Volume 1, Chapter 122: The Green Mountain Bronze Mirror.

"You? How can it be you? Weren't you already dead? Why are you still alive!" The blood-soaked Wu Gang stared at the limping Wu Gang. Although they looked identical, they were two completely different beings.

The limping Wu Gang replied, "It is a pity, but I did die for a time, leaving you to escape with my corpse. However, Green Mountain Bronze Mirror, there is a fundamental difference between you and me."

"You're lying! I am who I am!" the blood-covered Wu Gang retorted, still trying to justify himself.

The limping Wu Gang said, "Green Mountain Bronze Mirror, regardless, I thank you for taking care of my parents. Without you all these years, I dare not imagine what might have become of them."

The Green Mountain Bronze Mirror demanded, "Then why did you come back! Why did you come back! You should have just stayed in the mountains peacefully. I would have sent your parents away for you. Why did you have to return?!"

The limping Wu Gang replied, "I... I missed my parents. After I escaped, I just wanted to come home and see them. If they were healthy and well, I would have let you continue living as me. I wouldn't have exposed you, nor would I have disturbed their lives."

"But you shouldn't have killed so many people! They were innocent. I dare not imagine how many more in Ji City would have died if I hadn't returned!" the limping Wu Gang said angrily.

"Heh, it is their honor to be my scapegoats. Death is death. Human lives are worth nothing. Without humans, this world would be a better place!"

In truth, Jiang Chen had already known all of this; it was precisely what Liuli had told him over the phone earlier.

In 1998, Wu Gang had gone to Lingqin alone for an expedition. He was experienced and would have returned safely, but a sudden thick fog descended. The mountain path was slick, and he fell into a cave. With no one to save him, he eventually passed away from blood loss.

However, the Lingqin region was rich in spiritual energy. The Green Mountain Bronze Mirror, having been stained by Wu Gang's blood, gained sentience. It used Wu Gang's body to escape the region, inheriting a portion of his memories in the process.

Along the way, it killed many people to sustain and perfect the decaying body. Upon learning of the existence of the 509 Bureau, it was forced to hide its identity, becoming taciturn to avoid suspicion and eventually passing as human.

Yet, it had lived in constant fear for years until it sensed movement in Lingqin. Suspecting the real Wu Gang had returned, it went to Lingqin on the day it met Jiang Chen, planning to find the real Wu Gang, but its plans were thwarted when Jiang Chen set his sights on it.

"And yet, you still want to be human, don't you?" Jiang Chen's words struck deep into the heart of the Green Mountain Bronze Mirror.

The Green Mountain Bronze Mirror argued, "You lot are nothing! I only did what I had to in order to survive. Do you really think I wanted to become this good-for-nothing Wu Gang?"

Jiang Chen remarked, "You really don't shed a tear until you see the coffin. Let me ask you: do you truly believe you did this flawlessly?"

"When did you realize something was wrong with me?" the Green Mountain Bronze Mirror asked.

"It's simple. You were trying too hard to act like a normal person. Unfortunately, there is a significant difference between a human and an object," Jiang Chen said softly.

"I knew something was off the moment I saw you at home. We had met before, yet you acted as if you were afraid of being recognized. That is not how a normal person behaves."

"Of course, that alone wasn't enough to make me suspicious. What truly tipped me off was how little you cared about your parents. I don't believe a filial son would be taken away in the dead of winter without saying a single word to his parents, just watching them stand in the cold wind. Wouldn't you say that was a massive flaw?"

Furthermore, he had spoken to Lin Mo, who had analyzed all the information on the case within a few hours. The analysis was precise, down to the calculated timeline of the detention. Without that, Jiang Chen wouldn't have cracked the case so easily.

Jiang Chen exhaled, feeling a weight lifted from his chest.

"You can conclude I'm not human just from that?!" the Green Mountain Bronze Mirror asked.

Jiang Chen shook his head. "Not quite. I set a trap for both of you. Whichever one of you showed a flaw, I would kill. Clearly, you lost."

Jiang Chen was referring to the Green Mountain Bronze Mirror and the limping Wu Gang. He suspected both and trusted neither. He had coordinated with Liuli to stabilize the limping Wu Gang while letting the Green Mountain Bronze Mirror out, waiting to see who would reveal themselves.

The Green Mountain Bronze Mirror realized it had been tricked.

"Unbelievable. Truly unbelievable. I never imagined someone like you would be so observant. Very well. If you survive this, I will turn you into a vase so I can listen to your analysis every day."

The Green Mountain Bronze Mirror no longer hid its power. Its aura climbed steadily, rising from having no cultivation level to the seventh layer of the Wuxiang Realm.

The real, limping Wu Gang pulled back his sleeve; his body was made entirely of stone. Only his face appeared human.

"Come then! Let me see who I shall kill first!" Despite its ruined body, the Green Mountain Bronze Mirror was desperate to survive.

"You, I suppose. You talk the most, and I want you to shut up." The Green Mountain Bronze Mirror's gaze locked onto Jiang Chen.

Li Changsheng pulled Shen Huaizhu and Liuli back. All three covered their eyes, as if afraid to look.

Li Changsheng whispered, "Is this mirror insane? Out of everyone here, it picked the toughest one. Isn't this just asking for death?"

Shen Huaizhu added, "I think it is insane... could the mirror have a broken brain?"

Liuli had witnessed Jiang Chen's strength; she suspected even if the three of them attacked together, Jiang Chen would handle them with ease. Since they were all masters of the Wuxiang Realm and wouldn't dare claim they could beat Jiang Chen, the Green Mountain Bronze Mirror didn't just seem brain-damaged—it seemed to have no brain at all.

Jiang Chen asked, "So, do you have any last words? Or anything else you want to say? Say it now, because once I start, I won't be pausing. We're all busy people, so don't waste time."

"Die!"

The Green Mountain Bronze Mirror struck first. It felt insulted by Jiang Chen and wanted to show him the consequences. As a spiritual artifact born from the heaven and earth energy of Lingqin, it believed it could handle a mere cultivator.

The Green Mountain Bronze Mirror transformed into a bizarre form. Its entire body was encased in bronze, with mysterious, intricate patterns appearing across its surface.

Jiang Chen said with interest, "I am quite curious to see what you are capable of."

He had seen spiritual artifacts before, but most lacked sentience. This one, having gained awareness by accident, was formidable, though he was yet to see its true strength.