Chapter 24: Dreaming Back to the Tang Sect
He knew clearly in his heart—
Since arriving at the Academy, Zhao Liuyun had studied diligently, cultivated with Focus, and broken through to Level 10 in just one year and three months. After absorbing a hundred-year spirit ring, he was crowned with the title of Genius.
Zhao Liuyun's gaze fell upon Tang San's face, his tone gentle yet serious: "Tang San, your name sounds quite casual at first listen."
Tang Hao, hidden in the shadows, frowned.
First, suppression.
"But you have seen your father, and you possess parents who love you!"
Then, elevation.
Zhao Liuyun changed the subject, his voice warm and mellow:
"The love parents have for their children cannot be faked. Behind this name, there must be a profound meaning, carrying their earnest expectations for you."
Upon hearing this, Tang Hao's lips involuntarily curled up, and the displeasure in his heart was instantly swept away.
This little brat certainly knows how to speak properly.
Tang San had always yearned for familial affection, and at this moment, he couldn't help but lose himself in thought.
Zhao Liuyun continued: "My name is as casual as a wild weed in the field, yet I still strive desperately to grow upward, unwilling to waste a single moment."
"But you, you are not alone. You are highly valued by the Grandmaster, and you bear the expectations of your parents..."
Every word was sincere, the kind of thing only true friends would say.
Seeing that his words had sunk in, Zhao Liuyun pressed on, his voice gentle and earnest:
"Tang San, you used to be spirited and amiable, but recently, you seem unable to control your emotions."
Tang San opened his mouth and whispered, "I... my mind is a bit messy."
Zhao Liuyun nodded: "I can tell, but if there's a problem, you must face it. Don't keep it bottled up inside, or you'll get sick even if you weren't already."
"If this continues, it won't just affect your Cultivation; sooner or later, you will hurt those close to you."
"Can you really bear to hurt Sister Xiao Wu, who has always cared about you?"
As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a sharp arrow hitting the bullseye.
Tang San's expression softened, and he asked in a pleading tone, "What should I do?"
Zhao Liuyun said: "If you want to solve it, you must first understand the reason."
"You know that I am a Physician."
As one of the few Spirit Master Students in the Academy, Zhao Liuyun's reputation, like Tang San's and Xiao Wu's, was also circulating within the Academy.
Including his identity as a Physician.
Tang San knew, but his face still showed confusion.
Zhao Liuyun looked at him: "When I saw your complexion, I kept thinking about one question—"
What question?
Tang San's breath hitched.
"How long has it been since you had a proper sleep?"
"Meditation..." Tang San tried to argue.
Zhao Liuyun interrupted him: "While Meditation can replace some sleep, it ultimately cannot completely substitute it!"
"You should know that if you use Meditation to replace sleep, the further you go, the more your consciousness becomes chaotic, and the density of spirit power condensation will involuntarily decrease."
This is also why Zhao Liuyun was able to gain 6 points of Professional Experience for the [Spirit Master] class per hour when focusing, but only 30 points for an entire night.
spirit power requires restraint to achieve sufficient density.
The longer it goes on, the more scattered it becomes, and the lower the efficiency of refining heaven and earth origin energy.
People need rest. As long as spirit power cannot operate autonomously, the conflict between the two cannot be reconciled.
Tang San fell silent.
"You feel guilty, blaming yourself for the Grandmaster's Severed Arm." Zhao Liuyun had chosen his entry point well.
This was what Tang San had exhibited when he returned from Spirit Hunting at the time.
This emotion had been maintained by Zhao Liuyun using Hypnosis until now.
"It's already been a year." He tried to argue using the passage of time.
Zhao Liuyun continued:
"But you always remember it in your heart! You urgently want to use the improvement of your Cultivation to prove to the Grandmaster that his sacrifice was worthwhile."
"Because of this, you unconsciously pour more attention into your spirit power every night, leading to insufficient rest, and your body is constantly operating at its limit."
"Your brain's regulation of emotions and thoughts has long been imbalanced!"
"This is not a temporary affliction; it has just fully erupted recently."
Where did the anomaly come from?
Naturally, Zhao Liuyun created it using Hypnosis.
By magnifying your inherent emotions and preserving your conflicting thoughts, it would be strange if anyone noticed the underlying issue.
But Tang San didn't know.
Struck by this clear, logical, and meticulous analysis, Tang San felt a shock in his heart, as if the fog had dispersed and everything had become clear.
Tang Hao, observing from the shadows, also suddenly realized the truth.
He truly hadn't paid attention to this detail.
This little brat truly lives up to the title of Physician.
