Chapter 89

Chapter 89: True Dream Realm

Lou Yun had learned to be shrewd. Knowing Chang Xiang’s character, he was certain that if he directly asked whether Chang Xiang recognized Mr. Commoner first, Chang Xiang would inevitably turn the question back on him. These doubts had lingered in Lou Yun’s mind for far too long. He had to get the answers from Chang Xiang first before finally asking about Mr. Commoner.

Upon hearing Lou Yun’s question, Chang Xiang couldn’t help pausing momentarily. "How do you know that flames possess weight?"

"You answer my question first, then I’ll tell you!"

Chang Xiang glared at Lou Yun. "Correct. Both heavenly fire and human fire have weight. And this weight isn’t constant; it increases with the elevation of your cultivation, your mastery over flame manipulation, and other such factors. Simply put, the heavier the flame, the greater its power. Generally speaking, human fire’s weight is certainly lower than heavenly fire."

After a slight pause, Chang Xiang continued, "Furthermore, if your spiritual perception is sufficiently powerful, you could discern the type and weight of the flame within another person. However, there’s another specific method: directly weighing the flame using a flame scale stone. If you stand upon the flame scale stone, it will naturally display the type and weight of the flame within your body."

"Oh!" Lou Yun nodded, quite satisfied with Chang Xiang’s detailed explanation. Of course, more importantly, he understood now why his master had inquired about the weight of the flame.

Unable to contain himself, Chang Xiang pressed again, "Kid, how exactly did you know that flames possess weight?"

"I already said, don’t rush me! I will definitely tell you. I still have a few more questions. Relax, I’ll tell you after I’m done asking!"

Chang Xiang glared fiercely at Lou Yun, but he was truly trapped. All he could say was, "Then hurry up and ask!"

"Mmm. Is there a method… that can make someone feel like they are in a dream? But then, if someone gives you something within the dream, after you wake up, you discover the item is genuinely there!"

This was the matter Lou Yun had constantly failed to grasp: just what exactly was the nature of his apprenticeship process?

Chang Xiang was no fool either. When Lou Yun posed this question, his gaze naturally shifted to Lou Yun and instantly landed on that ring. A distinct flash of sharp light appeared in his eyes. "The ring you’re wearing on your hand… someone probably gave that to you in a dream, right?"

"Hehe!" Lou Yun didn’t deny it, nodding as he replied, "Brother Chang, what exactly is going on?"

"This is actually a kind of sorcery called the True Dream Realm. It really is a dream you have. However, the person casting this art uses a particular medium to draw you into the dream. They themselves set up the dreamscape beforehand—basically arranging to gift you the items they intend to give, or convey the information they wish to tell you, within the dream. Yet, after you wake up, these items actually materialize in your hands!"

"Set up beforehand?"

"Exactly. For instance, say I wanted to give you something, but you weren’t physically present!" Chang Xiang casually pointed at a stone on the ground. "I would use this rock as the medium. I’d create a preset dream where, within the dreamscape, I present you with the item. To you, it appears I hand it over in the dream, or that you find it there. The item is actually hidden within the rock. When you touch this rock, you enter the dream. Unknowingly, my sorcery guides you to retrieve the ring from the rock. You’re just unaware of it!"

Lou Yun pondered this and began to understand. "So in reality, whether it’s words intended for me, or items meant to be given to me, they’re already concealed in some location beforehand. Just like a restriction—when I’m awake, affected by the restriction, I can’t see or touch them. Only after I enter the dream is the restriction lifted. Then I can hear those words and get the item. Right?"

Chang Xiang nodded approvingly. "Correct. Your explanation is more coherent than mine. That’s precisely it. Although quite a few practitioners can achieve the True Dream Realm, its effectiveness is still tied to the caster’s cultivation level. The higher the cultivation, the longer the dream lasts. Naturally, more words can be spoken and more actions can be performed within the dream."

Lou Yun recalled that in the dream, Master Mr. Commoner had indeed said something like, "Unfortunately, there’s not much time left…" But even then, that dream had already been quite lengthy!

