The Great Dream Chronicle is a profound secret method for cultivating the soul. As the national religion of the Great Li Dynasty, this secret method possesses a deep understanding of the essence of the soul.
The two souls of heaven and earth are often external, with only the life soul residing within the body.
The gathering of the Heavenly Soul, Earthly Soul, and Life Soul is referred to as 'Three Spirits Converge.'
However, achieving 'Three Spirits Converge' is extremely difficult; even cultivators cannot control this convergence, as the Heavenly Soul and Earthly Soul only occasionally resonate with the Life Soul.
To truly achieve 'Three Spirits Converge' and unify the divine souls requires an exceptionally high realm.
Zhao Xing is practicing the introductory chapter of the Great Dream Chronicle, and his Life Soul is continuously growing stronger, equivalent to cultivating the Life Soul.
Although the Heavenly Soul and Earthly Soul cannot yet be considered 'cultivation,' the relationship between these two is also strengthening.
Upon realizing his restless mind, Zhao Xing immediately deduced that it was the Life Soul being stirred by the Earthly Soul.
After practicing the introductory chapter, Zhao Xing closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep in the carriage, his breathing becoming calm.
He soon entered a dream.
“Buzz~”
In the dream, Zhao Xing saw a carriage.
“Purple-horned horse pulling the cart, Brother Shen has really made it big now, even has such a ride.”
“Don’t mock me; this is just a matched breed, merely carrying a bit of exotic beast bloodline.”
The carriage traveled along the official road outside the city, and this scene perfectly replicated Zhao Xing's memories, including his conversation with Shen Zhui from yesterday, even down to every detail.
“This is the Dream Storage Method.”
“Completely replicating every detail, preserved within the dream.”
“From here, Shen Zhui and I leave the city, heading to Peaceful Town.”
Zhao Xing quietly felt the experience.
This was not merely a god's perspective; even the feelings were the same.
For example, the emotions Zhao Xing felt while teasing Shen Zhui, the joy during their conversation, the relaxation while petting a cat, and the tranquility he felt upon arriving at Peaceful Town, seeing farmers working in the fields.
“Through the Dream Storage Method, one can trace back all memories; emotions are merely the most superficial, even extreme insights can be relived.”
Zhao Xing used the Dream Storage Method to seek the cause of his restlessness; if it was indeed the Earthly Soul's stirring, he could feel it once more.
“Brother Zhao, hurry!”
“What’s the rush?”
This was Zhao Xing casting a spell, controlling the East Lake Pearl to absorb the clouds and rain above Peaceful Town.
At this moment, through the Dream Storage Method, Zhao Xing relived even the sensations he felt while casting the spell.
Then came the visit to the village chief's home in Peaceful Town, learning about Huang Silang's affairs, going to the Niu family courtyard, encountering Huang Silang, and then being dragged to work in the fields...
Throughout this process, Zhao Xing did not sense anything amiss.
He spent a peaceful night, and the next day.
Zhao Xing and Shen Zhui heard that Huang Silang had gone gambling again, rushing to the Niu family courtyard, then to Niu Gui's door...
“Hmm?”
Zhao Xing suddenly sensed a faint anomaly.
“Is it from this moment?”
“Is there a problem with the Niu family courtyard? Or is it Niu Gui?”
Upon entering the gate, Shen Zhui smashed the gambling table.
Huang Silang woke up, wanting to escape through the back door, but Shen Zhui blocked him, while Zhao Xing looked at the rice customers...
In the dream, the middle-aged man with prominent cheekbones spoke to him, while a stout woman stood beside him.
Throughout the process, the feeling of anomaly gradually intensified.
After exiting, the sensation slowly diminished until it quickly disappeared after walking far away.
“Hmm?”
In the dream, Zhao Xing repeatedly relived the moment, ultimately discovering that the peak of the anomalous feeling occurred in this scene:
“I am Chen Deshun, this is my humble wife, Wu Chen...”
After the middle-aged man finished speaking, the anomalous feeling reached its peak, then slowly weakened.
