Heh.

This Card Grandmaster chubby guy is truly cunning and deep!

Clearly, he was using Jiang Ye’s two clones as experimental subjects.

Yet he made it sound as if Jiang Ye was leading the experiment!

Jiang Ye wasn’t stupid and naturally didn’t take the bait.

If they really wanted to study the mutation situation of two identical clones, they should wait until he transformed that shadow phantom who mastered mutation methods into a clone first.

Otherwise, this wouldn’t be called him conducting an experiment – he would be the experiment subject!

The chubby guy also noticed his reluctance and didn’t press further.

With a wave of his large hand, he released Yu Mo from the Square Mirror.

In that instant, everyone standing around Yu Mo clearly felt…

This newly mutated Yu Mo looked quite similar to Xu Gou on the surface.

Only blood patterns, no steam.

But his entire body still radiated a scorching heat.

It felt like…

A “freshly baked” mutant.

Others only felt the “freshly baked” heat from Yu Mo.

But Jiang Ye’s Guiwen clone also keenly detected—

The heart demon nest he had built within Yu Mo…

Seemed to have disappeared!

This…

The Guiwen side confirmed it.

It really was gone!

His heart demon nesting slot had mysteriously become available again!

This??

Didn’t this mean…

The mutation that occurred to Yu Mo had actually erased the heart demon nest built by Guiwen on his body?!

That kind of heart demon nest that only disappears with true death!

Actually vanished because of this mutation!

This…

The effect of this mutation is truly extraordinary!

Moreover…

Even more bizarre than the disappearance of the heart demon nest was—

Because Yu Mo still maintained Jiang Ye’s appearance.

Jiang Ye could sense the existence of this “clone.”

However, his perception of the unconscious Yu Mo clone felt particularly peculiar.

How to describe it?

It’s like…

Feeling that this Yu Mo clone was different from all the other [Fake Clones] that simply disguised themselves as Jiang Ye!

Jiang Ye’s perception of him was stronger than his perception of [Fake Clones].

Though slightly weaker than his perception of [Generated Clones]…

Of course, it was hard to say for sure.

Because Yu Mo was still unconscious at this moment.

Who knew if Jiang Ye’s perception would change once he woke up?

As Jiang Ye pondered this, he felt an inexplicable urge to kick Yu Mo awake.

But then he saw the chubby guy examine Yu Mo for a moment before glancing at Jiang Ye with a meaningful smile:

“This guy’s mutation effect is really impressive…”

“With his precedent, I believe Brother Salvation would never refuse this experimental invitation no matter what :)”

As he spoke, the chubby guy snapped his fingers again.

From between his rubbing fingers, he produced another silver-white card.

Casually tossing the card, it transformed into a projector screen-like display.

On the screen soon appeared a familiar figure – the Salvation mecha!

Its mechanical features showed no expression.

The mecha in the screen also showed no intention of speaking.

Fortunately, the chubby guy acted like they were old friends, smiling as he initiated conversation:

“Hi there. Let me introduce myself – I’m the Card Grandmaster. You’ve probably heard of me :)”

The chubby guy spoke with complete confidence.

The mecha’s face in the screen still showed no emotion.

However, it quickly responded: “Hmm.”

The chubby guy continued smiling:

“I heard the leader of the Salvation Organization accidentally got infected with Lightburn.”

“To the extent that all Salvation mechas carry traces of Lightburn?”

His tone was light, even carrying a hint of pleasure.

The expressionless mecha on the screen then emitted a cold, hard voice:

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“Hey, it’s like this—”

The chubby guy explained with a smile: “We have an experiment here that has a certain probability of possibly eradicating Lightburn…”

This casually delivered sentence.

Actually made the emotionless mecha’s features visibly tremble!

Especially those mechanical eyes, which suddenly widened at this moment!

The cold, hard voice came again.

And this time…

Jiang Ye faintly recognized that it sounded quite similar to the mecha voice he had heard during the transaction with the Nomadic Merchant!

So, the previous mecha was just a clone.

This current mecha was being controlled by Salvation’s true form?

This suggested there should be clear distinctions between Salvation’s true form and clones?

Moreover, Salvation’s true form should be able to descend upon any mecha clone at any time?

Jiang Ye pondered this internally.

Meanwhile, the chubby guy methodically explained his “experiment” to the Salvation mecha in the projection screen.

That is, using the shadow phantom’s methods to achieve mutation effects.

And the mutation effect might have a probability of eradicating Lightburn.

This was what the chubby guy had told Jiang Ye not long ago.

However, when explaining to Salvation, the chubby guy specifically added a “case example.”

