Divine Being Enters Dream

I Want to Become Immortal was completely absorbed in the story. Seeing Xiao Jie suddenly fall silent, he hurriedly asked, "What happened next?"

"Next came the part where Hua Tuo wanted to perform brain surgery on Cao Cao. It had nothing to do with the Pear Tree God after that. The Pear Tree God only appeared briefly."

I Want to Become Immortal was immediately displeased. Why did Luo Guanzhong leave plot holes unfilled too?

He pondered for a moment. "So you mean this Ginkgo Tree might also be connected to a tree god?"

"Hard to say. But when I saw the Ginkgo Tree bleeding just now, this was the first story that came to mind. And this village is called Ginkgo Village, while this valley is called Ginkgo Valley. There might be some connection here. Nine times out of ten, it has something to do with that tree. You're pretty lucky, kid. This Serendipitous Encounter might uncover some huge secret."

"What do we do next?"

Xiao Jie smiled faintly. "Simple. We follow the method from the book. Go to sleep and see whether a divine being enters our dreams. If one does, we'll play it by ear. If not, we'll just chop down the tree."

"Ah! Sleep?"

I Want to Become Immortal truly could not keep up with Xiao Jie's leaps of logic. This was far too wild. But seeing Xiao Jie head down the mountain as if he really meant it, he could only follow him down.

"Wait, Brother Following Wind. What if the divine being in our dream pulls out a sword and cuts us down?"

"Probably not. We weren't deliberately trying to chop down her tree. Besides, Serendipitous Encounters like this in games generally give players dialogue choices. They can't possibly throw you straight into a dead end. As long as you don't say anything stupid during the conversation, you should be fine.

"If a divine being really enters our dreams, she'll most likely give us some sort of quest. When the time comes, be more respectful. Whatever quest she gives you, just accept it. As long as you handle things properly, there shouldn't be any danger."

Xiao Jie had not spent ten years as a professional gamer for nothing. He had played countless online and single-player games, and he understood the usual plot formulas in all kinds of games almost completely.

Though it was only a guess, he had a feeling that something would probably happen during this sleep.

As they talked, the two had already arrived in the village and headed straight for the inn.

It was a very small inn, with only a front and back room. The outer room sold wine, while the inner room contained two guest rooms with double doors.

Xiao Jie spent 10 coins to rent a room. When the two entered, they found two crude beds inside.

Rays of light shone through the wooden lattice window, falling upon the earthen floor. The place looked quite old-fashioned and atmospheric.

I Want to Become Immortal nervously asked what they should do next. Seeing how helpless he looked, Xiao Jie said, "How about this? I'll enter the dream first and see how the process works. You watch from the side, so you'll be prepared if there's any danger.

"If there's no danger, I'll tell you the process once I wake up, and you can follow along."

But I Want to Become Immortal refused without hesitation. "No. How can I let Brother Following Wind take such a risk alone? I found that tree. If we sleep, we sleep together. We share blessings and hardships!"

Xiao Jie thought the kid had some backbone after all. Still, he did not think there would be much risk, so he said, "Fine, then we'll do it together. Remember, if a divine being really enters your dream, be polite."

"Don't worry, Brother Following Wind."

The two each found a bed and lay down, using the Sleep action from the character actions menu.

Before long, a string of ZZZZ symbols appeared above their heads.

"Eh, nothing's happening," I Want to Become Immortal said.

Although both of their characters had fallen asleep, they could still speak to each other. Their words came out as sleep talk, however, making their voices muffled, as though separated by some kind of barrier.

"Wait a little longer. Dreams probably take some time too."

After Xiao Jie said that, I Want to Become Immortal said something else, but this time it was completely inaudible. Xiao Jie was about to ask him to repeat himself when the light around his character suddenly dimmed.

Xiao Jie immediately realized that the scene was about to change.

It grew darker and darker, until the surroundings gradually became pitch-black. Only his character remained, lying motionless in the darkness. Soon, even the bed beneath him vanished, and he seemed to be falling through the darkness.

Huh, he was actually dreaming?

Xiao Jie felt a little nervous. It could not be helped. This was a game where he was gambling with his life.

By now, I Want to Become Immortal's voice had become completely inaudible. His headset was filled with silence.

Suddenly, a pleasant melody began to play. Then, a beam of light appeared in the darkness. A Fairy with flowing robes slowly drifted down from the sky, gradually taking shape amid the darkness. She wore a golden-yellow dress, as though it had been woven from layers of Ginkgo Tree leaves. It looked natural and beautiful.

She had delicate features and exquisite looks, with an ethereal air about her.

Huh, there really was a tree god? And she was a woman?

Xiao Jie was amazed. The woman was stunningly beautiful and dressed magnificently, but her face carried an expression of sorrow.

Xiao Jie pressed a movement key and discovered that his character could move. He stood up and walked over to the Fairy.

The Fairy looked coldly at Xiao Jie before suddenly shouting, "You fool! I have neither grievance nor enmity with you, so why did you strike me with your blade?"

