Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 140 - 134 Void Realm 1

Chapter 140: 134 Void Realm 1

Although I very much wanted to move towards the place where those eight stone chairs from my memory were located, in this vast mist, I couldn’t find any landmark that could serve as a reference for direction.

Perhaps since this is a dream, the concept of direction as it exists in physical space might not have been present from the start. To put it another way, the realm of dreams is made of spirit, so as long as I strongly desire to reach a certain place in my mind, maybe no matter which direction I move in, I’ll eventually end up where I wish to go.

As for whether this groundless theory could apply to the Mist Dream Realm, I had no way of knowing. I could only start with practice, picking a random direction to move in first.

While moving, I contemplated the people I was likely to encounter next. Of the four visitors in the Mist Dream Realm, besides myself, the true identities of Number Two and Number Four Xuanming had already been revealed. The only one still veiled in mystery was Number One.

I once suspected that Number One’s real identity was Ying Lingyun but dismissed it because our personalities did not match. However, after realizing that the Weirdo Maker was just Ying Lingyun’s "possibility avatar," I picked up that suspicion again. I had never actually met Ying Lingyun in person, so maybe his personality differed from the Weirdo Maker.

The Weirdo Maker’s personality was similar to Mr. Zhu’s depiction of Ying Lingyun, yet this was merely Mr. Zhu’s past impression of his son-in-law. In fact, Mr. Zhu hadn’t seen Ying Lingyun for many years, and his disposition greatly changed after deciding to revive Silver Moon. It was quite normal for his character to have changed over time.

Thinking back on Ying Lingyun’s past life, I couldn’t help but sigh. His adventure began with an encounter with a Fox Demon woman, and he set off on his own journey, culminating fatefully in a battle against the Great Demon Silver Moon, who had raised him. With bravery and wisdom, Magic Treasures, and companions, he defeated an enemy everyone thought invincible... It was the very classic adventure I had always dreamed of, fills me with awe and envy to the point of wishing I could have taken his place.

Yet, he regretted it.

Could even that man, who faced death with tranquility, actually harbor regrets?

I can accept failure, and I can accept death. Swallowing the bitter fruits one brings upon oneself with equanimity is, I believe, graceful. However, I simply cannot accept regret. Thus, toward the remorse of the Weirdo Maker... toward the regret of Ying Lingyun, I couldn’t help but feel a complex mix of emotions.

I’m well aware that arrogantly projecting my so-called life philosophy onto others and insisting they act by my standards is presumptuous, but seeing someone denigrate and reject a prize I had so desperately sought is something I find hard to accept with equanimity.

The most I could do was quietly hide these inappropriate thoughts deep within my heart.

After walking for an indeterminate amount of time, some dark shadows finally began to materialize on my path.

They were the stone chairs. Seven stone chairs of equal size, along with one exceptionally large one, emerged deep in the mist. I didn’t know whether my previous theory was correct, whether the Mist Dream Realm itself compelled all visitors to this place, or if it was purely good luck... but at least I had avoided becoming utterly lost in the grey vapors.

The giant figure, dignified and imposing like an idol, remained seated on the exceptionally large stone chair, motionless enough to make one wonder if it was simply a statue integrated with the chair, yet it emanated an undeniable presence.

In front of the giant stood a black figure with its back to me.

He seemed to be observing the giant.

I looked around. Other than the giant and the black figure, there was no one else at the site. Judging by height, the figure was an adult, clearly not Number Two with the small bowl. Had I arrived too early, or had I missed something?

Or could it be that the Divine Seal Fragment doesn’t necessarily pull all holders into the Mist Dream Realm at once, and occasionally only some are brought in? In which case, this would be terribly unfortunate. I had finally gotten the chance to enter the Mist Dream Realm, yet I had not met the most crucial person. How should I face Mazao after I awake?

I pressed down on the suspicions in my heart for the moment and took a closer look at the black figure. Was this person Number One, or was it Number Four Xuanwu? It seemed to be neither. Compared to the tall and slim Number One, his height was close, but he was slightly more muscular. Compared to Number Four Xuanwu, he lacked a certain kind of immense presence; I didn’t feel any pressure or danger emanating from him.

A newcomer?

Number One had mentioned that when all the stone chairs were occupied, the Master of Divine Seal seated on the largest stone chair would awaken... Was he the fifth visitor to the Mist Dream Realm?

