“……”

Zhou Yuling’s entire face twitched as she responded stiffly:

“The requirements of 2000 interest and 10000 collateral already exceed standards. Anyone else wouldn’t have agreed so readily.”

“Don’t push your luck!”

“Relax.” Jiang Ye waved his hand, his tone becoming more polite. “What I want to add isn’t about making you give more.”

“It’s about borrowing my clones – shouldn’t I know what you’re planning to do with the ten thousand clones I’m lending you?”

“That request isn’t pushing my luck, is it?”

In other words, this request wasn’t for tangible benefits, but for information.

The value of information is hard to quantify.

But for Zhou Yuling and Lin Ling, it wasn’t really a loss either.

Zhou Yuling grew quiet, appearing to communicate with Lin Ling.

After a long pause, she nodded to Jiang Ye:

“We can give you a basic understanding of what your ten thousand clones will be used for. But deeper information is off limits.”

Jiang Ye nodded understandingly: “Of course, like I said, I just want to ensure my clones’ safety, not pry into your secrets.”

“Oh right, I have one more additional request…”

At this, Zhou Yuling’s face froze completely.

The veins on her forehead seemed to pulse visibly.

She took a deep breath, about to speak when Jiang Ye interrupted:

“Don’t get angry yet! Hear me out – this additional request really isn’t excessive!”

“About our previous cooperation regarding the Court of Disorder – it went quite well. I genuinely appreciate the skill book you gave me and truly wanted to help you clear the Court of Disorder.”

“But not long ago, what you said made me quite uneasy!”

“Killing me would make the skill book drop again… tsk tsk.”

He gave Zhou Yuling a “you know what I mean” look before continuing:

“The fact is, last time I was young and naive, completely trusting.”

“But this time, I’ve grown!”

“To ensure you don’t do anything shady with my ten thousand clones, I need to assign a ‘supervisor’ to guarantee my clones aren’t used for anything strange…”

“Otherwise, what if you tamper with them? Like cursing them, infecting them with Lightburn, or using the Life Stone to steal my memories… wouldn’t I suffer huge losses?”

“Especially things like Lightburn infection and memory theft – those are completely unacceptable to me!”

“So, arranging a supervisor to ensure my clones’ safety isn’t excessive, right?”

This… really wasn’t excessive.

But Zhou Yuling was confused:

“You mean among the ten thousand puppet clones, you want to insert one you can contact and control anytime, like your current clone?”

“NONONO…” Jiang Ye wagged his finger.

“My meaning is—”

He flipped his left hand, producing a miniature mirror: “I want to give Lin Ling an incomplete Clone Replica Mirror.”

“Then have her use it to create a mirror clone.”

“And use her mirror clone as the supervisor role.”

“……”

Hearing this, Zhou Yuling’s mouth twitched again as she dryly remarked: “You really dare to imagine…”

“Hey,” Jiang Ye waved again, looking emotional, “I’ve been tricked too often, had to grow up.”

“If I could live comfortably, who’d want to develop eight hundred schemes and become that kind of cunning, treacherous person? Right?”

“……”

Zhou Yuling somehow felt this “cunning, treacherous person” was aimed at her.

Jiang Ye continued:

“Actually, the Clone Replica Mirror just gives me a mirror clone’s perspective.”

“You know the incomplete version has issues – just don’t let the mirror clone access any secrets, then there won’t be anything shady for me to see.”

“Moreover, the mirror clone is still considerable combat power. Lin Ling might even use it during battles.”

“So this request actually benefits both sides.”

He kept chattering while Zhou Yuling remained silent.

Only when Jiang Ye paused to drink water did Zhou Yuling say solemnly:

“The Mirror Palace secret realm’s entrance seems to have disappeared, so there’s no need to stay in these void mirror palace ruins.”

“Since you want to know about the ten thousand clones’ destination and usage, shall we discuss elsewhere?”

Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow: “Where to?”

Zhou Yuling: “In the Twilight Sands of Apartment 0000, the Left Alliance has established a black ice domain. Shall we talk there?”

Jiang Ye considered, then nodded: “Fine.”

So the two transferred from the void mirror palace ruins to the new location.

Jiang Ye’s travel methods were relatively limited.

(Of course, this was an act – he didn’t want to use clone swapping in front of Zhou Yuling.)

Thus, Zhou Yuling suggested turning him into a puppet for her to carry to the black ice domain.

This wasn’t Jiang Ye’s first experience with this.

Back in Room 2064 of Apartment 4444, Zhou Yuling had turned him into a puppet without warning using a talisman.

This time at least she gave advance notice.

Jiang Ye didn’t refuse.

When this discarded clone briefly lost consciousness and regained it, he found himself at the black ice domain’s border in the Twilight Sands.

Only then did Jiang Ye notice…

This black ice domain differed slightly from what Zhang Minghan’s clone had seen.

The entire space seemed isolated by a black barrier.

From outside, nothing inside was visible.

Even that intangible barrier enveloping the domain…

Jiang Ye faintly sensed terrifying energy within it.

Apparently while the White-Robed Woman led the expedition to the Abyssal Depths, Lin Ling had modified this black ice domain.

Was that “big chess game” she mentioned earlier now contained within this sealed black ice domain?

As he pondered, a familiar voice suddenly spoke beside him:

“Well? Not unfamiliar with this place, are you?”

It was Lin Ling’s voice.

Appearing like a ghost beside Jiang Ye, her gaze seemed toward the black ice domain while actually observing him.

