Attaining the Dao in Dreams, refining illusion into reality

"These sound like two solutions to the same problem?"

As Li Boyang's disciple, Lu Huaijin naturally had a deep understanding of the concept of "the Dao Path".

Therefore, in her view, the diametrically opposed behaviors of Zhuang Zhou and Boshun are more like different interpretations of the same Dao Path.

[Yes, the Dao of Great Freedom that I pursue is built on illusion, originating from a dream I had.]

In that dream, I seemed to transform into a butterfly.

[Upon waking, I couldn't tell whether I had transformed into a butterfly, or the butterfly had transformed into me.]

[From that moment on, I understood the Forgetting Both Self and Things world.]

[First there is no merit, then no fame, then no self, until finally, having nothing to rely on, one roams freely in the boundless, roaming freely between heaven and earth.]

After a slight pause, Zhuang Zhou, completely absorbed in his own thoughts, continued.

But I also understand that simply letting loose and indulging in endless daydreams is just an empty dream.

Just as after waking from a dream, I am still myself, not the butterfly in the dream.

My body is real, and my family and friends are real too.

They will wake me up in time when Forgetting Both Self and Things.

Listening silently to Zhuang Zhou's story, Lu Huaijin did not interrupt him this time.

Conversely, through Zhuang Zhou's description of the state of "Forgetting Both Self and Things and the external world," Lu Huaijin seemed to think of the personalities that had been split off from himself.

If one lacks various anchors in the real world, one might doubt whether they are the split personality.

[One day, an idea suddenly occurred to me.]

[If the butterflies in my dream were real, and they had their own family and friends too -]

[So, when they awaken the butterflies, will I be able to transform into a butterfly again?]

It must be admitted that Zhuang Zhou's idea was indeed far-fetched.

It was precisely through this special method that Zhuang Zhou was able to travel to other timelines and worldlines time and time again to Dao Proving.

The only question is how Zhuang Zhou turned his dream into reality, making the butterfly in his dream a real, existing version of himself.

[ To Attaining the Dao in Dreams, to Refining Falsehood into Reality —that's the secret I've come up with.]

[Compared to the "Reverse Heaven and Return the Sun" Divine Ability personally passed down by the Dao Ancestor, this method of Attaining the Dao in Dreams has many limitations, and it cannot even directly interfere with the Long River of Time.]

[But its advantage is equally significant: everything I experienced before the Refining Falsehood into Reality was just a dream.]

I can try again and again until I am born into this era in the best possible condition.

Before being born as Giant Kun, Zhuang Zhou had already dreamed countless dreams.

In those dreams, he transformed into a human, a spirit, and a god.

However, due to various reasons, Zhuang Zhou was ultimately unable to Refining Falsehood into Reality, and could only be born in the form of Giant Kun.

What happened next was pretty much what Xiluo already knew.

Zhuang Zhou wanted to lead the Giant Kun clan to rise to power and ascend to become Heavenly Deity in this era.

However, at the last moment, he was killed by Boshun and forced to give up all ownership of the Great Sovereign Heaven. His body was also buried in this eternally frozen land at the edge of the heavens.

Fortunately, Zhuang Zhou had countless experiences of failing to attain Dao Proving.

They made emergency preparations immediately, using the method of Attaining the Dao in Dreams to Refining Falsehood into Reality, bringing the things from countless previous dreams into reality.

"Bringing dreams into reality?"

With his eyes widening in surprise, Lu Huaijin suddenly realized and asked in return.

"In other words, the person you are now is not the real you, but merely a dream world pulled into reality by the real you?"

This explains why Zhuang Zhou's consciousness appeared out of nowhere in the depths of his mind.

Because he was not real, but a dream forcibly dragged into reality.

The only question is, what exactly happened in Zhuang Zhou's dream? Did the other person dream of becoming him?

Thinking of this, Lu Huaijin's eyes turned strange.

Although she had long known that for these Dao Proving One had crossed time and space, age, gender, and even species no longer held much significance.

But the thought of someone else becoming him in a dream and experiencing his life again made Lu Huaijin feel inexplicably awkward.

What other dreams did you have?

Thinking of this, Lu Huaijin suddenly realized something and asked again.

Since Zhuang Zhou brought all his previous dreams into reality, then theoretically there must be more than one Zhuang Zhou.

Don't worry, I'm the only one who can remember everything right now.

Instantly sensing Lu Huaijin's concerns, Zhuang Zhou quickly responded.

Having studied the Six Desires Demon-Dividing Chapter, I am naturally aware of the dangers of personality splitting.

Therefore, even if dreams are brought into reality, those Zhuang Zhou in the dreams will only maintain their original life trajectories until they are awakened and remember their true identities.

At this point, Zhuang Zhou paused slightly before speaking in a somewhat hesitant tone.

[I'm actually not the first Zhuang Zhou to be awakened; there was another Zhuang Zhou who was awakened before me.]

That was Zhuang Zhou's first dream; he dreamt that he had become a butterfly.

[Thus, a special race called the Butterfly People was born.]

[They originated from Zhuang Zhou, but have developed their own unique characteristics.]

Staring in astonishment, Lu Huaijin never imagined that Zhuang Zhou's dream would involve the Butterfly People.

" To Attaining the Dao in Dreams is actually possible to this extent?"

Lu Huaijin knew perfectly well that the Butterfly People's history was far longer than the time Zhuang Zhou had been born.

This means that Zhuang Zhou's first dream, in a sense, changed history, embedding the suddenly born Butterfly People into the long river of history.

[Not only that, in that dream, Zhuang Zhou further perfected the Divine Ability of Attaining the Dao in Dreams.]

Having keenly grasped the underlying meaning in Zhuang Zhou's words, Lu Huaijin couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

What did he do?

With a slightly detached yet helpless smile, Zhuang Zhou spoke softly.

[Since it's in my own dream, I can naturally do whatever I want.]

[He forcibly entered Witch Mountain and seized a portion of the power of the Witch Mountain Cauldron, using it to perfect the Great Sovereign Heaven.]

[If this part of the dream also becomes reality, then the Great Sovereign Heaven must contain some of the power of the Witch Mountain Cauldron.]

[That was the power of the second Witch King, a power truly capable of turning illusion into reality.]

I think that the Great Sovereign Heaven of Shiva must have become a completely different world than I imagined.

[Perhaps the Freedom Through Others' Transformations has truly arrived!]

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