The starship, equipped with the core of the Law of Neutralization, sailed through the sea of stars for a full month. Its destination was a region known as the " Illusory Dream Nebula "—a nebula with a soft, pale purple hue, where stardust slowly swirled in the void like floating fragments of a dream, even tinged with a hazy halo as starlight passed through.
"The probe cannot penetrate the core of the nebula," the Star Patrollers's voice was filled with confusion. "The laws here interfere with energy waves; all probe signals are converted into 'dream fragments' and reflected back."
Standing before the observation platform, Qing He gazed at the faint light and shadow appearing deep within the nebula, the Power of Chaos at her fingertips rippled slightly. "Their ' Law of Dreams ' have permeated every grain of stardust in the nebula. This place is like a giant 'consciousness field,' capable of transforming the 'real' of the outside world into the 'illusory' within."
Xiao He held a pot of Symbiosis Grass seedlings. Under the influence of the nebula, the seedlings' leaves had turned a translucent purple. " The Law of Neutralization is at work! The seedlings are absorbing the Law of Dreams, and the purple of the leaves contains traces of 'transformation of reality and illusion'."
The starship slowly entered the nebula, and the surrounding scenery began to become eerie—stardust condensed into blurry human figures, the nebula flowed into familiar streets, and even faint laughter could be heard. Xiao He looked at the market that suddenly appeared in front of her, which was exactly the same as the Co-Prosperity Zone, and couldn't help but reach out to touch it, but her fingertips passed right through it.
"It's a 'collective dream'." Qing He's voice was wary, the longsword in her hand gleaming with a gray-gold light. "Nebula is reading our memories, constructing an illusion to lower our guard."
She swung her longsword, Power of Chaos arc that shattered the market before her like broken glass, revealing the nebula's original pale purple outline. But soon, a new illusion began to coalesce. This time, it was an ancient battlefield of Destruction Universe, where dark red energy intertwined with gray-black embers. The scene was so horrific that even the guards sent by Meng Ke gripped their weapons tightly.
"We can't keep passively breaking through," Qing He pondered. " Star Patrollers, activate the 'passive mode' of the Neutralization Law, placing the starship in a state 'between reality Law of Neutralization' —neither fully integrating into the dream nor forcibly resisting, like duckweed floating on water."
The Star Patrollers immediately complied. A faint grayish-purple halo appeared on the hull of the starship, and the surrounding illusions ceased their dramatic changes, instead flowing slowly as if seen through a thin veil, both clear and blurry.
"This way, it won't be seen as an 'intruder' by the Law of Dreams." Xiao He breathed a sigh of relief. The seedling's purple leaves stabilized and began to release a faint Power of Balance.
After sailing for another three days, a physical entity finally appeared deep within the nebula—a huge " Dream Core," a translucent purple object suspended in the center of the nebula. Its surface was covered with patterns like the folds of a brain, and countless pale purple filaments of light extended from the Dream Core, connecting to every grain of stardust in the nebula.
Around the Dream Core float thousands of crystal-like structures, within which one can vaguely see slumbering figures—they have long, silvery-white hair, skin as white as moonlight, and slow, deep breaths; this is the "sleeping civilization," which the Star Patrollers have named the " Dream Clan."
"Their physical bodies are asleep, but their consciousnesses are constructing a complete universe within the Dream Core." Qing He looked at the figures within the crystal structure, understanding dawning on her. "The long-term reversal of reality and illusion has robbed their bodies of vitality; without guidance, they will eventually dissipate completely within the dream world."
The starship docked beside the Dream Core. Qing He, along with Xiao He and two envoys from the Flowing Colors Clan, stepped out of the starship. The moment they stepped onto the surface of the Dream Core, the patterns beneath their feet lit up, and a gentle thought entered their consciousness:
"Welcome... messenger of balance."
The source of their thoughts came from the largest crystal building at the center of the Dream Core. The three entered the building and saw an old man lying on a crystal bed—his long silver-white hair almost dragged on the ground, his face was covered with wrinkles, but he had a pair of eyes as clear as a child's, and his body was surrounded by the most intense pale purple light.
"I am the ' Dream Guardian ' of the Dream Clan." The old man's voice was like a dream, yet exceptionally clear. "We sensed... the aura of the Law of Neutralization, that is... the power that allows 'dream' and 'awake' to coexist."
