[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ring-of-fate":3,"chapter-the-ring-of-fate-the-ring-of-fate-chapter-6":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ring of Fate",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2297975,4496,"Chapter 6","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-6",6,"\u003Cp>Lu Mi instinctively glanced around and saw the familiar desk, chairs, bookshelf, wardrobe, and bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his bedroom, but it was shrouded in a faint gray mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucid dream? Did I just have a lucid dream? Lu Mi’s pupils widened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lucid dream means remaining aware and retaining full memory and thought while dreaming—a rare state that can be triggered more reliably through specialized training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Aurora had tried multiple methods to eliminate the hidden danger of Lu Mi’s gray mist dreams, repeatedly attempting to induce lucid dreams—but none succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Lu Mi had inexplicably regained awareness within the dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief shock, Lu Mi regained his composure and considered one possibility:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be the Tarot card representing the Seven of Wands?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That woman said this card would help me uncover the secret of the dream…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So its purpose is to place me in a lucid dream state, allowing me to truly explore this gray-mist-covered area?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… compared to my earlier impressions, the gray mist now seems much thinner, much lighter…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a flash of thought, Lu Mi turned his body, stepped quickly to the slanted chair, gripped the table pressed against the wall, and leaned forward to peer out the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What met his eyes was not the scene he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This dream had not replicated his hometown of Keldu Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the thin, pale gray-white mist, the most striking feature was a towering peak, composed entirely of reddish-brown stones and rust-colored earth, rising twenty to thirty meters into the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surrounding the peak were concentric rings of buildings, some collapsed to the ground, others charred black, their original forms unrecognizable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From where Lu Mi stood, they resembled ruined tombs, arranged in an uneven circular pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire area was pitted with craters, littered with rubble, and devoid of a single blade of grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above, the mist thickened and turned whiter; Lu Mi could not confirm whether there was a sun, only that the place was unnaturally dim, as if lit only by starlight at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After careful observation, he murmured to himself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this the entirety of the dream?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all these years, this dream that haunted him was truly like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of daze, Lu Mi turned to a more practical question:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is the secret of this dream hidden?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On that peak, or within one of the ruined buildings?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi did not rush to leave his bedroom and enter the area to explore the dream—he remained where he was, scanning every visible detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, he sensed a shadow flicker past within the ruins surrounding the peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Limited by the height of his two-story house and the persistent, though thin, presence of the mist, Lu Mi could not be certain whether he had imagined it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, he slowly exhaled and spoke to himself internally:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t rush. Be patient. Don’t rush. Be patient.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This dream clearly holds many secrets—it doesn’t seem entirely mine. Blind exploration could bring danger…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. I’ll go see that woman first thing tomorrow and ask for more details before deciding what to do…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As thoughts swirled, Lu Mi lowered his gaze, preparing to exit the dream and sleep peacefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But being awake within the dream, he had no idea how to truly wake himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After repeated failed attempts at self-suggestion, he lay back on the bed and forced his mind into confusion, mimicking the state he used to enter when falling asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unaware of how much time had passed, Lu Mi suddenly sat upright and saw pale golden sunlight seeping through the curtains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Finally woke up…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, falling asleep inside the dream restores that foggy state—and then I can escape…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi exhaled in relief, murmuring silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aurora?” Lu Mi tensed, fearing something bad had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s me.” Aurora’s voice came through the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi rolled off the bed, hurried to the door, gripped the handle, and pulled it open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside stood Aurora, wearing a white silk nightgown, her golden hair softly draped over her shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How was it?” She seemed certain Lu Mi had just woken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi did not hide anything—he told Aurora everything exactly as it had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora nodded as if deep in thought:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So the card’s purpose is to induce a lucid dream…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She immediately asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you planning to do next?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi grunted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll grab a quick bite, then go find that woman. See if I can get more information—figure out her real intentions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine.” Aurora did not object.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll also write letters to inquire about the dream you described—see what those things might represent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, she glanced at Lu Mi’s suddenly tense expression and smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—I’ll edit the details, won’t reveal everything at once. After all, I taught you the value of gradual steps.