Chapter 349: Dream Infiltration (3)

Chapter 349: Dream Intrusion (Part 3)

“Ascend to the Immortal Rank, become an immortal, harness the Star Chariot, traverse the celestial realm.”

Zou Si Jiu crouched beside Sun Qi Yuan, whispering softly: “Fellow Daoist, the chance to attain immortality lies before you—why not seize it?”

“Attain immortality… attain immortality…”

Sun Qi Yuan’s eyes were hollow, his lips murmuring to himself, his expression shifting between excitement, hesitation, and ferocity, a grotesque spectacle.

“I cannot. There are demons lurking in the shadows, coveting me—I cannot attain immortality, cannot attain immortality!”

Outside the dilapidated mountain shrine, the wind and snow suddenly intensified.

The cold wind howled through the forest, its might terrifying, dry branches creaking under the weight of heavy snow, their fractures echoing in succession.

Zou Si Jiu turned his gaze outward, catching glimpses of ghostly silhouettes swaying within the storm.

“His malevolent thoughts grow stronger—time is running out.”

Zou Si Jiu’s heart tightened; he gripped his long blade more tightly.

“Sun Qi Yuan, why can’t you attain immortality? What are you afraid of—those demons?”

Sun Qi Yuan’s face was ashen, his arms wrapped around his knees, inching closer to the dying bonfire, his head nearly buried in the ashes.

“Yes, them. If I become immortal, they’ll devour me!”

Zou Si Jiu’s rage flared: “This is the opportunity bestowed by the Dao Ancestor—how could you retreat at the brink? What is there to fear from mere demons and ghosts? Today, this Daoist shall protect you—go forth and ascend!”

Suddenly, the shrine echoed with relentless flapping sounds.

“Yaa! Yaa!”

Harsh caws like ravens pierced the air, grating and maddening.

“To subdue demons and eradicate evil is the heavenly duty of the Dao!”

Zou Si Jiu’s face darkened—he had not anticipated such deep-seated vigilance in his opponent’s subconscious.

The dream’s fluctuations could no longer be avoided; Zou Si Jiu abandoned caution, roaring: “Sun Qi Yuan, awaken now?!”

As his words fell, a creature with wings on its back and a bird’s head on a human body burst through the door, clutching a narrow razor, shouting in garbled Japanese.

The violent tremors of the Huangliang Dream kindled a sinister fire in Zou Si Jiu’s heart—his real body lay in Black Dragon Capital; if the wise Masami Nagi detected anomalies here, he would perish instantly!

“Silence!”

Zou Si Jiu’s face twisted with fury, his fist shattering the descending razor, then seizing the Yateng Gou’s collar and hurling it to the ground.

Clang!

His right-hand blade pierced the creature’s mouth, shattering its fangs, and plunged through its skull, pinning it to the earth.

“Sun Qi Yuan, stop dithering!”

“I cannot ascend—it will let demons invade Baiyu Capital. I cannot be the sinner… absolutely not!”

Sun Qi Yuan’s whispers grew frantic, curling into a trembling ball on the ground.

“Damn it, why are all these Daoist prodigies so extreme?!”

Zou Si Jiu sneered, inhaling cold air into his burning lungs, and sprinted forward.

Inside the shrine, a more massive Yateng Gou charged at Sun Qi Yuan, blade in hand!

Pfft!

Zou Si Jiu lunged, his blade piercing the creature’s shoulder, severing an arm and its snow-white wing.

“Yaa!”

The giant Yateng Gou writhed in pain, its bird-like right claw striking Zou Si Jiu’s chest!

Bang!

Zou Si Jiu twisted midair to dissipate the force, but upon landing, he stumbled backward, a streak of blood trickling from his mouth.

Since entering this dream, this was his first setback—and first wound.

It meant his stolen “backdoor” advantage had vanished!

The giant Yateng Gou’s body crashed down, its protruding nose crimson as blood, its eyes glowing with bloodlust. Its blade, crude yet swift, charged at the steadied Zou Si Jiu.

“So what if the ‘backdoor’ advantage is gone? Do you think this Daoist, Zou Si Jiu, the Sixfold Food-Dream Executioner, is a decoration?”

Bloodied and disheveled, Zou Si Jiu’s eyes blazed like fire, his aura soaring ever more fierce and blazing, like flames devouring all.

“The Great Nu Dreams, a hungry beast devours ghosts. I am Zou Si Jiu, the Sixfold Food-Dream Executioner—by this dream’s authority, I shall slay the Huangliang Evil Thoughts!”

“Wu Sequel Li Jun, come!”

With a thunderous shout, Zou Si Jiu’s pupils widened, a luminous glow flowing like a spring from the depths of his eyes.

The enraged Yateng Gou swung its blade, only to find the figure before it had vanished!

Stunned, it staggered forward, pulled by the empty blade’s momentum.

In that instant, a mocking voice echoed behind it.

“What’s wrong? Using a bit of your master’s authority, and you’re already panicking? The master hasn’t even grown angry yet—what’s the rush, watchdog?”

Blade light descended, a streak of blood blooming on the Yateng Gou’s raven face. Its mountain-hide armor shattered, steaming crimson entrails scattering.

Zou Si Jiu wiped his brow, but before he could sigh in relief, a thunderous roar erupted behind him!

“Yaa!”

Zou Si Jiu’s face twisted—too sudden to turn, he reversed his grip on his right-hand blade, thrusting it through his armpit toward the rear!

But the blade’s tip had barely protruded two inches when the evil wind struck his back.

Bang!

Zou Si Jiu felt as though struck by a wild, charging warhorse, his entire body hurtling forward beyond his control, utterly demolishing that sacred altar.

A thunderous rumble echoed, and amidst the scattered stones, Zou Si Jiu dropped to one knee, retching fresh blood.

Before the blood could cease its flow, the Venerable Tengu, clad in black and crimson robes and brandishing a tin staff, lunged forward!

"Sun Qian Yuan, you bastard, if you don't wake up this instant, all those countless souls of your Dao Sect will have perished for nothing!"