Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

The dreamer let out a soft breath.

“Johnny, you are trapped in karmic obstacles without even realizing it.” The dream master’s expression was serious, his face gloomy, looking at Johnny as if he were a terminally ill patient.

“Wh...what?” Johnny was startled by his respected dream master’s sudden outburst and began to panic.

"I said you've fallen into demonic possession! That girl is your demon! The demon that's blocking your path!"

"The Heavenly Demon, the Heavenly Demon whose Dao Heart was destroyed during the Immortal Tribulation? No! It can't be! Xia Ya is a good girl."

"Fool! You are deeply entangled in the throes of love, unaware of your own suffering! Let me enlighten you!" The Dream Master spoke with a serious expression, circling Johnny a few times before finally speaking.

"Love is actually just a chemical reaction in the brain caused by the reproduction of life. Letting it control your brain will only make you like a wild beast driven by instinct. That girl doesn't actually occupy a large proportion of your heart."

No, I like her.

"Really? Girlfriend or game, which would you choose?"

"all I want!"

"...When you meet a girl, do you think about the happy times you had as a Windblade?"

"Of course, the time we met was when I was pulling monsters to trick her, and the time she confessed to me was when she was talking to me in her corpse-running spirit form."

What the hell is wrong with this kid? How can this even be allowed?

"When you were roaming the Dreamlands as a Windblade, did you ever think about her?"

Johnny lowered his head in thought, but from his increasingly confused and ultimately self-doubting expression, the dreamer knew the answer.

Of course, when you're playing video games, you forget about your parents, but would you still remember your girlfriend?

The dream interpreter delivered the final verdict.

"Johnny, you... you prefer games!!!"

Unable to refute, Johnny lowered his head deeply.

"Think about it again, Johnny. When you were the Windbreaker, the world was vast and you could find anything. You possessed the entire world. But what did you gain when you became a knight? The companionship of your lover? Wrong! It was confinement! You were confined to a saddle of less than one square meter. After that, were you still yourself? She was the one who dictated your direction! You were just a puppet that she placed beside you to manipulate and control! You gave up the infinitely wonderful world and locked yourself in a birdcage called love."

"You've fallen to demonic possession!"

Johnny knelt on the ground, covered in cold sweat, muttering to himself.

"I've fallen into demonic possession? Is Xia my demon? Trapped in karmic entanglement, and yet unaware..." The Dream Master's seemingly reasonable words echoed in Johnny's mind, and he gradually lost his way, sinking into confusion. Feeling utterly insignificant and powerless, he thought of his mentor. The Dream Master, his guide when he first encountered the Windblade class. He taught him the skills of the Windblade: how to pull a group of monsters without dying, even preventing them from touching his clothes. How to transfer aggro, even to a passing healer, the Windblade could transfer aggro to the healer. Finally, how to carve words on their tombstones, using the simplest language to infuriate them into disconnecting. This was the Windblade's most basic form of amusement. Recalling those wonderful times, this time, Johnny once again turned to the Dream Master for help.

"Dream Master, what should I do?"

"Slay the inner demons with your sword."

"But, Dream Master, it hasn't even started yet, and my heart is already aching." Johnny's face was filled with desolation; he could no longer find the happiness he once had.

The dream master patted him on the back, just as he had encouraged him before.

“A short pain is worse than a long one, Johnny. We gain some things, and we lose others. Go participate in the sword-flying competition. You need motivation to truly eradicate your demons. Now, you might be able to break through and rise again, shining brightly.”

“I… understand.” Johnny stood up from the grass, equipped himself with his sword, and the big boy transformed into a mature man with a melancholy air, though his furrowed brows were enough to break one’s heart.

"The road ahead is long, and only my sword keeps me company. My path is lonely, but only righteousness can guide me. Dream Master, I'm leaving. I made a promise with Xia Ya to meet at the Starry Lake. Please... help me say goodbye." Johnny transformed into a streak of rainbow light, shattering the shadows of the trees, and soared into the sky, disappearing without a trace. Only his roar, like the mournful cry of birds and beasts, could be heard echoing through the forest.

The dreamer looked at the broken, poetic gap that had been cut away.

"Did I go too far?"

The arena for the Sword Dance competition is set in the Crown Forest, where enormous trees grow straight upwards, reaching into the clouds. In the game's lore, the tops of these Crown Trees are endless. Only such an environment can effectively limit the freedom of the Wind Swordsmen who roam the world. On the leaves of these trees, which are as large as a sports field, tiny figures, as small as ants, are moving about—these are the Wind Swordsmen, the participants in the Sword Dance competition.

Check your inventory for prepared items and weapon durability, or find the nearest blacksmith to upgrade them. On this important festival for Windblade users, everyone will give it their all, because the winner of the sword-fighting competition will receive a unique title, a title that belongs only to them.

