Free Web NovelChapter 112: Chapter 112: Reflections in the Ice
The first danger of Frozen Mirror Pass was not the cold.
It was trust.
The mountain path was narrow, but the ice made it appear wider. Reflections stretched in every direction, showing paths that did not exist, teammates standing where they were not, and enemies moving half a breath before they truly appeared. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Qin Yuheng quickly realized that sight alone was unreliable.
He sent a pulse through the Silent Soul Communication Jade.
Confirm.
Qin Yuchen answered.
Clear.
Qin Lian answered.
Clear.
Qin Mo answered.
Cold but clear.
They moved in a rope formation, connected by thin physical cords and silent jade pulses. Qin Mo had insisted on the rope after reading about hidden crevasses. Qin Yuheng approved it.
The first Mirror Ice Beast appeared as Qin Yuchen.
It stood ahead on the path, holding a sword, expression calm.
Qin Yuchen stopped.
Qin Mo looked between them.
"That is unpleasant."
The false Qin Yuchen raised its sword.
Its body cracked open, revealing a beast of ice plates and mirror eyes.
[Mirror Ice Beast]
[Level: 24]
[Type: Reflection predator]
[Weakness: Mirror core behind false face]
It attacked with Qin Yuchen’s sword rhythm.
Not perfect.
But close.
Qin Yuchen’s expression became focused.
"I will handle it."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
Qin Yuchen fought his own reflection carefully. The beast copied old habits, not current intent. This time, Qin Yuchen had learned from Battle Gate. He intentionally broke rhythm, shifting from precise thrusts to rough cuts, then back to clean lines.
The Mirror Ice Beast failed to adapt quickly.
Qin Lian appeared behind it and shattered the mirror core.
The beast collapsed into Frozen Spirit Crystal fragments.
[Frozen Spirit Crystal x1 acquired.]
They continued.
The second group of beasts imitated Qin Mo.
Five false Qin Mos appeared in different directions, all looking tired.
Qin Mo stared at them.
"I am offended by how accurate their posture is."
The false Qin Mos began placing formation traps.
Qin Mo’s eyes narrowed.
"No. Absolutely not."
He dismantled two traps, reversed one, and forced the reflections into their own ice snare. Qin Yuheng finished them with thunder.
Qin Mo looked satisfied.
"I refuse to lose to lazy copies."
By midday, frostbite accumulation became a bigger issue.
[Frostbite Accumulation]
Qin Yuheng: 11%
Qin Yuchen: 15%
Qin Lian: 16%
Qin Mo: 19%
They consumed enhanced Cold Resistance Pills.
Qin Yuheng had prepared them in advance.
Still, the cold here had spiritual pressure. It tried to slow not only blood but also decision-making.
At the halfway point, they found a frozen shrine shelter. Inside were three Frozen Spirit Crystals and an inscription:
Those who trust only the eyes fall.
Those who trust only memory freeze.
Those who know themselves cross.
Qin Lian inspected the shrine.
"There is a hidden mechanism."
Qin Mo studied it.
"Reflection puzzle."
Four ice mirrors stood around the chamber. Each showed one team member, but each reflection made a different choice.
Qin Yuheng’s mirror showed him using all his hidden power to cross alone.
Qin Yuchen’s mirror showed him staying behind to protect everyone forever.
Qin Lian’s mirror showed her vanishing completely from the team.
Qin Mo’s mirror showed him refusing every mission and living safely.
The mechanism asked:
[Choose the true reflection.]
Qin Mo stared.
"None of these again?"
Qin Yuheng smiled faintly.
"Yes."
They did not choose any mirror.
Instead, each placed a hand on the ice floor between the mirrors and sent a silent jade pulse together.
Team.
The mirrors cracked.
A hidden chest appeared.
[Reflection-Breaking Stone acquired.]
Qin Yuheng’s eyes brightened.
The rare reward appeared before the final shrine.
The pass grew harsher after that.
Mirror Ice Beasts attacked in groups, imitating not only individuals but past team formations. Some copied their Tri-Gate pattern. Others copied the frontier defense formation.
But the team had grown used to fighting reflections.
They switched roles repeatedly.
Qin Yuchen commanded one battle.
Qin Lian led an ambush.
Qin Mo created false formation openings to lure beasts.
Qin Yuheng acted as pressure point rather than constant leader.
By evening, they reached the final ascent.
At the top stood the Ice Gate Shrine, frozen beneath a huge mirror arch.
Before the shrine waited the floor boss.
It looked like all four of them fused into one ice figure.
Sword in one hand.
Dagger shadow behind it.
Formation rings beneath its feet.
Thunder-like light trapped inside its chest.
[Mirror Team Warden]
[Level: 28]
[Type: Reflection composite boss]
[Abilities:
- Team Pattern Imitation
- Ice Identity Fracture
- Mirror Counter
- Frost Command Delay]
[Weakness:
- Cannot imitate silent intent perfectly.
- Reflection core destabilized by contradictory team actions.]
Qin Mo read the weakness and laughed once.
"Contradictory actions? We can do that."
The boss moved.
Its first attack copied Qin Yuheng’s forward pressure.
Then Qin Yuchen’s sword prediction.
Then Qin Lian’s shadow movement.
Then Qin Mo’s formation trap.
It was dangerous because it used their strengths together.
But not their trust.
Qin Yuheng sent silent pulses.
Yuchen lead.
Qin Yuchen shifted command.
The boss adapted.
Lian lead.
The boss hesitated.
Mo lead.
Qin Mo’s eyes widened.
But he acted.
"Everyone do something you hate!"
Qin Yuheng retreated.
Qin Yuchen attacked recklessly.
Qin Lian stood openly.
Qin Mo charged forward while throwing a formation needle at the boss’s face.
The Mirror Team Warden froze.
Its reflection logic fractured.
Qin Lian vanished at the last instant.
Qin Yuchen corrected his reckless swing into a perfect thrust.
Qin Mo’s "charge" became a trap placement.
Qin Yuheng, who had retreated, used Thunder Shadow Flash to appear behind the boss.
The Reflection-Breaking Stone activated in his hand.
He struck the mirror core.
The boss shattered.
[Mirror Team Warden defeated.]
[Ice Gate Shrine reached.]
[Reflection identity collapse avoided.]
[Final Evaluation greatly increased.]
The settlement light rose.
Qin Mo looked at the broken mirror boss and nodded.
"Doing things we hate is effective. Terrible lesson."
Qin Yuheng smiled.
Floor 16 was complete.
And their sense of self had held.
