When Zhou Ming used the method of the Hell Soul Cleansing Scripture to connect his will with Shangguan Wuji and enter his dream, and the Ghost Doctor intervened to stabilize this connection, sending everyone else into that dream world using Zhou Ming as a bridge, this originally independent dream world was disturbed and began to undergo changes that no one could detect.
For example, time in the dream became extremely fast.
A dream is not reality; there is no material existence, and time is no longer objective, but exists through the subjective consciousness of the dreamer, known as 'time perception'.
Time perception in dreams differs from reality; sometimes one feels they had a very long dream, but in reality, only a few minutes passed after waking. Other times, one feels they only dozed off for a moment, but a long time has passed upon waking.
The so-called 'Nanke dream' is exactly this.
And now, time in this dream passed extremely quickly. The Ghost Doctor had just settled everyone and hadn't even descended from the bronze dream tree when he heard a scream from behind him.
He turned around and saw Zhang Bin bleeding from all seven orifices, trembling all over. He only managed to open his eyes and let out a scream before closing them again and collapsing into unconsciousness.
The Ghost Doctor was greatly alarmed. He quickly stepped forward, grabbed Zhang Bin, and with a few leaps, retreated into the passage, swiftly administering aid to Zhang Bin.
Fortunately, Zhang Bin only had internal injuries and his internal organs and Meridians were not shattered. With the Ghost Doctor's treatment, he quickly regained consciousness.
"I, I'm not dead?" Zhang Bin, after opening his eyes, touched his neck with trembling hands, his face filled with wild joy.
"I'm not dead! Hahaha, I'm not dead!"
"Don't get too excited yet," the Ghost Doctor said, holding down the ecstatic Zhang Bin. "Who said you would die? Dying in a dream is equivalent to a spiritual injury; you'll be fine after some rest. But if you keep getting so excited, it won't be so easy to recover."
"But, but Zhou Ming said..."
"He lied to you."
Zhang Bin was speechless.
"Alright, I'll treat you. While I do, you can tell me about your experience."
The Ghost Doctor took out silver needles and began to apply acupuncture to Zhang Bin.
Zhang Bin hesitated for a moment, then began to recount his experience.
He entered the dream world and found himself in a city. He discovered that the world was indeed as Zhou Ming had described: pavilions, terraces, and towers, with men and women coming and going, just like the outside world, with almost no discernible difference.
The biggest difference was that everyone there, regardless of gender or age, carried a long sword at their waist, and scenes of sword duels and competitions were everywhere on the streets.
Occasionally, someone would be killed and lie dead in the street, but no one paid any attention. Within moments, the body would gradually disappear, and passersby would look normal, showing no surprise.
Zhang Bin was excited, but also remembered Zhou Ming's words to act discreetly. He found a restaurant, intending to observe the city's situation before making any plans.
He ordered a table full of food and wine, tasting each dish. He found that even the taste of the food and wine was no different from reality. He immediately ate with great relish, enjoying the meal immensely.
Unfortunately, he overlooked one point: being in a dream, he was penniless.
After eating and drinking at the restaurant, when it was time to pay, Zhang Bin couldn't produce a single copper coin. The waiter, in a fit of rage, immediately drew the sword from his waist, ready to fight him to the death.
Although Zhang Bin had the special buff for beginners granted by the System, and due to the danger of this world, the buff Rank was even raised to Cold Weapon Lv2.
But he had never fought anyone. Even if he knew how to strike, the sword in his hand was very hesitant. How could he possibly defeat the waiter?
In less than ten moves, he was disarmed, and in one more move, his throat was slit, ending his life.
Poor Zhang Bin was only in the dream for about an hour before being expelled, gaining almost nothing and suffering a body full of injuries.
After listening to Zhang Bin's account, the Ghost Doctor didn't know what to say. Just as he was about to offer some comfort, he heard another scream.
He looked up and was surprised to find it was Feng Jianye. He quickly flew over and brought him back.
Compared to Zhang Bin, Feng Jianye's situation was much better. He casually wiped the blood from his nostrils and grumbled, "Bad luck! Really bad luck!"
It turned out that in this short time in reality, nearly two days had passed in the dream.
Feng Jianye, as a veteran Reincarnator, although a bit simple-minded, would not carelessly court death. He diligently challenged opponents one by one, gradually improving his strength.
Unfortunately, when one is unlucky, even drinking cold water can cause choking. Feng Jianye hadn't challenged many people when he was noticed by a passing expert who insisted on having a match with him.
That expert was truly formidable. In fifty moves, he made Feng Jianye sweat profusely; in seventy moves, he stripped him of his armor and weapons; in a hundred moves, a sword pierced Feng Jianye's heart, killing him beyond any doubt.
"Ah! Time in the dream passes so quickly!"
"And, just as we initially suspected, the beings formed by Wuji's will in the dream have an instinctive repulsion towards outsiders. They will unconsciously challenge and kill them, expelling them from the dream."