Although the overall sensation was very vague and hard to discern, Zhao Xing's Life Soul at this moment touched the wandering Earthly Soul.
Upon careful comparison, he noticed it.
After repeatedly reliving it several times, Zhao Xing discovered that the anomalous stirring of the Earthly Soul had indeed begun upon arriving at Peaceful Town.
“If we say that the anomalous stirring of the Earthly Soul from leaving the city to Peaceful Town is the normal value, we set it as one.”
“On the first day, encountering Huang Silang outside the Niu family courtyard, that is one point one.”
“On the second day, entering the Niu family courtyard and meeting Niu Gui, it reached one point five.”
“And speaking with that rice customer is two.”
Zhao Xing compared.
He waved his hand.
“Buzz~”
The scene in the dream changed, rewinding to the moment before entering the Niu family courtyard.
This time, Zhao Xing immersed himself in it, reliving it from a first-person perspective.
Activating the Dream Storage Method's 'Dream Simulation.'
“Niu Gui, will you let us in?” Zhao Xing asked, “Now that we are here, we are just casually looking around. If you invite us in later, it won’t be so easy.”
“Alright, please come in, gentlemen.”
After entering, Zhao Xing immediately looked at the group of rice customers squatting outside the hall, without waiting for Shen Zhui to act.
He simultaneously locked onto the middle-aged couple.
“Thunder Binding!”
Without a word, Zhao Xing's palm glowed with lightning, quickly forming a Thunder Binding Rope, locking onto the couple.
“Brother Zhao, what are you doing?” Shen Zhui was taken aback.
The seemingly simple and honest middle-aged couple looked bewildered after being bound.
“Thunderous Palm!”
Zhao Xing cast another lightning spell, slapping forward.
“Kill!” The seemingly simple and honest middle-aged couple suddenly turned fierce, and then a blood-colored figure erupted from their bodies, covered in countless twisted arms and heads, as if multiple flesh bodies were combined, then it exploded and rushed towards Zhao Xing.
“Boom!”
The entire Niu family courtyard was engulfed in this blood light, completely swallowing everything.
“Ah!”
The dream suddenly shattered, and Zhao Xing's Life Soul felt a jolt, then he woke from the dream.
“Meow!” Sensing his master's agitation, the wild cat arched its back, fur bristling, as if facing a life-and-death crisis.
“Brother Zhao, what happened to you?” Shen Zhui was startled, seeing Zhao Xing's face pale as death, devoid of color, and his breath had significantly weakened.
“I had a nightmare.” Zhao Xing smiled, wiping the sweat from his forehead, “Perhaps I’ve been too tired these past few days.”
“A nightmare?” Shen Zhui was puzzled, what kind of nightmare could cause such a reaction?
“I dreamt that my father was unwell.” Zhao Xing said, “Brother Shen, I’m worried about home; let’s not bother with Huang Silang for now. I’ll just remind the village chief, and we should head back to the city.”
“Alright.” Although Shen Zhui felt a bit puzzled, he didn’t ask further. Even though their trip to Peaceful Town ended early because of a dream, since Zhao Xing mentioned family, it was understandable.
“Drive~” The carriage turned around and headed towards Grain City.
In the Niu family courtyard, the man who had assumed the name Chen Deshun, the head of the Sanwan Hall, along with the deputy hall master, was working in the Niu family's fields with the rice customers.
Suddenly—
A flash of red light flickered in Chen Deshun's eyes, and a wave of agitation surged in his heart.
“Hmm?”
Chen Deshun's expression changed slightly, and he looked puzzled.
The woman beside him also stopped, and the two exchanged glances, quickly finding an excuse to leave and coming to a shaded locust tree.
“Did you feel that?” Chen Deshun looked at the woman.
“Hmm.” The woman nodded seriously. “What’s going on? Why did the Sovereign issue a warning?”
“Could it be that the spirit of the Temple of Divinity in Grain City is patrolling, triggering the warning?”
“Don’t know.” Chen Deshun's expression grew serious. “We need to go back and ask the protector; you and I should strengthen our protection first.”
