Chapter 127

Mola smiled noncommittally, not responding to Andre's sarcasm.

"Then, young people, tell me..."

The hoarse voice echoed in the cramped pawnshop, her hunched figure casting a weird shadow under the dim light:

"What are you looking for here?"

Luo En cautiously observed every move of the old woman, especially the sharp light flashing in those deep eye sockets that did not match her age.

"We are looking for a material called 'Time Sand'."

He said bluntly: "I heard you might know some related information."

For several weeks, in order to figure out how to upgrade the Time Guardian pocket watch, he had read in ancient books about materials that could store time energy.

Among them, he mentioned the rare substance "Time Sand".

Mola grinned, revealing a few yellowed teeth, a strange light flashing in her eyes:

"Time Sand... what a precious material; do you know why it is so rare? Because it originates from the cracks of time and almost does not belong to this world of ours."

Andre stood beside Luo En with his arms crossed, his golden vertical pupils scanning the space filled with weird items vigilantly:

"Is there anyone who can provide this material? We are willing to pay the corresponding price."

Mola did not answer directly, but walked around to the back of the counter, her withered fingers stroking a row of bottles and jars:

"Price... yes, everything has a price. But the question is, what kind of price can you pay?"

She suddenly raised her head, looking directly into Luo En's eyes:

"Young apprentice, I can feel a certain... special fluctuation on you; your soul is different."

Luo En's heart tightened, but on the surface, he remained calm:

"We just want to know the information about Time Sand; there is no need to delve into other topics."

"Too impatient, young man."

Mola sighed, a weird smile appearing on her aged face:

"Before discussing such precious items, I hope to confirm whether you have enough value."

As soon as the words fell, she suddenly raised her withered fingers and snapped her fingers crisply at Andre.

Andre's body stiffened abruptly, his originally alert golden vertical pupils became empty and godless, and his whole person stood motionless like a statue.

"Andre!"

Luo En exclaimed, while his right hand had quietly moved to the pocket watch at his waist, and his left hand gripped the ironwood sword tightly, his mental power flowing rapidly in his body, preparing to cast sonic shock.

Luo En's mental power had already spread out, trying to detect the true identity of this mysterious old woman, but at this moment, a shocking change occurred—

Mola's hunched body began to twist and deform, wrinkles faded rapidly, yellow skin gradually became fair, and the whole body was reshaped into a brand-new image.

Luo En widened his eyes, his breathing almost stagnant.

Standing in front of him was actually the image of Lady Ailan, and even the voice was exactly the same as that mentor:

"Luo En, my child, don't be nervous."

Lady Ailan's voice was gentle and steady: "I have always known your secret—you possess a dual soul; you don't belong to this world."

Luo En felt dizzy, as if he had been hit on the head with a stick.

The second biggest secret deep in his heart was now exposed so bluntly, which was far more shocking than facing any strong enemy.

"What kind of thing are you?" Luo En tried to stabilize his mind, his mental power already ready to launch an attack.

"I am an existence that sees through everything, Luo En. Every secret of yours, every thought of yours, is as clear as black and white to me."

"Lady Ailan" smiled slightly:

"Your soul that does not belong to this world, your brain that possesses dual memories... I know it all."

Luo En felt a chill spreading from his spine to his whole body.

If this existence really knew all his secrets, then all his plans in the Black Mist Forest would face collapse.

"Child, you should leave here."

"Lady Ailan"'s image suddenly changed subtly, a flash of greed that only a predator would have in her eyes:

"This is not a place you should come to; some secrets are not something an apprentice like you can touch. I will keep it secret from everyone, as long as you... leave now."

Just as Luo En was about to draw his sword, a semi-transparent prompt suddenly jumped out on the interface:

[Detected "Rare Antique" — Skin of the Shapeshifter (Activated)]

[Effect:

1. Consumes energy to simulate the image and partial abilities of a specified target

2. Isolates mental power detection and allows itself to possess a seamless camouflage coat]

[Current charging status: 99% (Can be charged by devouring living souls)]

[Note: This antique is about to reach the charging threshold and advance to a glorious legacy, at which point it will completely break free from control and become an independent existence]

The transparent prompt was like a lamp, illuminating his thinking that had been shrouded in horror.

