Dream of the Hometown

The heavens and the netherworld are two completely different realms, and the auras and magics of the ghosts and gods in each realm are also different. When you enter the other realm, once you use magic and reveal your aura, it will be easier for the other side to detect you.

Although Yuanli is a god-level being and can conceal her aura, her consciousness is now trapped in a mortal soul and body, and her use of divine power is not as good as that of her peers and is restricted.

Even though he knew he was angry, he didn't dare to use his divine power to answer him easily.

"I've already told you about the example of the Yin entering the soul. You're still going through the tribulation, but you're just a mortal. If you perish in this netherworld and your consciousness is extinguished, what should I do?"

Ah Cha's tone became more and more angry, and even the frequency and strength of his wings flapping became faster and heavier along with his emotions.

"This is just the first time, and it won't happen again."

Yuanli nodded slightly in an extremely slight arc to show her agreement.

"I'll either bring your souls back to the world of the living, or I'll bring you back from somewhere else. Choose."

Before Yuanli could answer, she subconsciously glanced at Qi Heng. Cha Suxun added, "Don't look at it anymore. His method is no longer effective enough to send you back. You want to know why? Because that formation originated from Li Wan and me. It carries her aura and a trace of our magic power. Now, she's been gone for tens of thousands of years, and the aura she left behind has slowly faded with her. Naturally, the formation is no longer as stable as it once was."

Li Wan's death had always been a fact Cha Suxun couldn't face, trapping him in nightmares. Over 30,000 years had passed, and only now did he recall his past with Li Wan with such ease.

Yuanli stroked her temples and tapped her index finger twice. The psionic butterfly vanished from her earlobe, scattering like shattered starlight across her shoulders. She instinctively reached out to grab the star, but Cha Suxun hadn't spoken yet.

Feeling anxious, Chi Xun said to Qi Heng, who had tried twice but failed, "Don't try anymore. It's useless both times. You should hurry up and find another way. The mortal world will be dawn in two hours."

But at this moment, the voice that Chi Xun spoke was Cha Suxun's.

Chi Yu tried to keep his voice low and his lips as still as possible, trembling with fear as he warned, "Didn't you see that person who just tried to pass through the Ghost Gate got his head broken and bloody. How could he turn back? But if we go any further, we'll reach Wangxiang Terrace. Do we really have to be like those people... take one last look at those we care about, and then wait for the next life?"

After saying that, Chi Lu suddenly seemed to remember something, and hurriedly grabbed Chi Xun's sleeve and cried, "I don't want it. I have already made a silver flower crown for my future daughter. I haven't married yet, and I can't die...Brother, think of a way..."

Yuanli looked worriedly at the place where Chi Que was holding her, pretending to be scared, and hurriedly pulled Chi Xun's sleeve to her side to separate herself from Chi Que, fearing that Cha Suxun would not like this and abandon Chi Que when leaving the Netherworld.

"Brother, I'm scared..."

Cha Suxun turned around and gently patted the back of her hand with his right hand in a comforting gesture. "I read in an ancient book that Wangxiangtai is the only one of the thirteen stations, besides the place of reincarnation, that connects to the human world. Why not try to find the flaws of Wangxiangtai? As long as we haven't entered Fengdu City, there's still a chance to return. It's better than staying here and anxiously waiting for dawn."

"You want to exploit a loophole in the underworld?" Chi Lu looked at Chi Xun in disbelief, shaking his head repeatedly. "You're crazy, you're completely crazy. What kind of place is the underworld? It's been around for who knows how long. How could there be loopholes that mortals like you and me can find?"

Cha Suxun said, "No matter who you are, you will make mistakes." Then he pulled Yuanli forward.

Chi Que said helplessly and speechlessly to Chi Huai, "Does he think he's the King of Hell? He says there's a loophole and he'll take advantage of it! He's so anxious that he doesn't even think about it. How could a ruler like that leave loopholes for you to exploit? Wouldn't the world be overcrowded, with no rules or order?"

Although he kept talking, Chi Que never stopped walking with Chi Huai in tow. He also turned around and waved to Qi Heng who was stubbornly playing with talismans behind him to follow him.

Walking along this red spider lily path, ascending increasingly steep slopes until reaching a flat platform, one can truly be considered to have reached the Wangxiang Terrace. Beneath this platform lies a bottomless abyss, like a giant boulder floating in mid-air.

Chi Yu took small tentative steps, getting closer and closer to the edge of Wangxiangtai. However, after leaning out slightly to look down, he swallowed hard and retracted his body.

"This, this is too high."

And from the blooming red spider lilies at the bottom of the Wangxiangtai stone, round red balls of light floated out, as if each had locked onto its own target, flying towards a soul and stopping before its eyes.

"What are these?"

"This is Huanmeng. It is grown from the red spider lily that grows in the cracks of the rocks under Wangxiangtai and is nourished by the last tear of the dead soul. If you touch Huanmeng, it will show you everything you think about, everything you care about, and even take you to take a last look at the world." Cha Suxun explained patiently.