He directly pulled the unconscious Yu Mo in front of him, displaying him to the Salvation mecha in the projection.

Simultaneously explaining:

“This guy originally had an eighth-tier [Nesting Inner Demons] effect on him.”

“You should know that an eighth-tier [Nesting Inner Demons] effect cannot be eradicated except through death.”

“But just now, after this guy achieved mutation, the [Nesting Inner Demons] effect on him disappeared.”

“You understand what this means, right?”

The chubby guy said this casually.

But Jiang Ye was shocked internally!

Good grief…

The Nesting Inner Demons effect on Yu Mo indeed hadn’t escaped the chubby guy’s notice.

Even the disappearance of the Nesting Inner Demons effect had been observed by the chubby guy.

And this became his means of enticing Salvation to cooperate with the experiment.

After all, since it had been confirmed that this mutation could eradicate the Nesting Inner Demons effect…

Then there indeed existed a certain possibility that it could also eradicate Lightburn!

Even if this “possibility” only existed in Salvation’s imagination.

The instinct for survival would definitely make him agree to cooperate with the experiment!

After all, to cooperate with this experiment, all he needed to sacrifice was just one mecha clone.

In his heart, Jiang Ye had already foreseen Salvation’s choice.

However, what surprised him was…

The Salvation mecha on the projection screen examined Yu Mo for a long time.

Then he uttered:

“This is one of Jiang Ye’s clones? Affected by Nesting Inner Demons? I don’t remember any of Jiang Ye’s clones being affected by Nesting Inner Demons?”

These words made Jiang Ye’s heart jump in shock!

What? Salvation actually knew exactly whether his clones had been affected by Nesting Inner Demons?

How much information did this guy know about him?

Jiang Ye wondered internally, but continued to act as a spectator.

The chubby guy then smiled at the Salvation mecha in the projection:

“It seems the mutation effect of this mimic mask is extraordinary enough that even someone of your stature couldn’t tell…”

“This person is not Jiang Ye.”

“He just happened to be wearing a [mimic mask] with Jiang Ye’s appearance during his mutation.”

“And as he mutated, the [mimic mask] he wore seemed to also undergo mutation…”

As he spoke, the chubby guy touched Yu Mo’s Jiang Ye-like face.

Then he shook his head at Salvation: “Now, this mask seems to have completely fused with the skin, becoming a real face. Even I cannot peel it off…”

Then he changed his tone and smiled: “Of course, the entire facial skin can be directly peeled off.”

“Just not sure if this forcibly peeled skin can still be considered a mimic mask?”

Such bloody and perverted things, the chubby guy said casually.

Indeed, this damn fatty was a cunning old fox!

And Jiang Ye also realized…

The changes in his perception of this Yu Mo clone…

Should also be related to the mutation of the [mimic mask].

The [mimic mask] had directly fused with Yu Mo himself…

Would it mean that even if Yu Mo wore other mimic masks in the future to change into non-Jiang Ye appearances, he would still be recognized as a Jiang Ye clone?

Or would there be other changes to his status as a Jiang Ye clone?

Jiang Ye was quite interested.

And Salvation quickly accepted this explanation.

His mecha eyes examined Yu Mo for another moment before saying to the chubby guy in a deep voice:

“Your current coordinates are at… the 0000 Apartment?”

He spoke, his tone turning thoughtful.

The chubby guy smiled slightly: “No need to trouble yourself to come.”

“I have means to ‘invite’ you over.”

“Please don’t take offense, Leader Salvation :)”

As he spoke, the chubby guy withdrew the projection screen and snapped his fingers again, producing another card.

Clearly, he really had means to capture Salvation across space!

Giving Salvation advance notice was just courtesy.

To be honest, this chubby guy was really good at saying polite things.

When Salvation wasn’t present earlier, he called him “Brother Salvation.”

But when facing Salvation, he quite respectfully addressed him as “Leader Salvation”…

Jiang Ye increasingly felt that the shocked emotions the chubby guy had shown when communicating with him as Administrator 4444 were probably all acted out!

This old fox’s acting skills were first-class too!

As the card enlarged and condensed into a form, the Salvation mecha seen in the projection earlier indeed emerged from the card.

Although the mechanical features showed no emotion.

From the mecha’s rapidly moving eyeballs, it wasn’t hard to see—

Salvation must have been shocked by the chubby guy’s dominant means of capturing someone across space!

To the extent that when meeting the chubby guy in person now, his tone was much more polite than during the remote projection.

Of course, during the remote projection, he had only seen the chubby guy and Yu Mo.

