Chapter 349: Dream Inside and Outside the Dream

No light filtered down from the colossal canopy above. The sky and clouds gradually receded, and the faint sound of rain replaced the gentle murmur of the stream. Ning Changjiu's consciousness floated in a desolate void for a moment before he opened his eyes and awoke.

His vision sharpened into focus.

He didn't know when the person beside him had moved to the window. She was meditating, facing the fine rain, her long, uncombed hair lying slightly dishevelled. Her sleeping robe hadn't been changed yet, and her white cotton garment reflected the faint light from the window, making everything appear hazy.

"Awake so early?" Ning Changjiu murmured softly.

Si Ming replied, "I woke up not long after you fell asleep."

Ning Changjiu frowned slightly. He touched the spot beside him... Hmm, there was still some warmth lingering.

He involuntarily recalled last night's dream.

Strange, why would he dream of Si Ming? Was it simply a fear from the day, or because she was sleeping beside him?

Ning Changjiu asked, "Why aren't you sleeping?"

Si Ming said, "The thought of you being next to me made it impossible to sleep; it felt like lying on a bed of needles, so I got up to practice my sword."

Ning Changjiu thought she had a point and didn't press the matter. He simply struggled to sit up, leaned against the bed frame, breathed softly, and organized his thoughts.

Bikou Peak was exceptionally quiet in the early morning.

Ning Changjiu was still shaken by last night's dream. He touched his back, which was covered in a cold sweat... *Sigh*, why did Master make me have such a dream? Was it a punishment? Thankfully, he had managed to feign ignorance and get away with it.

He had initially wondered if the dream could be real, as their temperaments were too vivid and lifelike. But the dream's dialogue was still fresh in Ning Changjiu's mind: in Xiang'er and Si Ming's mutual taunts, she revealed Si Ming's true identity, and moreover, acted as if she knew Si Ming inside out.

Logically, Xiang'er couldn't have known Si Ming.

So, it was just his imagination after all...

He stretched his body. Though he had just woken from a dream, he felt as if he had fought a battle all night, utterly exhausted both physically and mentally.

He wasn't even sure if it was a good dream or a nightmare.

However, Jiajia's appearance in the dream was adorably cool and dignified, like a goddess carved from ice... *Sigh*, it was a pity Jiajia wasn't by his side right now.

In dreams, tempting illusions abound, but only knowledge remains pristine. Ning Changjiu no longer pondered further. He recalled the content of the scriptures, meditating to regulate his breath while carefully reading. After clearing his mind of distractions, he began to cultivate earnestly.

The sky gradually brightened.

When Ning Changjiu opened his eyes again, Si Ming had already changed into her divine robe. She sat before the mirror, also recalling last night's dream. As she thought about the many perplexing oddities in the dream, unable to discern them, her mind grew increasingly cluttered and confused.

She had never met Zhao Xiang'er, so why would Xiang'er know her? Why had Lu Jiajia become so aloof? And why did Ning Changjiu turn sixteen again...?

As her thoughts scattered, Ning Changjiu came up behind her, took a wooden comb, and began to comb her hair.

Her hair was very long, and combing it took a long time. As the wooden comb glided through, her silver hair flowed like a stream of melted snow, soft and silky. The faint glimmer gradually diffused, appearing blurred in the dim morning light.

Si Ming temporarily pulled back her thoughts.

She found it somewhat ridiculous to be pondering dreams.

What dreams? They must be tricks from inner demons meant to disturb her! The more she thought about them, the deeper she would fall, and the more she would play into the demons' schemes.

In the mirror, they looked at each other's faces.

Ning Changjiu wanted to ask something but hesitated, unsure how to begin.

Si Ming also wanted to ask something, but she merely pressed her lips together, as if debating how to phrase her question.

Her silver hair was gradually combed neatly.

Ning Changjiu took a deep breath. He still wanted to know the truth; he needed to understand what was going on with the dream.

"Miss Si Ming," Ning Changjiu said, his voice serious.

Si Ming, whose emotions were complex, stirred slightly and retorted irritably, "Why are you so jumpy?"

