This was a world stitched together from childlike dreams and whimsical fantasy.
The streams didn't flow with water, but with creamy, sweet milk. Every blooming flower carried the taste of a different candy. The dirt was rich, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate, and the rocks were spongy layers of cake.
Roasted chickens soared through the sky. Boiled cows galloped over hills. Even the birds and beasts came pre-cooked—just wave your hand, and they'd land neatly at your feet, ready to be devoured.
Small, brightly colored fairies held hands, skipping through meadows in endless laughter. There was no violence here, no betrayal, no bloodshed. Only a serene, blissful peace.
Bai Xiaoxi wandered through this edible wonderland with stars in her eyes, indulging herself in every sweet treat the land had to offer. Whenever she grew tired of one flavor, she simply skipped to the next. Every step brought something new and delightful.
With a light bounce, Bai Xiaoxi landed atop a cloud made of cotton candy, plush and warm. She snuggled into it and, still smiling, slowly drifted off to sleep inside her dream within a dream.
Inside the inn, snores filled the rooms. Everyone was fast asleep, caught in the trap of their own perfect fantasies.
Everyone… except one.
---
Ye Junlin leaned by the window, staring at the moonlight outside with a faint trace of melancholy.
He was still miffed about being blamed for something he hadn't done. Seriously, he thought his good looks and raw power would've earned him a cult following across Wuzhou by now, but no.
All he got were critics and haters.
Why?
Because some two-bit con artist was running around pretending to be him—smearing his image and dragging his glorious name through the mud.
Ye Junlin sighed. "What a mess. The world's gone to hell. People these days really have no standards."
[Beep. Host has not checked in for two months. Would you like to check in now?]
The system's prompt chimed into his thoughts.
"Yeah, whatever. Check in."
[Beep. Congratulations! Host has received: one million high-grade Spirit Crystals!]
[Beep. Congratulations! Host has received: five top-tier Fire Blast Talismans!]
[Beep. Congratulations! Host has received: ten bags of premium-grade beast feed!]
[Beep. Congratulations! Host has received: the number one flute in all realms—the Eternal Life Flute!]
All rewards were automatically stored in the system's inventory.
Ye Junlin raised an eyebrow. "The Eternal Life Flute? What rank is it?"
[Beep. It has no set grade. Its power depends entirely on the host's flute-playing skill and cultivation.]
"Hmm…" Ye Junlin smirked.
Oh, right—he was top-tier at playing the flute too.
Feeling restless and still irritated about the whole impersonator situation, he figured he might as well play something to unwind.
With a flick of his wrist, a glowing jade-blue flute appeared in his hand. Its body shimmered faintly with a green hue, radiating an ancient, mysterious energy.
The Eternal Life Flute.
Ye Junlin brought it to his lips and began to play.
No spiritual energy. No cultivation boost. Just instinct and talent.
The melody that poured out was soft, bright, and otherworldly. Like wind dancing across water, or starlight brushing the surface of the earth.
Without any spiritual force behind it, the music still rippled outward, stirring the air itself.
Inside the room, a breeze picked up from nowhere. Ye Junlin's silver-white hair flowed gently. His eyes glinted with serene brilliance, and his entire being seemed touched by divinity, as if a celestial being had descended to play in the mortal realm.
---
Outside.
The serpent clan members—still positioned in formation—suddenly stiffened.
"What's that sound?!"
Their expressions twisted with panic. Someone was disturbing the ritual.
Yet, oddly enough, the music didn't seem harmful.
It was just… beautiful.
Peaceful.
"I… I haven't heard anything like this since I was a child in the tribe." One snake-headed being mumbled, eyes dreamy, tongue flicking out lazily. His body started to sway with the rhythm.
"Turou, what the hell are you doing?!" Yelu Gu snapped, eyes narrowing in warning.
But Turou didn't answer.
He just twirled, gracefully twisting like a dancer. His movement was strangely elegant—likely a trait of his serpentine physiology.
And then, one after another, the others started doing the same.
The formation began to fall apart as the evil serpent beings were all swept up in the melody, twisting and dancing like drunken snakes at a music festival.
Waists swayed, hips rolled. The sight was... unforgettable in the worst way.
"You… all of you…" Yelu Gu was dumbfounded.
He had never—never—seen anything so completely ridiculous.
And then it hit him.
It was the flute.
The melody had activated some hidden trait in their bloodline, compelling them to move along with it.
"Who's playing that damn flute?! Show yourself!" he roared, fangs flashing as fury burned in his eyes.
But even as the words left his mouth, his pupils lost focus. His face slackened.
He began to sway like a sunflower in the wind.
With a goofy grin.
The moment the last of them fell into the trance, the dream formation collapsed.
---
Inside Dragon Gate Inn.
Fan Dezhen's eyes shot open. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
"…A trap!"
A cultivator at his level should never fall into a dream without cause.
Someone had tampered with his consciousness.
"This is bad!"
With a flicker of spiritual light, he vanished from his room and appeared in the next.
An Miaoyi sat cross-legged in the center of her room, a peaceful smile on her face. Completely unaware.
She was still dreaming.
"Miss, wake up!" Fan Dezhen formed a hand seal and sent a stream of energy to her brow.
An Miaoyi stirred slightly. Her long eyelashes fluttered before her eyes opened, dazed.
"…Uncle Fan?"
"We've been caught in a dream formation," Fan Dezhen said grimly.
"A dream formation?"
An Miaoyi's expression turned cold as she tried to recall the feeling. "No wonder I didn't want to wake up. The deeper I fell into it, the more drained I felt."
"Exactly. One of the ancient formations. Extremely sinister. People remain asleep, unaware, until their minds collapse from within."
Fan Dezhen's expression was grave.
He was a Great Ascension expert—and even he had been caught.
If he hadn't woken up, he might have died in silence, without even lifting a finger.
He shivered at the thought.
An Miaoyi was still shaken. "Why would anyone use something so twisted? Are they trying to wipe everyone out in one sweep?"
"Likely. Either to kill or to steal from them. Stay here. I'll handle the rest."
With that, he vanished again.
---
Above the inn.
Fan Dezhen's figure hovered in midair. His eyes scanned the darkness.
His expression tightened. "Underworld Abyss creatures!"
---
Meanwhile.
Yelu Gu and the other serpent priests were just coming to their senses. The music had stopped. The spell was broken.
"What just happened?" one of them asked nervously. "Are we still on track?"
Yelu Gu's face was dark with killing intent. "We lost time, but most of the humans should still be asleep. If we act quickly, we can salvage this!"
Just then—BOOM!
A fierce voice echoed through the night.
"STOP!"