Hanging Gardens Dreamscape.
Yu Hao, Chen Yekai, Huang Ting, Ou Qihang, and Fu Liqun stood on the platform.
“Then, I’ll have to trouble you.” Yu Hao said.
Huang Ting nodded. “All right, wake me up ba.”
Chen Yekai put one hand on Huang Ting’s shoulder and said, “You must be careful, brother.”
Yu Hao drew a circle in the air; the moonlight shone down, and traces of a silver Golden Crow Wheel lit up. A flash spread across the entire dreamscape, amidst which his voice could be heard, “Good night.”
Everyone was ejected from Huang Ting’s dream.
Chen Yekai, Ou Qihang, and Fu Liqun opened their eyes almost at the same time. The car was still on the road.
“Yu Hao?” Fu Liqun shook Yu Hao, but Yu Hao didn’t wake up. Ou Qihang got up from the back seat and observed Yu Hao; Yu Hao breathed evenly — he was still in a dream.
Chen Yekai said, “He’s still searching for a way to enter Zhou Sheng’s dream…Where are we?”
The colleague who was driving said, “We’ll arrive outside the enemy’s base in 20 minutes.”
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Xiao Jian’s voice travelled over from a walkie-talkie, “How’s the situation on your side?”
Chen Yekai said, “We’re awake. We’ve contacted Huang Ting. Yu Hao’s still doing his best, hopefully it’ll work out.”
Xiao Jian said, “Take a short rest. We might need to forcefully breakthrough later. You guys mustn’t try to be heroes then.”
“I’m still dizzy.” Ou Qihang responded.
“It’s the effects of the drug.” Chen Yekai drank some water and looked at his watch — 3 AM. He rolled down the window, and the cold wind outside assaulted his face. The dark clouds in the sky gradually retreated, revealing a full moon.
Huang Ting woke up on the sickbed; there were two rooms in the ward, and one was empty. Only one nurse was on duty beyond the screen. The monitoring devices were all active.
Huang Ting endured the discomfort of his coughs and pulled out the cannula from his arm. He looked up at the infusion bag, got up, and noticed that the freezer had tranquilizers. He opened one box and drew out the drug with a syringe from the shelf.
A nurse on duty heard sounds from inside, and craned his head out to look around. However, a hand suddenly reached out from behind him and covered his mouth, and a needle was stabbed into his neck. Dozens of seconds later, he collapsed to the ground bonelessly. Huang Ting patiently prepared a number of syringes, put on a cap and a mask, changed into a medical gown, took the nurse’s ID, and pushed a cart as he left.
“What’s wrong?” A guard heading to the hall passage asked.
“Delivering medications.”
The guard picked up his walkie-talkie and notified the security guard in the hall. Huang Ting had already prepared a syringe in his hand, and he was just about to stab the other party when he was actually allowed to pass.
Huang Ting went to the elevator, pressed a button, and went down. At this moment, all medical staff and researchers were gathered in the hall, staring anxiously at the scene in front of the computer set up. But Huang Ting didn’t stay in the hall. After leaving the cart behind, he turned around and left.
The motorcar stopped outside the abandoned factory. Nearly twenty people got out of the cars and retrieved weapons from the trunks. Qin Guodong personally oversaw the operation; he looked into the distance with infrared binoculars. Ou Qihang went over quickly. Amidst the cold winds, Xiao Jian held a display screen and tapped on the map of the surroundings.
“There are more guards at the side door, and no infrared remote sensing devices were found there.” Xiao Jian said, “They’ve contacted Huang Ting, but it’s still unclear how useful it would be.”
“We can’t wait for his support.” Qin Guodong said, “Barging in forcefully won’t work either. Be patient, try to think of a way.”
Ou Qihang said, “Yu Hao asked us to inform everyone that once the power inside gets cut, Huang Ting will find a way to get Zhou Sheng out.”
Xiao Jian was a little surprised. Qin Guodong fell silent for several seconds before saying immediately, “Okay, we’ll be responsible for drawing their fire!”
In the dark, the chilly wind was bitingly cold. It was pitch dark inside the factory with only the security booth having lights on. From the outside, it was impossible for people to discover that there was a research laboratory in the underground area. However, once infrared imaging was used, active human figures at the bottom and the guards in the factory could all be seen at a glance.
Chen Yekai held Yu Hao’s hand and waited beside him. He closed his eyes, listening to the breathing sounds Yu Hao made while sound asleep.
Night had already fallen on the Great Wall world. Yu Hao stood on the platform high in the sky and gazed at the moon in his dreamscape that had already changed. The sun no longer existed, only the bright moon shone brightly upon the earth. The army in the capital was assembled in a square-shaped formation outside the city. Yu Hao nervously searched for Zhou Sheng’s dream, but he never dreamed of Yu Hao.
“Zhou Sheng, dream of me,” Yu Hao gasped for breath, “This is our last chance.”
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Zhou Sheng lay sideways as he hugged his last totem and slowly sank to the bottom of the sea. He was submerged by the indigo blue water, falling completely into the darkness.
The convulsing him sitting in the chair finally quieted, his clenched fist loosened and his head drooped forward.
Suddenly, the entire underground research room went pitch black — the power supply had been cut, and the world went dark.
“What happened? Not enough energy again?”
“We haven’t started the connection yet, that shouldn’t be the case!”
The blackout once again triggered the researchers’ panic and another round of discussions.
“Turn on the reserve power supply…quickly!”
“Someone shut off the electricity!”
“There are invaders outside!”
Within the dark, only the core chip of the Golden Crow Wheel radiated a soft, blue light; Huang Ting’s figure suddenly appeared in front of the researchers, and a few muffled groans could be heard. The security guards rushed forward, and gunfire broke out.
“He has a gun!” Someone shouted, “Don’t let it hit Director Ren!”
Huang Ting wielded a fireman’s hatchet in his left hand that he used to chop at the connecting wires of the helmet on the chair a few times. He dragged Zhou Sheng off the chair, then fired a shot at the cover box on the computer set up. However, the cover box was made of bullet-proof glass. He was thinking of a way to get to the Golden Crow Wheel when a dagger swung over from his side; someone shouted, “Who are you?! Watch out for any other invaders!”
The security guards had already taken their places to guard Ren Chong. Huang Ting decisively made the decision to give up on the Golden Crow Wheel and Ren Chong. He dragged Zhou Sheng and escaped toward a corner, went to the safe passage, angled the fireman’s hatchet into the door handle of the safe passage, then picked Zhou Sheng up and rushed to the third floor.
“Zhou Sheng!” Huang Ting patted Zhou Sheng’s face and shouted, “Wake up!”
Huang Ting fished out a stimulant and injected it into Zhou Sheng. He lifted his eyelids and shone his torchlight on it, but Zhou Sheng’s eyes were glazed over, and his pupils contracted slightly under the light.
In the Colosseum world, the world was destroyed, and the Golden Crow Wheel had lost all of its flames. The platform collapsed, bringing along with it a dark and dull Golden Crow Wheel as it fell toward the sea. All buildings were turned into bricks that collapsed into the deepest part of the ocean.
Ren Chong’s body burned with raging flames, and he hovered in the air above the ocean, laughing loudly. He released the flares on his body and formed a passage in front of him. Before leaving Zhou Sheng’s consciousness, Ren Chong looked back to take a glance and sneered, “I’ve finally succeeded. Hope I’ll never see you again.”
Huang Ting quickly ran up with Zhou Sheng in his arms. When he passed the corridor, shouts could be heard inside.
“Help me! Help me!” Someone shouted, “Huang Ting! Is it you? Let me out, quick!”
Huang Ting turned his head and suddenly saw Zhao Liang’s face appearing in the window of one of the prison cells, seeming quite anxious.
“Zhao Laoshi?” Huang Ting immediately snapped out of his daze.
Zhao Liang peered out and saw Huang Ting holding Zhou Sheng. He asked, “Who’s that?”
