211: 211. The truth has come out.

These words conveyed the highest level of concern and importance, while also leaving ample room, without coercion, only a frank inquiry.

Lu Feng met The Helmsman's gaze, which seemed to penetrate the human heart, his face showing no displeasure or panic, but rather a knowing smile.

He gently set down his teacup, his movements unhurried, as if engaging in casual conversation.

"I completely understand your doubts."

Lu Feng's voice was gentle and clear. He slowly raised his hand, palm upwards, as if holding an invisible object: "Some existences indeed transcend the boundaries of current understanding, difficult to fully describe in words. Perhaps, seeing it with your own eyes will be more convincing."

As he spoke peacefully, a change subtly occurred.

The scene inside the tearoom began to ripple gently, like a reflection in water.

The grain of the rosewood flowed like water, and the ink on the calligraphy and paintings on the wall seemed to come alive, slowly moving on the rice paper.

The light became hazy, and the air seemed to take on vibrant colors.

"The reality we perceive is sometimes not the only truth," Lu Feng's voice was like a dream, flowing through the shifting scene.

The tearoom's image gradually faded, and everyone seemed to be in an infinite star sea, with a flowing Milky Way beneath their feet, and stars within reach.

"The boundary between consciousness and matter, dream and wakefulness, might be more blurred than we imagine."

Lu Feng continued, and the scene shifted again. The star sea receded, replaced by a spring rain of cherry blossoms, petals brushing against their cheeks with a real touch and fragrance.

Although Yu Tianxiong and Qin Tian were mentally prepared, witnessing such a miracle still deeply shook their minds.

Andrew, on the other hand, wore an expression of devout reverence, as if it were only natural.

The Helmsman, though still seated steadily, his knuckles gripping the teacup were slightly white, indicating that his inner calm was far from what it appeared.

Lü Chenxing was already too stunned to speak, only staring blankly at this incomprehensible scene.

The scene continued to shift; one moment it was a land of burning lava, with heat waves rushing forth.

The next moment, it was amidst a turbulent ocean, with pouring rain, then to the desolate ancient wilderness... Everything unfolded and receded like a scroll during Lu Feng's calm narration.

"I can walk in the depths of consciousness, peer into everyone's inner world, and even... to a certain extent, guide and even reshape them, whatever it may be, it all stems from this."

All the illusions receded like a tide, and everyone's spirits lifted. When they came back to their senses, they were once again in the quiet, elegant tearoom. The sandalwood incense lingered, the clear tea was still warm, as if the journey across time and space had merely been a collective daydream.

But everyone's pounding hearts and lingering shock clearly indicated that it was not an illusion.

Lu Feng looked at The Helmsman, whose eyes still held a lingering shock as he tried to process everything, and in the calmest tone, spoke the most astonishing words:

"If a definition is absolutely necessary,"

"Perhaps you can call me... the Lord of Dreams."

"And at this moment, we are precisely in the rift where reality and dreams intertwine."

A long silence fell in the tearoom.

This time, the revelation was not an aggressive display, but a peaceful, flowing narration, yet it more profoundly overturned everyone present's perception of the world's essence.

Lu Feng's decision to reveal himself at this moment was not an impulse.

On one hand, with Andrew's resurrection, his dream realm had expanded dramatically, covering several cities, and his abilities had become even more formidable, giving him greater confidence.

On the other hand, and more importantly, were the fragmented, apocalyptic scenes he glimpsed in the dream rift, and the persistent, tangible sense of crisis.

Those images were too real, definitely not illusions, but rather a warning.

Lu Feng alone might find it difficult to cope.

A deep binding and cooperation with the nation, a collective entity with the most vast resources, might be a good choice.

The deathly silence in the tearoom seemed to last a century.

The air solidified, and a pin drop could be heard.

Lü Chenxing's face was pale, sweat beaded on his forehead, his brain still desperately trying to process the mind-bending scene he had just witnessed, attempting to find a rational explanation within his existing worldview, only to find it futile.

However, The Helmsman was, after all, a leader who had weathered countless storms and guided the nation's course.

The initial tempest in his eyes was forcefully suppressed within tens of seconds, replaced by a calmness and extreme rationality that surpassed ordinary people.

