“Past this sign, you’ll easily see the cursed entities. It used to be quiet back here a few years ago, but it’s gotten busier lately,”

  Yang led Mithra past the tourist area to a conspicuous warning sign.

  They bypassed the sign, entering an area bustling with activity; it was even livelier than the designated tourist zone.

  Mithra sensed that the warning sign might need to be moved further back in a few years.

  They continued deeper, encountering no cursed entities.

  Soon, under Yang's guidance, the surrounding sounds faded as they ventured further into the mountain and forest.

  A small, makeshift camp appeared.

  Several tents, some equipment, and scattered figures were visible.

  As they approached, a man sitting at the edge of the camp, smoking, looked up. Seeing Yang, he said, “Yang? I thought you were busy with graduation.”

  “Hello, Uncle Chang. I finished most of it and came to see if I could help,” Yang greeted him.

  Uncle Chang chuckled and shook his head. “Not really needed. Our cleanup team has less work each year. Although those tourists are noisy, they handle many of the scattered cursed entities, saving us time. Who’s this?”

  Yang quickly introduced Mithra. “A friend of mine.”

  But Mithra cut her off, immediately distancing herself. “Just a tourist, interested in the ‘Snow Flower Demon.’ He’s my guide.”

  Yang could only smile awkwardly.

  Uncle Chang sighed. “Interested, huh? You youngsters haven’t seen a real Wandering God; you have unnecessary curiosity about such terrifying things.”

  “I have,” Mithra replied tersely.

  Uncle Chang was momentarily stunned. Mithra’s expression remained unchanged; Yang was slightly surprised, but recalling online rumors, he didn't question her, instead becoming excited.

  Regardless, Mithra’s extensive knowledge was beneficial; following her would be a great opportunity for a breakthrough!

  “No problem. I’ll take him deeper into the mountain; we won’t cause any trouble!” Yang quickly said.

  Uncle Chang, understanding Yang’s true intentions, said, “I’m not worried with you guiding him. But even after graduation, don’t be reckless. Your fighting style is too aggressive. No one can help you in Dreamland if something happens.”

  Yang readily agreed, quickly leading Mithra past the camp, greeting others along the way.

  Yang seemed to have good connections here, everyone treating him kindly.

  “Okay, we’re here. We’re entering the snow-covered area; there’s a high chance of encountering cursed entities. Be careful,” Yang quickly dropped his jovial demeanor and spoke seriously.

  As Yang had predicted, within moments, Mithra sensed something approaching.

  With a clear sound, a four-legged creature formed from ice and snow emerged.

  Its appearance was unusual; its head resembled an unopened bud, its four limbs like arms, perfectly symmetrical. From a distance, it was hard to distinguish its front from its back.

  Removing the bud-like head, one could hardly tell its front from its back.

  【Hope Mountain Snow Cursed Entity: Formed from snow imbued with inescapable resentment. They endlessly wander, shifting from initial hopeful pleas for help to hatred for living beings. This resentment deepens over time, distorting their forms.】

  【——Buried under the snow, forgotten…】

  While typical of Anderet's information style, after being deceived in Xyrin, Mithra began to analyze her employer’s cryptic descriptions more closely.

  She felt Anderet's description was heavily suggestive.

  Something was hidden in this snowy mountain.

  As Mithra pondered, the cursed entity turned towards them; the bud-like head slightly opened, revealing numerous bright green eyes!

  “Careful, this cursed entity wants to…” Yang attempted a warning, but Mithra had vanished.

  BOOM!

  The entire cursed entity exploded, scattering ice shards everywhere.

  Mithra turned, the Xyrin Great Maul on her shoulder. “What do you want?”

  Yang stammered, “It wanted…to be smashed at least in half…”

  It had been completely destroyed.

  “Ah, thanks for the warning,” Mithra turned, crushing some ice shards underfoot.

  Yang was speechless.

  He realized how casually Mithra had sparred with him.

  Mithra's Miracle proficiency was unknown, but the physical prowess she'd just displayed—she could have easily shattered that creature with a single punch—was beyond imagination.

  That would be commonplace in Dreamland, but unthinkable in Planet Blue.

  What kind of monster was this…?

  And…

  “Your hammer…it looks like the Xyrin Great Maul,” Yang curiously asked, eyeing the hammer in Mithra’s hand.

  The Xyrin Great Maul was one of the Xyrin Empire's iconic God-killing weapons, well-known in Dreamland, even more so in Planet Blue; images were readily available online.

  Mithra glanced at the hammer. “Yes.”

  The hammer vibrated slightly, but Mithra ignored it.

  Explaining would be pointless; would he believe her?