Zhao Liuyun exhaled a breath of stale air and finally offered his advice:
"Tang San, 'haste makes waste.' Get a few days of good rest and let both your body and mind recover."
"After this, you should attend class, Forge Iron, and meditate as usual every day."
"The only thing you must do is get a good sleep every once in a while, truly relaxing your body."
Tang San nodded gratefully, a relieved smile appearing on his face, as if he had found the root of the problem.
"Thank you, Liuyun."
Zhao Liuyun was unconcerned: "Thank me for what? Good friends should help each other."
The two returned to the Dormitory side by side.
Tang San and Xiao Wu also apologized to each other and reconciled.
Xiao Wu was carefree and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Tang San tried to sleep, but his mind was filled with chaotic thoughts, and he tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
Naturally, this was also Zhao Liuyun's doing.
After all, without the help of the Dream Demon spirit ring, what if Tang San didn't dream when he slept?
Sure enough, Tang San remembered Zhao Liuyun's First Spirit Ability, "Stop Conflict," whose effect was precisely to induce sleep.
"Liuyun, I really can't sleep..." He awkwardly woke Zhao Liuyun from his Meditation.
Interrupting someone's Meditation was indeed rude.
"Do you need me to use my First Spirit Ability on you?" Zhao Liuyununderstood.
"Yes, I'm sorry to disturb you now."
"It's fine." Zhao Liuyun didn't mind. "Lie down properly and don't resist."
If you hadn't come to disturb me, that would have been strange.
Within the soft, warm glow, the faint Epiphyllum Flower appeared, accompanied by a hint of Cold Fragrance.
Pale purple mist swirled around, and a dreamy halo gently swayed among the flowers.
A yellow Light Ring suddenly rose from Zhao Liuyun's body.
He softly uttered:
"First Spirit Ability, Stop Conflict/Dream Creation."
Dream Creation is divided into two types: guiding a person to dream on their own, and forcefully imposing a Dreamscape.
The Dream Demon used the latter type at the time; naturally, Zhao Liuyun chose the former type in order to obtain the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record.
A wisp of faint Mental Fluctuation wrapped around Tang San's head like a spring breeze, gently touching his Subconscious in a marvelous way.
Tang San relaxed his body and mind, offering no resistance.
In an instant, fatigue surged over him like a tide, and his consciousness rapidly shifted from clear to hazy. In the blink of an eye, he had fallen into deep sleep.
"He fell asleep instantly—he really was tired~"
It's truly amazing that Tang San managed to persevere for so long.
Zhao Liuyun retracted his Spirit and pretended to continue Meditating.
In reality, his Spirit was highly focused, and he began to utilize his Dream Master instinct to sense the Dreamscape.
Timing was crucial; he absolutely could not miss the Initial Stage Dream, which was easy to interfere with.
As Tang San's Subconscious gradually became active, a faint, glimmering Dreamscape finally and quietly emerged.
"Now!" Zhao Liuyun's mind spun quickly, and he decisively activated Entering Dream.
His consciousness twisted for a moment, and he smoothly entered a Distorted Dreamscape.
He began to interfere with Tang San's dream.
Dream Interference also required skill; he needed to use the deepest key Dream Anchors in Tang San's memory to guide and shape the desired dream.
First, it was the Tang Sect.
For twenty-nine years, Tang San had lived in the Tang Sect for a total of twenty-nine years.
Every blade of grass and every tree here was clear in his mind.
Stone slabs, courtyards, antique wooden houses... The anchor was set. Environment: "Tang Sect," appear!
Once the Tang Sect was established, the characters naturally appeared.
Tang San was picked up by Outer Sect Elder Grandfather Tang Lan and held the deepest gratitude toward him.
Taking his identity recognition and blending it with the appearance of the Tang Sect Master.
People sometimes encounter acquaintances in dreams—the face is familiar, but such a person doesn't exist in reality.
The Subconscious derives the Dreamscape, and memory occasionally produces mismatches here.
Zhao Liuyun was exploiting this error and omission.
When he talked to Tang San, he mentioned the Thief precisely to make Tang San recall that he was also a Burglar when he was in the Tang Sect!
What he stole was the foundation of the Tang Sect, the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record.
Link by link, step by step, the long-term planning finally culminated today.
Everything was ready. Welcome the Protagonist to the stage.
His mental defenses were shattered by prolonged chaotic emotions and disorganized thoughts. Forgetting the Douluo Continent within the Dreamscape, Tang San naturally accepted everything here.
The familiar sight brought tears to his eyes and choked his throat.
"Tang Sect?"