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After absorbing mirror image Mo Qi and the two fragments, the card’s design and name changed.
The design now depicted a black-clad man standing by a river, with his back to the viewer, surrounded by mist—an image Mo Qi had seen in the wishing box world.
The card’s description underwent a dramatic transformation:
**Name:** Fragmented Zhou Mo
**Level:** SSR (Pending Upgrade)
**Quantity:** 6/12
**Ability:** Grant and Plunder, Fragment Scanner
**Usage Limit:** Once per task
**User:** Only Mo Qi (If anyone must control me, that person can only be Mo Qi)
**Negative Effect:** The user, Mo Qi, must reciprocate the love equally; otherwise, there’s a high risk of being transformed into fragments by the card and absorbed into it.
Mo Qi held the card and murmured the name “Zhou Mo,” realizing that this was his name.
Separated by the mirror, Qin Xunfeng and Liang Tianxiu leaned together. Qin Xunfeng, shocked, said, “What kind of ability is this? How did my card manage to absorb mirror image Mo Qi?”
Liang Tianxiu stared at Qin Xunfeng’s neck, quietly raising the glass shard in his hand. After hesitating, he lowered his hand again and said unhappily, “Could you move away from me? I might not be able to stop myself from killing you.”
Qin Xunfeng: “…”
He almost forgot about this matter, but Liang Tianxiu actually remembered to remind him, which was quite surprising.
Facing Qin Xunfeng’s incredulous gaze, Liang Tianxiu looked away.
Mo Qi saw the fragment numbers displayed on this card and vaguely felt something was off. He had two fragments on him, and one fragment was in the “Data Collector.” After absorbing the mirror image Mo Qi, there were actually four fragments in the card… Could it be that there are as many as three fragments inside the mirror image Mo Qi?
Liao Ruxue’s attribute is SR level, and Mo Xiaohong seems to have no abilities beyond those of crucial items; both of them appear weaker than the mirror image Mo Qi. The mirror image Mo Qi’s abilities are even stronger than those of the real Mo Qi. If he were to fully unleash his power, all players and bosses would become his puppets. Given enough time to build an army, no one could defeat him.
In terms of power, the mirror image Mo Qi indeed has more fragments than the other fragments.
Mo Qi thought for a moment, then took out the Ashen Urn and scanned it with the card. The “Incomplete Zhou Mo Cun” card also had a fragment scanning function. As expected, upon seeing the Ashen Urn, the card emitted a beam of light, and a void dialogue box appeared before Mo Qi: [Number of fragments in the card “Ashen Urn”: 2.]
There were actually two fragments within Xiao Cao, making it indeed stronger than Liao Ruxue and Mo Xiaohong, though still slightly weaker than the mirror image Mo Qi.
With this, Mo Qi now has 8 fragments in hand, and the card indicates that a total of 12 fragments are needed. Only four more fragments are needed to complete Zhou Mo Cun.
“Thoroughly shattered, indeed…” Mo Qi murmured.
With just 6 fragments, the strength is at SSR level. Mo Qi couldn’t imagine how powerful the fully assembled Zhou Mo Cun would be.
Xiao Cao still has 2 fragments left. If this card absorbed Xiao Cao, he would have 8 fragments, and the card’s power would become even stronger.
Mo Qi considered this and decided not to use the card to absorb the “Ashen Urn.” Xiao Cao had once fused with him, and Mo Qi knew Xiao Cao was a being with life and emotions. He did not have the right to decide Xiao Cao’s fate. Even if the day came when fusion was necessary, Mo Qi would let Xiao Cao choose for itself, rather than making the decision for it.
The mirror image Mo Qi, in the end, willingly transformed himself into a card. He must have known how to destroy the Mirror Maze, but his own strength was insufficient. So, the mirror image Mo Qi chose to fuse with other fragments, using the upgraded card to enhance his power.
