Chapter 2499: The Great Dream of No Extremes

"Da Meng Wu Ji." Ye Chen murmured to himself as he took the ancient scroll from the bookshelf.

On it was a seal marked with the words "Jin Fa."

He wasn't surprised by this. The Meng Dao Xian Fa was different from ordinary Xian Fa, involving the realms of illusion and reality. If one wasn't careful, they could suffer Qi deviation, fall into a state of confusion, and even descend into chaos. Moreover, this Xian Fa was incomplete, and the Hua Shan Pai had classified it as a forbidden technique, which was entirely expected.

Ye Chen brushed his hand over it, removing the seal on the secret scroll, and gently opened the pages. Inside, there were words, but they appeared hazy and indistinct. Even with his keen eyesight, he found it hard to make them out clearly.

As he looked, his mind was drawn into it.

When he reappeared, he was in a misty world. Amid the swirling clouds and fog, he could vaguely see a vast realm with towering mountains, winding rivers, and swirling Xian Qi, like a true immortal paradise.

Ye Chen sat cross-legged, quietly listening to the ethereal heavenly sounds, all insights from his predecessors.

He had delved into the Dao of Dreams before.

In this domain, he was far inferior to Ji Ning Shuang, who could dream back to the Zhutian from another universe—a feat he couldn't achieve. Naturally, when it came to the mysteries of reincarnation, Ji Ning Shuang was no match for him. If Ji Ning Shuang were thrown into the Qiannian Da Chu, she probably couldn't return.

This time, he was testing the Meng Dao Xian Fa himself, not only to gain his own understanding but also for Ji Ning Shuang. Immortal laws of the dream path were rare in the world, and he wouldn't pass up this opportunity. If he could deduce this incomplete Meng Dao Xian Fa to its complete form, that would be the ultimate merit.

Speaking of Ji Ning Shuang, he couldn't help but think of that gentle wife. Among all his wives, the one from Yao Chi doted on him the most—at least she wouldn't beat him every few days.

If he was lucky, he might even get some benefits, like that in his dreams.

Putting those thoughts aside, he cleared his mind and focused on enlightenment.

Unfortunately, he had underestimated the Dao of Dreams. It was full of illusions and realities, truths and deceptions, with so many elusive principles that were hard to grasp. Even with his talents, he couldn't find the true origin of this law.

He sat there for another month.

By then, the clone he had left on the seventh level of the Zang Jing Ge had already dissipated. Afterward, his clones returned one by one, having gone through every single scroll in the Zang Jing Ge.

"This little stone is really diligent."

Di Yuan Zhen Ren propped his chin with one hand and muttered quietly. Ye Chen's Dao scripture was still with him, and this guy wasn't even thinking about enlightenment. Instead, he was fixated on the Hua Shan Xian Zi, always trying to woo her.

However, even though Di Yuan Zhen Ren was the head of the Zang Jing Ge, he didn't have the token to go up to the eighth level, and Ye Chen hadn't come down at all, showing no consideration for him whatsoever.

During this time, quite a few old folks came by, but they all left disappointed.

There were also many disciples, especially the true transmission disciples, who were particularly eager. There were always those thrill-seekers who didn't believe in bad omens and wanted to challenge Ye Chen to test his Tan Yi Shan technique.

Di Yuan Zhen Ren looked at them with slanted eyes. The first true transmission disciple had already been beaten—what gave them the confidence? Were they just asking for a beating? Or were they just bored and itching for trouble?

In the second month, the Hua Shan Xian Zi awoke. The moment she opened her eyes, a flash of enlightenment shone forth, making her gaze even deeper, infused with a profound Dao essence. Her month of comprehension was no mere opportunity—it was akin to defying heaven and fate. The door Ye Chen had opened for her was truly boundless in its mysteries.

"Who exactly is your master?"

Hua Shan Xian Zi murmured softly, convinced that there was some great expert behind Ye Chen. His level of Dao insight was extraordinary, and his alchemy skills were terrifyingly advanced. No one would believe such talents came without guidance.

