Chapter 896: Inverted Meteors Streaking Across the Sky of Fool’s Village
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 896: Inverted Meteors Streaking Across the Sky of Fool’s Village
"By the way, Sister Bai, how have you been feeling lately? I mean regarding the Dream Domain—have you adjusted to it yet?" I asked expectantly.
Ever since I took Sister Bai to the deep layers of the Primitive Dream Realm to complete the architecture of her Dream Domain Order, she still hadn't managed to carve out a complete path for her domain.
In truth, the problem Sister Bai faced was the same as my current domain prototype.
My domain lacked sufficient energy, preventing it from shedding its "prototype" suffix. Sister Bai, on the other hand, hadn't yet fully adapted to the information within the Primitive Dream Realm. She needed to use her Heart Sense to harness that information and complete the domain's internal order cycle.
While this was theoretically just a matter of time, I preferred taking shortcuts. There was no need to endure unnecessary hardships if they could be avoided.
"Mhm, I’m adjusting well enough."
"Have you run into any issues?"
"Issues? Regarding these dream-based methods, I actually did find one small problem."
"A small problem?" I was slightly surprised. "What is it? Did you discover a new way to use the Dream Domain, Sister Bai?"
"No, no, it’s not that," Sister Bai said, shaking her head. "Perhaps... Xiao Han, you might not have realized it yet, but not every witch can overlap dreams with reality."
"If the dream cannot overlap with reality, the power of the Dream Domain cannot affect the real world. Naturally, it becomes impossible to trigger a massive Dreamscape Calamity like the one you once created."
"Oh... you’re talking about the anchoring issue between the Primitive Dream Realm and reality, right?" I quickly realized what she meant by this "small problem."
The reason I had triggered such a massive Dreamscape Calamity in the Expansion Realm was primarily because I had forced a Dream Overlap there.
I used that as a breakthrough point, with my Great Spellbook acting as the anchor, to make my first contact with the deep layers of the Primitive Dream Realm.
But if I hadn't done that—if I had entered the Primitive Dream Realm through consciousness projection instead—then no matter how much of a Dreamscape Calamity I caused through order conflicts, it would never have affected reality.
Because the Primitive Dream Realm I was in wasn't anchored to reality, its "position" wouldn't correspond to any location in the real world.
In the Primitive Dream Realm, even the concept of "position" is distorted. Only when a dream overlaps with reality, providing a "standard" and an "anchor," can there be a specific "location."
Only then can the riots and calamities occurring in the Primitive Dream Realm pour into reality through that anchor.
What I had done unintentionally was even more terrifying because I had used [Transcendent Knowledge] as the anchor to bridge reality and the dream, leading to that disaster in the Expansion Realm.
"That should be easy enough to solve, right? You just need an alchemy item with a Dream Overlap function to act as a guide and set an anchor in reality."
After all... shallow Dream Overlaps still fall under the category of the "Primitive Dream Realm."
"That is indeed a solution, but it’s a bit too uncontrollable. It’s not as... convenient as your method, Xiao Han."
"Oh~ Sister Bai, you’re the type who prefers not to rely on external items, right?" I caught on quickly.
As a Body Cultivation Witch, even Sister Bai's weapons were summoned through spells. Having her lug around a Dream Overlap alchemy generator during combat really didn't fit her style.
"Still, there’s really no other way for now... How about you bear with it for a while, Sister Bai? If I can, I’ll find another way to help you," I promised.
Though I couldn't do it yet, I made a mental note of it.
This wasn't just a problem for Sister Bai. If the techniques for learning the Dream Domain were ever promoted, this would become a universal issue!
Ultimately, spells that trigger Dream Overlap do exist—otherwise, the alchemy versions wouldn't exist—but such spells are incredibly niche and rare. It wasn't the kind of thing you could just pick up anywhere.
Furthermore, for non-combat transcendent means, alchemy items were usually sufficient. Thus, the spell versions were indeed uncommon.
In fact, such spells likely had high requirements just to cast.
