Chapter 157: God’s Favor (6)

Chapter 157: God's Favor (6)

Jie Fangcheng hesitated, remained silent, and looked around, left and right.

Through these series of actions, Zhang Dao'an quickly understood.

Consequently, Zhang Dao'an fell silent too.

He adjusted his glasses slightly.

"When did you enter?"

How could Jie Fangcheng dare to admit that he had entered twice already, even freely spectated a lecture? This time he even observed "himself", alternately being coy and restrained, and then bold and unrestrained. He skipped mentioning the part where his character was out of its usual setting.

"When I was blown up," Jie Fangcheng said shyly.

Zhang Dao'an: "..."

Jie Fangcheng consoled him, "I know you didn't bear any grudges against me, so you blasted me in the dream. You can now control your dreams."

Zhang Dao'an paused briefly before nodding, explaining with a meaningful undertone, "Although everyone's dreams are different, according to what Wei Yuan and others have said, they also have a key figure in their dreams. The core of Wei Yuan's dream is Qiao Mai, Nie Shuangshuang's is Guan Yingying, and Qi Chanyang's is his mother... The dreams created all revolve around these core figures."

"So I wanted to try," Zhang Dao'an paused, "to see if killing the central character in my dream would directly lead to exiting the dream. Now it seems... it indeed works."

Having said this, Zhang Dao'an cast an inexplicably look at Jie Fangcheng.

Jie Fangcheng remained oblivious, nodding contemplatively.

"Indeed."

There were also people in his dream.

It seems the created dreams not only represent the deepest desires of the heart but can also be considered as the profound concerns etched in one's heart.

However, since Jie Fangcheng was free from worries or attachments, probably because of this, the dreams he created always seemed unreal, no matter how he looked at them.

As for the central character?

The central character in his dream... could it be...?

Zhang Dao'an suddenly spoke: "Manager Jie, who did you dream of?"

"Oh." Jie Fangcheng was quite forthright, "I dreamt of you."

Zhang Dao'an looked at him, and for some reason, Jie Fangcheng seemed to acutely sense that he was in a good mood.

Then, Jie Fangcheng's next words came somewhat belatedly: "And my superior."

"Oh." Zhang Dao'an stared at him, nodding slightly, "There's also a superior."

His tone was somewhat odd.

"Exactly." Jie Fangcheng gestured, "I think the central character in my dream is him, seeing him annoys me, and the moment he speaks, I immediately exit the dream."

Zhang Dao'an remained silent.

Jie Fangcheng even sighed: "You all have pleasant dreams, mine is simply a nightmare."

After he finished speaking, Zhang Dao'an solemnly added, "Oh, having me there also makes it a nightmare, huh."

Jie Fangcheng was taken aback, unable to hold back a laugh, "You were constantly organizing files in my dream, it wasn't a pleasant dream for your dream self either, was it?!"

Having to work overtime even in a dream, if that's not a nightmare, what is!

While they were talking, Qi Chanyang, who was praying to the right of Zhang Dao'an, suddenly started convulsing fiercely before finally opening his eyes.

He was shaking all over like someone who had almost drowned, soaked in sweat, his pupils seemingly unable to focus, with lip marks bitten by himself.

Fragments of the dream still lingered in Qi Chanyang's mind. He took a few deep breaths when suddenly, someone placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey!"

A familiar voice reached him. Qi Chanyang looked up dazedly. Upon seeing Jie Fangcheng, he seemed to have encountered some fearsome demon, abruptly drawing a weapon.

Jie Fangcheng's battle instincts were ingrained muscle memory now. The moment Qi Chanyang drew his weapon, Jie Fangcheng reflexively slapped the weapon out of his hand with a swift strike.

While this action might or might not have frightened Qi Chanyang, it certainly startled Jie Fangcheng himself.

"What are you doing? Do you have a death wish?"

Daring to brandish a weapon with murderous intent towards him, had Jie Fangcheng not been increasingly proficient in controlling his strength, that previous strike alone would have made Qi Chanyang the first player to exit the game in this volume.

Qi Chanyang stared at him blankly, his mouth agape, it took a while before he managed to utter: "... Brother Jie?"

Seeing his ghost-like state, Jie Fangcheng wasn't foolish, he immediately understood - this young man must have encountered a fake "Jie Fangcheng" in his dream.

Consequently, without any further words, Jie Fangcheng smashed the nearby chair to pieces with a single slap to prove his authenticity.

However, Qi Chanyang paused for a moment before saying, "... You did that last time as well."

