☆ Chapter 19 The Great Darkening Technique (Bug Fixes)
Luo Binghe said, "If you parasitize someone else's dream and frequently change hosts, your primordial spirit will be damaged and weakened in the process of moving around. However, if you can reside in a fixed host for a long time, you can conserve your energy and stabilize your primordial spirit."
He paused for a moment and then said, "Senior Dream Demon, are you perhaps nearing the end of your life, and have no choice but to choose me as your host to cultivate?"
The nightmare demon, having been exposed, neither denied nor became angry. Instead, he readily admitted, "Not bad! I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable, even knowing this."
Luo Binghe didn't intend to tell him that what he had just said was all just his guess.
Seeing his calm expression, the Dream Demon couldn't figure out what the boy was thinking, and continued, "But don't think that you're the only host I can have. There are countless talented demons, and every single one of them would kneel down and beg for this honor! As for you, you should think carefully about whether you can afford to miss this opportunity."
In fact, his primordial spirit had been gradually declining over the years. He was originally living in a demonic artifact, where he was doing well. After a hundred or eighty years of quiet cultivation, he would have been full of energy again. However, the ignorant Sha Hualing unwittingly used the demonic artifact as a weapon and threw it at Luo Binghe. He no longer had the strength to find another host.
But in the midst of despair, they unexpectedly discovered that the young man they had just taken refuge in possessed a faint yet powerful force hidden within his body and consciousness. Overjoyed, they were determined not to let him go.
He had made up his mind that no matter how sternly Luo Binghe refused, he would use all means, including pleading, cajoling, and even threats, to persuade him to learn demonic arts from him, so that his physical body and consciousness would be more suitable for him to reside in.
The Dream Demon said, "I'll give you time to think it through carefully. Otherwise, I can trap your and your master's consciousness in a dream forever!"
Luo Binghe suddenly looked up, and in that instant, the dream demon was stunned by the cold light that flashed in the boy's eyes.
Luo Binghe's previous calm and humility vanished, replaced by an icy voice: "You're negotiating with me now. You can say whatever you want. But if you harm my master, I will not forgive you!"
The Dream Demon was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses, shocked that he had actually been intimidated by the aura of a mere mortal cultivator from the human realm. He had roamed the Three Realms for a hundred years, and even in that arduous battle when his physical body was damaged, he had never been overwhelmed by anyone in terms of aura.
Of course, he wouldn't know that this kind of aura is called the domineering aura (exclusive to the protagonist)!
A burst of laughter suddenly erupted from inside the cave.
"You're quite the character, aren't you!"
After the aged voice finished speaking, Luo Binghe suddenly felt his limbs become heavy, and the surrounding scenery spun around him, plunging him into darkness.
Luo Binghe woke up in the woodshed, startled and covered in a cold sweat; his vest was soaked through.
At the same time, Shen Qingqiu also sat up in bed, feeling dizzy.
He gasped for breath dozens of times before he finally caught his breath.
It was absolutely horrific!
Why?! In the original work, Ning Yingying was also thrown into a dream within a dream by the dream demon. Why is the dream woven for her a warm childhood memory, with her father and mother picking flowers and riding horses? Why is it that when it's his turn, he is first surrounded by man-eating bees the size of fists, then running wildly in a narrow tomb passage, with a huge fireball chasing closely behind him?!
The most terrifying thing was that at the end of the dream within a dream, the nightmare wove out his most fearful thing!
In the dark, damp dungeon, he was suspended in mid-air by a ring around his waist, unable to feel his limbs. He opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound, only letting out helpless hoarse screams. His entire body burned with pain.
I don't know how much time passed in the dream, but the sound of a stone door opening came from outside the dungeon. Unhurried footsteps approached, and a figure was projected onto the ground in front of him.
The hem of the jet-black robe was embroidered with exquisite yet simple patterns in silver thread. The chilling pressure emanating from that person was more suffocating than the impenetrable darkness of the dungeon.
Shen Qingqiu couldn't see the person's face clearly. But he knew very well who that person was!
The Nightmare Demon truly lived up to his reputation as a figure from demonic legends; this dream was incredibly realistic. Even the damp, rotten smell in the air seemed to linger on his nose, making him want to vomit.
Shen Qingqiu managed to sit for a while, then rolled off the bed and started vomiting.
*Ding-dong.* The system, of all times, popped up a notification: [Congratulations on completing the "Nightmare's Barrier" storyline! System reward: 500 points of satisfaction! Keep up the good work!]
Shen Qingqiu exploded: "Damn it, why didn't you set the 'satisfaction points' to 500 when you threatened to deduct them? Is it really okay to punish more than reward? And I went through an extra dream-within-a-dream storyline, why didn't you give me extra pay for that? System, stop playing dead, let's sign a new contract!"
Just then, someone burst through the door of the bamboo hut like a gust of wind and rushed in.
"Master!"
He knew who it was the moment he heard the voice. Shen Qingqiu rolled his eyes in exasperation. He really didn't want to see this person's face right now! He was already traumatized by it!
Sure enough, Luo Binghe rushed to his side, asking anxiously, "Master, how are you? Are you feeling unwell?"
It's actually not bad! It would be even better if you could stay a little further away from me, Brother Luo!
Shen Qingqiu turned his face away weakly and stood up on his own: "Your master is well..."
Luo Binghe wanted to help him up, but his hand was naturally pushed away, leaving him stunned.
Shen Qingqiu, however, did not notice his little emotions. After straightening his clothes and making sure that wearing only his undergarments would not damage his appearance, he asked, "Did the nightmare make things difficult for you later?"