Having endured countless tests and deliberately honed his acting skills, Jiang Ye remained perfectly calm at this sudden voice.

Raising an eyebrow with feigned surprise, he asked:

“Why would you think I’m familiar with this place?”

“Oh right, you suspect I was possessed by Administrator 4444…”

“So Administrator 4444 would be familiar with this place?”

His performance was flawless, revealing nothing.

Lin Ling didn’t press further.

Glancing at him, she said solemnly:

“I can agree to your final request about using a mirror clone as ‘supervisor.'”

“But correspondingly, you must agree to my condition.”

Jiang Ye lifted his chin: “Name it.”

“I need to see the complete Clone Replica Mirror’s information.”

“Otherwise, without confirming the incomplete version’s issues, I absolutely won’t use an incomplete Clone Replica Mirror based solely on your word.”

This…

Jiang Ye quickly reviewed the complete mirror’s effects in his mind.

He’d already told Zhou Yuling about the clone perspective feature.

What might concern Lin Ling were the four mirror clone control abilities: [Clone Summoning], [Clone Swapping], [Clone Fusion], and [Clone Self-Destruct].

But honestly, with the incomplete mirror in Lin Ling’s hands, if Jiang Ye tried anything suspicious with her mirror clone, she could simply erase it using the mirror.

So control remained with Lin Ling.

She might accept these four abilities.

The only remaining concern was the ninth ability – [Clone Shared Database] – which remained locked.

Jiang Ye didn’t know its exact effects.

But having [Clone Shared Space] himself, he could guess…

Likely it allowed sharing abilities between mirror clones without fusion!

If true…

This ability would be incredibly powerful!

After all, fusion, swapping or self-destruct would alert others immediately.

But [Clone Shared Database] could utilize mirror clones’ abilities undetected!

Extremely convenient when used!

Unfortunately, this ability remained locked…

The mirror came from the Nomadic Merchant.

Even the merchant couldn’t unlock it – how could Jiang Ye?

Testing the waters, he said:

“I can show you the complete mirror’s information.”

“But in exchange, can you show me the complete Life Stone’s information?”

Lin Ling briefly considered before agreeing:

“Fine. But my complete [Life Stone] isn’t on me now.”

“After we finalize everything and sign the agreement, I’ll take you into the black ice domain to see it.”

Oh?

The complete [Life Stone] was inside the black ice domain?

Jiang Ye grew suspicious:

“How do I know you really left it there, rather than using this as bait to lure me in?”

Lin Ling gave him a strange look before saying expressionlessly:

“If I really wanted to harm you in the black ice domain…”

“I wouldn’t need to lure you – I’d just force you in.”

“……”

Though harsh, this made sense.

Lin Ling’s personality did favor direct action…

Jiang Ye considered: “Fine, let’s draft the agreement.”

“Since you’ll only show me the Life Stone in the black ice domain, I’ll only show you the mirror’s information after seeing it.”

“Deal.” Lin Ling nodded, signaling Zhou Yuling.

Thus Zhou Yuling began drafting the agreed contract.

Party A (Jiang Ye) lends 10,000 puppet clones.

Party B (Lin Ling) provides 2000 survival points as interest and 10,000 as collateral.

Additionally:

– Party A requests Party B creates a mirror clone as “supervisor” to ensure the clones aren’t used for Lightburn infection, Life Stone memory theft, or other harmful actions.

– Party B must disclose the clones’ usage, while Party A discloses complete [Clone Replica Mirror] information.

– As compensation, Party B also discloses complete [Life Stone] information.

While they meticulously drafted the contract…

Elsewhere in the Twilight Sands, Wu Wang and Yu Mo finally selected a suitable player for Yu Mo to possess.

“Pretty handsome guy – sure it’s him?”

Yu Mo nodded: “Him. No Glyph Pattern Ability – should be manageable, right?”

Wu Wang frowned cautiously: “An experienced player without Glyph Pattern Ability… could he be from the Defenders’ Alliance?”

Yu Mo: “What’s the Defenders’ Alliance compared to Heavenly Net organization?”

“After possessing him, I’ll just quit Defenders and join Heavenly Net!”

“……” Wu Wang still felt involving the Defenders was unwise.

But Yu Mo was too picky – rejecting all weak newcomers while most veterans traveled in groups, making possession difficult and risky.

Finally finding a lone veteran…

Wu Wang also worried delaying might anger the Witch Gui big shot.

So he reluctantly agreed.

With the big shot’s power, nothing should go wrong… right?

Thus they targeted Zhang Minghan for ambush.

Emmmmm…

Initially quite smooth.

Wu Wang had an effective hallucination item called [Nightmare Seed].

Planted at Zhang Minghan’s feet and activated by Glyph Pattern Ability, it instantly bloomed into a nightmare flower.

Then…

Just as they prepared for Yu Mo’s possession while the handsome youth was hallucinating…

A giant palm suddenly materialized from the void beside him!

For a moment, Wu Wang thought the shadow phantom behind Yu Mo’s cousin had returned to rescue them…

But the palm slapped both him and Yu Mo away.

As they flew backward, the Witch Gui big shot’s furious voice echoed in their minds:

“Damn it! Choose another target! Don’t touch Defenders’ Alliance members!”

“……”

Dizzily tumbling through the air, Wu Wang barely stood up when another slap came.

The now-conscious handsome youth disdainfully glared at them and cursed: “Shrimps!”

“……”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep