So I Spent All That Time Fighting, Only to Find Out I Was Working in My Dream?

Bai Zhu still wanted to ask more, but the vast star map before him, the silver-blue bridge beneath his feet, and the floating Blue Crystal tracks all faded away layer by layer, vanishing.

The magnificent core observation chamber that had left him speechless moments ago receded rapidly into darkness, like a projection whose main power had been switched off.

Beneath his feet was once again a solid black stone platform. The surroundings were empty, with only the vague outlines of the Black Tower's massive internal structures. Not a single star could be seen in motion anymore.

Bai Zhu instinctively touched the back of his neck, making sure it was still there and could still move.

He curled his lips and muttered to the empty darkness, "Fine, don't talk. Why run away? You've got no senior's dignity at all."

As soon as he finished speaking, a shadow silently appeared at the edge of the platform.

It was a black owl roughly the height of a person, its feathers seemingly blended into the night. Most bizarrely, it had only one eye, and the pattern of three black tomoe had yet to fully fade from that eye.

It simply stood there quietly, head tilted, watching Bai Zhu.

Bai Zhu immediately took half a step back, his hand resting on Ryujin Jakka's hilt. His body tensed, but his tone remained as lazy as ever.

"Was that your doing just now? Big bird, your interview process is pretty hardcore."

The owl seemed too lazy to respond to Bai Zhu's improvised act and merely flapped its wings once.

The stone wall behind it made no sound as it smoothly split apart to either side, revealing a narrow black stone bridge only wide enough for one person to pass, leading deeper into the darkness.

When the narrow