Chapter 277: The Sleeping Truth (Combined)

Someone's here!

Zheng Xiaoyu was the second to spot the girl dancing in the flower sea, letting out a soft cry.

"What is that?" Lin Yue looked at Qin Chuan with an inquiring gaze.

"The Lost People·Salma." Qin Chuan spoke softly, his expression somewhat solemn: "She is clearly asleep in the real world, but here she is awake."

"Is she the one we need to wake?" Lin Yue's expression showed some surprise: "So… we are now in her dream?"

"Nine times out of ten, that's the case." Qin Chuan nodded.

It seemed she noticed the three's observation; the gracefully dancing Salma on the other side stopped her motion and looked over curiously.

After only a brief hesitation, Qin Chuan lifted his foot and walked toward her.

Lin Yue and Zheng Xiaoyu closely followed.

When the two sides drew near, Salma spoke a mysterious and unfamiliar otherworldly language.

【Immortal Clan? That doesn't seem quite right.】

【Although you have an appearance similar to theirs, I can sense that your aura and power are different from the Immortal Clan.】

【It seems the Heavenly Stairway has given rise to a new race…】

【How strange—I hadn't even noticed the signs of instancing before. What race are you?】

"We are the Human Race." Qin Chuan remained silent for a moment, then spoke slowly: "What race is the Immortal Clan you speak of?"

He had intended to try to wake her from this dream through conversation, but he never expected that her opening words would give him quite a shock.

Immortal Clan, what race is that?

And…

The opponent within the instance actually mentioned the "Heavenly Stairway" and "instancing".

This gave him the feeling that he was not conversing with a power projection from the instance, but with a genuine being of the Heavenly Stairway.

This feeling had never appeared in previous instances.

Salma looked at Qin Chuan and the others, her irises flashing with vigilance and suspicion.

【You don't know the Immortal Clan?】

【Could it be that before ascending the Heavenly Stairway, you haven't cleared any instances?】

【In the instance, you should have seen all the races of the Heavenly Stairway.】

"We have never encountered the Immortal Clan." Qin Chuan said in a low voice: "We have only encountered Moon Spirits, half-demons, dwarf demons, ghosts, Crystal Clan, and Dragon Clan."

"Besides, we haven't yet ascended the so-called Heavenly Stairway."

"Right now, we are inside an instance."

Salma's expression froze.

Her gaze was somewhat vacant; her previous suspicion was replaced by an unprecedented bewilderment.

【Not right…】

【It shouldn't be like this…】

Qin Chuan's brows were tightly knit.

Although each sentence spoken by Salma before them carried substantial information, there was a feeling of talking past each other between the two sides.

Just as he was at a loss, a hand gently took hold of his.

Lin Yue gave him a "leave it to me" look, then her expression hardened and she stepped forward.

"Do you still remember? Your people have already failed."

Salma's delicate face instantly lost all color.

【Lost…failed?】

【Impossible!】

【We are innately masters of dream power; we are the race most likely to succeed.】

【We cannot fail!】

"But this is something you wrote yourself, right?" Lin Yue took out a white kite.

Instance main line, the lost one's monologue.

The moment she saw that kite, Salma's movements and expression froze simultaneously, as if she had seen something absolutely impossible, her face filled with struggle.

Her delicate face was filled with despair and bewilderment; she then painfully covered her cheeks with both hands, her originally calm aura rising steadily amid Qin Chuan and the others' slightly changing expressions, and the entire illusionary world began to churn wildly.

Hall Tier… Epic Tier… Legendary Tier…

Salma abruptly lifted her head, her pupils and vertical slits filled with bone-deep hatred.

【No! Can! Not!】

【You're deceiving me! You're deceiving me!!】

The aura of Qin Chuan and the two others, like plunging into an abyss, erupted violently; at the moment the sound exploded, Salma's aura violently broke through the limit of the Legendary Tier, surging swiftly toward the Mythic Stage!

Two light formations appeared under Zheng Xiaoyu and Salma's feet, instantly cutting Salma's steadily rising power in half.

Spirit Balance's second innate ability activated.

Accompanied by Yue Li pressing her palms together, countless points of light flew from Salma's body, gathering around Qin Chuan.

Prayer of Life's third innate ability activated.

【00:00:07】

Time stop, 2 seconds.

Standing in place, Qin Chuan expressionlessly dissipated the ice blade that had somehow condensed in his hand.

With Salma's sudden eruption, the dreamland also underwent a certain special change, allowing Qin Chuan, who was in time stop, to exist here in a conscious state.

