Chapter 36: Dream Meeting

Chapter 36: Dream Meeting

Qi Xuansu felt like he was floating unsteadily and soaring into the sky. Darkness enveloped him, and his surroundings became eerily quiet.

At that moment, he almost thought that he was about to enter that strange nightmare again. However, this time was different. There were no black mountains around him, only endless darkness.

After some time, the darkness transformed into a vast void, with a palace floating not far away. The next moment, Qi Xuansu drifted toward the palace uncontrollably.

When Qi Xuansu once again felt solid ground beneath his feet, he found himself in an unfamiliar place.

It was hard to describe this place in words. The interior resembled a grand hall, but it was shrouded in smoke. Everything appeared hazy, making it hard to see clearly. There was no ceiling either, only a vast expanse of starry sky.

Qi Xuansu glanced down at himself, his entire body enveloped in thick smoke. At that moment, a figure shrouded in smoke drifted toward him.

He instinctively took a few steps back, but when he saw the person gesturing to him, he tentatively spoke. “Madam Qi?”

“It’s me.” Madam Qi’s voice was slightly distorted.

Qi Xuansu breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “Madam Qi, where are we?”

Madam Qi replied, “This is the B-rank gathering of the Qingping Society.”

Qi Xuansu looked around. “Is this an astral projection?” Fôllôw new stories at novelhall.com

“No.” Madam Qi shook her head. “You’re aware of the Diviner’s Dream Entering Realm, right?”

“Yes, I know about it. The Dream Entering Realm allows the soul to roam and enter other people’s dreams. I’ve heard that some unscrupulous bastards specifically enter women’s dreams to engage in illicit activities upon reaching this realm. When the women wake up, they think they had a wet dream and never suspect foul play.”

Madam Qi reached out and poked Qi Xuansu. “You like hearing those kinds of stories, don’t you?”

Qi Xuansu cleared his throat lightly, pretending not to have heard her.

Madam Qi explained, “Entering someone else’s dream with the soul is just a rudimentary application of dream entering. After Diviners reach the Ghost Immortal Realm, they can invite others into their dreams, like the widely spread story of The World Inside a Pillow.

“In the story, Lu Sheng went to the capital to take the imperial exam but failed to make a name for himself. On his way back home, he met a Daoist priest named Lu Weng. Lu Sheng complained about his impoverished life, so Lu Weng offered him a porcelain pillow.

“As soon as Lu Sheng fell asleep, he dreamed that he had married a beautiful wife from the Cui family of Qinghe County. He passed the imperial exam and got official positions as a magistrate and mayor of Shanzhou. He eventually rose to become the Minister of Finance, the Imperial Censor, and the Chief Secretary. He was also granted the title of Duke of Yan. His five children also held high offices and married into noble families.

“Lu Sheng lived a life of luxury and prestige, with many children and grandchildren to keep him company. When he was 80 years old, he fell ill for a long time and finally died. As he took his last breath, Lu Sheng woke up in shock and sat up. He looked around to find that everything was just as before. The Daoist priest Lu Weng was still sitting beside him, and the steamed millet was still cooking in the pot.”

Qi Xuansu asked, puzzled. “What does this story have to do with us?”

Madam Qi smiled. “Don’t you understand? We’re actually meeting in a dream right now.”

Qi Xuansu nodded, feeling that this was not particularly relevant to him since Madam Qi would always be his partner, so she would handle such matters.

He asked again, “Since this is a dream and everything is fake, how would one go about trading goods or making transactions?”

Madam Qi said, “This tests one’s perception. People can get into a deal with others in the dream realm and then make the transactions in the real world. However, misjudgments and double-crossing are common. That’s why many people opt for a mediator. They usually employ a reliable, reputable intermediary who charges a fair commission. Then they entrust the money and goods to the intermediary, who will deliver them to the respective parties.”

Qi Xuansu scrutinized Madam Qi and added, “Madam Qi, are you one of those intermediaries?”

“I am.” Madam Qi smiled. “It’ll be a pity to pass up on such a money-making opportunity. I'm not just a middleman, but I also provide money-lending services. My interest rates are half of those from the Taiping Money Bank. It’s all about the small profits but quick returns.”

Qi Xuansu finally understood how his flying sword was sold. Perhaps even the Divine Dragon Pistol, which almost belonged to him, had also been sold off by Madam Qi.

Madam Qi thought of something and advised him. “Since this is your first time here, take your time to familiarize yourself with the environment. Don’t rush to interact with others. The materials I bought for you should be enough to perform the ritual spell ten times, so use them sparingly. If you run out, I’ll have them sent to you through a messenger, and I’ll deduct the cost of the materials from your savings.”

This messenger was similar to the imperial courier or postman. It acted as a relay station for the Daoist Order, which was responsible for sending letters, items, and messages. It was open to the public, but like the flying ships, they charged fees for their services.

During their conversation, they arrived at the colossal pillar. Qi Xuansu noticed a gigantic hourglass that was as tall as two people standing on top of each other.

The hourglass, like a sundial, was used for timekeeping.

Madam Qi pointed to the hourglass and explained, “Time in the dream realm differs from reality, so you can’t rely solely on your intuition. That’s why we look at this as a reference. Also, I come here on the 1st and 15th of every month. If you need to find me, you can come on those days. If it’s urgent, use the mother-child talisman to contact me.”

Qi Xuansu nodded to indicate that he understood.

Madam Qi glanced at the hourglass. “It’s time for you to go back.”

“How do I go back?” Qi Xuansu asked.

Madam Qi replied, “The same way you end your meditation. Just wake up as you normally would.”

Qi Xuansu understood and severed his connection with the dream realm as instructed. In an instant, everything around him receded like a tide. Madam Qi and the grand hall became blurry and eventually disappeared like bubbles in water.

He once again felt as light as a feather. His surroundings became incredibly quiet, devoid of any sound. Then he quickly descended back to the ground. He woke up abruptly and found himself in the study, but he had a slight headache, as if he were recovering from a hangover.

The incense in the censer was almost completely burned out, leaving only a pile of fragrant ash.

The two candles—one black and one white—had been extinguished at some point. But they had minimal wax drippings, indicating that they did not burn for long. Underneath the candle holders were the ashes from the burned talismans.

What surprised Qi Xuansu was that the intricate diagram he drew with the Imitation Torch Dragon Blood had disappeared without a trace, as if it had never existed. All that was left was his silver crimson fish talisman lying between the two candles.

Qi Xuansu looked around and made sure no one had entered the room before gathering all the equipment and materials into the fish talisman receptacle and keeping it in his pocket.