Chapter 46 - Chapter 47: The Mysterious Doppelgänger

The air crackled with an otherworldly energy as the figure with glowing red eyes stepped out of the portal. Chen Jiuzhang stared in disbelief at his own face, twisted into a malevolent sneer. The doppelgänger raised a hand, and dark tendrils shot out, wrapping around Su Nian and dragging her towards the swirling void.​"Let her go!" Chen Jiuzhang roared, channeling the power of the crystal - key. A beam of white light clashed with the dark tendrils, but they seemed to absorb the energy, growing stronger. Shen Qingluan rushed to help, her Imperial Jade Seal fragment sending out a shield of golden light to block the other attacks from the doppelgänger.​Luna's starlight - woven gown flared brightly as she joined the fray. Her hands traced complex patterns in the air, and a net of silver energy descended on the mysterious figure. "This is no mere illusion," she shouted, her voice strained. "Beware of its tricks!"​Zhang Chengying charged forward, his broken peachwood sword crackling with electricity. He aimed for the doppelgänger's legs, but the blade passed through its form, just like their encounter with the Watchers. The doppelgänger laughed, a cold, echoing sound that sent shivers down everyone's spines. "You think you can defeat me with such weak attacks?" it taunted.​Wu Laogou, puffing on his pipe nervously, threw a series of talismans. They exploded in a shower of sparks, but the doppelgänger merely waved a hand, dispersing the attack effortlessly. "What in blazes is this thing?" he muttered, his face pale.​As the battle raged on, Chen Jiuzhang noticed that the crystal - key was reacting strangely. It wasn't just vibrating; it was pulsating in a rhythm that seemed to match the doppelgänger's movements. Images flashed through his mind again - scenes of an ancient ritual, where a being of light and a being of darkness were merged into one.​Suddenly, he realized the truth. "It's a manifestation of the darkness within me!" he shouted to his companions. "We have to find a way to separate it from me!"​Luna's eyes widened in understanding. "If you can establish a connection with the crystal - key and embrace the light within you, we might be able to drive it out."​Taking a deep breath, Chen Jiuzhang closed his eyes and focused all his energy on the crystal - key. He thought of his 二叔's teachings, of the times he had fought for justice, and of the bonds he shared with his companions. The key began to glow with an intense, pure light, and a force field expanded around him.​The doppelgänger let out a scream of pain as the light touched it. Its form began to waver, and the dark tendrils holding Su Nian started to dissolve. Su Nian fell to the ground, gasping for breath.​But the doppelgänger wasn't defeated yet. It let out a final, ear - piercing roar and launched itself at Chen Jiuzhang, its hands outstretched, ready to drain his life force. In a last - ditch effort, Chen Jiuzhang raised the crystal - key high and unleashed a massive wave of light.​The light collided with the doppelgänger, creating a blinding explosion. When the light cleared, the mysterious figure was gone, and the portal began to close. But as it did, Chen Jiuzhang caught a final glimpse of Luna's face. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a hint of something hidden - a secret that she still wasn't ready to share.​Exhausted, the group collapsed to the ground. The passageway was silent, save for their heavy breathing. Chen Jiuzhang looked at his companions, then at Luna. "We need answers. And we need them now."​Luna sighed, her starlight - woven gown dimming. "Very well. But know this - the truths you seek may change everything you thought you knew about the Gui Xu Secret Realm, and about yourselves."