Tangled clues connected rapidly in his mind:

The people who went missing in Lizard Alley, Otto's warnings, those inexplicable "tests", and this shapeshifter who could spy on memories.

Everything pointed to the same fact:

This existence calling itself Mola was nothing more than a rare antique about to complete its advancement.

It used the special environment of Lizard Alley to collect souls, and now, it was only one last bit of energy away from completing the charge.

That's why it was bluffing here, trying to scare him away, and then collect the last soul energy to complete the advancement and completely break free from the shackles.

"What a wonderful performance, Skin of the Shapeshifter."

He looked directly at the "Lady Ailan" in front of him, a mocking smile curling on the corner of his mouth:

"You might have spied some fragments from my mind, but your understanding of these fragments is far from as deep as you show; you don't know my past and that alien world as well as you claim, do you?"

"Lady Ailan"'s expression paused slightly; she could indeed only read the shallowest information.

She very cleverly did not directly refute, just said: "What nonsense are you talking about, child?"

"If you could really read my thoughts, you should know that I am not so easily scared away."

Luo En's voice became more and more confident:

"Now, let me guess your truth—you are a special extraordinary item that can transform and spy on some target's memories, accumulating energy by devouring souls."

Luo En looked around at the various weird items displayed:

"And this 'Labyrinth Pawnshop' is just a trap you set to collect the soul energy you need."

"Lady Ailan"'s face began to twist, and her voice was no longer kind:

"Smart little guy, much sharper than I expected; since that's the case..."

With a weird hum, the image of "Lady Ailan" completely disintegrated, replaced by a mass of semi-transparent, constantly squirming material similar to leather.

It twisted and deformed in the air, finally condensing into the image of Luo En: from hair to clothing, even the firmness in his eyes was exactly the same.

"I intended to give you a decent chance to leave."

The creature that transformed into Luo En said, its voice exactly the same as Luo En's: "But since you insist on seeking death, then..."

It raised its hand abruptly, and a sonic shock shot straight at Luo En!

Luo En dodged to the side, while casting his own sonic shock to counterattack.

Two invisible energy waves collided in the air, stirring up a ripple visible to the naked eye, and the shock wave shattered several bottles and jars on the wall.

"Useless." The shapeshifter revealed a cold smile exactly like Luo En's:

"Every ability of yours, every technique of yours, I can replicate perfectly."

An ironwood sword exactly like Luo En's suddenly appeared in its hand, even flickering with the same anti-magic patterns:

"Come on, let's see who is the more powerful Luo En Laerfu!"

Luo En adjusted his breathing rapidly, his body entering the best state of the "Sun-Corona Breathing Method".

At the same time, he noticed that Andre was still standing in place, motionless like a statue, clearly bound by some powerful mental control.

"Don't worry, he has been thoroughly hypnotized by me."

The shapeshifter said, its voice exactly the same as Luo En's: "This is a contest between us; no outsiders are needed to interfere."

After speaking, the sword blade in its hand stabbed straight with a sword momentum exactly the same as Luo En's.

Luo En raised his sword to block, and the two ironwood swords collided, bursting out dazzling sparks and sharp metallic clashing sounds.

The moment the sword blades met, Luo En could clearly feel the powerful strength contained in the opponent's sword style, almost equivalent to the strength he had increased significantly after transferring to [Bloodline Knight].

The shapeshifter's every strike was precise, the sword tip always pointing directly at Luo En's vital points, forcing him to constantly change his defensive posture.

"Every rhythm of your breathing, every sword movement, I know like the back of my hand."

The shapeshifter's voice came from between the crossed sword blades, its tone carrying a bit of sarcasm: "You cannot defeat your own shadow."

Luo En remained unmoved, holding the sword handle tightly with both hands, his mental power and bloodline power surging simultaneously.

