Chapter 27: Coquetry

Not only the exterior, but even the content within the book was replicated! Unfortunately, it vanished after a while.

Staring at his reflection in the Doppelganger Mirror with a thoughtful expression, Wen Ying mused for a moment. An idea suddenly sparked in his mind. He was both excited and anxious, fearing that it might just be an illusion. He cautiously tried to pull his "self" out of the mirror.

More miraculous than a book emerging from the mirror earlier, a person identical to him walked out of the mirror. Wen Ying's eyes widened in disbelief. This feeling was indescribable. He circled around this "himself" repeatedly.

So, this is how others see me, Wen Ying thought as he plucked a few silver-white strands of hair. They slipped through his fingers quickly. The hair was smooth, and it didn't frizz from behind.

The same face as his own, but different from a stiff doll. His fingers could create a dent when poking the face.

The only flaw was that it was obvious to anyone that this was a puppet. Its hollow eyes lacked any emotion.

From the perspective of others, but to Wen Ying, he could establish a spiritual connection with this puppet-like body.

The puppet soon vanished, and Wen Ying replicated another one from the magic mirror. This time, he timed it and found that it lasted for a minute.

He repeated the process, constantly exploring how to control this body that functioned like a clone. A harmless little bird flew in front of Wen Ying's window. Without putting his own consciousness into the puppet, he instead pulled the bird's consciousness inside.

Wen Ying watched in silence as the replica of his body, with his own features, flailed its arms as if trying to flap wings like a child. He had abandoned such games at the age of three. Finding himself unable to move from the ground, the "bird" panicked and attempted to leap out the window directly.

Fortunately, before it could jump, the replicated body vanished, and the bird's consciousness returned to its own body. It took off in a flurry of anxious chirping, likely never to return to this place again.

Wen Ying also breathed a sigh of relief. Many demons resided nearby, and classes were about to start. If any demon witnessed his body acting foolishly, jumping out the window as if attempting flight, it would only reinforce the rumors of his mental incapacity, potentially escalating into even more absurd stories.

Demons didn't fly using their arms but relied on their wings. Clearly, the bird had no control over the copied body's wings.

Currently, the duplicates could only exist for around a minute. As Wen Ying's magical power increased and his control over it grew more precise, he believed he could create a functioning walking avatar.

Although his consciousness couldn't enter the copy now, the bird had given him an idea. Rubbing his chin, his expression turned cunning.

...

The afternoon comprised four unified lectures. Feng Luo informed them that they would be having class in the Arena, a structure reminiscent of Beijing's Bird's Nest, occupying a vast area. Upon entering, one would see a central arena surrounded by a barrier made of magic.

Through the main entrance, a large LED screen hung on the wall directly ahead, displaying the top hundred demons' names and races with remarkable clarity. Wen Ying's mood soured as he saw his name, in golden letters, prominently displayed in the first row.

Other classes of demons were also having their lessons here today. Upon entering, they all noticed the number one in golden font on the screen, and instantly, Wen Ying felt eyes from all directions, burning with intense competitive spirit.

Indeed, as a Magic Mirror Demon, they probably viewed him as an easy target. Ranking first would be nice, even if just for a short while.

Wen Ying felt like he was about to ignite. Everywhere he looked, he saw demons with gleaming eyes. He let out a silent sigh.

Feng Luo glanced around and confirmed that all the demons from his class were present. Satisfied, he said, "Today is your first ranking match, consider it a mini quiz in class. As long as your rank doesn't drop, you'll pass."

Wen Ying: "???" He looked at Feng Luo in disbelief.

Feng Luo met Wen Ying's gaze for a few seconds before casually looking away, "I hope everyone passes. Don't underestimate these mini quizzes, they will be counted towards your final grade."

The Extreme Evil Bird sensed the dark clouds hanging over the heads of the demons beside him. They all seemed to wilt, like dampened pickles. A smile flickered in his eyes, but he held it back for a few seconds before bursting into laughter. He patted Wen Ying's shoulder, "It's alright, it's just one failure."

Feng Luo added, "Those who fail this mini quiz will receive extra training from me in the next class."

"Phew—" The Extreme Evil Bird almost rolled on the floor laughing. With Feng Luo around, he dared not be too rowdy, especially since he had just been punished by Feng Luo the day before. However, the urge to laugh was so strong that tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.

Amidst the noisy arena, Feng Luo's voice, amplified by magic, echoed throughout, addressing all the demons, "The ranking match rule is that you can only challenge a higher-ranked demon once within three days, and you can only be challenged once."

In other words, only one person could challenge him today. Wen Ying thought this rule was somewhat fair. The aggressive demonic aura around him was hard to ignore. Its owner was approaching, remaining silent, yet the demons who had originally intended to be the first to challenge Wen Ying began to retreat.

The atmosphere suddenly became much quieter.