Ning Changjiu looked at her face and asked, "I want to ask you a question, and I hope you'll answer me truthfully."

Si Ming frowned and said, "What do you want to ask?"

Feeling he was too serious, Ning Changjiu offered a slight smile and asked, "Last night... did you dream of me?"

"..." Si Ming looked at his smile, finding it ill-intentioned no matter how she saw it. *Hmph*, flirting with her so early in the morning? What kind of person did he take her for?! Si Ming replied coldly, "I did dream of you."

Ning Changjiu was slightly startled and cautiously asked, "What did you dream about?"

Si Ming said, "I dreamed you were tied to a divine pillar, and Lu Jiajia, Zhao Xiang'er, Ning Xiaoling, Shao Xiaoli... they each took a knife and cut you into five pieces."

Ning Changjiu was horrified to hear this.

Moreover, Si Ming's imagination was clearly limited in this dream...

Ning Changjiu chuckled and said, "What a ridiculous dream."

Si Ming snorted coldly.

Ning Changjiu finished combing her hair.

It seemed a dream was just a dream, and he had simply overthought it... Ning Changjiu set down the wooden comb, gazing out the window with a distant expression.

Afterward, they descended the mountain as usual to monitor the Ginseng Puppet Demons and observe Yu Lei's refining progress. The nearby Ginseng Fruit Tree had completely lost its vitality, swaying in the cold wind like a dead tumor grown from a multitude of flesh.

There were many conflicting accounts regarding the deaths of the Hundred-faced Fox and the Fog Demon King, but the Golden-winged Great Peng didn't seem to have turned its suspicion towards them.

Everything was eerily calm.

Beyond his cultivation, Ning Changjiu was still investigating the Kunlun matter. He and Si Ming visited many demonic peaks in Myriad Demon City but couldn't find a clear answer. The little demon monkey also seemed to have truly vanished, never appearing again.

At the summit of Little Thunder Sound Peak, Si Ming stood on the still-damp cliff face, gazing into the distance.

On the peak, the wind howled, black clouds swept forward, and damp mist permeated the air.

"After the Saint dies, people will come there," Si Ming said softly, pointing in a certain direction. "At that time, these peaks will be covered by a tide of silver, divine officials and heavenly lords will sit high in the clouds like Bodhisattvas, divine rulers will summon their subordinates, divine generals will line up before the formation, thunder will roll, killing intent will soar, and then a hundred thousand divine soldiers will pour down like a flood, drowning all demons, ending all life, leaving corpses for thousands of miles..."

Si Ming depicted the scene in her mind.

Ning Changjiu listened quietly, looking at the vast expanse of heaven and earth, unable to imagine what such a scene would look like if it truly occurred.

The evil of the Ginseng Fruit Tree seemed childish in comparison.

Ning Changjiu asked, "What did you mostly do when you served as a divine official in the past?"

Si Ming recalled, "I guarded the sundial, upheld the heavenly rules, and managed all things."

Ning Changjiu asked, "Didn't it get boring after a long time?"

Si Ming replied, "Deities are pure-hearted and desireless, completely unaware of the passage of time. It's not like now, traveling among mortals, with you by my side, where every day feels like a year. Besides, the joys of being a divine official are hard for you to truly understand, even if I tell you."

"I see..." Ning Changjiu assented verbally, but in his heart, he wondered, *Do deities have to suppress their desires to avoid loneliness throughout their long lives?*

Wasn't that just another form of loneliness?

They arrived at Little Thunder Sound Peak. After passing the stele pavilion and entering the city gate, resplendent Buddhist light and a purple-gold aura shone before them.

The demon enshrined on Little Thunder Sound Peak had extremely long yellow eyebrows. It wore both a kasaya and golden armor, holding both a Zen staff and a spiked club. It sat solemnly, appearing skilled in both scholarly arts and martial prowess.

There wasn't much else on the peak, but many scriptures and classic texts were sold. Ning Changjiu and Si Ming browsed several bookstores. Si Ming wasn't very interested in the grand scriptures but found a few miscellaneous books in a corner and flipped through them. Ning Changjiu glanced over and saw what looked like "Rhyming Pairs" and "Divine Law Enlightenment."

