Free Web NovelChapter 394: Chapter 381: Memory Essence
"Hello? Is this the school’s communications officer on standby at the camp entrance?"
Elder Huo’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an unquestionable gravity, as if laden with the weight of a mountain.
"What’s the situation on your end?
"Yes, inside the underground cavern. Contact the rescue team for me. Have them focus their search on those missing students—that’s right, this isn’t a routine search. Tell them to specifically look for clues leading to the marked forbidden zones within the Illusion Realm.
"They might still be struggling inside the lingering forbidden zones of the Illusion Realm. Prioritize safety and keep communications open."
The person on the other end responded quickly, "Understood. I’ll relay that to the rescue team right away."
"Alright, I’ve passed on your concerns. Let’s just hope they can find them now," Elder Huo said, putting away his communicator.
Hearing this, a complex glint flashed in Elder Huo’s eyes, as if he was recalling some distant memory.
He gazed toward the Yichuan Ruins, where clouds and mist swirled. The faint outlines of broken walls and ruins could be seen, as if hiding countless secrets buried by time.
Before Gu Ming could say more, the system’s notifications updated.
You humbly ask Elder Huo why the seven-day Illusion Realm is guaranteed to contain a major discovery...
It was during the second wave of great discoveries that people followed the clues and learned that all the Illusion Techniques in the Yichuan Ruins were actually Memory Essence scattered by the Primordial Dream Butterfly.
Collecting this Memory Essence allows one to reassemble the Primordial Dream Butterfly’s Memory Fragments. Every single Memory Fragment can be sold for an astronomical price on the market or exchanged for high-demand resources, driving the Beastmasters from various universities and research institutions into a frenzy.
Reading these lines, Gu Ming was momentarily stunned.
’This was the memory of the Primordial Dream Butterfly, after all.’
Even a Memory Fragment that displayed no Daoist Skill whatsoever could still fetch a high price.
To say nothing of the memories of Daoist Skills that showcased the might of an Ancient Divine Beast—Gu Ming knew without a doubt that they would be worth a fortune.
In today’s Beast Taming Society, this was a massive boon for everything from pursuing the ancient ways to researching ancestral Evolution.
This "dream" lasting longer than seven days is precisely what the members of the Outdoor Adventure Club so madly pursue.
They had, in fact, been to the Yichuan Ruins many times before, but the residual Will from the seven-day dreams had long since been scavenged by others.
An Illusion Realm that could hold them for more than seven days had to be extraordinary.
This is why Elder Huo told you they were still alive.
Some may have died, but that only proves they are treading a path at the forefront of risk.
"This is precisely the risk we must experience as Beastmasters."
Having understood this, you enter a brief Enlightenment State.
You have attained Enlightenment on the Willpower to ’Face Risk Head-On’.
Gu Ming had a feeling, as if he could sense an infinite gale, a torrential storm, blowing toward him.
But he stood like a true Cyan Pine, facing the wind and rain, remaining tall and unbent. He could even strengthen his Spiritual Power and continue to press forward through the terrifying Spiritual Interference.
The will to face risk head-on was born from this experience, and it burned fiercely within him.
Once Gu Ming had fully processed his Enlightenment—which consisted of a commentary on the Great Dao from Elder Huo, delivered from thirty years in the future—he abruptly opened his eyes in the real world.
The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was the surprised look on Elder Huo’s face.
He asked, "Did you just have an Enlightenment? We were talking, but you went quiet for so long I nearly broke you out of your Enlightenment State. That was a close call.
"Come on, release your Divine Sense Sword Body. Let me sense what new insights you’ve gained."
Elder Huo had little regard for a student’s privacy. Adopting the air of a teacher, he couldn’t resist playing the mentor and offering immediate guidance the moment he noticed his student’s new progress.
Gu Ming was a little annoyed but had no intention of refusing.
He immediately summoned his Divine Sense Sword Body, letting it manifest outside himself. Then, he unleashed the aura he had just comprehended from his Enlightenment—the disposition to face risk head-on.
In a flash, Gu Ming’s Divine Sense Sword Body shimmered like a silver dragon amidst a storm.
The faint hum of the sword sent a pleasant shiver through Elder Huo, and he couldn’t help but praise, "This Willpower... it’s magnificent."
After speaking, Elder Huo’s expression grew complex once more.
’In truth, seeing the president and core members of the Outdoor Adventure Club trapped in the Yichuan Ruins, unable to escape, had given him a secret sense of satisfaction.
’This meant Gu Ming would likely realize the dangers of the Outdoor Adventure Club. He might play it safe and stop participating in their activities.
’At that point, if he extended an olive branch from the Array Society, it would be the perfect, logical moment to swoop in, poach him, and bring him into his own club to be trained as a Closed-door Disciple.’
Elder Huo grew quite excited at the thought.
However, seeing the risk-embracing spiritual disposition radiating from Gu Ming’s newborn Divine Sense Sword Body made his heart sink.
"Are you thinking of going back to save them?" Elder Huo asked.
Gu Ming’s demeanor instantly grew serious.
’It was true; collecting the Primordial Dream Butterfly’s Will to form Memory Fragments was an incredibly tempting prospect.
’Especially now, when no one had yet discovered that those Illusion Techniques were the Primordial Dream Butterfly’s memories. No one understood their value, meaning there was a whole field of Memory Essence just waiting for him to collect.
’If he dared to collect it, he could create astonishing wealth. It was a goldmine, with a fortune just lying on the ground.
’He could exchange it all for rare resources, high-demand resources—anything he wanted.
’But Memory Essence was, after all, something discovered in the future.
’And his current Pet Beasts didn’t have the ability to collect such things yet.
’There was still plenty of time. He could use this opportunity to go back to school and study, focusing specifically on how to give his Pet Beasts the ability to collect Will.’
Gu Ming shook his head, his rational mind taking over. He said:
"Teacher, my theoretical knowledge isn’t yet sufficient to allow me to operate within the Yichuan Ruins.
"I am indeed worried about the danger our club leaders are in, but I’m not about to pull a ’Calabash Brothers saving their grandfather.’ You can rest easy about that."
Hearing this, Elder Huo let out a soft chuckle, a satisfied look on his face.
But a moment later, he asked, "So, what’s the story behind these ’Calabash Brothers saving their grandfather’?"
Gu Ming hesitated for a moment, then said vaguely:
"It’s about seven brothers who went to save someone one by one, but they all ended up getting captured."
Elder Huo froze for a second, then erupted into a hearty laugh that was so loud it made the skeletal frames of the nearby giant beasts rattle.
He laughed, doubling over and slapping Gu Ming on the back, as if seeing a vision of his younger self.
Just as stubborn, but also so full of youthful vigor.
"Good, you’ve got a good head on your shoulders, kid!"
When he’d had his fill of laughter, Elder Huo patted Gu Ming’s shoulder. The disappointment in his eyes had vanished completely, replaced by the look of an elder admiring the younger generation.
"Knowing to avoid pitfalls and to build up your strength first—that’s how a Beastmaster ought to be!
"Alright. Since you have your own plan, go and follow it!"
He stood up and straightened his gray robes, the hem sweeping across the ground with a soft SWISH.
"Remember, no matter what path you take, never forget your core conviction to ’face risk head-on.’"
Elder Huo’s voice became solemn. "The most terrifying thing in this world isn’t risk itself, but a heart that doesn’t dare to face it."
Gu Ming nodded firmly.
’This is a true mentor.’