Xiao Jie hurriedly played dumb. "Ah, may I ask who you are? I don't know you."

"I am the Ginkgo Tree you injured during the day."

"Ah, sorry, sorry. I didn't know it was you. I thought you were just an ordinary tree. But I stopped once the tree began bleeding, so I probably didn't hurt you too badly, right? By the way, are you a demon or an immortal? Why did you come into my dream?"

Right from the start, he gave her three innocent denials, turning passivity into initiative. After all, he was only a low-level character. He absolutely could not fall out with a mysterious being like this, but he could not be overly meek either, or she would easily get the upper hand.

Xiao Jie's barrage of words left the beauty somewhat stunned. She did not seem accustomed to such direct conversation.

But she quickly regained her composure, and a mournful expression appeared on her lovely face. "Warrior, please listen as I explain. To be honest, I was originally a Fairy in the heavens. Five hundred years ago, I secluded myself in this valley to cultivate, only to be sealed within a Ginkgo Tree by an Evil Daoist using demonic arts. He extracted my Spiritual Energy and subjected me to endless suffering. It has now been five hundred years.

"Now, I only hope that someone can help me escape this sea of misery. I see that you possess courage and strength, Warrior. I wonder whether you would be willing to help me escape? If you can free me and grant me liberty, I will reward you handsomely. Immortal pills, miraculous medicines, talismanic treasures, secret caches, magical artifacts, immortal implements—such things would be nothing out of the ordinary."

"What if I want to Become Immortal?"

The beauty did not hesitate. "Since you have the heart to cultivate and seek the Dao, Warrior, I will naturally lend you a hand. If you can help me escape, I will guide you onto the path. Becoming immortal would not be difficult."

"What should I do? Do I just need to chop down that Ginkgo Tree from earlier today?"

"No, no, no. Over the past five hundred years, I exhausted every effort to extend the roots of my true body beyond the village, growing a new tree—the one you injured during the day. That new tree was created through my immortal arts, meant to seek help from the outside world. You must not harm it.

"The Ginkgo Tree in which I am truly imprisoned stands beside the Ancestral Hall in Ginkgo Village. It is the largest Ginkgo Tree there, and my true body is trapped within it.

"If you wish to help me escape, simply wait until midnight, when darkness falls. Take advantage of no one being nearby and destroy all the Talismans around that Ginkgo Tree. Then I will naturally be able to escape. Would that be possible?"

System Prompt: Serendipitous Encounter triggered [Ginkgo Fairy's Plea].

Quest Description: While dreaming, you encountered a strange woman claiming to be a Fairy. She asked you to help her escape the restraints of the Talisman array and regain her freedom, promising you tremendous benefits once it was done.

Quest Objective: Destroy the Ginkgo Tree Guardian Array.

Quest Reward: ????.

Xiao Jie thought, Well, there it is. She really is a scammer.

The reason he had asked whether he could become immortal was to test her. If this Fairy had said that becoming immortal was too difficult and offered some other reward instead, then the matter might have been real. But she had readily promised something as outrageous as immortality. She was definitely a scammer.

According to the opening CG, this world was one where "the Gods had fallen, and the immortals had withdrawn into seclusion."

Even if this game truly had opportunities to become immortal, they would be late-game content. There was no way they would be placed in Newbie Village.

More importantly, the quest reward was a string of question marks. It was obviously just an empty promise.

Still, he showed no reaction. He was currently in a dream, and it would be bad if he angered the beauty and she actually cut him down with a sword.

He had no idea whether there would be danger, so it was better to play along for now.

He immediately agreed readily. "Alright. Leave it to me."

With that, Xiao Jie directly chose to accept the quest.

Seeing how readily Xiao Jie agreed, the beauty was quite pleased as well. She gave him a deep curtsy. "Then I shall entrust this matter to you, Warrior. This humble woman will now take her leave. Please be sure to handle this matter properly. Once it is done, you will surely be rewarded handsomely."

As the Ginkgo Fairy vanished, the darkness around him gradually dispersed as well.

His character was still lying on the bed, looking as though he had just awakened from a dream.

Looking at the scene in the guest room, Xiao Jie could not help but marvel. This game's design was incredible! You could actually accept quests in dreams.

At that moment, I Want to Become Immortal woke up too.

"Oh my god, Brother Following Wind, you really called it! There really was an immortal! She asked me to help her escape, and said that if she got free, she'd help me revive my big brother."

"Fake," Xiao Jie said irritably.

"Huh? Fake?"

"That's right. She told me she'd help me become immortal, but she told you she'd revive your big brother. She's clearly tailoring her lies to the person. Besides, we're in Newbie Village, brother. What game would put a reward like becoming immortal in Newbie Village?

"Also, normal quest rewards would definitely come with a clear system prompt telling you exactly what they are.

"But this Ginkgo Fairy triggered a quest, yet the reward is just ????. She's making an empty promise without offering anything concrete. It's obviously fake.

"If we're lucky, she might give us some scraps afterward and send us on our way. If we're unlucky, freeing her might even bring disaster upon us."