejection toward him grew stronger. He feared it wouldn't be long before he was ejected from the gate.

Clutching the bronze mirror, Qi Xiao gritted his teeth.

Blue light erupted within the hall, and the Gate of Winter opened. Everything remained unchanged as Qi Xiao walked off the platform with a composed expression.

Eleanor was stretching. Seeing Qi Xiao descend, she squinted and smiled, "What good thing did little Qi Xiao get? Let your teacher-aunt have a look~"

Perhaps having heard the address from Demos, Eleanor had taken to calling herself his teacher-aunt, but Qi Xiao walked silently to Midier’s side without responding.

"Huh?"

Eleanor instantly arched her brows, looking at Qi Xiao with confusion. She didn't press him, intending to see what the little thing was up to.

Midier’s expression remained unchanged, save for an inquisitive look directed at Qi Xiao. Qi Xiao took a deep breath, retrieved the Twin Mirror from his storage ring, and said in a low voice, "Teacher, this is a curiosity I obtained from within the gate. I feel I am unable to hold or protect such a precious treasure, so I have come to offer it to you. I hope it may be of some use. Please, accept it!"

Yes, although he had little time to think, he had made the most correct—or rather, the safest—decision. A Mysterious Object was too valuable; with his apprentice-level strength, he could never protect it. Even if Midier didn't covet it, once word of this leaked out, his death would be imminent.

As the saying goes, "As long as the green hills remain, there is no need to worry about firewood." Qi Xiao was confident that as long as he lived, he would never lack for Mysterious Objects. Not to mention, the mysterious aura fed back by the system was still stored in his spiritual sea. Nothing was more important than survival.

Moreover, having spent so much time with his teacher, he had a fair grasp of his character; this move could also be considered taking a step back to advance.

The atmosphere in the sanctuary froze, becoming terrifyingly still. Even Midier could not maintain his composure, looking somewhat shocked and conflicted, let alone the others. Eleanor looked as if her eyes were about to pop out of her head.

Qi Xiao continued, looking down at his feet. "This mirror is called the Twin Mirror; it is the Mirror of Illusion among the Twin Mirrors. There should be a corresponding Mirror of Reality. Its specific functions require testing... It likely creates delusions or even allows one to reach a certain illusory place through it. Teacher, you could ask Lord Demos to test it. There are likely many other functions, but I dare not speculate further..."

Midier finally returned to his senses. His expression shifted several times before settling. He spoke in a deep voice, "I will hold onto it for you first. Come and take it whenever you need it. Once you officially break through to become a wizard, I will return it to you in person. During this time, I will use it for some research. Rest assured, I am not one to covet my own student’s belongings."