Salma, who was on the verge of breaking through the Mythic Stage, had her voice cut off abruptly.

Blood marks deep enough to see bone had appeared on her body at some unknown time, and her whole body was split in two.

【You…】

The hatred in Salma's eyes faded along with her strength, and her expression became wistful again.

【As it turns out…】

【We really failed.】

A line of text floated before Qin Chuan and the two others.

【Congratulations, player, for meeting the minimum clearance requirements, completing the strategy for the S-rank dungeon: Migru Sleeping Plains; current dungeon strategy rating: A】

——

In the center of the desolate plain, Bekerland sat cross-legged, gazing deeply at Salma lying among the flowers in the crystal coffin before him.

Salma had been lying there for an unknown length of time, yet those flowers remained fresh, still bearing dew, as if they had just been picked.

He just stared like that, not knowing how much time had passed.

Until a certain moment, Bekerland's pupils contracted slightly.

Salma's eyelids in the coffin twitched slightly, then slowly opened.

Meeting those seven-colored eyes forever etched in the deepest part of his memory, Bekerland's aged body trembled uncontrollably; he rose shakily, step by step, and walked to the coffin.

Salma stared at him, the aged face before her quickly merging with the youthful, stubborn face from her distant memory; the corner of her lips curled slightly as she spoke softly.

"Long time no see, Bekerland."

Tears continually slid down Bekerland's face, full of deep grooves.

"Salma, you shouldn't have woken up; I wish to guard your slumber until the end of time."

"At least…" his lips trembled, "at least…"

"Hold me tight, Bekerland." Salma whispered, her body becoming much more insubstantial than when she first awoke, "My time is short."

Bekerland carefully embraced Salma, lifting her as if she were a fragile treasure.

"Moon Spirit Ancestor… what a formidable fellow." Salma leaned against Bekerland's chest, murmuring softly, "I never imagined that after our failure, the Heavenly Stairway would become like this."

Bekerland's face instantly turned pale, his eyes showing guilt; "Sorry, I…"

"No need to say sorry, Bekerland." Salma gently shook her head, "He's not at fault; nobody is."

"We merely… just wanted to survive."

Both fell silent; Salma, lying in Bekerland's embrace, remained quiet for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

"Hey, Bekerland."

"You say, will anyone still remember the Phantom Tribe?"

"Of course!" Bekerland declared firmly, "They definitely will!"

"Really?" Salma's body grew ever more illusory; she showed a relieved smile and murmured softly.

"Then that's good."

She slowly closed her eyes, humming a gentle tune.

Bekerland likewise closed his eyes, listening to the notes resonating from the deepest part of his memory.

At that moment, he seemed to see a Phantom Tribe girl kneeling on the soft grass beneath the forest shade, and himself as a youth lying on her lap, eyes closed, listening to her humming.

He stepped toward that image buried deep in his memory, but the picture receded as the notes drifted away.

The humming grew fainter until it was barely audible.

He slowly opened his eyes; Salma's trace was gone from his arms.

"Salma…" Bekerland's voice carried endless desolation.

He plucked the most beautiful flower from among the countless blooms in the crystal coffin, gently pinned it to his chest, then rose, took up the long sword planted in the ground, and walked toward the plain's edge.

"Wait for me, dear Salma."

"Wait until I kill the wretch disturbing your dreams, then we shall reunite."

——

Qin Chuan's expression turned grave.

On the map locked by the sundial hand's third-day talent, he saw the dot representing the Lost People's Salma disappear, while the dot representing the Dreamland Guardian Bekerland began rapidly approaching their position.

That Moon Spirit brandishing a long sword and radiating killing intent was in a state of extreme fury.

Yet they, at this moment, still could not escape this Dreamland.

Because Salma, who ought to have been slain in the Dreamland, had not died.

She, her form fully restored, quietly regarded the three before her, then after a moment spoke softly.

【Bekerland, you're a stubborn fool.】

"How do we leave this place?" Qin Chuan said in a low voice.

【Leaving…? …】

Salma smiled.

【Human Race, promise me one thing, and I'll tell you the answer.】

"What is it?" Qin Chuan sensed that Bekerland had already crossed one-third of the distance, his brow slightly furrowed.

【Please promise me, use the power you just used to kill me to kill him.】

Salma's eyes held tenderness.

【Grant him release, but please do not let him suffer.】

"I promise you." Qin Chuan spoke without hesitation.