The Ghost Doctor's gaze fell upon the figures on the bronze dream tree, and a hint of worry appeared on his face.
"I'm afraid they won't last much longer either."
Everything was as the Ghost Doctor expected. In a very short time, one person after another was killed in the dream and then expelled from it.
Initially, the newcomers fell one by one, including Qiu Shuang. After Gu Xianghai, who lasted the longest, was kicked out, Kaka also withdrew from the dream after about two minutes.
Following closely, within less than a minute, Miss Qin also woke up.
Then, three minutes later, Shangguan Nianci woke up. As a plot character, although he wasn't strong, he lasted longer than several veterans who were far more powerful than him.
This confirmed Zhou Ming's words: the dream world is fair, and even the weak have a chance to gain a rich harvest.
Nearly ten minutes later, Feng Yuanzheng suddenly opened his eyes and sat up from the bronze dream tree.
His eyes were filled with confusion as he looked around, gradually realizing where he was.
Then his gaze fell on Zhou Ming, and then he looked at the others in the distant passage. He immediately understood that among everyone, the only one still alive in the dream was Zhou Ming.
"Dare to plot against me, I'll settle the score with you when you wake up!"
Feng Yuanzheng snorted coldly and, without delay, jumped off the bronze dream tree and walked into the passage.
"When that kid also gets kicked out of the dream, we'll probably need to rest for a while before we can enter the dream again."
Feng Yuanzheng shook his head and said.
Dying in a dream, of course, does not cause physical harm, but it is very taxing on the spirit. Zhang Bin bleeding from all seven orifices was due to his weak spirit, which caused his physical injuries to be more severe after the spiritual injury.
For a strong person like Feng Yuanzheng, with a powerful spirit, the spiritual injury caused by that one death in the dream would only make him feel a bit mentally scattered for a while.
"I've already prepared calming soup for you. Later, when that brat Zhou Ming also gets kicked out, you all drink it and have a good sleep. I guarantee you'll wake up refreshed tomorrow."
The Ghost Doctor chuckled and said.
Everyone understood that breaking the dream and waking Shangguan Wuji was not a task for a single day. They would likely have to stay here for many days, repeating events like today many times.
Feng Yuanzheng and the others naturally had no objections. Now that it was confirmed the Dragon Vein was here, they only needed to guard this place and block any invading enemies; they had no desire to go anywhere else.
The newcomers certainly wouldn't say anything. This was already part of their task, and with veterans helping them throughout, they were more than happy.
Although Miss Qin was worried about her team's mission, she always followed her Captain's orders. Since the Captain said to awaken Shangguan Wuji first, she would not say another word.
And so, a group of people sat in the passage, waiting for Zhou Ming to wake up.
However, the waiting time turned out to be unexpectedly long.
"It's been the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn, hasn't it?"
..."Ah! It's been the time it takes for a cup of tea!"
..."Oh my goodness, half an hour has passed!"
A full hour passed. Looking at Zhou Ming, who was still lying motionless on the bronze dream tree, everyone's eyes were filled with shock and worry.
If it weren't for the veterans' strong five senses, allowing them to hear Zhou Ming's steady breathing and heartbeat, they might even suspect that Zhou Ming had passed away on the spot.
"Ghost Doctor! Why hasn't Zhou Ming come out yet after so long? Is something wrong?"
Miss Qin asked nervously, her heart full of worry for her Captain.
Feng Jianye spent only about six or seven minutes in reality, but nearly two days in the dream.
Feng Yuanzheng stayed the longest; half an hour in reality meant ten days had passed in the dream.
And now, Zhou Ming had been asleep for a total of an hour and a half, which meant a full month in the dream!
How did he survive a month in a world full of Dao of the Sword experts who instinctively repelled outsiders?
Did he find a place where no one could find him and hide for an entire month?
But hiding would be meaningless, and everyone knew that Zhou Ming wouldn't do something so pointless.
"Miss Qin, is your Captain also a master of the Dao of the Sword?" Feng Yuanzheng couldn't help but ask.
Miss Qin shook her head: "I don't know. Before, I only saw the Captain use a saber; I've never seen him use a sword."
"Is his saber technique formidable?"
Miss Qin recalled Zhou Ming's past battles and nodded firmly: "Extremely formidable!"
Feng Yuanzheng's expression grew even more serious.
Formidable with a saber, formidable with a sword, and this incredibly profound illusionary dream technique, not to mention previously demonstrated abilities like flight and plant manipulation.
Is this really a Reincarnator who has only experienced his fourth mission? Are young people nowadays all this fierce?
Suddenly, Feng Yuanzheng thought of a possibility.
"Could it be? He comes from a plot world? Or... a new world not yet developed by the Main God!"
The thought, which he himself barely believed, flashed through his mind, making Feng Yuanzheng's heart pound.
Although the possibility was minuscule, if it were true, then this would be an incredibly huge Opportunity!
Listening to David Tao's 'Black Tangerine' again, it's still hard to imagine this is a twenty-year-old song, a masterpiece in every sense...