Ji Province is very large, please bear with it.
Bah! Ji Province is very large, with a population exceeding one million.
Of course, this includes not only Ji Province City Ji Province City, but also many other counties, towns, and villages.
If we only consider Ji Province City, its population actually only accounts for about one-third of the total population.
Productivity was low in this era, making it impossible to build high-rise buildings like pigeonholes, and the population was not dense.
Because there was no war, the guards at the city gate were all listless, leaning against the city wall in a sickly manner.
Xu Long entered the city and did not detect any demonic, ghostly, or evil aura.
Clearly, this world is still relatively normal, without so much chaos and disorder.
However, since the Divination Talisman indicated that Hu Chuer was Ji Province City, and he couldn't find any clues, it would definitely be fine to come here to investigate.
He casually tossed twenty taels of silver to Xu Long, telling him to bring out the signature dish, and then waited silently.
In ancient times, there was no internet and transportation was underdeveloped.
If you want to gather information, the best places are brothels, teahouses, inns, and other places where people mingle.
Even government agencies mostly get their information from here.
Xu Long sat there from morning until noon, and from afternoon until dusk, but he didn't get any useful information.
However, he wasn't in a hurry and continued to wait.
Not long after, as Xu Long entered his room to rest, he heard noises coming from next door.
"My husband, I'm still a little scared."
It was a woman's voice, soft yet timid, as if she had encountered something terrifying.
"It's okay, I'll stay with you."
The man comforted him, "I got a talisman from the temple; as long as you wear it, we can enter the nightmare together. With me by your side, there's nothing to fear."
"Mmm, my husband, you're so good to me!"
The woman said something shyly, followed by a series of strange sounds.
Hearing this, Xu Long roughly knew what was going on.
The crux of the problem lies in the word "nightmare".
The woman was afraid; she likely had nightmares more than once.
The fact that a man obtains a talisman that allows him to enter nightmares with a woman indicates that the occurrence of nightmares is very consistent.
However, this information is still very scarce; to find out the truth, we must take action.
His figure vanished, and when he reappeared, he was already next door.
Without disturbing the couple who were trying to conceive, Xu Long used his mental power to make them both faint.
These two ordinary people had no grudge against Xu Long, and Xu Long was extremely careful.
You need to get what you want, but you also need to avoid hurting them.
But the soul is a very complex thing, and even Xu Long doesn't understand it very well.
In order to achieve his goal, Xu Long had to take out several High-Grade Spirit Stone to nourish the two people's bodies, and then use his essence to nourish their souls.
Although damage to their souls is unavoidable, the two of them will be free from illness and disaster in the future, and even their children will be exceptionally gifted.
If you are lucky enough to encounter a cultivator, you have a great chance of entering the immortal realm, which can be considered some compensation.
The soul search lasted a full ten minutes. Xu Long returned to the next room and couldn't help but frown.
The news he received seemed to have nothing to do with the lame fox Hu Chuer, but rather concerned a nightmare.
It is said that many people throughout the entire Ji Province City are having the same nightmare.
Regardless of gender or age, anyone who enters Ji Province City will have nightmares.
They remember the contents of their nightmares clearly and are able to control themselves to some extent during them, but each time they are woken up by something new.
The government sent people to investigate, but found nothing.
Buddhist Sect Daoist Sect also sent people to investigate, just like the government.
The area affected by this nightmare was not particularly large, only covering Ji Province City and some counties and towns to the east.
If you fall asleep in this area, there is a high chance you will have nightmares.
The dream is simple: it starts from where you sleep and gradually leads towards a temple.
You might encounter many strange things along the way, some terrifying, some astonishing. Each time you're startled awake, you'll be able to get even closer the next time you enter.
It is said that someone has already entered the temple, but they refuse to say what happened afterward.
The couple once saw a person enter the temple; his face was withered, his expression haggard, and he seemed completely dazed.
When you talk to him, he seems to be lost in thought, as if recalling something wonderful, and occasionally a smile will appear on his face.
"Isn't the area east of Ji Province City the region I divined?"
Xu Long muttered something to himself, then spread his mental energy to search the inn.
Soon, a match was found.
I'm weak and listless, almost as if I've been completely drained.
Xu Long checked and found that his vital essence had not been absorbed by anything, but had simply been lost on its own.
The reason for this result lies in the weakness of the soul.
Vitality and spirit are the pillars that enable a person to live.
Essence (精) refers to vital energy (精气) or essence (精元); Qi (气) refers to blood and energy; and Shen (神) refers to the soul or spirit.
The three complement each other; if one is damaged, the other two will also experience problems.
Why are humans stronger than those other races?
Because human genes are complete, no matter which one you cultivate—essence, energy, or spirit—the other two will be nourished.
This man's soul was weak, which led to damage to his vital energy, resulting in his current appearance.
Xu Long reached out and placed his hand on the man's head, attempting to search his soul.
However, to everyone's surprise, the moment the psychic power penetrated, that fragile soul instantly shattered into fragments and vanished into nothingness.
"I never imagined she would be this weak."
Xu Long's expression was grave; it seemed that the temple really had a serious problem.
Although no definitive information has been received, it is certain that there must be something strange in the dream.
Xu Long decided to enter the dream world to see what was causing the trouble.
Entering a nightmare isn't difficult; you just need to fall asleep to have a chance, and the chance is quite high.
In addition, those who have entered the nightmare before will find it much easier to enter again, almost 100%.
Lying fully clothed on the bed, Xu Long tried to calm himself down.
For a cultivator like him, this couldn't be simpler.
The time didn't last long; Xu Long soon sensed a faint fluctuation.
Its strength was only slightly greater than that of an ordinary person, and it was intermittent, as if it might break at any moment.
Without hesitation, Xu Long immediately used his mental energy to contact it.
This fluctuation is more like a guide, a coordinate, leading people to an unknown place.
Following the fluctuations, Xu Long quickly discovered a barrier—a barrier that encompassed the entire Ji Province City and a vast eastern region.
"Look, this is the world of nightmares."
Xu Long ventured inside, and in the next instant, like a howling wind and raging waves, his consciousness had already arrived outside the city.
Xu Long was certain that this was not a soul, but rather an ethereal consciousness.
Because his soul was extremely powerful, it was almost ready to solidify into True Spirit.
That's something only immortals possess, and Xu Long had already reached that level even at the Late Body Integration Stage Realm.
With just one more opportunity, one could embark on the path to immortality ahead of schedule.
His consciousness was not weak, but because it had not manifested as will, it appeared somewhat illusory.
Looking around, Xu Long discovered that there were many souls around him.
He saw not only the souls of humans, but also the souls of cats, dogs, pigs, and cows.
"That's a bit strange. Why am I entering consciousness, while the others are entering their souls?"
Xu Long muttered to himself, sensing that something was amiss.
He tried to use the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and his mental power, but the result was terrible; he couldn't do either.
However, there is one good thing: his will is very solid, and he can easily shatter these souls, which is a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
"That should be it."
Xu Long felt a voice calling him from the depths of the universe, urging him to go to an unknown place.
"Interesting, very interesting. I haven't come to the wrong place, it's just not in reality, but in a dream."
Xu Long chuckled. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation, and he found it quite amusing.
A nightmare is not a fragment of reality, but a real existence.
"Brother, are you going there too?"
Just as Xu Long was about to see what was calling him, a voice came from the side.
Turning his head, he saw a scholar.
He had delicate features, and a heroic air about him.
This is not a cowardly and spineless good-for-nothing like Ning Caichen, but a true scholar.
Read the books of sages and do the Saint; cultivate a righteous spirit within your heart; and you can scare away ghosts and spirits with your words.
However, he was not facing an ordinary ghost or monster, but a bizarre being that even Xu Long did not know about.
Therefore, this righteous spirit can only ensure that he is not invaded by external evils and avoid the fate of his soul perishing.
"Can!"
Xu Long nodded and said.
It's good to have someone to keep you company; there's no need to be a lone wolf.
We chatted casually, and time flew by.
"My name is Piao Guochang. May I ask your name? And how many times have I been here before?"
Piao Guochang bowed to Xu Long and asked.
"My name is Xu Long, and this is my first time here."
Xu Long said.
"First time? Let me tell you, there are terrifying ghosts and monsters lurking everywhere on this road. I was almost scared to death."