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And when you speak with that lady, don’t push. Stay friendly. This isn’t fear—it’s just better to have one more friend than one more enemy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.” Lu Mi gave a solemn nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keldu Village, the Old Tavern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lu Mi neared the bar, he called out to Maurice Béne, the tavern owner who also served as bartender:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Which room upstairs does that outsider woman stay in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tavern itself was the village’s only inn, with six rooms on the second floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maurice Béne was neither fat nor muscular; like most villagers, he had black hair and blue eyes, with the distinguishing feature of a perpetually red nose—result of constant drinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a distant cousin of the parish priest, Guillaume Béne, but their relationship was distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you want to know?” Maurice Béne asked curiously. “Would a woman from the big city even look at a country bumpkin like you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face bore clear curiosity, deeply intrigued by improper romantic entanglements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you a country bumpkin and barefoot peasant too?” Lu Mi sneered, then made up a quick excuse: “She lost something last night. I found it this morning—I’m bringing it back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?” Maurice Béne doubted Lu Mi’s word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This fellow lied eight times out of ten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Otherwise? Do you think she’d even notice me?” Lu Mi replied with confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fair point.” Maurice Béne was convinced. “She’s in the room near the square, opposite the washroom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lu Mi headed for the stairs, the tavern owner wiped a glass and muttered under his breath:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not impossible… sometimes people just want to try something new…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His muttering reached Lu Mi’s ears perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the second floor of the tavern, Lu Mi found the only washroom in the dim corridor, then noticed a white paper sign hanging on the brass handle of the dark red wooden door opposite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was written in Intis script:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Resting,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do Not Disturb.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi stared at it for several seconds, then did not rush to knock. Instead, he stepped back two paces and leaned against the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He intended to wait here until the woman emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His years as a vagrant had taught him: when opportunity arises, act swiftly and decisively—no hesitation, no overthinking, no concern for pride, no cowardice—or the chance vanishes, dragging you into a worse cycle. When opportunity does not appear, be patient, persistent, and endure all discomfort in waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed second by second; Lu Mi stood motionless, showing no sign of impatience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a bystander had been there, they might have mistaken him for a statue—had he not occasionally shifted his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the door creaked open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman wore a light green dress with white trim, her brown hair loosely tied at the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at Lu Mi for a second with pale blue eyes, then looked down at the paper sign on the door handle, and smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long have you been waiting?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was not the least surprised to see him there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi took a step forward:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It doesn’t matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He forced his tone to remain calm, unpressured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you want to ask?” the woman said bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right here?” Lu Mi glanced around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman smiled and replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t mind, I don’t either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi had already observed—Lyan, Lyra, and others who had stayed here were absent; the second floor held no one but himself and the woman before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He organized his words:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What secret does that dream conceal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lady burst out laughing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You should answer that, not ask me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused, then added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can only tell you that you can obtain certain transcendent powers there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Transcendent powers… Lu Mi’s heart stirred, then he asked Yihuo ly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What use are transcendent powers gained in a dream?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They can’t affect reality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lady smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the transcendent realm, anything is possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps they truly can?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Has the transcendent power I’ve sought so desperately appeared in my life this way? Lu Mi fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lady’s expression turned serious as she added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I must warn you: that place is full of danger. If you die there, you will die utterly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could an accident while exploring that dream lead to my real self dying? Lu Mi didn’t understand, but chose to believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the gray mist dream that had haunted him for years clearly was unusual; second, his sister Aurora had said it was better to be cautious than sorry—better to overestimate the difficulty and the consequences than to underestimate or be careless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few seconds, he asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if I don’t explore? What are the consequences?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Theoretically, there would be none—no one forces you,” the lady said after thinking a moment. “But I can’t be sure whether it might change over time; and if it does, the likelihood of things worsening far exceeds the chance of improvement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much higher?” Lu Mi pressed. “Ninety percent versus ten percent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. Ninety-nine point nine nine percent versus zero point zero one percent,” the lady added precisely. “Of course, that’s merely my personal judgment—you needn’t believe it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi was immediately torn, thoughts surging through his mind:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lately I’ve felt more and more that the dream is a hazard; ignoring it is the worst choice…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if I do explore, with no knowledge at all, the chance of an accident is extremely high…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should I wait until Aurora gathers some intelligence from her pen pals before trying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I do, Aurora will never agree to me using dream exploration to gain transcendent powers…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But isn’t my investigation into the truth of the legend itself a search for transcendent power…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s too dangerous—it could truly lead to death…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if I first explore only the fringes of the dream ruins, without venturing deep? That would still count as gathering intelligence…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I can tell Aurora about our earlier conversation—but not mention the possibility of gaining transcendent powers…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After these thoughts settled, Lu Mi looked at the woman across from him and asked in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who are you really?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did you give me that Tarot card? Why give me the chance to explore that dream?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lady smiled faintly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll tell you when you’ve uncovered the dream’s secret.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thank you to Zhuri Yiran for the Silver Alliance donation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1865,"2026-06-20T06:22:34.374Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","904ccd2a7cdbcd28775cfefd7c745cb2c18403b15e8505a99dc01e680eccb8cd","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-7","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-5",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ring-of-fate-cover.jpg"]