Chapter 102: The Serpent and the Mirror World

The flames glowed with a purple-golden hue, suddenly engulfing the entire Imperial Academy, as if they had erupted from within. This was no ordinary fire—it was the Daoist Ziwei Heavenly Fire. Its heat and speed of combustion were hundreds of times greater than normal flames.

Just after Li Shimin had finished expressing his anger, he witnessed this scene before him. His expression turned icy cold, and his fingers clenched tightly around the railing.

The Imperial Academy was merely a large building, but it housed hundreds of candidates from various prefectures. If they were all burned alive, the Tang Dynasty’s court would lose its very foundation.

“Immortal Master, find a way to save them quickly.”

“Your Majesty, please don’t worry. I shall go immediately.”

Tan Zongxiao seemed to have anticipated this, his face remaining calm and composed. After speaking, he rose and prepared to fly out from the pavilion. At that moment, Yuan Tiangang, above the Baifu Inn, suddenly released Shangguan Yunyi. With a swift step, he appeared above the Imperial Academy. Without any visible magical artifact beneath his feet, he walked on empty air as if on solid ground—a feat achievable only by those with Divine Realm cultivation.

Upon reaching above the Academy, Yuan Tiangang’s pupils instantly shimmered like a flowing galaxy. He drew a circle over the Academy with his hand, and countless runes appeared in the void. Then, the raging flames surrounding the Academy began to surge toward that circle at a speed invisible to the naked eye. Within three breaths, every flame vanished completely.

But as the fire at the Imperial Academy was extinguished, a new blaze erupted in the northeastern part of the palace. Soon after, great fires flared up in the east, south, and west, accompanied by the clashing sounds of swords and blades.

“Your Majesty, the Northern Office is on fire. I shall go there immediately to take command!”

“No need. Wei Tun Yun is still alive. You are the Secretary Supervisor and a close imperial aide. Unless absolutely necessary, do not act. Without full preparation, how dare I open this imperial examination!”

Li Shimin frowned and looked around in all directions. Despite his anger, he remained composed. Meanwhile, Tan Zongxiao had disappeared without a trace. Turning his gaze back to Wuben District, although the fire in the Imperial Academy had been put out, the entire complex was charred and unrecognizable. The internal condition was unknown.

Yuan Tiangang retracted the fire and let out a slight breath, appearing somewhat fatigued. Just as he was about to turn, Shangguan Yunyi’s Vermilion Bird Seal appeared overhead.

Boom!

Yuan Tiangang pointed a finger, concentrating his magic into a single point that clashed with the Vermilion Bird Seal. Waves of gold and red light swept across the surroundings, drowning out all sounds between heaven and earth. Suddenly, a silver-white giant serpent burst forth from beneath the ground, its head as large as a mountain. With a thunderous crash, it slammed against the Vermilion Gate.

Hum hum hum hum…

The palace trembled, and a massive mirror appeared before the Vermilion Gate. Countless golden dragons formed from light soared within the mirror, blocking the serpent’s attack.

“Shangguan Yunyi, you’ve been used without even realizing it.”

“Hmph, I kill betrayers. What does that have to do with you?”

Yuan Tiangang glanced at the giant serpent before the Vermilion Gate, then at Shangguan Yunyi entangled in combat, his anger boiling over. His finger magic suddenly intensified several times over. Nine purple-golden flames appeared around his body, like a god descending. Seeing this, Shangguan Yunyi’s right hand swung down fiercely with the Dust Sword.

“Returning to the Ninth Level of Complete Perfection! So you were only half a step away!”

“Hmph, stubborn fool!”

Yuan Tiangang, furious, held nothing back. After a cold snort, the nine Ziwei Heavenly Flames merged into a single white light. Under the night sky, this white light resembled a tiny silver needle, barely noticeable, yet it suddenly shattered the Phoenix Seal. Shangguan Yunyi’s energy faltered as he was flung backward, sliding hundreds of yards through the void before stopping. Yuan Tiangang relentlessly pursued, grabbing at the Dust Sword in Shangguan Yunyi’s hand.

By now, blood stained the corner of Shangguan Yunyi’s mouth, and his magical fluctuations were erratic. With Yuan Tiangang’s speed, he seized the sword’s blade easily. Blinding golden light entwined the Dust Sword, nearly suppressing its sword aura completely. Yet in the next moment, the Dust Sword transformed into countless sword spirits that shot out and coalesced above Shangguan Yunyi’s head into a shadow. As the shadow grew clearer, Yuan Tiangang’s pupils revealed the image of a middle-aged Daoist woman in a blue robe with her hair bound.

Meanwhile, Li Chunfeng atop the pagoda finally took a step forward, flying toward the Vermilion Gate of the palace.

“Spirit Snake Ba, the Heavenly Mirror World! This Li Shimin truly is the Son of the True Dragon!”

Observing the suddenly appearing giant serpent, Li Chunfeng left only these words before vanishing above the pagoda. Lu Xin and the others were completely captivated by the enormous silver serpent.

Although only part of the serpent's body was visible above the ground, it stretched some thirty yards long, and the palace walls were less than ten yards high. Fortunately, a huge mirror had formed a protective barrier over the palace. The giant serpent struck the barrier seven or eight times but failed to break through. It then opened its blood-red jaws and howled toward the sky. Suddenly, a figure flew out of the serpent’s mouth and stood atop the barrier.