He used the special rhythm of the "Sun-Corona Breathing Method" to try to break the opponent's offensive rhythm, while avoiding falling into the shapeshifter's rhythm.

The shapeshifter seemed to perceive Luo En's intention and changed its attack method three times in a row.

The sword momentum was like a storm, every strike carrying crimson burning magic power, tearing through the air and emitting a sharp whistling sound.

Luo En was forced to retreat continuously until he backed against a wall of the pawnshop, unable to retreat any further.

"Cornered?" The shapeshifter sneered, the sword tip pointing directly at Luo En's throat:

"With this little ability, you also want to be my master?"

Luo En looked at the shapeshifter calmly; he tried to cast the Ring of Radiance, hoping to break the opponent's defense.

Golden-red energy condensed in his palm, rapidly expanding into a shining ring of light, sweeping toward the shapeshifter.

The ring of light swept through the air, bringing up a scorching heat wave, illuminating the entire interior of the dim pawnshop.

However, what was shocking was that the shapeshifter also condensed an exactly identical ring of light.

The two energy rings collided in the air, producing a deafening explosion, canceling each other out, and turning into golden-red fragments all over the sky.

"I've already said, every ability of yours, I can replicate perfectly."

The shapeshifter repeated triumphantly to exert psychological pressure on him, a ferocious smile that Luo En had never seen before appearing on its face:

"No matter what technique you use, no matter what spell you cast, I can counterattack with equal or even stronger power!"

Luo En's heart sank.

He was indeed at a disadvantage in the battle: the shapeshifter not only replicated his appearance and abilities, but even his way of thinking was imitated vividly.

What was worse, the shapeshifter seemed to possess a richer energy reserve than him, every attack was full of violent power, and it showed no signs of fatigue.

The battle between the two spread from inside the pawnshop to the alley outside.

The clanging sound of sword blades clashing echoed in the narrow space, and the energy fluctuations of the spells shook the surrounding walls, dust flying, and stone fragments collapsing everywhere.

Luo En performed a series of precise sword strikes, every sword aiming at the shapeshifter's vital points, the sword momentum like flowing clouds and water, continuous.

The exquisiteness of the "Sun-Corona Sword Technique" was fully displayed at this moment, the sword edge carrying a crimson-gold trajectory, drawing complex and beautiful arcs in the air, light and shadow intertwined, like a deadly dance.

But the shapeshifter could always defend perfectly with the same moves, and even find gaps to launch counterattacks.

Its movements were so smooth, as if it had long predicted every intention of Luo En.

"How is it, starting to feel despair?"

The shapeshifter mocked, a deeper crimson color burning on the sword blade in its hand—that was the performance after the Red-Blood Flying Dragon bloodline was fully activated:

"I not only possess all your abilities, but also power you don't know!"

Luo En was forced to retreat, sweat already soaking his clothes, and his breathing became rapid.

He tried all the skills and spells he had mastered, but the shapeshifter could always deal with them one by one, and could even counterattack with faster speed and stronger power.

What was even more worrying was that he could feel his physical strength being consumed rapidly.

Both muscles and spirit began to send fatigue signals, while the shapeshifter seemed to have infinite vitality, and its offensive became more and more fierce.

"You are Luo En Laerfu, but you are not the best Luo En Laerfu." The shapeshifter's voice echoed in the alley:

"I possess all your power, and support from the energy collected before; how could you possibly defeat me!"

A powerful sonic shock suddenly struck; Luo En couldn't dodge completely in time and was partially hit, crashing into the wall, the huge impact force almost suffocating him, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

The shapeshifter walked over slowly, its footsteps steady and full of oppression, a victorious smile on its face; every step it took, the ground shook slightly:

"Accept reality, you are not my opponent."

Luo En slowly exhaled a breath; the scale protection and self-healing effects brought by activating the "Red-Blood Flying Dragon" bloodline made his injuries far from reaching a desperate situation.

He quietly touched his chest; he was carrying something the opponent absolutely didn't have...