But how could he use it to destroy the Mirror Maze? Mo Qi furrowed his brow.
He put away the “Ashen Urn,” holding the mirror fragments in one hand and gazing at the card with the other, thinking for a long time.
Qin Xunfeng and Liang Tianxiu stood nearby, watching Mo Qi intently.
“I understand now,” Mo Qi said after a long while, clenching his fist.
“What did he figure out?” Liang Tianxiu asked Qin Xunfeng.
Qin Xunfeng replied, “We don’t know either. He’s always been able to clear challenges using a god’s-eye view. He suddenly understands a bunch of clues that I can’t even make sense of, and then he just knows how to advance. We just need to follow his instructions; we don’t need to worry about the rest. He’ll tell us what to do soon enough.”
As expected, Mo Qi immediately turned to Qin Xunfeng and said, “We don’t have enough people.”
“Not enough people? What do we need people for?” Liang Tianxiu asked.
Mo Qi said, “In this Mirror Maze, we need light—light that can illuminate the entire maze in an instant. Just with Qin Xunfeng alone, the number of mirror reflections he can create is too few. There aren’t enough living people outside the mirror.”
“So I need to…” Qin Xunfeng inquired.
Mo Qi replied, “We need to bring back some people from other tasks. Any living person will do. Right now, you’re the only one who can handle this. I’ll have Xia Yao assist you, but I can only control Xia Yao for 40 minutes. You must return within that time.”
“Xia Yao…” Qin Xunfeng picked up Xia Yao, who was lying nearby, “He seems too injured to move.”
“I’ll make sure he recovers,” Mo Qi said, handing Qin Xunfeng another SR card.
Qin Xunfeng: “… Are you a wholesale dealer of SR cards? How many SR cards have you used so far? Huh, this card…”
This wasn’t a good card. It was a healing card once used by Liao Ruxue—a card that exchanged intelligence for healing effects. The better the healing effect, the lower the intelligence. Using it on a player would be a disaster.
“If this card is used on a player, the player will be finished after the task ends. The card’s effect will remain on them, permanently reducing their intelligence,” Mo Qi explained. “But using it on someone from the gaps is different. As long as we can clear the maze and bring the Mirror Maze back to the real world, the game will erase the effects it had on the gap person—whether it’s their memories, abilities, or card effects.”
“That’s better. Otherwise, he…” Qin Xunfeng glanced at Xia Yao. “Forget it, he brought this upon himself.”
No matter what, Xia Yao had killed people in the Mirror Maze. Temporarily reducing his intelligence might serve as a lesson. Once they return to the real world, both the lowered intelligence and his actions would be erased along with the loss of memories.
“Lowering his intelligence is also beneficial for me,” Mo Qi said. “It makes it easier for me to control him.”
Mo Qi’s expression was serious, and his eyes showed no emotion as he looked at Xia Yao.
Qin Xunfeng hesitated for a moment before saying, “Although what you’re saying is true, I still feel like you’ve become much colder than before.”
Mo Qi rubbed his fingers on the surface of the card and replied, “I’m just no longer hesitant. He made his choice, and I can’t be indecisive anymore. Abilities are meant to be used, aren’t they?”
“That’s true…” Qin Xunfeng swallowed unconsciously.
At this moment, Mo Qi exuded an air of undeniable authority, as if he had made up his mind.
Liang Tianxiu, who had been listening to their conversation, couldn’t help but interject, “Wait a minute. From what you’re saying, I’m not a player, so when everything is over, I’ll lose my memory and forget what happened here, right?”
“That’s right,” Qin Xunfeng said. “What’s so special about these memories?”
Liang Tianxiu, however, looked a bit wistful. “But I… still want to remember them.”
“To remember is to have a debt that must be repaid; it’s better not to remember,” Mo Qi said
After much consideration, Qin Xunfeng finally used 30 intelligence points to heal Xia Yao’s injuries. Xia Yao’s burns improved significantly, his vision was restored, and his expression became dazed and blank.
