Chapter 7: Legacy of the Dream-Eating Cult

The Underworld Secret Realm!

The Dragon Feasting Ritual!

Lu Yu’s heart was momentarily moved, but he quickly quashed the idea.

Not for any particular reason,

but because the conditions were too harsh!

He had read in the library materials that the Underworld ecological secret realm wasn’t referring to the mythical Yellow Springs of the Nine Serenities, but a special kind of ecological secret realm signifying the fall of a powerful being.

Over the course of long years, such a being’s blood, flesh, bones, and soul would wonderfully transform and merge into a spring known as the Underworld, spewing out the highly toxic waters of the Yellow Springs.

Flowing gently through the secret realm, everywhere it passes becomes part of the Yellow Springs River.

The deathly aura it exudes attracts a plethora of undead and poison-based extraordinary lifeforms to coexist, forming a unique ecology of the deceased. Similar ecosystems include the Skeleton Kingdom and the Hell of Hungry Ghosts, among others.

However, unlike other ecologies, the Underworld lies between life and death. It turns deceased creatures into beings akin to earthbound spirits who guard the Eyes of the Underworld.

If the Eye of the Underworld is strong enough, it may even transform the remains of ancient beings.

Such a level of Underworld secret realm could already be considered a minor Netherworld.

It is fraught with danger and can be called a nogo zone for life.

And Dragon Blood Worms can only be found in an Underworld ecology transformed from the fall of a dragon, their race potential being that of lower commanding bug-type pet beasts.

Containing a trace of dragon blood, they can breathe out dragon’s breath. When appearing in swarms, even some of the top commanders dare not confront them.

Most of the time, they reside by the spring’s eye of the Yellow Springs, drinking its waters to cleanse their souls and refine their bloodlines, waiting for the day to morph into Underworld Dragon Butterflies.

However, most are like moths to a flame, dying amidst the poison of the Yellow Springs.

Not to mention whether one can defeat them or not, attempting to devour a group of worms that regularly drink Yellow Springs water might instead poison one’s own pet beast first.

Moreover, the Underworld secret realm is something you can’t seek; it is a chance encounter. The price for relevant intelligence information isn’t something he can afford, not to mention the unheard-of Dragon Feasting Ritual, which is very likely an official secret.

Zhou Cheng, thirsty, took a sip of his drink and then continued:

“This Underworld Dragon Wolf isn’t something I made up; it comes from the records I saw on the special science side. Someone has already successfully fostered one. Its attributes are dragon and undead. Its innate skill—[Yellow Springs Funeral Procession]—can summon Yellow Springs waters to crush enemies and corrode flesh and souls.

In addition, there’s a chance for Dragon Might to be born, and even if it has evolved once, it can be transformed again through the Dragon Feasting Ritual, allowing a perfect transition. Looking at it this way, doesn’t this Hellfire Wolfdog seem full of potential, and also suitable for assembling a spiritual puzzle!”

If others didn’t know better, they’d think you were already equipped with Dragon Blood Worms and the Dragon Feasting Ritual, ready to transform through contract.

When it comes to painting a grand vision, it’s got to be you seasoned pros!

If it were some young folks, they would probably get overexcited and make a choice.

However, Lu Yu also knew the other party meant well. They owed him nothing; he just didn’t want him to aim too high, so he painted a picture of a dragon to transform, which actually helped him plan his path and organize a stable development for his pet beast.

If he truly didn’t care about you, who would bother with your fate?

Moreover, Zhou Cheng’s intention was clear: he could join the alliance to get channels. With his upright origins, there’s a high probability he could apply successfully.

But because of the Eye of Truth, Lu Yu could develop independently, so he didn’t want to shackle himself with an alliance.

Also, the Hellfire Wolfdog really wasn’t that great.

Not because it lacks potential.

But because of the threat of the Nightmare Beast looming over him like a fishbone in his throat.

Although it’s uncertain which kind of Nightmare will attack, most Nightmares don’t have a physical body and appear as mist, traversing through the ethereal realm of dreams.

They naturally come with an aura of fear and can manipulate an enemy’s dreams. By magnifying the fears in their opponent’s heart to the extreme, they drive them to collapse, and then enjoy the fear-saturated soul and consciousness.

Once completely consumed, the victim turns into a consciousness-lacking vegetable.

Although the Hellfire Wolfdog is strong in combat, its abilities only burn reality. The so-called hellfire is more lethal to flesh and blood.

One can’t just set themselves on fire and perish along with the Nightmare Beast, right?

So, Lu Yu would prefer to look for pets with mental, soul, or dream-related attributes—at the least, pet beasts with skills capable of inflicting soul damage.

Thus, he took the initiative to speak up: “Uncle Zhou, I’d like to take a look at other pet beasts before making a choice.”

Zhou Cheng nodded upon hearing this, without saying much else. As an elder, all he could do was make suggestions, but ultimately, Lu Yu had to make his own choice.