Breaking through the instance so directly left a profound impression on Qi Chanyang, an impression that persisted even in his dreams.

Zhang Dao'an, on the other hand, suggested a highly effective solution.

"Give him a slap."

The pain inflicted by Jie Fangcheng's hits wasn't merely superficial; it was a true agony that penetrated deep into the marrow and soul, unimaginable for those who haven't experienced it.

At this juncture, upon hearing Zhang Dao'an's words, Jie Fangcheng did not hesitate and genuinely extended his hand to slap Qi Chanyang.

His control over his strength was excellent, making Qi Chanyang stand up abruptly as if jabbed by a needle, but the pain ceased immediately after that brief moment.

——But it was indeed different from the dream.

Qi Chanyang exhibited a look of someone who had narrowly escaped disaster and slowly settled back into his seat.

Zhang Dao'an glanced at the clock hanging on the wall.

Exactly six o'clock.

The prayer was supposed to end at six twenty, implying Qi Chanyang had exited the dream earlier than expected.

"How did you manage to exit?" asked Zhang Dao'an.

Qi Chanyang first pulled out a bottle of restorative potion from his backpack and poured it down his trembling fingers.

Although the injuries he suffered were psychological damages from the dream, the potion provided him significant relief.

As Qi Chanyang's racing heart gradually calmed, he managed a wry smile, finally regaining the strength to speak.

"Brother Jie, you guys are right, one cannot get obsessed with the illusory dreams..."

"In the dream, I encountered 'myself'."

This time, upon entering the dreamscape, the narrative started with him having bought a house for his parents, which was on the verge of renovation.

After the last dream ended, Qi Chanyang was consumed by the thought of decorating his parents' house in the next dream, which might be why this dream picked up where the last one left off.

But witnessing the state of Wei Yuan and others during the day had set Qi Chanyang's nerves on edge.

The "membrane" in his mind was still relatively thin, making it incredibly difficult to ignore the peril of having a dagger pointed at his back.

While awake, Qi Chanyang seriously considered that he must free himself from the dreamscape immediately upon entering it.

But no matter how resolutely he thought about it when awake, no matter how harshly he brainwashed himself time and again, the moment he entered the dream and saw the figures of his parents appearing before him, Qi Chanyang still followed them into the house in a daze.

Here, his father wanted a table for tea, while there, his mother planned to set up a wardrobe.

His room was also ready, not much different from the old house, and it could be occupied soon; what a blissful life this was.

...No, that's not right.

He... had already passed away.

As Qi Chanyang thought this, the parents before him suddenly turned their heads, their expressions even more affectionate.

"Xiaoyang, what's the matter? Are you feeling unwell? Mom will make you stir-fried pork with shredded potatoes, your favorite, right?"

Yes, that's it.

This is just a dream.

It's alright, the passage of time within the dream isn't like in the outside world. Like the last time he dreamt, it only spanned over an hour, but it felt so swift within the dream... How long was it again?

The time was unknown...

But having a meal of stir-fried pork with shredded potatoes would still be fine, wouldn't it?

Qi Chanyang had died suddenly, succumbing to the immense pressures of the big city, and he hadn't been home for two or three years.

Calculating it, it has been so long since he last saw his parents, or even tasted home-cooked food.

After this meal, he could wake up immediately, that would be fine...

Qi Chanyang took a step forward in a trance.

...No, wrong!!

He couldn't continue to indulge in this!

Now, he desires a taste of his mother's cooking, next, he would want to chat a bit more with his "parents", then help them complete the house renovations, and witness them living a long and happy life...

In the end, he wouldn't be able to leave!

Qi Chanyang's expression changed drastically.

His shift influenced the "parents" in front of him immediately.

The "couple" looked at him with concern.

"Xiaoyang, what happened? Do you have another emergency at work? But no matter how busy you are, you should visit home more often."

The inability to visit home frequently due to work was the most difficult knot in Qi Chanyang's heart to untie.

But there were many, many regrets in life, and even if they were addressed beautifully in dreams, the regrets in reality remained just that.

Qi Chanyang instinctively reached out to touch his wrist, but the system backpack did not appear on his wrist.

Yes, this is inside a dream!

Seeing the "parents" hurriedly coming to support him, Qi Chanyang pushed them away forcefully and dashed out the door.

The streets were bustling with traffic, just as he remembered them to be.

But this wasn't right!

Qi Chanyang reached out and grabbed a fruit knife— he didn't know why it was so convenient, he needed a weapon and a knife appeared immediately at hand.

Qi Chanyang swung the knife towards his own arm.