  Mithra avoided unnecessary questions, directly asking, “I heard the criminal organization that brought the Snow Flower Demon twenty years ago used an abandoned mountain village as a base. Do you know anything about that?”

  Yang looked surprised. “You’re really interested in that Wandering God?”

  He still thought Mithra was seeking excitement and thrills.

  Mithra silently looked at him, her attitude clear.

  Yang grimaced. “I know the place, but it’s deeper in; a cleanup team went there before. The cursed entities are much denser there; we’ll get scolded if we’re seen.”

  “Do you need more scolding?” Mithra retorted.

  Yang surrendered. “Fine, I’ll guide you. Let’s hurry. At this pace, it'll be dusk by the time we return; let’s get back before dark.”

  With that, they set off.

  Initially, there were many signs of human activity, but as they ventured deeper, these signs decreased until the area became completely wild.

  The number of cursed entities increased significantly, and the snow covered everything in a light white layer.

  The limited low-level Reinforce Body enchantment left Yang exhausted from keeping up with Mithra's pace. Soon, he was being carried by Mithra.

  This, however, greatly accelerated their progress.

  Regardless of how many cursed entities attacked, Mithra, carrying Yang in one hand and wielding the Great Maul in the other, easily swept them aside.

  Ahead, in a mountain hollow, the vegetation thinned, giving way to a large open space with only scattered trees. Cursed entities frequently stirred in the surrounding snow.

  Even a glimpse gave the impression of a vast snowfield.

  “Is this it?”

  “This is it.”

  Mithra set Yang down and looked ahead.

  The area was cleaner and more open than expected; there were no signs of past habitation, everything seemingly concealed under the pristine snow.

  As Mithra and Yang were about to proceed, they heard a sound.

  “What are you doing here?” A voice suddenly called out. They looked towards the sound and saw a figure amidst the snow and sparse vegetation.

  “Damn it, we’re discovered!” Yang instantly looked distraught. He was going to be scolded again.

  “Lost tourists? Tsk, so careless. Don’t wander around; it’s dangerous here; this isn’t a place for you. How did you get in? Anyway, we’ll take you back. Come on.”

  Yang shrugged at Mithra and started walking towards the figure.

  Mithra, however, raised her hammer and swung it through the air. The hammer struck an invisible barrier, producing a loud thud; a white light pulsed outwards, obliterating the vegetation.

  BOOM!

  The figure exploded, dissolving into scattered snowflakes.

  Yang’s face paled; his feet rooted to the spot.

  What…was that just now?

  Yang remained motionless, but Mithra stepped past him, her footsteps lightly crushing the scattered ice shards as she examined the surroundings.

  The Night Eyes had only revealed information about the cursed entities, not mentioning any specific differences between these disguised creatures and others.

  Initially, it had looked like a simple humanoid figure made of snow, but its simple structure was easily identifiable after being destroyed.

  Yang slowly approached, cautiously surveying his surroundings. The cursed entities nearby had been swiftly dealt with by Mithra, leaving an unsettling silence that made Yang feel uneasy.

  “Is anyone there?” he called out, still thinking someone had used an ice Miracle to scare them.

  “No one. My senses detect only the two of us…” Mithra interrupted his attempt.

  “But that’s impossible! Cursed entities with such high intelligence are rare in Dreamland, and virtually nonexistent in Planet Blue!” Yang exclaimed.

  Mithra remained silent, recalling some online urban legends.

  Deceptive traps, intelligent humanoid cursed entities.

  In a world with supernatural powers, it was prudent to be wary of urban legends.

  “Maybe someone is just very well-hidden,” Yang insisted that someone was playing tricks.

  Ignoring that, Mithra continued towards the expansive snowfield.

  Yang, uneasy, followed closely behind.

  Mithra sniffed the air, silently using “Hunting,” attempting to detect any unusual presence.

  However, upon inhaling, she frowned.

  A strong presence permeated the snowfield, concentrated in this area. There was no need for specific tracking; this was the site of the initial incident; otherwise, the lingering presence wouldn't be so intense.

  “You can return alone. If you encounter anything unusual, ignore it until you find a cleanup team member you recognize,” Mithra turned to Yang.

  “What? You’re leaving me here alone?”

  “I’ve already passed this point; I’ll return myself.”

  Yang shook his head. “No way! It's too dangerous! It’s not about my plans; you came with me. As your guide, I have a responsibility, even if you are strong. I can’t leave you here alone.”

  If it were the Monkey and Crab, they would have left to give Mithra space.

  Mithra, however, ignored him, turning towards their point of entry.

  “…The signal is a bit spotty; please excuse the interruption. But we’re about to reach the legendary birthplace of the Snow Flower Demon, ‘Snowwind Village.’