【Crush the dream crystal.】

"Crack—"

Qin Chuan unhesitatingly crushed the Dream Crystal; the large amount of seven-colored light points he had previously absorbed shot out instantly, turning into a series of armored figures behind Sa'erma.

Those were the phantom guards and commanders he had previously killed.

At this moment, these figures simultaneously removed their helmets, revealing diverse faces and vertical pupils opened at their foreheads.

They and the Sa'erma before them are of the same race.

【Farewell.】

Sa'erma spoke softly, then immediately walked toward an open gate.

That gate was entirely black, exuding an aura of deathly stillness and desolation, making Qin Chuan and the two others feel an indescribable sorrow and loneliness.

As Sa'erma and her kin entered the gate, the Dreamland shattered with a boom.

【Congratulations, player, for meeting the advanced strategy requirement: bidding farewell to the last survivor of the Illusion Clan lost in the Dreamland, the dungeon strategy rating has been raised to S.】

The Illusion Clan…

As the surrounding scenery quickly shifted to the real dungeon scene, Qin Chuan finally learned the name of the race corresponding to Sa'erma.

But… this probably doesn't matter anymore.

As they entered that heart-pounding gate, he had a clear feeling.

He would never see any of the Illusion Clan again.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Chuan looked toward Beikelanden, who walked forward step by step holding a long sword.

Against a Legendary Stage opponent, there was originally no need to waste Time Stop; Spirit Descent alone would suffice.

But…

Qin Chuan blocked Lin Yue, who was about to attack, rose, and walked toward Beikelanden.

I promised Sa'erma.

Xuegao's silhouette flashed by, an ice pillar sprang up beside him, Qin Chuan reached into the ice pillar, and drew the Frost Hilt Horse-Slaying Sword from the inch-by-inch shattering cold ice, holding it high above his head.

Let you be free without pain.

【00:00:06】

Time Stop, 1 second.

Beikelanden's body crashed to the ground, one hand lightly covering the still-intact flower at his chest, which turned into a shower of light points and vanished, leaving only a wistful sigh.

【Sa'erma, I've come.】

【Congratulations, player, for meeting the advanced strategy requirement: slaying the Dreamland Guardian Beikelanden, the dungeon strategy rating has been raised to SS.】

"Over there." Qin Chuan fell silent for a moment, lifted his head to look at the spot where Beikelanden and Sa'erma had originally stood, which was also the central area of the dungeon map.

If that's correct, the final advanced strategy requirement lies there.

After walking a short distance, a line of text appeared before Qin Chuan.

【Discovered Mainline Clue】

He quickened his pace and soon saw the crystal coffin in which Sa'erma slept, which he had previously glimpsed.

Originally, the flowers inside the coffin were as fresh as if just picked, but now they had all withered; not far from the coffin, Qin Chuan saw the boulder on which Beikelanden sat cross-legged.

Beside the boulder stood a stele.

【Congratulations, player, you have obtained the mainline clue: Beikelanden's journal.】

He raised his hand and lightly touched the dense characters on the stele; line by line, the text transformed into a language he could understand.

【The Ancestor said, we did not win, but we are not losers either.】

【All the clansmen celebrate the rebirth of our people, while I alone guard the sleeping Sa'erma, fallen into endless regret.】

【Every race on the Heavenly Stairway knows not to trust any other race, yet I fell in love with the Illusion Clan.】

【But I have no regrets; I only resent that the lifespan of the Mythic Stage First Realm is barely a thousand years, preventing me from forever staying by her side.】

【…】

【I have succeeded! Using the Moon Spirit Clan's life secret art, I created another me—an unconscious, young body—that will become my next stop after my lifespan ends.】

【This is the clan's forbidden secret art, but I can't worry about that anymore; being able to continue guarding my beloved Sa'erma is truly a joyful thing.】

【…】

【This is the fourth time I've used the secret art; each time my aging speeds up, I feel the heaviness and sluggishness of my thoughts, and I seem to have forgotten many things.】

【Fortunately, I haven't forgotten every second I spent with Sa'erma.】

【…】

【This is the eleventh time I've used the secret art; I keep forgetting more and more, but fortunately the stele is there to remind me of my mission and the meaning of my existence.】

【…】

【Twenty-second time.】

【…】

【35】

The records grew ever shorter, until finally only a single number remained.

Qin Chuan's finger slid down from the first section of the stele's text, and ten thousand years passed in the snap of a finger.

【Congratulations, player, for meeting the advanced strategy requirement: witnessing Beikelanden's past, the dungeon strategy rating has been raised to SSS.】

(End of chapter)