96: No wonder you're bad at playing "Zhou Yan"

[Slot 2 Mount Panel]

[Yuan Chenling]

[Race: Five-Colored Lion]

[Divine Ability: Roar (Produces different effects through various roars; can enhance sound-based Spells), Bite (Generates a special space in the mouth to draw in and lock down enemies; consumption depends on distance and the gap in strength between both parties)]

Whether it was the effect of the panel or because Yuan Chenling and Zhou Yan simply hit it off, since his capture, the relationship between the man and the lion had progressed rapidly, and a rapport was established in a short time.

"Before entering the Mirror World, there are some things you must pay attention to." Zhou Yan looked down at Yuan Chenling, his tone serious. "First, the information you obtained previously was incorrect."

"The Reflections in the Mirror World have strength nearly identical to yours. Even if you defeat one, a new one will appear very quickly. Eventually, it will just wear you down to death."

"So, our goal is to find the exit gate. As for the Reflections, as soon as we enter, we'll deal with yours first. Use your Divine Ability to Seal it in your mouth."

"After that, we'll join forces to deal with my Reflection."

"Two against one, we'll always have the advantage, and the fight will be easier."

"Aren't you stronger?" Yuan Chenling tilted his head and asked back. "Logically, shouldn't we Seal your Reflection first?"

Zhou Yan gave him an annoyed look.

"My Reflection cannot compare to me."

"I can't tell you the reason for this, but you just need to know that it cannot copy my true power."

"But your 'Bite' Divine Ability is a different story."

"If your Reflection jumps out from time to time and swallows us, the time we'd have to spend would be far more than dealing with my Reflection."

"Alright, act according to the plan. Follow my lead in a moment."

After Zhou Yan finished speaking, he was the first to leap into the lake.

"Fine, you're the boss." Yuan Chenling muttered and jumped in after him.

As Zhou Yan fell into the water, he didn't feel any viscosity, though his falling speed slowed down significantly.

Upon reaching the halfway point to the center of the lake, a force suddenly pulled at him, and the world seemed to flip instantly.

When his feet touched solid ground again, the scene before him had completely changed.

This was a slightly dim space, surrounded by a forest of deep blue rectangular rock pillars.

Beneath his feet was a giant mirror that didn't reflect Zhou Yan's figure, but clearly showed the blue sky and white clouds above Mirror Lake.

"Is this the Mirror World?"

Just as Zhou Yan was drawn in by this space filled with mystery and geometric beauty, Yuan Chenling also fell from the mirror's surface, landing lightly and steadily.

At the same time, two phantoms gradually took shape. They were almost identical to Zhou Yan and Yuan Chenling, only their colors were gloomier, and their eyes glowed, making it impossible to tell if they truly had eyes.

"Primordial Spirit, activate!"

Yuan Chenling gave a low roar and activated his Divine Ability according to the pre-arranged signal.

Zhou Yan immediately buffed him with time dilation while casting Golden Eyes of Delusion Breaking toward the 'Reflected Yuan Chenling'.

The Reflection was controlled just as it solidified. Although it was unclear what specific effect these eyes had on the Reflection, it did indeed buy time for Yuan Chenling.

He pounced forward, swallowing the opponent into his space in one bite.

At such close range, consumption was lowest and the effect was optimal.

Next, it was the other one's turn.

Zhou Yan looked at the Reflected Zhou Yan, which had solidified first but had already retreated to the side, and clicked on his panel.

[Reflection / Zhou Yan]

[Rank: Early Foundation Establishment]

[HP: 19000/19000]

"Boss, let's take him on together!" After dealing with his other self, Yuan Chenling quickly returned to Zhou Yan's side, preparing for a righteous two-on-one.

"Wait, let me test its depth first."

Hearing this, Yuan Chenling stared at Zhou Yan as if looking at an idiot.

As a Loose Cultivator who had traveled far and wide from a young age, he had upheld the way of caution his whole life and truly couldn't understand his boss's 'reckless' behavior.

But since he was the boss, Yuan Chenling had no choice but to step back, signaling for Zhou Yan to do as he pleased.

Zhou Yan limbered up. This was a rare 'training dummy,' and he could finally verify his true strength.

He tapped the ground and shot out like a cannonball. The Reflected Zhou Yan also started at the same time, but its speed was noticeably a step slower.

The two collided in the air, their arms clashing. The Reflection only resisted for an instant before being sent flying.

"As I thought, it doesn't have the bonuses from equipment attributes!"

Zhou Yan pressed his advantage, activating double speed as his fists rained down on the Reflection like raindrops.

The opponent tried to imitate him, but due to the speed gap, its attacks repeatedly missed, leaving it to take the full brunt of Zhou Yan's offensive.

This scene left Yuan Chenling dumbstruck.

Although he had easily swallowed his Reflection just now, he had clearly felt the tangible threat from it.

That Reflection indeed possessed the strength to kill him.

Without Zhou Yan's help, he never could have succeeded so easily.

But his boss could actually unilaterally crush his own Reflection.

This strength was too overbearing... Was he really the Reincarnation of some Heavenly Venerate?

While Yuan Chenling was having a mental brainstorm, Zhou Yan had already fought to his heart's content.

Having finished testing his melee capabilities, he directly activated eighteen-fold speed, quickly emptying the Reflection's health bar.

"Ding, obtained EXP +212, Time Essence *1."

Oh? An unexpected harvest!

Although he didn't know what 'Time Essence' was, the experience provided by a Foundation Establishment mob was the real deal. It wasn't much, but it was easy to kill.

"Who else could this guy have copied? Why me? It's just asking for trouble."

Zhou Yan knew very well that without his mechanics to support him, he would be bottom-tier trash in the current version.

If you pick Zhou Yan, who else is going to lose if not you?

Not long after, the Reflected Zhou Yan solidified again, its Battle Intent even stronger.

Yuan Chenling thought Zhou Yan had finished and that it was time to join forces to suppress the Reflection and find the exit.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yan reached out to stop him and shook his head.

"Change of plans. Let me hog the experience."

Before his voice finished echoing, Zhou Yan had already charged out again.

Logically, no matter how easy the previous battle was, the consumption couldn't be ignored, making continuous combat impossible.

But Zhou Yan was no ordinary Cultivator, and the Reflection's state might still be affected by various factors.

However, Zhou Yan was truly an existence with invincible stamina.

The strongest killer in noob-tier matches.

Dealing with this kind of scrub, popping a few Medicinal Pills to restore health and mana would allow for a quick recovery.

Thus, the roles of being inexhaustible and growing braver with each battle were quietly swapped.

"Jie jie jie, become a part of my power!"

Zhou Yan switched freely between melee and ranged attacks, and the Reflection began to fight back.

But whether it was the golden bow seeking its target or the release of Spells, there was a clear gap between the two sides.

Lacking the base numerical bonuses from equipment and having no speed buffs, as time went on, Zhou Yan actually killed the Reflection faster and faster because he was becoming more proficient with his Spells and abilities.

Yuan Chenling watched from the side, speechless.

He just watched as Zhou Yan tested every single one of his abilities, beating the Reflection so hard it couldn't even lift its head.

"The... the gap between man and man... no, between man and lion, how can it be this large!"