  “Although Hope Mountain has been open to the public for many years, many tourists come here to hunt cursed entities in recent years. However, few have actually reached this source of the calamity. We did our research and snuck into this deep forest; we’ve officially entered the Snow Region…”

  Approaching them was an attractive young woman carrying filming equipment; she was clearly a livestreamer, judging by her earlier comments.

  Two others, a man and a woman, followed her.

  As they emerged from the forest, they saw Mithra and Yang.

  “Huh? There are people here?” The female MC looked surprised.

  “The summer cleanup team usually stays near the city border and doesn’t venture this far…They aren’t cleanup crew; they’re too young; they look like students,” the male quickly assessed.

  “Ha! What’s with that guy’s outfit? It’s so bizarre,” the other woman laughed, pointing at Mithra.

  The MC quickly said, “Oh, it seems we’ve been beaten to the punch. Two guys got here first.”

  She angled the camera, avoiding filming Yang and Mithra.

  Approaching them, Yang frowned. “Did you just arrive?”

  “Yes, we’re here to explore the Wandering God’s birthplace and its remnants,” the female MC briefly introduced herself.

  Her online handle was “Ke Yen,” a travel streamer. Her content focused on exploring various locations with historical significance in Planet Blue; she frequently ventured into Dreamland, relying on her skills, appearance, and high update frequency.

  The other woman’s handle was “Nafei,” also a travel streamer, but with fewer live streams; she focused on recording Dreamland adventures; her strength and consistent content gained her many fans.

  The male’s handle was “Half an Aspirin,” a knowledge creator who focused on lesser-known scientific topics, covering both Dreamland and Planet Blue, occasionally livestreaming his explorations.

  All three had significant followings and considerable reputations within their respective niches. This exploration, focusing on the Wandering God and its remnants, was highly appealing.

  In Planet Blue, travel streaming was incredibly popular, given the proximity to Dreamland. Places like Hope Mountain were numerous, offering ample opportunities for this profession.

  However, to prevent streamers from becoming mere thrill-seekers, the entry barrier was high.

  The three present were clearly beyond Unified Sense; their Clarity progress was harder to gauge, but undoubtedly significant.

  They were incredibly skilled.

  This circle, however, didn't really intersect with Yang or Mithra.

  Yang appeared carefree, but he was disciplined and didn’t get caught up in online culture. Mithra didn’t watch live streams or videos; at most, she followed the “Dreamland” forum, checking the news and casual discussions.

  “Which of you knows ice Miracles?” Yang’s frown deepened as he repeated his question.

  From his tone, Mithra understood Yang was still preoccupied with the strange “intelligent cursed entity.”

  He probably hadn't even listened to the three streamers’ introductions; Mithra hadn’t paid close attention either.

  Yang suspected the streamers were pretending.

  “Half an Aspirin,” sensing Yang’s suspicion, said, “We don’t know ice Miracles; if you encounter any trouble, it won't be related to us.”

  Before Yang could respond, Mithra said, “It wasn’t them; I said there was no one nearby.”

  She showed Yang her phone, displaying the streamers’ online profiles; none of them had a background in ice Miracles.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  While there was always the possibility of hidden skills or inaccurate online information, there wasn’t any obvious cause for suspicion.

  “Okay…” Yang still seemed uneasy.

  “What did you encounter? Perhaps we can help? Meeting here is quite serendipitous,” “Ke Yen” laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

  “We met a ghost,” Mithra replied casually.

  “Ha ha, you’re funny. Was it some kind of cursed entity?” “Nafei” laughed, maintaining a light atmosphere.

  “An intelligent, humanoid cursed entity that speaks; it's quite similar to a ghost,” Mithra said.

  “Ah, Hope City has that urban legend!” “Half an Aspirin” recalled something and proceeded to introduce the relevant information during his live stream.

  This added a spooky atmosphere to the stream.

  【A one-eyed fake; Planet Blue can’t possibly have cursed entities with that level of intelligence. What a hoax; no one believes it.】

  【But it definitely has a creepy vibe.】

  【Do those two know something?】

  【I think so, especially the one with the hammer. I didn’t see clearly, but her outfit is too striking.】

  【Nonsense, Ke Yen and Nafei are pros! Aspirin is well-respected in his field!】

  【How did they get here? Ke Yen and the others got in thanks to Aspirin's connections. How about these two?】

  【Wait, that hammer looks familiar. Is that the Xyrin Great Maul?】

  The live stream chat exploded with comments.

  “You encountered that type of cursed entity?” “Nafei” asked.

  “If that was a cursed entity…I’d rather believe it was a ghost,” Yang mumbled, too tired to care, joining in Mithra’s casual conversation.