As she spoke, she suddenly saw the light door tremble, and Ye Chen descended.

However, what made Hua Shan Xian Zi raise an eyebrow was that Ye Chen had his eyes closed. He clutched an ancient scroll in one hand and was mumbling to himself, walking without watching where he was going. He knocked over row after row of bookshelves. It looked like he was sleepwalking—or rather, he was indeed sleepwalking.

Hua Shan Xian Zi's delicate brows furrowed slightly. Glancing at the scroll in Ye Chen's hand, she instantly understood. He must have rashly tried to comprehend the Meng Dao and had fallen into it, unable to extricate himself.

Such incidents weren't unheard of in the past. Even the goddesses of Hua Shan had experienced this before, which was why their predecessors had classified Da Meng Wu Ji as a forbidden technique.

As she thought this, another row of bookshelves toppled over.

"Little stone?"

Hua Shan Xian Zi stepped forward and called out softly.

Unfortunately, Ye Chen didn't respond. If he were just asleep, she could wake him, but the problem was that his mind was trapped in the Meng Dao, and simple calling wouldn't bring him back.

Helpless, Hua Shan Xian Zi took out her Su Qin and plucked the strings.

A melodious tune rang out—it was a awakening immortal melody. Though not as profound as the Jiu You Xian Qu, it was still exceptionally remarkable. In the past, she had used this to awaken a goddess who had fallen into the Meng Dao.

And indeed, her music worked.

Ye Chen stopped upon hearing it, slowly opening his eyes. His divine sea was in chaos, and his consciousness was muddled. He shook his head vigorously, seeing stars everywhere.

"Awake now?"

Hua Shan Xian Zi smiled, finally breathing a sigh of relief. It would be a shame to lose such a talent to the Meng Dao and turn him into a fool.

"What a profound Dao of Dreams."

Ye Chen rubbed his brow, his voice filled with shock. The fact that it could trap his mind showed just how terrifying Da Meng Wu Ji was. Without Hua Shan Xian Zi's help, who knows when he might have awakened—or he could have been eternally lost in the dream realm.

"Didn't you see the 'Jin Fa' label? And you still dared to practice it."

Hua Shan Xian Zi said as she took back the Da Meng Wu Ji scroll. It truly was a bewitching Xian Fa. In the history of Hua Shan Pai, whenever someone with exceptional talent, like the current goddess, tried to comprehend it, they all ended up sleepwalking their way out. Each one thought they could master the Meng Dao, but in the end, none succeeded.

What Ye Chen and the current goddess experienced was still mild. There was once a goddess who boasted of her supreme talents and secretly studied it for a hundred years, only to end up deranged and never regaining sanity, leaving a lifetime of regrets.

"Senior, who created Da Meng Wu Ji?"

Ye Chen asked curiously.

"The ninth-generation head of Hua Shan."

Hua Shan Xian Zi waved her hand, sending the secret scroll back to the ninth level.

"Since it was created by a predecessor, why wasn't the complete version left behind?"

"The ninth-generation head suffered backlash from the Meng Dao in his later years and fell into confusion. He destroyed Da Meng Wu Ji himself. To this day, no one has truly comprehended it. Instead, many disciples and elders have gone mad because of it, which is why it was classified as a forbidden technique."

"What a pity."

Ye Chen sighed. Such a fine Meng Dao Xian Fa had been ruined just like that.

"Come, take a look at this first."

Hua Shan Xian Zi handed him another ancient scroll. Inside were various portraits, all of beautiful women, each with graceful figures and peerless looks.

Ye Chen glanced over them and nearly thought it was a collector's edition. Well, if they were all undressed, it would be. The Zhutian had many beauties, the Ming Jie had many seductresses, and the Tian Jie was a prime place for immortal maidens—each one was stunning, leaving him dazzled.

"Pick one, and I'll arrange the match for you."

Hua Shan Xian Zi said with a smile.

