98: Dark Twins 1

Ling Xiao?

Xiao Yan looked at the 'younger brother' in front of him in disbelief—his silver hair had turned completely black, his eyes were as dark as an abyss, and a never-before-seen wicked smile hung on his lips.

Even more terrifying was the black seed of the plane in his hand, continuously releasing Chaos energy, forming a bizarre balance with the Eternal Ice Heart.

"Ling Xiao has... fallen asleep."

The 'darkened Ling Xiao' toyed with the Eternal Ice Heart, his voice carrying an unsettling lightness, "You can call me Dark Lingxiao.

To be honest, I prefer this new name."

Xiao Yan endured the sharp pain in his chest and straightened his body, the Flame Lord's Fire swirling in his palm: "Give my brother back!"

Dark Lingxiao sighed exaggeratedly: "Still so boring, Flame Brother.

We finally meet, can't we just have a good chat?"

He suddenly leaned closer, his dark eyes staring directly into Xiao Yan's right eye, "For example... how's that 'tenant' in your right eye doing lately?"

The black threads in Xiao Yan's right eye twisted violently as if responding, bringing a piercing pain.

He gritted his teeth, suddenly realizing a terrifying truth—Dark Lingxiao could sense, and even control, the black threads within him!

"Looks like you understand."

Dark Lingxiao happily stepped back a few paces, "We are one, you, me, Ling Xiao... and those lovely pseudo-species creatures."

He snapped his fingers, and heavy footsteps echoed from the depths of the ice cave, "Come meet my new friends!"

Three colossal figures emerged from the darkness—giants made entirely of ten-thousand-year-old profound ice, with black flames flickering in their eyes, each step causing strange black ice crystals to form on the ground.

Unlike the ice giants Xiao Yan had just dealt with, these 'Ice Demons' clearly had Chaos energy integrated into their bodies!

"You injected the power of the Chaos Devourer into them?"

Xiao Yan gasped.

Dark Lingxiao nodded happily: "Clever!

Thanks to the help of that 'friend' in your right eye."

He jumped onto the shoulder of the leading Ice Demon and sat down, "Do you know?

Ling Xiao always resisted using the Spirit of the Plane's power to control others... such a waste of talent."

Xiao Yan secretly circulated his Dou Qi, preparing for a desperate fight.

Dark Lingxiao, however, seemed to see through his thoughts and shook his finger: "Don't rush, brother.

I'm not going to kill you... at least not now."

A strange light flashed in his eyes, "I want to play a game with you."

"A game?"

"To prove the value of this world."

Dark Lingxiao's voice suddenly turned chilling, "That fool Ling Xiao always said the Source World was worth saving, and humans were worth protecting... I want to see if it's true."

He waved his hand, and a black ice pillar suddenly descended from the top of the ice cave, trapping Xiao Yan within it!

The Flame Lord's Fire burned the ice pillar, but could only melt it slowly—these black ice had strong resistance to flames.

"The rules are simple."

Dark Lingxiao stood on the Ice Demon's shoulder, looking down at Xiao Yan, "I will hide Ling Xiao's true consciousness in the deepest part of the ice abyss.

If you can pass three trials and find him, I will willingly return... otherwise..."

He grinned, revealing his stark white teeth, "I will take both seeds of the plane to Void Devourer, to help accelerate its awakening!"

Xiao Yan roared, striking the ice pillar: "You dare!"

"Oh, I very much dare."

Dark Lingxiao turned and walked towards the depths of the ice cave, "The first trial has begun... I hope you like the 'reminiscence kill' I've prepared for you..."

As his figure disappeared, the black ice pillar suddenly burst!

Xiao Yan broke free, only to find that his surroundings had completely changed—the ice cave had become the training ground of the Xiao Family in Utan City, and standing before him was his younger self!

"This is... an illusion?"

Xiao Yan vigilantly looked around.

Everything was incredibly real, he could even smell the familiar scent of sweat and herbs mixed on the training ground.

Young Xiao Yan was practicing basic Dou Techniques, his movements clumsy but earnest.

Suddenly, a gray-robed elder walked over from the side, gently correcting his posture...

"Teacher!"

Xiao Yan's heart tightened—it was none other than the younger Yao Chen!

The illusory Yao Chen seemed unable to hear his shouts, focusing on teaching young Xiao Yan: "The circulation of Qi should be like a stream, continuous..."

Xiao Yan rushed forward to grab Yao Chen's arm, but passed directly through him.

Only then did he notice his own state—semi-transparent, like a ghost unable to interfere with this world.

"The first trial... memories..."

Xiao Yan forced himself to think calmly, "What does Dark Lingxiao want?"

As if responding to his question, the scene suddenly distorted!

The clear sky turned blood-red, and a group of black-clad figures rushed into the Xiao Family, killing everyone they saw!

Young Xiao Yan was protected by Yao Chen behind him, and Xiao Zhan...

Xiao Yan painfully closed his eyes—witnessing his family's tragic death once again, even an illusion was heartbreaking.

But when he opened his eyes again, he found that the illusion had changed—Yao Chen did not break through with him and Xiao Bing as in his memory, but instead... stood still, sneering!

"Surprised?"

The illusory Yao Chen suddenly turned to the ghostly Xiao Yan, black light flickering in his eyes, "This is the truth, my dear disciple.

Back then, I deliberately let Xuan Ming find the Xiao Family, all for the sake of what's inside you..."

"Shut up!"

Xiao Yan roared, "Don't profane the memories of my teacher!"

The illusory Yao Chen laughed loudly, his figure twisting into Dark Lingxiao's appearance: "Oh?

Then tell me, why did Yao Chen specifically choose you?

Why was his cultivation of you so... deliberate?"

Dark Lingxiao snapped his fingers, and the scene changed to Yao Chen teaching Xiao Yan the Burning Decisive Cultivation Technique, "Look, even the Cultivation Technique was carefully chosen... a coincidence?"