"What's so difficult about it? The Dream Demon is too busy fawning over Luo Binghe to even think about it." Shen Qingqiu knew perfectly well what was going on, yet he still asked the question knowingly. Luo Binghe hesitated for a moment before replying, "That senior demon seemed to be lacking in spiritual power, and I was subsequently expelled from the dream. Master, you didn't encounter anything in the dream, did you?"
Shen Qingqiu said shamelessly, "Even if something happened, could I not handle it?"
I'm sorry _(:з)∠)_ Actually, he really couldn't handle it!
He was still haunted by what had just happened. With Luo Binghe so close, he felt a chill run down his spine, and his gaze began to dart away unnaturally. Luo Binghe, unaware of the reason, felt a mix of anxiety and unease upon seeing his strange expression and shifty eyes. He desperately wanted to turn him upside down and confront him directly to demand an explanation.
Fortunately, Shen Qingqiu adjusted his mindset very quickly and remembered what he should do as a teacher. The next moment, he reached out and grabbed Luo Binghe's wrist, which surprised the latter slightly.
Shen Qingqiu said solemnly, "The invasion of demons from the Demon Realm is no laughing matter. Binghe, relax, let me investigate. This Dream Demon cannot be tolerated."
Seeing that his master was willing to look him in the eye again, Luo Binghe felt a little relieved and obediently said, "Yes."
His heart was pounding. What if Shen Qingqiu uncovered the Dream Demon, and the latter revealed that he had sealed away something of the demon race within him...?
Fortunately, although Shen Qingqiu had thoroughly examined him, he found nothing unusual. Naturally, nothing could be found. The Dream Demon's centuries of cultivation and renowned reputation were undeniable. But the formalities still had to be followed.
Shen Qingqiu's investigation yielded no results, but he still instructed Luo Binghe to report to him immediately if anything happened.
Luo Binghe asked, "Master, are all demons... utterly wicked and deserving to be exterminated?"
Even without looking at his expression, Shen Qingqiu knew that Luo Binghe was probably agonizing over the distinction between humans and demons, or the irreconcilable conflict between good and evil. It was time for Shen Qingqiu to give him a lecture.
Shen Qingqiu thought for a moment and said, "That's not necessarily true. Just as people are divided into good and bad, demons are naturally divided into good and bad. We only see the demon realm persecuting humans, but perhaps in some corner, humans have also harmed innocent demons. Many times, it is only racial prejudice that makes the gap between the two sides grow deeper and deeper."
For example, the truth behind the persecution of Luo Binghe's parents was that two young people from different ethnic groups wanted to fall in love, but they accidentally became too high-profile, causing everyone to panic.
This is an age-old truth. Modern period dramas, martial arts dramas, and fantasy dramas have repeatedly clung to this point. However, when applied to a world where humans and demons are sworn enemies with a deep-seated hatred and have fought countless battles throughout history, it becomes an extremely novel and even outrageous viewpoint.
This was the first time Luo Binghe had heard a senior figure say such a thing. He listened in a daze, his heart pounding wildly, and tried to remain calm, saying, "Does Master mean that even if someone is closely related to demons, they are not necessarily evil?"
Seeing that he was waiting for his answer with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness, Shen Qingqiu smiled and said, "As long as one doesn't deliberately do evil and is wholeheartedly devoted to righteousness, then one can be a friend. The distinction between evil and wickedness has never been based on racial boundaries. Moreover, the demon race is naturally endowed with abundant spiritual power, far surpassing that of the human race. In this respect, I greatly admire and envy them. If their power could be used wisely for the righteous path, wouldn't that be a good thing for all living beings?"
In terms of innate talent for cultivating magic, demons absolutely crush and completely overwhelm humans. Different races have different energy systems. Humans rely on spiritual energy, while demons rely on demonic energy. Shen Qingqiu guessed they were essentially the same thing, just with different colors and smells. He didn't know if it was the good feng shui of the demon realm or what, but most demons were born with full demonic energy; at three years old, they could tear a person apart with their bare hands, and at eight, they could split mountains and shatter rocks… cough cough, that's a bit of an exaggeration.
However, the truth is, many people with mediocre talent, even after decades of cultivation, only reach the level of a small infant. Many more are like dried-up ponds, their spiritual power practically nonexistent… it couldn't be more heartbreaking. If it weren't for the fact that humans, who are more inclined to multiply, have a smaller population, the human realm would have long been a colony of the demon realm… they're just taking advantage of the demons' strict family planning policies.
After hearing these words, Luo Binghe's eyes gradually brightened and shone.
Although he was wholeheartedly devoted to righteousness at this time, he was not a rigid or pedantic person. Since it could not be eliminated, he might as well make good use of it.
Besides, he absolutely must become stronger!
Strong enough to protect Master from anyone. Strong enough to ensure Master will never suffer the slightest harm again.
The system notified: [The protagonist has resolved to learn demonic magic, satisfaction +50!]
The satisfaction level is only 50... After learning demonic magic from the Dream Demon, Luo Binghe's strength increased at least tenfold. For a long time afterward, he was invincible in chasing girls and fighting monsters. You're telling me the satisfaction level is only 50?
Shen Qingqiu no longer wanted to bargain with the system. It was an unexpected bonus anyway. He had only wanted to experience the thrill of delivering these lines. After all, many dramas feature a wise or prophetic character who uses such lines to elevate the theme.
After all that commotion, Shen Qingqiu hadn't slept a wink all night, and dark circles had appeared under his eyes. He waved his hand and said, "It's late. Since there's nothing else, go and rest." Luo Binghe obediently took his leave.
But he had only taken a few steps when he heard Shen Qingqiu call from behind: "Come back."
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