Suddenly, Chang Xiang continued, "Ah, since you brought up the True Dream Realm, there’s something I might as well tell you. The masters most adept at wielding True Dream Realm actually often use not a physical object as the dream-triggering medium, but rather sound!"

"Sound can be a medium?"

"Certainly! If you hear a specific sound while your willpower is insufficient or your mind unsettled, you can easily be drawn into a True Dream Realm. The reason I mention this is because the Huangfu Family has been famously skilled in casting True Dream Realm arts since ancient times. You need to be especially careful!"

"Oh, I’ll remember that!"

Chang Xiang’s expression abruptly shifted. "Kid! How many more questions do you have? Can’t you ask them all quickly?!"

Clearly, the two questions Lou Yun had asked had successfully stirred Chang Xiang’s curiosity to its peak. The concepts embedded within these questions were fundamentally beyond what the current Lou Yun should have been able to conceive or query about.

"Hehe, last question! Once I ask this, I’ll tell you!"

"Ask quickly!"

"Do you know who Mr. Commoner is?"

Hearing this name, Chang Xiang froze instantly, as if suddenly turned to stone. He remained motionless, completely unresponsive even as Lou Yun waved his hand before his eyes and called his name.

Based on this reaction alone, Lou Yun could readily infer that Chang Xiang certainly knew who Mr. Commoner was. So Lou Yun patiently waited.

The wait stretched on—long enough for an incense stick to burn—before Chang Xiang gradually regained his senses, though his gaze remained somewhat vacant as he looked at Lou Yun. "How… do you know of Mr. Commoner?"

Lou Yun’s expression also turned serious at this moment, and he said, "He is my master!"

"Your master?" In his usually calm disposition, Chang Xiang, upon hearing this, could not contain himself and actually jumped up, crying out loud.

"Ah!" Chang Xiang pointed at Lou Yun and suddenly realized, "Mr. Commoner performed the True Dream Realm on you, accepted you as his disciple in the dream, and gave you this ring, didn’t he?"

Lou Yun nodded and said, "Yes, Brother Chang, I know you really want to know my experiences, but I still want to ask you to first tell me about Mr. Commoner, because after all, he is my master. If a disciple doesn’t even know about his own master’s situation, then I, as a disciple, am too unqualified!"

Whether it was because Lou Yun spoke very sincerely, or because Chang Xiang himself wanted to talk about it, he nodded and said, "Mr. Commoner is a legendary figure; there are truly too many stories about him. However, because, because the era he lived in was very distant, not many people know him now."

Lou Yun noticed the two "because" in Chang Xiang’s words, which made him silently speculate. This implied that there was something fishy in Chang Xiang’s later statement. The reason why few people knew about Mr. Commoner was not likely because the era he lived in was distant!

Of course, Lou Yun did not actually ask about it; he just smiled gently and waited for Chang Xiang to continue.

Chang Xiang did not notice that his evasion had been discovered by Lou Yun and spoke on as if to himself, "Initially, Mr. Commoner was a skilled weapon maker. But as his weapon-making skills improved, he turned to studying alchemy and became an alchemist. Lou Yun, you must know that alchemy and forging weapons are entirely different things. Although many people tried to become both skilled weapon makers and alchemists at the same time, to my knowledge, only Mr. Commoner truly succeeded! So to address him, people specially coined a new name for him… Divine Forger!"

"Mr. Commoner’s own cultivation was also unparalleled in the world. During his most glorious times, everyone, regardless of cultivation level, rich or poor, noble or commoner, dreamed of owning a common weapon forged by him. Actually, it wasn’t too difficult because Mr. Commoner not only possessed high skills in forging weapons and alchemy, but more importantly, his personality was very approachable. Whenever he encountered injustice, he would definitely intervene. Of course, with his status, no one dared to provoke him, so once he stepped in, basically any matter would be resolved easily."

"Such a person became a role model, spiritual leader, and aspiration for all cultivators!"

