The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

No news had come back for three days, nor had anyone been seen.

Its companions in the yard had no news for it either. They, too, feared the two-legged monster would come for them next.

So, it decided not to wait any longer. It was time to enact the escape plan it had already prepared.

A pity for its brother, who would now never escape this godforsaken place.

Only the rivers were their home.

’Almost there. The exit is just ahead.’ The eyes of the Poisonous Water Head Child filled with hope.

With a powerful leap, it launched itself forward, transforming into a phantom shadow that shot past the iron gate—only to be snatched by a slender, fair hand.

An expression of pure despair crossed the Poisonous Water Head Child’s face. It began to wail, ”Please, don’t eat me! Don’t eat me! I was wrong! I’ll never try to run away again!”

The other Dream Creatures who had been watching—plants rooted in the black soil—hastily covered their faces and turned away, not daring to look any longer.

Their trembling bodies were a clear sign of their absolute terror of the figure in the black Wizard Robe.

They began to whisper amongst themselves.

”It’s over, it’s over! Its escape plan failed. Now it’s surely going to die at the hands of that monster.”

”Who knew this monster would be so powerful? It just keeps getting stronger. It’s probably no weaker than the scarecrow now. Too bad the scarecrow is still asleep. If it woke up and found out this two-legged monster stole its rice, now *that* would be interesting.”

”Yeah, yeah! They should fight! Kill this two-legged monster! He’s a demon! He’s bullied so many of our brothers and sisters, and even dragged them into that house to be dismembered!”

The one speaking was a pitch-black, mantis-like plant with large, peculiar eyeballs that moved like a crab’s.

Its tone was filled with resentment, as if it had experienced such a thing firsthand.

The surrounding plants looked at it with sympathy. Its wife had been dragged into that house by the vile, two-legged monster. As it happened, the pair had the ability to sense one another, so it knew everything that had occurred inside.

”Even the Poisonous Water Head Child was caught... what are we supposed to do? It had four legs and ran so fast. Are we all just doomed to fall into that two-legged monster’s clutches and be dismembered?”

”The heavens must be blind. Why would such a monster be allowed to exist?”

Wang Ya paid no mind to the whispers of his ”experimental materials.” With his keen senses, he could clearly discern who was saying what, but it didn’t matter to him.

He held the Poisonous Water Head Child and, under the sympathetic gazes of the other plants, walked into the laboratory.

The laboratory had been completely transformed. Various incubation pods now held corresponding Dream Creatures. Some were preserved as specimens, while others were kept alive, submerged in nutrient fluids.

Wang Ya tossed the Poisonous Water Head Child into one of the pods.

It had been crying and screaming ever since Wang Ya caught it. Its terror intensified when it saw the limbs of other Dream Creatures preserved in jars and vials, and its wails grew so loud that even Wang Ya’s brow furrowed in annoyance.

SNAP!

With a snap of his fingers, the Poisonous Water Head Child’s mouth was sealed shut by some unknown Ability.

Much quieter now.

Wang Ya nodded lightly. His Spiritual Power and Dream Power were now far stronger than when he first arrived, both in terms of mastery and fine control.

Before, a spell like that would have likely turned the Poisonous Water Head Child into a pile of pulp.

He left the laboratory and went to his study.

Sitting in his chair, Wang Ya picked up a quill and began to write.

He wrote about his understanding of the Dream World, cataloging the specific data from his research on various Dream Creatures and the conclusions he had drawn.

After half a month of acclimating, he had almost completely blended into the life of the Illusory Dream Garden, becoming nearly indistinguishable from the other Dream Creatures.

He ate Golden Ant Rice and drank from the Seven-Color Clear Spring Water found at the far-right edge of the Illusory Dream Garden. The water, which came in various flavors, had the Effect of calming the mind and quickening one’s thoughts.

His entire aura and State had become harmonized with the Dream World itself.

Gradually, he found that his Dream Sense was expanding; he could see and hear much more than before.

The colors were no longer the distorted mess they once were; they were gradually becoming more coherent, revealing a certain pattern.

The Dream World, though bizarre and fantastical, was not without its own logic. He suspected this order was related to the dreams of living beings.

A person’s dream is filled with uncertain, ever-changing illusions.

Wang Ya set down his quill. His black pupils shone with a bright luster, and his skin had become exceptionally fair. A closer look would reveal that his skin was veiled by a faint, silvery-white luminescence.

’Teacher, I believe I have a clear path forward now. It is all thanks to your manuscripts, which have guided me.’

Wang Ya spoke aloud, not caring whether the Illusory Dream Wizard could hear him.

The serious expression on his face was matched by the dense script filling the record book before him.

At the very top was a specific roadmap for a new path.

[Dream Duality Project]

[Objective: To finalize the specific direction of the Dream Wizard Path, enabling a tangible existence in reality and the manifestation of Extraordinary Power.]

[Details: Through the study of Dream Creatures, discover and strengthen their connection to the Dream World. Enable this connection to bridge into reality, thereby creating an alternative Dream Territory and allowing for the extended projection of a Dream Wizard’s power.]