Chapter 16 The Dream City

An Qisheng entered the city not because of Da Hua Lu's clamoring, nor on a whim.

Rather, it was a single glance from high in the sky that allowed him to sense the unusual changes in the atmosphere within this city.

A dreamscape.

The people in this city, and even the city itself, did not exist in reality, but were manifestations of a dream.

However, the divine will of the person who created this city was exceptionally profound, and everything created by his thoughts was almost real.

Within this city, from people and beasts to plants and dust, nothing was false.

For those whose understanding did not reach that level, this was reality.

Because the world of all flesh and blood creatures was originally a world of perception gathered from various senses. Even Tu Ba and Gongyang Yan could not see any flaws because their perceptions were overwhelmed.

But deceiving him was naturally impossible.

"Oh?"

The old man in the bamboo hat raised his head slightly, a trace of ripple appearing in his deep, aged eyes, and then he shook his head: "To attain the Dao in a dream is the great path of my Buddha. This humble monk dares not speak of 'Dao' with these meager skills."

As he spoke, the old man finished the wine in his cup, showing it empty.

'Attain the Dao in a dream...'

Tu Ba's heart trembled.

Attaining the Dao in a dream was a method that resounded like thunder throughout the cultivation world.

Legend has it that this method of attaining the Dao in a dream was the method by which the legendary 'Brahma Saint' attained the Dao!

Could this old man in the bamboo hat be a monk from Mount Sumeru?

An Qisheng picked up his wine cup, swirling it gently, causing ripples to form within, and the fragrance of the wine wafted out. Without hesitation, he drank it all in one gulp.

"Indeed, it is good wine. This great monk has a good palate."

His gaze was clear, and a vast and brilliant halo could be faintly seen flashing within. This old monk's cultivation seemed to be even more profound than Qing Wuju's.

His temperament and cultivation were especially superior, with his light shining outward, yet without a trace of his aura leaking.

He seemed to be right in front of him, yet not.

Illusory and real.

Putting down the cup, An Qisheng nodded slightly: "However, I have heard that Mount Sumeru has many precepts. Great monk, you have broken them."

This city was illusory, and the wine was naturally not real, but from its color to its taste, everything was of the highest quality. Even An Qisheng had to admit that the taste was excellent.

Its color, taste, and texture were all consistent with reality, so much so that even An Qisheng, who had seen through everything, could still feel the taste of the wine.

"My Buddha forbids all desires but does not extinguish human nature. Food and sex are the roots of humanity. Even if my Buddha knows, he will not care."

The old man in the bamboo hat smiled faintly, but he raised his hand and took off the bamboo hat: "Moreover, this old monk has not truly drunk wine."

This was a slightly thin old monk, his face like a withered tree, with deep wrinkles. Only his eyes, though filled with vicissitudes, were very bright.

They seemed to have the ability to see through people's hearts. Tu Ba only glanced at him and could not help but feel waves of palpitations in his heart.

"Huh?"

Just as Tu Ba was wondering, he suddenly heard Cai Xiaobai in his arms cry out in surprise: "It's gone, it's all gone!"

"What?"

Tu Ba was stunned, and then his pupils shrank.

He saw that the few guests on the fifth floor had all disappeared without anyone knowing when!

And along with them disappeared the faint noises in his ears.

The whole world suddenly became quiet, and for a time, only their voices remained between heaven and earth.

Involuntarily, a chill arose in his heart.

"Sect Leader!"

At this moment, Gongyang Yan's exclamation came along with Da Hua Lu's high-pitched cry.

This little old man rode the donkey straight into the fifth floor, seeming to be greatly frightened: "This city, this city is haunted! I..."

His voice stopped abruptly.

Gongyang Yan's face froze. He had broken through the window and landed right in front of the old monk, who swept his gaze over him. Instantly, he was struck by lightning, freezing in place and unable to move.

It was not just Gongyang Yan.

Tu Ba and Cai Xiaobai, and even Da Hua Lu, who had opened its mouth wide and was spraying saliva, all lost their voices at the same time, as if they had become people in a painting.

It looked extremely strange.

An Qisheng smiled, seemingly not caring about the state of the others, nor arguing with him. He moved his fingers holding the wine glass slightly, and also raised his glass:

"It is impolite not to reciprocate. Great monk, have a cup of mine as well."

"Hmm?"

The old monk's long white eyebrows twitched, and his gaze fell into the cup. He saw that wine had materialized from nothing in the jade-like cup, slowly rippling.

He was somewhat surprised.

This city was an outward manifestation of a corner of the pure land in his heart. Although it was no different from the outside world, it was actually two different worlds.

Without his permission, anyone who entered this city would lose their original cognition. Even those whose cultivation was not much different from his would never be able to use their supernatural powers within it.

This person clearly...

Thinking in his heart, he raised his eyebrows again, and the wrinkles on the old monk's face seemed to relax:

"I thought Daoist was only physically strong and had a firm will, but I didn't expect Daoist to be an expert as well. This little monk's meager skills are truly embarrassing."

With that said, the old monk did not care whether there was anything wrong with the wine in the cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Drinking the wine and putting down the cup, An Qisheng smiled faintly, his gaze deep but without a smile: "Although it seems naive, it can't be considered embarrassing."

To outline a city from his mind was naturally nothing to An Qisheng, but the city that this old monk had built was almost identical to reality.

If this old monk left this place, without any means, this city could truly be transformed from illusion to reality under the nourishment of spiritual energy.

Such supernatural power was enough to make him take it seriously.

Too bad...

