Chapter 102
To enter Xi Jiangyuan’s dream, they couldn’t go in unprepared.
Under the expectant gazes of his teammates, Xi Jiangyuan had no choice but to carefully analyze his ability and answer their questions.
“My power mainly has three uses. First, dream-scrying: in a dream, my consciousness can extend into the real world, letting me see what’s invisible to the naked eye. In dreams, I’m almost impossible to kill. Second, I can enter someone else’s dream — in the early days, I often slipped into NPCs’ dreams to investigate. Third, I can link people’s dreams together. That last one I rarely use.”
“Captain, that ability’s terrifying — like it was made for dungeons.” Lu Chuan immediately sensed how overpowered it was.
It was practically a cheat, letting Xi Jiangyuan clear instances with ease; inside a dream, he was nearly invincible.
“Yeah, that’s crazy strong. Items with power like that would be at least S-grade, with heavy restrictions. No wonder your level’s risen so fast,” Shen Li said. “Feels like something only master-ranked players on the Master List could wield.”
“This power… it feels more like that of a god,” Messiah frowned. “I thought your ability was just dream-scrying.”
“It really does resemble divine power.” Xi Jiangyuan was quiet for a moment before saying, “When I first awakened it, a god invaded me. I survived by sheer luck, and only then did this ability form. That god seemed to have lost a battle and tried to use my body to seize another god’s strength. But it failed, and its leftover power remained in me. When I cleared the instance, the system turned the remaining divine force into my skill.”
Rather than Xi Jiangyuan’s own power, it might be more accurate to call it that god’s.
“Wow, I’ve heard you only face gods once you reach the Master Rank Leaderboard! Captain, you were born for it!” Starry Shasha clasped her cheeks, genuinely happy for him.
“If I could, I’d rather not have this power.” Xi Jiangyuan gave a wry smile. “It’s useful, but the limitations are huge. I can scry in dreams, yes, but in high-level dungeons, NPCs and bosses are extraordinary beings — they often counterattack, even invading me. If they catch me, I could become their puppet. My best skill is dodging in dreams.”
“Also, while I can pull others into dreams, or enter theirs, everyone’s the main character of their own dream — I become a supporting role. If the dream’s owner wakes up inside, I get expelled and take backlash damage.” Xi Jiangyuan shook his head. “And when I draw people into my dream, I can’t pick exactly who — only those near me. In an instance, the ones nearby aren’t always human.”
He avoided dragging people into dreams for good reason: once, he’d accidentally pulled in a hidden boss.
That time, most of his teammates had nearly died.
And dreams were too illusory. Sometimes they produced what you most wished to see or achieve, blurring the line between dream and reality.
There were even dreams within dreams, making you think you’d already woken.
Dreams changed with one’s thoughts.
If someone believed their dream was reality, the dream would become indistinguishable from the real world.
This ability could turn a player into a lunatic at any moment.
“Captain, how exactly did that god, the one that failed to possess you, lose?” Lu Chuan asked instinctively — sensing there was something important Xi hadn’t explained.
“Have you ever heard of the God of Desire?” Xi Jiangyuan hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
Maybe it was because his teammates were so reliable, or maybe after hiding it for so long, he wanted to share it.
“I don’t think so.”
“What kind of god is that?”
“We’re not Master Rank players yet — it’s normal not to know divine names.”
“Captain, is it really safe to speak a god’s name aloud?”
***
“I think… I’ve heard of it,” Lu Chuan said, tapping his head. “But I can’t remember.”
“Maybe divine power clouded your memory — forgetting would be normal.” Xi Jiangyuan smiled faintly. “Usually, we shouldn’t speak a god’s true name, but if the god is dead, it’s fine. The God of Desire is dead. A very powerful deity — I heard it took hundreds of Executors, even the master-ranked ones, to kill it.”
“Although it fell, its authority still exists.”
“The Executors devoured the God of Desire’s corpse and took its strength, but before the great battle, it sent away parts of its divinity and authority. The spirit that tried to possess me wanted those leftovers. But even remnants were too much for it to seize through a mere mortal like me.” Xi Jiangyuan chuckled. “It tried to use dreams to hide from the Executors’ sight, but in the end, I was the one who benefited.”
“Captain, is there a time limit when you pull us into your dream?”
“Or once we’re inside, how do we stay aware?”
The team peppered him with questions.
“In the real world, I can only keep you inside my dream for fifteen minutes at most. How long that feels inside depends on you, not me.” Xi Jiangyuan looked at them with satisfaction — their questions always hit the mark, proof of their thoughtful minds.