Shortly after, the scene before him changed…

Inside the temple, Xie Fangcheng and Zhang Daoan sat beside him.

Xie Fangcheng asked with a face full of concern, "What happened?"

Seeing the two of them, Qi Chanyang reflexively relaxed at first, then his heart suddenly tightened fiercely.

Before him, the usually facetious Zhang Daoan also bore a face full of worry.

…No, this wasn't right.

Qi Chanyang's gaze swept over both of their faces.

"...Brother Xie."

Xie Fangcheng responded with a puzzled "Hmm?"

Qi Chanyang began to ask, "How many people are there... in the underworld?"

The “Xie Fangcheng” before him froze.

Like a program with a limited set database, at this moment, something resembling a blue membrane seemed to be wriggling subtly on this “Xie Fangcheng”.

He started stuttering incessantly, seemingly asking someone, yet no one in particular.

"Ah... how many people are in the underworld? The underworld? Where is the underworld... no, right? Let's search again... underworld... this section doesn't exist..."

Taking advantage of it bowing its head engrossed in searching for something, Qi Chanyang reached out his hand once more.

For some reason, this time he pulled out his weapon, "Whale Fall's Offering," and charged towards “Xie Fangcheng,” stabbing him straight in the forehead.

However, the “Xie Fangcheng” before him was not killed by this strike.

It raised its head, eyes fixed on Qi Chanyang.

"What is your strength compared to mine? You think you can kill me?"

Qi Chanyang stepped back in fear.

Before him, "Xie Fangcheng's" brow furrowed.

"Let's give it a try anyway."

As he spoke, a golden greatsword materialized in his hand, charging towards Qi Chanyang without hesitation.

It was unbeatable.

Qi Chanyang knew without a doubt, there was no way he could triumph over "Brother Xie"... No!!

Just one strike from Brother Xie could kill him...

As Qi Chanyang thought this, the sword in the approaching "Xie Fangcheng's" hand suddenly morphed into a familiar staff.

Qi Chanyang was certainly not slow-witted, he abruptly came to a realization.

This was happening within his own dream!

"In my own dream! Who can best me!!"

Facing the familiar face, Qi Chanyang sprung up from the ground forcefully.

In his mind, he kept repeating, "This is my dream".

But even though it was his dream, Xie Fangcheng's strength felt as if it was seared into his memory.

Qi Chanyang felt as though he had been split into two persons.

One incessantly muttered, "This is my dream, I am the master", while the other kept revisiting the terrifying capabilities of Brother Xie.

That strike just now, if it had been the real Brother Xie, certainly... No! This is my dream! The person before me isn't Brother Xie!

Even with such frantic resistance, the Qi Chanyang in the dream struggled fiercely, repeatedly having his abdomen sliced open by the opponent "Xie Fangcheng", yet quickly reassuring himself in the dream to heal over and over.

After enduring cycle after cycle, Qi Chanyang finally thought of a desperate measure.

Facing the onslaught of "Xie Fangcheng," Qi Chanyang closed his eyes.

Darkness, silence.

All he could hear were his own breaths and heartbeat.

In such an environment, humans unconsciously conjure terrifying scenarios, like being surrounded by countless ghosts at this very moment...

Qi Chanyang only lost focus for an instant, then he sharply felt a chill at his neck, as if something was right behind him.

This is my dream.

I cannot die here... even if this game is so brutal, even if returning to the real world is actually a lie...

But I cannot perish in such a pathetic manner!!

In the obsidian dreamscape, Qi Chanyang stands amidst an open area, crisscrossed by net-like structures resembling blood vessels.

He roared vehemently—

This is my dream, so now! With this blade, I shall vanquish all that ought to be slain!!

A 'sizzling' noise resounded.

The [Whale Fall's Offering] in Qi Chanyang's grasp suddenly pierced into something.

Qi Chanyang abruptly opened his eyes.

Before him, a figure so familiar it could not be more so, was encased in a thin membrane.

It was "Qi Chanyang".

As he plunged the [Whale Fall's Offering] into the membrane, a viscous blue liquid oozed out, and the encapsulated “Qi Chanyang” let out a cry of resentment before dissipating before his eyes.

By the time Qi Chanyang opened his eyes again,

The temple, Xie Fangcheng, Zhang Dao'an.

This familiar trio indeed makes it difficult to avoid developing some psychological trauma.

Zhang Dao'an pondered for a moment after listening to him.

"I think I understand now."

The two turned to look at him.

