Mang Shusheng's Ink Painting Practice

Chapter 281 The Talent for Dreaming and the Countdown

About ten days later, Youquan sent someone to deliver a reward to Zhao Yifu.

A large banner, called the 'Banner of Ten Thousand Souls'.

This thing... it's obviously not something a respectable person would use; there's some really eerie stuff coming from inside, like ghosts howling and wailing.

But there is no denying that this is a very powerful treasure.

When it was delivered to Zhao Yifu, it was already filled with tens of thousands of vengeful spirits, and its resentment could almost refine the life of an entire realm.

Zhao Yifu obtained this magical treasure and felt that saying it could 'refine all living beings in a world' was definitely an exaggeration, but its power was indeed very strong, especially for crushing weaker opponents...

Wait, he needs this to stomp noobs?
Zhao Yifu was speechless.

This thing...

He casually picked up the Killing Blade and plunged it into the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Thus, all the resentment was absorbed, and tens of thousands of resentful souls were sent to the underworld.

The Killing Blade has received another buff.

Now, this Killing Blade has been completely upgraded from a mortal treasure to a celestial demonic blade, and can be considered a real treasure.

It's unclear to what extent it will eventually reach if it continues to strengthen.

Originally, due to the limitations of its materials, it had already reached a bottleneck.

However, with Zhao Yifu mastering the dark source power, this bottleneck in terms of material was broken.

Both the Killing Blade and the Pure Yang Demon-Subduing Sword seem to have unlimited potential for growth.

All we need to do is find the right offerings.

The Banner of Ten Thousand Souls has been cleared.

Zhao Yifu put away the empty shell of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, thinking that it would be useful eventually.

Besides listening to his master preach every now and then, what he enjoys most now is going on spiritual journeys every night.

Sometimes they would come to the void beyond the Three Realms to observe the source of darkness, sometimes they would come to the mortal world to see the changes in the world, and sometimes they would come to the underworld to meet with people they used to know... Because the Northern Expedition was successful, the people who participated in it gained great prestige, so much so that many of them could obtain an official position in the underworld after they died.

The book "The Story of the Northern Expedition" became an even greater catalyst, and it was foreseeable that many people would ascend to heaven and become gods after receiving enough offerings.

Of course, Zhao Yifu's favorite thing to do recently is to travel in the dream world and see the dreams of all the mortal beings in the heavens.

The bizarre and wonderful dreams were always very interesting, and Zhao Yifu never tired of them.

However, one day he swam into a dreamlike place and found it very interesting.

Because the person in this dream was punching the Heavenly Emperor over, and then sitting on the Heavenly Emperor's throne, laughing loudly.

Zhao Yifu was stunned by this scene. Could it be that he had stumbled into Boss Youquan's dream?

However, upon closer reflection, it seems unlikely that Boss Youquan is that low-level, so I can only continue watching with great interest.

However, he was stunned the next moment.

Because he saw the Heavenly Emperor being beaten under the table, he shouted, "Quickly, go and invite the Buddha!"

The familiar plot left him speechless.

Then Buddha arrived...

The person who had this dream fought Buddha for a long time, until finally knocking Buddha to the ground with a blow, and then blowing out a hair that transformed into a five-fingered mountain that pressed Buddha down beneath it...

Sweet dreams, sweet dreams.

Zhao Yifu couldn't help but praise, the owner of this dream was truly brave.

However, he couldn't quite make out what the dreamer looked like, since the 'self' in a dream was always blurry.

But just as he was thinking this, a handsome young man, dressed in golden armor and wearing pheasant feathers in his hair, with a tall and imposing figure, appeared in front of him.

"Who are you, to appear in my dream!"

Zhao Yifu was surprised for a moment, but then he didn't find it strange, after all, he was a big shot who had actually fought against the Heavenly Court.

So he said respectfully, "This humble one, a wandering immortal, greets the Great Sage."

The man asked in surprise, "You knew it was me?"

Zhao Yifu looked over with longing and said, "Who doesn't know the deeds of the Great Sage? He is truly a role model for us all."

The handsome young man was so happy that he scratched his ears and cheeks, immediately revealing his monkey-like nature.

