Chapter 938: Why didn't you stop it!

When Ao Jing heard the words "last night," his expression immediately worsened.

He remembered that before Shan Shan first brought him into the Spirit Mirror, she had told him that, given the Spirit Mirror's development at the time, the longest they could stay inside was four hours, and each time they came out, the Spirit Mirror would close and need a month to repair before re-entry.

But according to Tang Xun, Shan Shan and that male phoenix had entered and exited the Spirit Mirror three times in the past three days.

The last time was even last night.

At most, more than ten hours have already passed!

Even though, over these years, as the Spirit Mirror has been continually developed, the time everyone can stay inside has been lengthened and the Spirit Mirror's self-repair time has been shortened, it still can't withstand such frequent intrusions!

Ao Jing raised his question, and A Cheng explained: "I suspect they were able to enter the Spirit Mirror space three times because of the male phoenix; the individual or group trapped in that space formed some kind of connection with the male phoenix, which forcibly drew them in."

"So the male phoenix has been overdrawing the Spirit Mirror's spiritual power while also consuming Shan Shan's mana, right?" Ao Jing demanded angrily.

A Cheng nodded in acknowledgment.

Ao Jing instantly flared up: "Why didn't you stop it?! The male phoenix is squandering Shan Shan's life! Shan Shan is the Phoenix Lord of your Feng Clan!"

"Shan Shan volunteered; we tried to stop her but couldn't." Tang Xun explained, "A Cheng brought me in several times by force into the Spirit Mirror space, but our time inside was extremely short, and we were quickly pushed out; we… we really had no other option…"

Their weak, disheveled state already said everything.

Ao Jing felt angry inside, but he couldn't just lash out at them, for he knew exactly how much A Cheng and Tang Xun cared for Shan Shan.

The only one to blame is that damned male phoenix!

Ao Jing also felt some self-reproach; what had he been making a fuss about these days?

If he had visited the Feng Clan more often, perhaps he could have stopped Shan Shan, and none of this would have happened.

Ao Jing struggled to calm himself, then said to A Cheng: "Uncle, do you still have the strength to cast a spell? I want you to send me in."

Tang Xun immediately opened her mouth to stop Ao Jing, but the words died on her lips.

She and A Cheng had both tried, but too much time had been wasted; if this continued, Shan Shan might truly be in mortal danger.

Even worse, if she remained trapped in the Spirit Mirror space, with heaven unresponsive and earth unfeeling, that would be the utmost despair.

Perhaps… we could let Ao Jing try.

Tang Xun had already notified Xiao Jiu; Xiao Jiu was heading back, and then they could think of another way to meet Ao Jing.

Moreover, perhaps Ao Jing, like them, would be rejected after a short while inside—who knows?

A Cheng, too, was torn in his mind.

Shan Shan's life is important; Ao Jing's life is equally precious.

If anything were to happen to Ao Jing, what would they have to answer to the Linghai Dragon Clan?

However, given Ao Jing's nature, trying to stop him would likely be futile.

Indeed, just as A Cheng hesitated, Ao Jing had grown impatient, lifted his leg, and was about to force his way into the Spirit Mirror space.

But without Shan Shan leading, before he even got near the Spirit Mirror, he was bounced back by a powerful barrier.

A Cheng caught Ao Jing in his arms, sighed, and said: "I can send you in, but you must promise me to put yourself first; if something happens to you inside the Spirit Mirror, I won't be able to answer to your parents or your clan."

Ao Jing firmly said: "I will definitely bring Shan Shan back safely from inside."

A Cheng knew that advising would be useless, so he relented.

A Cheng opened the Spirit Mirror space, performed some procedure, and sent Ao Jing inside.

Watching Ao Jing's figure disappear into the hazy Spirit Mirror space, A Cheng asked Tang Xun: "Can your sister and the others make it back today?"

Tang Xun nodded: "It should be soon; Xiao Jiu will surely find a way…"

Before she finished speaking, Tang Xun and A Cheng both heard a muffled sound from within the Spirit Mirror.

The two turned their heads and saw that the entire Spirit Mirror had lost its light, all images faded to darkness, and even the surrounding barrier had vanished.

Tang Xun exclaimed: "What's going on?"

A Cheng's face turned ashen: "The Spirit Mirror has been frequently intruded upon and has entered a dormant state."

"Dormant?!" Tang Xun panicked a little: "How did it suddenly go dormant? How long will the dormancy last?"

A Cheng shook his head: "I don't know, but it certainly won't be just a day or two…"

Tang Xun stared blankly: "Doesn't that mean Xiao Jiu, when he rushes back, won't be able to get in temporarily?"

At this moment, A Cheng also began to regret.

If I had known… I couldn't have let Ao Jing enter no matter what.

Well, the Spirit Mirror has entered dormancy; now no matter how many people we call over, they can't get in.

A Cheng isn't sure whether those inside can get out.

He struggled to calm himself, then strode outward.

Tang Xun closely followed, asking: "A Cheng, what should we do next?"

"I'll go back and look through the ancient texts," A Cheng murmured. "There will surely be a way to let the Spirit Mirror pass through dormancy early and reopen."

Tang Xun's steps slowed, and she no longer followed.

A Cheng went to find a way to reopen the Spirit Mirror space; she couldn't help much, so she went out to summon reinforcements, and first had to visit the Linghai Dragon Clan to inform Zhong Susu of Ao Jing's situation.

Even if their relationship were good, apologies are still owed, and sincerity must be shown.

Outside was in utter chaos, while Ao Jing's side was eerily quiet.

After being sent into the Spirit Mirror space, Ao Jing landed in a forest.

Mist swirled between the trees, visibility low, but everywhere one looked were trees towering into the clouds, blocking out the sky.

Ao Jing stood in place, observing carefully, without acting rashly.

But upon looking, his heart trembled even more.

In this forest there were many large trees, some so thick it would take seven or eight people to encircle them; beneath the big trees were many varied smaller trees, many of which Ao Jing had never seen before.

More importantly, Ao Jing saw in this forest a kind of shrub long extinct.

He crouched down and examined it several times, finally confirming that it was indeed what he had thought.

Ao Jing stood up and walked forward carefully.

The forest was filled with tangled vegetation, and bird calls and beast howls rang constantly in his ears.

From time to time, some insect would flutter past before Ao Jing's eyes…

During this process, Ao Jing also discovered two kinds of insects that existed only in prehistoric times, which had long been extinct in the world outside the spirit mirror.

Ao Jing went from initial astonishment to gradual calm; his ability to accept and analyze has always been strong.

This space has been sealed inside the spirit mirror for who knows how many years, and the world within remains stuck in the period when it was sealed.

Ao Jing couldn't help wondering whether, if he brought these rare species out, they could possibly reproduce…