  Meanwhile, Mithra ignored them, heading towards the snowfield alone.

  Her footsteps crunched in the snow; only the wind whistled through the snowy mountains.

  Mithra took a sleeping bird charm from her bag.

  This was the charm used to summon Elise in dreams; however, at the end of Tinina's dream, Elise had explained another use for it.

  Not only living beings with intelligence had "dreams."

  An object, or even a scene, with lingering willpower and accumulated memories over time could become part of a Dreamscape Gap, fragments of a dream.

  The sleeping bird charm could be used outside a Dreamscape Gap to extract these scattered dream fragments, offering glimpses of past events.

  If the remnants were scarce, it wouldn't trigger a full dream; instead, it would evoke images and whispers.

  For gleaning fragmented information, it was a very useful ability.

  Tingling—

  Mithra activated the charm; the clear chime dispersed on the wind, initially producing no response.

  Her actions caught the attention of Yang and the three streamers, who approached.

  “Mithra, what are you doing?”

  Mithra ignored them, waiting for something to happen.

  But nothing happened.

  Was Miss Elise playing a trick on her?

  Mithra thought this, and put away the charm.

  She was about to tell Yang to leave when a change occurred.

  The surroundings fell silent.

  The wind stopped, and the falling snow ceased.

  After a brief pause, the wind and snow suddenly intensified; the sky darkened, and the snow around them began to stir.

  Then, it surged towards them.

  At that moment, a tingling sound echoed again.

  The sleeping bird charm’s earlier chime seemed to have finally received a response.

  A pale white light shielded them from the malicious snow.

  Panic seized them.

  As panic surged, Mithra realized something was wrong.

  A dream…

  The sleeping bird charm required interaction with a conscious entity to summon a dream; the user needed to consciously initiate the process.

  Mithra hadn't attempted to enter a dream, yet something in the snow had actively triggered a Dreamscape Gap connection.

  How was this possible…?

  Mithra was most astonished, not by the complexity of the connection, but by the possibility of entering a Dreamscape Gap in Planet Blue.

  Thump—

  The four around her fell to the ground, while Mithra stumbled towards a lone large tree, leaning against it.

  Before her eyes closed, she vaguely saw figures appearing amidst the swirling snow and wind near them, in a place that should have been empty.

  ...

  A biting chill numbed half her face.

  Mithra opened her eyes in the snow, finding herself half-buried.

  Shuffling—

  She pushed herself up, brushed the snow from her body, and checked her condition.

  Besides near-frostbite and some stiffness, she was fine; it would likely pass soon.

  She was on a mountain slope, the vast expanse of Hope Mountain before her.

  In a distant ravine, Mithra saw the silhouette of buildings.

  Recognizing the perspective, she realized that was the original location of “Snowwind Village.” Further beyond, the familiar hazy dream mist swirled.

  She was in a dream.

  Trembling, she activated the sleeping bird charm.

  With a flurry of movement, crunching footsteps approached; Elise, maintaining her usual composure, arrived.

  “Ms. Passerby, using the charm so quickly? I didn’t tell you about the charm's other uses so you could find a playground,” Miss Elise’s tone was still far from pleasant.

  “Customer service follow-up, Miss Elise,” Mithra, half-sitting in the snow, still unable to stand, looked up at Elise.

  Elise looked puzzled; Mithra explained how activating the sleeping bird charm had triggered a change, even initiating a dream.

  After listening, Elise pondered. “This…is unusual.”

  “Do you have any clues? This is the first time you've used it outside a dream, and the quality control is poor.”

  “Based on your description, I suspect that the dream entry was caused by another entity using the charm, not directly related to your use of it,” Elise said.

  “You mean something took advantage of the situation?”

  “There are many dream entry mediators. The most common is a strong mental collision that creates a Dreamscape Gap opening—similar to your previous two dream entries. The charm is a stable opening; if the willpower is strong enough, forcing entry into a dream through the charm isn’t difficult,” Elise explained.

  “Then, I’ll need your help again,” Mithra, her body fully recovered, stood up.

  Elise noticed Mithra’s priestly attire. Her expression turned strange. “That outfit…I can’t think of a better description than ‘blasphemous’ and ‘insane,’ Ms. Passerby.”

  “Is it pretty?”

  “Subjectively, I don’t want to compliment you, Ms. Passerby. Objectively, your skin tone does look good, and this bizarre outfit surprisingly complements you.”

  “Thank you for the compliment on my clothing,” Mithra responded casually, then asked, “By the way, this isn’t Dreamland; this is Planet Blue, the Enchanting Land I mentioned earlier. How is dream entry possible here?”