Wen Ying lifted his head to find the towering Perseus standing beside him, instantly filling the space with an overwhelming presence. Both in terms of his physique's explosive strength and magical power, Perseus overshadowed Wen Ying completely.

Most importantly, Perseus's red eyes narrowed slightly, giving off an aura that suggested he was in a foul mood. His gaze seemed to transform into actual blades.

Wen Ying managed to force a smile and said calmly, "How about we discuss this?"

Feng Luo interrupted, "You can't abstain or make light of this today."

Wen Ying looked at Feng Luo, his expression turning lifeless. Did he have a grudge against him? Why did Feng Luo seem so eager to see him get beaten by Perseus?

Feng Luo remained as indifferent as ever, his eyes showing no sign of emotion. He held the roster in one hand and tapped the pen against Wen Ying's name in the other. Nobody noticed that Feng Luo's attention had shifted elsewhere.

That afternoon, some of the Greater Devils believed that Wen Ying wasn't worthy of entering Class One. The others remained neutral. These Greater Devils, based on Wen Ying's poor performance in the first two tests, claimed that his third test result was purely luck. They pointed out his weak physical strength in the first round and lackluster speed in the second.

Aluda sarcastically mentioned that they were challenging the Demon King's authority. The Demon King, however, had stated that only the third test mattered. Chaos ensued... Aluda ended up poisoning several Greater Devils to the hospital.

Recalling the pandemonium and the Demon King watching the scene like it was a spectacle, Feng Luo felt like rubbing his forehead. If not for the Demon King's usually wise and decisive decisions, he might have suspected that the Demon King was suffering from some form of dementia.

Pushing him a bit, Wen Ying intended to show Muershi the true capabilities of this Magic Mirror Demon. Aruda wouldn't casually care about a junior devil for no reason.

Wen Ying was unaware that his placement issue had caused chaos in the conference room. He looked up at the glaring Berlos whose eyelids were twitching wildly.

That's why it was said that creatures like the three-headed dog should just stick to cuddling with human dolls. The Realm of Devils should only be admired from afar, or else they might bite you in one bite.

Scarlet gloated while the Wicked Bird restrained its smile, asking Wen Ying in confusion, "Why does he seem even more eager to tear you apart today?"

That didn't make sense. Yesterday, because of Scarlet's prank and Wen Ying, Berlos was called out by Feng Luo to carry books and distribute them. Despite that, he didn't seem angry. Now, he appeared even more menacing than yesterday, clearly not in a good mood.

Scarlet had clearly heard Wen Ying say... Eh? Muershi felt like he had solved the mystery. Could it be that Berlos disliked what Wen Ying said during lunch, resulting in his unfriendly expression this afternoon? After all, he was an Emotional Ignorer, so hating something was normal.

Scarlet approached and kindly offered, "Do you want me to book an appointment at the school clinic for you?"

Wen Ying turned his head with a sinister sneer. "Are you thinking of taking a nap in the coffin in my living room?"

Scarlet's face alternated between red and blue. After a cold snort, he fell silent. Previously, he wasn't afraid, but after visiting the castle, he became scared. He realized that this boy had a really good relationship with Aruda, and Aruda cared a great deal about this Magic Mirror Devil.

That childhood trauma... It was better to keep a distance.

Wen Ying had no time to bother with Scarlet, who was both arrogant and not the brightest. Glancing at the obviously ruthless Berossus, his mind raced for a solution. At the very least, he needed to figure out the least painful way to take a hit. In the Realm of Devils, there was no such thing as stopping short of causing harm.

Amidst the newly assembled arena, voices were in a tumult. Many demons were picking their targets, afraid of being too late. However, since they were mostly unfamiliar with each other, aside from those in Class One who were more renowned, understanding who would be an easy target was a challenge.

In Class One, besides the offspring of famous demon races, there were also ordinary demons who had risen through their achievements. To the top-tier demons like the Avian of Extremity, they might seem ordinary, but among the general demon population, they stood out. Some of these demons were eager for a challenge, while others wished to avoid encounters.

Enthusiastic, envious, yearning, or jealous – the demons of Class One received a multitude of gazes from their peers. A merman like Phelous simply ignored such attention, focusing instead on selecting an opponent. None of them wanted to start their first ranking match with a loss.

The succubus Essence scanned the demons with great interest, her eyes shimmering with affectionate allure. Leaning nonchalantly, a mere glance from her was unforgettable.

Levimo stood apart from the crowd of demons with a stern and tense expression, as if he were facing a formidable enemy. Wen Ying couldn't fathom the reason behind it.

In Class One, filled with powerful demons, Wen Ying, a pale demon mirror almost reflective in his whiteness, seemed out of place. Whispers surrounded him, with some even voicing their opinions loudly, ensuring that both the demon mirror and others could hear their disdainful remarks.

