Chapter 872 – Dream Revelation

To accelerate the Celestial Profound Realm’s transformation into a magic-type world, Mo Lan invested even greater promotional resources, producing enough {Celestial Profound Society Invitations} for every person in the Celestial Profound Realm in one go.

The world consciousness was equally sincere in its commitment. It voluntarily took on the task of distributing the invitations, weaving the introduction to the Celestial Profound Society and the Immortal Realm’s conspiracy into dreams. While using these dream revelations to enlighten the populace, it delivered a {Celestial Profound Society Invitation} into the hands of every person in the Celestial Profound Realm.

That day, when the last glimmer of sunset was swallowed by the ink-dark canopy of night, an invisible yet overwhelming will descended alongside the cold moonlight, gently blanketing the entire Celestial Profound Realm.

Mountains and rivers, cities and villages, cultivation sects—hundreds of millions of humans, from innocent mortal children to cultivators who commanded the winds and clouds—were all, in that single moment, drawn into an extraordinarily vivid dream.

In the cultivation world, True Master Xuancheng of the Myriad Arts Sect sat in rigid meditation at the center of his cave dwelling.

Not long ago, he had successfully condensed his Golden Core, and his sect had held a grand Ascension Ceremony in his honor. Guests had filled the hall, and congratulations had poured in like the tide.

Yet he had stood upon the altar until his legs went numb, waiting until the stars and moon grew dim, and still the legendary light of ascension never came for him.

The entire sect’s anticipation turned into silent mockery.

Overnight, every strand of his black hair turned to snow.

By now, his heart had long since grown cold, his Dao heart on the verge of shattering.

Suddenly, the scene before his eyes blurred.

He felt as though his spirit had left his body, ascending into the boundless void, where he “saw” a hideous pillar of dark gold light—like the greedy tentacle of a parasite feeding on the world—driven deep into the Celestial Profound Realm’s boundary membrane.

At the same time, a deep, anguished, grief-laden whisper of a wail resonated directly within his heart.

The voice identified itself as the Heavenly Dao of this world. It said that the ascension countless cultivators revered as their ultimate goal was nothing more than a deception orchestrated by another world.

Throughout the ages, every brilliantly talented predecessor who had ascended became nothing more than “sustenance”—mercilessly harvested at the Immortal Realm’s dining table!

Before grief and despair could fully engulf him, the pillar of dark gold light that had spanned countless ages was severed by an elder in green robes—the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao—whose voice rang out, vast and majestic, cleansing the very soul:

“The path of immortality is severed, but the way of magic shall rise. Take this jade token, join my Society, and forge a new path forward!”

As the words faded, a gentle stream of light descended into his palm.

True Master Xuancheng’s mind shook violently. He snapped his eyes open, and what greeted him were the same cold, rough stone walls of his secluded cave dwelling.

He gasped for breath, his Daoist robes already soaked through with cold sweat. The earth-shattering vision from moments ago was still vivid before his eyes.

Instinctively, he opened his palm. The cloud-patterned jade tablet he had caught in the dream lay quietly in his hand, emanating a cool yet solid sensation. Only then did he realize—this was no dream.

In the past, the proud and lofty True Master Xuancheng would never have readily signed a Heavenly Dao contract with an entity of unknown origin.

But now, the despair of the severed path to immortality still loomed before his eyes, and the “Heavenly Dao incarnation’s” revelation of the Immortal Realm’s true nature had shattered everything he once believed.

This jade tablet was the only lifeline extended to him in his despair, and his sole hope of reopening his path forward.

“So be it. Since there is no other road, why not try!”

His resolve set, he opened the invitation and signed his name.

Emerald Jade Market District, deep within a dark and narrow alley.

Lin Feng lay on a cold straw mat, the searing pain from his dantian and the despair of his cultivation being utterly crippled gnawing at his mind like venomous serpents. He had failed in the contest for the Foundation Establishment spirit medicine, his path of cultivation severed, reduced to this wretched state. He could practically smell death closing in.

Just as his consciousness began to blur, an irresistible wave of drowsiness suddenly dragged him into the depths.

In the dream, he “saw” the spiritual energy between heaven and earth receding at terrifying speed, as if the tide were going out. The spirit stones that once gleamed brilliantly in the market district dimmed and crumbled before his very eyes.

Herbs once brimming with spiritual energy withered, magical artifacts lost their luster… A doomsday-like panic seized him.

Without spiritual energy, how were cultivators any different from mortals?

His dantian was already shattered—he was a cripple. Did this mean even the hope of recovery was gone?

Just as his despair reached its peak, the dream shifted abruptly.

An elder wreathed in a pure, luminous glow appeared, calling himself the “incarnation of the Heavenly Dao.” With a sweep of his sleeve, he revealed a wondrous place called the “Celestial Profound Society.”

There were no spiritual root requirements, no dependence on the world’s spiritual energy. Within jade tablet artifacts that shimmered with iridescent light lay an entirely new path of cultivation—using the mind to command the elements, using willpower to shape miracles!

Powerful mages could freeze a thousand miles with a wave of their hand, their might no less than that of the legendary high-level cultivators!

“No spiritual roots needed… no spiritual energy needed…” These eight words exploded like thunder in the darkness of his heart.

Lin Feng jolted awake. The mold-stained patches on the decrepit ceiling filled his vision, and the wound on his abdomen still burned with pain.

But the next second, he felt something unusual in his palm. The warm jade tablet from the dream was actually, truly lying in his sweat-dampened hand!

It wasn’t a dream!

An unprecedented surge of heat instantly scattered his despair. He gripped the jade tablet with all his strength, his knuckles turning white from the force, and in his clouded eyes blazed a fierce light like wildfire.

Dantian destroyed, the path of immortality severed? No!

The Heavenly Dao had opened another window for him! He had to seize it, at any cost!

At the same time, in a small village in the mortal world.

Ten-year-old Da Ya, who had failed the test for immortal affinity, fell into a deep sleep still clutching her longing for the immortals.

In her dream, the sky blazed with brilliant light, and a kind-faced elder in green robes with the bearing of an immortal sage came riding on a cloud. In a gentle voice, he told her that there was a place called the “Celestial Profound Society” where you didn’t need that elusive thing called “immortal affinity” to learn incredible “immortal arts.” You could even protect your family and go see the world beyond!

This was everything she had ever dreamed of.

The old grandfather rode away on his cloud, leaving behind a beautiful, glowing “jade tablet.”

Ya Ya woke from her wonderful dream with a smile, and when she found a beautiful, glowing “jade tablet” truly clutched in her hand, the little girl nearly leapt right off the heated brick bed.

“Papa! Mama! The immortal grandfather gave me a treasure!” Barefoot, holding the jade tablet aloft, she darted into her parents’ room like a happy little sparrow.

But to her astonishment, she found her parents gathered around her bedridden grandmother, their faces a mixture of shock and excitement—and in their hands, they held the very same jade tablets!

Even her baby brother, who had only just learned to talk, clutched a jade tablet tightly in his tiny hand.

“Ya Ya, you too…” Ya Ya’s father, an honest farmer, looked at the jade tablet in his daughter’s hand, his voice trembling slightly. “We dreamed of the immortal lord too. He said… said we can learn skills with this… Even without that magic talent thing, we can trade our extra psychic power for food to eat!”

“That’s right, Mama dreamed it too.” Ya Ya’s mother held her daughter close, tears glistening in her eyes. “Has heaven finally opened its eyes and looked upon us poor souls without immortal affinity?”

A family of five, five jade tablets, glowing softly in the dim candlelight. (End of Chapter)