“Heavenly Mirror World! Hahaha, Li Shimin, your fate is truly extraordinary!”

The figure emerging from the serpent’s mouth was cloaked entirely in black robes, its features hidden. Around it flickered strands of purple-black energy, resembling countless black snakes in flight. Upon appearing, it plunged its arm into the barrier, forming a fist with five fingers that churned boundless black smoke.

In the next moment, the palace’s protective barrier dimmed, and the golden dragons within shattered. Just as the giant serpent prepared to ram the palace, a point of golden light appeared before it, growing larger and brighter. Li Chunfeng stepped forward and, forming a sword seal with his hand, pressed a finger against the serpent’s forehead.

Boom!

Like pushing aside a mountain, the serpent could not withstand the power of the strike and collapsed with a tremendous crash.

“My goodness! Xin, your master is really amazing. That serpent was just knocked down by him?”

A scholar watching this scene gaped in astonishment, hardly believing his eyes. Li Chunfeng’s strike was so effortless it seemed like an adult pushing over a child.

“Spirit Snake Ba? What kind of creature is this serpent, Fox? Do you know?”

Li Chunfeng had finally acted, but Lu Xin felt uneasy, as if something was missing. Clearly, someone intended to break into the palace to assassinate Li Shimin. The fires blazing from all directions indicated the attackers were more than one faction.

“I have seen this serpent’s image once in an ancient book but never encountered the real thing. It is called ‘Ba,’ a spirit snake that dwells only in the deep mountains of Yuzhou. It can grow from less than a foot to over a hundred feet in length and naturally gathers earth and spiritual energy. Therefore, it can burrow deep underground and suddenly appear outside the palace.”

“Yuzhou? Ba?”

Hearing Yue Buhei’s words, Lu Xin recalled the Nine Venom Sect disciples encountered two years ago in Xiaoxi Town. Back then, Zhou Dian had taken control of the entire City God Temple, intending to spread plague in Yuezhou Prefecture. Yuan Tiangang happened to pass by and saved many lives. He had mentioned the Nine Venom Sect’s location was precisely in the Bazhong area of Yuzhou.

Looking again at the black-robed figure above the palace, it strongly resembled a Nine Venom Sect disciple, except this person’s cultivation was incomparably stronger than Zhou Dian’s.

The Heavenly Mirror World barrier, which withstood even the enormous serpent’s assaults, was effortlessly broken by this figure, demonstrating immense power.

After toppling the Ba serpent, Li Chunfeng turned his gaze toward the black-robed figure above the palace. At the same time, numerous soldiers clad in golden armor and Yin-Yang priests of the Divine Shrine converged from all directions to attack the serpent.

“Another Ninth Level Returnee! You dwell in the celestial spirit, feeding on the essence of sun and moon. With such cultivation, why serve as the emperor’s watchdog? What is your relationship with the heir of Xuanwei?”

The black-robed figure, having broken through the palace barrier, did not descend immediately. Instead, it turned its gaze toward Li Chunfeng and spoke. Meanwhile, Yuan Tiangang was still locked in combat with Shangguan Yunyi, who had transformed into a towering Thousand-Hand Daoist statue. The “heir of Xuanwei” mentioned by the black-robed figure was naturally Yuan Tiangang.

Li Chunfeng glanced toward the eastern sky, smiled faintly, and withdrew his gaze.

“I heard that the Nine Venom Sect leader, Ouyang Tianming, obtained a fragment of a ghost path scripture in his youth, recording the cultivation techniques of ancient ghost clan practitioners. Since then, his cultivation soared, breaking through to the Divine Realm. What we see today is truly a display of boundless magical power.”

“Hahaha… You flatter me. I am but a rustic man from the mountains, hardly possessing boundless power. You might turn around and see if Chang’an City can still be held!”

The black-robed figure shook his head and chuckled. Li Chunfeng turned to look. Unbeknownst to them, less than ten yards above Chang’an City, thick black clouds had gathered, like a vast dark ocean enveloping the entire city. On many rooftops, figures darted and flipped swiftly.

“Since Master Ouyang has reached the pinnacle of destiny and focuses on his heavenly mandate, why stir up such bloodshed and place the people in peril? Moreover, your Nine Venom Sect’s alliance with the Great Wilderness Divine Cult may not bring benefits. A tall tree catches the wind. Doesn’t the leader feel the Nine Venom Sect is too conspicuous?”

“Heh heh, your silver tongue may outmatch mine, but I am not so sure. Yet Li Shimin must die today. I know your thoughts and those of the heir of Xuanwei. Daoists seek the Heavenly Way and merit. You all believe Li Shimin is the True Dragon Son, but I practice the ghost path and need no such merits. I do not believe he is a good emperor. The Li family slaughtered my Yuzhou people. Killing him is only just!”

As the black-robed man spoke, his form suddenly transformed into a black streak, charging straight at Li Chunfeng. The two collided in an instant, golden light and dark radiance intertwining, sending terrifying magical shockwaves rippling through the air. Wrapped in a mass of black killing intent, Li Chunfeng was flung out of Chang’an City.

“Master!”

Lu Xin watched in horror, about to turn toward the southern city when suddenly more than a dozen black shadows emerged from beneath the pagoda.