Huang Ting put Zhou Sheng down and walked to the prison cell. Zhao Liang asked, “What on earth happened? I was pulled down from a chair by someone, and for some reason, Ren Chong didn’t explain anything to me before detaining me here…my memory’s all muddled up, did someone do an experiment on me?”
Huang Ting, “I don’t know.”
Zhao Liang stared at Huang Ting with a blank face, and Huang Ting didn’t know how to answer him for a moment either.
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“Have you ever been here?” Huang Ting asked.
Zhao Liang said, “I know this place; it’s an underground chemical experimental base I discovered a very long time ago. But why…do I feel like I just had a dream…?”
After Huang Ting fell silent for a moment, he said, “Step back.”
Zhao Liang took a few steps back. Huang Ting opened fire on the door lock and kicked the door open. Zhao Liang was wearing a singlet and a pair of undershorts as he ran out like a gust of wind.
Huang Ting said, “Do you know where the exit is? We’ll talk after we find a way to get out of here.”
Zhao Liang said, “There’s a secret passageway on the fourth floor, it’s a vent; follow me!”
Huang Ting picked Zhou Sheng up and followed Zhao Liang. Zhao Liang extended a hand and said, “Is this kid okay? Was he used for an experiment too? Give me the gun.”
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“Screw the fuck off.” It was still okay when Zhao Liang didn’t ask, but Huang Ting turned indignant once he did and cursed for once. He kicked Zhao Liang and rebuked, “You almost got us killed! Lead the way!”
Zhao Liang, “……”
Zhao Liang and Huang Ting looked at each other, then murmured, “What’s happening?” Then they heard the sound of people giving chase at the end of the corridor.
“Don’t let him get away!”
So Zhao Liang could only go forward and lead the way in a hurry.
In the hall of the research room.
“The power is back on!”
The hall regained its brightness. Ren Chong took off the helmet and glanced at the surroundings, as well as Zhou Sheng’s destroyed seat. He said in a low voice, “Huang Ting woke up?”
The security guards were still extremely vigilant. The leader said to Ren Chong, “We were caught completely off guard…”
“Never mind.” Ren Chong answered, “They’re not important anymore.”
“There are people attacking outside.” The leader said, “What should we do? Ask for instructions from the top?”
“No need.” Ren Chong answered, “Is the transferred energy ready?”
“Everything is ready to go at any time.” A researcher said.
Ren Chong answered, “Guard the outside and prepare to charge the apparatus.”
The researchers were still checking several parts of the computer that Huang Ting had wrecked. Ren Chong said, “It’s all right. The analysis set up is useless now.”
“Immediately get ready to start up the high-voltage power supply. We’re already connected to North China’s power grid.” A researcher said to Ren Chong.
“How much longer does it need?”
Great Wall World.
“Overseer can’t be found, Colosseum dreamscape has already collapsed and integrated into the subconscious world.” Golden Crow Wheel said, “Begin searching subconscious worlds…”
Muddled chaos appeared in the scene displayed by the silver Golden Crow Wheel. Yu Hao nervously stared at that chaos as he searched for Zhou Sheng’s figure, ready to enter at any time.
Outside the factory, Fu Liqun and Ou Qihang practically had nothing they could do. Xiao Jian and the rest wielded **, each with one gun, and nearly all the people they brought along charged straight in. Most employees in the office were military veterans and operated with ease; they had occupied the periphery of the factory within a short period of time.
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“They’re underground!”
“There aren’t many guards! That’s strange…”
“Don’t shoot! They’re on our side!”
“Zhou Sheng has been saved!”
Huang Ting and Zhao Liang each carried one of Zhou Sheng’s arms and dragged him out of the underground exit. Fu Liqun and Ou Qihang immediately went forward, shouting, “Zhou Sheng!”
“We’re on the same side, the same side…”
“Who the fuck is on the same side as you!” When Ou Qihang saw Zhao Liang, he was instantly enraged and went forward to kick him to the ground.
Qin Guodong pushed people aside and came in, roaring angrily, “Stop fighting! Talk after getting into the car! Xiao Jian, send someone here to examine him…Huang Ting, tell me what’s happening inside!”
Huang Ting gasped for breath and coughed several times, and spat out a mouthful of blood. He looked at Qin Guodong, and after they looked at each other for a moment, he only said three words at last, “I don’t know.”
Qin Guodong said, “What is Ren Chong doing underground?”
Everyone looked at one another. A colleague from the office reported, “Boss, they have shrunk the scope of their defences to the center of the hall, and all of them have guns. What should we do?”
Qin Guodong motioned for Ou Qihang and the others to go first. Fu Liqun immediately carried Zhou Sheng on his back, Ou Qihang took care of him at the side, and they quickly ran to the car parked outside the factory.
“Follow me in to take a look.” Qin Guodong said in the end. He wore a gun holster vest and led the rest to enter through the entrance to the underground research room.
Chen Yekai was observing Yu Hao’s situation in the car. Fu Liqun carried Zhou Sheng into the car, then Xiao Jian brought someone over to give them a check-up. As soon as Chen Yekai saw Zhou Sheng, he instantly shouted, “Wake up!”
Zhou Sheng remained unconscious. Chen Yekai asked about Huang Ting, and after knowing that Huang Ting was safe as well, he finally felt relieved.
“He’s in a coma.” The examiner said, “Not sure about the cause; it’s best to send him to a local hospital.”
“We’ll go now.” Chen Yekai said.
Xiao Jian said, “It’s up to you guys now. Go back to Beijing, don’t stay here any longer. Wait for our news tomorrow morning.”
Chen Yekai uttered an “un”, then went to the driver’s seat to drive.
Huang Ting caught up and got into the passenger seat, saying, “Wait for me!”
Chen Yekai looked at Huang Ting. Both of them stared at each other quietly, then leaned towards the other and hugged each other fiercely.
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Fu Liqun placed Zhou Sheng beside Yu Hao, reclined his seat and fastened his seat belt. He patted Zhou Sheng’s face, whispering, “Young Master, nothing must happen to you.”
Ou Qihang got on the car as well and pulled the sliding door close. Huang Ting said, “Everyone’s here, let’s go.”
Chen Yekai turned the steering wheel. Everyone was finally saved, but they didn’t know what was happening in the dream. He drove the car onto the national highway and asked Huang Ting, “How is the situation underground?”
“I don’t know.” Huang Ting answered. The words he said the most today were “I don’t know”.
“Which step have they progressed to?” Ou Qihang answered, “How’s Zhou Sheng now?”
Huang Ting shook his head, his brows furrowing deeply. He coughed violently again. Chen Yekai suddenly slowed down and when they passed by a town, he stopped by the roadside.
“What’s wrong?” Huang Ting asked, “Let’s go ah.”
“Hold on.” Chen Yekai said, “Zhou Sheng’s unconscious, and Ren Chong is still sitting in that chair?”
Huang Ting said, “From what I last saw, that was the case.”
Underground research room.
“Stop being so obstinate about getting your way!” Qin Guodong’s voice resounded through the hall as he led his men to the bottommost floor. “Ren Chong, your desire for power is practically manic!”
Yet Ren Chong couldn’t hear Qin Guodong’s words. He sat quietly on the chair, the core chip of the Golden Crow Wheel shimmering beside him. The experimental chair was just like a throne that led to the temples of the gods. All the security guards wielded guns that they pointed at Qin Guodong and everyone else; both sides had their weapons drawn, ready for a confrontation.
“Put down your weapons!” Xiao Jian commanded in a stern voice, “We’ve already called the police!”
Both sides fell silent; even the drop of a needle could be heard.
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“The power grid has been connected. Begin supplying energy.” A researcher’s voice broke the silence. Qin Guodong held his gun up and immediately pointed it at Ren Chong, and just when he was about to shoot, the hall darkened in an instant again with a ‘buzz’, plunging into darkness.
