“You’re different.”

  Bai Ruoyue examined Han’s body with a perplexed expression.

  “I feel perfectly fine,” Han replied with a smile. “This Water Essence Gathering was quite rewarding.”

  “At this rate, you’ll be preparing to advance to the Viscera Realm in no time.”

  Bai Ruoyue clicked her tongue. “You’ve only been cultivating for two months, right?”

  “Exactly two months as of today.”

  It was also the last day of the month. The moment the clock struck midnight, his cheat code would refresh once more.

  Bai Ruoyue sighed, murmuring to herself, “This is bad… At this rate, I won’t be able to stay ahead of you for much longer…”

  She felt her authority and status as the senior disciple being seriously challenged, yet there was nothing she could do about it.

  “I have to finish refining my five viscera and break through to mastery as soon as possible!” Bai Ruoyue resolved inwardly.

  If she had to be surpassed, at least she wanted it to happen with dignity—gradually, and not too soon. Otherwise, she would lose all face.

  Han took out the Yuanhou Stone. “Senior Sister, take a look at this stone.”

  “What stone?” Bai Ruoyue took it from him, her body trembling slightly.

  “My secret martial technique seems to resonate with it… My true qi is boiling,” she said in disbelief.

  “This stone was once a Yuanhou,” Han explained, giving her a brief rundown of its origins and nature.

  “A Yuanhou…” Bai Ruoyue released a strand of true qi into the stone experimentally.

  The Yuanhou Stone quivered, faint patterns emerging on its surface. The indistinct outline of a demonic beast surfaced, exuding an ancient, primal aura.

  “This is a treasure. A true treasure.”

  Bai Ruoyue nodded repeatedly. “Junior Brother, for a martial artist who cultivates the Exorcising Yuanhou Scripture, this is an invaluable relic.”

  “If you reach the Viscera Realm and refine the power within this stone, your progress will skyrocket. You might even gain unexpected benefits.”

  The three treasures prepared by the Dragon Lord of Nine Cavern Lake were comparable in objective value.

  But for Han and Bai Ruoyue—both practitioners of a related secret martial art—this stone alone outweighed the other two combined.

  Returning the Yuanhou Stone to Han, Bai Ruoyue’s eyes held curiosity, but no trace of greed or reluctance.

  “Senior Sister, you should examine it first,” Han said, refusing to take it back. “Since you practice a related technique, you might discover something new.”

  Aside from absorbing its power, there could be other ways to utilize it. This was, after all, a petrified Yuanhou corpse. Simply absorbing it outright would be a waste—it needed to be properly studied first.

  Bai Ruoyue pondered briefly before nodding in agreement.

  She was curious about the Yuanhou Stone as well.

  As long as she didn’t absorb its power, it wouldn’t be damaged, and she could return it to Han anytime.

  Later, as Bai Ruoyue left with the Yuanhou Stone, she ran into Shen Yu.

  Receiving Han’s gift had put Shen Yu in high spirits—she was humming an indistinct tune.

  Bai Ruoyue chuckled and shook her head.

  Such a child.

  Her gaze casually swept over Shen Yu’s face before she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

  She turned back and stared at Shen Yu’s lips.

  A sudden realization struck her.

  The mark on Junior Brother’s neck… It looked just like a lip print!

  The Dragon Maiden! It had to be her!

  Damn it! Junior Brother actually went out fooling around!

  That night, Han completed his monthly qi absorption training. His soul felt even stronger.

  He glanced at An Lang, who was still inside the ghost dwelling, refining the Netherworld Dew. Her entire spectral form looked dim, her complexion almost sickly yellow, as if she had been poisoned.

  However, after consulting Lu Qingmo, he learned that this was a normal effect of refining Netherworld Dew.

  As Han trained, Lu Qingmo sat not far away, draped in moonlight, silent as ever.

  She was always like this—quietly watching over him while seemingly lost in thought.

  But tonight, she, too, was thinking about something else.

  The Dragon Maiden… Han…

  Han walked over and asked, “Aunt Mo, what’s on your mind?”

  “Nothing.”

  I was just thinking about what you and the Dragon Maiden did.

  Seeing Lu Qingmo lost in thought, Han went into the attic and soon returned, carrying a cup of tea. He sat down beside her—very close.

  Lu Qingmo glanced at him but said nothing.

  She was used to this.

  Han handed her a cup of tea with a smile.

  “Don’t dwell on endless worldly matters—just enjoy the cup before you.”

  Lu Qingmo smiled. “Not bad. I didn’t expect you to know poetry. But wasn’t that originally about wine?”

