In the secret chamber,
Chen Xiang visualized the scroll described in the Giant Statue Method, envisioning the giant standing on a golden chariot.
In the depths of his mind, he sensed the tiny red particles floating in the air.
According to the Giant Statue Method, these are the *True God Particles , coming from the essence of divine beings. Only by embodying the true meaning of a god or an extraordinary life can one perceive them...
He greedily absorbed the True God Particles, repeatedly visualizing the Dusk Titan, connecting with the great and supreme existence...
The True God Particles surged into Chen Xiang's body, carried by the breath of the Giant Statue Method, gradually transporting them throughout his being.
But was he absorbing these True God Particles a bit too quickly?
According to the method, an ordinary person could absorb 3 to 5 True God Particles in an hour, while a blessed genius might absorb around 10. As for him...
In a single breath, a True God Particle entered his being.
In just one hour, he had absorbed nearly two hundred True God Particles! This was still due to the scarcity of True God Particles in the surrounding air; otherwise...
Was it because of his powerful mental will?
Or was it the visualization itself?
He didn't dwell on it and continued to recite the Giant Statue Method.
"Combine strength and energy, embrace the energy within, draw the spirit from the body..."
Chen Xiang was enraptured. Following the method's guidance, he actively stimulated his muscles. His entire skin and bones trembled violently at that moment,
The True God Particles vibrating and gradually merging into his skin, muscles, and bones...
He was undergoing a transformation.
He didn't know how long had passed, but when Chen Xiang estimated he had absorbed at least a thousand True God Particles, the tearing and collapsing sensations began to fade.
When he absorbed over three thousand, he felt as though a layer of gauze enveloped his body; his hearing and sense of smell skyrocketed,
He could even hear the flow of blood within him and detect the faint rust of the mirror nearby...
When he reached five thousand True God Particles,
*Crack!!
It was the sound of bones cracking, a thunderous noise.
The skin felt like gauze, and the bones trembled like thunder.
The first barrier of the Mystic Arts... was broken.
Chen Xiang opened his eyes, slowly rising, activating the explosive techniques from the Giant Statue Method, twisting his waist and bending his knees, coiling like a drawn bow, unleashing his strength like a shooting arrow, and throwing a punch!
*Bang!!
The air shattered, and a fierce wind surged.
"This is... the mastery of the Mystic Arts?"
Chen Xiang felt an unprecedented lightness, as if he had an inexhaustible supply of strength...
He muttered to himself:
"Is cultivation really this simple?"
As he spoke, Chen Xiang suddenly turned, gazing intently at the pure, flawless mirror lying on the ground, calmly asking:
"Mirror, who exactly are you?"
"I?"
The mirror stood up in mid-air, a respectful voice emanating from it:
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"In response to your inquiry, my full name is *The Mirror of Mourning ; some also call me 009. As for who I truly am..."
After a pause, it replied seriously:
"I forgot, because I've gone mad."
Chen Xiang was taken aback, remaining vigilant, his gaze fixed on the mirror:
"You've gone mad? What do you mean?"
"Literally!" the mirror swayed lazily. "I've been mad for a long time, my memories are fragmented, and I've forgotten much; I can only occasionally recall bits and pieces."
"What do you want?"
"In response to your inquiry, I don't want anything."
"What was with the ghosts earlier?"
"Ghosts? Wasn't that what you wanted?" the mirror replied, puzzled. "You said you wanted to see ghosts, so I summoned some for you. When you said to stop, I simply stopped."
Chen Xiang's lips twitched, a hint of doubt flashing through his mind: Did this mirror... really obey his commands?
After contemplating for a moment, he asked again:
"You do whatever I tell you?"
The mirror affirmed:
"Of course, I do whatever you ask."
Chen Xiang inquired with a serious tone:
"Why?"
The mirror was silent for a long while before finally answering:
"I'm mad, but not stupid."
Chen Xiang was somewhat confused—what did that mean?
He maintained his vigilance and continued pressing for answers. The mirror thought for a moment before responding:
"Because... I fear you."
"You fear me? Why?"
"I'm a madman, my memories are broken; I don't know the reason, but my subconscious tells me I should fear you."
Even the subconscious is involved... Chen Xiang felt a bit speechless.