Chang Xiang spoke all of this in one breath before stopping. However, his facial expression clearly showed he still had more to say, but he seemed unwilling to continue further.

Lou Yun listened excitedly, his blood roiling. Although he had guessed that Mr. Commoner should be famous, he truly did not expect him to be so legendary and especially to be his master. Yet he remained very curious: Why had he never heard of such a renowned, great figure before?

Chang Xiang looked at Lou Yun and said, "I only know this much about Mr. Commoner. In short, kid, him being your master is truly a blessing you cultivated in your past life. Treasure it. Alright, now that I’ve answered your questions, it’s time for you to talk about your previous experiences!"

Lou Yun, unwilling, asked, "You haven’t said how my master is doing now!"

This question really stumped Chang Xiang: "I don’t know. Mr. Commoner vanished suddenly, and no one knows where he went, but everyone believes he is definitely still alive!"

Lou Yun nodded forcefully and said, "Yes, I also think the venerable elder is definitely still alive!"

Next, without waiting for Chang Xiang to urge him again, Lou Yun recounted his previous experiences in full detail, stating everything step by step.

"Brother Chang, this is my experience. However, there’s one thing I haven’t been able to understand: you said the True Dream Realm had to be set up in advance. Does that mean the venerable elder knew long ago that I would definitely come here, so he had already set up the True Dream Realm waiting for me? Then he must be able to predict the future!"

Chang Xiang was still immersed in Lou Yun’s narration. Regarding Lou Yun’s question, he just shook his head and said, "I don’t know about that. But with Mr. Commoner’s abilities, even if he could predict the future, it wouldn’t be anything surprising!"

After saying this, he ignored Lou Yun and continued his own thoughts. What he regretted most now was not experiencing that scene firsthand. Yet he did not know if, in his current "spirit" form, he could enter the True Dream Realm at all!

Naturally, Lou Yun did not disturb Chang Xiang because he couldn’t help but recall that day’s experience again. Previously, he had known nothing at all, but now, having learned about the True Dream Realm and his master’s character, recalling it felt completely different!

The two of them were each lost in their own thoughts like this. After a long time, it was Chang Xiang who first came to his senses and called out to Lou Yun, "Kid, have you looked at the knowledge that Mr. Commoner imparted to you?"

"I’ve looked at it. However, the knowledge my master imparted is truly too vast; it’s practically all-encompassing. I could only skim through it roughly, dividing it based on my current needs."

"Hmm!" Chang Xiang nodded and said, "You did right. Mr. Commoner’s life experiences are so rich; most of what he realized and experienced, with your current cultivation and perspective, you probably can’t understand. So indeed, you shouldn’t be too greedy; you need to learn step by step based on your own situation. But rest assured, since Mr. Commoner bequeathed all he learned in his life to you, I believe you will definitely cultivate the ‘Devour Weapons’ technique to its peak!"

Lou Yun also nodded forcefully; indeed, he now had great confidence!

Chang Xiang then asked, "So in the following time, you’ll be cultivating frantically here?"

"Yes. Look, I’ve absorbed the spiritual energy from six four-grade spiritual crystals, which enabled me to raise my cultivation level so quickly. And I was just about to directly advance my magical weapon to intermediate one-star when you woke up and made me wait."

Lou Yun shook the intermediate one-star common weapon that had been constantly held in his hand.

Chang Xiang stared at the common weapon for a moment, then shook his head and said, "This common weapon won’t do!"

"Won’t do? Why? This should be forged by my master, and it just happens to be an intermediate one-star magical weapon corresponding to my magical weapon level. How come it won’t do?"

"Advancing a major level isn’t as gentle as leveling up within a minor rank. Because a major level directly affects the qualitative leap in your cultivation, I suggest you find a better common weapon to devour!"

"Where can I find a better common weapon? I’ve looked at all the common weapons my master gave me; this one is already the most suitable!"

"No, there’s one more suitable!"

"Which one?"

"Stone Sword!"