"Are you aware of your situation?" Qing He asked.
The Dream Guardian nodded slowly, a bitter look flashing in his eyes. " The Dream Universe... is too beautiful, so beautiful that... it makes people forget to 'wake up.' Our people, for three generations... have never opened their eyes."
He raised his hand, and pale purple light threads coalesced into an image: the ancestors of the Dream Clan were once a powerful civilization capable of freely traversing between reality and illusion. They could thrive in reality and create miracles in dreams. However, as the Dream Universe became increasingly complete, more and more of their people chose to sleep permanently, ultimately leading to the stagnation of their civilization.
"We tried... to wake them up," the Dream Guardian's voice was weary, "But forcibly breaking the dream would completely shatter their consciousness. It's like... expecting a flower that blooms in the darkness to blossom in the midday sun."
Looking at the figures struggling in pain on the screen, Qing He recalled the "dilution" property of the Law of Neutralization: "Perhaps, we don't need to forcibly awaken them. We can implant a ' Illusory and Real Balance Array ' into the Dream Core, allowing the Dream Universe to form a 'tidal connection' with the real world—during the day, the light of reality seeps into the dream, making them aware of their 'awake' existence; at night, the energy of the dream nourishes the body, maintaining the vitality of 'sleep'."
The envoy from the Flowing Colors Clan immediately added, "We can also help optimize the laws of the Dream Universe! So that the 'beauty' within it is no longer a lure to escape reality, but rather a driving force to wake them up, just as a beautiful dream makes one look forward to the next day!"
The Dream Guardian's eyes lit up, and the pale purple light rippled violently. "This... is it really possible?"
"We can give it a try." Qing He took out a " Balance Crystal Seed " crafted from a Symbiosis Grass seed Law of Neutralization. "Implant it into your Dream Core, and it will automatically merge with your Law of Dreams, growing a ' Bridge of Balance ' that connects the real and the virtual."
Without hesitation, the Dream Guardian reached out and allowed the Balance Crystal Seed to merge into his brow. The moment the crystal seed entered the Dream Core, gray-gold patterns immediately appeared on the pale purple Dream Core. These patterns spread like vines, intertwining with the light threads of the Dream Clan to form a "two-colored light bridge" that ran through the Dream Core —one end connecting to the sleeping body inside the crystal structure, and the other end extending into the depths of the Dream Universe.
"I feel it..." The Dream Guardian closed his eyes, a relieved smile on his face. "The aura of reality... like warm sunlight, shining into the corners of dreams. The consciousness of my people... lingers by the bridge of light, wanting to see... what lies on the other side."
Qing He and Xiao He exchanged a glance and smiled. They knew this was just the beginning; it would take a long time for the Dream Clan to truly achieve a balance between reality and illusion, but at least they had taken the first step.
When they left the Illusory Dream Nebula, the Dream Guardian gifted them a " Crystal of Dreams "—containing the purest " Law of Hope " in the Dream Universe, capable of awakening a spirit's yearning for the future in times of despair.
As the starship sailed away from the nebula, Qing He looked back at the pale purple light and shadow. The two-colored light bridge on the Dream Core shimmered in the nebula, like a half-open eye, gazing at both the dream and reality.
"Where to next?" Xiao He asked, the Symbiosis Grass seedling in her hand having fully bloomed with purple and gold petals.
Qing He looked at the newly appeared light purple dot on the star map, representing the Dream Clan. It echoed the Five-Colored Halo of the Co-Prosperity Zone, forming a new line of law.
"Back to the Co-Prosperity Zone," she smiled, "Tell the Alliance that our Five-Colored Halo needs a sixth color—a light purple representing 'balance between reality and illusion'."
The starship's light traced an arc across the sea of stars as it sped toward the Co-Prosperity Zone. In the distance, the Five-Colored Halo halo shone ever brighter, as if awaiting the arrival of a new member.
Meanwhile, in the Illusory Dream Nebula, the Dream Clan youth inside the first crystal building slowly opened his eyes. He looked at the pale purple stardust flowing outside the window, then at the gray-gold light shimmering between his brows, and for the first time, curiosity about "reality" ignited in his eyes.
The story of balance, amidst the interplay of light and shadow, adds a gentle touch.