The surrounding temperature shifted between hot and cold. A brief moment of disorientation passed before Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor regained their senses. Before they could even take in their surroundings, they felt two scorching gazes, almost tangible, fall upon them.
Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor simultaneously looked down, immediately spotting two little girls in red dresses, nearly identical in appearance, standing before them and looking up.
"Greetings, unfamiliar arrivals. Welcome to the Dream Realm. We shall guide you~"
The two girls spoke in unison, their voices young and clear, filled with the unique innocence and playfulness of children. Their smiles were pure, their faces like carved jade, and their sweet expressions possessed a magical quality that seemed capable of soothing the soul.
Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor quickly collected themselves, both immediately sensing something amiss.
If this was ruins, why were there living people?
Without time for further thought, they first checked their own conditions. They discovered that the power within them had been restored, a surge of energy coursing through their bodies. The tension in their hearts finally eased slightly.
Chen Xiao surveyed their surroundings. The spot where the four of them stood now appeared to be on a wide avenue.
The avenue led to a colossal city at the edge of their vision. The towering city gates were clearly visible, even more majestic than those of Holy Pill City.
"The Dream Realm? What is this place? Who are you?"
Little Fairy Doctor's gentle voice broke the silence. Chen Xiao also regained his composure, turning his gaze to the two girls before him.
They were likely twins, identical in appearance, wearing the same little red dresses, and even their hair was red. They were like two fiercely burning flames, cute and vibrant.
Judging by their age, they seemed to be only five or six years old, even younger than Zi Yan in her Little Dragon Person form.
"This is the Dream Realm," replied the girl on the left.
"A world as beautiful as a dream," the girl on the right added.
"I am Qing Huan," the girl on the left replied with a smile.
"I am Xing Yao," the girl on the right chimed in.
"We are the guides of the Holy City," the two girls said in unison.
Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor were stunned. They exchanged glances, both feeling that something was very, very wrong!
The girls before them, their surroundings, and even the considerable number of people they sensed within the distant giant city – all of it was nothing like what ruins should be.
In the common perception, ruins were always associated with ancient decay, shrouded in the dust of ages, like elders forgotten by time, their bodies covered in the wrinkles of crumbling walls.
This place, however, was more like a small, colorful world!
Chen Xiao's mind delved into his consciousness.
[Current Pre-payments Available—
Spells: (0/1)
Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures: (0/1)
General: (1/1)]
[Subsequent Pre-payments—
First: Read fifty thousand scrolls.
Current Progress: 40396/50000.
Second: Pass the trial and obtain the Purple Spirit Cold Qi.]
Discovering that the pre-payments were still usable, he felt even more at ease.
However, immediately after, Chen Xiao noticed a problem.
The wisp of Purple Spirit Cold Qi he had pre-paid to guide him had, at some unknown time, integrated into his body. It was now circulating through his meridians, gradually merging with his own Dou Qi.
The strange thing was, Chen Xiao had no awareness of when it entered his body!
In fact, from beginning to end, he hadn't felt even the slightest pain.
Actually, when he was sucked into the space by that spatial rift, Chen Xiao had already prepared himself for the loss of the Purple Spirit Cold Qi, mentally bracing for a scam.
He had never expected things to unfold like this.
Although there were many mysteries involved, the Purple Spirit Cold Qi hadn't truly been lost and was already beginning to merge with his Dou Qi. This was a good thing.
"There are no powerful beings in the city, only one Two-Star Dou Zong. It's also possible there are strong individuals whose presence I cannot sense," Little Fairy Doctor's voice transmitted to him.
Chen Xiao nodded inwardly. A Two-Star Dou Zong was nothing, let alone for Little Fairy Doctor, even Chen Xiao could handle it with ease.
"This space is very peculiar. It must have been created by a top-tier expert. While one can tear through space here like in the outside world, it's impossible to truly leave this space."
Chen Xiao continued to nod.
Those who could create small worlds were the extraordinary and transcendent Dou Sheng experts!
Although this supposed ruin was vastly different from his expectations, its extraordinary origins were confirmed.
"Then, esteemed guides, could you perhaps lead us to a place to rest?"
In Chen Xiao's eyes, this was False Heaven, but in the girls' words, it was the Dream Realm. Everything was shrouded in mystery.
What he heard from others was their perspective, which might deviate from the truth. As a newcomer, this information could only be used as a reference; he would have to delve deeper and understand it himself.
"Unfamiliar arrivals, please follow us."
"We've arranged accommodations for you!"
The two girls said in unison.
Although they had only just met, Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor could easily distinguish between them based on their behavior.
The slightly more reserved one was Qing Huan.