At the same time, Yanqing County, in the town, and even the whole area of North China’s power grid, Beijing, and all of their power supply equipment — all their energy had been completely drained!
Street lights in every direction had gone out; the lights in thousands of households disappeared, and there was a chorus of surprised cries at the power failure. The car was parked at the roadside, and Chen Yekai immediately turned his head.
Ou Qihang: “Ren Chong is drawing the energy away.”
Fu Liqun, “What does he want to do?”
Everyone sensed danger at the same time.
Lights of thousands of households went out; the world returned to how it was supposed to look like at night. In the night sky, only the splendour of the bright moon remained that spilled all over the world.
In the underground research room, the Golden Crow Wheel chip emitted an intense light; bizarre rays burst out, so resplendent that no one could look straight at them! Ren Chong was still wearing his helmet, his eyes squeezed tight. Then, the Golden Crow Wheel chip released a pulse—
That pulse instantly swept across everyone in the hall who were the first ones to bear the brunt — everyone, including Qin Guodong, who was just one second away from pulling the trigger, the security guards, and the motorcade outside the factory, lost their surface consciousness in an instant and fell to the ground!
The Golden Crow Wheel flickered with a golden light and rose from the ground, started rotating slowly, and released a second pulse that diffused across the whole world!
The pulse swept by; Chen Yekai, Ou Qihang, Fu Liqun, and Huang Ting who were on the car instantly turned dazed and lay back in their seats.
Only Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng were lying on their respective seats, hand in hand, falling into a coma.
Mountains toppled, the earth overturned, dark clouds swept through the sky, loud blares rang out from the ground to the sky one after another, then echoed back to the ground from the skies; it was as if the hand of the Creator had suddenly descended and pressed down on the world, then grasped it — the world then shattered, drifted, and turned into swirling fragments before assembling itself back together again.
Along with the fierce eruption of that pulse, the colossal sand table of the world was sent out, and the surface world hovering in the universe was inverted! All knowledge was subverted; the world was like a coin that flipped over along its fixed axis; its whirl shook heaven and earth, then another thunderclap blared, and everything froze!
Billions of flashing dream world debris were recombined, putting together the grand world of the collective unconscious. At this moment, under the influence of the Golden Crow Wheel’s powers, all life in the world entered their dreams at the exact same time! Innumerable dreams constituted the spiritual sea of mankind — just like how the tide that had always concealed the deepest realm suddenly receded all at once, revealing the vast and endless wondrous sight that had existed since the beginning of time!
High-speed rail whizzed through the air like roller coasters; skyscrapers that hovered in the air spun like they were Rubik cubes, billions of doors in the sky and on earth opened, then slammed shut again, abstract lines formed sculptures standing on the curved surfaces of mountains and rivers. The stars transformed into candy in some places, while transforming into raging flames in others; at the end of the night sky, a giant bathed in flames lifted a heavy hammer and struck the tinfoil-like human-shaped pieces of paper under the smelting furnace. Panlong soared through the sky, then dove down and swallowed the cars on the ground in one big gulp. Whales grew wings and flew about freely above the palaces.
Fierce gales blew at plants. The fluff of dandelions turned into cats with wings that grew from its ribs, numerous of which flew through the city; a torrential downpour buffeted down, transforming into pink coins that drifted across the earth. Baffled pedestrians walked through the streets dressed only in their underwear, and there were even winged horses dragging floats behind them, gun salutes were fired, and they revelled heartily in the air.
Following which, all of the dreamscapes collapsed at the same time after they were released, retracted, and turned into countless hemispherical bubbles that floated to the surface of the ocean of subconsciousness!
In the Great Wall world, Yu Hao waited anxiously for the result of the Golden Crow Wheel’s search, but within a second, a rippling spatial fluctuation affected his dream, and with a ‘whoosh’, the Golden Crow Wheel disappeared right in front of him!
Yu Hao shouted and fell from the sky. He immediately spread his wings out and shouted, “Golden Crow Wheel?!”
He didn’t get an answer. The world spread out in front of him with bizarre scenes; in the distance, a giant tree peeked out from the ground, one over the other, it kept growing, and countless dreamscapes emerged from the tree of the world, and like a jigsaw puzzle that was being pieced together, a new world was formed!
“What happened?” Yu Hao murmured, “Where is this place?”
Ren Chong’s voice travelled over from the tree of the world, “So the world of the collective unconscious looks like this…”
“Ren Chong?!” Yu Hao shouted angrily, “What do you want to do?!”
Once Yu Hao turned around, he left the soap bubble of his dreamscape and flew to the giant tree in the distance. However, there was a tremendous force in the air — a massive stone like a mountain range appeared above his head within a split second that was about to ram straight into him!
With a loud bang, Yu Hao exerted all his strength to avoid the mountains and brushed by its edge as he flew out; someone’s dream on the earth instantly shattered from the impact!
“In this collective dreamscape…” Ren Chong’s voice rang out slowly, “I will obtain supreme strength.”
Yu Hao said, “You lunatic, is that the voice in the deepest part of your heart?”
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Yu Hao flew toward the tree of the world, but at that moment, a flashing, black scorching sun rose from the tree of the world and released another pulse that formed a fierce gale to blow him far away!
Yu Hao said, “Golden Crow Wheel?! Golden Crow Wheel! Are you still here?! Answer me!”
Yu Hao looked up; it seemed like the moon in the sky wasn’t far away. It coexisted with the Golden Crow Wheel, like an eclipse, forming a rather strange sight.
“The Overseer’s consciousness has been temporarily replaced.” The moonlight illuminated Yu Hao; like a spotlight on stage, a pillar of light followed him at all times to protect him from the influence of the integration into this collective unconscious.
Yu Hao’s staff lit up. He landed temporarily, saying, “Continue searching for the Overseer! Quick!”
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“The Overseer’s dark self is hiding in one of the dreamscapes,” Golden Crow Wheel answered, “The master personality is under the tree of the world; he has already fallen into the sea of subconscious.”
The fog surged over. Yu Hao muttered, “What the hell is this guy trying to do?”
“Through the integration of the collective unconscious, accomplish the invasion of consciousness.” Golden Crow Wheel answered.
Yu Hao saw a large number of monsters hiding in the fog released by the tree of the world; they were currently invading everyone’s dreamscapes, and they kept attacking the soap bubbles on the ground, popping them by tearing them apart with their teeth before seizing complete control over them. Starting from where the tree of the world was situated, thousands upon thousands of soap bubbles were being broken one after another, while numerous aerial roots extended from the tree of the world under Ren Chong’s control took root in the ruptured soap bubbles, drew nutrients from them, and further expanded their scope of influence.
“Any self will do!” Yu Hao said, “Mark it for me now!”
Moonlight was cast upon a distant place; Yu Hao flew over — it was a bizarre, sky blue dream that was both clear and bright. The dream was currently emitting a beautiful layer of light.
He entered that dreamscape, saying, “Whose dream is this?”
In the garden where flowers were in full bloom, Zhou Sheng wore a suit of black armour, had short, jet-black hair, wore metal boots, and had pulled a chair out to sit on it in reverse. He hugged the back of the chair and was currently chatting with a beautiful girl. Yu Hao landed from the sky, shouting, “Zhou Sheng!”
Dark Zhou Sheng looked up and glanced at Yu Hao. Yu Hao was stunned.
“Satan?” Yu Hao said, “How did you get out? What kind of timing do you think this is?! And you’re actually here picking up girls?! Wait, no! You like girls?!”
“This is your sis-in-law.” Dark Zhou Sheng raised his hand as he wanted to hold Yu Hao’s hand, saying to that girl, “Greet sis-in-law.”
The girl wore a white dress and a wreath on her head, seeming just like a little princess. She was only about fourteen or fifteen years old. She smiled sweetly at Yu Hao. “Hello, sis-in-law.”
“Where did this sister of yours come from?” Yu Hao was stunned silly.
Dark Zhou Sheng said, “‘Kay, I’m leaving.”