A sword light fell, its sharp edge seemingly appearing in the eyes of those around.

"It's Johnny Walker! Another seeded player! Damn, no one is absent from this year's Fencer Tournament. Do all the Windblade Masters have nothing to do today?!"

Under the referee's supervision, Elder Sword Maniac, the match began not long after he slashed down three flying leaves.

The Wind Swordsmen transformed into streaks of light that swept across the sky, soaring straight into the heavens.

Throwing projectiles, releasing poison gas, using stun grenades, and all sorts of bizarre and restrictive items. After climbing less than a hundred meters, the Wind Swordsmen fell like dumplings being dropped into a pot. The sword-flying competition had no rules, just as the Wind Swordsmen believed in "anything is permissible." Their rule was no rules; any means necessary was the ultimate means.

Of course, their competition mainly revolved around skill proficiency; in the game world, skill reigns supreme. Johnny darted and weaved through a group of artificial and non-artificial obstacles, passing through a sea of ​​flowers without a single petal touching him. Under the tutelage of the Dream Master, his flying sword technique was undoubtedly among the best. Soon, Johnny overtook the crowd that blocked his path like a barrage of bullets and surged into the first tier.

Assuming skill levels are similar and there are no exceptionally skilled players, weaponry plays a crucial role. Johnny understands his weapon perfectly: the Wind Sword, Dragon Serpent II. Its slender blade, unlike the standard Wind Sword, allows him to always strike first, and its exceptional flight agility grants him the overpowered passive ability to perfectly dodge ranged attacks while in a flying stance. To defeat him in a flying sword competition, close-quarters combat is the only option.

Everyone around was someone he knew well, someone he knew inside and out. The high-level battle soon began.

The first to activate their weapon skill was the person with the "Little White Boat" above their head. Little White Boat's wind sword skill was Wind Control. Of course, it was impossible to cause trouble for Johnny and his group of seasoned wind sword users; Little White Boat wasn't that foolish. He manipulated the breeze in front of him, barely disrupting everyone's flight paths, and unsurprisingly, everyone moved closer to another person. This was Little White Boat's purpose: to make them fight each other and reduce their numbers. It was as if the Hand of God was controlling the game.

This was an open conspiracy. Although the Wind Swordsmen were somewhat displeased, they didn't rule out eliminating their competitors. Johnny's opponent was slightly weaker than him, and clearly, he was aware of Johnny's abilities. However, this awareness proved useless. He dodged all ranged attacks, even the aftershocks of explosive grenades—what was he trying to do? Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he prepared for close combat, only to be preemptively attacked by Johnny, who stabbed him to death with a single sword strike.

The arena battle lasted for about three rounds before a flash of sword light slashed Little White Boat off his horse. It was another hidden skill, similar to a charge attack, but with a very high immunity to status ailments, making it uninterruptible. The Wind Swordsman had encountered an insurmountable opponent and ultimately used his hidden skill to kill the operator, Little White Boat.

The situation became chaotic again, and the melee continued among the remaining dozen or so people.

In the end, only Johnny and his old rival, Sicarius, remained.

Sicarius's wind sword shone with dazzling light, just like a lightsaber.

Johnny's expression was grave. That was the Windblade Cutter's skill, Ten Winds. The Cutter's attack power and attack speed would gradually increase with his flight time, accumulating to a terrifying two hundred percent. The light was the sign that his status had reached its maximum.

Sicarius let out a wild laugh.

“Johnny Walker, you should have stopped me. Now, it’s all over. Take this, Ten Winds Tear! Become my stepping stone to victory!” The silhouette’s terrifying attack speed made it even faster than the Dragon Serpent II. The dazzling sword light magnified in Johnny’s eyes, and soon, his head would fall.

puff.

It was the sound of something being chopped off.

Sicarius stared blankly at the spot where Johnny had been, completely baffled as to how he had vanished into thin air.

Petals drifted gently down from the sky, creating a shower of petals. The pale pink hues wove a sweet dream, and in this beautiful scene, Sicarius was awestruck by the breathtaking view.

"What a nice view."

"The Embrace Flower, a couple's item. After confirming a relationship, the system will directly send it to your inventory. When you use it on someone, their vision will be filled with beautiful petals, and you will appear behind them. Originally designed for surprise hugs, it's quite suitable for backstabbing. I know you know nothing about this useful item. That's because you're all a bunch of single idiots!!!!! Windblade users don't need girlfriends!!!!!!!!!"

*Thud.* The blade of the Dragon Serpent II pierced into Sicarius's body. An irreversible, massive wound. Sicarius was defeated.