The more lively girl was Xing Yao; it was easy to tell them apart once she started speaking.
Following the two girls, Chen Xiao gave a slight nod to Little Fairy Doctor. Little Fairy Doctor immediately understood his intention and casually struck up a conversation with them.
"Qing Huan, Xing Yao, you call us 'Descenders' and don't seem surprised to see us. Do outsiders often come here?"
"Not really. Including you, only three have come in the past few decades."
Xing Yao walked backward as she spoke, managing both travel and conversation.
Qing Huan explained, "Thirty years ago, another Descender came to the Dream Realm. 'Descender' is the title the High Priest gave us."
Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor exchanged glances, both having some suspicions.
Perhaps the "Descender" they spoke of was the Dou Zong expert who entered the Ice Sea decades ago and had yet to return.
"How is that Descender doing?"
"Xing Yao doesn't know. That Descender was received by the previous Saintess, so we never met him. He's been missing for many years."
"Are you two the current Saintesses?"
"Yes! We were appointed Saintesses by the High Priest from the moment we were born. Don't let our small size fool you; we've grown up and have been taking over Saintess duties for the past two years."
"That's quite impressive. Is the High Priest very important?"
"The High Priest is the ruler of the Holy City and the most revered person in the Dream Realm. He's usually very kind, but he's terrifying when he's serious. Xing Yao isn't afraid of anyone in the Holy City, except the High Priest."
"Qing Huan, I'm not afraid. I just feel something is off about the High Priest, and I don't feel comfortable standing in front of him."
"Xing Yao, don't speak ill of the High Priest."
"..."
The two girls were at an age of innocence, and their conversation began to drift.
Chen Xiao subtly shook his head at Little Fairy Doctor, indicating there was no need to ask further.
The future was long, and since they had arrived here, there would be plenty of time to understand everything slowly.
This included the trials he cared about most, as well as the opportunities that existed in this space.
Without their questions, the two girls continued to chatter, though most of the information they shared was trivial.
Amidst their babbling, they grew closer to the towering, magnificent giant city.
Bang!
"Ouch~"
With a dull thud, Xing Yao, who wasn't watching where she was going, bumped into the city gate, letting out a soft cry of pain.
At the same time, Qing Huan was pushed forward as if from behind. If Little Fairy Doctor hadn't reacted in time, her forehead would have surely gotten a large bump.
"Thank you~" Qing Huan said politely after being steadied.
Little Fairy Doctor smiled and shook her head.
She and Chen Xiao had been communicating via telepathy and observing this world, their minds occupied with multiple tasks. Otherwise, Xing Yao wouldn't have run into the city gate.
However, from the two girls' reactions, they could tell that the two seemed to be connected, their minds linked.
They insisted they were grown women, but when they accidentally bumped into the city gate, they cried out in pain together, honestly expressing their discomfort.
Stepping into the giant city, they were greeted by a wide street lined with towering buildings. Pedestrians strolled leisurely, and the entire atmosphere exuded a sense of ease.
In fact, Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor couldn't spot anyone above the Dou Wang cultivation level.
The cultivation atmosphere in the Dream Realm wasn't very strong.
"Little Saintess Xing Yao, going out of the city today?"
"Yes, yes! Just got back."
"Little Saintess Qing Huan, I made some Lingxian Stew. I'll send it over to you later."
"No need. Xing Yao and I are going to see the High Priest today and will be quite busy. Thank you for your offer."
Walking through the city streets, people constantly greeted the two girls, their attitudes very friendly.
Many also discreetly sized up Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor, their unfamiliar faces causing them to wonder, but no one dared to ask.
Thus, following the two girls, the four arrived in front of a two-story building.
"The cold night is approaching. Descenders, please rest here for now. We need to report to the High Priest and will guide you tomorrow."
Taking a key from her sleeve and opening the door, Qing Huan said slowly.
Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor glanced at the sky. The heavens appeared like a hazy white mist, and the light remained bright, showing no signs of nightfall.
The two simply assumed the girls had misspoken and didn't think much of it.
He nodded slightly in agreement.
"Thank you to the two young Saintesses for guiding us. If possible, please help us deliver a message to the High Priest. We wish to pay him a visit."
"You're welcome, it's our duty. I will relay your message to the High Priest."
"To the two visitors, Cold Night is approaching. Please do not leave the Holy City casually. During Cold Night, the temperature outside the city is very low; you might freeze to death," Xing Yao added.
Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor nodded, watching the two girls leave together.
Upon entering the room, the first floor was a spacious hall, and the second floor had several rooms. They were kept very clean, and the furnishings were extremely orderly. Even Chen Xiao couldn't find much to fault.
