Chapter 249 A Counterfeit Moon in the Water 1
It was evening.
Mazao and I went out to the base canteen for dinner halfway through the trip. Fufeng came over to talk to me again, subtly asking about my views on governance; Dongche also appeared, joining the conversation while observing Mazao with a strange look.
We didn't give them a chance to continue chatting, and immediately went back to our room after dinner.
Meanwhile, Asahi's work has made new progress.
Unfortunately, the progress hasn't been in the investigation of the Sharpshooter's head; the true identity of the mastermind behind the Sharpshooter remains shrouded in darkness. The current progress is in the broken round mirror I gave her to repair last night, which appears to have fallen from the deceased Silver Masked Doctor.
Calling this item a "broken round mirror" is no longer accurate. The round mirror, which was originally blackened by flames, has been thoroughly cleaned and is now spotless. The cracked surface is now flawless, and the surrounding scenery can be clearly reflected.
Mazao placed the head of the sharpshooter on her knees and handed me the seemingly intact round mirror.
"I already know what this is."
She not only completed the restoration of the round mirror, but it seems she also investigated the historical information inside.
“This is a magical artifact, and just as you guessed, it’s an item deeply connected to Dr. Silver Mask. To be precise, it should be described as his ‘body’,” she said.
"Body?" I was surprised.
She nodded first, then patiently explained, "Ying Lingyun's 'Possibility Clone' is a replica of Lu Chan's, and the effect is exactly the same. The clones they summon are not real physical clones, but spiritual clones. Because they lack a physical container, their defense against soul attacks is very weak."
"To overcome this weakness, Ying Lingyun equipped all his 'possible clones' with clone bodies. Because both the spirit and the body are similar to the original, the compatibility is quite high. Dr. Silver Mask is an exception."
"Dr. Silver Mask was born from the possibility of 'Ying Lingyun who did not meet Silver Moon.' His life experiences diverged at a very early stage, shaping him into a completely different soul. Therefore, his compatibility with Ying Lingyun's clone body is not very good. This is probably why he cannot smoothly connect with the consciousness network of the 'possible clone.'"
"Because Dr. Silver Mask possesses exceptional research capabilities, Ying Lingyun preserved this clone even knowing it had the potential to rebel. However, as a precaution, Ying Lingyun did not design a human body with free movement specifically for Dr. Silver Mask, but instead simply placed its soul into an object container. Only in an independent reality space resembling a dream can Dr. Silver Mask manifest in a human form."
She rarely speaks so much in one breath. After she finished speaking, she took a deep breath and stared at me intently.
"I see..." I said, "So, what is the soul inside this item now?"
“Of course he’s dead. He couldn’t be saved. Even with my power of resurrection, it’s impossible to bring the dead back to life…” She thought for a moment and then added, “At least someone who has been dead for so long definitely cannot be resurrected.”
So you mean as long as the corpse isn't completely cold, you might be able to revive it, right?
Asahi continued, "Furthermore, the function of this magical artifact is not merely to contain souls, or rather, containing souls is only a secondary purpose."
"What is its main purpose?" I asked curiously.
“Ying Lingyun and Dr. Silver Mask call this magical artifact ‘Fake Moon in Water’,” she said. “As the name suggests, it is a replica of the moon in water. Although it cannot replicate someone else’s superpowers like a real moon in water, it still has powerful illusionary power and can be used to invade someone else’s soul.”
“Invading the soul…” I said after thinking for a moment, “Lu Youxun once suspected that Chenlong was brainwashed by Ying Lingyun with the Water Moon… Although Ying Lingyun did not actually do that, can I understand that this fake Water Moon has the power to do something similar?”
"Probably?" Mazao wasn't entirely sure either. "However, the reason this fake Moon in the Water was destroyed earlier was probably because you killed Dr. Silver Mask in the independent reality space, which then affected the object's original form in the real world. Since you were the destroyer, I couldn't completely repair this magical item. Most of its illusionary functions are frozen, and I don't know which functions are still usable."
“From what you’ve said, it seems that the fake Moon in the Water wasn’t a prop specifically designed to contain Dr. Silver Mask’s soul, but rather something created before that… But Ying Lingyun already has the real Moon in the Water, so why would he need to create a fake one?” I asked.
