Chen Xiang sensed something off in the deputy director's attitude.

"I don't care what's happening with the Wu estate,"he said, frowning.

Wu Mengling nodded vigorously."Yes, yes, it has nothing to do with you!"

After a brief silence, he reiterated,"It truly has nothing to do with me."

"Absolutely nothing!"she echoed.

"I'm a law-abiding citizen..."

"Of course, a law-abiding citizen."

"Are you being sarcastic with me?"

"Definitely not..."

Chen Xiang felt uncertain and hesitated before asking,"What exactly does your behavior mean? Please be clear."

Wu Mengling was momentarily stunned, wondering why he seemed to be playing dumb.

The thoughts of a god were hard to fathom.

However, she pondered, in front of a true deity, the entire Great City meant little. Why would a true god remain hidden among mortals?

She couldn't figure it out. As a mere mortal, her only frame of reference came from stories—gods playing with humanity.

Taking a deep breath, she looked at Chen Xiang and nodded earnestly."Mr. Chen, I understand your point."

She bowed respectfully and exited the room.

Chen Xiang was left puzzled. What did she understand?

Before he could think further, the door swung open again, and two investigators along with a competent woman named Lan entered, escorting him out.

In the corridor, under the peculiar gazes of Li Dongyun, Wu Shangpin, and Lin Yulang from the holding room, the investigators bowed respectfully as they led Chen Xiang out of the Bureau of Special Investigations...

Inside the holding room, Li Dongyun rubbed his eyes in disbelief, while the dismembered Wu Shangpin looked around in confusion. Lin Yulang suddenly stood up, his gaze flickering with thoughts.

Before they had time to process, the investigators calmly announced,"You're all free to go."

Li Dongyun instinctively asked,"Is the case resolved?"

The investigator shook his head."This case has been sealed for further investigation."

"Sealed"meant it wouldn't be pursued further...

---

By the time he was dropped off by the hovercar and returned to the Fourth Ring, he was jolted back to reality when he accidentally crushed a piece of concrete underfoot due to his sudden surge of power.

It was already deep into the night; the long street was deserted, eerily quiet as the hovercar faded into the distance.

Ordinary citizens in the Eighth Ring rarely ventured out at night—daytime chaos was followed by nighttime turmoil, leaving the average person too frightened to be outside after dark.

"What on earth is going on...?"Chen Xiang muttered to himself, feeling a tremor in the crack-like tattoo on his wrist, a faint voice emerging:

"Can I speak now?"

Intrigued, he glanced around to ensure he was alone before stepping into a secluded corner to ask,"Mirror, what do you know?"

"In response to your question, I know a bit... that old woman was the thief and coward you frightened off earlier!"

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

After a pause, the mirror gleefully added,"While you were asleep, I scared her again!"

Chen Xiang was taken aback, furrowing his brow as he pressed for details.

After a while, he asked,"You're saying you used that hand to create a time loop, then left a mental imprint?"

"Exactly!"the mirror replied proudly."The time loop shakes the mind, and the ‘Mind Mentor' engraves a spiritual seal—that's my brilliant idea!"

Chen Xiang considered this."What level is that Deputy Director Wu?"

"Don't say she's weak; just tell me how many levels above me she is!"

The mirror seemed displeased."She's definitely a weak insect... well, you've just become a martial artist, but you might compare to an average transcendent. Should I count as a transcendent or a martial artist?"

"Martial artist!"

"Okay, counting... Hm! Four levels! That cowardly old woman is four levels above you!"

Chen Xiang's expression tightened. Four levels... that meant she was at the third step of transcendence?

It aligned with his expectations...

He couldn't help but ask,"Is the third step of transcendence just a weak insect in your eyes?"

"Of course!"the mirror replied boastfully.

Chen Xiang continued,"If it's that easy to deal with the third step, why couldn't you handle the Great Specter at the fourth step?"

After a moment, he dangerously asked,"Or were you just toying with me?"

"Impossible!"The mirror shivered, chuckling nervously."Actually, I can only scare that cowardly old woman; her mind is just too fragile!"