  Hearing this, Elise fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, “Dreamland and Planet Blue aren’t completely parallel; their unexpected intersections are complex; that's all I can say.”

  Mithra kept Elise's words in mind, avoiding further speculation.

  Such secrets concerning two worlds were difficult to unravel; she would investigate later.

  For now, if this was a dream, her actions would be the same as before.

  Mithra walked towards the distant village, Elise quietly following.

  Yang and the three streamers were also involved, yet they weren't here. She would need to find them.

  Although Elise stated the charm wasn't at fault, but a hidden entity was, the four were simply unlucky.

  The snowy landscape of Hope Mountain in the dream hadn’t changed significantly; the creatures moving around weren’t cursed entities, but wild animals.

  After traveling for a while, Snowwind Village appeared.

  The empty snowfield from twenty years ago was still desolate.

  As Mithra and Elise prepared to enter the village, they heard soft footsteps.

  A girl, about ten years old, wearing simple clothes, emerged from the village. Her small face was flushed from the cold; she looked at Mithra and Elise curiously.

  Her large, round eyes widened as she asked, “Who are you?”

  “Hello, I’m a traveling priest, here to help with mountain education,” Mithra said, glancing at Elise. “This is a nun.”

  Elise glanced at Mithra and remained silent, offering no confirmation.

  “Priest! Nun!” The little girl, her pronunciation slightly unclear, spoke with a heavy accent, but her eyes lit up. “So you’re the new teachers?”

  “Yes,” Mithra nodded gently.

  The girl clearly believed her; it was unclear whether this was due to Mithra’s outfit, or if this effect worked on dream inhabitants.

  “Teacher…no, Priest, Nun, I’ll take you to the village!” the girl said, her voice conveying urgency.

  “Thank you.”

  The girl eagerly led Mithra and Elise into the village.

  Along the way, she introduced herself.

  Her name was Yang Xue, a typical village child.

  “It’s been snowing heavily lately. Priest and Nun, you must be tired from traveling from the mountains. But many outsiders came today; the village is lively,” Yang Xue said with a genuine smile.

  “Others came to the village today?”

  “Yes, mountain climbers, mostly. Outsiders sometimes stay in the village; they’re mostly nice; they tell us about the outside world; it’s fun,” she said.

  Mithra nodded. “Are there many outsiders in the village?”

  “Usually, no,” Yang Xue shook her head. “Only the teacher; he came to our village a few years ago. I and my friends all like him.”

  Although Yang Xue wasn’t very articulate, she was eager to answer questions, giving Mithra a basic understanding of Snowwind Village.

  Deep in the snowy mountains, the secluded village had only one outsider in the children’s eyes—a teacher who had arrived a few years ago.

  This teacher was well-liked by the children.

  However, many adults in the village disliked him, considering him a deceitful outsider who would leave after the children grew up.

  As Yang Xue led Mithra and Elise into the village, a figure suddenly appeared—a middle-aged man dressed as a hunter, carrying a crude shotgun and a dead fox, presumably his prey.

  Due to her previous encounter in Gross Town, Mithra felt a primal urge to attack the hunter.

  Of course, this was a dream; she should remain calm.

  “Who are you?! Yang Lao Si, you’re wandering around outside the village…Stay away from them!” The man pointed his gun at them, but hesitated to abandon the fox.

  “Uncle, they’re a priest and a nun; they’re here to teach!” Yang Xue quickly explained.

  The man frowned. “Priest, nun…teaching? Why are they teaching here? Isn’t Zheng enough?”

  He didn’t lower his gun; his attitude remained unchanged. “Wait here; I’ll put this away and bring you to the village elder.”

  Mithra and Elise didn't object.

  However, when Yang Xue offered to guide them, the man shouted at her, sending her away.

  Yang Xue could only cautiously retreat, disappearing into an alley.

  “Don’t wander around; this isn’t the outside world. Outsiders, behave yourselves! I can shoot you and bury you anytime; you won’t have anywhere to cry,” the man threatened before hurrying away with his prey, leaving them at the village entrance.

  Watching him go, Elise said, “A classic example of insular prejudice. The village is probably like this. Should we consider a strategy?”

  “Let’s see. But, Miss Elise, this dream’s construction seems more detailed than the previous two; we’ve encountered two conscious beings operating within the dream’s logic, and we’re able to interact with them.”

  Mithra noticed the differences in this dream.

  “Yes, so it might be the most troublesome scenario,” Elise confirmed.

  “The level of dream detail is strongly correlated with the dream weaver; the specifics depend on the situation. Currently, we can't identify the dream weaver; this detailed dream easily distorts our judgment,” Elise said.

  Based on current information, they only knew this was a dream from Snowwind Village.

