Chapter Thirty-Two: The Legend of a Beautiful Dream

“To be honest, I really never imagined that gods actually exist in this world. Even though we’ve encountered so many miraculous things, I always thought the world operated by science,” said Xiaolong, a trace of panic in his voice. Ever since Master Sanzang mentioned Sleep Lord and Sleep Lady, he felt his worldview had suffered a severe blow.

If gods truly existed in this world, what did all the science he had studied and believed in mean?

“Don’t overthink it. Science isn’t some subjective notion, it’s a method of objective understanding and reasoning. You use the knowledge you possess to comprehend things; if you can’t understand something, it doesn’t mean it’s wrong—just that your knowledge is insufficient,” Sun Meng replied.

“Up ahead is the temple of Sleep Lord and Sleep Lady, though it looks rather neglected.”

The four of them entered the temple, seeing the statues of Sleep Lord and Sleep Lady. Although it was clear no one had cleaned the place for a long time, the very first glance at the statues brought a sense of tranquility and harmony.

“I suddenly feel much better mentally. It’s not just an illusion,” Xiaolong remarked.

“Let’s look around for clues. If the Black Fox Gang has done something here, there’ll be traces,” Sun Meng said, beginning to examine the area around the statues.

“There seems to be a third statue—human head, serpent body.” This comment was not directed to Xiaolong and his companions, but to the unseen audience.

“Based on speculation, it’s likely the ancient mythological Zhu Long, but the image isn’t quite right. Still, it should have the same divine duties, overseeing the alternation of day and night,” came the answer from the red barrage. The worlds were different, so it was just a reference.

“Look what I found!” Xiaolan suddenly called.

Sun Meng and the others approached. Xiaolan held a wooden plaque inscribed with mysterious runes that emitted a faint glow.

“This is no ordinary item; it must be a piece from Sleep Lord or Sleep Lady,” Sun Meng observed, noting the corresponding spot on the statue—it belonged to Sleep Lord.

“So, it’s an ID?” Xiaohu asked.

“I doubt it’s that simple. Maybe it has other uses, like…” Xiaolong hadn’t finished when the plaque in Sun Meng’s hand radiated light and formed a map.

“This is Sleep Lord’s divine token, a pass to the Sleep Garden on the Divine Mountain of the Western Realm. With it, we can enter—but the garden isn’t in the mortal world,” Sun Meng explained after receiving the information transmitted from the token, letting out a sigh of relief.

The so-called divine realm might be just a series of hidden domains, remnants that preserve the environment from the world’s advanced age. The gods were merely fortunate survivors, holding the right to wield certain authorities. Their lives depended on these powers, and aside from their divine duties, they possessed no extraordinary abilities. Otherwise, the Black Fox King wouldn’t have captured them.

“Let’s go! The sooner we resolve this, the better!” Sun Meng urged. He could endure for a few days, but what about the ordinary villagers? A day or two without sleep might lead to serious problems.

It wasn’t that people weren’t tired—they simply couldn’t sleep. At this rate, most people’s bodies would collapse within days.

Following the map, they found a formation hidden in the nearby mountains. Placing the divine token upon it, they arrived at the foot of the Divine Mountain in the Western Realm, though they were still outside the divine domain.

“Those are Black Fox Gang members! They control this place!” Xiaolan exclaimed, seeing the Black Fox soldiers active in a large palace nearby.

“So, something definitely happened inside. According to the map, there are four entry formations—three are sealed, only the last one remains open. We need to find a way in,” Sun Meng frowned. Anyone could guess that Black Fox soldiers would be guarding the area. If they forced their way through, they’d attract a swarm of Black Fox soldiers, maybe even the Black Fox King.

“I have an idea!” Xiaolong said suddenly. “Look over there!”

A few Black Fox soldiers were sleeping against the wall, a small pouch beside them.

“If they’re able to sleep, that means…” He hadn’t finished when a Black Fox soldier came out, carrying a pouch, followed by others switching shifts.

He grabbed a handful of powder from the pouch and blew it into the faces of the other soldiers; almost instantly, they fell asleep.

“It seems this is the missing ingredient!” Sun Meng declared. He immediately used the Shadow Seizing Divine Skill to control the soldiers. The pouch fell, its powder scattered, and all the Black Fox soldiers fell asleep. The shadow brought the pouch back to Sun Meng.