He did not question "this is impossible," because the experience of spatial distortion, and the collapse and reassembly of scenes just now, was so real and shocking that it completely shattered any doubts based on existing science. He also did not dwell on "how to explain" it, but directly moved to the level of "how to respond."

He clearly realized that his relationship with Lu Feng had undergone a fundamental change at this moment.

This was no longer a cooperation between the nation and a brilliant entrepreneur, a provider of strategic technology, but rather... a dialogue and collaboration between human civilization and a being who walked among humans, wielded dreams, and was almost like a deity.

The level of cooperation had leaped from national strategy to a higher plane.

The Helmsman slowly opened his mouth, as if exhaling a breath of stale air, his voice steady, breaking the suffocating silence.

"I understand."

He did not press for details, nor did he show excessive fear, but cut straight to the core, "Mr. Lu Feng."

He made a subtle but significant adjustment in his address, imbued with unprecedented respect.

"The power you have demonstrated, and your choice to be frank, both represent immense trust. The nation accepts this trust and cherishes it."

The Helmsman's gaze swept across the room, finally returning to Lu Feng: "The content of this conversation will be designated 'Top Secret Zero,' with strictly limited knowledge. Any leakage will be treated as treason."

He paused slightly, then continued in a clear and forceful tone: "Based on this, our positioning of you and our mode of cooperation will undergo a fundamental adjustment. The internal code name, perhaps, can be 'Cornerstone'; you will be the most solid cornerstone of the nation, and even of civilization's future."

"From now on, at the national level, you will no longer be 'managed' or 'investigated' in any form. Our core mission will shift to 'service' and 'collaboration.'"

His words were decisive: "Ensuring your absolute safety and stability is ensuring the greatest strategic interest of the nation and civilization's future. All national resources will be unconditionally tilted towards you, with no upper limit, fully meeting all your reasonable needs, and clearing all obstacles in your path... whether domestic or international."

This statement meant that Lu Feng had obtained almost supreme authority and support within this nation.

This was no longer simple cooperation, but more like an alliance based on a shared consensus for the survival of civilization.

Lu Feng was not surprised by The Helmsman's swift and decisive response. He nodded and continued, "Since we choose to cooperate, I also need the nation's strength. At the core of my ability, beneath that dream space, an unnatural rift has appeared."

With a wave of Lu Feng's hand, The Helmsman once again entered the dream, and this time, Lu Feng brought him before the rift, where he personally saw the incomprehensible geometric symbols, and most crucially, those fragmented images.

Strange buildings and plants, meteorites crashing into the blue planet, world-ending scenes, silent roars... A strong ominous premonition immediately enveloped The Helmsman's heart.

"I suspect this rift is not accidental; it might connect to an unknown dimension or spacetime. Those images might be warnings, or perhaps... fragments of what has already happened."

Lu Feng's expression grew solemn: "We need to figure out what it is, where it comes from, and... how we should respond."

After listening, The Helmsman's face also became incredibly serious.

This information was even more impactful and urgent than Lu Feng's abilities themselves.

He finally understood why Lu Feng was willing to go public; these unknown pieces of information could not be explored for their truth by an individual, no, not even by the nation... Perhaps, the combined strength of the entire world would be needed.

The Helmsman did not hesitate: "Understood. I will immediately order the establishment of the 'Ninth Bureau,' drawing top experts, national treasures, and absolutely reliable individuals from across the nation in the fields of mysticism, parapsychology, theoretical physics, astrophysics, cosmology, and all related cutting-edge theoretical domains, to assist you in jointly researching this rift. All relevant ancient texts, unsolved mystery archives, and top-secret observation data will be fully accessible to you."

He looked at Lu Feng, his eyes filled with trust and entrustment: "Mr. Lu, defending our homeland is not only the nation's responsibility, but also the common mission of all of us who live on this land. From now on, you are no longer facing these unknowns alone. Behind you is the wisdom and strength of the entire nation."

"If possible, I think... all humanity should harmonize and unite, participating together."

Lu Feng understood The Helmsman's meaning. He smiled and said, "I think so too. The crisis is global, so our planet should stop its endless conflicts and internal strife. It's time to unite."

...