Chapter 733: A Dream and a Awakening

Ji Yuan performed a simple illusion. Like a wisp of smoke drifting past him, the newly woven white dharma robe appeared on his body, while his original green robe lay on the table.

After all, the star silk on the table was meant for three dharma robes, so Ji Yuan's old robe was naturally included in the count. Of course, Ji Yuan was also eager to try on the new one.

Under normal circumstances, the new dharma robe looked identical to the old one and retained the familiar feeling Ji Yuan was used to. However, it felt cool and smooth against his skin, indicating a significant upgrade in material.

Having changed his clothes and settled back into his seat, Ji Yuan looked at the others.

"Everyone, especially Fellow Daoist Jiang," Ji Yuan said, "I've used this dharma robe as an example, hoping to spark a discussion. Please, feel free to share a few words."

Watching Ji Yuan speak with a smile while threading his needle, Jiang Xueling recovered from her awe of the dharma robe.

"Mr. Ji's method of scholarly refinement is truly extraordinary," Jiang Xueling said. "It has broadened Xueling's horizons. Since you've introduced the topic of scholarly refinement, let's discuss it."

Scholarly refinement, as Jiang Xueling described it, generally refers to a crafting method that doesn't necessarily require a furnace, true fire, or repeated tempering with array formations and restrictions. In stark contrast, the Immortal-Binding Rope was an example of martial refinement.

Practitioners of martial refinement can have varying levels of attainment, but those who achieve significant mastery in scholarly refinement invariably possess profound spiritual cultivation.

"Hahaha, fascinating, truly fascinating," Lian Baiping chuckled. "As for me, I happen to have a representative magical artifact."

Lian Baiping took out a tortoise shell from his sleeve. Shaking it gently, one could hear a faint rattling sound from inside.

"This item was used for tortoise divination in my early years," he explained. "It has never undergone any tempering, yet it has now become a respectable magical artifact, possessing a trace of its own spiritual essence."

"The marvel of scholarly refinement lies precisely here," he continued. "When an item is refined appropriately, the wondrous abilities it develops are not rigidly constrained. Without restrictive enchantments, the potential directions of its transformation are quite promising."

The discussion that night was casual, like an ordinary conversation, focusing mainly on the atmosphere and watching Ji Yuan weave.

During this, Ji Yuan's eyes were slightly closed, his hands never still, as he once again entered a semi-conscious state, similar to the Devouring Beast.

In his dream, Ji Yuan was still soaring with the Devouring Beast, but the location was no longer above the sea. They were now in the sky, not far from the ground. The land below appeared somewhat surreal; besides being covered in various monsters, the mountains and other features looked abnormal, as if they were part of the strangeness itself.

Of course, the monsters weren't so numerous that they were packed tightly together; in fact, they were quite far apart. However, due to the Devouring Beast's speed and Ji Yuan's extensive observation range, combined with his focus on noteworthy monsters, it created a false impression of density.

After all, a hundred rabbits on a mountain might not be remarkable, but four or five tigers on a single mountain would be a considerable number.

This feeling gave even Ji Yuan a slight sense of trepidation, akin to a common person experiencing a particularly frightening nightmare.

Outside, on the Stargazing Platform on the Devouring Beast's back, a few people sat discussing. Ji Yuan occasionally spoke a few words, but no one knew where a part of his consciousness was currently soaring with the Devouring Beast.

By now, after the previous dream, Xiao San had become very close to Ji Yuan. At this moment, Ji Yuan was not in his immense Dharma form but his normal size, standing on the Devouring Beast's head – a spot that Jiang Xueling and the others from Weimei Sect particularly enjoyed.

Everything around them seemed bright where it should be bright and clear where it should be clear. Yet, Ji Yuan always had a feeling that even the air itself contained a constantly shifting and restless aura. Sometimes, this made the ground appear somewhat blurry to him, though, of course, this could also be due to Xiao San's own dream.

Ji Yuan's gaze was primarily directed diagonally towards the ground. The mountains and rivers below looked rather dim, with strong winds and light rain falling. Yet, there was a sun in the sky, but its light seemed insufficient, like a lightbulb with too low a wattage.

"With so many monsters below," Ji Yuan murmured, "you shouldn't have truly seen them, especially growing up in Weimei Sect. Is this a figment of your dream, or an ancient memory passed down in your bloodline?"

As Ji Yuan mumbled, Xiao San seemed to hear his words, opening its mouth and letting out a resounding roar.

"Ooo-whoa————"

This sound was far louder than the Devouring Beast's roar in reality, causing ripples to emanate around Xiao San. The surrounding wind, rain, and various auras were shattered in an instant, and rings of ripples spread out into the distance.