“Be careful.” That little sister said.
Yu Hao, “……”
Dark Zhou Sheng said to Yu Hao, “I knew you wouldn’t be able to let go of me in your heart, and that you would come looking for me.”
“But, this…” Yu Hao could hardly believe what he was seeing, “When did you come out?”
“Right when Ren Chong initiated the solar eclipse.” Dark Zhou Sheng answered solemnly, “Are we going to look for my other self now?”
Yu Hao said, “Wait…hold on, why didn’t you come search for me in my dream?”
Dark Zhou Sheng opened his palm up, motioning for Yu Hao to hold his hand. He explained, “What if the enemy pursued us all the way into your dream?”
Yu Hao looked at the little girl again and said, “Then we’ll…we’ll…”
Dark Zhou Sheng hugged Yu Hao and kissed him on the cheek, then said to the girl, “I’ll give you a call when I’m free. Let’s go, Wifey, fly.”
Yu Hao, “……”
Yu Hao spread his wings out and could only start flying. When he heard the words ‘give you a call’, he instantly remembered that not long after he got to know Zhou Sheng, he had seen him smiling while calling someone — so it was her?
“She’s your younger sister?” Yu Hao asked.
Dark Zhou Sheng answered, “A girl brought over by my stepmother after her divorce.”
Yu Hao remembered that Zhou Laichun had married a rich woman after his first divorce, before divorcing again for a second time. That stepmother even had her own daughter! He never knew!
“You’ve never told me before!” Yu Hao said angrily.
“But you’ve never asked, have you?” Dark Zhou Sheng answered, “See, even lovers who are closest to each other have things they hide from the other party.”
Yu Hao said, “That’s not it at all, he must have just forgotten to say it.”
“You’re jealous?” Dark Zhou Sheng laughed.
“This is no time to be discussing this!” Yu Hao looked at the giant tree in the distance; the number of ruptured soap bubble areas was growing, and the giant tree’s aerial roots were controlling even more places as well. Yu Hao said, “I have to find Zhou Sheng.”
“He’s in the sea of the subconscious,” Dark Zhou Sheng, “How are you going to find him? Or just forget it ba, what do you think of me? Why don’t we just find some random dreamscape, replace its original owner, and live a simple life together there?”
Yu Hao threw Dark Zhou Sheng down from the sky. With a loud blare, black vapour erupted from the earth. Zhou Sheng turned into Satan and slowly floated up.
“Listen carefully to me.” Yu Hao placed his dagger against Satan’s throat, saying, “We made a bet last time, and you still owe me your wager.”
Satan smiled and used his palm to resist the tip of Yu Hao’s dagger. “If you can bear to, stab me right now. You definitely can’t bear to.”
Satan was showing him Zhou Sheng’s trademark mischievous grin. Yu Hao kept his dagger and said to Satan, “Now, fulfil your promise to me. You have to keep your word ba.”
“I’m the dark self.” Satan answered, “It also includes ‘going back on my words’. The dark me likes acting in bad faith and breaking promises, you should understand ba.”
Yu Hao, “……”
Previously, Yu Hao’s bet with Satan was to ‘promise me one thing’, but as for what would be promised, Yu Hao decided not to say for the time being then. He kept it so that perhaps in the end, during a decisive battle between Satan and Zhou Sheng, it may result in turning the tables. However, once Satan played this trick, Yu Hao was instantly helpless.
“That’s your other self!” Yu Hao said.
“That’s right.” Satan lifted Yu Hao’s chin, “But he’s also my mortal enemy. I’ve found that guy unpleasant to the eye for a very long time, he’s always unwilling to face up to his true thoughts…”
Yu Hao smacked Satan’s hand away. “State your terms.”
Satan said meaningfully, “You’ve never been all that smart, my angel baby. Look over there.”
Yu Hao turned his head and looked at the tree of the world. The giant tree’s area was still expanding continuously, and dreams touched by its aerial roots were all covered by the fog, their outlines turning indistinct. Satan said, “The subconscious is already under his complete control. His tentacles now are drawing nutrients from this soil…”
There were more and more aerial roots now, as if they had formed a boundless forest. Yu Hao said, “What will this turn into?”
“Every dream invaded by the aerial root symbolises a person’s self-consciousness.” Satan said, “He can already control these people’s minds at will, and he will only get stronger as the scope of his control grows.”
“…and the ‘me’ you want to fight is right below its roots.” Satan pointed at the tree of the world itself with a hint of a smile in his eyes, “That’s the collapsed Colosseum, that’s the soil where the tree of the world grows from. The bottom layer is our dream, while the upper layer is Ren Chong’s own dream.”
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Yu Hao looked up at the top of the tree.
“Now, you just need to get close to it and go into the fog,” Satan said, “And you’ll immediately be discovered. The permissions opened up for you by the moon are shrinking. Once you go in to find him, the moon won’t be useful anymore.”
Yu Hao said, “Then please attract his attention, I’m leaving.”
“Yo, no, no.” Satan said with a smile, “That idea’s good, but it’s far from enough to rely on me alone. First of all, let’s try to stop him from expanding, come.”
Yu Hao frowned. “Come? How?”
“Use your totem to build your true Great Wall.” Satan and Yu Hao were suspended in the air, “I’ll light the help-seeking beacon fires for you and restrain Ren Chong from swallowing any more people.”
Yu Hao, “My totem has long since disappeared!”
“What’s that in the sky?” Satan smiled thoughtfully, “You haven’t realised?”
Yu Hao, “!!!”
The bright moon illuminated Yu Hao, its light growing more and more pure and holy. Yu Hao spread his wings out; one pair, two pairs, three pairs — the six-winged angel flew about in the air.
“My…totem.” Yu Hao instantly sensed the tremendous power that the moon was transmitting to him! The essence of the moon was the totem he once possessed! Just like how the Golden Crow Wheel’s power had transformed into a part of the sun in Zhou Sheng’s dreamscape before, Yu Hao’s totem had already transformed into the bright moon that always followed him around without his awareness!
Where the sunlight disappears, there would still be a bright moon illuminating the dark world…
The moon shattered into pieces with a bang and turned into countless light particles, flying toward Yu Hao like a heavenly road. Yu Hao’s entire body was so resplendent one couldn’t look straight at him. He wielded a dagger and swung it at the ground—
—The light arc drawn by the dagger turned into a silver Great Wall that unfurled and stood aloft in the dream world; the massive wall that has existed since time immemorial effectively withstood the fog coming from another side! It blocked Ren Chong from advancing!
Heaven and earth were separated by this formidable Great Wall; with a cut right across the middle, to the north was the tree of the world and the Golden Crow Wheel in the solar eclipse, while to the south was Yu Hao and Satan, who were standing atop the Great Wall, as well as the billions of dreamscapes behind them that they were guarding. Meanwhile, the moon had also disappeared completely along with what had happened.
“What do you think you are?! A mantis trying to stop a chariot?! Don’t overestimate yourself!” Ren Chong’s roar resounded through the sky!
The fog under the Great Wall began surging, and countless huge, roaring black wolves appeared within that were climbing up the Great Wall. Yu Hao said, “We can’t hold on with just this city wall alone!”
Satan turned into Dark Zhou Sheng once again. With a lighter clasped between his fingers, he twirled it, jumped, and held it tight; once he pushed the lighter, with a ‘click’, meteor-like flames burst out of the lighter with a bang that scattered in all directions, flying toward the hundreds of beacon towers at the top of the Great Wall, and flame pillars burst into the air like tornadoes. Under every flame pillar, a whirlpool of fire dispersed, revealing the soldiers in Yu Hao’s dream!
Just behind them, in a dreamscape that was just like the sea, innumerable star-like totems rose and released light particles that flew toward the Great Wall; they turned into flying fighters irradiating a strong glow that rode fine steeds in the air, and this magnificent army with millions of troops charged at the huge dark wolves!
