Chapter 745

"Comrade He, I'm sorry to disturb you!"

Nan Qiqi looked at He Pingsheng with an apologetic expression.

He Pingsheng smiled awkwardly.

He had just been about to deal with Zhou Qingmei, but before he could even lay a hand on her, Nan Qiqi came running over.

And she specifically called him over for a meeting.

All ten prodigies of the Zhuque Emperor Domain were present now.

"It's fine, go ahead," He Pingsheng waved his hand.

Nan Qiqi said: "It's like this—now all five events have been announced… I have a request I'd like to share with you all!"

"Of course, before I state my request, let me first explain the rules of these competitions!"

"The first is Three Dreams of the Red Dust. I've heard of this event before—I heard the last Stone Platform Gathering used this very competition!"

"Three Dreams of the Red Dust is actually a massive array, opened by at least two Mahayana Emperor-level cultivators as its core, then pulling all the prodigies into this dream!"

"Once inside the dream, everyone will forget their identity—except they'll remember their own name, and nothing else!"

"They'll forget their treasures, forget their cultivation techniques and divine arts, even forget they're cultivators at all!"

"And within the dream, you'll have a new identity."

"Live out your entire life within that dream!"

Everyone listened in astonishment.

He Pingsheng asked: "What's the point of such a competition?"

Nan Qiqi said solemnly: "There is one…"

"First… this dream has three layers. The first dream layer's time flow is a hundred times faster than the outside world; the second layer's is a thousand times faster; the third layer's is ten thousand times faster!"

"The Three Dreams of the Red Dust lasts only three days, but in the deepest layer, there are thirty thousand days!"

"Calculate it—thirty thousand days is roughly the lifespan of an ordinary person!"

"Besides our thousand prodigies, the dream also contains countless illusory figures—your parents, friends, even your spouse—could all be fabricated and nonexistent!"

"Of course, by chance, you may also interact with other prodigies."

"But the problem is… this dream is too real!"

"So it tests the prodigies' ability to enter and exit the world!"

"If you can quickly adapt to the dream and quickly awaken from it, you'll gain a huge advantage!"

He Pingsheng bowed slightly: "How so?"

Nan Qiqi continued: "After entering the dream, the Emperor presiding over the array will forcibly drag everyone into the third dream layer using his supreme spiritual sense—that's the heart of the dream, and no matter how great a prodigy you are, you'll sink into it!"

"In the dream, you'll marry, have children, live a life!"

"So… this can also be seen as a kind of journey."

"But the question is—when will you awaken?"

"Everything in the dream is illusory, but the Emperors will place certain objects within special locations in the dream—these objects seem ordinary, yet they're not. The sooner you awaken, the more time you'll have to find them!"

"In the end, whoever collects the most items gains the most points!"

"Thus, rankings are determined."

"So, the Three Dreams of the Red Dust isn't merely a test of luck and the ability to enter or exit the world—it's a comprehensive test of luck, inner state, and willpower!"

After hearing Nan Qiqi's explanation, everyone nodded in understanding.

They got it!

He Pingsheng got it too!

"As for the second trial, 'A Hundred Years of Enlightenment,' and the third, 'Spiritual Sense Alchemy,' there's nothing much to say—one tests comprehension, the other tests the strength of one's spiritual sense!"

"The fourth trial is combat!"

"The fourth event tests magic power, divine arts, and more—not through one-on-one duels, but by placing all thousand prodigies together into a vast 'Great Thousand World,' where they fight chaotically!"

"Some may die, but those who survive can compete for rankings within that Great Thousand World!"

"Similarly, the higher your rank, the more points you earn!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, here's the key point!" Nan Qiqi said: "The first four trials are combined into both individual and team point rankings."

"There are ninety-six teams total. Our Zhuque Emperor Domain's goal is to rank within the top thirty… because if we do, we gain the right to request the Emperors to intervene on our behalf!"

"In other words, with that right, anyone who dares to covet our Zhuque Emperor Domain will think twice!"

"This is precisely why my grandfather insisted I join the Stone Platform Gathering!"

He Pingsheng hadn't known about this reward.

But he nodded and said: "I'll give it my all. Don't worry—I won't let you down."

"Good!" Nan Qiqi nodded: "As for individual rankings, I don't demand anything—just try to make the top thirty. Top thirty gets you access to the Stone Platform Stairway to climb higher!"

"That's all my requests. Give it your all—don't hold back!"

The meeting then disbanded.

Back at his cultivation grounds, He Pingsheng looked at Zhou Qingmei, whose skin was as pale and tender as a peeled peanut, and suddenly lost interest. He lay listlessly on his cushion and asked: "Qingmei… I want to ask you—someday… perhaps that day won't be far off!"

"Once I truly reach the Body Integration realm, you'll leave me, and we'll no longer be master and servant."

"Where will you go then?"

"Will you return to Zhao Xiangdu?"

"No," Zhou Qingmei leaned closer and said: "I once thought about what path I'd take afterward, but now I don't care. Even if you reach Body Integration, I'll remain your slave, serving you for life!"

"What?" He Pingsheng was stunned: "Why?"

"Because you're good," Zhou Qingmei said. "Being your slave, I'm happy—truly content. With you, I don't feel like a servant—I feel like family."

"You treat me too well."

"Hmm," He Pingsheng nodded: "We'll talk about the future later… put on your clothes and get ready. Tomorrow morning, we're going to observe the Stone Platform Inscriptions."

"Oh, and call Tongtong—this once-in-a-millennium opportunity can't miss her!"

He Pingsheng brought three people with him this time.

Zhou Qingmei, Tongtong, and Ziqing.

Ziqing left!

She returned to the Great Lun Mingwang's side.

So now, only Zhou Qingmei and Tongtong remain.

Though he still has his son He Tianya, his daughter-in-law Su Zhenzhen, and Zhou Qingmei's clone—he just asked them, and they refused to go.

If they don't want to go, then fine.