“The ‘fish’ that Manager Xie caught, blue and gooey with a thin membrane, must be the entity Qi Chanyang killed in his dream. I've always wondered if someone could remain trapped in a dream forever, unable to wake. It seems that it is indeed possible not to awaken, but it's not a matter of ‘death’, rather ‘substitution’.”

This realization is even more terrifying.

This entity can access people’s memories. If indeed only a hundred ordinary players entered this dungeon, even if some players have strong willpower, able to break through the dreamscape like Qi Chanyang,

As per this dungeon, currently only Qi Chanyang has managed to breach the dreamscape.

The remaining players, unable to break free from the dreamscape, would be replaced by the "self" in their minds, a substitution imperceptible to any.

Because the substitute possesses all the memories.

It is futile for one or two players to hold onto their true selves, remaining uncorrupted by the dreamscape. As long as the “substitutes” appear, they could seamlessly infiltrate the player community undetected.

The difficulty level of this dungeon couldn't possibly be suited for the general populace.

Zhang Dao'an turned his gaze towards Wei Yuan and the others.

Was being assigned to this dungeon truly “random”?

If there truly are substitutes replacing the players... are these entities NPCs or players?

If they are NPCs, it's somewhat understandable, possibly just a setting of this dungeon.

However, if they are posing as players... Once a sufficient number of divine seeds are offered, these “players” exit the dungeon.

Zhang Dao'an is not a deity; he hasn't interacted with people from Ronghua extensively and can't possibly identify at first glance that something is amiss with these individuals.

Is this Ji Chaoyang's counterattack strategy?

Quite despicable, but indeed it might prove effective.

Zhang Dao'an pondered.

Qi Chanyang narrowly escaped danger. Everything that happened in the dream was too horrifying. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he couldn't help but advise Xie Fangcheng.

"Xie bro, I know you are powerful, but this thing targets the mind. Maybe you should think of a way to extract whatever it is out?"

After he finished speaking, Xie Fangcheng rummaged in his pocket, then threw the modified, unconscious version of the dream-return fish to Qi Chanyang.

"Holy crap!" Qi Chanyang caught it in a frantic rush, then paused, "Yes! This is exactly what I killed in my dream!"

The texture was practically identical.

Qi Chanyang nervously inquired, "Where did this come from?"

Xie Fangcheng replied with a calm demeanor, "It tried to burrow into my brain, so I caught it."

The dream-return fish required individuals to be in a deep sleep to be effective, which is why the game was so "benevolent," constructing beautiful dreams for them.

People would become engrossed in the beautiful dreams, unwilling to wake up.

And as the time immersed in them grew longer and longer, the modified dream-return fish would act like a parasite, absorbing enough nutrients to mature and grow within a person's head.

Qi Chanyang had never imagined that, despite his painstaking efforts to kill this entity, Xie Fangcheng simply denied it the opportunity to enter his brain in the first place.

"You truly are something, Xie bro."

Having said this, Qi Chanyang couldn't help but cast a worried glance at Zhang Dao'an.

Although the latter indeed had an exceptionally sharp mind, it couldn't be helped; given Qi Chanyang's nature, he still couldn't refrain from worrying.

Zhang Dao'an closed his eyes, then opened them less than half a minute later.

"It's dead."

Qi Chanyang: "..."

Qi Chanyang exclaimed in shock, "What do you mean, 'it's dead'? How did it die?"

Just how adept is Zhang Dao'an at controlling his own dreamscape? He even dared to mold a frail version of Xie Fangcheng who speaks with a trembling voice in his dream, how could he possibly not be able to eliminate the fish that burrowed into his mind?

Compared to Qi Chanyang, whose mind harbors a "Dream-Return Fish" that has already nested and begun metamorphosing, the "Dream-Return Fish" in Zhang Dao'an's mind doesn't even dare to move a muscle.

How can there be such a terrifying person?

Zhang Dao'an hadn't noticed before, but now aware of the entity in his mind, he gestured with a swing of his hand once inside the dream, bisecting the entire dreamscape and revealing the "Dream-Return Fish" hiding in a corner.

Without a word, Zhang Dao'an manifested a laser cannon in the lingering space of the dreamscape behind him and blasted the fish.

Qi Chanyang truly couldn't comprehend.

He opened his mouth, stammering, "I-Is it really dead just like that?"

Zhang Dao'an glanced at him.

"It would be more peculiar if a person couldn't control their own thoughts, wouldn't it?"

Qi Chanyang: "..."

Leaving everything else aside, just based on this tone, Qi Chanyang could vouch that this was indeed the real Professor Zhang, no doubt about it!