Hanging Gardens Dreamscape.
Yu Hao, Chen Yekai, Huang Ting, Ou Qihang, and Fu Liqun stood on the platform.
“Then, I’ll have to trouble you.” Yu Hao said.
Huang Ting nodded. “All right, wake me up ba.”
Chen Yekai put one hand on Huang Ting’s shoulder and said, “You must be careful, brother.”
Yu Hao drew a circle in the air; the moonlight shone down, and traces of a silver Golden Crow Wheel lit up. A flash spread across the entire dreamscape, amidst which his voice could be heard, “Good night.”
Everyone was ejected from Huang Ting’s dream.
Chen Yekai, Ou Qihang, and Fu Liqun opened their eyes almost at the same time. The car was still on the road.
“Yu Hao?” Fu Liqun shook Yu Hao, but Yu Hao didn’t wake up. Ou Qihang got up from the back seat and observed Yu Hao; Yu Hao breathed evenly — he was still in a dream.
Chen Yekai said, “He’s still searching for a way to enter Zhou Sheng’s dream…Where are we?”
The colleague who was driving said, “We’ll arrive outside the enemy’s base in 20 minutes.”
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Xiao Jian’s voice travelled over from a walkie-talkie, “How’s the situation on your side?”
Chen Yekai said, “We’re awake. We’ve contacted Huang Ting. Yu Hao’s still doing his best, hopefully it’ll work out.”
Xiao Jian said, “Take a short rest. We might need to forcefully breakthrough later. You guys mustn’t try to be heroes then.”
“I’m still dizzy.” Ou Qihang responded.
“It’s the effects of the drug.” Chen Yekai drank some water and looked at his watch — 3 AM. He rolled down the window, and the cold wind outside assaulted his face. The dark clouds in the sky gradually retreated, revealing a full moon.
Huang Ting woke up on the sickbed; there were two rooms in the ward, and one was empty. Only one nurse was on duty beyond the screen. The monitoring devices were all active.
Huang Ting endured the discomfort of his coughs and pulled out the cannula from his arm. He looked up at the infusion bag, got up, and noticed that the freezer had tranquilizers. He opened one box and drew out the drug with a syringe from the shelf.
A nurse on duty heard sounds from inside, and craned his head out to look around. However, a hand suddenly reached out from behind him and covered his mouth, and a needle was stabbed into his neck. Dozens of seconds later, he collapsed to the ground bonelessly. Huang Ting patiently prepared a number of syringes, put on a cap and a mask, changed into a medical gown, took the nurse’s ID, and pushed a cart as he left.
“What’s wrong?” A guard heading to the hall passage asked.
“Delivering medications.”
The guard picked up his walkie-talkie and notified the security guard in the hall. Huang Ting had already prepared a syringe in his hand, and he was just about to stab the other party when he was actually allowed to pass.
Huang Ting went to the elevator, pressed a button, and went down. At this moment, all medical staff and researchers were gathered in the hall, staring anxiously at the scene in front of the computer set up. But Huang Ting didn’t stay in the hall. After leaving the cart behind, he turned around and left.
The motorcar stopped outside the abandoned factory. Nearly twenty people got out of the cars and retrieved weapons from the trunks. Qin Guodong personally oversaw the operation; he looked into the distance with infrared binoculars. Ou Qihang went over quickly. Amidst the cold winds, Xiao Jian held a display screen and tapped on the map of the surroundings.
“There are more guards at the side door, and no infrared remote sensing devices were found there.” Xiao Jian said, “They’ve contacted Huang Ting, but it’s still unclear how useful it would be.”
“We can’t wait for his support.” Qin Guodong said, “Barging in forcefully won’t work either. Be patient, try to think of a way.”
Ou Qihang said, “Yu Hao asked us to inform everyone that once the power inside gets cut, Huang Ting will find a way to get Zhou Sheng out.”
Xiao Jian was a little surprised. Qin Guodong fell silent for several seconds before saying immediately, “Okay, we’ll be responsible for drawing their fire!”
In the dark, the chilly wind was bitingly cold. It was pitch dark inside the factory with only the security booth having lights on. From the outside, it was impossible for people to discover that there was a research laboratory in the underground area. However, once infrared imaging was used, active human figures at the bottom and the guards in the factory could all be seen at a glance.
Chen Yekai held Yu Hao’s hand and waited beside him. He closed his eyes, listening to the breathing sounds Yu Hao made while sound asleep.
Night had already fallen on the Great Wall world. Yu Hao stood on the platform high in the sky and gazed at the moon in his dreamscape that had already changed. The sun no longer existed, only the bright moon shone brightly upon the earth. The army in the capital was assembled in a square-shaped formation outside the city. Yu Hao nervously searched for Zhou Sheng’s dream, but he never dreamed of Yu Hao.
“Zhou Sheng, dream of me,” Yu Hao gasped for breath, “This is our last chance.”
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Zhou Sheng lay sideways as he hugged his last totem and slowly sank to the bottom of the sea. He was submerged by the indigo blue water, falling completely into the darkness.
The convulsing him sitting in the chair finally quieted, his clenched fist loosened and his head drooped forward.
Suddenly, the entire underground research room went pitch black — the power supply had been cut, and the world went dark.
“What happened? Not enough energy again?”
“We haven’t started the connection yet, that shouldn’t be the case!”
The blackout once again triggered the researchers’ panic and another round of discussions.
“Turn on the reserve power supply…quickly!”
“Someone shut off the electricity!”
“There are invaders outside!”
Within the dark, only the core chip of the Golden Crow Wheel radiated a soft, blue light; Huang Ting’s figure suddenly appeared in front of the researchers, and a few muffled groans could be heard. The security guards rushed forward, and gunfire broke out.
“He has a gun!” Someone shouted, “Don’t let it hit Director Ren!”
Huang Ting wielded a fireman’s hatchet in his left hand that he used to chop at the connecting wires of the helmet on the chair a few times. He dragged Zhou Sheng off the chair, then fired a shot at the cover box on the computer set up. However, the cover box was made of bullet-proof glass. He was thinking of a way to get to the Golden Crow Wheel when a dagger swung over from his side; someone shouted, “Who are you?! Watch out for any other invaders!”
The security guards had already taken their places to guard Ren Chong. Huang Ting decisively made the decision to give up on the Golden Crow Wheel and Ren Chong. He dragged Zhou Sheng and escaped toward a corner, went to the safe passage, angled the fireman’s hatchet into the door handle of the safe passage, then picked Zhou Sheng up and rushed to the third floor.
“Zhou Sheng!” Huang Ting patted Zhou Sheng’s face and shouted, “Wake up!”
Huang Ting fished out a stimulant and injected it into Zhou Sheng. He lifted his eyelids and shone his torchlight on it, but Zhou Sheng’s eyes were glazed over, and his pupils contracted slightly under the light.
In the Colosseum world, the world was destroyed, and the Golden Crow Wheel had lost all of its flames. The platform collapsed, bringing along with it a dark and dull Golden Crow Wheel as it fell toward the sea. All buildings were turned into bricks that collapsed into the deepest part of the ocean.
Ren Chong’s body burned with raging flames, and he hovered in the air above the ocean, laughing loudly. He released the flares on his body and formed a passage in front of him. Before leaving Zhou Sheng’s consciousness, Ren Chong looked back to take a glance and sneered, “I’ve finally succeeded. Hope I’ll never see you again.”
Huang Ting quickly ran up with Zhou Sheng in his arms. When he passed the corridor, shouts could be heard inside.
“Help me! Help me!” Someone shouted, “Huang Ting! Is it you? Let me out, quick!”
Huang Ting turned his head and suddenly saw Zhao Liang’s face appearing in the window of one of the prison cells, seeming quite anxious.
“Zhao Laoshi?” Huang Ting immediately snapped out of his daze.
Zhao Liang peered out and saw Huang Ting holding Zhou Sheng. He asked, “Who’s that?”
