Free Web NovelChapter 263: Chapter 261: How to Know the Dragon from the Worm?
「Three months later.」
Heaven’s Domain, Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life.
Mufeng Mansion, Burying Moon Mountain.
The bright daylight abruptly transformed into a dim night, as if a colossal hand had descended to shroud the area.
Burying Moon Mountain, which normally reflected a phantom image of the moon at night, was now a chaotic, hazy blur, its silhouette completely obscured.
"VREEE..."
Faintly, a strange, butterfly-like sound echoed from the void.
The next moment, bubbles of nine-colored divine light rose from the heavens and the earth, piercing through the entirety of Burying Moon Mountain. They were densely packed, stacking upon one another until they formed a veritable sea.
Astonishingly, each bubble of divine light seemed to contain an illusory world of its own.
Eventually, the original Burying Moon Mountain dissipated completely, replaced by roiling clouds of dim white mist that pulsed with a strange Daoist rhythm.
"This is a cluster of Dream Worlds, like a vast ocean where every drop of water is a world unto itself. Who knows how many people’s dreams are contained within..."
An old, white-haired Daoist revealed this secret lore, his voice trembling. His words shocked everyone present.
A Dream World... no, a whole cluster of them!
Not long ago, disciples from two great Venerable-led powers—the Demon Race’s Celestial Demon Palace and the Human Race’s Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life—had entered a mysterious dream and subsequently returned to the real world.
Every one of those disciples received a great, heaven-sent opportunity.
Now, with such a vast cluster of Dream Worlds, one could only imagine what kind of earth-shattering opportunities lay within.
At the very least, the dream of an ancient Great Saint was sure to be found here.
It might even be possible to find the dream of a Venerable!
"The world is in upheaval and order has collapsed. The time has come for another great reshuffling of power."
"The Dream World... Heh. Remember that Cyan Tiger Little Demon? It just stepped into one dream and transformed into the legendary White Tiger."
"That’s right. The Dream World is an opportunity so great it can change one’s destiny and elevate their entire clan."
"The autumn wind rises, the youth returns, ambition reborn! This time, I must become a True Disciple..."
As the cluster of Dream Worlds fully manifested, the crowd erupted in an uproar.
Meanwhile, the Saints of the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life all took to the sky.
They surrounded the edges of the white, dream-like mist, laying down one Array after another.
There was even a Great Saint, his remaining years few, who carried the Venerable-grade Daoist artifact, the Longevity Diagram, and patrolled the skies above Mufeng Mansion.
This Great Saint was on guard against an attack from the Demon Race!
Should the Demon Race attack, he would fully sublimate his being—burning all his blood and soul—to unleash a single strike of ultimate power.
The moon dimmed as the patterns of the Arrays flared to life.
Brilliant streams of light flickered without end, a testament to their divine might.
Su Dao gazed into the distance.
’Such a vast cluster of Dream Worlds. This is truly an unbelievable display of power.’
’The legendary Great Upheaval of the world is already beginning to show signs.’
’A little deduction is all it takes to know that the Celestial Demon Palace of the Red Flame Demon Country will certainly come to investigate.’
’And not just them. The other Venerable-led powers will also be watching, paying extremely close attention to this cluster of Dream Worlds.’
’This is an opportunity, but also a heavy burden. It seems the Thunder Saint Academy will be sending support. I wonder if Sen Yue will be among them?’
Beside Su Dao stood disciples such as Su Xi and Chen Ying.
Upon hearing this, both Su Xi and Chen Ying tacitly thought of the same person: Fang Yang.
The former wanted to defeat Fang Yang and avenge her past humiliation.
The latter simply wanted to see him and confess how much she missed him.
Sure enough, when Su Dao used an Earth Spirit to send a wisp of his consciousness to Void Heaven, he immediately discovered something:
Nearly every Saint’s consciousness was discussing the cluster of Dream Worlds at Burying Moon Mountain!
...
「Thunder Saint Academy.」
Celestial Star Pavilion.
Cyan Aura, Mo Ran, Xuezhi, and the others had also heard whispers from their elders about the changes at Burying Moon Mountain.
Moreover, the Vice Dean of the Thunder Saint Academy, Chenri the Great Saint, had already taken corresponding measures.
Chenri the Great Saint announced that he would be selecting suitable prodigies to explore the cluster of Dream Worlds at Burying Moon Mountain!
This announcement completely confirmed the truth of the rumors.
"The legendary Dream World... To think it would actually manifest in our world," Cyan Aura said, their face a mask of astonishment.
