CHAPTER 59.2: DAYDREAM ART - PART 2

With the incomplete Daydream Art obtained, Qi Yuan climbed out of the abyss. Then, he dug another big pit in a secluded spot, and buried himself and Little Bride again. His body finally felt better after logging out of the game.

Qi Yuan resolved. "Once I reach Foundation Establishment, I must practice soul-strengthening art. Though fragmented, the Daydream Art, but some parts overlap with the Qi Yuan Scripture. I'll need to find similar techniques to cross-reference and patch it up."

He was a man with a plan. Unfortunately, the Black Mountain Sect's books were of no help, but perhaps Jiang Lingsu would know.

Junior Sister looks every bit the rich girl, knowledgeable and well-connected.

Tidying himself up, Qi Yuan headed toward the thatched hut next door.

Meanwhile, inside, Jiang Lingsu's face was covered with frost. As her eyes fluttered open, the ice dissipated, leaving a trace of sorrow on her young features.

"Is this the price of wielding the Heaven-Earth Mirror...?"

Upon awakening her bloodline, she gained a single chance to glimpse the future through the mirror. Still, how could someone at her cultivation level hope to control such a supreme treasure?

She'd incurred a heavy hidden injury. Every so often, frost invaded her body, bringing excruciating pain. It was mild and tolerable right now, but when it worsened, it could leave her unconscious. To cure it, she'd need the aid of a Violet Palace realm cultivator with a Water Spirit Root.

Her clan had elders at that realm, and she knew others too—but none with the water attribute. Besides, asking a Violet Palace realm expert to ease such a "minor" pain would cost far too much.

Sensing something, Jiang Lingsu rose and stepped outside, only to find Qi Yuan waiting at her doorstep. "Senior Brother, are you looking for me?"

"Junior Sister, are you ill?" Qi Yuan studied her face, then eagerly offered. "Want me to cook you some chicken soup?"

Jiang Lingsu sighed. "No need, Senior Brother. Just lacking sleep. Do you need something?"

Qi Yuan explained his purpose without concealing anything.

Jiang Lingsu listened, then gave him a strange look. "The technique you asked about shouldn't exist in this world. The closest thing was said to be an ancient clan, the Jujin, who once lived beneath the East Sea. That clan has perished a long time ago. Who knows if any inheritance remains?"

"Thanks for telling me, Junior Sister." Qi Yuan felt dejected, but not surprised. Not every problem could be solved the instant it arose. He glanced at her again. "If you ever have troubles, just tell me. I may not be that strong, but I can handle ordinary matters."

Caring for rich girls was everyone's responsibility. Besides, she'd helped him plenty. Qi Yuan understood the principle of repaying a peach with a jade.

Jiang Lingsu smiled faintly. "Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother."

Senior Brother might be silly, scatterbrained, and not all that strong. Still, he's good-natured.

***

When Qi Yuan logged back in, he was startled to find the core grounds had changed. The countless souls had returned from "party."

Qi Yuan was delighted. "Little Bride, why don't you stay here in the pit? I'll be right back."

However, Little Bride's cold little hand tugged at his sleeve. A wooden plaque with a crying face slipped from her sleeve. She didn't want him to go alone.

"Ugh, does this mean we have to fuse every single day? Feels like being married and paying the marital tax!"

He still merged with her anyway. Blood-red armor enveloped him, its barbed spikes gleaming with deadly menace. Just like that, he became a towering figure, sharp and crimson—a stark contrast to the souls.

Qi Yuan raised his forty-meter giant sword. "My sword thirsts for blood! Too bad you all don't bleed! Just die!"

With no flourish, he swung down, relying on sheer raw power. Close combat specialists and spellcasters had techniques. He had brute force.

A single swing sent heat waves roaring several meters high. Dozens of souls failed to dodge in time, perishing to his blade. Level 90 and level 89 were worlds apart. With Little Bride's boost, he could go on a rampage as long as he wasn't surrounded by several level 90 souls. He did, however, need to watch his energy use.

"Die!!!"

Like a monster, Qi Yuan rampaged through their little paradise, slashing wildly. Thanks to the surprise of his first strike, nearly a hundred souls perished before they could react.

After that, his pace slowed. "Too slow. At this rate, it'll take half a month to gather the Perfect Five Elements! Ugh, I'm so useless. Totally worthless!"

***

Meanwhile, not far from the core grounds, four pairs of eyes watched the Garment Division Master's battle.

The original three had been joined by a small, thin man. His eyes widened in disbelief at the way the essences flowed to Garment Division Master as if for free.

The red-robed man smugly stretched out his palm. "Li Qin, hand over the Water Crystal."

Li Qin's face twisted in pain. "This is ridiculous! Why?!"

Earlier, the red-robed man had claimed that the new Garment Division Master comprehended Water Essence almost instantly—one kill, one thread.

Li Qin didn't believe him, and readily agreed when the red-robed man proposed a bet.

The red-robed man pocketed the crystal, preening.

Full of disbelief, Tang Yan couldn't take his eyes off Garment Division Master. "Look! He's comprehended Earth Essence as well! No, Fire Essence too!"

The others turned around. Sure enough, Garment Division Master cut through Water Souls, then charged into the others. An overwhelming flood of elemental essence spread out.

The four onlookers were dumbstruck. At first, Tang Yan thought that the man possessed the highest water affinity. Now, it became apparent that he possessed the highest affinity for all five elements.

The red-robed man blurted out, "Doesn't this mean he could reach Perfect Five Elements in less than a month?"

His face flushed red. After all, he'd just badmouthed Garment Division Master, calling him arrogant, conceited, and delusional for dreaming of Perfect Five Elements. However, the man was being realistic. At this rate, he'd probably succeed in a month or two.

"Forget the Perfect Five Elements, he'll command the Five Elements Forbidden Zone at this rate! What talent..." Tang Yan gritted his teeth, the usually refined scholar throwing aside all composure. His voice broke, tears streaming down his face. "Could it be that heaven itself has taken pity on us?"

The alien demons were so powerful that even the Celestial God, at his peak, was bested by them. Later, countless experts who'd reached their final years entered Heaven's End, hoping to probe the demons' depths. Yet, most returned empty-handed.

Even the metal-armored Celestial God had fallen to mere demon spawns. If the spawns were unstoppable, what hope was there against the alien demons themselves? They seemed invincible, impossible to kill.