High-level martial arts: Long spear with black flames to suppress demons.

The black flame spikes paused slightly.

Sensing an opportunity, Zhou Luotian immediately offered his biggest bargaining chip: "My Great Dream of Spring and Autumn can conjure countless worlds, so realistically rendered that they are indistinguishable from the real thing! If you wish, I can create a dream world just for you!"

"In your dreams, whatever identity you desire, that's what he will be! Whatever you want, I can perfectly create it for you! Let you truly relive your life with him in your dreams!"

This statement came out.

The black flames pressing against Zhou Luotian's brow stopped.

a long time.

The countless black flame chains binding Zhou Luotian vanished instantly, and the oppressive aura receded like a tide.

Zhou Luotian's spirit body fell to the ground with a "thud," panting heavily. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with lingering fear, and watching the black flames slowly recede, he couldn't help but curse inwardly.

The sect leader of Taiyi Sect, a powerful figure who once suppressed an entire era, is now in such a sorry state in a dream. This is the first time in his life he has ever been so disheveled!

In the ruins of the dream, the black flame phantom silently watched Zhou Luotian on the ground.

"I'm not interested in your conditions. What I want is... to hand over the dream essence of the Great Dream Spring and Autumn Manual, and then get out of this dream."

Zhou Luotian's expression changed. Relinquishing the source meant handing over absolute control of this dream realm. He was about to refuse, but seeing the black flames reigniting at the other's fingertips, he swallowed hard.

Well, when you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head.

Zhou Luotian gritted his teeth, formed a hand seal, and forced out a ball of light shimmering with seven-colored light from between his eyebrows. He reluctantly handed it over: "This is the original seal of the Great Dream Spring and Autumn... Fellow Daoist, now that you've taken it, could you...?"

He hadn't finished speaking.

The dark figure casually caught the ball of light, then raised a foot and brutally kicked Zhou Luotian's spirit body.

boom!

Zhou Luotian felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, followed by a dizzying, tearing sensation, before he was forcefully kicked out of the dream he had created!

......

In the side room.

Zhou Luotian's spirit body shuddered violently, as if struck by a heavy blow, and staggered back two steps. The already somewhat blurry spirit body now became like a candle flickering in the wind, so thin that it was almost transparent and could dissipate at any moment!

"Oh my god! Old Zhou, what's wrong with you?!"

The Taoist Lingshan, who happened to hear the commotion and came in to check the situation, was startled. He had never seen Zhou Luotian's spiritual body so weak and feeble.

"Enough talk... Spiritual energy! Give me spiritual energy now!"

Zhou Luotian's voice was so weak it sounded like he was working a bellows.

Ling Shan Daoist dared not hesitate. If Zhou Luotian's essence were to dissipate, Zhenyuan City would lose a top-tier combatant. He quickly waved his sleeve, and a stream of pure spiritual energy, several times more concentrated than before, continuously flowed into Zhou Luotian's body.

He inhaled for a full half hour.

Zhou Luotian's almost transparent spirit body solidified again. He let out a long breath and wiped his forehead with lingering fear.

"Old Zhou, is the backlash from your Great Dream Spring and Autumn Technique really that severe?"

The Taoist priest of Lingshan looked terrified.

"Judging by your appearance, you're practically half dead. What was that kid doing in his dream? Is the trial over?"

Zhou Luotian blushed. Could he say that he had been soundly beaten up by an unknown big shot inside Shen Chang'an, and that his dream essence had been stolen and he had been kicked out?

Doesn't he have any pride?!

"Cough cough..."

Zhou Luotian forced a dry cough twice, adopting an air of profound mystery.

"This junior's character... is already perfected. The next few dozen lifetimes of reincarnation are meaningless. I have already tested them all and feel that it is enough, so... I will withdraw for now."

"Although it was a bit taxing, it's nothing serious. I reckon he'll wake up soon."

Ling Shan Daoist looked at him suspiciously. This didn't seem as simple as just a little bit of excessive energy expenditure, but he didn't delve into it further. He simply nodded and said, "It's good that he's reached perfection. Then let's wait for him to wake up and break through."

......

At this moment, in the dream world.

The black flame phantom held the ball of light that controlled the laws of dreams, and the surrounding collapsed ruins began to rebuild.

She stood in the still-forming dream, looking at the Origin in her hand, her face revealing a sense of unease and helplessness.

She didn't actually know what to do.

She had threatened Zhou Luotian earlier only because she was angry at how badly Shen Chang'an had been tormented. But when it came to constructing a dream as Zhou Luotian suggested, she hesitated.

Think about it.

The shadowy figure sighed softly and waved his hand.

Time reverses, space is reshaped.

The scene returned to the main hall of the Gu family mansion in Beijing. There was no Zhou Luotian's intervention, nor the sudden epiphany and madness.

Everything was proceeding smoothly.

Shen Chang'an, dressed in a bright red scholar's robe and adorned with a red flower on his chest, had just seen off the guests who had come to offer their congratulations. He rubbed his slightly sore temples and turned to walk towards the backyard.

Under the long corridor in the backyard stood a young girl dressed in a light green Suzhou embroidered ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).

Shen Chang'an looked at his younger sister, strode forward, his gentle and refined face full of doting smiles:

"Shuyi, what are you doing standing here? It's windy in early spring, be careful not to catch a cold."

This perfectly natural expression of brotherly concern seemed to trigger something within the young girl.

Her eyes instantly reddened, and a single, glistening tear slid down her cheek.

"Shuyi, why...why are you crying?"

Shen Chang'an panicked when he saw his sister suddenly burst into tears. He quickly pulled out a silk handkerchief from his sleeve and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Gu Shuyi gently shook her head.

She sniffed.

"I'm fine... Brother, come closer."

"What's wrong?"

"Come closer... let me take a good look at you."

Although Shen Chang'an didn't know why, looking at his sister's phoenix eyes full of expectation, he couldn't help but move closer.

Looking at the handsome and gentle face in front of her, Gu Shuyi's eyes flickered slightly, and then she gently leaned on his shoulder.

"Brother, it's so great that you became the top scholar in the imperial examination."

Her voice was very soft, tinged with a hint of longing.

Shen Chang'an chuckled and gently patted his sister's back: "When your brother enters the imperial court, he will definitely protect our Gu family for life and ensure your safety for life."

......

Time in dreams flies by like a fleeting moment.

In the years that followed, Shen Chang'an officially entered officialdom. He was upright and intelligent, rising steadily through the ranks in the treacherous court. By the age of thirty, he had already reached the third rank, becoming the youngest and most trusted minister in the dynasty.

Gu Shuyi never married and lived in the Gu family. She managed the Gu family very well, which became a well-known story of mutual support in the capital.

However, time inevitably brings its share of ups and downs. Before long, Shen Chang'an was in his forties.

Every dynasty, when it reaches its zenith, must decline. The dynasty's fate was sealed, and chaos ensued. The rebel army from the north breached Hulao Pass, their iron cavalry sweeping south, and the capital fell.

The once-prosperous Gu family mansion was reduced to ashes in the war. The entire family of nobles either died or fled. Amidst the chaos of war, Shen Chang'an took off his official robes, which symbolized power, and fled south with his sister and family.