"Heh~"

The old monk raised an eyebrow slightly, then lowered his gaze again, put his hands together in front of his chest, and chanted a Buddhist prayer, saying:

"This old monk is Fan Wuyi, may I ask what Daoist is called, who is your teacher, where is your immortal mountain, what method do you study, and which ancestor do you worship?"

"Fan Wuyi?!"

Before An Qisheng could speak, Gongyang Yan, who had been standing frozen for a long time, exclaimed in horror. He looked at the old monk in front of him, his face twitching violently:

"You, you are Fan Wudao, the Dao Lord of Fan Wudao, Fan Wuyi?! You, you are still alive???"

Fan Wuyi!

Looking at the old monk in front of him, a monstrous wave rose in Gongyang Yan's heart. This name was more than just thunderous to him, and even to the cultivators of the entire Northwest Dao?

Fan Wudao had dominated the Northwest Dao for more than ten thousand years, but these ten thousand years were by no means the peak of Fan Wudao, and were even a great decline!

The glory of Fan Wudao was even before the founding of the Great Zhou, and was a truly manifested great sect!

Legend has it that before the founding of the Great Zhou, the heavens and earth were dark, and all living beings were in decline. At that time, winds and clouds rose, and heroes rose together, fighting and competing for the 'Xia Ding'.

Among them was the Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou, who was known as the 'Emperor's Son'.

The Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou rose from humble beginnings, holding the Panlong Staff, and conquered three thousand military prefectures of Nanzhan, establishing the three-thousand-year foundation of Great Zhou, immeasurable glory.

And Fan Wudao was one of the twenty-eight daos that the Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou had established to support the imperial court.

At its most glorious, it commanded nineteen prefectures of Great Zhou, and could be called the top of all sects under the imperial court!

And the Dao Lord at that time was Fan Wuyi!

This was an old antique who had experienced the change of imperial dynasties, overthrown Great Xia, and competed with the heroes of the world!

"Fan Wuyi..."

An Qisheng's gaze flickered. What Gongyang Yan knew, he naturally knew as well.

And even knew more.

When Fan Wudao was at its peak, it was known as the king of all sects, only below the imperial court, but this glory did not last long.

It disappeared along with the disappearance of Fan Wuyi, who had single-handedly pushed Fan Wudao to its peak.

The extreme flourished and then declined. Fan Wudao, which once held the nineteen daos of Great Zhou and was the king of all sects, now could not even protect the frontier dao.

"Fan Wudao ah..."

Fan Wuyi first said to himself, then sighed: "Thirty thousand years of changes in the mortal world, does anyone still remember this name? He said that it would be famous for all eternity, and it really is so, hehe..."

"You, you really are the Dao Lord of Fan Wudao, Fan Wuyi?"

Gongyang Yan staggered back a few steps, still somewhat frightened: "But legend has it that you are already, how could it be..."

He still didn't quite believe it.

Although a person like Fan Wuyi had the ability to live long, longevity was not immortality. Even a great cultivator of the Primordial Spirit would disappear upon death.

This was the rule of heaven and earth, and no one could violate it.

Not to mention, if Fan Wuyi was not dead, how could he sit by and watch Fan Wudao fall to this point today.

"What does it matter whether one lives or dies?"

Fan Wuyi didn't seem to care. He only glanced at the old Daoist whose height was less than four feet, then turned to look at An Qisheng again: "Daoist?"

An Qisheng gathered his thoughts and replied calmly: "This humble Daoist is Hong Xuan, and I learned from the Hunyi Sect of Shouyang Mountain."

"Shouyang Mountain? It doesn't seem to be a famous mountain or holy land..."

Fan Wuyi frowned slightly, seemingly having never heard of it before, and couldn't help but shake his head: "This little monk is ignorant."

"It is just a small sect, it is not strange that the great monk does not know it."

An Qisheng's expression was as usual, seemingly not surprised by the identity of this old monk, nor did he care whether he knew about the Hunyi Sect. He just raised his cup again and said:

"I have disturbed you greatly this time, I will take my leave now."

"Hmm?"

Fan Wuyi's gaze condensed, seemingly not expecting the Daoist in front of him to say this.

But then he smiled: "Daoist, why rush to leave? Since you have come to the city, why not stay a few more days? Sitting down and discussing the Dao is a joy in the world!"

"No, no."

An Qisheng just shook his head: "We are just passing by, and we still have important matters to attend to, so it is not good to delay any longer."

"Not busy, not busy."

Fan Wuyi also shook his head, the smile on his withered face undiminished: "If Daoist has something to do, you may as well talk to this little monk, perhaps, there will be gains..."

'This...'

Looking at the old monk in front of him, speaking words that seemed like he was trying his best to keep old friends he hadn't seen in many years, Gongyang Yan couldn't help but tremble in his heart.

He vaguely felt something was wrong.

Da Hua Lu and Tu Ba, who had quietly slipped to the side, felt their scalps tingle, and the hairs on their bodies were about to stand on end.

This, this is obviously not right...

Bang!

Sure enough, in the next moment, as everyone's hearts skipped a beat, the old monk heavily placed the cup down, the smile on his face disappearing, replaced by a deep indifference:

"Daoist, do you really want to leave?"

His voice was neither high nor low, and there was no strange force in it, but the hearts of Tu Ba, Gongyang Yan and the others turned cold, and they only felt a bone-chilling aura enveloping every inch of the surrounding void.

"Even if Fan Wuyi's real body is here, I will leave if I want to, and stay if I want to."

An Qisheng's expression remained unchanged, and he looked at the old monk sitting across the table, his tone calm as smoke, his gaze deep and heavy like the sea:

"A mere wisp of obsession, do you also want to keep people?"