51: Chapter 51 The Maze of Rules

The door to the second floor closed behind him.

Chen Mo stood where he was, taking in the scene before him.

It wasn't a square or a corridor, but a massive maze.

The walls were translucent, like glass, but cold and smooth to the touch, harder than steel. Looking up, he couldn't see the top, only endless darkness. Looking down, he couldn't see the bottom, only the white path beneath his feet.

The path was very narrow, just wide enough for one person.

There were forks on both sides: left, right, forward, and even backward.

[Second Floor Trial: Rule Maze]

[Rule: Every step must follow the hidden sequence rules]

[Those who violate the rules will be trapped in the maze forever]

[Clear Condition: Find the exit at the center of the maze]

[Current Steps: 0]

Chen Mo didn't move.

He activated the Eye of Sinister Sight.

His golden vision pierced through the translucent walls, revealing the true structure of the maze—

Countless paths were interwoven like a giant web. Every path was flowing, changing direction and length.

This wasn't an ordinary maze.

It was a moving maze.

But those golden lines pointed the way for him.

He could "see" the traces of the rules.

For example, on the path to the left in front of him, faint golden lines were wrapped around the walls. Those lines flowed slowly, forming a character with each rotation—

"Left."

Chen Mo stared at the character.

Left.

Did it mean to go left?

Or that he couldn't go left?

He took a step forward.

Nothing happened.

He took another step.

Still nothing.

On the third step, he turned left into that path.

Instantly, the surrounding walls began to change.

The translucent walls became even more transparent, as if they were about to disappear. The path beneath his feet began to glow with a piercing white light.

Chen Mo stopped in his tracks.

He looked down at his feet—

He was stepping on a black stone slab.

While the path beside it was white.

[Rule One: You can only walk on the white path]

Chen Mo felt a chill down his spine.

If he had taken one more step just now, he would have stepped on the black.

What were the consequences of stepping on the black?

He didn't know, and he didn't want to find out.

He retreated to the white surface.

He continued forward.

After walking about fifty meters, a fork appeared ahead.

Three paths, all of them white.

But at the entrance of each path stood something—

Humanoid, translucent, and looking exactly like him.

Chen Mo stared at the three "selves."

They stared back at him.

[Rule Two: Choose the correct path; there are traps on the wrong ones]

How to choose?

Chen Mo activated the Eye of Sinister Sight.

In his golden vision, the lines on the three "selves" were completely different—

The one on the left had very faint lines, almost invisible.

The one in the middle had thick lines, but they flowed very quickly.

The one on the right had moderate lines that flowed normally.

He remembered what Old Zhou had said—traps in the Rule Maze often disguised themselves as the most tempting choice.

The lines in the middle flowed the fastest and were the most eye-catching, so it was likely a trap.

The lines on the left were too faint; it might be a dead end.

The one on the right...

Chen Mo walked toward the right.

The moment he passed through that "self," it vanished.

The path continued forward.

After another hundred meters or so, a door appeared ahead.

A line of text was written on the door:

"Answer correctly to pass."

Below was a question:

"What is your name?"

Chen Mo was stunned for a moment.

That simple?

But he didn't rush to answer.

Within the Eye of Sinister Sight, the lines on the door were changing—

The characters squirmed and rearranged themselves into another line:

"Answer incorrectly and you will be teleported back to the start."

It changed again:

"Correct Answer: Chen Mo."

Chen Mo looked at the words.

They were still changing, still reorganizing.

Finally, they settled into a single line:

"Is it true?"

Chen Mo fell silent for a few seconds.

He understood.

This door was testing him.

It knew he would use the Eye of Sinister Sight to see through the disguise.

So it intentionally made the characters change, letting him see the "correct answer."

But it wasn't true.

The real answer required his own judgment.

Chen Mo spoke.

"I don't know."

The characters on the door stopped.

"I don't know what my name is."

"You can call me Chen Mo, or you can call me something else."

"A name is just a label."

The door remained silent for a long time.

Then it opened.

Chen Mo walked in.

Behind the door was a small room.

In the center of the room, a fragment was suspended in mid-air.

[Obtained: sequence core fragment x1]

[Can be used to upgrade the Pupil of the Sequence]

Chen Mo picked up the fragment.

Instantly, the fragment melted into a golden liquid and surged into his eyes.

Intense pain.

It hurt more than any time before.

He clutched his eyes and crouched on the ground.

The pain lasted for about ten seconds.

Then it vanished.

Chen Mo opened his eyes.

The world had changed.

The walls were no longer translucent but had become a web of countless interwoven rule lines. He could see the origin and end of every rule, as well as their hidden loopholes.

[Eye of Sinister Sight evolution complete]

[New Function: Rule Analysis]

[Rule Analysis: Can see through hidden rules within 50 meters]

Chen Mo stood up.

The exit to the second floor was right ahead.

He walked over and pushed open the door.