The black-robed middle-aged man explained casually. Li Yan's brow furrowed even deeper. "According to what you've said, wouldn't the world be thrown into chaos!"
"Oh, your thinking is correct, Fellow Daoist, but I've said some things before. The highest level this soul body can reach in this lower realm is only the first rank, which is equivalent to a Qi Condensation stage cultivator. It's very difficult for them to possess a cultivator; they can usually only possess ordinary mortals. And mortals need talents to emerge; the benefits would only be greater. Secondly, the Flame Soul Nightmare-Devouring Beast can only survive in the Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda. Like the other demonic beasts in the pagoda, they cannot get out at all. Since ancient times, there has never been a record of a Flame Soul Nightmare-Devouring Beast escaping the Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, so the situation you're worried about doesn't exist. This is why many people who go to the Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda for trials only learn about the threat level of the demonic beasts inside and don't bother to find out their origins. Because you can't take any of them out to refine, there's no need to truly understand them.
"If you have been to other parts of the Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, Fellow Daoist, you would know that what I'm saying is true. Even the Nascent Soul-level creatures inside the pagoda cannot escape. The moment they exit, they will definitely be annihilated by the power of the rules!"
As he said this, the black-robed middle-aged man gave Li Yan a few more glances. He was also puzzled. Li Yan's attitude made it impossible for him to discern his background.
'From his tone, he probably hasn't been to the Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda. Could he have seen this creature somewhere else? That can't be right. In this lower realm, there's no other place where this soul body can exist…'
Though he thought this, his face remained impassive as he continued to smile at Li Yan. As a qualified deacon, he naturally knew which questions not to ask, and not even to show any signs of curiosity.
"But as you said, Fellow Daoist, the Flame Soul Nightmare-Devouring Beast only possesses someone if it's interested in something in the dream it devoured. What if several of them are interested in the same person's story? What then?" Li Yan continued to ask.
"Oh, the so-called 'devouring' of a dream means that once a part of a dream is devoured, other Flame Soul Nightmare-Devouring Beasts can't snatch it away. They can only devour other parts," the black-robed middle-aged man explained with a smile.
After hearing this, Li Yan's mind raced. 'That thing must have devoured my dream in the dark passage, and then flown to that stone forest. Later, I happened to collect it as food for Zi Kun into the Earthen Patch and ended up bringing it out. But when did they escape from the Earthen Patch space?'
Li Yan's thoughts flashed like lightning. He suddenly remembered that after leaving the Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, he had used the Great Dragon-Elephant Formation more than once to deal with powerful enemies. Each time he used it, he would have to take out a number of soul bodies for Zi Kun to devour to replenish his consumed soul power. But that was usually right after a major battle. Most of his attention was on cleaning up the battlefield, and Zi Kun was also devouring and cultivating at the same time. Perhaps he hadn't noticed if any soul bodies had escaped.
'According to him, completing a dream requires the cooperation of several Flame Soul Nightmare-Devouring Beasts. Could it be that the ones that happened to escape were precisely the ones from my dream? That's too much of a coincidence. At least two Flame Soul Nightmare-Devouring Beasts that had devoured my dream would have had to escape to even complete a dream, or even just a part of it. One must have possessed Cui Feng's body, and the other must have gone to the State of Meng to finally trigger the Fallen Immortal Slope battle. But what about the 'me' that appeared at Green Mountain Pass? A third one?'
Thinking of this, Li Yan raised his head and asked again. "Is it possible that the Flame Soul Nightmare-Devouring Beast itself can't distinguish between dream and reality? For example, the person it sees in the dream and the person in reality are clearly not the same, but it treats them as the same person?"
"Fellow Daoist…" Hearing Li Yan's question, a strange look flashed in the black-robed middle-aged man's eyes, and he seemed to have a question of his own, but after a brief pause, he returned to normal. "If you were to ask this question anywhere else, Fellow Daoist, it's unlikely anyone would know the answer." As he said this, a look of confidence appeared on his face.
"Oh, please enlighten me, Fellow Daoist! How many Spirit Stones will this cost?" Li Yan's face showed no expression. No one knew what he was thinking at that moment.
"Hmm, you have been very straightforward, Fellow Daoist. Consider this question a gift!" the black-robed middle-aged man pondered for a moment. "Our business spans the entire Desolate Moon Continent. The sources of our information are not something other businesses can compare to. If the Flame Soul Nightmare-Devouring Beast places special importance on a certain event or person in a dream, it will then deeply engrave that person or event into its soul. Originally unrelated matters might be linked together by it, but it remains deeply engrossed in this without realizing it."
"Does that mean that what it sees and hears might all be its own fantasy?" Li Yan pressed.
"Hmm, you could say that, but not necessarily. The Flame Soul Nightmare-Devouring Beast might also simply connect some things together, but for the most part, it will still make its own judgments. It's also possible that a certain person or event is so deeply ingrained in its soul that it affects its judgment. The soul's consciousness is what influences judgment, causing it to make mistakes. Do you understand what I'm saying, Fellow Daoist?"
A sharp glint flashed in the black-robed middle-aged man's eyes as he casually sized Li Yan up again.
Li Yan fell into a deep thought for a moment, then he too looked at the black-robed middle-aged man. "You just said that the Flame Soul Nightmare-Devouring Beast can only live in the Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, yet you also mentioned that this soul body can be raised by cultivators. Does that mean this soul body also appears on other continents, or in the upper realm? Hehehe… if this question requires Spirit Stones, then you don't have to answer, Fellow Daoist!"
Li Yan gave the black-robed middle-aged man a meaningful look.