  But the dream's source was a specific conscious entity.

  With such detail and multiple interactive characters, identifying the dream weaver was incredibly difficult.

  Meeting the village elder soon would be a good opportunity; Mithra decided to wait.

  However, instead of the hunter, others arrived.

  “Mithra! You’re here!” a shout came; Yang rushed over.

  “Ke Yen” followed, still professionally filming.

  She hurried towards Mithra.

  “You’re that Mithra? I didn’t realize!” Ke Yen seemed to have just recognized Mithra’s online identity.

  “Not this time…Huh? Mithra, who is this?” Yang noticed Elise behind Mithra.

  Although her appearance was stunning, unlike any real person, like a finely crafted doll, her strangely colored eyes were slightly intimidating.

  Her composed demeanor somewhat softened this unusual appearance, but the overall impression was still unsettling.

  “Elise, our guide for this trip.” Elise, professional in the face of dream intruders, bowed slightly in introduction.

  “Guide? So you know what’s going on? We seem to be in Hope Mountain; we just asked about ‘Snowwind Village,’ but Snowwind Village was buried under snow twenty years ago,” Ke Yen, noticing Elise's unusual attire and appearance, asked.

  Before Elise could respond, Mithra said, “Where are the other two?”

  “We split up to look for clues. I’ll go get them,” Ke Yen offered.

  Mithra nodded, avoiding Elise repeating her earlier explanation.

  However, just as Ke Yen was about to leave, the hunter returned. “How did you get out? I told you not to wander around!”

  “Bad luck,” Ke Yen said with a click of her tongue.

  “We waited in the room for a while; you didn’t bring us food or water, so we went looking,” Yang explained calmly.

  The hunter frowned. “Wait patiently! You won't starve…Hey, outsiders, get back. You two, the priest and nun, right? Come on, I’ll take you to the village elder.”

  He largely ignored Yang and Ke Yen, dismissing them with a casual remark, then addressed Mithra and Elise.

  Mithra nodded in response.

  “What identities are you using, Mithra?” Yang whispered to Mithra.

  “Whatever I’m wearing,” Mithra replied calmly.

  “You’re a priest…?” Ke Yen, also hearing the exchange, looked at Mithra’s wildly patterned priestly attire, unsure what to say.

  Who would believe that outside this dream?

  Yang and Ke Yen shamelessly followed Mithra; the hunter grumbled a few times before giving up.

  Falling behind, Mithra learned about the four’s situation from Yang.

  They had woken up together in a different location, surrounded by a white mist. They hadn’t ventured in and had come to Snowwind Village.

  They arrived before Mithra but, unlike Mithra’s encounter with Yang Xue, they had immediately encountered hostile villagers.

  They were treated to a full dose of prejudice.

  They'd introduced themselves as lost mountain climbers seeking shelter during the blizzard.

  Although treated harshly, they weren’t forcibly expelled; they were given a small, drafty room.

  Still, they felt uneasy about this and started gathering clues.

  Then, they encountered Mithra and Elise at the village entrance.

  “Our experiences seriously violate Planet Blue’s Miracle regulations; it was bizarre,” Ke Yen shook her head.

  Yang looked at Mithra, wanting to speak but hesitant.

  “Ask if you have questions,” Mithra said, though not looking at him.

  “Before we passed out, it seemed like you activated a charm…” Yang said uncertainly.

  “The charm was for investigating the Snow Flower Demon, but this incident is somehow related to me. I don’t know the specifics,” Mithra replied honestly.

  Yang breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

  He didn't want to suspect Mithra, but he couldn't help it; Mithra’s frankness eased his mind.

  Ke Yen said, “Investigating the Snow Flower Demon? You’re brave. Even in Planet Blue, that was a Wandering God!”

  “Aren’t you also here to seek your own demise?” Yang retorted, defending Mithra.

  “We did our research. The Snow Flower Demon is long dead; its remnants are scattered throughout Hope Mountain, barely capable of creating cursed entities. Even under these conditions, it would take thousands of years to reach its peak power from twenty years ago,” Ke Yen said confidently.

  “Then you got dragged into this bizarre situation,” Yang added.

  Ke Yen was speechless, frustrated. “Ugh, this stream is cut off; all that preparation wasted; this interruption will affect my views. I can only record a video, but video views are lower than live streams; frustrating.”

  “This is a dream; the video might not record anything,” Mithra said.

  “What? A dream? Don’t scare me!” Ke Yen’s face paled; she panicked.

  Wasn’t this entire trip a waste? They didn’t even know if they’d return safely!

  “Not necessarily. If the desire to record is strong enough, the most impressive images can still be preserved,” Elise unexpectedly interjected.