Upon hearing Xu Long's words, Piao Guochang immediately became interested and began to chatter on and on.
Everything was explained clearly, down to the smallest detail: what was hidden in which place, what one would encounter.
These are nothing compared to the fact that once you arrive in these places, you find yourself unable to control your past.
Even knowing there's danger there, I still can't help but go there.
Is that so?
Xu Long raised an eyebrow, sensing that this nightmare was truly unusual.
However, he was not afraid, because his skill bred courage.
"Look at that rock over there, there's a toad hiding underneath. When you go over there, the toad will pounce on your face, and its urine will shoot into your mouth."
Piao Guochang recounted his experiences in great detail, even describing the smell of toad urine, which sent chills down Xu Long's spine.
"Get ready, we're about to go."
Piao Guochang looked at Xu Long, who seemed very experienced.
He had experienced the same thing eight times before, and each memory was deeply etched in his mind.
The smell of toad urine is truly indescribable.
It's sour, bitter, and astringent; it's practically inedible.
Hearing Piao Guochang's words, Xu Long nodded thoughtfully.
He sensed a strange fluctuation appear and quickly landed on him, and tried to control his movements.
Unfortunately, this fluctuation was pitifully weak, only 20% stronger than the fluctuation that had led him into his dream.
Without any effort, Xu Long easily broke free from this force.
Piao Guochang: "???"
What's going on?
Why is he completely unharmed?
Did you just walk over there?
Piao Guochang glanced at Xu Long, then at the large rock, and couldn't help but take two steps forward.
Then, a toad pounced on my face, and toad urine got into my mouth.
Why is this happening?
Piao Guochang quickly spat out what was in his mouth, his face filled with disbelief.
That's utter nonsense!
He slowed down a few steps, wanting to see Xu Long's distressed expression after tasting the toad urine. Why did he just walk past him?
Piao Guochang initially suspected there was something wrong with the dream, but when he went over, he found it was exactly the same as before, with no difference whatsoever.
Therefore, the problem must lie with Xu Long.
With this in mind, Piao Guochang immediately had an idea.
Given Xu Long's unique nature, could he possibly help him escape this terrifying nightmare?
He had entered this awful place eight times already. Although he didn't become increasingly haggard like the others, he still loathed this place.
I'm always woken up in fright, and I can't control myself each time.
Even knowing what's there, knowing what's going to happen next, I'll still go.
This feeling is absolutely awful!
Let's go!
Xu Long glanced at Piao Guochang and said with a smile.
Xu Long was a shrewd old man who had seen all kinds of people. He could tell what Piao Guochang was thinking just by looking into his eyes.
However, his purpose in coming here was to reach the temple at the end of the road and see what was calling to him.
It's no big deal to help Piao Guochang out along the way.
The two walked and talked.
During the journey, Piao Guochang revealed everything he knew, and pointed out places with potential frightening moments when they passed by.
It must be said that Piao Guochang is a decent person; fearing that Xu Long might not have a clear understanding, he even went over to demonstrate it himself.
We continued forward and soon arrived at the foot of the mountain.
This is a small hill, no more than fifty meters high.
A narrow path winds its way up the mountain with a gentle slope, making it easy for even an elderly person to climb.
Let's go!
Xu Long was in front, Piao Guochang was behind, climbing up at a leisurely pace.
Although Piao Guochang has entered the dream world eight times, this is his first time here.
Everything around me was both novel and terrifying, as if something frightening might suddenly appear at any moment.
Other people gradually arrived from the surrounding area, but the situation didn't seem to be very good for them.
They were all like sickly ghosts, their souls ethereal, as if they might be scattered at any moment.
Xu Long and Piao Guochang were like two oddballs, seemingly out of place with their surroundings.
After walking for less than half an hour, the two arrived at the temple gate.
It seems to have withstood the erosion of countless years, yet it has stubbornly persisted.
There is no decay, only antiquity and solemnity, and a strong sense of vicissitude.
Xu Long looked at the temple gate; it seemed familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.
After thinking about it for a moment, he understood what was going on.
Isn't this the same dilapidated temple from before?
The only difference is that one is decaying and the other is solid; otherwise, they are almost identical.