Chapter 28: The Savage Boar Demon Wreaks Havoc

A force that truly possesses the power to threaten must be kept in check; and when one is powerless to do so, even if the other seems harmless, vigilance must never be relaxed.

Ye Chen carefully suppressed the deep-seated malice he felt toward Ning Taohua, pretending to be utterly unconcerned.

The Void Realm rumbled, no longer appearing as a single grand domain. Around its periphery, it seemed enveloped by waves of chaotic energy, like a vast sea of primordial chaos, within which the so-called grand domains were scattered like stars.

Crystalline, radiant mists transformed into nourishment, unable to be fully absorbed in a short span, yet all gathered within the Void Realm. No matter how things changed, everything remained contained within this vessel.

Ye Chen did not merge that grand domain with the land beneath his feet—the land where he had first begun his cultivation. This was the place he lingered most; he had no intention of mingling excessively with the characters spawned from dreams, nor did he allow others to trespass here.

“This is merely the initial emergence of its sharp edge, not yet displaying overwhelming dominance,” Ning Taohua remarked with a soft laugh. “The most crucial aspect is likely that time within the dream is not equivalent to time outside. Within your domain of authority, a single instant can span a thousand years—such feats are not difficult.”

“To alter the flow of time in reality is nigh impossible, but in this illusory dream, you are the absolute sovereign.”

There was a trace of awe in her tone. “Though it is false, one can cultivate truth through illusion, amassing a deep foundation. Your Dream Butterfly clan is truly blessed—no wonder you are shunned by heaven and earth, allowed only seven days of life, with the great limit difficult to break. If ever freed from the shackles of heavenly lifespan, it would be like a trapped dragon soaring to the heavens, impossible to restrain.”

“You exaggerate, truly exaggerate,” Ye Chen replied quickly. “It’s much too early to speak of such things. Who knows what results will actually be achieved?”

Despite his words, Ye Chen had already made a certain decision.

“This Bamboo Tribe has suffered heavy losses; those who remain are deeply lacking. It’s just right to bring them here—let them enter the dream tonight and endure the baptism of war. I trust they’ll gain some growth.”

This was a sudden idea. The tribesmen were indeed weak; originally, Ye Chen had planned to slowly train them in days to come, but time might not be sufficient.

“Where is this place?” Ya shuddered, nearly frightened out of his wits. He’d been lying down, so how was he suddenly in the wild?

A wild boar snorted nearby, making Ya’s face turn pale. The boar was shrouded in black vapor, its flesh torn open, exposing white bones.

“A monster!” The air grew colder, and Ya screamed, terrified, fleeing towards the tribe.

Boom!

Fortunately, the tribe reacted swiftly; in an instant, bamboo knives slashed down.

Ya dodged to the side, rolled on the ground, barely escaping the blades. What was going on? Killing the wild boar was understandable, but were they planning to kill him as well?

Ya felt a chill in his heart, finally realizing what was happening. Staring at his tribesmen, his eyes nearly popped.

“How is this possible? You were all dead!”

Ya was dumbfounded. The chieftain’s cold voice echoed.

“You are pathetic—a single wild boar has frightened you senseless.”

The chieftain, upon entering the dream, understood immediately that this was the work of the Spirit Butterfly.

He took no unnecessary action, simply searching for the shaman—thankfully, he found her. The Spirit Butterfly had not discriminated against the shaman, which eased the chieftain’s heart.

Of course, this did not mean the Spirit Butterfly bore no grudge against the shaman, but it was at least a good start.

The chieftain fixed a disdainful gaze on Ya, thoroughly displeased. If Ya truly lacked the power to contend with the wild boar monster, so be it—such differences in strength are understandable. But Ya possessed enough strength to face the wild boar monster; even if defeated, he should have put up a fight. To panic so disgracefully was embarrassing for the chieftain.

“Chieftain, what is happening?” Ya still did not understand, but the chieftain would not explain, nor could he reveal the Spirit Butterfly’s secret.

“Here, you cannot truly die. If you lack courage, die a few more times.”

The chieftain did not fully comprehend the dream, but he could guess the gist. This was a grand training; even if one fell here, it would not be the end.

Their true bodies remained fast asleep. The chieftain was not particularly worried.

He glanced indifferently at Ya, then ignored him. Since this was training, the timid must develop courage, the brutes must gain wisdom, the stubborn must learn to be wary.

Otherwise, suffering here was inevitable.

The wild boar was extraordinary, black light radiating from its body, exuding an ominous aura.

Ye Chen had thrown the wild boar monster in, intending to watch a fierce battle between man and beast.

The shaman was not focused on the wild boar monster, but on the surrounding mountains and forests, deeply astonished.

It seemed as though the outside world had been brought in; lacking the insight to discern illusion from reality, the shaman felt this place was a world unto itself.

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“No wonder the Spirit Bamboo was ultimately defeated,” the shaman murmured, heart trembling as she saw many tribesmen who had died long ago—all familiar faces.

“Can those who died truly return?” she wondered, hesitating to ask Ye Chen.

After some contemplation, she resolved to speak, but a gentle voice entered her mind.

“These people are merely shaped by your memories, not truly real.”

“But to say they are entirely false would not be accurate.”

Her expression grew bleak; it was only natural—resurrection is an outright impossibility.

Ye Chen explained, “A person has three deaths: first, when their lifespan ends; second, after burial, when there is no longer a place for them in this world; and third, when they are forgotten by all.”

“In this sense, those shaped from your memories are not entirely unrelated to the true individuals.”

The shaman nodded, remaining calm and silent, but abruptly lunged at the nearest tribesman.

That tribesman had long been dead, yet here seemed alive, as if truly resurrected.

The shaman’s arm passed through the tribesman’s body—it burst like a bubble at a touch.

Her eyes reddened instantly; such a change ought to have drawn attention from other tribesmen, but only the living cared. The dead paid no heed to what had happened.

She sighed softly, finally accepting reality.

The wild boar monster was ferocious, its crimson eyes biting and killing many.

Ye Chen intended to use it to train the tribesmen; since death in the dream meant nothing, they could die and revive many times, thus gaining growth.

The wild boar monster was powerful, but not invincible. In reality, it existed between illusion and substance; ordinary mortals could not hope to overcome it.

But here in the Void Realm, Ye Chen’s authority was supreme. He set a command, causing the wild boar monster’s form to become fixed, creating a weakness.

After all, Ye Chen would not make it utterly unassailable, else it would not be training, merely slaughter.

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