  “It’s not mine. I heard it somewhere. Supposedly written by a man named Du Fu—the ‘Saint of Poetry,’ they call him,” Han said with a grin.

  “I don’t drink much, but if Aunt Mo wishes, I can have a few cups.”

  Drinking is fine. I don’t get drunk, but Aunt Mo… You won’t stand a chance.

  “Tea is fine.”

  As wisps of steam curled into the night air, Han suddenly asked, “Aunt Mo, once the Mountain God falls, will you be leaving this place?”

  “Leaving…” Lu Qingmo shook her head.

  “I don’t know yet.”

  “The fall of the Mountain God isn’t the end—what happens afterward will be the real challenge.”

  “And Black Mountain won’t simply vanish. The struggle for this land of fortune won’t end so easily.”

  “Ultimately, it depends on how the Jade Capital handles it. A place like Black Mountain… I don’t have the power to hold it on my own.”

  “If everything is settled, perhaps I will return.”

  Han suddenly felt uneasy.

  The Jade Capital… Xuangdu Temple…

  How distant and unreachable they seemed.

  He was just a countryside boy with a little bit of talent—and a cheat code.

  “The Jade Capital… It feels so far away,” Han murmured.

  Sensing his mood, Lu Qingmo smiled slightly.

  “It’s not far from you at all.”

  “With your talent, within twenty years, your name will shake the world. No place will be out of reach. By then, you’ll surpass even me.”

  “No matter what happens, even if I leave one day, don’t slack off. I trust in your perseverance.”

  Han nodded, gazing at the moonlit ground. Then, he suddenly declared:

  “Aunt Mo, if you ever leave Black Cloud Town, I will find you.”

  “The Jade Capital—I will go there.”

  Lu Qingmo’s smile deepened. “I believe that day will come.”

  “I’ll be waiting—to see just how outstanding you’ll be then.”

  “But by that time, you may not find me in the Jade Capital.”

  Han was puzzled. “Isn’t Xuangdu Temple in the Jade Capital?”

  “Though Xuangdu Temple is the state religion of the Qi Dynasty, with many disciples stationed in the Jade Capital, our ancestral temple is elsewhere,” Lu Qingmo explained.

  “Xuangdu Temple existed long before the Qi Dynasty was founded. With a thousand years of history, of course, we have our own sacred grounds.”

  “Where is it?” Han asked, then quickly corrected himself. “Wait, if it’s a secret, you don’t have to tell me.”

  “It’s no secret—everyone knows.” Lu Qingmo answered:

  “In Han Province, atop Xuanfa Mountain. That is where our forebears established the sect, and where Xuangdu Temple has stood for over a millennium.”

  Han memorized the name—Xuanfa Mountain, in Han Province.

  That was far, far away from Tian Province, separated by several regions.

  “But one day, you, too, will leave Black Cloud Town,” Lu Qingmo continued. “This place, despite its connection to Black Mountain, is too remote. Staying here will only hinder your growth.”

  “I will leave when the time is right,” Han said solemnly.

  After all, with such a vast world before him, how could he remain confined to a single town?

  At that moment—

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  [Cheat Code Refresh Available. Refreshing…]

  [Previous Month’s Cheat Code: Omniscient Perspective]

  [Refreshing…]

  [Refresh Complete]

  [This Month’s Cheat Code: Dao Comprehension in Dreams]

  Han’s mind went blank. All other thoughts were instantly swept away.

  Han had a feeling—this new cheat ability was something extraordinary.

  The hint from his life points remained at five, confirming a crucial rule: as long as he possessed any cheat ability, breaking through a major realm would grant him life points. Whether it was martial cultivation or soul cultivation, both counted.

  Currently, he was at the second realm in martial arts and the third in soul cultivation—five life points in total. By the end of this month, he expected to advance to the Organ Refinement stage, adding another life point to his tally.

  Yet, despite having life points in hand, there was nothing to spend them on.

  "Tree Bro, I miss you!"

  “What are you zoning out for?” Lu Qingmo turned her head, gazing at Han.

  Snapping back to reality, Han smiled wryly. “Just lost in thought for a moment.”

  “Aunt Mo, it’s late. Let’s get some rest.”

  Lu Qingmo shot Han a look.

  What do you mean by "let's" get some rest?

  If someone overheard that, they’d think we were sleeping together!

  Without another word, they both got up and returned to their respective rooms.

  The moment Han lay down, he immediately fell asleep.

  He had already received some information about his new cheat ability—Dreamworld Enlightenment—which, as the name suggested, had something to do with dreams.

