I created a safe zone in the nightmare world.

About an hour after Xi Xue left the nightmare world, Xiao K was the second to escape the nightmare.

Although Xiao K and Lao Yao entered the nightmare at the same time, their different experiences meant that the duration of their nightmares would differ.

The time it takes for someone to fall into a dream will only get longer and longer.

"This is another key piece of information, write it down."

After a while, the last visitor, Lao Yao, also escaped the nightmare and returned to reality.

With Lao Yao's return, Shi An noticed that a thick white fog once again enveloped the gates of the safe zone, obscuring all vision and isolating the world from it.

It seems that the safe zone and the nightmare dormitory have lost their connection?

As everyone knows, when the white fog dissipates and the outside environment is revealed, Shi An can step out of the shop, but he just stays at home and doesn't want to go out.

Now, the safe zone has become an independent space.

"It wasn't just the connection that was broken; it seemed that before the connection was broken, a little bit of gray mist began to permeate the dormitory building, as if an ominous sign was brewing."

Based on the accounts of several people who experienced the nightmare, this is probably the beginning of another nightmare.

How long has it been since the eerie thing was cleansed?

No wonder it's said that those who fall into dreams can't find peace; their situation is truly pitiful.

but,

"As long as I keep expanding the safe zone, I can create a real sanctuary in this nightmare world. It's something to look forward to."

At this moment, the safe zone returned to silence, leaving only Shi An alone.

He was taking stock of the spoils in front of him.

These were all left behind by Xi Xue and Lao Yao.

"First up is 130g of Dream Dust."

Dream Dust, also known as Dream Crystal Dust, is a special material that is only produced in small quantities when a dreamer wakes up. Of course, Dream Dust can also be obtained by scavenging in Nightmare Worlds and completing Nightmare Worlds.

Dream dust can be considered a spellcasting material, or an energy source.

"Dreambreakers need to consume a lot of their physical strength, even their life force, when using dream-cursing items. Depending on the item, it is often accompanied by various side effects. However, as long as dream dust is consumed, many of the costs of using dream-cursing items can be waived."

"Furthermore, this dream crystal dust has other wonderful uses, and it can almost be regarded as a universal currency among the dreamers."

This thing is pretty good. The main thing is that the Dream Dust is harmless, so holding it in your hand won't have any effect.

Of course, Shi An still chose to store it in the cabinet of the small shop.

Besides Dream Dust, there were several other dream materials whose specific uses were still unclear to Shi An. Similar to Dream Dust, these dream creations were characterized by their ability to communicate between the real world and the nightmare world.

Only dream creations that can transcend the two realms have value in the eyes of the dreamer.

However, Shi An had no idea about the value of these materials.

After taking stock of his spoils, Shi An rubbed his hands together. "After the appetizers comes the main course."

He truly didn't care about dividing the spoils, because he had already secured the real gains.

In the blink of an eye, the information appeared before my eyes.

"Safe Zone Operations Settlement:"

"You sheltered three Dream Fallers, gaining a total of 3.66 Faith Points."

There were far more than the previous time when there were men in black suits.

There were three guests this time, which was one thing; in addition, the three of them stayed in the safe zone longer than the man in the black suit.

"If that's the case, upgrading the safe zone shouldn't be too difficult."

Of course, the settlement is far from over.

The hospitality and shelter provided on a daily basis, along with the substantial amount of faith points gained, are merely an appetizer.

This time, Shi An didn't get the achievement "Change the Fate of the Dreamer", but...

"You have conquered a Nightmare Dream Realm and gained 30 units of Faith Points."

"You can choose one of the following three options as loot from conquering Nightmare."

"①, Cursed Dream Item: Blood-Red Mud Seal"

"Note: Ordinary people who possess this mud seal can leave a blood-red handprint on any living creature, which will devour flesh and dissolve bone. However, the holder will also pay a price of some of their own flesh and blood to activate the mud seal. More abilities await development."

Shi An leaned back and gasped.

This blood-red mud-marked cursed object looks even more ferocious than the Shadow Giant Scissors, but the cost of using it is also greater.

This is a complete cursed artifact, which does not require faith points to create. Shi An estimated that it was similar to the one in Xi Xue's hand, except that the safe zone had marked the usage method and cost in detail for him, so he did not need to figure it out on his own.

Shi An naturally passed on it; this thing was too ruthless.

He can't be a ruthless person.

"②. Drawings: Lounge"

"Note: This can be used to expand the safe zone and create a special resting space. In the resting space, the spirit and injuries of the person who has fallen into the dream will slowly recover."

Note 1: Building a lounge requires Faith Points.

"Note 2: The current safe zone level is LV1, and only one additional area can be opened up."

-

"③ Special: Bloody Handprint"

"Note: A special life form, 'Blood Handprint,' has been created and contracted to become an employee of the safe zone. The employee is under the jurisdiction of the safe zone's leader, but the leader must also pay the employee's salary daily. The current salary for Blood Handprint is: 0.3 Belief Points/day."

Note: The current security zone level is LV1, and there can only be one employee.

Unlike the time that changed her fate, this time, Shi An can choose her reward.

Choose one of the three!

All three rewards were closely related to the Nightmare Dormitory. After eliminating reward one, Shi An hesitated.

"The lounge is a functional space; I'm envious."

It's important to understand that at this point, the safe zone offers no other benefits besides security.

Option three, convert and contract a special employee... Shi An was even more envious.

His hesitation stemmed from the question of whether the bloody handprints of employees posed a danger. Furthermore, the fact that these bloody handprints were being paid by employees raised further intrigues.

Paying a salary is reasonable, but paying a salary to a monster seems rather unreasonable.

After a moment's consideration, Shi An still chose:

"I've decided on you, option three!"

An invisible force surged, flowing into the remnants left after the previous nightmare dormitory had been purified.

White mist gathered inside the small shop.

Shi An opened his eyes wide, quietly waiting for the transformation to end. What would his first employee look like? Would it be like the eerie dormitory, invisible except for the bloody handprints it left behind? Or...?

Shi An imagined one grotesque and terrifying image after another.

until,

As the white mist dissipated, a round, brownish-red object, about 30 to 40 centimeters tall, resembling a clay sculpture, appeared on the bar counter in front of Shi An.

Well, if you changed its shape to that of a lucky cat and placed it here, it would look perfectly natural.

"Is this adorable little clay sculpture the true, terrifying sight?"

"Wait, could it be that the whitewashing was weakened by thirty times?!"

The message didn't seem to mention that this special life form's blood handprint was equivalent to the eerie blood handprint.

But Shi An could indeed feel a close connection between himself and this little guy.

The wrong item was not taken.

While pondering,

The blood-stained handprint opened its eyes: I am super fierce!