“Look at me, Xia Yao,” Mo Qi commanded from within the mirror.
Xia Yao instinctively looked at the mirror and met Mo Qi’s gaze, quickly falling under his control.
With Xia Yao’s intelligence reduced and Mo Qi’s resolve stronger than ever, Mo Qi was able to directly control Xia Yao’s mind without using “Resonance.” This was “Domination.”
As the mirror image Mo Qi had said, how to use the same attribute card depends entirely on the player. When Mo Qi felt no pity or emotion towards Xia Yao, he could effortlessly control someone’s mind.
Mo Qi instructed Xia Yao and Qin Xunfeng, “Xia Yao, take Qin Xunfeng to the exit of ‘Survival of the Wild,’ bring back 5-10 classmates. There’s no need to awaken them; just keep them unconscious. Go quickly and return quickly, don’t engage in unnecessary battles.”
“Got it!” Qin Xunfeng said, taking Xia Yao with him. Familiar with the maze’s route, Xia Yao led the way as they raced towards the exit.
After they left, Mo Qi, while controlling Xia Yao and keeping an eye on their progress, aimed the “Incomplete Zhou Mo Cun” at the mirror fragments in his hand.
“What are you planning to do?” Liang Tianxiu asked.
“Give and plunder,” Mo Qi replied.
The Mirror Maze is a task that goes beyond worldly rules. Physical attacks are nearly ineffective here; actions must follow the rules set by the task itself. To destroy this task, one must use its own established rules.
In the rules of the Mirror Maze, there is one crucial item: this fragment, which serves as the “light source” of the maze.
With it, the Mirror Maze is as bright as day; without it, the maze plunges into darkness. Even ordinary people who wish to possess powers like Xia Yao’s need this fragment.
There is power within the mirror fragments.
As Qin Xunfeng left, the entire Mirror Maze fell into darkness, leaving only Mo Qi and Liang Tianxiu with their mirrors still glowing, thanks to the mirror fragments they held.
“It’s so dark,” Liang Tianxiu said. “It was like this before you arrived, all black and oppressive. It was really frightening.”
“It will be bright again soon,” Mo Qi replied.
He looked at Zhou Mo Cun on the card and silently thought, *Lend me your power.*
It seemed the card heard Mo Qi’s thoughts. The man in the mist drew a gun from his waist, loaded a silver bullet into it, and turned towards Mo Qi.
A bullet shot out from the mist, striking the silver fragment. The bullet merged with the mirror fragment, causing it to suddenly emit a hundredfold brilliance.
The light reflected from the mirror where Mo Qi stood, seeming almost tangible, illuminated the other mirrors. Instantly, hundreds of mirrors were bathed in this light, and the entire Mirror Maze was restored to brightness.
“How did you do that?” Liang Tianxiu asked, looking at the now brightly lit Mirror Maze.
“This is ‘Giving,’” Mo Qi explained. “It involves lending a portion of power to someone or something with power, helping them enhance their strength.”
The mirror fragment, empowered by “Giving,” brought light to the Mirror Maze.
After a while, Qin Xunfeng and Xia Yao returned to the Mirror Maze carrying 8 unconscious classmates on a makeshift stretcher. This was the maximum number they could bring.
“That’s enough,” Mo Qi instructed Qin Xunfeng through Xia Yao. “Calculate the route and area of the Mirror Maze and place these people at different locations. The only goal is to ensure that the mirror reflections reach every mirror in the maze.”
Xia Yao drew a map of the Mirror Maze with the information he knew for Qin Xunfeng. Although the map was incomplete, Qin Xunfeng used his “Big Data” ability to calculate the approximate layout and the placement of each person.
They carried the unconscious individuals to the locations Qin Xunfeng had calculated and placed them accordingly.
