Chapter 749

The Buddha Emperor's words made everyone understand.

For example, what good is being the first to awaken, the first to emerge?

You cannot see the stone.

You must still search for it.

The dream is an entire world—where will you find this stone?

So at this point, luck matters greatly: if someone awakens and happens to see the stone right before them, they simply pick it up.

That's the principle.

Of course, the prerequisite is that you must awaken within the allotted time—otherwise, if you fail to awaken and emerge, even if the stone is placed in your hand, you won't recognize it, correct?

"Amitabha!" The Buddha Emperor bowed with one hand and chanted the Buddha's name: "Heaven and earth are impermanent, cause and effect are impermanent, enmity and kindness are impermanent—because in this great dream, one forgets oneself and all things. Thus, many wondrous events occur within this great dream!"

"Time flows a ten-thousandfold faster in the great dream: three days and three dreams of the mortal realm, in the third layer of the dream, equals thirty thousand days—roughly a normal human lifetime!"

"Amitabha, within these thirty thousand days, former enemies may become closest friends!"

"Former friends may turn into bitter enemies within this great dream!"

"You may become spouses, or father and son!"

"In short, anything is possible!"

"This is a dream—and also an opportunity to reshape yourself!"

"It is also a great blessing, a journey through the mortal realm!"

"Lastly, I emphasize once more: rankings are determined by the amount of mortal qi gathered—the first place receives one hundred points, second place ninety-nine, and so on…"

"Those beyond the top one hundred receive no points!"

"The unyielding stone is scored separately: whoever obtains it earns one hundred points!"

"Go!"

"Open!"

The Buddha Emperor roared, and the pink array barrier before them suddenly parted, revealing a passage: "All you prodigies, follow me!"

The three Emperors walked ahead, and nearly a thousand others followed them into the vast pink barrier.

Outside the barrier, many others remained.

These were the guardians who accompanied the prodigies, or other attendants and servants.

In the invisible void, dozens of Demon Emperors lurked unseen.

"All of you!" the Empty Void Demon Emperor said: "Three Emperors—I fear it won't be enough… Shall I descend to lend them a hand?"

"No!" The Phoenix Clan's Demon Emperor raised a hand to stop him: "Who on the Heavenly Fire Continent doesn't know you, Empty Void Demon Emperor, are infamous for favoring your own? If you descend, what chance will other races have?"

"Rest assured, normally only two Demon Emperors are needed to activate the Three Dreams of Mortality array!"

"Now we have three—there's no issue!"

"Indeed!" Zhao Xiangdu also chimed in: "Empty Void, why worry? The three Emperors entering are all among the strongest in combat and cultivation—they'll be fine!"

"Hmm!" The Empty Void Demon Emperor nodded: "Then… I hope I'm just being overly cautious!"

…

"Sit properly!"

Within the array, the Great Lun Mingwang waved his hand.

Before He Pingsheng was a violet illusion.

Everywhere was pink and violet.

Yet they had not yet entered the illusion.

The ground was still the square's floor, covered with over a thousand cushions, each person free to sit wherever they wished.

No fixed seats.

"Once seated, do not move!" the Great Lun Mingwang said: "Soon, I, the Buddha Emperor, and the Golden Vajra Demon Emperor will act together, using the array's power to create the first layer of dream."

"The dream's laws are too illusory—even we Emperors cannot directly carry you into the third layer!"

"We must descend layer by layer!"

"Are you all ready?"

Everyone nodded.

The Great Lun Mingwang asked again: "Anyone with questions may speak now—I will answer them. Once the array activates, no one will answer your questions again!"

As soon as he finished, someone immediately raised a hand.

"You, speak."

The Great Lun Mingwang casually pointed to one.

It was a Monkey Clan prodigy who stood and asked: "Honored elder, when we reach the third layer of dream, will we forget everything then?"

"No," the Great Lun Mingwang shook his head: "It depends on your own willpower!"

"Some lose themselves upon entering the first layer; others only forget entirely upon entering the second."

"Yet historically, whether your Qi Refining disciples or Body Integration disciples, none have ever held consciousness through to the third layer!"

"By the time you reach the third layer of dream, you will inevitably fall into deep sleep!"

"I see!" The Monkey Clan prodigy bowed: "Thank you for clarifying, my question is done!"

"Honored elder!" A prodigy of the Heavenly Phoenix Clan raised his hand: "I have a question!"

"Oh?" The Great Lun Mingwang said: "A Heavenly Phoenix Clan prodigy… Stand and speak—what is your question?"

"Yes, honored elder!" The man bowed respectfully: "After the three of you activate the Dream-Weaving Array, will you three Demon Emperors enter the dream like us—or will you leave the dream?"

Many shared this doubt; when the Phoenix Clan prodigy asked, nearly everyone turned to the Great Lun Mingwang.

The Great Lun Mingwang smiled: "A good question!"

"Hehe… After we three activate the Dream-Weaving Array, we will immediately depart from here!"

"Though not absolutely certain."

"If among you prodigies, in the third layer of dream, there emerges a rare, heaven-defying genius unseen in tens of millions of years, then we three Demon Emperors may have a chance to sink into the third layer as well!"

"But rest assured—even if we enter the dream, we will not affect you."

"After all, within the dream, besides your thousand prodigies, countless dream-reflecting figures and demonic beasts exist—so even with our three added, it won't disturb you!"

"Enough. Now close your eyes, quiet your mind, and prepare to enter the dream!"

Everyone resettled, each sitting cross-legged, closing their eyes and calming their spirits.

The Great Lun Mingwang, the Buddha Emperor, and the Golden Vajra Demon Emperor began activating the array.

One after another, profound and mysterious laws, mixed with magic power, descended over their heads.

One breath—enter the dream!

In an instant, He Pingsheng entered his own dream.

This was the first layer of dream.

Though within the dream, He Pingsheng's spiritual sense remained clear—he knew what he was doing.

He knew he was participating in the contest, wandering through the dream.

Of course, not just He Pingsheng—many here were also conscious.

This was a special space.

No sky, no earth, nothing at all.

Yet everyone was present.

He Pingsheng even saw Wang Dun, who waved at him: "Little brother, let's see who can retain awareness in the third layer—don't forget to greet me then…"