Ye Chen looked up and immediately understood what she meant. She was helping him choose a wife!

No wonder—this talent of his was too eye-catching, like a hot commodity. As a senior, she had thought of everything, even his lifelong matters. How thoughtful.

"I already have a wife."

Ye Chen took a deep breath and said it with utmost sincerity and righteousness.

He was joking—if he brought back a woman from the Tian Jie, his wives would beat him to death. He hadn't even dealt with the ones he had yet, and here he was, adding another?

"Already married?"

Hua Shan Xian Zi didn't believe it.

"Married several times over."

Ye Chen replied, then lowered his head again to keep looking at the beauties.

He didn't lack wives, but the talents of Da Chu did. If he could bring back a whole group, they could have babies next year. The next generation of Da Chu would depend on them.

Hua Shan Xian Zi was amused. This little stone was quite clever with his words. "Married several times"—with your small frame, how could you manage that?

"Senior, which family is this immortal maiden from?"

Ye Chen leaned in, pointing at the scroll and asking.

The woman in the painting was truly exquisite, the only one with animation. She danced gracefully under the moon, bathed in moonlight, beautiful as a dream.

It wasn't that he was smitten with her—it was because she looked exactly like someone reincarnated from Da Chu. She might just be that reincarnated person.

"Bi Xia Xian Zi's disciple."

Hua Shan Xian Zi smiled. "What, interested?"

Ye Chen didn't reply. Interested? More than that—he was thrilled. Whenever he encountered a reincarnated person, he got excited. He had an impression of Bi Xia Xian Zi; she belonged to the Tian Ting, and he had seen her at the Hua Shan Lun Dao. Since she was from the Tian Ting, once he went to the Shang Xian Jie, he would check it out. If she was indeed a reincarnated soul, that would be a pleasant surprise.

Seeing Ye Chen staring intently, Hua Shan Xian Zi understood and made a decision. When she had time, she would go to the Shang Xian Jie and bring Bi Xia Xian Zi's disciple to their Hua Shan. She quite liked the disciples from Bi Xia's line. If this worked out, they would be in-laws.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen continued flipping through the portraits, hoping to find another familiar face.

"The Wu Yue Dou Fa is approaching, so don't go into seclusion anytime soon. The head teacher brother wants to take you there."

Hua Shan Xian Zi added.

"What's the Wu Yue Dou Fa?"

"The five sacred mountains—Dong Yue Tai Shan, Xi Yue Hua Shan, Nan Yue Heng Shan, Bei Yue Heng Shan, and Zhong Yue Song Shan—are collectively known as the San Xian Wu Yue. Every hundred years, they hold a Dao debate and battle, with disciples from each mountain participating to determine the order of the heavens."

Hua Shan Xian Zi explained. "At the center of the five mountains is the legendary Feng Shan Xian Di, the only place in the San Xian Jie where cultivation realms aren't suppressed. Anyone from the San Xian Jie who advances beyond the Sheng Ren level usually goes there. When they leave that immortal land, they're suppressed back to the Sheng Ren realm."

"Interesting."

Ye Chen put away the scroll. The Feng Shan Xian Di wasn't mentioned in the Zang Jing Ge, which was eye-opening. The Tian Jie had so many wonders.

"You're only at the Sheng Ren level, so it's not for you to fight—it's just to broaden your horizons."

Hua Shan Xian Zi said with a smile.

In other words, it was to pave the way for Ye Chen to succeed as the head of Hua Shan. The other immortal mountains did the same, bringing their next heads to the Feng Shan Xian Di to build connections.

Simply put, it was networking.

"Then I definitely have to go and see."

Ye Chen laughed. Since the Wu Yue Dou Fa would draw a crowd, he loved places like that. There might even be reincarnated souls, so he wouldn't have to search door by door.

Hua Shan Xian Zi smiled and turned to leave. As she did, a faint voice echoed back: "Don't touch that Meng Dao Xian Fa again."