After all, I could achieve it because of my Domain Order and its unique properties. A common spell naturally couldn't compare.
Even other domains couldn't interfere with the Primal Dream!
"Right! Sister Bai, can't you buy spellbooks with mana sources at the Great Library in the Witch World? Is there a spellbook there that can create a Dream Overlap?"
"Sigh... no. I checked in the Primal Dream. There are records of spellbooks with similar effects, meaning such spells have existed and were collected by the Great Library, but they aren't for sale," Sister Bai said, shaking her head.
"Eh? Not for sale?"
"Yeah. The Great Library doesn't sell every spellbook it has. Most of what they sell are Prototype Spellbooks. The rarest ones are special types and derived spellbooks."
"I see... that does seem... difficult."
"Alright, Xiao Han, don't look so troubled. I didn't come here to complain. Besides, you were the one who asked; I just answered honestly about the problems I've faced." Sister Bai interrupted my brooding expression, reaching out to pat my head.
"Oh..."
"That’s it~ If we can't solve it now, we’ll just set it aside for a bit~" Sister Bai comforted me with a light chuckle.
I closed my eyes, enjoying this rare moment of peace... When I opened them again, my rationality had reclaimed the high ground.
"Sister Bai... how about I take you to see the purification and extraction of the new batch of Dream State Soul Essence? I was just about to go on my routine check anyway."
"Dream State Soul Essence... sure~" Sister Bai blinked, perhaps not quite keeping up with my sudden shift in pace, but she nodded in agreement once she processed it.
She was familiar with the concept of Dream State Soul Essence. It had become a sensation among witches a few days ago. Even now, many witches were discussing it, wondering if the appearance of Dream State Soul Essence meant that Dream Life was about to be born.
Under my guidance, Sister Bai followed me to the Constant Dream Laboratory—or rather, the Dream State Soul Essence Preparation Workshop.
Under the effect of the Incubation Purification Method, the Dream State Soul Essence really did seem like it was being "grown."
"So this is... Dream State Soul Essence? It’s beautiful!"
This was Bai Yu's first time entering this place. This preparation workshop belonged to Xiao Han, and no witch would dare enter without permission. Ruining one of Xiao Han's experiments would be a grave sin!
The workshop was filled with special dream culture dishes. Not only were they protected within the dream, but the physical room was also equipped with reality-information blocking instruments to prevent any data interference from the real world during Dream Overlaps, which could cause the experiment to fail.
The rows of culture dishes contained floating clusters of "Soul Essence." they displayed a dreamlike state that was almost impossible to describe in reality, as if looking at them for too long would cause one to sink into a hollow dream.
"Feel free to look around, Sister Bai. I’m going to process some experimental materials in the back," I said.
I wasn't worried about Sister Bai breaking anything. Not only were the isolation instruments top-tier, but the margin for error in these experiments wasn't that small!
The Dream State Soul Essences in the front, which were clearly nearing the end of their metamorphosis, were the products of the "Incubation Purification Method."
What I needed to check were the other purification methods I had specially marked.
Unfortunately, the results were clearly unsatisfactory.
Steeling my heart, I performed a simple decontamination process on the failed projects. I then nimbly set up several new control groups using different methods and continued the experiment.
Once I finished my work, I returned to Sister Bai.
"Xiao Han, is this Dream State Soul Essence the foundation you prepared for the Fool's Dream to become true life?" Sister Bai asked as she saw me return.
"That’s right~" I replied, my movements synchronized between the dream and reality. "Thinking back to before, we knew nothing. We were even sitting in a cafe discussing how to settle the Fool's Dream. Now, I can personally grant them true life."
"Indeed." Sister Bai was also drawn into the memories. "It hasn't been that long, but looking back, it feels like an eternity..."
"That just means our lives are full of excitement. Ah—right!"
"Hmm? What is it?" Sister Bai was startled by my sudden exclamation.
"Sister Bai, remember when I told you I moved the Fool's Dream and the entire Fool’s Village into my Soul Dream?"