The black-robed middle-aged man was slightly taken aback, a helpless, bitter smile on his face. When introducing information, it was impossible for him to be completely watertight. "Since you have discovered the problem in my words, Fellow Daoist, I can give you this information as well. In this lower realm, this creature indeed only exists in the Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda on the Desolate Moon Continent. As for the Immortal Spirit Realm, it exists there as well, but it is extremely rare! As for where, if you are interested, Fellow Daoist, you can obtain this information for two thousand Spirit Stones!"
"That won't be necessary. This information is sufficient!" Li Yan waved his hand. The man was still trying to bait him at the end, hoping to pique his interest and earn more Spirit Stones.
'I wonder if this Flame Soul Nightmare-Devouring Beast, like the Snow Mosquito, was born in the Northern Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda and was later brought to the Immortal Spirit Realm by someone with incredible abilities, or if this soul body can also be born in other places…' Li Yan thought to himself.
"Oh, since you are not interested, Fellow Daoist, then that is that. Is there anything else you wish to inquire about?" the black-robed middle-aged man's expression was normal, showing no disappointment.
Hearing this, Li Yan actually nodded. "I do have one more thing. I need you to pass on a message."
"Oh, you have a message to send, Fellow Daoist? That's easy. Please tell me the location it needs to be sent to, and I will see how many Spirit Stones are required." The black-robed middle-aged man's spirits lifted. A message from a Golden Core cultivator would surely be for a place that he himself would find very distant to fly to. A distance like that could earn him a handsome sum of Spirit Stones.
"Hehehe… Spirit Stones? You won't be charging any. The message I want to send is for your establishment's Miss Su Hong. I think she would be very willing to hear this news. Tell her that 'an old acquaintance from the wind and snow' has returned to his homeland and will surely thank her for her help back then when fate allows."
Li Yan chuckled. As he spoke, he had already stood up.
The black-robed middle-aged man's face, which had been wreathed in smiles, froze when he heard Li Yan's words. He was stunned. Then he saw that Li Yan had already turned and was walking out.
"Fellow Daoist, Fellow Daoist, the Deacon Su you speak of has already left this place…"
Before he could finish, Li Yan's voice sounded in his mind. "I am naturally aware of her approximate whereabouts. I just don't know if she is still on the Verdant Continent. But you people definitely have a way. You figure it out. If she doesn't receive the message in the future, you can't blame me!"
"This…" The black-robed middle-aged man stared at the disappearing figure outside the door, frozen in place. After a moment, he murmured to himself, "He knows the Young Miss's identity? And he knows she's on the Verdant Continent? But how does a mere Golden Core cultivator know this? Could it be that some Nascent Soul old monster who knows the details of our business had him deliver the message…"
Li Yan, who had already left the shop, didn't care what the other man was thinking. Su Hong was a decent person, and the power behind "Gui Qu Lai Xi" was terrifyingly strong. It might be useful to him in the future.
Li Yan left Peiyang Market and flew several thousand li in one direction before finally stopping in a sparsely populated area. This area was actually quite close to the Malevolent Spirit Sect, but Li Yan was anxious to sort out his thoughts. If he went back now and someone sensed him and came looking for him, it would take up his time.
After sensing that there were no cultivators or demonic beasts nearby, Li Yan landed on a mountain peak. The sun was shining brightly. Li Yan sat cross-legged on a flat rock, letting the sunlight wash over him, breathing in the fresh air carried on the wind. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, a small purple flag spun out, releasing a shower of purple light. Li Yan's figure distorted, and in an instant, the rock was empty. His figure had been concealed by the formation.
Although he hadn't brought Zi Kun out this time, Li Yan still had the Great Dragon-Elephant Formation with him. After entering the Golden Core stage, he had refined this formation again, and its power had more than doubled. Even without Zi Kun as the anchor, only its defense was somewhat lacking, but its concealment ability had been greatly enhanced.
Then, with another wave of his sleeve, six giant ice crystal swords appeared around him, formed from countless Snow Mosquitos. After appearing, the ice crystal swords plunged into the ground around Li Yan, completely encircling him. After doing all this, Li Yan immediately closed his eyes.
After learning about the Flame Soul Nightmare-Devouring Beast, countless thoughts had flooded his mind. Li Yan had to calm his mind and contemplate.
'The Flame Soul Nightmare-Devouring Beast… to think such a strange soul body exists, one that can plant the seeds of karma in a cultivator's heart. The reason I could never figure it out was because of that dream. In the dream, A Ying died, my children died, and the Dongling Min who looked like Zhao Min also disappeared without a trace!
'Although I had long forgotten about this, the dream manifested in reality. This is the karmic connection of the unseen world. Cui Feng identified the Li Yan in the portrait, who looked nothing like me, as me because the me from the dream had too great an influence on him. In his soul's consciousness, he could no longer distinguish the real me. The Li Yan who appeared at Green Mountain Pass was also a Flame Soul Nightmare-Devouring Beast, which already had a soul connection with Cui Feng from the dream.
'And all of this was caused by me. In the Heavenly Dao of Reincarnation, it bore my mark. So, although the Bridge of Helplessness and the Soup of Forgetfulness in the Way of Reincarnation are part of the Heavenly Dao, a flaw appeared here.
'Now, by returning in the guise of that Great Marshal and ending this matter, I have ended an unexpected cycle of reincarnation. From now on, I am myself, untangled from this affair. The Heavenly Dao of Reincarnation returns to normal. The Heavenly Dao of Reincarnation is a type of the Rules of Heaven and Earth. No one can escape it.
'And cultivators, while comprehending the Rules of the Heavenly Dao, must also break the restrictions of the Heavenly Dao. This is the so-called "acting against the heavens." Hehehe… so the essence of the Dao of cultivation is: There is no heaven that cannot be defied, no law that cannot be broken!'