Closing the door, the candles inside ignited on their own. Chen Xiao raised his hand and set up a barrier.
"Xian'er, what do you think?"
"It's all very mysterious. We have too little information to make any judgments. However, from Qing Huan and Xing Yao's behavior, the people here seem to be quite friendly towards us."
Chen Xiao nodded, "I hope the High Priest will grant us an audience tomorrow. In such an unfamiliar place, if possible, we should try not to make a move unless necessary."
Having made up his mind, all that was left was to wait.
To understand the essence of a new world, contacting the highest-ranking person within it was undoubtedly a shortcut.
Just as the two were conversing, they suddenly felt the temperature of the world plummet. One moment they felt as comfortable as if they were in the warm sun, but now it was as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.
Their soul perception quietly released, and both of them saw that the sky outside was still bright, not dim at all. It was as if, besides the sudden change in temperature, nothing else had changed.
"Is this what they meant by Cold Night?" Little Fairy Doctor exclaimed in surprise.
She had Netherworld Poison Flame within her and possessed Dou Zun level strength, yet at this moment, she still felt waves of cold, far more bone-chilling than in the ice fields of the Extreme Northern Land.
Such a change was clearly abnormal.
Chen Xiao glared at the ceiling, his senses even more intense than Little Fairy Doctor's.
At this moment, he suddenly discovered that the Purple Spirit Cold Qi, which had been fusing smoothly with his Dou Qi, had suddenly erupted with an extreme cold. The fusion, which had been progressing so smoothly, seemed to encounter an obstacle, causing his body to stiffen unexpectedly.
Beneath his feet, a thick layer of frost silently spread, blanketing the entire hall in white.
"Chen Xiao!"
Seeing Chen Xiao's abnormality, a hint of panic flashed in Little Fairy Doctor's beautiful eyes, her expression filled with urgency.
Chen Xiao circulated his cultivation technique with all his might, letting Dou Qi flow throughout his body, but it was completely unable to stop his stiffening, aching body. Even his thoughts seemed to be affected, becoming sluggish.
This feeling was all too familiar to Chen Xiao.
He had experienced a similar situation when refining the Heavenly Cold Qi.
"Don't worry, Xian'er. This is the expected reaction when refining Purple Spirit Cold Qi. Summon... Netherworld Poison Flame."
Upon hearing this, Little Fairy Doctor's heart settled slightly. Without hesitation, she summoned the Heavenly Flame and raised the temperature to its maximum.
The surrounding temperature began to climb rapidly. In this environment, Chen Xiao's condition instantly improved, and his thoughts became clear.
Seeing this, Little Fairy Doctor finally felt completely at ease and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
Chen Xiao's body gradually returned to normal. He looked at the dark green flame in Little Fairy Doctor's jade hand and saw that the Netherworld Poison Flame seemed to have exhausted its energy, its flame dim and trembling.
"Xian'er, before entering the False Heaven, did it fear the Purple Spirit Cold Qi this much?"
Little Fairy Doctor shook her head, "Back then, it had an instinctive fear, but it wasn't as... timid as it is now."
After much deliberation, Little Fairy Doctor finally found a suitable word.
Hearing this, Chen Xiao's heart stirred. He looked up at the hazy white sky outside the window.
"What have you thought of?"
Little Fairy Doctor knew Chen Xiao extremely well, and now their understanding was even deeper. Seeing the change in his expression, she immediately guessed that he had discovered something.
Chen Xiao smiled slightly and said with certainty, "Bone Spirit Cold Flame!"
"Bone Spirit Cold Flame, ranked eleventh on the Heavenly Flame list, is a peculiar flame that combines extreme cold and extreme heat. It possesses the special ability of 'ice and fire duality.' At its peak heat, it incinerates everything; at its extreme cold, it freezes all things!"
"Refining Purple Spirit Cold Qi requires certain environmental conditions, preferably under extreme heat. The fusion went smoothly for me earlier, perhaps because the Bone Spirit Cold Flame in this False Heaven was in its extreme heat state. Right now, it has transformed into its extreme cold state!"
"And this is likely the source of what Qing Huan and Xing Yao called Cold Night!"
"This False Heaven has no distinction between day and night, no sun or moon. It uses the transformation of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame to differentiate between day and Cold Night!"
"The only thing that puzzles me is that the transformation between the extreme cold and extreme heat of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame is usually irregular. However, in this False Heaven, it doesn't seem to be the case."
Seeing Chen Xiao's furrowed brow, Little Fairy Doctor smiled softly, smoothing away his worry.
"At the very least, we've confirmed that the Bone Spirit Cold Flame is here. We've come to the right place."
Chen Xiao was stunned, then chuckled.
"You're right!"
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