Chapter 291: Chapter 11 Morning Light
“Demon Entities! You are the ones who deserve to die!”
Yun Xiu called out sharply, lifting her slender hand as she formed a secret technique. Instantly, around her, another scroll unfurled, depicting a landscape of mountains and rivers.
As soon as the scroll opened, it immediately caused the entire Yuxiang Town dreamscape to become unstable and shake, as if mountains and great rivers were trying to squeeze into the dreamworld itself.
Under this immense influence, the dreamworld began to twist and shake, even showing signs of breaking apart, revealing many hidden Demon Entities one by one, struggling to move under the oppression of the landscape.
At the same time, the scroll that portrayed all manners of creatures continued to expand, eradicating more than a dozen Demon Entities that it had enveloped before now reaching out towards those that had just been revealed.
The lustrous radiance emitted from the scroll seemed to possess tremendous power within the dreamworld, clearly holding a restraining effect on these Demon Entities, laying waste to them where it passed.
In just three breaths’ time, Yun Xiu had eradicated over twenty Demon Entities.
Although most of these Demon Entities were of Ninth Grade, with only two or three of Eighth Rank, these Entities once escaped from the dreamworld would inevitably cause a great disaster.
Now that Yun Xiu had eradicated these Demon Entities, she had essentially averted a significant catastrophe.
However, she was very aware that what she had done was still not enough.
Not nearly enough.
The number of Demon Entities in the Yuxiang Town dreamscape was simply too many, with no less than ten at the Seventh Rank, nearly fifty at Eighth Rank, and over five hundred at Ninth Grade.
No matter how many she killed, it was but a drop in the bucket.
There was no way to kill them all.
“Humans!” bellowed the calamity with fury, “Die!”
It flew from the sky, directly transforming into a cloud of black and red mist.
This mist was its true form, possessing extreme power; it quickly enshrouded most of the Yuxiang Town dreamscape, mending areas that had started to collapse and breaking apart and suppressing the will of many people attempting to awaken.
Moreover, this black and red fog contained the calamity’s own spirit, exhibiting a potent invasive force, and as it spread, it launched a fierce attack on Yun Xiu.
In just an instant, both the mountain and river scroll that was trying to merge with this part of the dreamscape and the scroll of creatures that was exterminating the Demon Entities were contaminated by this black and red mist, unable to function effectively any longer.
Yun Xiu’s complexion turned slightly pale, and her form began to fade, becoming transparent as she prepared to escape and leave.
She had no intention of confronting the calamity head-on.
This had been her consistent strategy these past few days—
After a strike was successful, if it was not possible to cause further interference or destruction, she would immediately retreat and wait for another opportunity.
“Thinking of escaping?!” the calamity snarled.
Following that, the black and red mists that had enveloped most of Yuxiang Town rapidly gathered, condensing into a massive hand that reached out to grab Yun Xiu.
Being formless and intangible, the calamity’s body was even more capable of changing at will within the dreamscape, and with Yuxiang Town dreamscape being its home field, it immediately gained the upper hand upon launching its attack.
The Heart Demon had grown sick of Yun Xiu’s interference during this period.
Moreover, suspecting that Zhou Heng had fled Yuxiang Town to seek reinforcements, it was intent on accelerating the opening of the Dreamland Gate, desiring to resolve Yun Xiu’s threat once and for all.
Yet, faced with the calamity’s attack, Yun Xiu was well-prepared.
As she retreated, dodging the giant hand’s assault, she formed secret techniques with her hands, chanting under her breath. Gradually, behind her, a figure composed entirely of purple thunder began to emerge.
This was the Dreamland Taoist Soldiers, one of the dream realm secret techniques that Yun Xiu had cultivated.
Through imagination, this technique allowed for the condensation of a Taoist Soldier previously structured within the dreamworld for spiritual level dream realm combat.
To combat the Demon Entities, naturally, the Thunder Taoist Soldiers were most suitable.
“`
This was the best choice.
“Go!” Yun Xiu shouted sharply, issuing an instruction to the Dreamland Taoist Soldiers.
With her current cultivation realm, the strength of the Dreamland Taoist Soldiers was almost equivalent to the Peak of the Seventh Rank, and being of the Thunder attribute, they should be able to delay the situation for a moment.
Boom!
As soon as the Dreamland Taoist Soldiers received Yun Xiu’s instruction, they transformed into a purple thunder light pillar that shot up into the sky, colliding with the one descending from above.
Instantaneously, a vast force expanded outwards, an invisible storm rapidly spreading, causing the entire dream realm to shake.
Purple lightning and the black-red hand were at a stalemate in the sky.
This bought Yun Xiu time to retreat.
She hastily formed another spell, preparing to hide and seek shelter in a hidden corner of this dream realm, waiting for an opportune moment to plan her next disruption and sabotage.
