Chapter 305: The Dream Demon Assaulting Ninglan New City
“May I boldly ask, about your method of utilizing elements… um, it’s somewhat unheard of.” After chatting more with the City Lord, I shifted the topic to my area of interest.
Having previously witnessed their use of runes, one could say extraordinary power is a means of using rune ceremonies as tools to drive extraordinary energy. For example, the formulation ritual and the creation of alchemical items are alchemy, while forging weapons and refining holy artifacts is dwarf forging, and so on.
Although the outer armor I saw in the city guard appeared somewhat similar to alchemical products, it was clear there was still some difference.
“Utilizing elements… do you mean extraordinary power?” At this moment, Ninglan Qiuyun also seemed unsure of what I was describing and cautiously inquired.
“You refer to it as extraordinary power? That seems quite appropriate. What I mean is… for instance, the chandelier above us is powered by light elements. The weapons and armor of the city guard, even the city walls, utilize such extraordinary power techniques. We have similar methods, which we call alchemy and solidification spells.”
“Oh, you’re referring to those. I’m truly sorry, but these technical designs are fundamental to our Ninglan New City. I cannot provide detailed explanations regarding this technology.” At this moment, Ninglan Qiuyun’s expression also showed difficulty, as if he genuinely couldn’t disclose anything.
“Alright, I was being presumptuous.” Hearing this, I did not interrupt the conversation further.
From my perspective, this was a form of stagnation; technology can only develop through exchange.
Moreover, based on the technologies I’ve been exposed to, despite having developed for so many years, they still seem understandable to someone like me, who is just getting started with alchemy and rune literature. This sufficiently indicates that this technology isn’t that impressive.
But who can blame them for being the lord of an entire city like Ninglan New City?
As the city lord, their primary goal is stability, followed by development. Did they not consider that revealing their technology could lead to a technological explosion?
If they hadn’t considered this, they would confidently boast about it to me and introduce me, rather than hide it.
It seems somewhat patronizing; overly advanced technology could also threaten the stability of Ninglan New City.
“If you are very interested in this area, you might find like-minded individuals to discuss with during your stay in the city. I recall there’s an extraordinary technology research association in the city. Perhaps these techniques are merely trivial for you.”
“Really? I feel just looking at them gives me great inspiration.” Upon hearing that such an association exists, I indeed felt a slight impulse to check it out. After all, technology has no distinction of good or bad, and different civilizations can spark different ideas.
Although this city lord has been hinting that these technologies are trivial for us, perhaps he noticed my attitude indicating I had some understanding of their technology and was somewhat wary.
After all, if I widely spread this type of technology in Ninglan New City, it would be more terrifying than those who rely on “pseudo-invincibility” to act tyrannically in the city.
However, noticing their expression suggesting hope that I wouldn’t continue discussing this topic, I chose not to pursue it further.
“By the way, may I ask if you mind if I learn about your history? I’m quite interested in it.”
“History?” Ninglan Qiuyun seemed relieved when I shifted the topic, “If you wish to learn about our history, you can visit the history museum in the city. It contains various artifacts and relics from our history, as well as the most comprehensive historical texts. If you want to learn, I can inform the curator to guide you in detail. That curator is from our Ninglan New City…”
Just as this city lord was introducing me to their history museum, the door of the reception room was abruptly knocked on.
Then, a figure stormed in before the city lord could say to come in.
“Ninglan Qiuyu! Have you forgotten all the etiquette I taught you while growing up? Is it too much to knock and wait for me to say come in?” At this moment, Ninglan Qiuyun stood up, and his demeanor was completely different from when we were chatting.
“Dad…”
“Call me City Lord. If it’s for official business, it’s understandable. If it’s personal, the bill for that will be settled later.”
As these two argued, I and Sister Bai also stood up. I looked at this somewhat younger boy, and just from the name, he might indeed be Ninglan Qiuyun’s son, the future successor of Ninglan New City. Acting so carelessly is certainly inappropriate.
Several others entered with him, unsure whether they were here to observe the situation.
“Yes…” Ninglan Qiuyu fell silent at his father’s words but began to size us up with his gaze. However, he didn’t linger too long, indicating he was indeed in a hurry.
“City Lord, that woman from before has appeared again. She has caused significant destruction in the main city area. Evacuations have been carried out, but…”
“What? Where?” Ninglan Qiuyun interrupted without waiting for the report to finish.
“At the Ninglan Xiang Hotel, the city guard is fighting that monster there.”
“Ninglan Xiang Hotel? Why there?”
“It must be those outsiders; need I even say?” As Ninglan Qiuyu spoke, his gaze swept over to us, with an expression somewhat accusatory.
It’s as if he thought we outsiders were to blame for this.
But I understood the reality; most of this was planned by the Academy Head, so he was indeed right.
However, this guy named Ninglan Qiuyu truly doesn’t know how to hide his emotions; this might lead to significant trouble.
Looking at us with such a gaze, doesn’t he fear we might misunderstand?
“No, I have to go personally,” Ninglan Qiuyun instinctively stated while shaking his head.
“City Lord, that’s out of the question! You can’t just go there; that monster cannot be dealt with by just going yourself.”
“Yes! You cannot gamble with your life!”
At this moment, others were pulling the city lord back until he calmed down and realized he was being impulsive.
“Then authorize the deployment of the III-type extraordinary weapon. Quickly, drive her away before that monster causes more destruction.” Ninglan Qiuyun spoke.
But I noticed he said “drive away” rather than “k*ll,” indicating that even Ninglan New City does not have good means to deal with the existence of dream demons.
Yet clearly, I was more interested in what this city lord referred to as the III-type extraordinary weapon, which should be… a weapon made using extraordinary power techniques, bringing to mind alchemical items.
“Is something happening? Should I also go and take a look?” I spoke.