Huang Ting put Zhou Sheng down and walked to the prison cell. Zhao Liang asked, “What on earth happened? I was pulled down from a chair by someone, and for some reason, Ren Chong didn’t explain anything to me before detaining me here…my memory’s all muddled up, did someone do an experiment on me?”
Huang Ting, “I don’t know.”
Zhao Liang stared at Huang Ting with a blank face, and Huang Ting didn’t know how to answer him for a moment either.
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“Have you ever been here?” Huang Ting asked.
Zhao Liang said, “I know this place; it’s an underground chemical experimental base I discovered a very long time ago. But why…do I feel like I just had a dream…?”
After Huang Ting fell silent for a moment, he said, “Step back.”
Zhao Liang took a few steps back. Huang Ting opened fire on the door lock and kicked the door open. Zhao Liang was wearing a singlet and a pair of undershorts as he ran out like a gust of wind.
Huang Ting said, “Do you know where the exit is? We’ll talk after we find a way to get out of here.”
Zhao Liang said, “There’s a secret passageway on the fourth floor, it’s a vent; follow me!”
Huang Ting picked Zhou Sheng up and followed Zhao Liang. Zhao Liang extended a hand and said, “Is this kid okay? Was he used for an experiment too? Give me the gun.”
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“Screw the fuck off.” It was still okay when Zhao Liang didn’t ask, but Huang Ting turned indignant once he did and cursed for once. He kicked Zhao Liang and rebuked, “You almost got us killed! Lead the way!”
Zhao Liang, “……”
Zhao Liang and Huang Ting looked at each other, then murmured, “What’s happening?” Then they heard the sound of people giving chase at the end of the corridor.
“Don’t let him get away!”
So Zhao Liang could only go forward and lead the way in a hurry.
In the hall of the research room.
“The power is back on!”
The hall regained its brightness. Ren Chong took off the helmet and glanced at the surroundings, as well as Zhou Sheng’s destroyed seat. He said in a low voice, “Huang Ting woke up?”
The security guards were still extremely vigilant. The leader said to Ren Chong, “We were caught completely off guard…”
“Never mind.” Ren Chong answered, “They’re not important anymore.”
“There are people attacking outside.” The leader said, “What should we do? Ask for instructions from the top?”
“No need.” Ren Chong answered, “Is the transferred energy ready?”
“Everything is ready to go at any time.” A researcher said.
Ren Chong answered, “Guard the outside and prepare to charge the apparatus.”
The researchers were still checking several parts of the computer that Huang Ting had wrecked. Ren Chong said, “It’s all right. The analysis set up is useless now.”
“Immediately get ready to start up the high-voltage power supply. We’re already connected to North China’s power grid.” A researcher said to Ren Chong.
“How much longer does it need?”
Great Wall World.
“Overseer can’t be found, Colosseum dreamscape has already collapsed and integrated into the subconscious world.” Golden Crow Wheel said, “Begin searching subconscious worlds…”
Muddled chaos appeared in the scene displayed by the silver Golden Crow Wheel. Yu Hao nervously stared at that chaos as he searched for Zhou Sheng’s figure, ready to enter at any time.
Outside the factory, Fu Liqun and Ou Qihang practically had nothing they could do. Xiao Jian and the rest wielded **, each with one gun, and nearly all the people they brought along charged straight in. Most employees in the office were military veterans and operated with ease; they had occupied the periphery of the factory within a short period of time.
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“They’re underground!”
“There aren’t many guards! That’s strange…”
“Don’t shoot! They’re on our side!”
“Zhou Sheng has been saved!”
Huang Ting and Zhao Liang each carried one of Zhou Sheng’s arms and dragged him out of the underground exit. Fu Liqun and Ou Qihang immediately went forward, shouting, “Zhou Sheng!”
“We’re on the same side, the same side…”
“Who the fuck is on the same side as you!” When Ou Qihang saw Zhao Liang, he was instantly enraged and went forward to kick him to the ground.
Qin Guodong pushed people aside and came in, roaring angrily, “Stop fighting! Talk after getting into the car! Xiao Jian, send someone here to examine him…Huang Ting, tell me what’s happening inside!”
Huang Ting gasped for breath and coughed several times, and spat out a mouthful of blood. He looked at Qin Guodong, and after they looked at each other for a moment, he only said three words at last, “I don’t know.”
Qin Guodong said, “What is Ren Chong doing underground?”
Everyone looked at one another. A colleague from the office reported, “Boss, they have shrunk the scope of their defences to the center of the hall, and all of them have guns. What should we do?”
Qin Guodong motioned for Ou Qihang and the others to go first. Fu Liqun immediately carried Zhou Sheng on his back, Ou Qihang took care of him at the side, and they quickly ran to the car parked outside the factory.
“Follow me in to take a look.” Qin Guodong said in the end. He wore a gun holster vest and led the rest to enter through the entrance to the underground research room.
Chen Yekai was observing Yu Hao’s situation in the car. Fu Liqun carried Zhou Sheng into the car, then Xiao Jian brought someone over to give them a check-up. As soon as Chen Yekai saw Zhou Sheng, he instantly shouted, “Wake up!”
Zhou Sheng remained unconscious. Chen Yekai asked about Huang Ting, and after knowing that Huang Ting was safe as well, he finally felt relieved.
“He’s in a coma.” The examiner said, “Not sure about the cause; it’s best to send him to a local hospital.”
“We’ll go now.” Chen Yekai said.
Xiao Jian said, “It’s up to you guys now. Go back to Beijing, don’t stay here any longer. Wait for our news tomorrow morning.”
Chen Yekai uttered an “un”, then went to the driver’s seat to drive.
Huang Ting caught up and got into the passenger seat, saying, “Wait for me!”
Chen Yekai looked at Huang Ting. Both of them stared at each other quietly, then leaned towards the other and hugged each other fiercely.
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Fu Liqun placed Zhou Sheng beside Yu Hao, reclined his seat and fastened his seat belt. He patted Zhou Sheng’s face, whispering, “Young Master, nothing must happen to you.”
Ou Qihang got on the car as well and pulled the sliding door close. Huang Ting said, “Everyone’s here, let’s go.”
Chen Yekai turned the steering wheel. Everyone was finally saved, but they didn’t know what was happening in the dream. He drove the car onto the national highway and asked Huang Ting, “How is the situation underground?”
“I don’t know.” Huang Ting answered. The words he said the most today were “I don’t know”.
“Which step have they progressed to?” Ou Qihang answered, “How’s Zhou Sheng now?”
Huang Ting shook his head, his brows furrowing deeply. He coughed violently again. Chen Yekai suddenly slowed down and when they passed by a town, he stopped by the roadside.
“What’s wrong?” Huang Ting asked, “Let’s go ah.”
“Hold on.” Chen Yekai said, “Zhou Sheng’s unconscious, and Ren Chong is still sitting in that chair?”
Huang Ting said, “From what I last saw, that was the case.”
Underground research room.
“Stop being so obstinate about getting your way!” Qin Guodong’s voice resounded through the hall as he led his men to the bottommost floor. “Ren Chong, your desire for power is practically manic!”
Yet Ren Chong couldn’t hear Qin Guodong’s words. He sat quietly on the chair, the core chip of the Golden Crow Wheel shimmering beside him. The experimental chair was just like a throne that led to the temples of the gods. All the security guards wielded guns that they pointed at Qin Guodong and everyone else; both sides had their weapons drawn, ready for a confrontation.
“Put down your weapons!” Xiao Jian commanded in a stern voice, “We’ve already called the police!”
Both sides fell silent; even the drop of a needle could be heard.
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“The power grid has been connected. Begin supplying energy.” A researcher’s voice broke the silence. Qin Guodong held his gun up and immediately pointed it at Ren Chong, and just when he was about to shoot, the hall darkened in an instant again with a ‘buzz’, plunging into darkness.
