Chapter 35: All the Meat Is Boiling in the Same Pot

Ning Peach Blossom was somewhat appalled by Ye Chen’s methods; they were simply too unbelievable. If that was the case, Ye Chen's strength would soon grow exponentially, which was terrifying to consider. Although Ning Peach Blossom had high hopes for Ye Chen’s future, she had never imagined he would master such mysterious arts. Dream Butterfly—did it truly possess such power?

No, this defied common sense. Ning Peach Blossom pondered. The Great Dream Immortal Butterfly? It seemed Ye Chen was undergoing a metamorphosis on this path; even if he hadn’t achieved ultimate mastery, he had already gained tremendous fortune.

Ye Chen offered no explanation. At this moment, his heart pounded with excitement. “So, the more people I come into contact with, the more memories I can steal, and the grander and more real the worlds I can create will become. One day, this feeble illusory realm before me will teem with vast mountains and seas, myriad beings vying for life. And I, within this dream, could overturn illusion and reality in a single sleep. But that’s not something I should dwell on now—the road must be walked step by step.”

Ye Chen gave a self-deprecating smile in his heart. Ning Peach Blossom, after some thought, flicked a peach branch like a bolt of lightning, striking one of those great realms.

With a crack, the peach branch pierced right through, and the great realm collapsed in an instant.

Ning Peach Blossom was taken aback—she had only meant to test it, not using much force at all.

“How is it so fragile?”

She hurriedly retrieved the peach branch, pretending nothing had happened. Ye Chen shot her a glance but didn’t mind; he simply watched as crystalline, radiant mist flowed and the shattered realm restored itself.

“It’s merely an evolution based on memories; of course, it’s fragile,” Ye Chen explained, then immediately merged the two great realms together. It was as if heaven and earth were being created anew. Around the realms, crystalline mists swirled, rolling like surging tides.

Ning Peach Blossom felt a stir in her heart. “This dream, it seems, has been influenced by miasma.”

Of course—she recalled Ye Chen had previously come, bringing much miasma and causing trouble for the Bamboo Tribe.

Deep in the peach grove, the scene was one of devastation; thunderbolts had scorched the vegetation into withered blackness, draining all vitality from the land. It was like a realm of death, filled with the aura of despair and decay.

Under normal circumstances, it should not have been so. Even if thunder raged, there ought to be a glimmer of life. But the heavens themselves seemed to wish all cultivators dead, so only destructive power rampaged unchecked.

Fortunately, the thunder had subsided, leaving this place in the last twilight of sunset, instilling terror in the living.

At that moment, faint mists began to gather, eventually forming a vast sea of fog.

Waves shimmered and surged within the fog sea, rising and falling like tides, then cascading like waterfalls, rushing toward Ye Chen.

“What is that?”

The Shaman’s expression shifted. With such a commotion, he was not blind—he saw it all. Apprehension seized him; so many twists and turns—was another calamity brewing? But the worry was short-lived, for the tide of fog was intercepted by halos of golden light.

A faintly discernible illusory realm emerged, like a whale or dragon drawing in water, and all the mists were absorbed into it.

With a roar, astonishing changes unfolded within the illusory realm. Fueled by the rolling mist, the very foundations of the realm were elevated.

Ye Chen glanced at Ning Peach Blossom, saying nothing, but he was somewhat grateful for her actions. Whatever her intentions, his strength received a substantial boost.

“The illusory realm is where my authority as a dream god lies. As it expands, the power I can wield grows greater still.”

Even if he remained a ninth-grade deity, his strength could never be the same as before.

Mist filled every corner of the void. Given Ye Chen’s current cultivation, even if the mist was extraordinary and beneficial, it was nearly impossible to absorb it all at once.

Had Ye Chen truly been so powerful, he could have absorbed all the miasma he brought with him while the Spirit Bamboo was still alive. If he could have done that, he could have overturned the Spirit Bamboo in one stroke, without relying on outside help, and erased Ning Peach Blossom’s influence from the illusory realm.

Such a hidden thorn might not take effect, but it would always cast a shadow in Ye Chen’s heart.

Truly threatening power must be constrained; and when one is powerless against it, even the harmless cannot be taken lightly.

The illusory realm rumbled. Now, it was no longer a single great world. Around it, waves of chaotic energy surged, as if a vast chaotic sea surrounded it, with countless great worlds scattered within.

Brilliant, crystalline mists became nourishment. Though they could not be completely absorbed in a short time, they were contained within the illusory realm—all changes henceforth remained within his grasp.

Ye Chen did not merge this newly formed great realm with the original land beneath his feet. The chieftain craned his neck, gazing intently at the great realm shrouded in endless mist, his heart racing with excitement.

Within that world, there were many people—at the core, the Dove Tribe and the Bamboo Tribe faced off, their forces clearly destined for a decisive clash. Though it was all illusory, the chieftain could not help but ask, “May I join in as well?”

After all, his soul had been trapped by Ye Chen in this illusory realm, which had been stifling. Humans are social creatures; left alone too long, they will break.

“If you want to go, then go,” Ye Chen replied indifferently. It was but a false dream—nothing would truly change. With a push of power, the chieftain was transformed into a beam of light and entered the great realm.

“This is only the initial reveal of its potential, not yet showing its true dominance.”

Ning Peach Blossom chuckled. “The most critical aspect lies in the fact that time within the dream is not aligned with reality. Within your domain, a thousand years can pass in a single instant—that’s not difficult at all.”

“In reality, altering the flow of time is nearly impossible. But in the dream, you are the absolute master.”

There was a trace of awe in her words. “Though it’s an illusion, you can perfect your cultivation through it, accumulating a profound foundation. Your Dream Butterfly clan is truly blessed by the heavens. No wonder the world shuns you—granted only seven days of life, with a doom that cannot be broken. If ever you escape the shackles of destiny, it would be like a dragon ascending to the heavens, impossible to restrain.”

“That’s an exaggeration, truly an exaggeration,” Ye Chen said hastily. “It’s too early to say all this. Who knows how effective it will actually be?”

Though he said so, in his heart Ye Chen had made a decision.

The Bamboo Tribe had suffered heavy losses; the remaining clansmen had many shortcomings. It was the perfect opportunity to draw them in—let them walk the dream at night, undergo the baptism of war, and perhaps they would grow.

This was an idea Ye Chen had just conceived. The clansmen were indeed weak. He had originally planned to train them gradually over time, but there might not be enough time for that.

Clutching the bone token in his hand, Ye Chen sighed. He felt there was a deep, hidden secret at his back, a surging wave about to crash down on him. If he could not amass enough strength before that, he might end up swept into the dustbin of history, utterly forgotten.