Ning Changjiu was puzzled, wondering why Si Ming would be interested in such books.

Deep within Myriad Demon City.

The Golden-winged Great Peng was also meditating.

He was cloaked in golden feathers, wearing a red raven mask, with his grey-white long hair fanning out behind it. Beneath the golden feathers, dark golden chainmail shimmered faintly. His folded, ancient sword-like wings were enormous, making his body appear less bulky, yet his meditating posture exuded not a sense of asceticism but sheer sharpness.

He meditated intently on a stone altar. Around him, flickering flames burned dimly. These flames transformed into various demon sparrows, which struggled ceaselessly in the fire with pained expressions, emitting shrill, phantom cries.

The Golden-winged Great Peng was cultivating the Myriad Demon Art.

Its Myriad Demon Art differed from the ordinary version taught by the Saint.

It had integrated its Sky-Devouring Earth-Swallowing cultivation method, allowing it to acquire the divine powers of other demons by devouring them.

However, those demons had to be of the same origin; otherwise, it would suffer severe backlash.

When the Golden-winged Great Peng first met the Nine-Spirited Sage, he considered him a kindred spirit and discussed devouring methods with him. The Nine-Spirited Sage had nine heads, and his method of swallowing heaven and spitting out earth was superior to his own. Aside from the ancient mythical beast Taotie, when it came to devouring, no other being beneath the Divine Kingdom could match them.

Unfortunately... that Nine-Spirited Sage had gone mad, abandoning the devouring method entirely to cultivate like an ascetic monk. What difference was there between that and a stone lion at a temple gate?

Thousands of demon sparrows flapped their wings, circulating with his grand Golden Peng Dharma Body, transforming into golden feathers that attached to it.

Before him stood a massive stone statue.

The statue was shaped like a giant bow, half-buried in the ground and half exposed. Its rocky surface was weathered and mottled, appearing to have endured years of wind and rain without crumbling.

The great bow had no string.

The Golden-winged Great Peng revealed its Dharma Body, radiating immense light.

The Dharma Body's sharp claws gripped the bow tightly. Instantly, a whistling sound of thunder and lightning erupted, sweeping across the entire mountain range. Wild clouds gathered, and heavy rain seemed ready to lash down at any moment, submerging the entire mountain.

The Golden-winged Great Peng clutched the long bow tightly, its golden pupils burning with crimson fire. It exerted all its strength, trying to uproot it.

The stone bow trembled but remained unmoving.

Instead, fine cracks appeared on the Golden-winged Great Peng's Dharma Body.

"...Cough, cough." A long while later, the Golden-winged Great Peng released its grip, clutching its chest and coughing up large mouthfuls of blood. It muttered unwillingly, "Still can't do it..."

Why could that stone lion, the Nine-Spirited Sage, pull it out, but he couldn't?

Had he taken a wrong path?

No! Impossible! The Myriad Demon Art must not be complete enough... These demon sparrows are too low in rank...

Divine sparrows...

Only true divine sparrows could fully complete the Myriad Demon Art!

He yearned to become the Ancestor of Myriad Demons, devouring mountains and seas, consuming the heavens, even swallowing the Vermilion Bird itself. After that, he would refine himself into a true Buddha, containing worlds within, achieving the supreme realm of "I am the universe, and the universe is me!"

The Golden-winged Great Peng gasped continuously, clutching his chest, and slowly closed his crimson-gold eyes, as if he had finally made a decision.

On the road between Sword Pavilion and Gu Ling Sect, Liu Junzhuo, in her black and white sword dress, had a frosty expression as she soared through the air on her flying sword.

The sword beneath her feet could be a willow leaf, thin ice, river water, or even invisible wind.

This was the divine ability to wield all things as a sword, a realm most sword cultivators could never achieve in a lifetime.

But she took no pride in it.

Because she had lost her true sword.

Now, traveling south, crossing mountains and seas, she was determined to retrieve her sword.

The landscape shifted beneath her feet, and Gu Ling Sect finally drew near.

Liu Junzhuo disguised herself, found a random inn to stay for the night, and planned to depart early tomorrow morning, expecting to arrive before evening.