  Han didn’t even need to feel sleepy; as long as he activated the ability, he could fall asleep instantly, anywhere, in a second.

  If he’d had this power in his past life, just this function alone would have been invaluable…

  A vast expanse of white unfolded before his eyes.

  It was an endless, pure-white space—void of anything else. No people, no colors, just him.

  This was a dream.

  Han was fully conscious, completely aware of his dream state.

  "Dreamworld Enlightenment… My dream…"

  With a single thought, the white void shifted.

  Soil emerged, green grass sprouted, peach trees took root and soared skyward, and a towering pavilion materialized from thin air.

  Lu Qingmo’s peach grove had appeared.

  Since this was Han’s dream, and he had a cheat ability at his disposal, altering the environment was no challenge.

  He reached out his hand, and the Tai Bai Sword appeared in his palm. After a brief examination, he murmured in amazement,

  “It’s identical.”

  It wasn’t that the real Tai Bai Sword had entered his dream. Rather, this was an ability of Dreamworld Enlightenment—it could manifest anything Han possessed in the real world into his dreams.

  One sword… two swords…

  A full ten Tai Bai Swords floated around him.

  The spiritual herbs and treasures stored in his spatial pouch also materialized one by one.

  The swords remained as sharp, the herbs retained their medicinal potency—down to their structure and composition, they were indistinguishable from reality.

  Han plucked a herb, refined its energy, and felt a tangible increase in strength.

  Then, on a whim, he grabbed a Tai Bai Sword and slashed himself.

  Blood gushed out—but he felt no pain.

  Instead, he was intrigued. A second later, the wound sealed itself as if it had never existed.

  Everything here was part of the dream. Training with spiritual herbs in this space wouldn’t carry over to reality. Likewise, injuries sustained in the dream wouldn’t affect his physical body.

  Within moments, Han had already thought of several ways to exploit this ability.

  Unidentified treasures? Test them here without risk.

  Delicate crafts like incense-making? Practice in the dreamworld with imaginary materials, then replicate the perfected techniques in reality.

  Dangerous techniques? Train without fear—blowing himself up in the dream wouldn’t matter.

  Take Swordless Ascension, for example. In reality, where would he find the chance to test such a volatile technique? But in the dream? He could practice freely.

  “Not a bad cheat ability at all.”

  While it couldn’t create real treasures, he wasn’t lacking cultivation resources for the time being.

  Han wandered beneath a peach tree, glancing around. In the real world, Lu Qingmo’s peach grove flourished year-round due to her Taoist mastery. This dream version was no different.

  Then—movement.

  A faint silhouette flickered between the peach trees, growing clearer with each passing second.

  “Han?”

  Lu Qingmo stepped forward, her expression tinged with surprise. She scanned her surroundings, then rubbed her forehead and sighed.

  “I haven’t dreamt in ages… yet here I am.”

  “And I’m dreaming of you?”

  “What’s happening to me…”

  Han smiled knowingly—this was the second ability of Dreamworld Enlightenment.

  Shared Dreaming.

  Dreaming alone? That’s lonely.

  Dreaming with someone else? Twice the fun.

  That said, there were limits—Han couldn’t just pull in anyone at will.

  He still needed to figure out the specifics.

  Lu Qingmo studied Han closely, then examined their surroundings.

  “This dream… it feels real.”

  She even broke off a branch, casually tapping Han’s head with it.

  “You little troublemaker. I already spend enough time with you while awake, and now I have to see you in my dreams too?”

  “Aunt Mo…”

  Han hesitated.

  Was she saying whatever she wanted just because she thought this was a dream?

  Lu Qingmo paused, lowering the branch as she fixed her gaze on him.

  “You’re reacting?”

  She prodded him again.

  “……”

  Wait.

  What if… just what if…

  This was actually his dream?

  And she was the visitor?

  If I hadn’t reacted, what were you planning to do?

  A mischievous thought surfaced—what if he pretended to be unresponsive and observed her actions?

  But… the truth, when revealed, would be far too awkward.

  Suddenly, Han reached out toward Lu Qingmo’s face.

  Her body stiffened, her expression shifting between embarrassment and annoyance.

  “You brat. Even in a dream, you can’t behave?”

  Despite her words, she didn’t dodge.

  Instead, she let Han’s hand move closer until—

  He plucked a peach blossom from her shoulder.

  Yet, as he withdrew his hand, his fingers accidentally brushed against her smooth, delicate cheek. She flinched slightly, as if struck by electricity.