"Everyone only has one? If I use it now, won't there be no more beads left after I die?"

Seeing Chi Que's frown of worry, Yuanli said, "If you're so worried, there's no need to go back. Just finish the rest of your journey and wait for your next reincarnation. You're still young, and I don't think you've done anything truly evil in your first half of life. You shouldn't be in a very deep hell. Perhaps in your next life you'll be reborn into a wealthy family, so it wouldn't be a waste to return the Dream Pearl."

"No need, no need. My doghouse is fine, very fine." Chi Lu repeatedly waved his hands to express his opinion, and quickly changed the subject to ask Chi Xun: "Axun, what should we do next?"

Yuanli was frightened by the familiar word "Axun" and looked back and forth between the two of them in panic. Since childhood, people close to her called Chi Xun Axun, but Cha Suxun was different. In the underworld of Fengdu, it was a taboo to call the King of Hell by his name.

Beside her, Cha Suxun was staring at the direction of Chi Que, but the more expressionless his face was, and the less likely he was to show emotion, the more nervously Yuanli watched Cha Suxun's every move, so much so that as soon as Cha Suxun took half a step, Yuanli immediately reached out and held his hand tightly.

Following this move, several people tilted their heads to stare at their holding hands, their emotions varying. Cha Suxun's gaze also slowly shifted from her hand to her face, a look that showed shock, surprise, surprise, and a sense of flattery, along with caution.

"What's wrong?"

"No, it's okay. I was just scared by the ghost that suddenly appeared over there." In a panic, the excuse he spoke without thinking was as easy to break as rice paper in front of Cha Suxun.

"The underworld is inevitable, just don't go and see it." Cha Suxun turned sideways and stood in front of her, his broad back completely blocking any ghosts that could be seen in front of him.

Cha Suxun explained to Chi Que, "As a rule of thumb, a person can only possess one Huanzhu. After all, a mortal only enters the underworld once. However, whether or not you can possess the Huanzhu depends on whether it chooses you. So your worries are unnecessary."

Chi Que, the heartless man, was instantly delighted upon hearing this and said, "That's great! Ah Xun, you know so much. Now I don't have to worry about getting old and dying, and not having one less chance than others to see my wife and children for the last time."

"What a dream reveals depends on the dreamer's thoughts. For those who yearn for the mortal world and desire a final glimpse of it, the dream they see will depict the current mortal world. The stronger their obsession with a particular period of their life, the more real and prolonged the dream will appear. It can even allow you to relive unforgettable moments. However, the beauty it reveals is nothing more than a vain dream. Mortals often become addicted to it, unable to extricate themselves, until, in the illusion created by the Returning Pearl, they are forced to awaken from a dream that fulfills their last wish. Therefore, what we must do is enter the Returning Pearl, remain lucid within the dream, and find a golden light that will allow us to enter the rift in Wangxiangtai. At that time, we will see in the rift that, before the first rays of daylight illuminate the Nanzhao territory, those who escape first must leave immediately. This is the last chance. Remember, do you understand?"

Several people stood under their respective Huanzhu, stretched out their fingers and looked at each other, waiting for Cha Suxun to give the signal of touch.

"Always remember, no matter how beautiful a dream is, it is ultimately empty and is just an illusion created by Huan Zhu. Do not linger or become addicted to it. Leaving is the ultimate goal."

Several people nodded solemnly and touched Huanzhu at the same time. Instantly, Huanzhu emitted a dazzling red light. As they raised their hands to shield their eyes, rays of sunlight shone on them, filling them with warmth and dispelling the chill of the underworld.

"Madam? Madam, wake up! Why are you sleeping so soundly on this stone table? The weather is so cool today! You might catch a cold. Come inside and sleep..."

The white light in front of her eyes was dazzling and she couldn't see clearly. The familiar voice in her ear made her eager to see the owner of the voice.

Until her vision began to clear, a breeze blew by, and peach petals were carried down by the wind and landed on her shoulders, and the familiar embroidery on her robe came into view.

That was her A Ci, A Ci from Prince Wen’s Mansion in Liangzhu State.

In Prince Wen's mansion, under the peach tree, Wen Yici smiled, raised his right hand and stroked her hair, picking off the peach petals that had fallen on her bun.

"My lady, come with me."

Wen Yici slowly stood up, took her hand, and held it tightly in his. Her casually tied black hair slid across his smooth, dark robe as he rose. The tail of her hair slid across the back of his hand, causing a slight itch, like a scratch in his heart, so real.

She stared blankly at the place where his black hair had passed, her eyes filled with tears.

Wen Yici took out the rabbit handkerchief that served as a token of their love and gently wiped away her tears. He then held her in his arms, patted her back, and soothed her, "Did you have a nightmare?"

"Well, in the dream we were separated for a long, long time..."

"Dreams are always the opposite. No, I will never be separated from you, forever."

Leaving his arms, Wen Yici gazed into her eyes with a tenderness as sweet as honey, and swore sincerely: "I swear with my entire life, I, Wen Yici, will sleep with you in life and share your coffin in death, and we will never be separated until death..."