Chapter 190: Subjugation

As Lu Fang relaxed, the Mirror Spirit shot rapidly toward the folded space, stopping just a step away without entering it.

"Believe me, that's not a good idea."

Lu Fang raised an eyebrow and said, "I caught you once; I can catch you again. I don't advise you to try."

Snow Luo Sha urged, "I can guarantee I won't reveal your existence—it'll ensure your safety. As long as you don't cause trouble in the future, anything you need, if I can provide it, I'll bring it to you."

"I think we're not mortal enemies, but partners in mutual benefit. No matter how powerful you are, you're still the spirit of the Golden Luminous Mirror—everything you do is restricted."

"But if you join forces with us, you'll effortlessly achieve everything you desire."

The Mirror Spirit regarded Snow Luo Sha with interest and asked, "How can you guarantee he'll listen to you?"

Lu Fang shrugged and said, "What she says, I stand by."

Seeing the Mirror Spirit still hesitated, Snow Luo Sha smiled sweetly and swore, "I swear by the Dao of Heaven: I will do nothing to harm you. If I break this oath, may I die a wretched death! You can sense whether I'm sincere."

The Mirror Spirit stared unblinking at Snow Luo Sha, fell silent for a moment, then sighed and nodded. "Agreed."

No sooner had the words left its mouth.

The Mirror Spirit transformed into a streak of white light and shot swiftly toward Snow Luo Sha.

It was too fast—Lu Fang couldn't react. The white light vanished into her third eye; her gaze instantly glazed over and her body swayed unsteadily.

Lu Fang hurried over, his face filled with concern as he observed Snow Luo Sha. "How do you feel?"

Snow Luo Sha blinked, then smiled faintly. "I'm fine. Just now, the Mirror Spirit bonded with me—not as master and servant, but as a shared identity pact."

"Ah!" Lu Fang's eyelids twitched violently. A shared identity pact with the Golden Luminous Mirror? That meant Snow Luo Sha could now use the treasure at will.

Why wasn't this opportunity his?

To be honest, he was envious.

Snow Luo Sha's lips moved slightly, then after a moment, she smiled. "I just asked the Mirror Spirit why it chose me. It said it hesitated between you and me—and actually leaned toward you."

"But because you beat it, and because you still carry the unstable demonic heart, it chose me instead."

Lu Fang chuckled. "Hmm, that's easier to accept. Honestly, if I were the Mirror Spirit, I'd have chosen you too. Your words just now were truly reassuring."

Snow Luo Sha bowed deeply to Lu Fang. "Thank you, Lord Wenguan. Without you, how could I have gained such an opportunity?"

Lu Fang changed the subject. "Now that you've formed a shared identity pact with the Mirror Spirit, is there truly no way to remove the demonic heart?"

"Let's try when we get out," Snow Luo Sha hesitated. "But I'm not sure it'll work. The Mirror Spirit's words before were true."

She returned the small binding array flag and the teleportation puppet to Lu Fang.

Through her communication with the Mirror Spirit, the exit reopened. Lu Fang and she stepped out one after the other.

The palace maid waiting nearby gasped in surprise as Lu Fang and Snow Luo Sha appeared out of thin air, then bowed and hurried to report to Queen Luo Sha.

Almost instantly, Queen Luo Sha arrived.

"Excellent! Snow-er, are you alright?"

Queen Luo Sha embraced Snow Luo Sha anxiously.

"It was thanks to Lord Wenguan," Snow Luo Sha replied instinctively.

Lu Fang waved his hand, his gaze unconsciously drawn to the Golden Luminous Mirror before him—its surface now radiating white light.

The white glow deepened from faint to brilliant, clearly unnatural.

Under Queen Luo Sha's astonished gaze, Snow Luo Sha formed a hand seal. Instantly, the massive Golden Luminous Mirror shrank, finally dissolving into a streak of white light that vanished into her third eye.

When all settled, a mirror pattern appeared on Snow Luo Sha's forehead.

"Snow-er, what is this?"

Queen Luo Sha stared in shock.

Snow Luo Sha extended her hand—the Golden Luminous Mirror, palm-sized, materialized. She joyfully explained to Queen Luo Sha.

Just then, King Luo Sha appeared.

Upon learning of Snow Luo Sha's fortune, all rejoiced.

After the commotion, Snow Luo Sha pulled Lu Fang aside to a quiet spot. "Want to try? I can't guarantee it'll work."

Lu Fang nodded. "Go ahead."

Snow Luo Sha nodded, summoned the small Golden Luminous Mirror again, and shot a beam of white light at Lu Fang. Wisps of black mist, like smoke, rose slowly from his body.

These were Lu Fang's distractions and evil thoughts. At that moment, he felt his mind suddenly clear.

The demonic heart chuckled. "This light's warm. Let her keep shining it—might make me stronger."

At those words, Lu Fang's smile vanished.

He'd expected this—but now that he saw it was useless, his mood soured.

The demonic heart sensed his disappointment and laughed softly. "Don't bother. If I were erased, you'd die too. Originally, maybe not—but now that you've used my power, we've become one."

"Really?"

Lu Fang refused to believe it.

The demonic heart smiled. "Want to feel it?"

Before Lu Fang could answer, a powerful heartbeat rang out—growing louder, until all he heard was the pulse.

He involuntarily held his breath. As time passed, his own breathing synced with the heartbeat, and gradually, he slipped into a mysterious state.

Before Lu Fang's eyes, a colossal heart appeared—vibrant, pulsing with life. Somehow, he sensed immense power within it.

He recognized this power—he'd briefly possessed it before, when using the demonic heart's perception.

As Lu Fang perceived it, Snow Luo Sha shook him awake, her face filled with worry. "Lord Wenguan, are you alright?"

Lu Fang shook his head, forcing a faint smile. "I'm fine. But the demonic heart hasn't been removed. I'll look for other ways once I return to Da Zhou."

The demonic heart chuckled. "Still not giving up?"

Lu Fang sneered inwardly. "I understand now. You've been trying all along to make me use your power—so we'd merge. That way, I can never get rid of you."

He wouldn't have thought this before—but now he'd witnessed the demonic heart's power and capabilities firsthand.

He realized the demonic heart had had countless chances to kill him.

The only reason it hadn't was one: killing Lu Fang would cost it dearly—and that was a price it couldn't bear.