Chen Xiang felt a mix of disbelief and contemplation. He wasn't sure whether to trust the mirror's words.

"There's one more thing,"the mirror said, suddenly serious.

"Oh? What is it?"

In a stark contrast to its previous playful demeanor, the mirror continued solemnly,"Earlier... you were reclaiming your rightful Authority , weren't you?"

Chen Xiang froze for a moment, then nodded slowly."That should be correct."

The mirror's tone deepened,"I sensed a subtle connection forming between you and another version of yourself when you reclaimed your Authority ..."

Another version of himself?

A sense of unease crept into Chen Xiang's heart."What do you mean?"

The mirror thought for a moment before clumsily explaining,"It's hard to articulate, but when you reclaimed your Authority, there seemed to be a delicate link between your current self and that other self. If someone were to gaze upon you with a unique, essence-revealing perspective at that moment..."

It paused, lowering its voice."They might see ‘another you,' the truly great version of you."

Chen Xiang's expression turned grave."What would the consequences be?"

"Consequences? I'm not sure, but you might..."

The mirror's voice grew somber."Be exposed."

A chill ran down Chen Xiang's spine.

He understood the implication. If someone were to peer into him while he reclaimed his Authority, they might see... Emperor Titan?

What would happen if his identity as Emperor Titan was revealed? Would he face the hunting of the Nine Outer Gods or the ethereal descent of the Triad Gods?

A question lingered in Chen Xiang's mind: What exactly was he?

Was he Chen Xiang, or was he Emperor Titan?

And if he were to die in this reality, what would occur?

While it was clear that Emperor Titan could not die—he would have been killed by the Pillar Gods and Outer Gods otherwise—this did not mean that Chen Xiang wouldn't die.

After a long pause, he finally spoke,"I understand now; I'll be more cautious."

Gently touching the crack-like tattoo on his wrist, he added,"Mirror, you really come through when it counts... thank you."

"Look who's talking!"the mirror puffed up with pride."I'm the invincible Mirror King; how could I not be reliable?"

"You can't handle compliments, can you?"

"Your assertion is mistaken! The invincible Mirror King deserves all the praise!"

"Alright, just be quiet."

"Okay!"

After their banter, Chen Xiang recalled the address of his new home that his brother had mentioned and made his way there.

---

At the Happy Orphanage, Director Wang smiled as he asked,"You mean the Special Investigations Bureau released you because of Chen Xiang?"

Lin Yulang bowed respectfully, awe evident on his face."Indeed, Your Eminence."

He couldn't help but swallow hard, knowing that an archbishop had come to their church, but never did he expect it to be the archbishop himself.

Director Wang pondered for a moment, nodding thoughtfully."This is quite intriguing... Did you not expose yourself to Chen Xiang?"

"Shouldn't have,"Lin Yulang hesitated before adding,"During my interrogation at the Bureau, I didn't reveal anything. However, being the Bureau, they might still have my background. Whether Chen Xiang knows, I can't say."

"Don't worry about the Bureau,"Director Wang said calmly."From what I gather, the Death Sovereign of Great City has consented to make it an experimental site, permitting the descent of the gods for harvesting. The Ninth Ring has already been abandoned, and the Eighth Ring won't be far behind."

Lin Yulang's pupils contracted.

Director Wang raised his gaze to the bright white moon and the dark red moon above, slowly speaking,"As for Chen Xiang, make contact and show him your goodwill. The wooden box is with him, right? For now, don't worry about the box; there are more pressing matters."

Lin Yulang instinctively asked,"Your Eminence, I don't understand..."

Director Wang lifted his gaze."He took 4537 with him. 4537 chose to follow him and has grown close to him... which is remarkable."

"4537??"Lin Yulang asked, confused.

"Yes, 4537—the identification number given by the orphanage..."

The elder's eyes flickered with excitement."The importance of 4537 surpasses even the descent of the Lord; it's astonishing it appeared in Great City and has been here all along!"

As he spoke, amidst Lin Yulang's bewilderment, the elder sighed heavily."No one would have imagined it would turn into a person... it actually became a human!"