Mo Ran was visibly moved. "It seems this truly is the beginning of the world’s Great Upheaval. I fear those lost ancient legacies will now reappear, one by one."
A fire ignited in Nanyu’s eyes. "Brother Fang, I can finally see a glimmer of hope for catching up to you!"
At these words, the others all turned to Fang Yang, their gazes burning with intensity.
In the past, Fang Yang, with his overwhelmingly peerless aptitude and talent, had left them—his contemporaries—completely in the dust.
But now, with the appearance of the cluster of Dream Worlds, they might be able to repeat the miracle of the Tiger Demon’s transformation:
To transform from a mere Cyan Tiger Little Demon into the legendary White Tiger!
"’Hope of catching up to me?’" Fang Yang heard her and let out a wry laugh.
At the same time, he was also inwardly astonished.
For although he had been prepared for the Dream World to manifest in reality thanks to Cold Moon Great Saint’s words, he was still stunned by the news of an entire cluster of them.
’It all happened so fast, leaving no time to make any detailed plans.’
Nanyu’s gaze was intense. "Brother Fang, have you prepared for Dean Chenri’s selection? I’m already raring to go."
Hearing this, Fang Yang was about to tactfully decline, explaining that he still had much of his own potential left to uncover.
Just then, the ball of light representing his talent began to form words in his mind:
[The dream appears, the Saint Institute prepares, students are chosen. All rejoice, yet fortune and disaster are uncertain, good and ill luck ebb and flow.]
[Upper-Mid Fortune: Do not join the crowd. Continue to lie low and cultivate. After the selection, proceed to the thirty-sixth layer of the Saint Fire Divine Realm to obtain a Tier Five opportunity. There will be turbulence, but no true danger or future consequences. Auspicious.]
[Mid-Mid Fortune: Do not join the crowd. Wait quietly at your training grounds and observe the turmoil from afar. No gains, no risks. Neutral.]
[Lower-Mid Fortune: Participate in the selection and display your talents. You may be chosen and obtain a Tier Five opportunity, but you will expose some of your secrets, attracting envy and hidden future dangers. Inauspicious.]
[Lowest Fortune: Participate in the selection and go all out. You can obtain a Tier Seven opportunity, but you will have to reveal your various treasures and techniques. You will be noticed by malicious parties, fall into a desperate predicament, and die before you can enjoy the benefits. Certain death. Extremely Inauspicious!!]
The instant Fang Yang saw the fortunes manifest, a sharp glint flashed deep within his eyes.
’The dream appears, the Saint Institute prepares, students are chosen... That must be describing the reason for this selection.’
’All rejoice, yet fortune and disaster are uncertain, good and ill luck ebb and flow... "Fortune and disaster are uncertain," tsk, tsk. That part is rather subtle.’
Fang Yang frantically compared the four fortunes in his mind.
’Even though there are four fortunes this time, the lesson is almost identical to the two from last time.’
’Basically, if I expose the secret of the Dream Emperor’s phantom, I will suffer a great calamity—more often than not, a fatal one!’
’But if I don’t expose the secret of the Dream Emperor’s phantom, I’ll be perfectly safe, and I’ll remain the young Great Saint revered by all.’
’From the looks of it, could the Dream Emperor’s phantom be some kind of taboo?’
After this analysis, he silently strengthened his resolve to keep his second spirit aperture sealed and the Dream Emperor’s phantom hidden.
Yes, he decided to play it safe.
He would choose the first option: the Upper-Mid Fortune.
Once the selection was over, he would head to the thirty-sixth Fire Realm of the Saint Fire Divine Realm and claim that Tier Five opportunity.
Besides, he had never intended to participate in the selection in the first place.
At that moment, Fang Yang raised his head, met Nanyu’s gaze, and said:
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
"I have yet to fully tap into my own potential, so I don’t plan on participating in Vice Dean Chenri’s selection."
"Besides, I’ve heard that apart from the one White Tiger who managed to leave the dream, every other demon cultivator who entered died."
"The Dream World isn’t as safe as you might think. You absolutely cannot afford to be careless!"
Every word of Fang Yang’s answer was logical, immediately giving Mo Ran and Xuezhi pause for thought.
Nanyu nodded slightly at his words, but she had no intention of changing her mind.
Before, there had been no opportunity to catch up to Fang Yang, not even a sliver of hope.
Back then, she had been on the verge of accepting her fate.
But now, with a chance to surpass him right in front of her, she felt that taking the risk was only natural.
Eagles strike the vast sky; whales rule the boundless sea.
How can one know if they’re a dragon or a worm without a test?
How can the common masses ever hope to know me?
I will not rest until the very end of the line!
