The final shard pulsed in Lin Xuan's hand.
Cold. Heavy. Infinite.
It wasn't a memory of someone else.
It wasn't a wound inflicted by others.
It was a mirror.
The moment he touched it—the realm shattered.
---
The Third Truth: The Mirror of Chaos
Lin Xuan stood in a realm of endless black.
No stars. No sky.
Only a glass-like surface beneath his feet and an unending reflection.
Then… something moved in that reflection.
A figure emerged—his exact image, but taller, older, cloaked in endless shadows.
Eyes glowing like twin galaxies gone mad.
Each step the figure took cracked reality underfoot.
Lin Xuan faced himself.
> "So," the reflection said, voice deep and ancient. "You've come to judge your own creation."
> "You gave up love. You buried peace. You let pain forge your path."
> "You are no longer mortal. You are Chaos."
---
The Self Confronted
Lin Xuan drew in a sharp breath.
This wasn't an illusion.
It wasn't an enemy.
It was his true self—the raw essence of the man who had burned his past to forge a new future.
> "You look at me and see what? A monster?" he asked.
> "I see the truth," Chaos-Xuan said. "That for every person you saved… you let ten die."
> "That you could've knelt—and you chose to rise."
> "You think you bear Chaos. But you are becoming it."
He raised his hand. The sky trembled.
> "So fight. Or fall. But choose."
---
The Duel Within
The battle erupted—more fierce than any before.
Chaos techniques clashed against their origin.
Dimensional steps collided, canceling each other.
Each blow Lin Xuan struck was countered by the exact same one—but stronger, colder, sharper.
He began to fall behind.
How do you defeat yourself?
Then he realized—he couldn't.
He had to accept him.
---
Surrender Without Defeat
Lin Xuan stopped moving.
Dropped his guard.
Lowered his blade.
Chaos-Xuan hesitated.
> "I'm not here to kill you," Lin Xuan said quietly.
"I'm here to welcome you."
He stepped forward.
> "We are not enemies. You are not my corruption. You are my truth."
> "You are my fury. My clarity. My will."
> "You are the proof that I survived what should have broken me."
The reflection paused.
Then… smiled.
And vanished—merging into him.
---
The Shard Forged Whole
Light exploded in all directions.
The final Nexus Key shard hovered above his hand—and then fused with the other two.
A blinding symbol of starlight and shadow formed—a floating triangle, pulsing with harmony and destruction.
The Third Nexus Key was whole.
---
[Memory 3 of 3 Confronted: "The Chaos He Became"]
Progress: 3/3 – Nexus Key Fully Reforged
New Title: Bearer of the Broken Crown
New Technique Unlocked: Domain of the Void Flame – Summon a field where time and space obey only the Chaos Dao (Cooldown: 10 days)
Passive Gained: Chaos Harmony – Gain clarity instead of deviation when embracing conflicting emotions
---
System Update
Nexus Progress: 3/7 Pillars Awakened
Third Pillar Location Access Unlocked: The Echoing Throne
Warning: Heavenly Tribunal Interference Imminent – Estimated Time: 22 Days
---
The Realm Responds
Back in the silver grove, the Watcher bowed to Lin Xuan.
"You are no longer divided."
He looked at her, calmer than ever.
"No," he said. "I am complete."
The great tree behind her cracked open—revealing a chaos-forged gate rimmed with starlight and violet flames.
The path to the Echoing Throne had opened.
And Lin Xuan took his first step toward a war that would decide the fate of realms.