She struggled hard to delay the Heart Demon from opening the Dreamland Gate, to prevent the hundreds of Demon Entities within this dream realm from being brought into reality, from descending upon the human world.
Rumble!!
But just as Yun Xiu was about to flee and hide, a loud noise suddenly came from above in this dream realm. The hand, which was at a standoff with the thunder light pillar, suddenly burst into a large mass of red-black clouds.
The cloud mass spread and easily enveloped the thunder light pillar, and with the mist rolling in, the brilliance of the thunder grew weaker and weaker.
Soon, Yun Xiu felt that she had lost control of this Dreamland Taoist Soldier.
However, the black-red cloud mass then lit up with purple lightning, dancing wildly in the sky like a long snake, flaunting its power.
“Humans, you are still going to die in the end.”
The Heart Demon chuckled coldly; its voice was omnipresent, the lightning in the clouds flashing ever more brightly.
However, Yun Xiu wasn’t concerned by this; she was rapidly concealing herself.
But soon, over a dozen ferocious beasts shrouded in purple lightning flew out of the black-red cloud mass, hunting down Yun Xiu.
This time the Heart Demon was determined, resolute to kill Yun Xiu.
Yun Xiu could only again congeal a Thunder Taoist Soldier, but it was dispersed after only a few exchanges.
She was unable to resist.
The ferocious beasts charged straight for Yun Xiu.
She quickly formed seals with her hands, and once more, a landscape painting emerged around her, protecting her at the center, fending off the attack of the ferocious beasts.
At the same time, she attempted to use the power of the painting of all living beings to annihilate those beasts.
But it was of no use.
These ferocious beasts, enveloped in purple lightning, were actually part of the Heart Demon itself, each one considerably strong. Even when dispersed, they far exceeded the vast majority of beings at the Peak of the Seventh Rank.
Especially in the Heart Demon’s home ground, the dream realm.
The landscape painting Yun Xiu was using for defense was quickly becoming unstable, likely to break at any moment.
She suddenly found herself in a very difficult situation.
“Why has this Demon Entity suddenly become so eager to attack me, completely different from its previous behavior? Could it be that someone outside has already noticed something strange about this dream realm?”
Yun Xiu’s thoughts raced, guessing at the Heart Demon’s motives.
At the same time, she was searching for a way to quickly disengage and leave. If this continued, she would eventually have her defenses broken through and become a puppet of the Heart Demon.
“`
“`
“Human, although you possess the secret technique of dream magic, you are still too naive. It is simply impossible for you to be my opponent!” the mocking laughter of the Heart Demon Huanmang echoed throughout the entire dreamscape, “Why not ascend into a demon now; how does that sound?”
Boom!
Just then, the red and black sky of this dreamscape suddenly cracked open to reveal a massive void, and from the heavens descended a starlight entwined with purple qi, crashing down.
Like a Divine Weapon sent from the heavens, it dispelled a large swath of the red and black miasma, arriving not far from Yun Xiu. The starlight and purple qi scattered, directly dispersing the exotic beasts that were besieging Yun Xiu.
A youth in a Taoist robe emerged from the midst of the starlight and purple qi, it was Zhou Heng.
“Heng’er!” Yun Xiu cried out, both shocked and delighted.
“Miss Xiu’er, I can’t believe you are in this dreamscape,” Zhou Heng was somewhat surprised, then he looked towards the hovering cloud of black and red in the sky and smiled, “We meet again.”
“Human, how did you get in?” Huanmang asked, uncertain and alarmed, sensing a very dangerous aura coming from Zhou Heng, which spurred thoughts of retreat.
“Heng’er, you’ve come at just the right time. Together, we must stop this Heart Demon from bringing numerous demon entities into reality,” Yun Xiu said anxiously.
“Haha, what’s so difficult about that?” Zhou Heng laughed heartily, and then he opened his mouth and expelled a Sword Pill, which transformed into Purple Lightning Sword Light.
Magic Weapons can change with the Divine Soul, and even if only the Divine Soul descends, they can be carried along. This is the greatest difference between Magic Weapons and ordinary sharp weapons.
The Purple Lightning Sword Light shone brilliantly, and Zhou Heng flicked his sword finger!
Boom!
A majestic purple and gold sword beam rose into the sky, its unparalleled edge sweeping through the firmament. In an instant, it pierced through the hovering black and red cloud, flying high above the heavens.
Then, this sword light exploded in the high sky, turning into thousands of purple and gold raindrops falling down, each striking the demon entities with incredible precision.
In the blink of an eye, the hundreds of demon entities in the Yuxiang Town dreamscape were entirely obliterated by this single sword strike, leaving only the Heart Demon Huanmang gasping for survival.
The might of a Divine Weapon is just so powerful. Zhou Heng hadn’t even used any special sword techniques; it was merely the most basic Sword Control Technique, and yet it achieved such an earth-shattering effect.