Now on the chessboard, he not only saw the giant chessboard here and the black ice domain beneath it…

But also saw Lin Ling on the chessboard, the shadow phantom, Tao Sheng, Peng Gu, Xu Gou in the Square Mirror…

And Jiang Ye!

The mecha’s sweeping gaze clearly lingered longer on Lin Ling, the shadow phantom, and Jiang Ye.

Of course, his final gaze settled on the chubby guy who was putting away his cards.

The chubby guy straightened his clothes and smiled kindly again:

“We’re pressed for time here, so without further ado, shall we begin the experiment directly?”

This was said both to the Salvation mecha and to the shadow phantom who mastered mutation methods.

The Salvation mecha remained silent, tacitly agreeing.

The shadow phantom, still in giant hand form, suddenly transformed into normal human size.

However, even in human form, it remained a shadow phantom.

Like a pale shadow, only showing outline without visible features.

But the shadow phantom’s gaze seemed to sweep over those present.

His voice echoed faintly: “Mutation methods are my unique secret technique, probably not suitable for demonstration under everyone’s watchful eyes.”

“That’s easily handled.” The chubby guy seemed to have anticipated this.

Casually throwing out a few more cards, he sealed away Tao Sheng and Peng Gu.

Along with Xu Gou in the Square Mirror, the chubby guy collected these “bystanders” like props.

Then, his gaze swept toward Lin Ling:

“Now those present – Salvation and Jiang Ye – are both about to undergo mutation procedures.”

“If the Left Alliance isn’t accepting mutation, they’ll probably have to avoid suspicion :)”

This was outrageous!

The chessboard was created by Lin Ling.

Yet the chubby guy was publicly trying to drive Lin Ling away!

However, Lin Ling didn’t seem to mind the chubby guy’s act of usurping the host’s role.

After a moment of silence, she glanced at Jiang Ye and said in a deep voice:

“Perfect timing, I can use this time to check out the red-lit elevator in Apartment 9999.”

With that, she actually flashed away.

Thus, on this giant chessboard, only the chubby guy, the shadow phantom, and Salvation remained.

Along with one genuine Jiang Ye and one Jiang Ye-faced Yu Mo.

“All bystanders have left…”

“Now you can begin your performance :)”

The chubby guy looked at the shadow phantom again.

The shadow phantom looked at Salvation.

His voice held slight hesitation:

“Implementing mutation methods requires the mutant to provide hair or blood…”

“Does your mecha… have hair or blood?”

Salvation didn’t answer directly but countered: “How many hairs are needed?”

Shadow phantom: “Over 1000 strands, must have follicles.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ye felt somewhat speechless.

Conducting an experiment required plucking 1000 hairs…

Could Tao Sheng’s baldness have come from this?

Clearly, Salvation also had issues with the number 1000, so he asked: “If choosing blood instead? How much is needed?”

“At least 400cc.”

“Fine then, I’ll choose hair.”

With that, the Salvation mecha flipped its hand and produced a bunch of hair.

Quite a noticeable handful in its palm.

What surprised Jiang Ye was—

Wasn’t Salvation male?

Why did he have long hair?

The shadow phantom seemed to have similar doubts and added a warning:

“All must be hair belonging to this clone of yours, otherwise the mutation process will definitely fail.”

Salvation’s tone was flat, emotionless: “I have that much common sense.”

Since he said so, the shadow phantom accepted the bunch of long hair.

He didn’t count them, simply waved his hand and summoned something emitting a bloody scent… a hot spring pool?

It really looked like a hot spring pool.

Though the pool emitted a bloody scent, the water within appeared clear and transparent, with steam rising as if one could really bathe in it…

The shadow phantom didn’t explain anything, simply waved his hand again and threw the bunch of hair Salvation had given into the clear pool water.

Immediately, the entire pool water made sizzling sounds.

The originally calm water surface quickly bubbled and boiled.

Even, in just a moment, the originally clear water seemed polluted by the black hair…

Rapidly turning murky black.

The original bloody scent transformed into an overly burned charcoal smell.

Soon, as if the hair had dissolved completely, the boiling water surface calmed again.

The murky black water then faded to a semi-black, semi-transparent color.

Then…

Jiang Ye saw emerging from the pool water a creature that looked very familiar to him.

The mist-like monsters that had massively invaded when the mirrored clone mutated into Xiao Hei!

There were quite a number of these monsters too.

Just like the number of monsters that had invaded the mirrored clone back then…

Jiang Ye watched in amazement.

Meanwhile, the shadow phantom waved to the Salvation mecha: “Come here.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep