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Chapter 62: If the problem cannot be solved, then solve…

“Qiu Niu…?”

The Priestess suddenly paused for a moment.

Right, the deep valley resonating with immortal sounds that cannot be entered… she had seen such a description in that book, “Journey to Seek Immortals.”

The name Valley of Immortal Sound had indeed been mentioned there.

The author of that book was a powerful figure who, by chance, found the entrance to the Valley of Immortal Sound but was blocked by some force, unable to enter. When he returned fully prepared, he could no longer find this mysterious place.

Of course, that was the real Valley of Immortal Sound, and perhaps that’s why the situation is slightly different now.

At that time, the stele at the valley’s entrance recorded not examination criteria but information related to the Nine Sons of the Dragon, particularly the firstborn, Qiu Niu.

Qiu Niu was the first child of the Ancestor Dragon, inheriting its outstanding talents in literature and music. Naturally fond of music, it was said to frequent places where exquisite immortal sounds lingered.

Though not inclined towards battle, Qiu Niu still possessed great power inherited from the Ancestor Dragon, being regarded as the guardian beast of the arts.

It was also the only elder brother of Ya Zi.

“Are you saying Qiu Niu is here?”

The ferocious beast lowered its blood-red eyes, examining the stele leading into the valley. Its body gradually shrank until it was about the same height as Miss Vilyric, roughly the size of a tiger, before it spoke surprisingly.

[Qiu Niu is dead.]

“…?”

[Hah, the demon chaos a thousand years ago swept through the entire Ancient Spirit Realm continent, and we Nine Sons of the Dragon became prime targets for those monsters. The demons back then were far more formidable than those borne from the evil aura in that inner sea, with some even having power comparable to mine.]

[We, descendants of the Ancestor Dragon, are proud by nature and have never cared to accompany other spirit beasts or recruit followers, and neither did my brother Qiu Niu.]

[At that time, three holy-level demons attacked the Valley of Immortal Sound where he resided. A fierce battle erupted there; in the fight, two of the three demons were severely injured, but Qiu Niu fell while protecting the valley from destruction.]

[Though we Nine Sons have different personalities and seldom interact, I only learned of this from Yuan Qianqiu later, and it’s truly lamentable.]

“Well then…”

Miss Vilyric nodded but refrained from offering any comfort.

Although Ya Zi and Qiu Niu hailed from the Ancestor Dragon, their relationship seemed much thinner than that of normal brothers. Even the fact that their elder brother was killed took a long time for them to learn. It seemed that after that, they had never come to the Valley of Immortal Sound to mourn either.

However, it was better not to meddle in their brotherly matters.

“So, about those three questions up there, can you come up with a solution?”

[Of course, my lord, please wait a moment.]

“Oh!”

Seeing Little Ya’s confident demeanor that screamed “no problem,” the Priestess immediately felt her spirits lift and quickly stepped back to give space for the other to operate. What shocked her was that the latter tilted its head and glanced a few times at the illuminated display…

It decisively raised its paw and slapped the stele!

“Bang!!!”

Like glass struck by a heavy hammer, the stele shattered into fragments under the massive claw, and the illuminated display marking the questions shattered as well, scattering into motes of light.

“…Eh?!”

Ya Zi turned back, expression still plain.

[My lord, you are a great chosen one, with countless fortunes upon you, the fate of the Ancient Spirit Realm also rests in your hands. Being able to visit this backwoods is already a tremendous honor for them. It’s only natural they didn’t formally welcome you; how dare they trouble you with such nonsense questions?]

[This is merely a surreal dream crafted based on the true Valley of Immortal Sound. Even if Qiu Niu were still here, upon your arrival – my lord Ya Zi – he would have to bow his head in respect, let alone this thing now?]

“Uh, you do have a point, but after all, we’re outsiders, and being so rough isn’t exactly ideal…”

[You don’t understand; flower demons are the type to seek fame for their name, fearing the strong while bullying the weak. Before bringing you here, did they ask for any opinions from you?]

The ferocious beast let out a low roar and took steps forward, crossing over the completely shattered stele.

[Please follow me; let Ya Zi clear the way for you.]

“Alright, fine.”

Truly fearsome and respected by many, the ferocious beast Ya Zi was indeed impressive.

Though it was somewhat weaker than the Little Dragon Daughter, the dominance and toughness it exuded were not lacking in any way.

Following behind the new pet, the girl ventured deeper into the valley.

Although she had just smashed the stone used to check qualifications in such a domineering manner, perhaps as Ya Zi suggested, the other party just liked to bully the weak, playing tricks on those who followed rules, while someone as formidable as this ferocious beast evoked fear and reverence, causing them to dare not utter a word.

No creatures or mechanisms in the valley came out to stop Vilyric and Ya Zi from advancing inward.

The ethereal music echoing around them became increasingly clearer as one person and one beast went deeper into the valley, and the scenery gradually unveiled itself before Vilyric.

A riot of blossoms, a fairyland.

Colorful, fragrant exotic flowers bloomed in competition, growing more unique the further they went inward. Some were graceful and elegant, calm and restrained, while others were splendidly extravagant, vibrant and dripping with color, and some were pure and flawless, standing independently among the flowers, like breathtaking belles boasting distinct charms, enchanting to behold.

This Valley of Immortal Sound turned out to be a flower valley.

While walking, Vilyric suddenly spotted a familiar figure.

“Murong Yun?”

Noticing the other, the white-clad man was sitting on a stone platform by the roadside, quietly conversing with a certain pale white flower emitting a fresh, natural fragrance. From his smile, he appeared to be in quite a good mood.

What is this guy doing?

She initially planned to greet him, but the Priestess was taken aback and glanced again at the obviously extraordinary flower, suddenly conjuring a certain suspicion in her mind.

Wait, could it be…

[My lord, that’s a flower demon.]

Ya Zi, walking beside her, revealed the answer.

[This is the flower demon’s dream-inviting technique, using its petals, pollen, and fragrance as mediums to draw beings into dreams from thousands of miles away and absorb their vital essence to nourish itself. In this person’s eyes, this flower probably embodies the image of a young woman.]

“Eh…?”

So it really is like that…

In other words, Murong Yun was chatting with this flower-coalesced maiden in a dream. The majority of those who were sent into the dream on the Joyous Fairy Ship should be in a similar state.

This might be the truth behind the so-called “Joyous Flower Gathering.”

Joyous Fairy, Flower Gathering… quite an apt naming indeed.

Now, this dream should be a fusion of the spirits of all present, mixed together by the dream-inviting technique, and such an intensely subjective, reality-like dream naturally has a dream master.

“…”

Combining this with the earlier scene where Mengrui drew others into dreams while also asleep, this dream master was highly likely her.

Although Vilyric could see through the fog thanks to her stronger divine consciousness, from Murong Yun’s perspective, he probably wouldn’t notice certain things.

Otherwise, he would have already stood up to greet Vilyric by now.

Hmm… it feels a bit like single-player vs. multiplayer.

“Ya Zi, does this flower demon’s dream-inviting technique cause significant harm to the creatures from whom it absorbs nutrients?”

The ferocious beast shook its head.

[That depends on the flower demon’s own intention and the depth of the dreamer’s immersion. This technique has limited coercion; generally, if the dreamer senses a strong sense of crisis and maintains their will, they can escape on their own. Thus, most flower demons only absorb a portion of essence while providing a splendid dream.]

[For this person’s spiritual strength, the most he will feel is slight fatigue; he can fully recover in a few days.]