After a moment, he gathered his courage, cautiously picked up the mirror, and examined it closely. The mirror's surface was pristine, the back adorned with some mysterious patterns and a line of small text:
*"The dead are ultimately forgotten; only the mirror mourns."
"How did you summon the ghosts?" he softly asked, having confirmed that despite its madness, the mirror didn't seem to pose any threat.
After all, if the mirror had continued summoning ghosts or hadn't alerted him, he would have been dead by now.
The mirror thought for a moment and answered honestly:
"I don't know how I summon them; I just can. Wherever I shine my light, all the spirits of the wise beings that once died here can be awakened by me, and they will obey my commands."
After a pause, it added flatteringly:
"Of course, that was before; now they only listen to you..."
Chen Xiang was taken aback.
"Died here... how could so many have perished?"
"Not now, but ten years ago? Fifty, a hundred, a thousand?"
The mirror answered earnestly:
"Let me rephrase: I can awaken the souls of all beings that died in this area from 1518 onwards."
"1518... the first year of the Divine Calendar?" Chen Xiang pondered.
"Yes."
The mirror giggled:
"But the beings here weren't extraordinary, and since they've been dead for over a year, they're merely ordinary ghosts without wisdom or self-awareness."
Chen Xiang nodded slightly and shifted the topic:
"By the way, have you heard of Emperor Titan?"
"No," the mirror replied flatly. "I told you, I'm mad and know nothing."
"I can't tell you're mad," Chen Xiang shook his head. "What should I call you?"
"In response, I used to have people call me the Invincible Mirror King; would you like to continue that?"
Chen Xiang's mouth twitched:
"Let's just stick with ‘Mirror'... Since you claim to listen to me, from now on, keep quiet and don't speak out of turn, especially around others."
"As you wish."
He was uncertain what this Mirror of Mourning truly was—an extraordinary item, yes, but of what tier?
No clear idea.
It must be powerful, though.
Chen Xiang picked up the token, scroll, and spear tip, finally asking:
"Do you recognize these?"
"In response, I've said I'm mad and remember nothing... but,"
the mirror paused, then continued,
"the token rings a bell; it seems to symbolize a council member, and the original owner is likely dead."
Chen Xiang was taken aback:
"Dead?"
"Yeah," the mirror said, puzzled. "That small box at your feet, isn't it an urn? These items must be contained within, right? If it's in the urn, then they're relics..."
Chen Xiang looked down at the box with mixed feelings... it really was an urn?
The giant wooden box contained an urn, and the urn held relics.
What's the relationship between the Giant Academy and this so-called Old Council?
The mirror seemed to recall something and offered a suggestion:
"If you slice a part of your spirit and infuse it into that token, you might become its new master, essentially a member of that council."
"Not just any council; it's the Old Council," Chen Xiang corrected, then fell into thought.
After a long while, he shook his head, covered the mirror with the black cloth, set it in a corner of the chamber, and stored the wooden box, scroll, and urn in a hidden compartment before leaving the chamber.
Through the window, he noticed the sun setting, dusk had arrived.
"Is it afternoon? No, wait..."
He glanced at the clock in his sister's room; it was 6:30 PM, but the calendar read...
May 6, 1518, Sunday.
"I've been in that secret chamber for a day and a half..."
Chen Xiang frowned, realizing that more than thirty hours had passed since he began devouring ghosts and practicing the Mystic Arts!
Thirty hours without contacting his sister or second brother...
Listening closely, he found the gunfire outside had ceased. He immediately moved the wardrobe and refrigerator blocking the door to investigate and call his second brother.
However, as he pushed aside the refrigerator and wardrobe, he saw someone standing in the hallway.
A silver-haired girl stood there, looking lively.
"Hi!"
Wei Qingqiu waved:
"Nice to see you again, Chen Warrior!"
"Little Wei?!" Chen Xiang was stunned. "What are you doing here?"
Little Wei grinned, boldly walked into the room, and plopped down on the sofa, stretching lazily.
The sunset gently illuminated her as it poured through the window.
"I came to invite you."
"Invite..."
Chen Xiang frowned, feeling something was off. He re-blocked the door with the wardrobe and refrigerator, stepping into the living room to confront the lazy girl:
"Invite me to what?"
"Have you heard of..." the girl brushed her hair back, her white neck shining in the sunlight.
"Have you heard of the Old Council?"
She smiled mischievously, resembling an innocuous cat.