“Should I go or will you?” the woman asked.
“I’ll go.” Chen Deshun replied, “My cultivation is higher than yours; I can handle it.”
“Alright.”
Chen Deshun faced the locust tree, secretly unfastening his clothing, then cut open his chest with his fingertip, revealing crimson blood.
The blood flowed out but did not fall; instead, it flowed across his abdomen, forming a pattern.
His gaze became dazed, his pupils lost focus, as the pattern slowly coalesced into a ghostly head, his eyes turning completely blood red.
On his abdomen, a twisted blood-colored face appeared.
The woman immediately crouched down, her hands supporting Chen Deshun's waist, pressing against his abdomen to absorb the blood.
After a moment, the blood completely vanished, and Chen Deshun returned to normal.
“Cough, cough... why did it take so much this time?” Chen Deshun's face was pale.
“I think we should leave Peaceful Town first.” The woman stood up and said, “This place is not suitable for long stays.”
“Alright, I’ll go inform the Niu family.”
“Clop, clop, clop~”
After the carriage entered the city, Zhao Xing let out a long breath.
While using the Dream Storage Method in Peaceful Town, his Life Soul received a response from the Earthly Soul, sending waves of agitation, making him feel alarmed, as if something was lurking.
But then it disappeared, so Zhao Xing did not dare to say much, nor did he dare to return to the Niu family to investigate, instead hastily returning to the city.
“Could this feeling be the avatar of an evil god from the Heavenly Profound Sect?” Zhao Xing recalled the methods of the Heavenly Profound Sect; whenever they caused trouble in the Great Zhou, they would invariably carry the image of an evil god, hiding an evil spirit avatar within.
Just like when he went to find the river dredger and encountered Meng Yun carrying the avatar of the East Lake Lord.
In his previous life, Zhao Xing had joined the Heavenly Profound Sect's camp, so he was well aware of these methods. To evade surveillance, one must have this thing to cooperate with the Heavenly Profound Sect's concealment techniques.
He just didn’t expect that by sensing the Earthly Soul through the Dream Storage Method, he would actually uncover some clues.
“The Great Dream Chronicle truly deserves to be a top-tier method; I’ve only just begun, yet I can discover anomalies through causal souls.”
“That middle-aged couple must have a problem!”
“And they are not simple followers! At least they are hall masters!”
Followers, being merely brainwashed, have not cultivated the evil methods of the Heavenly Profound Sect, nor could they have an evil spirit attached.
Having an evil spirit attached must mean they are hall masters executing tasks.
What to do in such a situation?
Of course, it was impossible to confront them directly.
After returning to the city, Zhao Xing immediately reported to Old Chen.
Chen Shijie, seeing Zhao Xing rushing back in a hurry, was somewhat puzzled: “What’s going on? Why do you look so pale?”
“I suspect I’ve discovered traces of the Heavenly Profound Sect.”
Chen Shijie’s expression turned serious: “What’s the situation? Speak in detail.”
Zhao Xing said: “I went to Peaceful Town to persuade farmers, and visited a local courtyard. At that time, I didn’t feel anything unusual, but after coming out, I felt an inexplicable agitation.”
Chen Shijie asked: “Did the Calamity Avoidance Almanac issue any warnings?”
“No.” Zhao Xing shook his head. “That’s why I said I discovered traces of the Heavenly Profound Sect, not just followers.”
Chen Shijie nodded. Normally, it would be impossible to be discovered; if encountering hall masters, the Calamity Avoidance Almanac would not issue warnings.
Otherwise, they would have been captured long ago, and the authorities would not see it as a problem?
“Perhaps it was because I sensed too much spiritual essence on the mountain; both I and the little wild cat felt the agitation. Once we came out, it told me that there were two bad people in that courtyard.” Zhao Xing attributed the discovery to the wild cat.
“Meow~” The little wild cat raised its head; was it praising me?
“Based on my memory, I drew the likeness of those two people...” Zhao Xing handed over the drawn portraits.
Chen Shijie took a glance at the portraits and then put them away.