They found the remaining teleportation formation, guarded by thirty strong Black Fox soldiers.

Each of them took a handful of powder, wrapped their faces with cloth beforehand, and charged in sprinkling the powder.

The token shone brightly, and the four of them suddenly appeared in a garden.

“This is the Sleep Garden!” Xiaolan cried, running towards the solitary house, finding it ransacked.

“The flowers, the soil, everything in the yard has been destroyed; not a single flower remains, let alone any pollen,” Xiaolong said, surveying the ruined garden.

Sun Meng held up Sleep Lord’s token and shouted, “We’ve come as Sleep Lord’s reinforcements! If you’re here, show yourself. The mortal world is in chaos because no one can sleep. We need to rescue Sleep Lord and Sleep Lady!”

The ground shook and churned, and from beneath it emerged a creature with a human head, serpent body, and a circular disk behind its head.

“I am Zhu Yi, responsible for the alternation of day and night. A powerful human entered here earlier to ambush Sleep Lord and Sleep Lady, stole the stored pollen, and burned the garden. I was no match for him and had to hide,” Zhu Yi said.

“Can you defeat them? If Sleep Lord and Sleep Lady return, the garden will soon be restored,” Zhu Yi continued.

“Of course, but we’ll need your help!” Xiaolan replied.

“Oh? How can I help? I’m completely trapped here,” Zhu Yi looked at Xiaolan.

“We need you to rapidly switch between day and night—make the night utterly dark with barely any light, and the day blindingly bright!” Xiaolan requested.

“That would throw the world into chaos!” Zhu Yi protested.

“If we don’t act now, the world is already in chaos!” Sun Meng insisted.

“Very well! But I can only do it for one hour,” Zhu Yi said, then retreated underground.

Sun Meng and his companions quickly used the teleportation formation to return to the outer realm, only to find the Black Fox soldiers waiting for them.

But just as they were about to act, the sky suddenly turned pitch black—so dark that you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face!

The four were prepared; they fought their way through, forging a path towards the palace.

As they dashed into the palace corridor, the sky brightened again. The Black Fox soldiers, who had been colliding in confusion, realized they’d been fighting the wrong people.

“They’re over there!” a sharp-eyed Black Fox soldier spotted Sun Meng and his group. The commotion roused those resting in the palace, who now charged at Sun Meng and his companions.

“Xiaolan, go rescue them—take this!” Sun Meng said, tossing Sleep Lord’s divine token to Xiaolan before grabbing her shoulder and throwing her over the crowd.

“You two be careful! This terrain is narrow; work together and you’ll hold them off!” Sun Meng advised, then invoked the Invincible Vajra Skill and charged forward, felling the Black Fox soldiers with powerful blows.

These recently awakened Black Fox soldiers were still groggy, unable to stand up again.

Over twenty were knocked down by Sun Meng, while Xiaolong and Xiaohu, working together, repelled several others and followed Sun Meng inside the palace.

At that moment, Xiaolan had just rescued Sleep Lord and Sleep Lady.

“Thank you so much, but we must hurry back, or the mortals won’t be able to sleep again tonight,” Sleep Lord said.

“But how do we fight our way out?” Xiaolong asked, seeing the Black Fox soldiers closing in. They no longer had the advantage of terrain.

“Over there, another pouch of Dream Flower pollen. We can make it take effect instantly!” Sleep Lady said.

Sun Meng promptly grabbed the pouch.

Just then, a black whirlwind crashed onto the ground—the Black Fox King had returned.

“It’s you again!” Without another word, a fire dragon surged towards Sun Meng and his companions.

“Now, it’s up to you two!” Sun Meng cried, tossing the pollen from the pouch into the air like a curtain, enveloping the Black Fox King and his soldiers.

Sleep Lord and Sleep Lady’s tokens glowed, and the Dream Flower pollen seemed to come alive, covering the Black Fox soldiers, who instantly collapsed in sleep.

The Black Fox King used flames to shield himself, but his steps grew unsteady.

“Curse you!” he snarled, turning into a whirlwind and fleeing.

“Thank you again, but we must return. Tonight, you’ll all have sweet dreams,” Sleep Lord said.

After bidding farewell to the two at the teleportation formation leading to the divine realm, the formation was sealed.