Second Soul Skill: Dream Projection

Leaving Moonlight Pavilion.

Lu Yan returned to "Heaven."

Only then did he calm himself and carefully contemplate the Second Soul Skill he had just obtained.

The skill was called: Dream Projection.

Its effect was simple and easy to understand, yet it contained limitless possibilities—it could temporarily project people or objects from dreams into the real world, allowing them to launch a single attack or exert their particular effect.

Its power and duration were directly tied to the Soul Power and Spiritual Power invested by the caster.

"Let's test it first."

With a thought from Lu Yan, the Second Soul Ring beneath his feet lit up.

Dream Projection, activate!

In an instant, he felt the Soul Power and Spiritual Power within him rapidly draining away.

Before him, specks of dreamlike light began to gather, gradually outlining a blurry humanoid shape. After roughly a breath, a lifelike phantom completely solidified—it was unmistakably Tang Yuehua's image.

However, "Tang Yuehua's" eyes were hollow and vacant. She possessed only her appearance, nothing more than an illusory shadow.

Then, circles of gentle yet impossible-to-ignore energy ripples spread around the phantom—Noble Ring, activate!

Invisible domain ripples swept over Lu Yan's body, and he immediately felt an unprecedented clarity in his mind. It was as if, in the unbearable heat of midsummer, cool spring water had suddenly washed over him, cleansing away all heat and irritation.

Even the mental exhaustion and hidden restlessness brought on by using Dream Entry to peer into Others' dreams and witness the complexities of their hearts were washed away in that moment.

The lake of his heart became utterly still, clear and bright, without the slightest distracting thought.

A few seconds later, Tang Yuehua's phantom gradually faded before finally dispersing into the air, and the miraculous domain effect vanished with it.

"As expected of an innate domain. Its effect truly is extraordinary."

Lu Yan praised it sincerely.

Even though he could calm his mind by circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill, compared to this, the difference was simply heaven and earth.

In just a few seconds, it had settled his state of mind.

No wonder it would be able to suppress Tang San's killing intent after he emerged from the City of Slaughter in the future.

Lu Yan carefully assessed the consumption.

About one-tenth of his Soul Power had been used, and his Spiritual Power had also suffered a considerable drain.

"The consumption is still within an acceptable range. Besides, this is my first time using Dream Projection, so I'm not yet proficient at controlling the output of my Soul Power and Spiritual Power. If I use it a few more times, the efficiency should improve, and the consumption can be reduced further."

Lu Yan was extremely satisfied with his Second Soul Skill.

The appearance of this Soul Skill undoubtedly gave him more direct combat strength. He no longer needed to scheme endlessly as he had when dealing with Tang San, even having to risk injuring himself just to claim a narrow victory.

Over the following days, Lu Yan repeatedly practiced and experimented with Dream Projection, not limiting himself to projecting Tang Yuehua.

He also began trying to project other people and objects he had seen in dreams, hoping that in future battles, he would be able to use this ability more skillfully and flexibly, perfectly combining it with his other Soul Skills.

Tang San and Xiao Wu were among them as well.

Twang!

Lu Yan looked at the Godly Zhuge Crossbow dispersing from his hand, as well as the tiny crater it had left in the wall.

"Not bad power."

It just consumed too much Soul Power and Spiritual Power, making it completely unsuitable for combat.

With that effort, he might as well forge a Godly Zhuge Crossbow himself.

Thinking of this—

Lu Yan's gaze shifted. His Second Soul Ring lit up once more, and his Soul Power and Spiritual Power rapidly drained away, turning his face pale.

What terrifying consumption.

Yet a dark phantom slowly condensed in his palm.

Though it was only a phantom, it felt as if he were truly holding it in his hand, except it had no weight.

"So it really works."

Lu Yan lowered his head and examined it carefully, but he could only make out a rough outline.

Only then did he understand that even if an object projected through Dream Projection appeared in reality, it would only take form according to his memories.

Simply put, he could use it, but he could not replicate it.

For example, this Desert Eagle in his hand—whatever it looked like in his memories was what it looked like now.

Let's see.

Lu Yan hooked a finger.

Bang!

A deafening blast rang out.

A bullet hole instantly appeared in the wall, while the Desert Eagle dispersed after that single shot.

"The power is quite a bit greater than the Godly Zhuge Crossbow's, but isn't the consumption a little too terrifying?"

Condensing a Desert Eagle had nearly drained one-third of his Soul Power and Spiritual Power.

And judging by its destructive force, the Desert Eagle he projected had less than half the power of the original.

After all, it was only a hundred-year Soul Skill.

His Spiritual Power, in particular, had always been far stronger than his Soul Power. Even a Soul Elder could never surpass him in Spiritual Power.

Still, it could serve as a trump card.

At close range, if he fired a shot while his opponent was unprepared, forget a Soul Elder—even a Soul Ancestor would be finished.

This time, however, he did not need to hide it as cautiously as he had hidden his First Soul Skill. Even in battle, he could reveal it openly.

Dream Projection could transform into countless forms.

No one could guess what he would pull out the next time he used Dream Projection.

Night fell.

Lu Yan still did not sleep. With Dream Butterfly, he entered Others' dreams, absorbing the power within them to strengthen his Spiritual Power.

It had long since become a habit.

The Next Day.

Tang Yuehua came by. This time, she only wanted a good night's sleep.

Three hours later, Tang Yuehua slowly woke up.

"Xiao Yan, your place is still the most comfortable." Tang Yuehua narrowed her eyes and stretched lazily. Her dress tightened with the movement, fully revealing her lovely figure.

Lu Yan could not help taking another look.

Tang Yuehua realized that she was becoming more and more unable to leave "Heaven." It was like taking a first bite of cotton candy, then having the second bite be a sour orange.

Even when she slept in Moonlight Pavilion, she would wake up startled by the unreality of her dreams.

She could not attain that sensation which was almost indistinguishable from reality.

"Without you, Aunt Yue hasn't been sleeping well lately."

Tang Yuehua spoke those words with complete sincerity.

It seemed she truly needed Xiao Yan by her side to guide her into dreams if she wanted to sleep peacefully.

"Whenever Aunt Yue has time, the doors of 'Heaven' will always be open for you."

Lu Yan smiled warmly, his gaze clean and pure.

Tang Yuehua smiled and nodded. Looking at the Youth before her, she still needed to lure him back to Moonlight Pavilion.

That way, she could enjoy it day and night.

The next day, Tang Yuehua came again.

But this time, she had not come for Dream Entry. Instead, she brought him to Moonlight Pavilion.

"Aunt Yue, why did you bring me to Moonlight Pavilion?" Lu Yan asked in confusion.

He was not pretending.

Tang Yuehua smiled. "To teach you Noble Etiquette and Musical Instruments."

"You Kid should be secretly delighted. Countless children of noble families throughout the Heaven Dou Empire wish to study under Aunt Yue.

"Come once a week from now on. Aunt Yue guarantees that in a few years, you'll undergo a great transformation and become an elegant, exceptionally poised genius Strong Expert."

"This..."

Lu Yan did not want to come.

He had no time to learn such superficial nonsense.

On Douluo Continent, strength was revered above all else. Even if he mastered etiquette and Musical Instruments to the peak—

At most, he would become a pretty vase.

"Oh, right. You won't be the only one studying each week. There will be other nobles too, even the Crown Prince.

"They're all people with plenty of money."

Once Tang Yuehua said that, Lu Yan was tempted.

Not only for the money, but also for the Crown Prince.

"Alright, Aunt Yue. I'll work hard."