At the same time, Yanqing County, in the town, and even the whole area of North China’s power grid, Beijing, and all of their power supply equipment — all their energy had been completely drained!
Street lights in every direction had gone out; the lights in thousands of households disappeared, and there was a chorus of surprised cries at the power failure. The car was parked at the roadside, and Chen Yekai immediately turned his head.
Ou Qihang: “Ren Chong is drawing the energy away.”
Fu Liqun, “What does he want to do?”
Everyone sensed danger at the same time.
Lights of thousands of households went out; the world returned to how it was supposed to look like at night. In the night sky, only the splendour of the bright moon remained that spilled all over the world.
In the underground research room, the Golden Crow Wheel chip emitted an intense light; bizarre rays burst out, so resplendent that no one could look straight at them! Ren Chong was still wearing his helmet, his eyes squeezed tight. Then, the Golden Crow Wheel chip released a pulse—
That pulse instantly swept across everyone in the hall who were the first ones to bear the brunt — everyone, including Qin Guodong, who was just one second away from pulling the trigger, the security guards, and the motorcade outside the factory, lost their surface consciousness in an instant and fell to the ground!
The Golden Crow Wheel flickered with a golden light and rose from the ground, started rotating slowly, and released a second pulse that diffused across the whole world!
The pulse swept by; Chen Yekai, Ou Qihang, Fu Liqun, and Huang Ting who were on the car instantly turned dazed and lay back in their seats.
Only Yu Hao and Zhou Sheng were lying on their respective seats, hand in hand, falling into a coma.
Mountains toppled, the earth overturned, dark clouds swept through the sky, loud blares rang out from the ground to the sky one after another, then echoed back to the ground from the skies; it was as if the hand of the Creator had suddenly descended and pressed down on the world, then grasped it — the world then shattered, drifted, and turned into swirling fragments before assembling itself back together again.
Along with the fierce eruption of that pulse, the colossal sand table of the world was sent out, and the surface world hovering in the universe was inverted! All knowledge was subverted; the world was like a coin that flipped over along its fixed axis; its whirl shook heaven and earth, then another thunderclap blared, and everything froze!
Billions of flashing dream world debris were recombined, putting together the grand world of the collective unconscious. At this moment, under the influence of the Golden Crow Wheel’s powers, all life in the world entered their dreams at the exact same time! Innumerable dreams constituted the spiritual sea of mankind — just like how the tide that had always concealed the deepest realm suddenly receded all at once, revealing the vast and endless wondrous sight that had existed since the beginning of time!
High-speed rail whizzed through the air like roller coasters; skyscrapers that hovered in the air spun like they were Rubik cubes, billions of doors in the sky and on earth opened, then slammed shut again, abstract lines formed sculptures standing on the curved surfaces of mountains and rivers. The stars transformed into candy in some places, while transforming into raging flames in others; at the end of the night sky, a giant bathed in flames lifted a heavy hammer and struck the tinfoil-like human-shaped pieces of paper under the smelting furnace. Panlong soared through the sky, then dove down and swallowed the cars on the ground in one big gulp. Whales grew wings and flew about freely above the palaces.
Fierce gales blew at plants. The fluff of dandelions turned into cats with wings that grew from its ribs, numerous of which flew through the city; a torrential downpour buffeted down, transforming into pink coins that drifted across the earth. Baffled pedestrians walked through the streets dressed only in their underwear, and there were even winged horses dragging floats behind them, gun salutes were fired, and they revelled heartily in the air.
Following which, all of the dreamscapes collapsed at the same time after they were released, retracted, and turned into countless hemispherical bubbles that floated to the surface of the ocean of subconsciousness!
In the Great Wall world, Yu Hao waited anxiously for the result of the Golden Crow Wheel’s search, but within a second, a rippling spatial fluctuation affected his dream, and with a ‘whoosh’, the Golden Crow Wheel disappeared right in front of him!
Yu Hao shouted and fell from the sky. He immediately spread his wings out and shouted, “Golden Crow Wheel?!”
He didn’t get an answer. The world spread out in front of him with bizarre scenes; in the distance, a giant tree peeked out from the ground, one over the other, it kept growing, and countless dreamscapes emerged from the tree of the world, and like a jigsaw puzzle that was being pieced together, a new world was formed!
“What happened?” Yu Hao murmured, “Where is this place?”
Ren Chong’s voice travelled over from the tree of the world, “So the world of the collective unconscious looks like this…”
“Ren Chong?!” Yu Hao shouted angrily, “What do you want to do?!”
Once Yu Hao turned around, he left the soap bubble of his dreamscape and flew to the giant tree in the distance. However, there was a tremendous force in the air — a massive stone like a mountain range appeared above his head within a split second that was about to ram straight into him!
With a loud bang, Yu Hao exerted all his strength to avoid the mountains and brushed by its edge as he flew out; someone’s dream on the earth instantly shattered from the impact!
“In this collective dreamscape…” Ren Chong’s voice rang out slowly, “I will obtain supreme strength.”
Yu Hao said, “You lunatic, is that the voice in the deepest part of your heart?”
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Yu Hao flew toward the tree of the world, but at that moment, a flashing, black scorching sun rose from the tree of the world and released another pulse that formed a fierce gale to blow him far away!
Yu Hao said, “Golden Crow Wheel?! Golden Crow Wheel! Are you still here?! Answer me!”
Yu Hao looked up; it seemed like the moon in the sky wasn’t far away. It coexisted with the Golden Crow Wheel, like an eclipse, forming a rather strange sight.
“The Overseer’s consciousness has been temporarily replaced.” The moonlight illuminated Yu Hao; like a spotlight on stage, a pillar of light followed him at all times to protect him from the influence of the integration into this collective unconscious.
Yu Hao’s staff lit up. He landed temporarily, saying, “Continue searching for the Overseer! Quick!”
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“The Overseer’s dark self is hiding in one of the dreamscapes,” Golden Crow Wheel answered, “The master personality is under the tree of the world; he has already fallen into the sea of subconscious.”
The fog surged over. Yu Hao muttered, “What the hell is this guy trying to do?”
“Through the integration of the collective unconscious, accomplish the invasion of consciousness.” Golden Crow Wheel answered.
Yu Hao saw a large number of monsters hiding in the fog released by the tree of the world; they were currently invading everyone’s dreamscapes, and they kept attacking the soap bubbles on the ground, popping them by tearing them apart with their teeth before seizing complete control over them. Starting from where the tree of the world was situated, thousands upon thousands of soap bubbles were being broken one after another, while numerous aerial roots extended from the tree of the world under Ren Chong’s control took root in the ruptured soap bubbles, drew nutrients from them, and further expanded their scope of influence.
“Any self will do!” Yu Hao said, “Mark it for me now!”
Moonlight was cast upon a distant place; Yu Hao flew over — it was a bizarre, sky blue dream that was both clear and bright. The dream was currently emitting a beautiful layer of light.
He entered that dreamscape, saying, “Whose dream is this?”
In the garden where flowers were in full bloom, Zhou Sheng wore a suit of black armour, had short, jet-black hair, wore metal boots, and had pulled a chair out to sit on it in reverse. He hugged the back of the chair and was currently chatting with a beautiful girl. Yu Hao landed from the sky, shouting, “Zhou Sheng!”
Dark Zhou Sheng looked up and glanced at Yu Hao. Yu Hao was stunned.
“Satan?” Yu Hao said, “How did you get out? What kind of timing do you think this is?! And you’re actually here picking up girls?! Wait, no! You like girls?!”
“This is your sis-in-law.” Dark Zhou Sheng raised his hand as he wanted to hold Yu Hao’s hand, saying to that girl, “Greet sis-in-law.”
The girl wore a white dress and a wreath on her head, seeming just like a little princess. She was only about fourteen or fifteen years old. She smiled sweetly at Yu Hao. “Hello, sis-in-law.”
“Where did this sister of yours come from?” Yu Hao was stunned silly.
