Chen Changsheng was still pondering when the Black Pagoda asked, "This dream of yours is quite realistic, though. It's already hovering between illusion and reality."
Chen Changsheng snapped back to reality. "How much of it do you think is real, and how much is fake?"
The Black Pagoda surveyed their surroundings. "Forty percent real? No, no, no. Twenty. Twenty percent at most!"
Chen Changsheng paused. "So little."
The Black Pagoda was momentarily speechless. "You think that's little? Just hearing about it is terrifying! Turning a dream into reality is something countless cultivators wouldn't even dare to imagine. It's like manifesting a small world of your own. This is absolutely not something ordinary Divine Abilities or Arts and Techniques could achieve!"
"Is it really that impressive?" Chen Changsheng asked.
Hearing this, the Black Pagoda was once again left speechless before snapping, "Are you playing dumb with me?"
Chen Changsheng thought it over from every angle, yet he didn't feel it was as mystical as the Black Pagoda made it out to be. The entire cause was nothing more than a few passing thoughts. He hadn't cast any spells, nor had he experienced any sudden enlightenment.
This current dream seemed to have simply appeared out of nowhere.
Chen Changsheng looked down at the Black Pagoda resting in his palm. He paused before asking, "Are you real, or just a part of my dream?"
The Black Pagoda paused. "Of course I'm real! Don't tell me you think I'm a figment of your dream too."
"It's highly suspicious," Chen Changsheng said. "Wait right there. This Chen will just slash you with a sword to test whether you're real or fake."
The Black Pagoda immediately prepared to slip away.
The next instant, Chen Changsheng was chasing after it, sword in hand.
The Black Pagoda cursed, yelling, "You're actually serious?!"
It flew even faster.
Chen Changsheng remained in hot pursuit.
Suddenly, Chen Changsheng recalled Yan Huanglou's words.
Truth and falsehood, reality and illusion—these were the hardest things to tell apart.
It was as if he, too, had subconsciously assumed that he had brought the Black Pagoda into this dream himself.
But how could that be possible?
This was a dream!
If the Black Pagoda was real, didn't that mean he had entered this dreamscape with his actual physical body?
That was absolutely impossible.
When Chen Changsheng caught up to the Black Pagoda, he slashed out with his sword.
"Fuck!"
The Black Pagoda cursed, knowing it had nowhere left to dodge.
"Mountain of Corpses, Sea of Blood! Rise!"
The Black Pagoda shouted fiercely. Suddenly, a Dharma Manifestation scene materialized behind it. A demonic entity seemed to stand atop a mountain of stone and a sea of blood, slowly opening its eyes.
Blood vigor, malefic aura, yin energy, and demonic qi—several types of sinister energies coalesced into this horrific scene, attempting to block the incoming sword strike.
Chen Changsheng paused slightly. He watched as his sword swing completely obliterated the illusion of the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, accompanied by the distinct sound of something shattering.
"Motherfucker!"
The Black Pagoda cursed, watching helplessly as the remaining sword light cleaved downward.
Yet even at this moment, Chen Changsheng still believed that this Black Pagoda was just a manifestation of his dream.
Nothing more than the product of a single thought.
"Bang!"
The Sword Qi sent the Black Pagoda flying.
With a heavy thud, it rolled across the ground several times before finally coming to a halt.
All the surrounding sinister energy completely retracted back into the pagoda.
And the Black Pagoda itself fell entirely still.
Chen Changsheng walked over, stopped in front of the Black Pagoda, and gave it a kick. "Stop playing dead."
Seeing no reaction, he simply kicked it again.
"It is real."
A voice suddenly drifted over.
Chen Changsheng looked back to see Yan Huanglou standing behind him.
Chen Changsheng raised an eyebrow and turned back to look at the Black Pagoda.
"Real?"
Yan Huanglou nodded. "Isn't that exactly what you were thinking?"
Chen Changsheng stared blankly for a moment.
Looking toward the Black Pagoda once more, he saw that it had already dissolved into a puff of white mist and scattered away.
Yan Huanglou slowly stepped forward and asked, "Can you truly tell the difference between what is real and what is fake?"
Chen Changsheng put away his sword and sighed softly.
"That takes all the fun out of it," Chen Changsheng said.
Yan Huanglou grinned but said nothing, simply staring quietly at Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng ignored him and turned around to head back into the courtyard.
And the moment another thought crossed his mind, he reached into his sleeve, and the Black Pagoda reappeared in his palm.
"Where is this?"
"You bastard surnamed Chen, what kind of hellhole did you bring me to?"
The Black Pagoda repeated the exact same words as before, as if everything that had just happened had never occurred at all.
Chen Changsheng fell silent.
He willed another thought, wanting the Black Pagoda to disappear, but it no longer obeyed his command.
Yan Huanglou's figure reappeared. With a wave of his hand...
...the Black Pagoda vanished into nothingness.
Yan Huanglou smiled. "Creation is managed by you, but destruction is handled by us. Those are the rules here."
Chen Changsheng understood now. He let out a breath, waved his hand, and said, "Hurry up and leave. Don't annoy me here."
Yan Huanglou chuckled but didn't leave. Instead, he walked over and took a seat.
Chen Changsheng knew that the person sitting in front of him wasn't the Yan Huanglou born from his thoughts, but a manifestation of his own inner mind. It was essentially himself.
Yan Huanglou raised his hand, and a cup of tea appeared in his palm, which he pushed in front of Chen Changsheng.
Taking a light sip, Yan Huanglou said, "Do you feel stifled? It's one thing to not be able to control life and death, but you can't even control your own dreams."
Chen Changsheng closed his eyes and said nothing.
"But of course it should be this way," Yan Huanglou said. "It's not like you put in any real effort. You merely provided a single thought, and the rest was born from us. What right do you have to claim it all as yours?"
Chen Changsheng didn't even look at him, simply replying, "You don't need to try and tempt me. In this life, This Chen has no desire to become some pure-hearted, ascetic Immortal. I only wish to be a common mortal. To me, the seven emotions and six desires are the true Great Dao."
Yan Huanglou ran a finger along the rim of his teacup. "Unless you sever ties to the Red Dust, you cannot achieve the Great Dao."
The man with his eyes closed remained silent for a long time.
"...Leave me some lingering thoughts. I'm only surviving by clinging to them."
Hearing this, Yan Huanglou shook his head helplessly. He shut his mouth, and after finishing his cup of tea, his figure vanished entirely.
A heavy sigh echoed through the courtyard.
Mister had never truly gotten better; he had simply hidden his true feelings away.
In reality, that internal struggle had never once ceased.
...
The winter month of the following year.
The Yan Army had reached Dongyang Pass!
Breaking through this pass would allow them to forcefully intervene and throw the current tactical landscape into absolute chaos.
However, within Dongyang Pass itself, countless soldiers of the Jin Army were already lying in wait. Not many troops could be seen manning the walls, but inside the city, an endless number of soldiers were biding their time, ready to strike.
"They're finally here..."
Dongyang Pass's defending general, Chen Zhilin, gazed at the distant army of the Prince of Yan, an uncontrollable smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
This scheme to lure the snake out of its hole had been a resounding success.
The Prince of Yan had indeed fallen for it.
No.
He shouldn't say it was the Prince of Yan, but rather that bunch of foolish old bones. At their advanced age, they were still trying to meddle in the affairs of the world. Those old fools should be resting peacefully in their graves, or at the very least, enjoying their retirement.
"Assemble the army!" Chen Zhilin barked out, his gaze suddenly turning ice-cold.
This world would belong to their Prince Jin!
No one would be able to stop them!
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