“Some people can live an entire life in a dream; others just sip a drink. Dreams are dreams because time means nothing to them,” Xi Jiangyuan explained. “But if someone calls you awake in reality, the dream ends. One thing to note: if you’re injured or killed in the dream and don’t wake up in time, you die in reality too.”
So they’d have to draw lots to decide who would stay outside to wake the others.
To be fair, staying outside was safer. Entering the dream meant possibly facing the dungeon’s boss — maybe even dying outright.
But the problem was, nobody wanted to stay behind; everyone wanted to enter and fight. They’d have to rely on good old drawing lots.
For safety, two people had to remain in the real world.
Everyone eyed the lots nervously.
Afraid they wouldn’t be chosen — and afraid they would.
Xi Jiangyuan prepared the straws, his feelings mixed as he looked at their eager faces.
This team seemed utterly fearless.
Smart, strong, daring.
How wonderful.
But that thought quickly faded, leaving only deep admiration and pride.
“There are only two red-marked straws,” Xi Jiangyuan said. “Whoever draws them stays outside to wake the others. One draw per person — no tools or powers, I’m watching.” He held out a fistful of disposable chopsticks, not letting anyone sneak a peek.
Lu Chuan began muttering, even scribbling on his palm, looking like he was invoking mystic luck.
“Lu Chuan, you’ve got too many tricks,” Lilus couldn’t help but scoff. “Your skills are useless in dreams — I think you should stay in reality. Dreams may need fighters like me.”
“In dreams anything’s possible. I’d say muscleheads like you won’t do so well.” Lu Chuan shot back without mercy.
“Heh, after all these years, you’re the first to call me a musclehead.” Lilus looked ready to bicker, but the others quickly pulled them apart.
“Alright, alright, let’s just draw lots already.”
“Time waits for no one—I’ll go first.”
Shen Li, seeing himself as the big brother, insisted on drawing first.
He picked the stick in the very middle.
“Haha, not me!” Shen Li burst into laughter, losing all the composure he’d shown earlier.
“Next, I’ll go.” Messiah had a gut feeling he wouldn’t be the unlucky one.
Sure enough, he drew his lot—also safe.
The pressure shifted to the remaining six.
With a one-third chance of losing, better to draw early than end up with the last stick by default.
“My turn.” Lilus rubbed his hands together. “Lu Chuan, watch carefully—I’ll show you what luck really means!”
He drew his stick.
The tip was red.
He was chosen.
“You drew the marked one. You’ll have to stay behind,” Xi Jiangyuan said with a smile.
Lilus froze, unable to believe it.
They were really leaving someone as strong as him outside? Was this even fair?!
“Hahaha, looks like your luck isn’t so great after all. Guess you’ll need some mysticism.” Lu Chuan strolled up, relaxed, and drew a stick himself.
Safe.
He waved the stick in front of Lilus, drawling, “See? Don’t brag too early. Face, meet slap.”
Lilus glared daggers at him.
The others drew their lots in turn. The last unlucky stick was originally Vivian’s, but she swapped with Li Lu. Li Lu always listened to Vivian and willingly agreed.
Lilus wanted to swap too—but no one would trade with him.
“Perfect. Make sure you protect Li Lu,” Lu Chuan clapped him on the shoulder. “Mixed teams—men and women—always work better together.”
Lilus rolled his eyes so hard it hurt.
“Relax, fifteen minutes will fly by,” Xi Jiangyuan reassured him with a smile. “We’re counting on you two.”
“Yes, Captain,” Lilus replied reluctantly.
—Outside the dungeon—
Executor Number 9 and Number 18 finally saw cracks form in Xi Jiangyuan’s dreamscape.
If the fissures widened, they could slip inside, seize Xi Jiangyuan, and complete the anomaly purge.
Sure, brute force could destroy the dream entirely—but that would wipe out Xi Jiangyuan too, wasting a rare, precious ability.
Among the players on the Master Ranking, Xi Jiangyuan was outstanding. His dream manipulation was so powerful it nearly turned illusion into reality. After his aberration, his potential strength rivaled high-tier deities.
Many low-ranked Executors eyed him hungrily, but they all feared being assimilated if they entered his dream, so they held back.
“The previous players were pathetic,” said Number 18 bluntly. “So many batches went in, yet none made Xi Jiangyuan doubt the reality of his dream. Wasted all this time. In the end, the ones you picked, Senior, were the useful ones. Next time I’ll choose a candidate too.”
They hadn’t rushed to intervene, precisely because they wanted the real Xi Jiangyuan to surface.