“You don’t need to worry about this matter; I will have someone investigate those two.”
After a pause, Chen Shijie added: “For now, it’s just a suspicion; don’t mention it to others. One, to avoid leaking information; two, to prevent you from attracting unnecessary trouble.”
“I understand.” Zhao Xing nodded; he trusted Old Chen, which was why he spoke. If it were someone else, he wouldn’t have even considered using this reason.
Otherwise, if someone thought the wild cat was extraordinary and wanted to borrow it, what would he do?
Thus, Zhao Xing didn’t say too much, using terms like ‘suspected’ and ‘possibly.’
Old Chen’s attitude was also good, and he knew to consider his feelings.
As for credit or not, that was secondary; he believed Old Chen would definitely keep him out of this matter.
Whether he believed it or not, how to use this information was not something Zhao Xing wanted to think about.
His small stature was too tender; major matters still relied on Old Chen to charge ahead.
The day after returning to the city, which was also the last day of September, Zong Shichang sent good news that the Enlightening Painting had been secured.
Zhao Xing rushed to the Zong Mansion and met Zong Shichang and Manager Tang.
“Zong Shao, is the matter of the Enlightening Painting settled?”
Zong Shichang waved his hand: “As long as it’s something that can be bought with money, can I not handle it? It’s already here! Uncle Tang.”
Manager Tang brought over several long boxes.
Zong Shichang patted the boxes: “A total of four Enlightening Paintings.”
“One of them is the one I promised you; you don’t need to pay extra.”
“The other two were found by Lu Qian for you, and she has already paid for them.”
“Only this last one requires your payment.”
Zhao Xing didn’t waste words: “How much?”
Zong Shichang said: “This fourth-grade upper-grade painting from the Earthly Advantage Sect was collected from the Cao family, intact, and can be comprehended four more times. I won’t profit from you; the original price is three thousand two hundred taels, so you just pay three thousand two hundred taels.”
“Alright.” Zhao Xing felt that this price, although expensive, was worth it. After selling those treasures, he had nearly four thousand taels in liquid funds, so he immediately paid.
As for the other three, they were exchanged for battle songs and lyrics, so no extra money was needed.
Manager Tang received the banknotes, bowed, and left, leaving Zong Shichang and Zhao Xing to chat privately.
“Lu Qian asked me to pass on a message; she said these two paintings are not enough to repay your favor, and she will find another fourth-grade painting for you later. Brother Zhao, teach me how you managed to charm that fiery girl so well?”
“When she talks about you, her eyes are as gentle as water, hehehe.”
Zong Shichang looked at Zhao Xing with great admiration. If he could handle Lu Qian, he was truly a remarkable person!
“Don’t make wild guesses.” Zhao Xing said, “High mountains and flowing water seek a soulmate; she’s paying for art!”
“Is that so? Looks like I need to learn some proper art in the future.” Zong Shichang pondered.
“Alright, let’s not talk about that; I’ll borrow your precious place to comprehend the painting.”
“Sure, you can choose any room in the Listening Water Pavilion.” Zong Shichang pointed at the wild cat: “Can I borrow this little cat to pet for a while?”
“Hmm, just give it some food.”
“Good, I’ve prepared plenty of big yellow fish; I guarantee it will be enough!”
Zhao Xing rolled up the boxes and found a secluded room in the Zong Mansion, then placed the boxes down.
“The fourth-grade Enlightening Painting, I’ve seen the rubbings of the ‘Diagram of All Things Growing’ once at my teacher’s place; it only had one opportunity, yet it allowed me to comprehend [Wild Growth] and [Earth Vein Convergence].”
“At that time, my various spells were still quite crude; now, most are at the Nine Turns level, and some even at max level.” Zhao Xing’s eyes held some anticipation.
The Enlightening Painting, depending on the time of viewing, the comprehension would differ.
The less you accumulate, the less you gain from it.
The more you accumulate, the greater the harvest!
“I hope I can make a breakthrough this time.”
Zhao Xing took a deep breath, opened the first box, and pulled the painting from the scroll.
(End of Chapter)