He laughed and said, "Alright, alright, but I don't think you're a decent person either... In this dream, demons occasionally appear. Dreamline? I think you're the dream demon!"

His tone became serious as he spoke, as if he were about to pull out a stick at the slightest provocation.

Zhao Yifu quickly waved his hand and said, "Great Sage, please wait. I am indeed an immortal, a proper immortal. It's just that I accidentally created a supernatural power that allows me to travel in my dreams, which is why I like to use this method to travel around."

Upon hearing this, the monkey's expression changed again. Curious, it leaned closer and asked, "Where can they go?"

Zhao Yifu said, "There are many places to go! You can go anywhere in the Three Realms, but my favorite place is the Dream Realm, where I can see the dreams of different people."

The monkey immediately became interested and asked, "The Dream Realm? What's it like? Show it to me!"

Zhao Yifu was somewhat embarrassed. He said, "I don't know if I can bring people... How about this, I will tell you the 'Dreamlike Immortal Journey,' and the Great Sage can learn it and travel around at will."

Zhao Yifu respectfully presented the wonderful method he had come to understand.

The monkey didn't hesitate at all and immediately learned it.

Then, he happily scratched his head and cheeks, and then he woke up from the dream.

Zhao Yifu looked at the vanished dream; Monkey King's figure had disappeared without a trace, and that thick thigh was gone just like that...

He felt a little discouraged, but at least he had taken the plunge, and a good deed had already been done, right?
Moreover, he had formed a good relationship with the Monkey King, so he could actually go looking for him if he really wanted to, but he felt there was no need to be so deliberate.

So his divine sense returned from the dream world, and he began to listen to his master's teachings again.

During this time, he would also communicate with his master, chat about what they had learned, encourage each other, and secretly cheer themselves on.

Five years passed in this way without anyone noticing.

Zhao Yifu had completely forgotten that he was an undercover agent.

Grand Master Xuandu suddenly frowned and said, "You passed on your technique of transforming your primordial spirit into an incarnation to someone else?"

Zhao Yifu was momentarily confused, then realized and said, "Yes, I encountered the Great Sage by chance during a previous immortal journey, and passed on this technique to the Great Sage in the hope of forming a good relationship."

Xuan Du's brows relaxed and he said, "I was wondering why there was a primordial spirit that had been trying to enter this White Cloud Mountain. It was quite powerful... So it was Him."

"Since it's a positive connection, then you two can talk."

With that, he flicked his sleeve and disappeared without a trace.

Zhao Yifu blinked, and a dream avatar crashed into him.

That's a little monkey...

Zhao Yifu's hands itched, and he almost angrily rubbed the monkey's head.

Fortunately, he realized what was happening and quickly clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Great Sage, what brings you here?"

The little monkey scratched his head, then chuckled and said, "Please excuse me. I didn't expect you to be someone with connections. I thought you weren't a good person."

Zhao Yifu then realized that it might be more effective to introduce himself before interacting with this monkey.

Although he himself did not want to rely on the Taiqing lineage behind him to bully others, in the Heavenly Realm, background and origin really matter.

Especially this monkey...

Look at the journey to the west, all the monsters without any background are killed, while those with connections all slack off and seek out masters... This monkey understands human relationships perfectly.

Zhao Yifu chuckled and said, "To be honest, Great Sage, I am a disciple of the Taiqing Sect."

The little monkey laughed heartily; "So you're that old man's disciple and grand-disciple... Well, well, I've known Laozi for a long time, so I'll take you as my little brother. If you ever need anything in the future, just mention my name, and it will surely work."

Zhao Yifu nodded in response with a smile that concealed his teeth.

And so, good fortune comes.

Let's establish a relationship like this for now, and gradually deepen the connection later. Then we can completely cling to this powerful backer.

However, after rambling on for a while, the monkey eventually circled back to the crucial point...

"Hey, I haven't even asked you your name yet, kid."

Zhao Yifu smiled and said, "My Taoist name is Fuyinzi."

The monkey said, "Oh, Fu Yinzi, you're quite a good young man. You gave me a very interesting cultivation technique on our first meeting."

