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Chapter 29 - Dream Realm

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Eun-Chae's mother approached her with an all-knowing face.

"Chae-Chae, no matter what path you choose, mother will always support you."

"Sure...?"

Eun-Chae was confused, but she didn't waste much time and brought snacks and refreshments for Hao-Yun and Evelyn.

"I'm back."

"So, Hao-Yun, did you find any leads?"

"Hmm... for now, the biggest problem is how to enter this Dream Realm."

"Did you receive any items from the System?"

"Mmm... Item-Item-item... I remember something dropped from the sky when I received this Task. Where did I put it?"

"Things drop from the sky when you receive a Task? What are you, a child of heaven?"

"Found it!"

"Show me-Show me..."

It was a strange-looking mask with fur on it. Hao-Yun wasn't sure how to use this item. But he knew the best thing they could do in this situation.

"Eun-Chae, try asking your System how to use this item?"

"Hmm? Are you sure it would reply?"

"Just try it!"

Eun-Chae asked her System panel.

"It replied!"

"What did it say?"

"It said, if I hang this mask on a wall and sleep, my soul would reach the Dream Realm."

"Just that?"

"Hmm..."

"Okay, let's try it."

"Evelyn, will you tag along with us?"

"Evelyn... Evelyn?"

"Are you still mad about that? I already apologized to you..."

"I'm not mad..."

"So, will you go or not?"

"I don't have anything else to do for the time being, so I'll go."

Eun-Chae hung the strange mask on her room's wall. But nothing seemed to have changed. Still, they tried sleeping. Evelyn was the first to sleep, followed by Eun-Chae, but Hao-Yun found it difficult.

He was a person who gazed at stars for hours in the night without any trace of sleepiness. How could he possibly feel sleepy when it's still 11:30 A.M?

After struggling for an hour, Hao-Yun finally slept. It was the first time he was still conscious in his sleep; he was surrounded by darkness and couldn't feel his body.

Soon, his surroundings begin to change. It gained more colors. Hao-Yun once again found himself in the same clouds where he was during the Job change.

He saw two unfamiliar people waving their hands at him. One of them was in a delicate yet regal form, dressed in celestial robes. The other one was wearing an aura of power that could bend time; her gaze alone could freeze space.

Hao-Yun tried avoiding them, but they chased and surrounded him.

"Why are you running? It's me, Evelyn! And she's Eun-Chae."

"What? How did you change your appearance?"

"First, look at yourself."

"Me? Whoa... Who is this person?"

Hao-Yun was radiating pressure that made stars kneel. The three had become temporary ancient beings of heaven.

"So, it's like we're in someone else's bodies to keep our Identity private. System's so thoughtful."

"Is he always like that?" Eun-Chae asked Evelyn.

"No, he only shows this side to people he trusts."

Eun-Chae was really happy to hear this. A big shot like Hao-Yun trusted her enough to show his other side to her.

"Should we go?"

"But where?"

"Hmm... how about asking someone? Since we are already disguised, we won't find out?"

"It might not be as easy as you think..." Evelyn was worried that their journey wouldn't go as smoothly.

The three begin walking, but there is no other person except them. No matter where they looked, they didn't see anything except clouds. They weren't even sure where they were going.

Eventually, Hao-Yun felt frustrated. He didn't know where they were. Evelyn told him to calm down, but he couldn't. It was like they were trapped in a rat wheel; no matter how much they walked or ran, it was futile.

In anger, Hao-Yun punched the ground. His temporary divine body released celestial energy. Within moments, the clouds disperse, and they found themselves at the entrance of a town.

"The clouds dispersed with Hao-Yun's punch? How is that possible?" Eun-Chae didn't believe her eyes.

"Hmm... It was a trial."

"What trial?" Eun-Chae was even more confused.

"Evelyn, you know what I mean, right?"

"Yeah, it was a trial to prove that the being who is trying to enter the heavens is God or some other Divine Being. Only by releasing their divine powers could they continue."

"You're really smart, as expected of my..."

"My... what?"

"No-nothing."

"Hmm...?"

Evelyn knew something was going on with Hao-Yun, but she didn't point it out since the timing wasn't right.

The Three then entered the town. It resembled an Ancient Empire floating in the midair. Above, jade pagodas and crimson palaces sparkled in the sky, and bells were chiming in the soft wind.

Each building towered like a monument. Massive silk banners, embroidered with runes and phoenix feathers, danced between towers as the wind hit them.

Cloud gardens were floating nearby, with flowering trees rooted in nothing; their petals were pink and white in color.

Eun-Chae was overwhelmed with this view.

"Does... Does Heaven also have towns and cities?"

Suddenly, Hao-Yun noticed something out of place.

"Hey, you two, look, what's that?"

"Hmm... doesn't that person resemble a Greek God?"

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking, barely enough clothes, that muscular build, with that golden hair, there's no mistaking it's a Greek God."

"But what's a Greek god doing here?"

"Eun-Chae? Oi! Eun-Chae..."

"Aba-ba-ba..."

"What happened? Where are you looking?"

"I was looking there, look Hao-Yun, Evelyn, there, those two giant birds."

"Hmm...? What's special about birds?"

"Wait... Why are those birds becoming larger? They are flying towards here."

Evelyn snapped, "You idiots, those aren't birds, look again, those are dragons. But, they don't resemble each other; it's like one of them is a Chinese Dragon, and the other is from Norse Mythology."

"Seriosuly, Man! What's going on here?"

The Three walked through the streets in shock as they came to realize that Divine Beings and Gods from different Mythologies are so friendly with each other.

It actually looked like Heaven. All beings were happy, they didn't discriminate against anyone, and they ate divine food. In exchange for buying and selling things, they didn't use money; they used a wisp of their energy. The more expensive a thing is, the more energy it requires.

Hao-Yun liked their trading system.

"Isn't that really a good way of exchanging things?"

"Why do you think so?" Evelyn asked.

"Like, just look at them, they are giving out their energy to buy something. But energy could be replenished easily if given some time."

"So, what you are trying to say is that Divine Beings can buy whatever they want with their energy and can replenish it with some rest."

"Yeah! Exactly! That way, the seller becomes strong, but the buyer doesn't become weaker; it's a win-win system."

"But whatever that means, it doesn't help us in any way."

"No, that's not right, Chae-Chae... It benefits our current situation."

"Ah, please don't call me that!"

Evelyn was curious. She wanted to know what idea Hao-Yun thought of this time.

"Hao-Yun, can you explain?"

"It's simple, we can just talk with any of the weak-looking Divine beings and give them some of our energy in exchange for the information about the Temple of Divine Might."

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