She seemed to have been prepared, saying confidently, "This is the result of his research on Silver Moon's power to turn the illusory into the real during her lifetime, through the real Moon in the Water. That was also one of the directions he tried to revive Silver Moon, and the fake Moon in the Water was just a byproduct."
Ma Zao has indeed uncovered a great deal of information. Ying Lingyun has likely taken countless counter-divination measures regarding information related to himself, but Ma Zao's investigative skills are based on methods different from divination. Counter-divination can at most only delay the inevitable, and Ying Lingyun probably can't defend against it effectively.
Moreover, with Asahi's power restored to its peak, her investigative skills have also significantly improved, making the anti-divination measures seem less effective in delaying her investigation. Previously, without relying on her jinxed constitution, gathering this much information would likely have taken over a week; now it only took a day. Her primary target isn't the fake Moon in the Water, but rather the head of the Divine Spear.
"Can I use this fake moon reflected in the water?" I asked.
Speaking of invading someone else's soul, I'm reminded of Silver Moon, who hijacked Chang'an's soul. Perhaps a fake Moon in the Water could be used against her—no, that's probably naive. Even the real Moon in the Water is a magical artifact based on her illusionary power; using the illusionary power of a fake Moon in the Water to fight her would be like teaching a fish to swim.
Even Mr. Zhu said that Yin Yue's understanding of illusion magic was comparable to that of the historically skilled Da Wuchang.
However, the extent to which something can be utilized is one thing, and having it at all is another. Besides, while thinking about how to defeat Silver Moon, I also need to consider how to retrieve Chang'an's soul. A soul is not a physical body, so it may not be easy to carry home. The counterfeit Moon in the Water can both interfere with the soul and serve as a container for it, which might be just right for this matter.
“It should work. I’ve already researched how to use it, so let me teach you how,” Mazao offered.
I had no objection and sat down with her. She seemed a little nervous, but tried her best to regain her composure and carefully taught me how to use the fake moon reflected in the water.
The first step is to infuse your magic into it, which is relatively simple and straightforward. What follows involves more abstract, mental operations. For example, you need to visualize the purpose of a tool in your mind, and then imagine yourself using that tool to pry open the target's heart. Simply understanding the language is usually insufficient to truly grasp its usage; it's best to try it out yourself.
I now understand just how incredibly user-friendly the Unstable Sword of the Heretical Path truly is. This isn't to belittle the Unstable Sword; I'm well aware that it possesses a remarkably high level of technical skill. And while it's difficult to compare it directly to the Imitation Moon in the Water, which specializes in illusion magic, the Unstable Sword is definitely a first-rate magical weapon on par with it. Furthermore, the fact that it's so easy for even a fool to use truly highlights its excellence.
The counterfeit Moon in the Water has another troublesome aspect that differs from the Impermanent Sword: the latter can be tested by one person at will, while the former requires finding a "victim" first.
“Let’s use me as a test,” Asaho said.
"You?" I hesitated.
"It's just a test of how to invade the target's soul. As long as no destructive thoughts are injected, it won't harm my soul. It's no different from touching it." She demonstrated her understanding of the fake moon reflected in the water. "Moreover, I can report the feelings of the invaded soul. Even if any strange mistakes occur during the process, I can start over with the power of return."
“Things involving me are hard for you to easily start over, aren’t they?” I said.
“Now that you know about this, all you need to do is think in your heart that you are willing to let me start over, and that it won’t take as much effort,” she said confidently. “In addition, we don’t know to what extent the fake moon in the water has been repaired, which functions are working and which are not. If you want to use it for anything in the future, it is necessary to confirm it now.”
She seemed particularly eager to put herself to use.
Based on her detailed explanation of the fake Moon in the Water, there shouldn't be any negative issues. Even if I make a mistake, at worst it will just result in a failed soul invasion. After all, the fake Moon in the Water isn't a lethal item.
If my current hesitation stems from a lack of understanding of the counterfeit "moon reflected in water," then Asahi's decisiveness is based on understanding. Perhaps I shouldn't just keep saying it; I also need to show my belief in her abilities through my actions.
Moreover, if we reject her here, she will definitely become very discouraged.
Seeing her expectant expression, I weighed the options carefully before agreeing.
I picked up the fake moon reflected in the water, pointed the round mirror at her, and then recited the incantation she had just taught me:
"A pillar of strength, crumbled in an instant. Like the moon reflected in water, it comes and goes without intention."
(End of this chapter)
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