After the placements were completed, Qin Xunfeng frowned at the map and said, “I have a feeling that there’s still one area in darkness. This position might be a blind spot where light cannot reach.”
“Can you change the data to cover it?” Mo Qi asked.
“I’ll try adjusting the angle of the light reflection…” Qin Xunfeng frowned. “No, it’s not working.”
Mo Qi handed him a mirror fragment glowing with brilliant light. “Try holding this.”
Mo Qi couldn’t leave the mirror, but he easily tossed the mirror fragment out of the mirror’s surface. Qin Xunfeng noticed that the fragment contained a silver bullet.
Holding the mirror fragment, Qin Xunfeng suddenly felt his abilities enhance momentarily. He immediately selected several mirrors and adjusted the angles of the light reflections!
After recalculating, at this moment, every mirror in the Mirror Maze should be illuminated, leaving no area in darkness.
Liang Tianxiu swiftly moved through each mirror, and after completing a round, he returned with a hint of sadness and said to everyone, “It seems all the mirrors have been illuminated. I saw Xi Rou’s body.”
Hidden in the darkness, the body that had been impossible to find before was finally illuminated.
Mo Qi said to Qin Xunfeng, “That’s enough. Return the fragment to me.”
“Oh, right,” Qin Xunfeng said, holding the fragment and reaching out to the mirror diagonally opposite Mo Qi, pushing the fragment forcefully into the mirror.
Mo Qi said, “…You’ve got the wrong position.”
“Did I?” Qin Xunfeng squinted his eyes, staring for a while before exclaiming, “Damn! I changed the angle of the light reflection, and the negative effect is that the angle at which light reflects on my retina also changed! Seems like today’s negative effect is targeting my eyes!”
Mo Qi walked up to the mirror directly in front of Qin Xunfeng and said, “Keep that position and throw the fragment to me.”
Qin Xunfeng obediently threw the fragment, which then sank into the mirror. Mo Qi caught the mirror fragment.
With “Giving” completed, the next step was “Plundering.”
Mo Qi extended his hand towards the card, and a hand emerged from the mist, taking the mirror fragment from Mo Qi’s hand. The cold fingertips brushed against Mo Qi’s palm, sending a tingling sensation through his entire body.
Before long, a mirror fragment was ejected from the card. Mo Qi picked it up and noticed that not only was the bullet gone, but the original brilliance of the fragment had also vanished.
To give power through the bullet was “Giving”; to reclaim that power after it had been amplified was “Plundering”!
Mo Qi aimed the card at the mirror, and the mist on the card parted to reveal Zhou Moxun’s stern face. He raised his gun in the card and aimed it at the reflection in the opposite mirror before pulling the trigger.
This time, instead of a bullet, a blinding beam of light shot out, directly striking the mirror fragment, the “light source.”
In an instant, the “light” was reflected countless times by the mirrors, overwhelming the entire Mirror Maze with a terrifying brilliance.
Qin Xunfeng, Liang Tianxiu, Xia Yao, Mo Qi, and the unconscious classmates they had brought in had already put on pure black eye masks to shield themselves from the blinding light.
The countless reflections and amplifications finally overwhelmed the mirrors in the Mirror Maze, which could no longer withstand the terrifying energy.
The mirror struck directly by Zhou Moxun’s beam emitted a crisp “crack” sound.
With that sound, all the mirrors simultaneously fractured and, in an instant, disintegrated into dust!
The barriers in front of Mo Qi and Liang Tianxiu vanished. Mo Qi removed his eye mask, revealing a pitch-black void in front of him.
He took out his phone, turned on the flashlight, and tried to reach out. His hand met no resistance as it touched Qin Xunfeng’s shoulder.
Startled, Qin Xunfeng, still wearing his eye mask, exclaimed, “Who’s tapping me?”
“It’s me,” Mo Qi replied, stepping out of the mirror and reaching to remove Qin Xunfeng’s eye mask.
The Mirror Maze was no more.