Chapter 151: A Corner of Truth in the Dream World

Too slow!

Is that all your blade can do?

No way! Absolutely not!

On the empty training ground, Ji Huai's low shouts echoed from time to time, his weapon shifting endlessly without a trace; each time Qin Chuang rallied and picked up his blade, he would be defeated within five exchanges.

It seemed as if he had successfully exchanged thirty blows with Ji Huai yesterday, but that was merely Qin Chuang's illusion.

However, Qin Chuang knew this was only Ji Huai beginning to use his true skill.

What he displayed now was truly the peak of his skill level.

The one standing before him now was truly a master of weapons.

Clang—

Qin Chuang: "…"

"Need more practice." Ji Huai calmly sheathed his weapon, giving today's evaluation.

Damn it!

Thinking of one of his original purposes for learning the blade from Ji Huai, Qin Chuang couldn't help but feel anticipation.

The Great Quickfreeze Bird, split in two by Xue Gao, crashed heavily onto the snowfield, prompting the likewise just-recovered Yue Li to cry out in surprise.

By contrast, Xue Gao was strong, but Qin Chuang hadn't been able to teach it anything.

Qin Chuang muttered a complaint under his breath, yet while agreeing readily he felt a flicker of joy, knowing this was Ji Huai's acknowledgment of him—at least in basic sword technique, his instruction to Xue Gao hadn't gone astray.

During this period, he not only combined knowledge from the extraordinary theory lessons to teach Shui Hua how to use her blood-control ability, but whenever he gained new insight while using Shui Hua's skills in reality, he would immediately pass it on to her, letting her grow stronger.

Recalling how he had once guided Shui Hua on his journey, with Xue Gao watching from the side and occasionally showing a hint of envy, Qin Chuang felt this would be good news for it.

"I told you, trust me." Seeing Yue Li's dazed look, Qin Chuang's mood brightened and he chuckled as he spoke.

With another clang of metal, Qin Chuang felt Ji Huai's soft sword coil like a snake, its force wrapping around his own horse‑cutting saber; a single flick sent the saber flying uncontrolled from his hand, slanting to embed itself in the ground ten meters away.

As Ji Huai turned to leave, he seemed to think of something, glanced back at Qin Chuang and said, "If you have a Spirit Beast capable of wielding a longsword, you can point out the opponent's basic sword technique."

The many new variations of the Vast Scrolling Heavenly Waterfall under the vast and unrestrained support are the result.

It must be said, today's Ji Huai indeed pressed his somewhat overconfident mindset back down; he had originally thought he could withstand thirty exchanges with Ji Huai, making opponents scarce.

When he came to his senses again, Ji Huai had already left.

Just as he entered the Dream World, Qin Chuang heard a loud thud of something collapsing.

What if, you clearly know Xue Gao's background?

After all, Xue Gao's ability is extremely extreme; although it is ice‑type, it cannot learn many ice‑type attack methods.

"Really won?!" She stared wide‑eyed, utterly astonished, her expression turning a bit cute and dazed, "One slash and the Great Quickfreeze Bird was insta‑killed?!"

It only has Breaking Frost Slash, and that's all it needs.

It was already late; Qin Chuang dared not linger, hurried home, quickly washed up, climbed into bed, and fell into a deep sleep.

——

Boom!!!

As they spoke, text simultaneously appeared before both of their eyes.

【Challenge Success】

【Congratulations, player defeated Hall Tier Lv36 Great Quickfreeze Bird】

It seems the attack completed with Time Stop also counts as a successful challenge.

Having confirmed this, Qin Chuang's spirits soared and he hurried to the spot where the Great Quickfreeze Bird's carcass had fallen.

As the text appeared, the fallen Great Quickfreeze Bird's carcass turned into specks of light and vanished, leaving only a gleaming spindle‑shaped ice crystal in its place.

【Congratulations, player obtained Advanced Resource: Quickfreeze Cold Crystal】

Hefting the bone‑chilling icy Quickfreeze Cold Crystal in his hand, Qin Chuang casually embedded it into Xue Gao's advanced formation.

One‑fifth of the advanced formation lit up, and Xue Gao, feeling its ice‑type power strengthened, couldn't help but cheer.

Only now did Yue Li, who had been following closely, finally realize what had happened.

"Wasn't it said that town‑guard Spirit Beasts cannot be killed?"

"Hmm…" Qin Chuang also couldn't explain this; he just cares about killing, not burial—"Maybe it's a bug?"

"Then what are other players supposed to do when they need to challenge the Great Quickfreeze Bird?" Yue Li's mouth twitched slightly, a strange expression crossing her face.

"Shall we give it a try?" Hearing this, Qin Chuang also felt a bit guilty, "When we challenged before, the Great Quickfreeze Bird was injured, and as soon as the challenge ended it instantly recovered—maybe it could happen again now…"

As he spoke, he himself found it hard to continue.

They were sliced in half and vanished on the spot—how could they possibly die and come back to life?

"Let's try." Yue Li glanced at Qin Chuang, seemingly holding back laughter to see how he'd wriggle out of this, and strode out of the Great Quickfreeze Bird's territory.

Qin Chuang followed her out, and then the two, accompanied by their Spirit Beast, turned and re‑entered the territory once more.

Ga—

Hearing that familiar cry, seeing the Great Quickfreeze Bird clearly already halved by Xue Gao soaring high from the mountaintop, flying toward them as if nothing had happened, Qin Chuang and Yue Li's expressions froze simultaneously.

Hastily retreating from the territory, watching the bird fly back to the mountaintop and finally disappear, Qin Chuang turned to Yue Li and said, "Could there not be a nest of Great Quickfreeze Birds up there, with a whole flock living inside?"

"Obviously, it's the same individual." Yue Li pressed her lips slightly, also shocked by the scene, "Even if it's the same kind of Spirit Beast, individuals will have some outward differences."

"The Great Quickfreeze Bird just now is exactly the same as the one you slew."

"Alright." Extinguishing the last glimmer of hope, Qin Chuang's gaze grew somewhat solemn, "Are town‑guard Spirit Beasts truly Spirit Beasts?"

He began to doubt this.

Challenging a town‑guard Spirit Beast is completely different from past Spirit Beast slayings; merely entering its territory counts as the start of the challenge, and after undergoing an identical entry procedure, the Spirit Beast appears before them.

The special challenge rules make the town‑guard Spirit Beast display unfamiliarity toward the player each battle, giving the player repeated opportunities for trial and error.

And, after the challenge ends, the town‑guard Spirit Beast immediately returns to its original state.

The clause in the challenge rules that says "area spirit beasts cannot be killed" does not mean they cannot be killed in the challenge; rather, even if they are killed, they will revive after the challenge ends.

If many places in the Dream World behave like a game, then this before us is certainly the most game-like aspect.

He simply cannot imagine that a spirit beast that can easily recover from injury and even revive actually exists.

"Perhaps it really isn't." Yue Li gazed toward the peak of the snow mountain, a thoughtful look in her eyes, "The behavior of the area spirit beast is highly programmatic, like a preset program that only follows its set steps."

"I have a hypothesis." She looked at Qin Chuan, "Perhaps there truly exists this great urgent freeze bird somewhere."

"But this one before us is merely its projection."

(End of chapter)