  Mithra was slightly surprised. “It can?”

  “Dreams can manifest ‘wish fulfillment,’ given the right conditions,” Elise said, looking at Mithra.

  Mithra pondered this.

  Ke Yen found some solace, though limited.

  Following Elise’s advice, she kept whispering, “Record it! Record it! It must record! Don’t let all this effort be wasted!”

  She’d never felt such a strong desire to have her camera record anything.

  At that moment, the hunter led them to a large brick house, more impressive than other buildings in the village.

  He shouted a few times; soon, a bundled-up old man emerged from the courtyard.

  The hunter spoke to the old man, occasionally glancing at Mithra and the others.

  After a while, the hunter stepped aside; the old man approached. “Ah, Reverend, and Nun. We’re grateful you’ve traveled to our remote Snowwind Village to teach. It’s an honor. I’m the village elder, Yang Zhi Ping. Please show me your teaching credentials.”

  He spoke politely, appearing cultured and knowledgeable about priests and nuns.

  His final words, however, were telling. Elise looked at Mithra, seeking her intentions.

  She hadn’t expected such logical consistency from a dream inhabitant; casual deception seemed impossible.

  “Yes, please have a look.” Mithra handed two documents to the village elder.

  Elise: ???

  She was stunned.

  How did Mithra do that? When?

  Suddenly, she looked at the designs on Mithra’s priestly robe; the images seemed to flicker to life, but in an instant, it seemed like an illusion.

  This robe…

  Although she’d noticed something strange about Mithra’s outfit earlier, she hadn’t paid much attention; after all, Mithra’s clothes had always been unique.

  Clearly, she had made a mistake.

  This robe, within the dream’s logic, possessed a hidden power capable of directly altering the dream’s reality!

  “Given the right conditions, ‘wish fulfillment’ is possible, right? Indeed, very persuasive,” Mithra glanced back at Elise, lightly touching the amulet.

  Despite knowing Mithra's true nature, everyone felt she was a gentle priest.

  Persuasive.

  ...

  The village elder received the documents, pulling out a pair of glasses from his chest pocket to examine them.

  After a while, he looked up. “I see. You’ve traveled far to our small village; you’ve endured hardship. Your willingness to come here at such a young age is truly commendable. I thank you on behalf of the children.”

  Mithra responded politely; the village elder put away the documents, his gaze shifting to Yang and Ke Yen.

  He looked at the hunter, who nodded subtly. The elder said, “You’re the tourists who arrived this morning.”

  Yang quickly nodded.

  “Snowwind Village is small; we wish to live peacefully. We welcome tourists, but please respect our rules. Leave when the blizzard ends,” the elder said with a frown.

  Even though he appeared calm, he didn't seem entirely pleased with the intrusion.

  After a brief farewell, the elder, seemingly with pressing matters, left with surprisingly brisk steps for his age.

  The hunter said, “I’ll take you to the village school.”

  ...

  The village school consisted of a single building and a courtyard. The courtyard was spacious, but when Mithra and the others arrived, it was in disarray, clearly neglected.

  Thick snow, rocks, branches, and other debris littered the area.

  “There are empty rooms in the building behind you; choose one. This is the school; stay here and teach; don’t wander around, and you’ll be fine. If you have questions, ask Zheng,”

  The hunter turned and left, unwilling to linger.

  After he left, Yang muttered, “What’s with this village? It’s like some kind of base. My village was much more relaxed.”

  Ke Yen filmed the surroundings, commenting, “Typical of isolated mountain villagers. I’ve seen this during my livestreams; in extreme cases, they’ll attack outsiders they dislike.”

  Mithra entered the courtyard; sounds emerged from inside, and a figure approached.

  Upon seeing the figure, Mithra’s eyes widened in surprise.

  Yang exclaimed, “Professor Zheng?!”

  The figure looked at Yang questioningly. “Who are you?”

  It was Zheng Zhan.

  The ice Miracle professor from Hope University; here, in this dream of Snowwind Village from twenty years ago.

  Not a dream intruder, but a fictional conscious entity within this dream.

  Zheng Zhan, twenty years ago, was likely in his late teens or early twenties.

  Zheng Zhan was a genius in a pre-internet era; otherwise, his talent would be constantly discussed online in modern Planet Blue.

  Yang was aware of Zheng Zhan's impressive background; he'd spent much of his college career pestering him for guidance on death ice Miracles.

  Yet, he hadn't expected that at such a young age, Zheng Zhan would have the ability and dedication to come to this remote location to teach?!

  This Zheng Zhan was identical to the Zheng Zhan in Mithra and Yang's memories.

  There were no visible signs of aging.