"I suppose he's just lucky. His true colors will be revealed soon enough. I wonder what the higher-ups were thinking, allowing a demon mirror into Class One."

"He's merely fortunate. He'll be kicked out by next semester," the two demons commented sarcastically, clearly looking down upon Wen Ying in every sense.

Wen Ying narrowed his eyes, annoyed. He couldn't beat Bellos, and now these two insignificant minions wanted to bully him?

He walked straight over and said, "Your words are sour enough to overflow. If you're so confident, shall I directly challenge one of you later?"

A demon chuckled and said with one hand on his hip, "That depends on whether you can survive being beaten down by Lord Bellos. You can't challenge someone ranked lower than yourself in the ranking matches. It's hilarious that you still talk about challenging us despite knowing this rule."

Another demon added, "Don't tell us you don't know. Even a demon from the countryside wouldn't be that ignorant..."

"I'll challenge you then for jumping so high."

A low, angry voice sounded from behind him, which Wen Ying found familiar. He turned his head and lifted it slightly, seeing the cold-faced Hupo.

The demon who was challenged was stunned and stuttered, "L-Lord Hupo, h-have I o-offended you in any way?"

Hupo pressed one hand on Wen Ying's shoulder, his gaze dark. "Scram."

The two demons rushed back into the crowd without turning their heads, afraid they would be beaten if they were a second late.

Hupo clicked his tongue, seething inwardly. Was Wen Ying pretending? To touch his ear so naturally... his brain must have been damaged by Aruda! It was normal not to know the rules, but if he did know them, that would be abnormal. Wouldn't that mean he was stupid and had been deceived by Wen Ying?

Li Jie looked at Phosphorus in astonishment as he poked the arm of the nearby witch fairy, Koroy, and whispered, "Do you think Phosphorus has lost his mind?"

Koroy, the witch fairy, wore a mysterious robe with a large hood covering her head. Two neatly tied black strands of hair hung down from either side of her neck, and her pointed ears and starry black eyes made her appear delicate in comparison to Lilith. She was even shorter than Wen Ying.

Koroy shrugged. "No, Phosphorus just wants to prove that he's not an idiot." A simple-minded tiger, indeed.

She held her crystal ball and curved her eyes, finding it amusing to see how events would unfold through its visions.

After giving everyone some time to consider their choices, Feng Luo's voice, imbued with magic, echoed throughout the arena. "Registration for challenges will now begin."

It was as if an invisible starting gun had been fired. The demons rushed toward the registration area in unison, jostling to be the first to sign up. Each demon could only accept one challenge, so if multiple demons nominated the same target, the first to register would have the advantage.

Wen Ying was stunned by the chaos, realizing that this spectacle was even more terrifying than grandmas fighting over eggs in supermarkets. The demonic teachers showed no intention of intervening, allowing the situation to unfold freely, embodying the concept of "liberty."

The registration frenzy lasted nearly an hour, during which some demons from Class 1 also joined the chaotic tide, including the troublemaker Chaos Bird, who fanned the flames wherever it went.

When Berros approached, the chaotic demons instinctively cleared a path for him. It wasn't just Berros; many demons in Class 1 received similar treatment, as did a few from other classes. Wen Ying caught glimpses of several figures amidst the turmoil.

Wen Ying didn't bother to register, he'd challenge whoever was left; it couldn't possibly be worse than dealing with Belos. He let out a sigh.

The teachers finally finished their registration, and the thrilling elimination round was about to begin. They were all young devils, competitive and eager for attention; the atmosphere was electric.

Feng Luo looked at the registration paper in his hand, his brows furrowing slightly. Whoever wrote this had terrible handwriting; the words seemed to fly off the page, and the names were jumbled together messily.

"Tsk, the registration is a mess. We'll skip the list. I'll call out names, and whoever I call, come up and announce who you want to challenge. Then we'll start the elimination round," Feng Luo put down the registration paper and pointed casually. "Belos, you come up first. Who do you want to challenge?"

There was a three-second silence on the scene, which was soon broken by screams.

"Lord Belos!"

"Lord Belos, take down that Mirror Devil!"

"Belos!"

These excited voices, both male and female, abruptly ceased. Not just them, but everyone fell silent as they saw the Mirror Devil stretch out its tail... and hook it around Belos's tail!

Feng Luo was also stunned. For a moment, he was speechless. After a brief pause, he said, "Belos, hurry up. Who are you challenging?"

Wen Ying wasn't sure why the lively atmosphere had suddenly ceased, but it didn't stop him from inching closer to Poros, their slender tails entwined with the beast's robust one. In a low voice, tinged with a hint of coquetry, he asked, "Poros, can you please not challenge me? I was in the wrong yesterday afternoon, and I apologize."

This was how Wen Ying usually pleaded with his parents for things, so the tone came naturally to him. He earnestly hoped that Poros would grant his request. His silver-white eyes blinked innocently, radiating intense anticipation.