"Growl..." "Moan..."

"Howl..."

Various roars echoed across the dim land below, some high-pitched, some low. From some, wisps of powerful aura rose like smoke. Ji Yuan's gaze swept over, realizing that even with all these sounds, the vocalizing monsters likely represented less than one or two tenths of all the monsters he observed; many remained hidden.

"Quite interesting, aren't you rather capable?"

Ji Yuan complimented Xiao San, and the latter responded with an even louder roar. This sound made the mountains and fields below tremble and the heavens rumble.

Ji Yuan said this because wherever the Devouring Beast Xiao San passed, despite the intense cries of the monsters below, not a single one rose into the air. This suggested they feared Xiao San, rather than being unable to fly.

"Ooo-whoa—whoa————"

The Devouring Beast seemed to have gotten addicted, its roars incessant, shouting wherever it flew. Even Ji Yuan wondered if it was getting a bit overexcited.

Suddenly, a majestic mountain range in the distance began to glow in its mid-section.

"ROAR————" "BOOM!"

As Xiao San approached, a terrifying roar erupted, and the mountain simultaneously exploded. Debris and scattered rocks filled the air, many even striking the Devouring Beast Xiao San.

A monster, sharp-edged all over and with eerie glowing eyes, slowly emerged from the mountain's rupture. It coiled on the peak, gazing at the sky. Its eyes were like two massive, blood-red lightbulbs. Strangely, the surrounding environment dimmed considerably with the monster's appearance.

'A dragon?'

In Ji Yuan's eyes, the monster clearly resembled a dragon, though its scales felt sharp, and its body was more elongated, giving it a particularly grim appearance. Yet, it still did not ascend into the sky.

The Devouring Beast Xiao San quieted down for a moment after the monster appeared, but seeing that it didn't fly, Xiao San began to bellow and shout once more, its cries growing louder each time.

Indeed, Ji Yuan felt that Xiao San was now boasting and showing off, much like... Hu Yun in certain situations and states in the past.

What Ji Yuan himself hadn't realized was that as he stood at the front of Xiao San's head, though his body was tiny, wisps of clear energy constantly followed him, subtly emanating towards his back and the sky above. Faintly, a halo of light, like rising flames, appeared in a considerable portion of the sky behind Ji Yuan.

However, Ji Yuan slowly became aware of all this only when he saw the dragon-like monster, specifically by observing his reflection in its massive eyes.

This made Ji Yuan chuckle wryly. So, Xiao San was merely using him to throw its weight around, truly "the fox borrowing the tiger's might."

However...

Ji Yuan turned his head to look behind him. In his current vision, there was nothing unusual behind him; he could only see the slightly dim sky, the raging wind and rain, and the sun, which was still abnormally visible despite the conditions.

On the Stargazing Platform, Ji Yuan had finished weaving the third dharma robe. His right hand supported his face, and he leaned against the table, eyes closed.

At some point, the voices of Jiang Xueling and the others gradually softened. Ji Yuan had been silent for a long time.

"Mr. Ji has fallen asleep..."

Lian Baiping whispered, slightly surprised. Ju Yuanzi, beside him, nodded slowly. Jiang Xueling frowned slightly. Could Ji Yuan truly fall asleep under such circumstances?

"Weaving starlight feathers at night brings weariness, soaring through primeval wilds exhausts the spirit. A short sleep brings peace. Let it be for now..."

Ji Yuan murmured, his voice faint and low, yet surprisingly clear in the quiet night. What's more, everyone else present was extraordinary.

"The sun and moon journey, as if born from within; the Milky Way shines, as if from its depths..."

After these few words, as if spoken in a trance, Ji Yuan's breathing became even and peaceful. He truly fell into a deep sleep, seemingly unresponsive to the outside world.

In contrast to Ji Yuan's state, the Devouring Beast Xiao San became much more active at this moment, its body even beginning to vibrate slightly.

"Ooo-whoa————"

"Grandmaster!"

Zhou Xian suddenly cried out. Jiang Xueling immediately stood up, looking down at Ji Yuan before turning her gaze to the front of the Devouring Beast's head. Lian Baiping and Ju Yuanzi also sensed a change and looked around.

"The mist is thinning?" "Yes, it's definitely thinning!"

Jiang Xueling's brow was deeply furrowed. She uttered a single sentence, then stepped off the Stargazing Platform and flew forward.

"Xiao San is about to awaken! A Devouring Beast's awakening always brings transformation, and Mr. Ji has fallen asleep for some unknown reason. I ask both of you to guard him. I'll be back shortly. Xian'er, stay here."