She hoped the process of retrieving her sword would go smoothly, so as not to bring further shame to Sword Pavilion... She also wondered if Si Ming, the fourth strongest in the world from Gu Ling Sect, was truly as powerful as rumored.

Meanwhile, within Gu Ling Sect, Lu Jiajia single-handedly guarded the vast sect.

During the day, she continued to cultivate by the waterfall pond, completely focused. In the leisure time between her cultivation, she increasingly yearned for nightfall. The sights and sounds of the dream might be illusory, but the warmth and tenderness in her heart were real.

As she recalled the scenes from her dream, she couldn't help but smile softly, devoid of any hint of arrogance.

She wondered how many more days such dreams would last.

She quietly gazed into the distance from her window.

The sun set in the west, and darkness filled the world amidst the twilight haze.

Ning Xiaoling hopped in through the window, wagging her tail cheerfully.

Ever since her senior brother left, she had monopolized her master, sleeping in the same bed every night, feeling very warm and content, not missing her senior brother at all.

Lu Jiajia hugged Ning Xiaoling, took a basin of water, helped her wash her dirty paws, and said with a smile, "If you keep playing so wildly every day, you'll really turn into a wild fox."

Ning Xiaoling rubbed against her master, laughing, "Didn't Master also become a big fox for a while?"

After a moment of peace, Ning Xiaoling shrieked. She lay on the ground, covering her head with her small paws, and said, "Master, you never used to flick Xiaoling's forehead! Are you annoyed with Xiaoling now?"

Lu Jiajia retracted her hand, thinking she must have become skilled at it in the dream.

She gently patted Ning Xiaoling's head and said, "Alright, go to sleep after you're washed up."

"Master has been going to bed so early these past two days," Ning Xiaoling said.

Lu Jiajia calmly replied, "Yes, I was just too tired from practicing sword during the day."

Ning Xiaoling wasn't suspicious. She stepped her small paws onto a towel, wiped them clean, then burrowed into the quilt, curling up, her cloud-like tail covering her body.

In her dream, Ning Xiaoling arrived in a field where green wheat swayed like waves. Instinctively, she plunged into it, running happily, completely unaware of the passage of time.

Lu Jiajia, meanwhile, reappeared in the small courtyard of the Taoist temple.

Before long, Zhao Xiang'er, Ning Changjiu, and Si Ming also arrived, one after another.

Lu Jiajia stood before the stone table, maintaining her cold, imposing demeanor. They were only permitted to sit after each calling her "Senior Sister."

Zhao Xiang'er noticed that Si Ming and Ning Changjiu had arrived almost simultaneously, which made her a little uncomfortable.

"Junior Sister Si Ming, we meet again," Zhao Xiang'er said, looking at Si Ming and smiling sweetly.

Si Ming snorted coldly, cast a glance at her, then sat down next to Ning Changjiu. "Yes, it's been a long time," she said.

Zhao Xiang'er was displeased with her attitude. "What are your intentions, not bowing to your Senior Sister when we meet?" she demanded.

Si Ming replied, "You've been demoted to the third disciple now."

"So what?" Zhao Xiang'er crossed her arms, proudly stating, "A higher rank crushes you. The hierarchy in the temple is strict, and disciples should observe proper etiquette even more. If you don't address me properly, I'll ask Senior Sister to decide."

Si Ming glanced at Lu Jiajia. Lu Jiajia held her disciplinary ruler, her face calm as a frozen lake, seemingly tacitly approving of Zhao Xiang'er's actions.

Si Ming felt deeply wronged. *As a divine official, even if fallen, I possess peak Five-Path strength, yet I'm being lectured by two mere Purple Court juniors? Hmph, bullying by relying on power! If we met outside, I'd make sure to discipline you into servants!*

But circumstances were stronger than her will, so Si Ming hesitated, then rose, bowed stiffly, and said with a rigid voice, "Greetings, Senior Sister Zhao... Zhao Xiang'er."

Ning Changjiu raised his hand and said, "Me too."

