Chapter 330: The Plan Changes, The Purge of Dream Demons Begins Early
“Um… Sister Xiao Han has been gone for a long time. Surely nothing unexpected has happened, right?”
“Never! Sister Xiao Han won’t encounter any accidents!”
At this moment, in a sealed laboratory.
This is a laboratory requested from the base where no disturbances can occur and holds a certain level of confidentiality.
Various Protection Spells have been set up here, making it the safest place in the Underground City; plus, with the help of Fool Dreams, neither dreams nor reality can violently break through here in the short term.
In the center of this space, Bai Yu stood silently to one side, her gaze fixed intensely on the Rune Ceremony marking of the spatial teleportation anchor point that had already been arranged.
Meanwhile, the group of Fool Dreams nearby huddled together anxiously, worried that something they crafted under Sister Xiao Han’s guidance might go wrong.
They were carefully checking the Rune Ceremony again and the energy crystals that powered it.
These crystals derive from Earth Vein Energy, a highly concentrated crystal mine that is one of the easiest to extract forms of Extraordinary Power in the Underground City.
There are also plenty of backup crystal mines nearby, just in case.
At this moment, the spatial teleportation anchor point Rune Ceremony shone with bright light, and energy was depleting rapidly.
“Quick! Be ready to supply energy crystals at any time!” Bai Yu spoke up immediately.
She had the Spellbook on teleportation spells and knew that teleportation magic is very consuming in terms of magic power. Depending on whether a teleportation mark is reserved, distance, and size of the teleportation, consumption can vary widely.
But before the energy crystals could be replenished, a teleportation door opened directly, and then a hand extended out, waving; shortly after, the owner of that hand half of her body also peeked in.
“Sister Xiao Han!” Bai Yu exclaimed excitedly at that moment.
“Sister Bai~”
At this moment, I turned my head and saw the familiar figure. I originally wanted to tentatively see if anything went wrong, but this time it really succeeded!
Just then, a huge force from behind pushed me in.
“Sister Xiao Han, be careful!” Bai Yu instinctively reached out to catch me, but her hand went right through my body, and then I crashed onto the ground through Sister Bai’s form.
In the next moment, the teleportation door behind me closed.
“Hiss~ The academy head must have kicked me in here, right? So hard?” I got up and rubbed my b*tt; I couldn’t blame the academy head for doing so. This teleportation door couldn’t hold for long, and I was dawdling.
“Sister Xiao Han, are you okay?”
“It shouldn’t hurt, right?”
“Sister Xiao Han… you… succeeded?” Bai Yu looked at Xiao Han, who had passed through her body, stunned for a second, and then realized she had overthought it.
“Yeah, it was quite simple.”
After I got up, I looked at the group of catgirl Fool Dreams surrounding me, and I couldn’t help but reach out my evil hands and gently ruffle their cute ears.
The Fool Dreams didn’t resist; in fact, they were very willing.
“Sister Xiao Han, you can touch me now?” The Fool Dream I touched squeaked in surprise. They didn’t question why, as if they were casually accepting this setting.
Soon, they let out very comfortable purring sounds under my gentle caress.
After playing with the Fool Dreams for a while, I finally, at Sister Bai’s reminder, released my hands from their playful romp and started to tidy up the scene.
“Sister Xiao Han… if that’s the case, will the distance between you and us in reality and the dream cause considerable trouble?”
“Well… it shouldn’t, right? My body is currently in reality, but to accommodate the dream, I can use the original Rune Ceremony I obtained from the Nightmare earlier to manifest in the dream in an independent conscious form.”
“But… can you manage both sides? What about your physical body in reality?”
“Good question!” I nodded. This was indeed a problem I had to overcome. “So now there are new problems I need to tackle myself.”
“Actually, with my position and identity at the base right now, I could live like usual without anyone daring to do anything out of line.”
“Really…”
“Or when Sister Bai has some free time, she can look after my body. Meanwhile, I can still be in the dream when I’m free~”
“That does sound good.” Bai Yu nodded at that moment.
“Eh? Sister Bai, are you really going to do that?”
“I don’t really have much to do anyway, so I don’t mind making myself busy.”
“Eh~ But Sister Bai, please don’t do anything inappropriate to my body, okay?”
“Sister Xiao Han, I’m talking about serious matters, and your remarks are becoming less serious, right?” Bai Yu said, raising her hand as if to give me a lesson, but her hand passed right through my body.
“Hey! Are you hitting me?! Even if Sister Bai wanted to do something to my main body, she actually can; I won’t secretly come back to check if Sister Bai has touched me or anything like that!”
After playing around with Sister Bai for a while, we prepared to return directly. My departure did not make anyone suspicious; after all, they wouldn’t be constantly aware of why an outsider suddenly has a physical form, which sounds absurd.
On the way back, I pondered the things the academy head had told me earlier. Even though I have calmed down now, I still felt too shocked concerning the current state of this world and… the origin of my Extraordinary Knowledge, both were thus.