"I, Old Sun, learned this skill a couple of years ago, but why can I only travel within the Heavenly Realm and not travel to other realms as you said?" Zhao Yifu quickly replied, "Perhaps the Great Sage doesn't know the coordinates of the other realms. I'll take you on a tour."

The monkey immediately said, "You're too kind. I'll consider you my little brother. Just call me Brother Monkey. There's no need to be so formal."

This is the effect of "A Dreamlike Journey to Immortality"—it really did make friends with this playful monkey.

However, there is still an element of politeness involved, so it shouldn't be taken too seriously.

However, this is a good start.

Zhao Yifu immediately sat down cross-legged and entered a state of emptiness and meditation. A moment later, a dream avatar emerged.

The incarnation said to the little monkey, "Great Sage, please take my hand, and I will take you there..."

The monkey immediately asked, "What did you call me?"

Zhao Yifu gave a wry smile and said, "Yes, yes, Brother Monkey, shall we go?"

The monkey cheered and immediately grabbed Zhao Yifu's arm.

With a thought, Zhao Yifu led the monkey effortlessly into the dream world.

"Wonderful, wonderful!"

The monkey scratched its ears and cheeks happily.

The bizarre and fantastical world of dreams really excited the monkey; he had loved this kind of thrilling adventure all his life.

Then, ignoring Zhao Yifu, he directly entered one dream world after another, having a great time and making a mess of the dream world.

Zhao Yifu could only offer his condolences to those mortals. However, the monkey wasn't malicious; it just made people dream of a mischievous and troublesome monkey, which was nothing to worry about.

However, after this experience, the monkey started coming to play with Zhao Yifu every day.

It wasn't that their relationship suddenly improved; rather, the monkey always needed him to lead the way!

Zhao Yifu, somewhat exasperated, figured out one thing... Even though he had taken the monkey so many times, the monkey still couldn't reach the dream world on its own!
Why is this?

He raised this question in front of his grandmaster, Xuandu.

Grandmaster Xuandu hesitated for a moment, then sighed, "Fu Yinzi, do you know that if I had not been a Great Luo Golden Immortal, I probably would not have been able to reach the dream realm you spoke of?"

Zhao Yifu was extremely surprised.

He asked, "Is my grandmaster only at the Great Luo Golden Immortal level?"

Xuan Du had been all poised and was about to say something serious when Zhao Yifu said this, and his composure immediately wavered.

Is this a sign that they look down on his low cultivation level?

No way?
He said irritably, "What do you know? The Great Luo Golden Immortal is the pinnacle of the Dao realm in this world. If you go any higher... it's just that your magical power is stronger. There is no essential difference in terms of realm."

"Besides... never mind, why bother telling a little celestial being like you all this? You wouldn't understand anyway."

He was a little exasperated.

Strangely enough, after so many years of cultivating the Tao and refining his mind, Grand Master Xuandu's Taoist heart and nature were already as solid as a rock, yet he easily broke down when he spent a long time with Zhao Yifu.

As expected, he truly is someone even the Heavenly Demon fears.

Zhao Yifu casually captured a few moments, then nodded meekly in response, before steer the conversation back on track: "My master once said that if you weren't a Great Luo Golden Immortal, you probably wouldn't be able to reach the Dream Realm... Why is that?"

Xuandu then came to his senses and said, "The Dream Realm is located at the edge of the Three Realms. Unless one is a Great Luo Golden Immortal who can perceive all the wonders of heaven and earth, it is impossible to find this realm."

"Even those who can sense and touch this world are extremely rare, and must be at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm."

He said this with a rather smug expression, clearly indicating that he was one of the top figures.

Zhao Yifu immediately flattered, "Grandmaster is indeed Grandmaster, where in the Three Realms can't he go?"

Xuandu shook his head and said, "Even I can only sense the existence of this world. If I really want to go there, I must borrow the Taiji Diagram from your ancestor."

"Your ability to perceive the dream world is itself an amazing spatial talent. But to be able to create a divine avatar like 'Dreamlike Immortal Journey' to enter the dream world is an incredible stroke of luck."