Si Ming grew even angrier, thinking, *Why are you joining in the fun...?* She gritted her teeth and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother Changjiu."

"Alright, Big Sister permits you to sit now," Zhao Xiang'er said mockingly.

Si Ming smoothed the lower hem of her divine robe and sat down, looking aggrieved.

In Lu Jiajia's Sea of Consciousness, the Sword Heart issued another directive: "Make everyone in the temple live in harmony, cherish each other, and show care from the bottom of their hearts. Reward: 100 Sword Seeds."

Lu Jiajia's heart jolted, and for a moment, she wondered if she had misheard.

She had accumulated twenty-eight Sword Seeds in total so far.

A hundred Sword Seeds... wouldn't that completely fill the Sword Heart?!

But the difficulty of this task was indeed terrifying.

It was well-known that Ning Changjiu might be easy to deal with, but the conflict between Zhao Xiang'er and Si Ming was almost irreconcilable. How could it be easy to make them get along harmoniously?

However, since that immortal sister had issued this command, there must be a way to achieve it!

On the other side, after a bout of bickering, Si Ming and Zhao Xiang'er began to sulkily read their books, vowing to compete for the throne of the Top Three Disciples.

"Hold on, no reading today," Lu Jiajia announced.

"Huh? Why not?" Ning Changjiu asked, bewildered.

Lu Jiajia walked slowly with her hands clasped behind her back. "Although there are only three of you, with mutual grudges, how can you create a good study atmosphere? I believe that to study effectively, we must first correct the general mood in this temple."

Zhao Xiang'er and Si Ming exchanged a glance, then both turned their heads away, irreconcilable.

Ning Changjiu cooperated well with Lu Jiajia, asking, "How should we correct the mood?"

Lu Jiajia thought for a moment and said, "We... should play some games together to improve our relationships."

"Play games?" Ning Changjiu was astonished. "What kind of games?"

Lu Jiajia pondered for a moment, recalling games she had seen other children play in her youth. Hesitantly, she suggested, "How about... jumping rubber band, drop the handkerchief, or hopscotch?"

Ning Changjiu, Zhao Xiang'er, and Si Ming. All three stared at Lu Jiajia in unison, their eyes filled with shock and confusion.

Lu Jiajia bore their stares, feeling utterly mortified, but in her understanding, playing games was the fastest way to foster relationships! Not only would it help everyone get along harmoniously and avoid conflicts, but it would also complete her Sword Heart – truly a win-win situation.

Lu Jiajia took out her disciplinary ruler, weighed it in her hand, and swept her cold gaze around, saying blandly, "What? Do you have an objection to your Senior Sister's suggestion?"

The three exchanged glances, each waiting for the other to protest first. In the end, none dared to be the first, and they all succumbed to Lu Jiajia's authority.

On the lawn, the three sat down.

Lu Jiajia cut a priceless Immortal-Climbing Vine to use as a rubber band and handed it to them. Zhao Xiang'er and Si Ming held the "rubber band," while Ning Changjiu stood in the middle, too embarrassed to step in.

Lu Jiajia gently tapped Ning Changjiu's back with her disciplinary ruler. "What's wrong? Not listening to Senior Sister anymore?" she asked.

Ning Changjiu jumped in as if leaping into a sea of knives and fire, enduring overwhelming embarrassment, and began to hop awkwardly and stiffly.

Zhao Xiang'er and Si Ming couldn't bear to watch and both closed their eyes.

Only Lu Jiajia revealed a gratified smile.

Well... it was a start, at least.

However, because they weren't studying earnestly, Sword Seeds in Lu Jiajia's Sword Heart began to disappear one by one.

Despite her heartache, Lu Jiajia thought that as long as they became harmonious, her Sword Heart would instantly be replenished, making it all worthwhile!

After Ning Changjiu finished hopping like a zombie, he jumped out like a zombie again.

Lu Jiajia asked, "Did you enjoy jumping?"

Ning Changjiu's face was ashen as he replied, "It was utterly miserable."

Lu Jiajia smiled and patted his head, resisting the urge to hug him. "Alright, Xiaochangjiu, you and Si Ming hold the rubber band, and Xiang'er will jump."