I also gained a new understanding of what I encountered after being enrolled; it turned out that the academy head had been paying attention to me since the moment I awakened my talent.
The academy head could take away what rightfully belonged to her, and facing such a disparity in level, I had nothing to say. However, she didn’t do that; in fact… she supported and invested in me. Such decisions, such generosity, and high-level are something I cannot reach now.
It can be said that the academy head is my second benefactor, the first being Teacher Ji, and Sister Bai is my best friend.
Also, I could teleport back so easily this time because something the academy head gifted me was crucial.
The academy head mentioned that where I originally lived had the spell effects released by the Great Spellbook which suppressed the effects of Extraordinary Power, which is why I could only create sparks when trying to conjure a fireball by hand at the academy; the sparks from my primitive fire-starting also resulted in that.
However, the existence of the Spellbook somewhat transcended this spell suppression effect, so the effects released by the Spellbook were guaranteed, although they were also suppressed.
In principle, the Extraordinary Power mastered by other academies is similarly suppressed; hence, they are not weak; it is just that the suppression is too harsh, and our Witch Academy has the Spellbook. So, in a certain sense, the Witch Academy in the Main World has… the existence of a cheat code.
Simple Extraordinary Power gets suppressed, but relying on the truly edited Spellbook can somewhat ignore the effects of the Great Spell. Similarly, the powers of the other three top academies are the same; for instance, elves rely on similar elven bloodlines and the World Tree’s clones, angels depend on the uniqueness of the Angel Ring and divine art inheritance, while wizards purely utilize Mental Power and knowledge to pry open the Extraordinary for an equivalent exchange of Extraordinary Energy, enhanced by additional Witch Weapons.
As for the smaller academies… they can only fend for themselves. After all, in the Main World, Extraordinary Powers are to be suppressed, and without a voice, there’s nothing to say.
When the academy head was informing me of these, it was only natural for her; strength is the foundation of conversation.
I looked at the two extra Spellbooks inside my body, which were given to me personally by the academy head, one of which was the teleportation Spellbook, allowing me to return here steadily in the Witch Academy.
The other one… is the Resurrection Spell.
The academy head did not explain much about why she gave it to me; she only said she thought I might need it.
Could it be that I will d*e?
That was my first thought, but I didn’t feel like I would d*e.
Then I could try to understand the essence of the Resurrection Spell, or perhaps the academy head subtly acknowledged my eligibility to explore the boundaries of life and d*ath. Of course, it could also be related to severing the Earth Vein Shackles?
In any case, it couldn’t be meaningless.
The academy head didn’t explicitly state what the essence of this resurrection spell is; is it soul resurrection, or soul material resurrection, or simply a body memory resurrection?
The academy head knows my essence is the soul, so this Resurrection Spell must carry some meaning, which I’ll take time later to explore.
When it’s time to be in the dream, I’ll violently tear it open to see what the internal rituals of this Resurrection Spellbook are like. If I can study it, then I’ll study it; if it’s too complex for me to understand, then I will set it aside for now.
…
Several days later.
At this moment, Ninglan New City has already fallen into turmoil. The frequent actions of City Lord Ninglan and the issuance of new regulations have naturally provoked discontent among many people in the city.
With the impending mutated beast tide outside the city and forced conscription to resist the beast tide, Ninglan New City is like a suppressed volcano, ready to explode at the slightest trigger.
Yet on this wasteland, only Ninglan New City remains as humanity’s last gathering spot; no one can leave, and no one can idly stand by.
The residents here do not have high demands for their lives and are indifferent to who the city lord is, but once the city lord infringes on the fundamental interests of the majority, the consequences are self-evident.
And for most people, or rather all people, their fundamental interest is… to survive.
No one wishes to d*e inexplicably one day. Discussions about the city lord colluding with dream demons to exert oppressive control over Ninglan New City are intensifying within the city.
The discrediting of outsiders is also quietly happening, with more and more people revealing the past of the outsiders they encountered related to the investigation on the Nightmare.
Many people are stating the contributions that outsiders made in expelling nightmarish creatures.
For the citizens who have lived in Ninglan New City for their whole lives, their lives feel stagnant; the only world they can access is within the city, the only news they see is halted reports, and the only gossip they share is between neighbors.
Any topic can spread wildly within Ninglan New City, especially any controversial opinions.
If the city lord has lost control over public opinion, it only indicates one thing: the city lord has overfed those within the city.
Once the problems of basic needs were resolved and stability established within the city, entertainment became a mainstream topic. Any events happening in the city are likely to be reported by those frenzied journalists the next day.
Many matters cannot be suppressed. For instance, the city lord of Ninglan New City has proven himself unworthy of being their leader.
“It seems that those wretched folks in the city have quite an issue with your rule, or is it… a situation you relish?” At this moment, in Ninglan Township Fort, the unrestrained Dream Demon no longer hid from the officials here, bringing clandestine matters to the surface.
At this moment, Ninglan Qiuyun looked grimly at the officials below, his heart bleeding as matters began to slip out of his control. He had underestimated the power of Dream Demons. Even if everything conducts a major purge, Ninglan New City will inevitably go through a painful reform.