The one inside the dream dungeon was just a projection, not the true self.
And the true Xi Jiangyuan was far more dangerous than any monster.
“I want to eat him, Senior. I really, really want to eat him.” Number 18 was practically drooling.
Xi Jiangyuan’s power was more valuable than any god’s. Even after dying and mutating, he could sustain such a formidable dungeon—there had to be deeper secrets within him.
“You can’t eat this one.” Number 9’s voice was calm. “He’s useful to me.”
Number 18 glanced sideways at him but stayed quiet, though his heart rebelled.
When the chance came, he’d sneak a bite. Worst case, his senior would beat him for it.
He was starving already.
[Executors Number 9 and Number 18 have applied for Xi Jiangyuan anomaly purge mission.]
[Mission issued. Value: 5 merit points. Proceed immediately.]
*
Dragged into Xi Jiangyuan’s dream, everyone felt dazed at first.
Only when Xi Jiangyuan himself appeared and awakened them with his power did they regain clarity.
So this was a dream!
The world inside lacked boundaries, blending into a chaotic whole. You couldn’t tell if you were standing on the ground or floating in the sky.
Thankfully, the team still stood firmly together.
It was Lu Chuan’s first time being this lucid inside a dream. He looked around in awe, wishing he had his phone to snap photos.
[Host… host…]
“Captain, do you hear something?” Lu Chuan asked Xi Jiangyuan.
“I don’t. But if you think you hear something, ignore it. Many strange beings exist in dreams. Respond, and you may attract their attention.” Xi Jiangyuan’s tone was serious.
“Got it.” Lu Chuan nodded, choosing not to mention the voice echoing in his head.
He had no intention of answering it, but instinct told him it wasn’t harmful.
“Right now you’re in my personal dreamscape. I’ve been building this safe zone since I gained this ability. Here, we can adjust to the dream environment. Soon I’ll expand my dream territory—be ready. We may finally see the one blowing the whistle.” Xi Jiangyuan briefed them carefully.
“As for tools, use what you’re most familiar with. Picture every ability and side effect clearly—the more detailed your imagination, the more effective it becomes here. The same applies to your powers. If you believe in them absolutely, they exist here.” He demonstrated with an item.
In dreams, unwavering belief could resist even gods.
“Understood. Dreams are just idealism.” Lu Chuan squatted down, pressed a finger to the ground—
—and instantly, a square meter of earth turned into gold.
He tapped it. The crisp metallic sound was unmistakable.
Yes. Pure gold.
“Wow, I’ve always wanted to try the Midas touch! I’ve dreamt about it countless times, and here it is, real at last!” Lu Chuan rubbed his hands together excitedly, beaming at Xi Jiangyuan. “Captain, can I bring this ability back to reality?”
Xi Jiangyuan stared. That fast? That smooth? This guy’s obsession with money ran that deep?
He’d seen a lot, but Lu Chuan still left him speechless. Some people’s fixation on wealth was so absolute it translated seamlessly into dream power.
“Dreams are dreams. They don’t carry over to reality.” Xi Jiangyuan massaged his temples. “And that ability is useless for combat. Can’t you think of something practical?”
“Messiah, your face—” Xi Jiangyuan cut himself off as his vice-captain transformed into a stunning beauty on the spot.
…What? His vice captain was this vain?
Messiah touched his face, conjured a mirror, and frowned at his reflection. “Not sure why—guess I just have a strong impression of myself like this.”
“Shasha, why are you tripping over nothing?”
Starry Shasha kept falling, yet came away unscathed.
“Brother Shen, what are you conjuring now?”
Shen Li had manifested a gun, then started producing other things.
“Vivian, what’s with your teeth?”
“Edith, put that sword away!”
***
Xi Jiangyuan gazed at his increasingly bizarre teammates, utterly baffled.
In dreams, even holding onto your sense of self was rare. Using powers or changing appearance was almost unheard of.
But for them, it seemed effortless. They looked less like helpless charges and more like seasoned warriors.
Were his teammates always this strong?
Author’s Note:
This dungeon is basically a prelude, meant to awaken Xi Jiangyuan.
The next dungeon will still center on him, but Number 9 will officially take the stage.
Early dungeons are too low-level—Executors won’t appear so often.
Later, when we reach the high-tier Master Ranking dungeons, every Executor and even gods will show up.
This novel isn’t even halfway yet. If you guys enjoy it, I’ll make it longer. Epics are my comfort zone—I love fleshing out worlds and characters. [cat head emoji]