Zhao Xiang'er looked at the disciplinary ruler in her hand, bit her lip, and whispered, "All of you close your eyes! No one is allowed to watch, especially you, Ning Changjiu!"

After Zhao Xiang'er finished jumping, she emerged with a flushed face. Next was Si Ming.

The three shared a common plight, and none made it difficult for the others; they all closed their eyes together.

After the rubber band jumping, Lu Jiajia had already lost five Sword Seeds.

Next was drop the handkerchief.

Ning Changjiu felt absolutely no involvement in this game. Throughout the entire process, Zhao Xiang'er and Si Ming used it to settle personal scores, constantly chasing each other, throwing and catching the handkerchief. Before Ning Changjiu's eyes, black robes and white robes flashed past continuously, like day and night alternating for ten thousand years. Amidst the dazzling blur, he even felt a sense of profound antiquity, as if bones had turned to dust.

Lu Jiajia lost another five Sword Seeds.

The last game couldn't proceed because Zhao Xiang'er and Si Ming had started fighting over the handkerchief. The two stunningly beautiful women, whose looks were equally matched, rolled on the lawn, constantly brawling and trampling countless wildflowers.

Though Ning Changjiu found it a pleasing sight, he couldn't bear to see them harm their already fragile relationship. He quickly interjected, "Senior Sister, when two tigers fight, one is bound to be injured. Please stop our senior and junior sisters from fighting, lest we alarm Master."

Lu Jiajia sighed; her Sword Seeds were disappearing even faster.

Her heart was twisted in pain. She joined Ning Changjiu to intervene, and with great difficulty, they managed to separate the two.

Zhao Xiang'er's dark hair was dishevelled, and she wore a fierce, proud expression like a little tiger. She brushed the dust from her clothes, appearing ready to resume the fight. Si Ming's silver hair was messy, and she had an arrogant look, like a big tiger. She clenched her fists, vowing to give Zhao Xiang'er a good beating.

Lu Jiajia looked at them, also feeling a bit annoyed.

Ning Changjiu hoped Lu Jiajia would say something to mediate, but after a moment of silence, Lu Jiajia instead asked, "Do you two... do you two feel a sense of camaraderie, the kind where you get to know each other through a fight?"

"..." Si Ming and Zhao Xiang'er both looked at her simultaneously, their expressions complex, each with a feeling of, 'Senior Sister, you should really step down now.'

Ning Changjiu slapped his forehead, thinking, *This must be my silly Jiajia, authentic beyond doubt!*

"Alright, alright." Seeing that it had no effect, Lu Jiajia didn't press the issue. "You two should read your books for today; don't delay. We can talk about correcting the mood later."

False harmony returned to the temple.

Zhao Xiang'er and Si Ming were both mentally rubbing their fists together, vowing to pin the other down and give them a thorough beating.

Lu Jiajia had lost fifteen Sword Seeds, her heart bleeding, suffering inexpressibly.

But she then had a change of heart: *Since things have come to this, I might as well just let go!* Hmm, it's clearly impossible to improve their relationship in one go. Tomorrow, she'd have them play hide-and-seek...

An hour later, during free time, Zhao Xiang'er questioned Ning Changjiu about why he hadn't helped her earlier.

Si Ming likewise questioned Ning Changjiu.

Ning Changjiu, pursued by them, hid behind Lu Jiajia, whereupon they spontaneously began to play "Eagle Catches Chickens"...

In the end, Lu Jiajia failed to protect him, watching helplessly as her husband was "executed" on the spot by them.

In the Taoist temple, Ye Changong quietly watched Zhao Xiang'er and softly said, "Indeed, she hasn't changed a bit."

Another morning, he awoke from his dream.

Ning Changjiu opened his eyes and saw Si Ming, dressed in a thin white robe, asleep on the windowsill.

Last night, she had vowed to practice her sword all night, but unknowingly, she had drifted off to sleep.

Ning Changjiu slowly rose, barefoot, afraid of disturbing her. He walked silently behind her, took a piece of clothing, and draped it over her. Si Ming's misty eyelashes trembled slightly, but she didn't wake up.