Chapter 95: Astral Wanderer Society

Chapter 95: The Wandering Spirit Assembly

"The Wandering Spirit Assembly?" Li Wei asked, puzzled.

Tanya explained, "It's an organization made up of dreamwalkers. I've heard their leader is a Dreamweaver—one who can shape dreams. Beyond that, I don't know much."

"If you want to join, I can take you there," Tanya offered.

"Where is it located?" Li Wei asked.

"Inside a fixed dream bubble," she replied.

"The assembly’s leader wove a stable dream, and their base was built within that bubble. Without a member guiding you, a newcomer has almost no chance of stumbling upon it by luck."

What Tanya didn’t say was that she herself had been one of those rare lucky ones.

When she first entered the River of Dreams, the very first dream bubble she stepped into was the assembly’s sanctuary.

Li Wei didn’t rush toward the assembly. Instead, he asked, "What exactly does the Wandering Spirit Assembly do?"

"It’s a loosely knit group," Tanya said. "Mainly for exchanging information and trading goods."

"Everyone who reaches the River of Dreams is extraordinary in some way. Most carry rare items or secrets—so they trade through the assembly."

"You can even post bounties. Even things nearly impossible to find in reality might be obtained here, given enough time."

Li Wei raised an eyebrow. "Can physical objects be brought into the dream world?"

Tanya shook her head. "Of course not. The assembly only provides a platform. The actual exchange must happen in the waking world."

"But at least within the assembly, every transaction is safeguarded. Ordinary dreamwalkers cannot trace your true body through the dream."

Li Wei smiled at her, silently.

In truth, Tanya herself wore a disguise—one shattered during her fight with the soulless.

Otherwise, Li Wei might never have recognized her.

She picked up several blue-white fragments left behind after the soulless one perished, then handed them to Li Wei.

"This is currency in the dream world—soul crystals."

"As the name suggests, crystallized souls."

Li Wei summoned his Shadow Servant, gesturing for it to retrieve the crystals.

Tanya showed no surprise—commanding nightmares was common among dreamwalkers.

The Shadow Servant laid all three soul crystals before Li Wei. He picked one up, examining it.

It was an irregular, jagged shard, glowing faintly blue-white.

He could feel the pulse of soul energy within.

"Soul crystals strengthen the soul and enhance mental power," Tanya said.

At once, Li Wei understood their value.

Soul strength and mental force were the foundation of every dreamwalker’s power—just as chi defined warriors and knights, just as mana fueled mages.

Here, it was spirit that ruled.

No wonder these crystals had become the universal currency of the dream realm.

Killing a high-tier second-stage Lost One yielded only three such shards.

Their rarity spoke volumes.

Tanya didn’t hide her wariness. "There are others in this world who avoid hunting dangerous soulless beings. Instead, they prey on dreamwalkers—deceiving, ambushing, stealing soul crystals. These people are extremely dangerous."

"Even powerful dreamwalkers or dreamthieves sometimes hunt the weak for their crystals."

"So in this world, caution is survival."

Having said this, she felt she’d repaid her debt—enough to honor Li Wei’s life-saving act.

To say more would harm her own interests.

Knowledge, after all, was a resource—valuable, finite.

"If you wish to go to the assembly, I’ll take you," she said.

"If not, we part ways here."

Li Wei paused in thought, then said, "Take me there."

"Good. Follow me."

Tanya turned and walked in a certain direction. Li Wei followed close behind.

Soon, she stopped, pointing at the river surface nearby. "That motionless bubble—that’s where the Wandering Spirit Assembly lies."

Li Wei focused. Amidst the endless birth and collapse of drifting bubbles, one large sphere remained perfectly still.

Truly unique.

Without another word, Tanya opened a gateway into the bubble—and vanished before his eyes.

Li Wei approached the bubble’s edge, hesitating. Was this a trap?

He cast Invisible Armor, layering all nine tiers.

Then, invoking the Great Dreamwalking Art, he stepped into the bubble.

The moment he locked onto it, the water beneath him gave way—collapsing like thin ice.

A chasm opened, and he fell.

In the blink of an eye, he was no longer in the River of Dreams.

He stood outside a vast, white dream bubble—unlike any other.

From here, he couldn’t see inside.

An invisible force pushed him back.

Moments passed. The resistance faded.

Then, he stepped across the threshold.

"Welcome to the Wandering Spirit Assembly."

As Li Wei entered the dream, a voice rang in his ears.

He turned his head but found no source of the sound.

Looking around, he discovered himself standing on a platform atop a mountain peak.

The entire platform was paved with white marble, exuding luxury and grandeur.

Yet this was a dream—material mattered little here, for everything was born of imagination.

Only one’s understanding of such materials influenced the details manifested within the dream.

Some crafted dreams so vivid they blurred illusion and reality; others produced dreams obviously false.

Still, Li Wei felt the marble beneath his feet was remarkably real.

After a moment, he realized he could not summon dream powers here.

His ability to do as he pleased within the dream world had vanished.

“A dream woven by a Dreamweaver? Indeed, it is extraordinary.”

With that thought, Li Wei walked toward the far end of the plaza.

Ahead, suspended in the sky, floated several islands, each supporting dozens of magnificent halls.

In terms of sheer presence, the Dreamwalkers’ Assembly had certainly spared no effort.

A marble terrace atop a mountain, floating isles in the heavens, palaces glittering with gold and jade—

the atmosphere was overwhelming.

At the edge of the square, Tan Ya awaited him.

Cloaked entirely in green, her figure concealed, her face hidden in shadow.

Seeing Li Wei approach, she spoke: “Three floating islands. The central one is the Dreamwalkers’ Assembly headquarters—only official members may enter.”

“The left is the Intelligence Isle—you may trade secrets there.”

“The right is the Exchange Isle—there you may trade goods.”

“Some halls are public, others private. Once you’ve found your counterpart, you may choose a hall for a secluded transaction.”

“In the Assembly’s dream realm, all violence is forbidden. You need not fear danger.”

Li Wei posed a sharp question:

“Not even the Assembly’s leader?”

(End of Chapter)