  “Aunt Mo, what are you talking about?” Han said innocently.

  “I was just removing a stray flower for you.”

  Lu Qingmo shot him a glare but then murmured in astonishment, “Even in a dream, you’re so… vivid.”

  “Is this really a dream?” Han mused. “It feels incredibly real.”

  “The peach grove, everything—it’s like we’ve entered another world entirely.”

  Han knew the truth, of course. But he couldn’t let that show.

  He could bring people into his dreams, but he absolutely couldn’t let them know he was the one doing it.

  Why were they sharing a dream?

  How would I know?

  Lu Qingmo was growing suspicious.

  “This dream is… strange,” she muttered. “I feel completely lucid. And you—you're perfectly aware, too.”

  “Han?”

  “I’m here.”

  “You know who you are? Where this is?”

  “I’m Han, the seventh disciple of Tai Bai, always by Aunt Mo’s side. As for where we are… didn’t you say it’s your dream?”

  “…Strange. How did you end up in my dream?” Lu Qingmo frowned. “Could it be that you subconsciously pulled me in with some kind of Taoist technique?”

  Han immediately went on the offensive.

  “Shouldn’t I be the one asking that? Aunt Mo, did you use some kind of method to pull me in?”

  Lu Qingmo blinked, her expression darkening.

  Oh no.

  This dream was too real.

  Which meant—everything she had just said and done…

  Han had definitely seen and heard it all.

  Then, without warning, Han booted Lu Qingmo out of the dream, leaving himself alone once more.

  But as soon as she vanished, he felt an odd shift in the dreamscape.

  It seemed… slightly less stable?

  A sudden influx of information appeared in Han’s mind.

  [Dream Power]

  Realization dawned.

  So, the people he pulled into the dream… actually strengthened the dream itself?

  What was this Dream Power capable of?

  No further information appeared, but Han had a feeling—this was something useful.

  Very useful.

  And he had just the experiment in mind.

  Han knew that Lu Qingmo's attempt was doomed to fail—after all, he wasn’t even using the cheat device.

  This sleep would be nothing but a waste.

  Han fell into deep thought. Since this cheat device could pull others into the dream and seemingly enhance the dream itself, making it more beneficial to the device…

  Then could he keep Lu Qingmo and Bai Ruoyue inside the dream for an extended period this month?

  If he had obtained this dream-based enlightenment cheat device in his first month after transmigrating, he would never have entertained such a thought. No matter how beneficial pulling others into the dream might be, he wouldn’t have considered it.

  He would’ve hidden this cheat device as if his life depended on it. Share the dream with others?

  Not a chance—not even with ghosts, let alone people!

  But things were different now. Lu Qingmo and the others had proven their trust and sincerity, and in return, they had earned Han’s trust as well.

  Besides, there were tangible benefits. This thought began to take root in Han’s mind.

  However, this presented a problem. If he openly admitted that everything was under his control, there was no way he could explain it away.

  After a brief moment of consideration, Han decided—since he couldn’t explain it, he simply wouldn’t.

  Just like before, he would act as though he had entered the dream by accident, completely oblivious to what was happening.

  Sometimes, it paid to play dumb. And if you weren’t actually clueless, pretending to be was just as effective.

  Once he entered the dream and pulled Lu Qingmo in, she would undoubtedly suspect that he was the cause of it all.

  But hey, I’m a victim here too! I have no idea why this is happening.

  When the time came, it would be up to Lu Qingmo to come up with an explanation for the truth of the situation.

  Just like how Han’s intuition had somehow been linked to the Mountain God in Lu Qingmo’s reasoning.

  Strange occurrences? Too many unexplained details?

  No need to worry. Dear Aunt Mo and our esteemed Master will surely come up with a reasonable explanation.

  As for Han…

  Ah, yes, yes, whatever you say—everything is exactly as you claim.

  Han had made up his mind. Time to go for it.

  Absolutely stunning.

  He couldn’t help but admire Lu Qingmo’s beauty—natural, untouched by makeup, yet utterly flawless.

  A short while later, Lu Qingmo woke up. She sat up and shook her head.

  “I didn’t enter the dream again.”

  “Then let me try.”

  Lu Qingmo hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.

  She wouldn’t be able to rest easy until she uncovered the truth behind this dream.

  This wasn’t just a simple dream. It meant that, in the face of an unknown mastermind, she was utterly defenseless.

  If someone could pull her into a dream, they could just as easily take her life.

  Lu Qingmo stood up, and Han naturally lay down on the bed.

  “Aunt Mo, good night.”