The embracing flower prop disappeared from Johnny's hands, and he patted Sicarius on the back as if comforting a lover.

“My flower, isn’t it beautiful?” Johnny looked at his Wind Sword, the devastating wound between Sicarius’s legs gushing blood like a volcanic eruption. “Your flower is ruined.”

Johnny pulled the Dragon-Snake II from Sicarius's body, watching his convulsing body plummet downwards.

"When autumn comes on the ninth day of the ninth month, my flowers will bloom and all other flowers will wither."

Johnny closed his eyes and bathed in his own rain of petals.

"The Heavenly Demon has been slain; I am now the Heavenly Sword."

A dazzling radiance descended from the unnamed summit of the Crown Tree, completely enveloping Johnny. Before his name, a new title was being generated.

Flower-Slaying Sword, Johnny Holmes.

Bathed in the light that held unparalleled glory for the Windsword user, Johnny felt himself slowly becoming empty.

Unconsciously, Johnny opened the private chat window and stared at the blank page; his eyes dimmed.

"My heart is my sword." He closed the chat window. Johnny, riding his flying sword, roared like a madman in the blue sky.

"I am free!!!"

The next day.

Johnny, as usual, came to the woods where the dreamers often lingered. His expression was like an empty doll, driven solely by his inner desires, like a machine.

"Is the Dream Master not here? Then I'll meditate."

Following the posture of the dream master from his memory, Johnny emptied his mind, wanting to immerse himself in the atmosphere of nature. However, the distracting thoughts in his mind continued to grow, and that face became clearer and clearer in Johnny's mind.

"Xia." The stirrings in his heart rekindled; the girl's voice and image were etched into his very being. Johnny felt his training was still too weak; the inner demons hadn't been completely eradicated.

Just as Johnny Huo was feeling that he had fallen into demonic possession again.

Through the obstruction of green leaves, a shower of pink petals began to fall, filling my cheeks.

"What a nice view."

Long, slender arms shielded his eyes from behind, and the voice from his memory overlapped with reality.

Johnny, I miss you so much.

Clear spring water splashes onto the clean stone slabs.

The dreamer lay on his side beside the stream, listening to the sound of flowing water from the quiet valley, and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp. He raised his eyes and looked at a pair of orioles nestled together on a distant tree branch.

"Humans are not plants or trees; how can they be without feelings?"

"Since this dreamland is just a fleeting illusion, what harm is there in making my record as perfect as possible?"

The dreamer weighed his wine jug, realizing it was empty. He then stretched out his body, taking a short rest amidst the天地 (heaven and earth). His posture was languid, yet carried a hint of scholarly elegance. He sank into the mountains and waters, ultimately disappearing from sight.

Chapter 248 Shadows Rise

Shadow Beast.

This is the name of my race. We also have another name: Moon Beast. This name comes from the similarity between our abilities and the moon. At birth, we are merely formless shadows. As we grow, we transform into animal forms and acquire certain habits of the corresponding creature. Like the moon, we can only reflect the sun's light. Shadow Beasts are a type of magical beast, a dangerous monster. However, we possess a special ability: we can attach ourselves to other races, achieving symbiosis. Due to the vast difference between our physical constitution and that of the real world, upon reaching adulthood, we must find a vessel to store our physical form. The elders of the race erect black pillars upon our coming of age; these are the vessels we use to store our power. Thus, the Shadow Beast race can exist independently without a host.

We are like shadows, living in the shadows where the light cannot reach. There is no light here, but we don't need it. I still remember the stone forest formed by the tall pillars of my tribe when I was a child; it was my favorite playground. My companions and I would frolic and play there, and those steadfast pillars were our protective umbrella. They, like my tribe, were indestructible.

On the day I came of age, Avenritter and the elders erected my pillar. Avenritter was my brother; we awoke almost in the shadows, but unlike me, he disliked playing. Somber Avenritter always whispered in the shadows, like a mouse. On that day, I looked at my pillar, and the hand of shadow caressed the stone that symbolized me. I smiled at Avenritter.

"I want to become a cat! A cat that catches mice!"

Evanritt simply chuckled dismissively. "Suit yourself, Veraliz."

As an adult, I gained the right to attend tribal meetings, albeit from an inconspicuous corner.

I wasn't interested in what the elders were discussing; I was only thinking about how to play in the Pillar Forest and be with the younger children. But my keen ears still managed to hear their conversation.

“In the west, where dragon wings cannot reach, a new group of creatures has appeared.”

"Isn't this normal? Dragons are developing their subordinate servants, maybe just new toys, like dragon nail clippers?"

"No, those creatures did not submit to the dragon. I could sense something terrible hidden within their fragile bodies, as strange as their eerie power."

"What race are they, elder? What is their power?"