Chapter 33: Growing Strong Without Limits
Song Ying’s illusion was different from the others. The person she saved wasn’t some handsome man or beautiful woman—it was Qin Luan, who was only at the Qi Refining Stage.
In the illusion, Qin Luan claimed that he had been suppressed to the Qi Refining Stage as soon as he entered and was now being hunted by bandits, leaving him with no choice but to rely on Song Ying for protection.
Song Ying was so delighted she couldn’t stop grinning for half a day.
After she unified the world, she shared the throne with Qin Luan, giving him every heavenly treasure she found, finally restoring him to the late Foundation Establishment Stage.
After that, she abandoned the throne and retreated into the mountains with Qin Luan.
The illusion judged that Song Ying had resisted the temptation of power, and she cleared the trial.
Qin Luan’s eyes were blank, as if he couldn’t comprehend what Song Ying had done in the illusion.
Why? Wasn’t this demoness supposed to disrupt my Dao heart?
Why did she save me? Why didn’t she take heavenly treasures? Why did she give up her rule? Why…?
Qin Luan’s body trembled slightly. He said nothing, but he also lost interest in watching the water mirror. He got up and walked into the distance.
He needed some time alone.
After that, people gradually passed through the illusion, but it took a long time. Even Seven Kill Daoist, whom Qin Luan had high hopes for, took an entire year to clear the trial. Others took even longer—some even aged and died inside the illusion, only appearing again after death.
Such people, of course, failed the trial.
Meng Chun’s voice rang down from the sky.
“Everyone has now exited the illusion. The top 100 fastest will proceed to the next level, while the others have failed and will be ejected.”
She ignored any objections from those ranked lower and directly expelled seven-eighths of the participants.
“Now, I will announce the rankings for the first trial.”
For some reason, Jiang Li could hear the schadenfreude in Meng Chun’s voice.
It was probably just an illusion from the distortion of the sound.
“First place, Human Sovereign Jiang Li.”
“Second place, Qin Luan.”
“Third place, Li Litong.”
“Fourth place, Song Ying.”
“Fifth place, Li Fugui—note: this is Seven Kill Daoist.”
…
“One hundredth place…”
The moment “Human Sovereign Jiang Li” was announced, the crowd erupted like a powder keg ignited.
First place was Human Sovereign Jiang Li?!
The first reaction was that the mystic realm must have malfunctioned, but then people quickly realized—
The master of the mystic realm perished 800 years ago.
He couldn’t possibly know who Human Sovereign Jiang Li was!
There was only one possibility—the real Jiang Li had arrived!
At this thought, everyone’s hearts burned with excitement.
Who still cared about the second trial?
Everyone was searching for Jiang Li!
Qin Luan and Li Litong had the biggest reactions.
Qin Luan was standing right next to Jiang Li. Now, he didn’t dare to act all casual anymore and became extremely cautious around him.
Li Litong, on the other hand, was internally conflicted—should he shamelessly grovel at Jiang Li’s feet, or act indifferent to appear dignified, hoping Jiang Li would think highly of him?
Suddenly, an overwhelming drowsiness swept over everyone.
Even the thrill of standing near Human Sovereign Jiang Li couldn’t resist the sudden wave of sleepiness.
Jiang Li, however, was completely unaffected. He could tell that this sleepiness was connected to the second trial, so he casually took out a blanket from his storage ring, got comfortable, and fell asleep on his own terms.
To their shock, when the others entered the dream, they found themselves standing at the meeting point of mountains and sea—towering peaks to the left, endless blue waves to the right.
Even stranger—they could see each other within the dream.
Could it be that the dream was connected?
Li Litong knew what was going on, but he had no interest in explaining things to a bunch of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
“It’s the Dao of Dreams,” Seven Kill Daoist, knowledgeable as always, quickly identified the phenomenon.
“Everyone, quiet down! Let Li Fugui explain!” Someone called out, trying to maintain order.
This instantly made Seven Kill Daoist’s temple veins bulge—who the hell called me that?! I’ll kill them!
Oh, it was Qin Luan.
Never mind, then.
Suppressing his anger, Seven Kill Daoist continued, “I’ve heard from my elders that there’s a rare cultivation path known as the Dao of Dreams. It allows one to train within dreams and even force opponents into sleep during battle, dragging them into a dream duel—which is exactly what’s happening now.”
Jiang Li nodded. Seven Kill Daoist’s explanation was accurate, but he had left out a crucial detail.
Whether it was because he didn’t know or he was deliberately keeping it to himself was unclear.
“Now announcing the second trial,” Meng Chun’s voice rang out again in the dark void.
This time, Jiang Li was certain—she was definitely gloating.
“There are now one hundred cultivators in this dream. Here, you may freely imagine your own power!”
“Now, fight! The last one standing will be the victor!”
Everyone was utterly confused.
The last sentence was simple—just fight until only one person remains.
But what did ‘freely imagine your own power’ mean?
Did it mean you become as strong as you believe yourself to be?
Seven Kill Daoist clicked his tongue in disbelief.
Some people began to understand Meng Chun’s meaning.
One of them stretched out his hand toward a distant mountain—and to everyone’s shock, he actually lifted it up!
“Impossible!”
Seeing this, the others finally realized what was going on.
This was a dream—you could do whatever you wanted!
Your strength was entirely dictated by your imagination!
“Golden Core! I’ve broken through to the Golden Core Stage!” someone shouted in excitement, imagining himself as a Golden Core cultivator—and he actually became one, instantly reaching the pinnacle of the Golden Core Stage!
“Golden Core? That’s nothing! Watch me become a Nascent Soul cultivator!” Someone scoffed, imagined himself as a Nascent Soul master, and instantly surpassed the Golden Core level!
“Why stop at breakthroughs? Watch me take on the Kunpeng True Form!”
The moment he finished speaking, his body shifted, transforming into an enormous Kunpeng, stretching thousands of miles long, cutting through the ocean like a sword, before leaping into the sky, morphing into a towering roc!
“What’s so great about demonic beasts? Watch this—Heaven and Earth Dharma Form!”
“Come, fight me!”
“Come, fight!”
The Kunpeng shot out of the ocean, its wings stirring up hurricane-level winds, colliding with the towering giant that had used Heaven and Earth Dharma Form.
At this moment, Golden Core and Nascent Soul were nothing but specks of dust—insignificant.
The battle between Kunpeng and the Dharma giant was no less than a battle between Integration Stage cultivators!
With such demonstrations, everyone finally understood the essence of the trial.
Chaos instantly erupted—
Ancient Sun Chasers grabbed hold of the Golden Crows, ready for a contest of strength.
People raised mountains, filled seas, transformed into True Dragons, roared to shatter the heavens, and walked like living lightning tribulations, leaving scorched earth in their wake.
Everyone was having the time of their lives, completely forgetting about Jiang Li.
Being able to grow stronger at will, turning into anything one desired…
This was every cultivator’s dream!