  Dreambound Enlightenment—Activate!

  Standing by the bedside, watching Han lying there straight as a board, Lu Qingmo suddenly felt that something was off.

  Wait a minute—this is my room. He’s sleeping in my bed!

  A faint blush crept onto her face as she released her spiritual energy, preparing to move Han elsewhere. This was far too awkward.

  But the next second, drowsiness overwhelmed her, and her spiritual energy dissipated instantly.

  Supporting herself on the bed’s edge, a single thought surfaced in her mind before she succumbed to sleep.

  As expected… it’s connected to him.

  Come on in, Aunt Mo!

  “Aunt Mo, it seems this mysterious dream is indeed connected to me.”

  “I’ve dragged you into this mess.”

  Han confessed, taking the blame without hesitation.

  Lu Qingmo remained silent for a long time, her thoughts elsewhere—

  How am I supposed to face him after this?

  She sighed inwardly. I've truly met my nemesis. In just two months, I've experienced more absurd situations than in my entire life before this.

  “This isn’t your fault,” she said softly.

  “This power… it’s terrifying. Even I had no way to resist it.”

  She stared at Han intently. So, you really are some great cultivator reincarnated, aren’t you?

  Everything was triggered by him, yet he doesn’t know why…

  A past life’s power awakening unconsciously, causing all of this—there was no other explanation.

  But who exactly was he? His abilities involved water manipulation, the moon, intuition, and now dreams…

  Strange. There’s no record of such a figure in the archives of Xuandu Temple.

  “Aunt Mo, how do we leave this place?” Han asked, feigning confusion.

  “That… will have to depend on you. Do you remember how you left last time?”

  “I don’t know. It just sort of… happened.”

  Han was now a master of playing dumb—three questions, three “I don’t know” answers.

  If they couldn’t leave, they had no choice but to stay in the dream.

  Over time, Han began to demonstrate various dream abilities to Lu Qingmo—sometimes deliberately, sometimes seemingly by accident.

  Through these trials, Han made a startling discovery—he was beginning to understand this cheat device more thoroughly.

  In the dream, any depletion of true energy could be instantly replenished. The same applied to mental and physical stamina.

  Any injuries sustained would also heal immediately.

  It was a dream based on reality—cultivators entered at their real-world level, but certain aspects could be modified.

  Most importantly, Han realized—cultivation in the dream seemed easier.

  He could grasp techniques that had previously taken him much longer to learn.

  It had to be an enhancement to comprehension ability.

  After testing, he estimated the boost to be about 30%.

  Insane.

  No wonder it was called Dreambound Enlightenment.

  Lu Qingmo, with her vast knowledge, immediately recognized the potential.

  “If you can fully control this power, it will be an incredible asset to cultivation,” she said seriously.

  “This dream gives you unlimited trial-and-error opportunities.”

  “Difficult martial arts and Daoist techniques become much easier to master here. And this is only one aspect—there may be more hidden secrets.”

  “This place… is the perfect training ground!”

  Her eyes gleamed with excitement.

  Han had talent. Now, he had an extraordinary opportunity.

  How could he not become a powerhouse?

  “Too bad I can’t control it,” Han sighed.

  “It appears and disappears unpredictably.”

  “Yes… such a pity.” Lu Qingmo agreed.

  They remained in the dream for twenty-four dream-hours before it ended.

  Not because Han stopped using the cheat device, but because they had reached its limit.

  The Dreambound Enlightenment device had a maximum usage of twenty-four dream-hours per day.

  When Han woke up, he immediately sensed how much real-world time had passed.

  Just a moment.

  Completely outrageous—equivalent to gaining twenty-four extra hours of cultivation time per day. One month here was worth three in the real world.

  As he returned to his physical body, Han quickly noticed something was off.

  Something was pressing down on him.

  He reached out, looked down—

  Lu Qingmo was lying on his chest, and his hand was resting on her soft, slender waist.

  At that moment, Lu Qingmo’s eyes opened as well, meeting his gaze.

  A long silence followed.

  Why was Lu Qingmo, who had entered the dream, now in this position?

  Could it be… Aunt Mo wanted to do something to him while he was asleep?

  Gasp!

  The night was deep, and the beauty lay in his arms.

  Han’s heart burned.

  In a sudden motion, he sat up, his hand still on her waist—but instead of letting go, he pulled her closer, their bodies pressed together.

  A warm, soft sensation filled his embrace, intoxicating and irresistible.

  Looking down at the mature beauty in his arms, Han’s eyes shimmered with unspoken intent.

  “Aunt Mo…”