“This…”
Yun Xiu was rendered speechless, finding it hard to believe. The strength Zhou Heng now displayed was far too great compared to the Peak of the Seventh Rank she knew.
So strong!
Heart Demon Huanmang was so terrified by Zhou Heng’s sword strike that it scattered its spirit and fled, not daring to resist any further. But how could Zhou Heng let it escape?
The Purple Lightning Flying Sword descended from the sky, radiating a profound golden light with dazzling electricity, like Heavenly Punishment.
Brilliance Heavenly Power!
Summoned by the sword!
Boom!
The golden sword light mingled with the purple thunder, seemingly forming a light pillar that pierced through heaven and earth, covering the black and red fog that was Huanmang.
“Congratulations! You have slain the ordinary enemy Heart Demon ‘Huanmang’, Fortune Bag [Copper] +3.”
…
…
Zhou Heng received the reward notification. Besides Heart Demon Huanmang, there were five other weak ones, yielding five copper Fortune Bags.
A small gain indeed.
In fact, the greatest harvest for him this time should be the merit.
Hundreds of Ninth Grade demon entities, nearly a hundred Eighth Rank, and eleven Seventh Rank demon entities, all giving him a total merit gain of nearly thirty thousand. This spared him the effort of specifically seeking out ghosts and evil creatures to kill.
“`
“Heng-ge, you’re so amazing!” Yun Xiu exclaimed with joy, “How did you descend into this dreamland?”
“That’s a long story,” Zhou Heng didn’t elaborate but instead asked, “Miss Xiu’er, what are you doing here? Is your physical body near Yuxiang Town too?”
“No,” Yun Xiu shook her head with a wry smile, “Actually, I’m not very clear about which place’s dreamland this is. My physical body is in Fengzhou, under the protection of my master; my spirit is roaming the sea of consciousness to advance my cultivation.”
“Unexpectedly, during the process of cultivation, I was caught by a strange force that dragged my divine soul here mysteriously. Seeing that demon entities were growing, I continuously interfered with that Heart Demon, preventing it from opening the Dreamland Gate.”
“Then I owe you my thanks,” Zhou Heng said appreciatively, “If it weren’t for your delaying the Heart Demon’s progress, Longzhou might have suffered a severe demon disaster.”
He didn’t ask Yun Xiu why she was aware of the details about the demon entities.
That wasn’t important.
“I just did what I could. Moreover, if it weren’t for you, Heng-ge, I would still be no match for that Heart Demon,” Yun Xiu shook her head and smiled, as she glanced around, “Heng-ge, this dreamland is about to dissipate.”
“Yes, it’s time for us to leave,” Zhou Heng nodded slightly and bid farewell to Yun Xiu.
The dreamland was originally constructed from the nightmares of Yuxiang Town’s townsfolk by the forced gathering of the Heart Demon’s calamitous influence. Now that the calamity and the host of demon entities had been vanquished, the dreamland was naturally beginning to dissipate.
At this moment, many houses and trees started to fade away gradually, the sky and the earth began to distort, signifying that the real owner of the dreamland was about to awaken.
…
Zhou Heng arrived back in Yuxiang Town and saw peonies blooming over hills and dales.
Although the townsfolk had not yet woken, he could already sense the vigorous vitality pervasive here. After dispelling the Heart Demon’s influence, his Power of Pure Yang had responded.
He could confirm that Yuxiang Town was indeed the Pure Yang place he had been searching for.
Following the response of his Power of Pure Yang, Zhou Heng walked around Yuxiang Town, searching for the place where the Power of Pure Yang was the most concentrated. Eventually, he found a cave on a hill to the west of the town.
He could clearly feel the Power of Pure Yang inside was pure and rich, perfectly suitable for him to use for his breakthrough in his cultivation realm.
So he stepped into the cave, found a flat stone platform, sat down with his legs crossed, his eyes slightly closed, began directing his Inner Qi, adjusting his inner landscape, and sensing the laws of heaven and earth.
Zhou Heng had also imagined the scene of his breakthrough to the Secret Six Rank.
He thought it might happen in the heat of battle against a powerful foe, both breaking through simultaneously;
He thought it might be an encounter with a strong enemy where, using all his strength, he breaks through on the battlefield and turns defeat into victory;
He thought it might be under the watchful eyes of a crowd, merging inner and outer landscapes, stepping into the Innate amidst gasps of amazement…
But reality, it seemed, was precisely as Yan Shouyi had once said.
The path of cultivation,
Is just that boring.
…
The next morning, the townsfolk of Yuxiang Town gradually awoke.
They only felt as if they had a very long and terrible nightmare and had finally awakened from it.
The adults opened their windows one by one, wanting to bask in the morning sunlight.
The children had already run out, hopping and laughing, pointing towards the hill to the west, cheering.
“Light! It’s light!”
“Look, a light brighter than the sun!”
“Light, such a bright light!”