“This matter doesn’t require the trouble of both of you.” Ninglan Qiuyun instinctively refused, after all, how could he let guests face the danger themselves?
“It’s no trouble, and the dream demon is also our enemy. If convenient, we don’t mind joining forces to see if we can k*ll that one. The city lord shouldn’t have forgotten what I told you about the characteristics of that dream demon, right? Hmm… the monster you mentioned earlier should indeed be the dream demon.”
“Yes… if all goes well, that monster should be the dream demon you mentioned, so I trouble you with this. I’ll have Qiuyu take you over.” At this moment, Ninglan Qiuyun displayed an apologetic demeanor; although he surely wished for us to help, he couldn’t show that emotion directly.
“Then we’ll do it this way.” I nodded and looked at Sister Bai.
Sister Bai had no objections to my decision throughout. Although it was indeed dangerous to face this dream demon, she was confident in protecting Xiao Han against such monsters.
“Please follow me,” Ninglan Qiuyu said to us, his earlier emotions toward outsiders seemingly suppressed by the arrangement made by Ninglan Qiuyun.
“Mm, I hope we didn’t add to your troubles,” I said politely and followed Sister Bai.
After leaving Ninglan Township Fort, we advanced with some of their people towards the so-called Ninglan Xiang Hotel, while others went to fetch the III-type extraordinary weapon.
During this journey, I also sensed that their physical qualities seemed somewhat different from ordinary people. No matter how much ordinary people train, they eventually reach a limit. It appears that the extraordinary techniques they possess also include physical enhancement methods and have been applied to the military.
However, we could keep up. Even though I was in a dream state, my bodily reactions were reflective of my real-world physical strength, and the physical enhancements brought by witch transformation were clearly evident compared to these ordinary people.
As we made our way there, I understood that the so-called Ninglan Xiang Hotel was a place designated to accommodate us outsiders, meaning we could normally sleep there and that the attack on the hotel by the dream demon was likely due to the gathering of outsiders.
Perhaps this explains why Ninglan Qiuyu had prejudice against us outsiders earlier.
By the time we reached the disaster area, it was already devoid of the previous prosperity; it seemed the evacuation of the crowd was swift.
Not far away, I could hear screams and panic, accompanied by a seductive, enchanting female voice.
“Hahaha~ Poor ants, don’t run! You shouldn’t have taken up those hard and long weapons to poke me through~”
“Come on, more of you! Although your essence tastes a bit off, I’m hungry~ so just make do for now~”
“Look, is this a new food coming?”
Our arrival also attracted the attention of that dream demon.
“Oh~ isn’t that the young man who escaped last time? Did you bring two beautiful ladies as side dishes for me? How thoughtful of you.”
At this moment, this dream demon had reached a point of reckless abandon; from her confident words and the city guard being suppressed to a state of merely allowing her to taste them, it was evident how arrogant she felt.
“Sister Bai, let me handle this. It’s not enough to make you take action.” I spoke.
“Be careful! That guy is troublesome!” At this moment, even Ninglan Qiuyu warned me as I stepped forward.
He was no fool; anyone who could rush over without even catching their breath while chatting along the way clearly didn’t resemble an ordinary weak woman.
“I know, but I’m not weak.”
As I spoke, I waved my hand, and several floating spells appeared: fireball spell, wind blade spell, lightning strike spell. The effects of these spells became remarkably powerful at this time.
The previously confident dream demon cast a dismissive glance at my attacks and prepared to harden her defense, but… after taking my first fireball spell directly, she had to choose to defend conservatively and was forced into reality.
Subsequently, several spells passed through her body without inflicting any damage.
However, the first fireball spell burned off much of her already scant clothing, and even her hair became somewhat disheveled due to the high temperature and explosion. It seemed that the previous confident defense had somewhat of an effect; at least she wasn’t heavily crippled from this blast.
“You! You are from the Main World… Good… good! I’ve been looking for you everywhere, and here you are delivered to me!” The dream demon glared at us viciously, and the injury did not discourage her; instead, it aroused her ferocity, transforming her demeanor to attack us.
The madness shining in her eyes seemed to change the atmosphere in an instant.
“In this world where dreams invade reality, this is completely my domain! d*e! I will drain your essence and squeeze your soul material dry!”
“The last one who said that is now nothing but ashes. By the way, can’t you dream demons come up with something more meaningful to say?” I quipped while also beginning to take her seriously.
Just as the other side mentioned, this invasion of dreams into reality is indeed the dream demon’s territory, and she holds a massive advantage that cannot be denied. As long as she remains in reality, I cannot launch any useful attacks against her.
However, she wouldn’t be that foolish; while in reality, she would face attacks from more people. Although these individuals are merely ordinary mortals, the weapons and armor they possess, along with their physical enhancements, are extraordinary methods that she cannot ignore.
Moreover… wasn’t there a group sent to fetch that so-called III-type extraordinary weapon?
“Quickly, while I can’t attack her, you all attack her! She cannot be immune to both my attacks and yours at the same time!” I turned my head to the city guards and Ninglan Qiuyu, as this wasn’t solely my battle. They couldn’t just sit back and watch while relying on me alone, as I lacked complete confidence in defeating her.
“Hm? I see… I understand.”
As the city lord’s son, Ninglan Qiuyu was naturally sharper, especially at this critical moment; he wouldn’t allow an outsider to take on the fight alone.
“Join forces? Even if you join forces, there’s no way I’ll suffer loss!” At this moment, the dream demon shed her previous enchanting demeanor and transformed into the most extreme battle form of a dream demon.
Even though this form was terrifying, the trained city guards under Ninglan Qiuyu did not show any signs of retreat.
“When you think you won’t suffer losses, you’ve already lost. You truly overestimated yourself.”