Pointing to a distant spot on the ground, where a Three-Eyed Crow sat crouching, pokeed into submission by Red Moon Dream with a stick, he introduced:

“This is a prize from the eradication of the Death Notification Bird cult’s branch, a high-potential commander-level Three-Eyed Crow, with abilities in flying and cursing. Its racial skill is Death Ray, which has a chance to cause instant death, but the stronger the opponent, the lower the chance of triggering…”

Although it looks cool on the outside, its attributes don’t match, and something like the Death Ray relies too much on chance.

His own Eye of Truth can’t provide any bonus to it.

Moreover, the fact that it could become spoils of war… says a lot!

The only good thing, its flying ability, is offset by its too-small size; it can’t carry him.

It can only serve as a scout!

pass!

“This is a Black Wolf Bird…”

“This is an Ice-Scale Snake…”

Zhou Cheng was tired of introductions and directly asked Lu Yu about his general preferences. The answer he got left him somewhat baffled:

“Mental and soul types, you sure aim high… Those are rare attributes. Usually, as soon as they appear, the higher-ups take them away. There aren’t many that possess soul-damaging skills, and for dream types too… wait, there seems to be one!”

Eagerly, Lu Yu responded: “Can I take a look at it?”

Zhou Cheng hesitated, but still summoned the image.

The screen displayed a cold and sinister cave with strange rocks and a multitude of silver webs intertwined around a fist-sized silvery cocoon, emitting an illusory silver halo, hazy and lending an unreal appearance, as if it were a bubble under water, about to burst with a single touch.

Zhou Cheng stroked his stubble, frowning as he said:

“This is a trophy from the border army’s annihilation of the Dream-Eating Cult, a notorious all-insane cult that believed reality to be an illusion, and the dreams woven by an evil god they called the Eternal Dreamland Master to be the true reality. So, they sacrificed large numbers of human souls, using hundreds of dream-type pet beasts as a foundation, attempting to spawn a pet beast that could open the doors between reality and dream, to immerse the world in dreams and live forever together.

However, they were reported by an informant in time and the military discovered and destroyed them halfway through the ritual. Due to fierce resistance, only a few trophies were left, most of which were handed over, leaving just this one that was checked and found with no major issues, and was left here.

It’s called the Dreamweaving Spider, its racial potential is a higher commander-level. It feeds on the dreams of intelligent beings, excels at weaving dreams, and its racial skill [Dreamweaving] can weave a protective web in its master’s dreamscape to ward off some dream-type beast attacks.

This ability is a bit trivial; it’s just for defense, not a full barrier, far behind [Dream Eating] skill, which has a special attack against dream-type, even commanders have to run from a servant-grade Dream Eater beast. In combat, [Dream Eating] can forcibly devour dreams, causing grievous harm to an enemy’s psyche.

But Dreamweaving Spiders look quite cute, unlike the fierce appearance of ordinary spiders. Many girls like to keep them as pets to weave beautiful dreams for themselves. The spider’s combat power isn’t strong, and the body is very fragile. If it can’t enter dreams, its only attack is to create illusions, but it becomes useless against opponents with strong willpower.

Especially since it’s not certain whether this one has been contaminated. It’s still being observed for birth. I advise you not to choose this one. After all, very few have the misfortune to encounter a dream-type beast…”

Sorry,

but I am that unfortunate one!

Although indirectly ridiculed, Lu Yu didn’t mind and kept his eyes fixed on the spider’s egg sac.

While it wasn’t the [Dream Eating] attribute he desired, it could weave a protective web in dreams and guard against attacks by Nightmares!

And that was enough!

At least, he wouldn’t be powerless against a Nightmare attack.

Moreover, after contracting, he could unlock the Secret Feed inheritance. Thinking back to how he could create the [Wraparound Vision] skill Secret Feed, perhaps he could also create a [Dream Eating] Secret Feed!

Wouldn’t that solve the Nightmare problem?

Even potentially capturing the Nightmare to make a skill Secret Feed, gaining Nightmare skills!

With the help of the Eye of Truth, Lu Yu was confident in researching the most perfect evolutionary path—perchance even creating the terrifying demon creature that the Dream-Eating Cult had longed for, one that could truly reverse reality and illusion.

Develop the ability to create void beings, stealing from the creator’s prerogatives!

Also, how could illusion abilities be weak?

I, Illusory Reflection, would be first to disagree!

If one could develop dream powers to their peak and affect reality from ethereal dreams, such as reflecting injuries in dreams back into reality, perhaps training effects in dreams could perfectly reflect into reality.

To create a training camp in dreams!

Wouldn’t pet beasts then be training even as they dreamt?

With a little effort, perhaps it could be a thousand years in one dream, rolling all Pet Beast Masters in death.

Capitalists rejoice!

With that decided, you’ll be the one,

Dreamweaving Spider!