Chapter 507: 2.2 Main·Pinokangni (178)

Genshin Impact.

Ti Na Li rubbed the temple, brows knit. Though already awake from the Dream of Taiyi, a chaotic hum still lingered in the mind, like the echo left after countless whispers.

Ka Wei's complexion was similarly pale: "My head hurts badly, like the headache after pulling an all‑night shift to revise a version 18 plan, then being ordered by the boss to revert to version 1…"

Ai Er Hai Sen didn't lift his head: "That's so realistic, looks like your mind finally matches your design drafts, trapped in an endless loop of self‑denial."

"Hey, Ai Er Hai Sen, why isn't your head hurting? Didn't you enter the Dream of Taiyi?"

"Of course I dreamed, but I dreamed that you suddenly got rich overnight through architectural design and then moved out of my house."

Ai Er Hai Sen crossed his arms, expressionless, said, "Based on what I know of you, even if you did make money, you'd immediately spend it on flashy, aesthetically awful decorations—like a crystal chandelier or an oil painting for my living room. You might have money, but having money is unlikely… so I woke up right away."

"…It's still a terrible trust." Ti Na Li closed his eyes, "I dreamed of dining with you all, but Sai Nuo didn't tell any cold jokes all day… then I realized something was off. Hmm… now I feel like my head was hammered with a blunt weapon all day."

Ke Lai handed over a cup of mint tea anxiously: "Master, should we go back to rest first?"

Ti Na Li shook his head, bitterly smiled, "Maybe not yet, I'm afraid I might fall back into the dream."

Beside them, Sai Nuo hadn't woken; even while asleep he muttered about "limited card backs" or something, probably dreaming of a beautiful vision related to the Seven Saints summons.

"Sorry to disturb."

A soft voice suddenly rang in the café. After the few recovered, they found Na Xi Da had somehow already stood by the table, emerald eyes bearing a gentle smile.

"the Dendro Archon?" Ti Na Li instinctively tried to stand, but Na Xi Da stopped him.

"No need to rise, just sit calmly; I'll help ease the lingering 'dream' inside you."

Na Xi Da lifted her hand lightly, fingertips glowing green, sprinkling like fine rain over Ti Na Li's forehead. Soon a gentle force flowed like a clear spring from the crown to the limbs, and Ti Na Li instantly felt the mind's chaos smooth out, the throbbing pain fading.

"…Thank you, the Dendro Archon."

"You're welcome. The power of a dream stems from memory and cognition; even after waking, thoughts ripple like water brushed by wind." Na Xi Da withdrew her hand, speaking gently, "However, the aftereffects need time to settle, like stirred water; once the sediment settles, it will be fine."

——

"Shen Zhuri's slender fingers pressed lightly in the void, as if striking invisible piano keys—"

"'Clamor.'"

In an instant, the hovering golden notes solidified, becoming heavy matter, crashing down like a meteor!

"'Watch out!'"

Dan Heng let out a low shout, slashing the clouds; the spear wind stirred a current, nudging the massive note aimed at San Yue Qi off course. San Yue Qi rolled with the momentum, and with Xing's aid narrowly avoided it.

Yet these attacks were only a prelude; Shen Zhuri lifted his baton lightly, and in an instant the surrounding air began to quake violently, countless notes converging into a surging wave that rolled toward the crowd like a tsunami.

"I vow with one hundred seventy‑three thousand three hundred thirty‑six notes to announce to you, join the glorious chorus—return to heaven!"

The dome of the grand theater suddenly blazed with dazzling gold light, white spirits circling above, sealing a golden barrier; an indescribable pressure descended, as if the weight of the entire universe tipped down.

"Uhh—!"

——

Assassin Wu Liu Qi.

"One hundred seventy‑three thousand three hundred thirty‑six notes… does that equal Shen Zhuri now gathering the power of one hundred thousand people?"

Even with the heavens between them, Wu Liu Qi could feel the full pressure from the choir's resonance; after all, the train crew is only five, but they face the Oak lineage's hundred thousand. Each may be weak, yet in shared destiny their tiny streams merge into a river… not something the train crew can match.

"Hurry up and transform, Dan Heng! What are you still waiting for?" Ji Da Bao, sweating beside them, could hardly imagine fighting this giant without transforming.

"Transforming won't help." Lan Ming Hua said calmly, "Did you think Shen Zhuri now only has the Oak lineage's hundred thousand? It's the whole Pinokangni who have sunk into the Dream of Taiyi; they can all become part of his power!"

"Then how do we win?" Wu Liu Qi scratched his head, "Can we ask Miss Huangquan to come and hack a strike? Just cut Shen Zhuri's head."

"You think that would win? Stop dreaming." Lan Ming Hua slapped Wu Liu Qi's head, "Strength alone won't win; this guy has reached the rank of a commander, you can't win by sheer effort. To defeat him, you must surpass him in 'concept.'"

"Concept?"

"Right now, because the people of Pinokangni are unwaveringly convinced of the Dream of Taiyi, Shen Zhuri's power is so strong—conversely, if everyone awakens from the beautiful dream and proves Xingqiri is wrong, his power will collapse on its own."

——

Xing clenched her teeth, her whole body trembling violently from extreme exertion, yet even so she couldn't even use her flame gun to support her upper body; her knees were planted firmly on the ground.

The others fared no better, especially San Yue Qi, who felt her head turning into a constantly shaking bottle, the colorful thoughts and dreams inside mixing into a vague mush.

"Ugh… head, so dizzy…"

Just as San Yue Qi felt her consciousness melting like ice cream, a hand suddenly seized her wrist.

The force was firm, even tinged with an undeniable urgency.

It was Xing.

She herself also bore that terrifying pressure, but when a corner of her eye caught San Yue Qi's wobbling silhouette, her body reacted faster than her thoughts.

"San Yue!"

Shen Zhuri looked down from above, his voice solemn and grand, as if each syllable carried the weight of reshaping the world, shaking souls.

"If a dream is no different from reality, can it still be called false?"