A clear, spotless sky, a gentle breeze brushing my cheek, fresh green grass, and warm sunlight—all around me is a scene of birds singing and flowers blooming. I lie on the ground, utterly at ease.
Suddenly, I sit up in terror, immediately drawing the Soulreaper Blade. Looking around, I wonder—how did I get here?
I look around in bewilderment, unable to sense anything. Then I recall—earlier, Mona Ouyang used a technique called Infernal Pyre, and I saw a flash of purple light. The next moment, I found myself here.
"What is going on?"
Confused, I scan my surroundings, then crouch on the grass, pressing a hand to the ground. I can't sense anything—the earth feels no different from usual, and there's nothing out of the ordinary.
I sit cross-legged on the ground, intending to use my instincts to investigate. Everything here feels strange—almost like a dream. There's a sense of reality, yet not a trace of authenticity. It doesn't feel like I've been transported to another space either.
With a thunderous boom, a massive explosion resounds in the sky. I look up—a streak of purple light plummets rapidly toward me.
A deafening crash—I stare wide-eyed as Mona Ouyang, blood gushing from her mouth, smashes into the ground, carving out a huge crater.
"What is going on?"
I stare in disbelief as Mona Ouyang stands up and smiles.
"Qingyuan, get down!"
Yuna Ji's voice rang out from behind me. Without thinking, I gathered the Soulreaper Blade and crouched down. With a sharp hiss, bluish smoke curled in the air as the gaping maw before me burst like a balloon under Yuna Ji's strike and vanished.
I swallowed hard. Yuna Ji was covered in wounds, slowly recovering.
"What exactly is going on?"
"We're trapped. Phantom Sage dragged us into this dream. That move Mona Ouyang just used could probably devour Xiaoyan's flames, so Phantom Sage countered all three of us and locked us in this dream realm. Be careful—his attacks seem harmless, but they're deadly. If you're not careful, you'll get caught just like you did."
I still hadn't figured out what that mouth was, but Yuna Ji grabbed me and flew backward, landing us on solid ground.
"There's no other way."
Yuna Ji spoke and, with a metallic clang, drove her spear into the ground. She pressed one hand to the earth. I stared in shock, swinging the Soulreaper Blade at Phantom Sage, who had appeared before us.
With a splash, water sprayed everywhere. Before I could react, Yuna Ji and I were swept into a stormy ocean, tossed by towering waves. We were utterly helpless, unable to move in the current. The sensation was eerily similar to the maw that tried to devour me earlier, and no matter how we struggled, we couldn't break free. I felt myself suffocating.
Rain poured down from above. Yuna Ji and I were dragged deeper into the churning sea, struggling with all our might.
"What exactly is going on?"
"Don't panic, Qingyuan. This is an illusion, like a dream. Just resist it, and look for a chance to break through with force—like I did just now."
Yuna Ji was more than ten meters away from me now. I had already drawn Endbringer, gathering power inside myself. At that moment, I saw Phantom Sage standing atop the raging waves, a massive swell surging toward us.
With a sharp whistle, Yuna Ji suddenly struck at the wave. A streak of black-green light hit the swell, but was quickly swallowed by the water.
"Damn bastard."
Yuna Ji glared furiously. I noticed something odd—our ghostly energy couldn't be released directly, only through our weapons. It was baffling, but there was no time to dwell on it; I had to follow Yuna Ji's lead.
I kept gathering power in Endbringer. When the wave reached us, it suddenly stopped, and Phantom Sage sat cross-legged atop it.
"Stop. There's no point in continuing this. This meaningless fight benefits no one. You've already gotten what you wanted—just take what you need."
Yuna Ji let out a cold laugh.
"Meaningless words. You started this fight."
Suddenly, behind Yuna Ji, nine strands of light in different colors floated up. She gripped her spear tightly as Phantom Sage raised a hand.
With a thunderous crash, the giant wave struck us, sweeping Yuna Ji and me into the water. We were utterly powerless, unable to move in the vortex, and Endbringer vanished from my grasp.
"Instinct..."
"Watch closely, Zhang Qingyuan, Yuna Ji."
With a slap to my head, I snapped awake. Yuna Ji was still thrashing, but Mona Ouyang quickly tapped her forehead, and she stopped. We found ourselves back in the flower-filled grasslands. Phantom Sage stood in the distance, maintaining the same posture as when we first arrived, as if nothing had changed.
"Just stay quiet and watch. That guy has taken over the Dream Gate—we can't leave. You're no match for him. If you get caught in another illusion, it could be fatal."
I watched Mona Ouyang quietly. His ghostly aura had grown, though I had no idea what he'd just done. He drifted slowly toward Phantom Sage.
"You and I seem to share similar powers, though their essence is different. Those monsters in the illusions—they were your creations, weren't they, Phantom Sage?"
Mona Ouyang asked, but Phantom Sage remained silent, sitting loosely as before, his gaze cold and fixed on Mona Ouyang.
Yuna Ji gripped her spear in frustration. I placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Let's just wait and watch for an opening. That last illusion left us powerless—there's nothing we can do but wait."
"Hmph, Qingyuan, that guy really is treacherous."
As she spoke, Yuna Ji raised her hand. I glanced over to see the Abyssal Treasure Mirror appear in her palm. Much of it had already dissolved, but now it was somehow repairing itself. In the mirror, a violet world was reflected—an incredible sight.
Mona Ouyang walked slowly through the air. With a rumble, pillars of lava shot up around Phantom Sage, instantly rushing to envelop him.
With a hum, Phantom Sage raised a finger and the lava columns froze, motionless. With a snap, they turned to ash and vanished. Mona Ouyang appeared behind Phantom Sage.
With a whoosh, Mona Ouyang split into countless forms, each one different. Phantom Sage glanced over, still reclining in midair, unmoved.
"Do you really think you've won?"
Dozens of Mona Ouyangs spoke at once, their mocking voices echoing. Yuna Ji and I shivered. Suddenly, Phantom Sage's expression changed. He moved, transforming into a pale blue current as he rose.
With a rush of wind, I stared in shock as the many Mona Ouyangs extended their fingers, stabbing into Phantom Sage's body. Blue blood began to flow.
"I told you before—do you really think you've won? This is my world. Call it a dream."
"Let's just stay quiet and watch for an opening. That last illusion left us powerless—there's nothing we can do but wait."
"Hmph, Qingyuan, that guy really is treacherous."
As she spoke, Yuna Ji raised her hand. I glanced over to see the Abyssal Treasure Mirror appear in her palm. Much of it had already dissolved, but now it was somehow repairing itself. In the mirror, a violet world was reflected—an incredible sight.
Mona Ouyang walked slowly through the air. With a rumble, pillars of lava shot up around Phantom Sage, instantly rushing to envelop him.
With a hum, Phantom Sage raised a finger and the lava columns froze, motionless. With a snap, they turned to ash and vanished. Mona Ouyang appeared behind Phantom Sage.
With a whoosh, Mona Ouyang split into countless forms, each one different. Phantom Sage glanced over, still reclining in midair, unmoved.
"Do you really think you've won?"
Dozens of Mona Ouyangs spoke at once, their mocking voices echoing. Yuna Ji and I shivered. Suddenly, Phantom Sage's expression changed. He moved, transforming into a pale blue current as he rose.
With a rush of wind, I stared in shock as the many Mona Ouyangs extended their fingers, stabbing into Phantom Sage's body. Blue blood began to flow.
"I told you before—do you really think you've won? This is my world. Call it a dream."