Dark Zhou Sheng said, “‘Kay, I’m leaving.”
“Be careful.” That little sister said.
Yu Hao, “……”
Dark Zhou Sheng said to Yu Hao, “I knew you wouldn’t be able to let go of me in your heart, and that you would come looking for me.”
“But, this…” Yu Hao could hardly believe what he was seeing, “When did you come out?”
“Right when Ren Chong initiated the solar eclipse.” Dark Zhou Sheng answered solemnly, “Are we going to look for my other self now?”
Yu Hao said, “Wait…hold on, why didn’t you come search for me in my dream?”
Dark Zhou Sheng opened his palm up, motioning for Yu Hao to hold his hand. He explained, “What if the enemy pursued us all the way into your dream?”
Yu Hao looked at the little girl again and said, “Then we’ll…we’ll…”
Dark Zhou Sheng hugged Yu Hao and kissed him on the cheek, then said to the girl, “I’ll give you a call when I’m free. Let’s go, Wifey, fly.”
Yu Hao, “……”
Yu Hao spread his wings out and could only start flying. When he heard the words ‘give you a call’, he instantly remembered that not long after he got to know Zhou Sheng, he had seen him smiling while calling someone — so it was her?
“She’s your younger sister?” Yu Hao asked.
Dark Zhou Sheng answered, “A girl brought over by my stepmother after her divorce.”
Yu Hao remembered that Zhou Laichun had married a rich woman after his first divorce, before divorcing again for a second time. That stepmother even had her own daughter! He never knew!
“You’ve never told me before!” Yu Hao said angrily.
“But you’ve never asked, have you?” Dark Zhou Sheng answered, “See, even lovers who are closest to each other have things they hide from the other party.”
Yu Hao said, “That’s not it at all, he must have just forgotten to say it.”
“You’re jealous?” Dark Zhou Sheng laughed.
“This is no time to be discussing this!” Yu Hao looked at the giant tree in the distance; the number of ruptured soap bubble areas was growing, and the giant tree’s aerial roots were controlling even more places as well. Yu Hao said, “I have to find Zhou Sheng.”
“He’s in the sea of the subconscious,” Dark Zhou Sheng, “How are you going to find him? Or just forget it ba, what do you think of me? Why don’t we just find some random dreamscape, replace its original owner, and live a simple life together there?”
Yu Hao threw Dark Zhou Sheng down from the sky. With a loud blare, black vapour erupted from the earth. Zhou Sheng turned into Satan and slowly floated up.
“Listen carefully to me.” Yu Hao placed his dagger against Satan’s throat, saying, “We made a bet last time, and you still owe me your wager.”
Satan smiled and used his palm to resist the tip of Yu Hao’s dagger. “If you can bear to, stab me right now. You definitely can’t bear to.”
Satan was showing him Zhou Sheng’s trademark mischievous grin. Yu Hao kept his dagger and said to Satan, “Now, fulfil your promise to me. You have to keep your word ba.”
“I’m the dark self.” Satan answered, “It also includes ‘going back on my words’. The dark me likes acting in bad faith and breaking promises, you should understand ba.”
Yu Hao, “……”
Previously, Yu Hao’s bet with Satan was to ‘promise me one thing’, but as for what would be promised, Yu Hao decided not to say for the time being then. He kept it so that perhaps in the end, during a decisive battle between Satan and Zhou Sheng, it may result in turning the tables. However, once Satan played this trick, Yu Hao was instantly helpless.
“That’s your other self!” Yu Hao said.
“That’s right.” Satan lifted Yu Hao’s chin, “But he’s also my mortal enemy. I’ve found that guy unpleasant to the eye for a very long time, he’s always unwilling to face up to his true thoughts…”
Yu Hao smacked Satan’s hand away. “State your terms.”
Satan said meaningfully, “You’ve never been all that smart, my angel baby. Look over there.”
Yu Hao turned his head and looked at the tree of the world. The giant tree’s area was still expanding continuously, and dreams touched by its aerial roots were all covered by the fog, their outlines turning indistinct. Satan said, “The subconscious is already under his complete control. His tentacles now are drawing nutrients from this soil…”
There were more and more aerial roots now, as if they had formed a boundless forest. Yu Hao said, “What will this turn into?”
“Every dream invaded by the aerial root symbolises a person’s self-consciousness.” Satan said, “He can already control these people’s minds at will, and he will only get stronger as the scope of his control grows.”
“…and the ‘me’ you want to fight is right below its roots.” Satan pointed at the tree of the world itself with a hint of a smile in his eyes, “That’s the collapsed Colosseum, that’s the soil where the tree of the world grows from. The bottom layer is our dream, while the upper layer is Ren Chong’s own dream.”
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Yu Hao looked up at the top of the tree.
“Now, you just need to get close to it and go into the fog,” Satan said, “And you’ll immediately be discovered. The permissions opened up for you by the moon are shrinking. Once you go in to find him, the moon won’t be useful anymore.”
Yu Hao said, “Then please attract his attention, I’m leaving.”
“Yo, no, no.” Satan said with a smile, “That idea’s good, but it’s far from enough to rely on me alone. First of all, let’s try to stop him from expanding, come.”
Yu Hao frowned. “Come? How?”
“Use your totem to build your true Great Wall.” Satan and Yu Hao were suspended in the air, “I’ll light the help-seeking beacon fires for you and restrain Ren Chong from swallowing any more people.”
Yu Hao, “My totem has long since disappeared!”
“What’s that in the sky?” Satan smiled thoughtfully, “You haven’t realised?”
Yu Hao, “!!!”
The bright moon illuminated Yu Hao, its light growing more and more pure and holy. Yu Hao spread his wings out; one pair, two pairs, three pairs — the six-winged angel flew about in the air.
“My…totem.” Yu Hao instantly sensed the tremendous power that the moon was transmitting to him! The essence of the moon was the totem he once possessed! Just like how the Golden Crow Wheel’s power had transformed into a part of the sun in Zhou Sheng’s dreamscape before, Yu Hao’s totem had already transformed into the bright moon that always followed him around without his awareness!
Where the sunlight disappears, there would still be a bright moon illuminating the dark world…
The moon shattered into pieces with a bang and turned into countless light particles, flying toward Yu Hao like a heavenly road. Yu Hao’s entire body was so resplendent one couldn’t look straight at him. He wielded a dagger and swung it at the ground—
—The light arc drawn by the dagger turned into a silver Great Wall that unfurled and stood aloft in the dream world; the massive wall that has existed since time immemorial effectively withstood the fog coming from another side! It blocked Ren Chong from advancing!
Heaven and earth were separated by this formidable Great Wall; with a cut right across the middle, to the north was the tree of the world and the Golden Crow Wheel in the solar eclipse, while to the south was Yu Hao and Satan, who were standing atop the Great Wall, as well as the billions of dreamscapes behind them that they were guarding. Meanwhile, the moon had also disappeared completely along with what had happened.
“What do you think you are?! A mantis trying to stop a chariot?! Don’t overestimate yourself!” Ren Chong’s roar resounded through the sky!
The fog under the Great Wall began surging, and countless huge, roaring black wolves appeared within that were climbing up the Great Wall. Yu Hao said, “We can’t hold on with just this city wall alone!”
Satan turned into Dark Zhou Sheng once again. With a lighter clasped between his fingers, he twirled it, jumped, and held it tight; once he pushed the lighter, with a ‘click’, meteor-like flames burst out of the lighter with a bang that scattered in all directions, flying toward the hundreds of beacon towers at the top of the Great Wall, and flame pillars burst into the air like tornadoes. Under every flame pillar, a whirlpool of fire dispersed, revealing the soldiers in Yu Hao’s dream!
Just behind them, in a dreamscape that was just like the sea, innumerable star-like totems rose and released light particles that flew toward the Great Wall; they turned into flying fighters irradiating a strong glow that rode fine steeds in the air, and this magnificent army with millions of troops charged at the huge dark wolves!