But he couldn’t understand why Dream Demons could so quickly grasp the lifeblood of an entire Ninglan New City.
The officials’ corruption and bribery surfaced at this moment, seemingly without any action from others; they were corroding themselves by their own actions.
“What… do you Dream Demons want from us in Ninglan New City…” Ninglan Qiuyun suppressed his emotions and asked with what little rationality he had left.
“Ha ha, is that the tone you’re using to talk to me? I wonder where your courage comes from?” The Dream Demon laughed, then sat directly at the corner of the city lord’s desktop, overlooking the officials below as if she were the actual city lord.
“But considering you’re oiling out, I still can talk to you. To us, Ninglan New City is just a small stepping stone. Our goal is the last pure land of the Main World.”
“Of course, there are those Nightmares too; the beautiful fortune within them, or to put it another way, from the very beginning, our target is those Nightmares. Those outsiders are also after the Nightmares; we’re just two groups of hunters chasing the same prey, but we have clear objectives while the outsiders remain in the dark.”
“Is that all you want? Then why do you bother with Ninglan New City…”
“Ha ha… As a remnant in the abandoned ruins of the Main World, Ninglan New City stands here for thousands of years and is protected by fortune. What we pursue is not just pure Nightmares but the fortune within them, and the fortune within Ninglan New City is even more so.”
“Fortune protection?!”
“You… do you also want to take away the fortune of Ninglan New City?”
“Yes~ However… judging by your expression, you don’t understand the importance of fortune, do you? Or even doubt the authenticity of fortune? But it’s okay, not believing that’s best~”
“I believe what you said. You take the fortune you want; just don’t harm Ninglan New City anymore!” Ninglan Qiuyun said in a deep voice.
“Hahaha! Such ignorant remarks! Let us take it? Do you think fortune is just that simple? Once Ninglan New City loses the protection of fortune, then you won’t survive here, natural disasters, man-made calamities, calamities, they will mercilessly destroy your beloved Ninglan New City~” Upon hearing the city lord’s statement, the Dream Demon burst into laughter, but even so, she still clarified for this ignorant person, after all, some didn’t have an appropriate understanding and had no idea of the existence they faced.
However, her explanation completely touched Ninglan Qiuyun’s sore spot.
“You are declaring war on Ninglan New City!”
“Yes, you wouldn’t think otherwise, right? The unequal information can only create foolish existences like you. To me, you are just a group of silly fools being slowly devoured. Declare war? Hasn’t your son already severed ties with you? The destruction of Ninglan New City doesn’t even need my hands.”
“Ninglan Qiuyu…”
Ninglan Qiuyun sat back down in his seat.
“What? Have you lost hope? Didn’t I remember you having some sort of backup? The IV-type Extraordinary weapon, the path paved for your son, clearing obstacles to his rise, weapons used to hunt Dream Demons.”
“I heard one of our companions died to your III-type Extraordinary weapon; I wonder if that’s true? I’m so scared~ But so what? Can your Extraordinary weapon k*ll me?”
As the Dream Demon provocatively taunted the city lord, her body melted into the dream.
“Those outsiders were chased out by your own hands, and your only hope… hmm! Who!”
Just as the Dream Demon confidently provoked, a sharp object pierced her abdomen, and then a cold, self-deprecating voice rang out.
“Turns out Dream Demons can be killed too.”
Then a figure emerged from the shadows, and just as he aimed to strike again, that blow landed in empty air.
Clearly, the opponent quickly disengaged from the dream.
“Tsk…”
“You… Wizard? d*mn! Weren’t you chased out of the city?!”
But what greeted her was not a response from the wizard but a sound like the tearing air, a b*llet imbued with violent energy instantly tore through this Dream Demon, shattering flesh and bl**d everywhere.
Ninglan Qiuyun, closest to the Dream Demon, had half of his body splattered with bl**d, but he merely calmly wiped the bl**d from his eyes and looked at the officials below.
“The plan has changed. Begin the purge of Dream Demons early, and… I’ll trouble you all.” Ninglan Qiuyun said, his gaze turning to the wizard.
“Got it, but your actions are a bit hasty.”
“There’s no other choice; we know too little. The concept of fortune protection… I’ve never understood it, but if they want our destruction in exchange for seizing what we call fortune protection, then they deserve to d*e, and I can only stop the loss early.”
“Indeed, after all, you need to prioritize your survival. Thank you; I also learned for the first time that fortune… the information from this Dream Demon will serve as payment.” The wizard put on the mask-like witch weapon once again and subsequently disappeared from everyone’s sight.
“Let’s go, you’ve all been partners for so many years. I know your characters well, let’s make another final effort for Ninglan New City, and I’ll give you a chance to regain your dignity.” Ninglan Qiuyun said to the officials below.
The officials remained silent, not out of fear of d*ath but out of fear of this city lord’s decisiveness. More importantly, after this city lord made this decision, he was doomed to lose his own dignity.