  This was somewhat unbelievable.

  A believer’s advancement doesn't extend lifespan; one needs Miracles to defy fate. Even Clarity or Illusion believers would age; at best, they could maintain their physical condition in Dreamland using Reinforce Body, extending their lives to the human limit.

  Zheng Zhan showed no signs of aging; if it were attributed to talent alone, it was exceptional.

  Mithra recalled an advanced ice Miracle symbol—Stillness.

  This was a powerful symbol; based on Mithra’s understanding, there was an ice Miracle called “Time Freeze.”

  Using ice Miracles to temporarily stop time was quite common.

  “Stillness” could encompass that level of effect.

  Zheng Zhan's condition made Mithra consider this.

  Seeing Zheng Zhan's confusion, Yang realized this wasn’t the Zheng Zhan he knew, but a figure from twenty years prior.

  But Professor Zheng had been in Snowwind Village?

  He felt he'd stumbled upon a significant secret.

  “Hello, this lady and I are a priest and a nun from the Lai Chi Church, traveling and training while serving society,” Mithra said calmly, explaining their purpose.

  Learning that they were also from the Lai Chi Church, Zheng Zhan was surprised. “This forsaken place…others are willing to come? I haven’t received any news.”

  His tone was slightly lighter than his present-day self, but his directness remained the same.

  “It’s been snowing heavily lately; communication is difficult,” Mithra said.

  Zheng Zhan nodded, showing no further suspicion. “That's true. I haven’t gone down the mountain in a long time; external communication has been cut off. Come in; it’s going to snow heavily soon.”

  The snow was falling more heavily than when Mithra had woken up.

  Zheng Zhan led them inside, learning about Yang and the streamers' identities along the way, expressing sympathy and concern.

  A simple stove burned in the room; after entering, Zheng Zhan added more wood, intensifying the warmth.

  “How long will you teach here?” Zheng Zhan sat on a wooden chair; various teaching materials lay on the desk. The village teachers taught all subjects; while sufficient for the children, it was still demanding.

  “Indeterminate; it depends on the situation,” Mithra replied.

  Zheng Zhan nodded. “Conditions here are poor; the adults are very prejudiced. The children are simple, but over time, even initial curiosity can turn into mischief.”

  “Understood.”

  “My personal advice is to leave. But, since you’re here, experiencing it won't hurt. I’m ending my term this year; I’ll leave the church at the beginning of next year. If you can take over for a while, I won't worry.” Zheng Zhan, even at a young age, was stoic; his expression remained unchanged throughout the conversation, similar to Mithra.

  “How long have you been here?” Mithra asked.

  “Not long; two years,” Zheng Zhan replied casually.

  “Staying here for a week would be impressive,” Ke Yen whispered.

  “Is there anything unusual about this place?” Mithra asked.

  “Unusual? What do you mean?” Zheng Zhan looked at Mithra.

  “For example, do the villagers have any unusual activities? I’ve heard such things are common in remote areas,” Mithra asked calmly.

  “…Yes, I think their activities are less strange than your outfit, Reverend,” Zheng Zhan replied after a moment's thought.

  Ke Yen and Yang couldn't help but laugh.

  Mithra shrugged.

  “The villagers don’t like me wandering around; the area between the school and the village entrance is my usual range. If I leave that area, they’ll try to drive me away,” Zheng Zhan explained seriously.

  “They dare to attack? Don't you know Miracles?” Yang blurted out.

  Zheng Zhan looked at him sharply. “How do you know?”

  Yang realized his mistake.

  Zheng Zhan’s desk lacked Miracle-related materials; the foundational Miracle education of twenty years ago wasn’t as developed as today; this village wouldn't need Miracle education.

  This was their first meeting, yet Yang had revealed Zheng Zhan’s knowledge of Miracles.

  Zheng Zhan frowned, considering something.

  “We are believers; he has sensitive perception; he likely sensed your life force,” Mithra interjected.

  Hearing this, Zheng Zhan’s frown eased. “I see. That's true. Traveling here in such a heavy blizzard isn’t something ordinary people could do.”

  The matter was settled.

  They chatted with Zheng Zhan for a while.

  Yang and Ke Yen remained quiet, fearing another misstep; the conversation was mainly between Mithra and Zheng Zhan.

  After learning about the village, Yang and Ke Yen returned to their dilapidated room to rejoin the others.

  Mithra and Elise accompanied them part of the way.

  Zheng Zhan said, “Be careful in the village. Even as believers, you're no different from ordinary people without Miracles. Many villagers have firearms.”

  They looked at Zheng Zhan, who stood silently at the courtyard entrance, watching them.

  They felt he was implying something.

  They finally parted ways.