The sound of my footsteps finally caught the new black figure’s attention. He quickly turned to look at me, assuming a tense, guarded posture. Everyone in the Mist Dream Realm appeared as shadowy figures, so I could not make out his expression, but I could feel his intensely wary gaze.

"Who are you?" he asked in an unfamiliar male voice.

"I’m Number Three," I answered.

"...Number Three?"

He sounded out the digit designation, puzzled, then tilted his head slightly, as if glancing at the stone chairs from the corner of his eye with a dawning realization.

"So does that mean, aside from you and this sculpture, there are at least two other people here?" he asked.

It was a bit embarrassing, but watching his half-knowing reaction, I couldn’t help feeling a little superior, and a desire to converse sprouted within me. "To be precise, there are three others. And if I’m not mistaken, you must be Number Five."

"Number Five?" He seemed to frown, "...Did you bring me to this place?"

"It wasn’t us, but him." I pointed to the unresponsive giant.

He turned back to glance at the giant, then asked me, "So, what does this guy want to do?"

"Perhaps only he himself knows." I said, "However, since you appeared in this place, it means that you have at least one Divine Seal Fragment in your possession, right?"

Upon hearing this, he stepped back as if electrocuted, becoming even more guarded than before, "—What did you say?"

Seeing his startled reaction, I felt a certain juvenile part of my heart being satisfied. Since childhood, I had always despised those mysterious characters in fictional stories who spoke cryptically to the protagonist, and I had also hoped to become one of those inscrutable beings, speaking senseless riddles from on high to a protagonist who was ignorant of the truth, forcing them to ponder the true meaning behind my words as if deciphering the verses of a prophecy.

Although this moment couldn’t exactly be described as "dream come true," I was, at least, truly standing in the position of a mysterious person who held more truths, successfully causing the other party to be on a hair-trigger alert. And now, in his eyes, I probably also appeared as a shadowy figure, which made the visual effect even more mysterious.

That being said, I didn’t actually intend to spout some nonsensical riddles that would vex him. Firstly, that wasn’t in line with my true nature, and secondly, I was unable to use superpowers in this Mist Dream Realm; what would I do if he became desperate and lunged at me?

After observing his wary reaction for a while longer, I slowly revealed the truth as I knew it.

After listening, Number Five finally seemed to calm down.

"So it is, those who possess a Divine Seal Fragment are gathered into this spiritual space..." He looked back at the giant, "And this guy... is he the Master of Divine Seal?"

"At least that’s what Number Four believes." I said.

"The divine seal... It actually exists?" He appeared to struggle with acceptance, yet seemed to harbour some kind of hope, "If the legend is true..."

Just then, footsteps echoed from the depths of the mist once again.

Number Five stopped muttering to himself and looked in the direction of the sound with me. At the same time, I felt a familiar pressure and sense of crisis.

The person to whom the footsteps belonged had not yet appeared in our view, but my intuition had already identified his true identity in advance.

Before long, the individual arrived at this area of rock-formed seating.

It was Xuanming.

Although I say that, he was just like us, his appearance unrecognizable as a shadowy figure. Upon arrival, he first glanced at me, then focused his attention on the giant. He probably still harbored an unextinguishable fury and loathing for the giant.

Unlike the previous time when I knew nothing, the name Xuanming was now thunderous in my ears.

After killing and gravely wounding two Great Evils known as Impermanence, defecting from Luo Mountain, suspected to become the Doomsday Demon in the future, burning Mazao’s soul, thwarting the assassination attempt of Water Navy Xuanwu and forcing him to change his name and identity... Previously, he had only appeared before me once, shrouded in mystery, yet now his name seemed to continuously echo beside me.

Zuo Zhuan states: All fires are called ’fire’ by man, ’disaster’ by heaven.

Could Xuanming be the Disaster Demon who burns Mazao in the future?

The connection between the Disaster Demon and Xuanming was, in the Doomsday Era, merely a legend, temporarily without proof that the latter was indeed the Disaster Demon. Even if it were true, I had no interest in directing anger at the current him for what he might do after becoming deranged in the future.

Several seconds passed, and Xuanming seemed to finally realize there were others present; his gaze fell on Number Five, then back to me. He asked curiously, "Who is this person?"

"I am Number Five."

Number Five might have felt slighted by Xuanming’s dismissive reaction, and before I could speak, he preemptively declared his own numerical designation. Then he asked, "And what number are you?"

"I am Xuanming."

Xuanming said, his tone indifferent.