121: Dream Mountain Range, Reality and Illusion

Leaving the River of Time Dust, Yun Feng's perception of rules became increasingly sharp. Like a fish swimming through the underlying code of the Universe, he followed the light point on the rule map pointing toward the "Dreamscape Mountains," leisurely advancing toward the boundary between reality and illusion.

The surrounding scenery began to become bizarre and variegated. The solid starry sky gradually faded, the colors becoming hazy and dreamlike, and a background sound seemingly woven from the babbling of countless living beings echoed in his ears. Here, the rules were no longer stable, the boundary between reality and imagination was blurred, and occasionally, "thought beasts" composed entirely of thoughts would playfully zip by, while fragmented dream pieces floated and burst like soap bubbles.

This was the dimensional crack where the "Dreamscape Mountains" were located, a strange world converged from the thoughts of all living beings and the ocean of the subconscious.

Ordinary Cultivators reaching this point would easily become lost, unable to distinguish what was real and what was fake, ultimately causing their consciousness to sink and their Physical Body to turn into a handful of dust in the Dreamscape Mountains. But for Yun Feng, although the rules of this area were strange, they were still within his cognitive framework as a Chaos Sovereign. He could even clearly "see" that those seemingly chaotic dream fragments were all connected behind them to some distant plane, some living being's brainwaves while asleep.

His goal was the core of the Dreamscape Mountains, the deepest and oldest region of the ocean of the subconscious of all living beings, and also the place where the rules were most solid (in a dreamlike way). The fluctuation of the source core fragment was coming from there.

As he went deeper, the surrounding "scenery" became even more strange. He saw castles built from countless candies and pastries, smelled the floral fragrance condensed from pure "joy" emotions, and caught a glimpse of dark forests woven from deep fear. He even encountered a massive Kunpeng composed entirely of "thirst for knowledge," its wingspan obscuring the sky of thoughts, curiously observing him, this "alien."

Yun Feng did not disturb these dream creations, only releasing a trace of peaceful and vast intent to indicate he had no malicious intent. The Chaos true meaning contained in that intent was like the "needle that calms the sea" for this illusory world; wherever it passed, violent nightmares became peaceful, and chaotic reveries tended toward order. Many dream spirits even actively guided him, pointing toward the direction of the mountain core.

Finally, he arrived at his destination.

That was not a mountain in the traditional sense, but a magnificent structure composed of countless overlapping, flowing "possibilities" and "memories" that constantly changed shape. This was the core of the Dreamscape Mountains—the "Origin of Myriad Forms."

And at the very top of the "Origin of Myriad Forms," a source core fragment emitting a soft white light, its form seemingly changing slightly, was quietly floating. It was as if it were the crystallization of all beautiful dreams and pure thoughts, emitting an aura that calmed the mind and spirit.

However, what guarded it was not a physical entity, nor an imprint of will, but the "collective subconscious" of the entire Dreamscape Mountains itself! An invisible, vast barrier rejected the approach of any existence that was "too real" or "full of aggression." Anyone attempting to force a Breakthrough would be met with the backlash of the entire ocean of the thoughts of all living beings, and their consciousness would be assimilated and diluted by countless dreams, ultimately becoming a part of this mountain range.

Yun Feng could feel that if he forced his way in with the absolute power of a Chaos Sovereign, he could certainly succeed, but it would inevitably cause irreversible damage to this fragile dream dimension, and might even affect the countless sleeping living beings connected to it.

He chose a gentler way again.

He did not release power, but slowly retracted all his own pressure and "sense of reality," letting his own form of existence be influenced and assimilated by the rich dream rules around him. His figure began to become somewhat hazy, and his aura merged with the surrounding flowing streams of light of thoughts.

He was like a true "dream traveler," stepping onto that mountain range constructed of possibilities.

Along the way, he saw countless bizarre "stories." There were epics of warriors slaying a Dragon playing out before his eyes, the joy of lovers reuniting permeating his heart, and the purest laughter of children when they received their beloved toys... He was like a bystander, quietly feeling these joys and sorrows woven by the thoughts of all living beings, experiencing the fervent emotions contained within the "illusory" that were no different from "reality."

He understood that this Dreamscape Mountain range was not false; it was another real reflection of the inner worlds of all living beings on the level of rules.

When he walked to the top of the "Origin of Myriad Forms" with a completely inclusive, understanding, and even slightly appreciative mindset, that barrier composed of the collective subconscious, as if meeting a wanderer returning home, gently opened to him without stirring up the slightest ripple.

That source core fragment, which was constantly changing shape, seemed to feel the peace on him and his understanding of the true meaning of "reality and illusion," and actively flew over, falling into his palm.

The moment it touched his hand, a source core Qi containing infinite "possibilities" and "power of the heart" merged into his body. Yun Feng had a deeper understanding of the dialectical relationship between "existence" and "nothingness," "reality" and "illusion." He felt that his consciousness seemed to be able to switch between the levels of reality and thoughts more freely, and could even guide and weave dreams on a small scale.

On the rule map, the light point of the third fragment lit up.

Just as he was fusing the fragment and perceiving new life, an ethereal and ancient voice directly rang out in the depths of his consciousness, not coming from any specific existence, but more like a whisper from this dream dimension itself:

"Latecomer... You have understood the power of the 'heart'... But you must remember... The deepest dreams often hide the most ancient truths... The shadow of the great silence... also breeds in the nightmares of all living beings..."

The voice gradually dissipated, but the information left behind made Yun Feng's gaze slightly tighten.

The Guiji Cult... do they not even spare the dreams of all living beings?

He took a deep look at this magnificent and fragile dream dimension, his figure slowly dissipating, like a dream waking up, and left this place at the boundary of reality and illusion.

Carrying the power of three source core fragments and new clues about the Guiji Cult, his next target was that place where even light could not escape—the "Absolute Silence Star Domain."