All the items were placed in the same positions as in the original cafeteria, except that they were all mirrored, like looking in a mirror.

"Holy crap..."

Amidst a series of exclamations of "Holy crap!", everyone present tensed up in astonishment.

Lin Xiaobei mustered her courage and stepped forward, reaching out to touch the iron pot on the stove. Then, her lips trembled with fear, "The pot is hot..."

Su Zheng frowned deeply. "What exactly is going on? How could Zhang Meihui create a completely identical mirror world? And the furnishings in the mirror world are all real?"

"If this were made into a science documentary, it could be made into dozens or even hundreds of episodes," Zhang Xiaojuan exclaimed in amazement.

Lu Sheng coldly surveyed the surrounding environment. "Her mental abilities are extremely strong. The entire area we are in is very likely her mental domain."

"Are we trapped in her domain now?" Sun Tiantian asked, feeling the small gold bead that Zhang Meihui had just put on her.

Lin Xiaobei quickly withdrew her hand, her small eyes filled with great confusion, "Can a cafeteria cook awaken such strong spiritual power?"

Two years after the apocalypse, there are relatively regular predictions about the direction of the awakening of superpowers.

The probability of awakening superpowers is 60% related to the superpowered individual's lifestyle and preferences before the apocalypse.

For example, Lin Xiaobei liked to work out before the apocalypse and had well-developed muscles, so he awakened a strength-type superpower immediately after the apocalypse.

Han Rui's hobby is growing cute succulents and collecting many plant specimens and illustrations, which is why she quickly awakened her wood-type superpower.

The master chef in the base unlocked his culinary superpower because he used to run a university cafeteria. Zhang Xiaojuan's first major in university was civil engineering, and she later switched to computer science, so she unlocked earth-based superpowers first.

As for the rarer ice, water, fire, or space elements, they all depend on the genetic lottery, the ability user's affinity for the elements, and luck.

Overall, seven parts are determined by fate, and three parts depend on mutation.

The mental ability is the most unique type of ability among all the different types of superpowers.

Most psychic abilities originate from the unique and unrestrained imagination of the ability user or from an extremely strong obsession.

Based on Lu Sheng's experience in his previous life, many of those who unlocked mental abilities after the apocalypse were people with somewhat extreme mental states.

For example, people with depression, bipolar disorder, or those who are relatively sensitive.

Lu Sheng had previously encountered a group awakening in a mental hospital, where they gathered into a highly lethal force using their unfathomable mental strength and quickly occupied an area.

Strong mental strength often stems from resentment that can never be fulfilled.

For example, Zhang Meihui was determined to raise enough money to treat her daughter's eyes, and this deep-seated obsession became a powerful belief that supported her in this spiritual realm.

Within this spiritual realm, Zhang Meihui's power can be amplified several times over. If anyone rashly intrudes and attempts to disrupt the balance of this spiritual realm, they will suffer the backlash of Zhang Meihui's powerful resentment.

"So what do we do now? We can't stay trapped here forever." Sun Tiantian took off the small gold bead from her hand and carefully placed it in the iron box.

Xu Yi's eyes darkened. "We'll most likely need to dispel Zhang Meihui's obsession before we can leave this place."

Hearing this, Lin Xiaobei suddenly rubbed his chin in confusion, "I understand the logic, but if she has such great power, why doesn't she leave M City and go back to her hometown to find her daughter?"

Su Zheng hesitated for a moment, "Based on her behavior, she may not even know about this spiritual realm herself. She is just trying to keep the steel plant in a normal state before the apocalypse because of her obsession with getting wages to treat her daughter's illness."

"Alas, the hearts of parents are always full of love and worry." Zhang Xiaojuan looked regretful.

Life is full of disappointments, and there are always too many regrets.

"Should we now try to help Zhang Meihui get rid of her obsession?"

Having said that, Lu Sheng nodded sweetly to Sun Tiantian.

Sun Tiantian slapped her face hard, then, rousing herself, shouted loudly at the mirrored space outside the door, "Mom, are you there?"

"Mom? I can't find you!"

Sun Tiantian called out several times, but the only response was silence from within the mirror space.

"We need to find her sore spot to attract her attention," Lu Sheng stopped Sun Tiantian.

"Then what should I say?"

"You said your eyes hurt and you couldn't see," Zhang Xiaojuan quickly reminded her.

Sun Tiantian nodded and shouted with all her might, "Mom! My eyes hurt so much!"

Meanwhile, at the steel mill gate, Zhao Mujia's Lingfeng base team was stuck in a quagmire and unable to move.

"What's going on?"

As soon as Zhao Mujia and the others entered the steel plant, they rushed to the warehouse to transport the steel out, but as soon as they reached the gate, they found that they could not move as if they were filled with cement.

The sharp, needle-like pain kept assaulting everyone's brains, as if their entire brain was being frantically churned by a high-speed egg beater.

Zhao Mujia clutched the Hatsune Miku doll tightly to her chest, struggling with all her might, "Let me out! Her Highness still needs me to protect her!"

The remaining team members clutched their heads and collapsed to the ground in agony, their lives flashing before their eyes like a revolving lantern.

"Let me out! I want to go home!"

"Please! Let us go!"

Zhang Meihui, carrying a freshly sharpened kitchen knife, walked slowly out of the steel plant's office building, her face expressionless.

Her delicate features still revealed her beauty in her youth, but her eyes were like two completely dried-up wells, devoid of any light.

Zhang Meihui, carrying a kitchen knife, walked towards Zhao Mujia, her thin lips tightly clenched. "You stole steel from the factory?"

"These are the factory's lives! You want to steal them?"

She swung the kitchen knife and slashed it hard at Zhao Mujia's shoulder.

Just as the blade was about to graz the flesh, an anxious shout came from afar.

"Mom! My eyes hurt so much! Can you come and help me?"

Upon hearing Sun Tiantian's call, Zhang Meihui's expression changed.

Her previously numb features instantly turned to worry. She immediately put down the kitchen knife and rushed towards the cafeteria.

The haggard middle-aged woman rushed to the group and anxiously pulled Sun Tiantian into her arms.

Lin Xiaobei swiftly restrained Zhang Meihui, forcing her into a corner of the kitchen. "Auntie, we need to take Xiaohong to a hospital in a big city for treatment. Please let us go."

"What do you want to do to Xiaohong? Do you want to bully us orphans and widows too?!" Zhang Meihui was furious and suddenly burst out with tremendous strength.

Lu Sheng gathered a ball of energy in his palm and aimed it at Zhang Meihui's chest.

If the soft approach doesn't work, then we'll have to resort to the hard one.