Zhao Yifu was somewhat confused. He had only thought this supernatural ability was fun, so how did it become such a great fortune?
Xuandu said, "There is a supernatural power in the West called the 'Dream Enlightenment Method'!"

"This supernatural power uses a dream as a vast world, and within that dream, one travels through three thousand worlds to achieve the Great Luo realm... Do you think the supernatural power you possess is simple?"

Zhao Yifu said blankly, "But this disciple doesn't know how to obtain the Great Luo certification in a dream."

Xuandu said irritably, "Of course you don't know now, but when you reach the Great Luo realm, this dream world can become your help."

He paused for a moment, then sighed, "Actually, I'm quite exhausted being the only one in my Taiqing lineage. If you could ascend to the Great Luo soon, you could share many of my burdens..."

Zhao Yifu looked over with a deep gaze.

Xuan Du noticed that his gaze faltered for a moment, then asked, "What kind of look is that?"

Are you very busy?

Zhao Yifu swallowed this question back down his throat.

He chuckled and said, "It's nothing. This disciple is just feeling sentimental about the hardships my master has endured and the burdens I bear."

Master Xuandu said, "It shows you have filial piety."

He paused for a moment, then sighed and said, "Actually, your talent is exceptional. If you were given another thousand years, becoming a Golden Immortal would be a natural outcome."

"But time waits for no one, you don't have a thousand years to accumulate."

Zhao Yifu asked in surprise, "Why do you say that, Grandmaster?"

Xuan Du said, "At most another five hundred years, the ancient grievances suppressed by the underworld will be unable to be contained and will burst forth."

"At that time, it will be a catastrophe."

Zhao Yifu's eyes widened in horror.

He certainly wouldn't easily believe it if someone else said it, but if his master said it... then it's basically a done deal!

He asked in surprise, "Grandmaster, what will happen if the ancient grudge gets completely out of control?"

Xuan Du said, "Everything will be distorted by this resentment."

"The world will become a wasteland after the catastrophe. Perhaps after this catastrophe is over, all things can be revived... or perhaps everything will end and everything can only be returned to chaos before the world repeats itself."

Zhao Yifu frowned and asked, "Then...is there nothing the Heavenly Court can do?"

Xuandu said, "As the center of cause and effect in the Three Realms, the Heavenly Court will bear the brunt of the attack."

Now, Zhao Yifu realized the seriousness of the situation.

He had thought that even if things got worse, the Heavenly Court would be his last resort.

But unexpectedly, in the face of the real calamity, the Heavenly Court was the first to perish.
One can imagine the chaotic scene of order collapsing at that time.

He paced back and forth in a somewhat flustered manner.

Xuandu looked at Zhao Yifu with great interest, curious about what measures his grand-disciple would take after hearing such news.

Zhao Yifu asked, "What about the patriarchs? The patriarchs have great supernatural powers, they must have some kind of response."

Xuandu nodded and said, "Indeed, your ancestor, the Sage Taiqing, did come up with some solutions."

"The worst option is naturally to reverse the primordial chaos and recreate the world, as for the best option..."

He kept it a secret.

Zhao Yifu instantly realized the solution and said, "The best course of action is to send Venerable Youquan into the Three Realms and use him as a scapegoat!"

Xuandu smiled and nodded, saying, "That is indeed the best-case scenario, but Youquan is not that foolish... However, inviting Youquan to enter the Three Realms and work with the Sages to resolve the ancient grudge is indeed a very good idea."

Zhao Yifu: "I understand. No matter what happens in the end, let's lure Venerable Youquan in first."

Xuan Du was speechless; Zhao Yifu's understanding was absolutely correct.

Zhao Yifu fell silent again.

Xuandu asked, puzzled, "What are you thinking about now?"

Zhao Yifu raised his head and said, "Grandmaster, I am thinking about how to survive this great calamity."

A strong sense of crisis weighed on his mind, making it impossible for him to remain calm and composed.

Xuan Du chuckled and said, "Don't worry about it. If you can advance to Golden Immortal within five hundred years, then you will naturally be of use during the tribulation."

"If that doesn't work... then I'll just have to stay in the Tushita Palace."

"Our school only has so many people, so the teachers always have to protect them all."

(End of this chapter)