"Of course I remember," Sister Bai replied quickly. "It’s hard to imagine what kind of scene that would be."
"Want to go see it?" I asked suddenly.
"...Eh?"
Sister Bai was visibly stunned by the question. She hadn't expected me to suggest it so out of the blue.
Under normal circumstances, one witch cannot enter another's Soul Dream. It was a deeply private territory.
That was why the Soul Dream served as a witch's final line of defense for her soul.
Those who haven't touched upon the Soul Domain cannot understand the essence of a Soul Dream. Without understanding, they cannot discover it; without discovery, they cannot observe it; and without observation, they have no way to interfere.
While the Soul Dream was somewhat redundant for some witches, it remained their most private sanctuary.
That was why it served as each witch's personal space within the Primal Dream.
"I’m asking—do you want to come with me and see Fool’s Village? It’s right inside my Soul Dream!"
"I do!"
In that instant, a thousand thoughts flashed through Bai Yu's mind—concerns about the privacy of a Soul Dream, whether it would be too much trouble, whether...
But in the end, her voice was faster than her thoughts.
However, after saying "I do," she didn't regret it. The things she worried about were no longer meaningful to her in this moment. She understood that those weren't questions she should ask Xiao Han, but questions she should ask herself.
Would it be a hassle? Would it be an invasion of Xiao Han's privacy?
If she harbored no ill intent, those questions shouldn't even exist.
Only by going could she be worthy of such trust!
"Then let’s go together!"
I grabbed Sister Bai's hand excitedly.
"Wait, right here?"
"Yup~ This is the Constant Dream Laboratory; no witch will come here to disturb us!" I said confidently. "So don't worry~ Soul Projection, come with me."
"Alright, together." Sister Bai nodded, casting aside her hesitations. If Xiao Han was this open, what did she have to be hesitant about?
As she spoke, Bai Yu's soul left her body. She reached out from the soul level to touch that small hand. Immediately, she felt a wondrous pulling force leading her into a strange region.
It was a void, but within that void, that hand was always there, guiding her.
Until... she saw the blurry outline of prosperity.
Subconsciously, she brushed aside the mist before her eyes. She felt as if she were standing in a sea of stars. Above her head was a sprawling village—though calling it a village was no longer accurate.
It was a fairy-tale kingdom built of fantasy. The starry sky was decorated with dots of light that looked like crayon doodles. Billowing clouds wore childish but cute smiles, as if the entire world were a playground.
A cloud brushed past her. As her vision blurred, she realized she was falling.
It was like that sensation of falling just before waking from a dream, happening over and over again. But in this world, she wouldn't wake up.
A flash of panic surged in her heart, but then she felt the hand gripped tightly in hers.
Turning her head, she saw me looking at her with a mischievous grin.
"This is certainly a unique way to make an entrance..." Sister Bai remarked.
"Do you like it? From this angle, you can see all of Fool’s Village from high above!"
"I love it..." Bai Yu looked at the massive Fool’s Village above her. The most prominent feature was, of course, that colossal Tree of Great Knowledge!
"Are we just going to keep falling like this?"
"Of course~ Right now, we are meteors streaking across the sky~" I shifted my posture, letting my body enter a free-fall. Before my eyes, the starry sky and the clouds gradually receded.
I waved at the Fool's Dream playing hide-and-seek in the clouds. The doodles decorating the stars were also their handiwork.
As expected... the Fool's Dream were a truly creative race.
"Meteors streaking across the sky..." Sister Bai repeated my words, seemingly savoring the sentiment.
Once she overcame the fear of the fall, everything she saw was beautiful.
That was what Bai Yu felt in her heart.
Is this... the self-redemption within Xiao Han's own heart?
A childishness that no one would judge, decorated with just the right amount of joy. When the word "childish" is stripped of its forced negative connotations and returns to its original innocence, perhaps this is the beauty within Xiao Han's soul...
Unknowingly, an urge to protect this place rose in Bai Yu's heart, and that urge gradually solidified into a conviction deep within her.