Chapter 3: The Great Dream Academy

The First Ancestor asked his ministers: "I wish to enlighten the world, making every person as wise as a dragon. What good strategies do you have?"

Bi Gong said: "We can build temples, enshrine the divine soldiers and generals, reward the good and punish the evil, covering all nineteen provinces."

The First Ancestor's brows slightly furrowed.

Zhao Gong said: "We can compile a grand canon, gather thousands of good laws, and spread them throughout the world."

The First Ancestor's expression eased.

Zhou Gong said: "The common people are already burdened with many hardships, working from dawn till dusk. We cannot add more burdens. Establishing temples and compiling the grand canon should be encouraged among officials, not the common people. In ancient times, the Nightmare Sect had a technique called 'The Great Dream of Spring and Autumn' and a treasure called 'One Dream of Heaven and Earth,' which could make disciples kill in their dreams."

"The techniques are neither good nor evil. I can change their use. All the people of our Zhou Dynasty can be enlightened in their dreams without harming their bodies."

The First Ancestor clapped and laughed heartily: "Well done!"

He then ordered Zhou Gong to interpret the dreams and spread them throughout the world.

The above story, of course, is fictional.

Zhao Xing clearly remembered that the Yunmeng Academy had nothing to do with the First Ancestor and the founding hero Zhou Gong Dan.

The ancient sect, the Nightmare Sect, was not an evil cult but the state religion of the Da Li Dynasty before the Zhou Dynasty.

The techniques 'The Great Dream of Spring and Autumn' and the treasure 'One Dream of Heaven and Earth' indeed existed.

The predecessor of the Yunmeng Academy was called the 'Great Dream Academy.'

It was used by the Da Li Dynasty for 'elite education' to attract geniuses and could indeed be used to kill in dreams.

After the fall of the Da Li Dynasty, it passed through several dynasties before being obtained by the Zhou Dynasty.

The Zhou Emperor wanted to decipher it and make it his own, but he failed.

It wasn't until the reign of Emperor Wu that the treasure 'One Dream of Heaven and Earth' was deciphered and transformed into the 'Yunmeng Academy.'

At the same time, this story came into being.

Why did Emperor Wu attribute the credit to the First Ancestor?

Because the treasure was not 'deciphered' during his reign but was discovered by a minister in ancient texts.

It could be entered with the simplest [Soul Calming Talisman] and [Guiding Talisman], along with a phrase.

The effects had already been developed by the Da Li Dynasty, and only minor adjustments were needed.

After years of trying to decipher the treasure, they finally found a method, but it was so simple it was shocking!

Additionally, the ancient emperor had already accomplished what he wanted, lacking only large-scale implementation and simplification.

The proud Emperor Wu felt embarrassed, imagining the Da Li emperor mocking his incompetence. He would not claim the 'great merit' and 'great virtue' in the eyes of the people.

It was also inappropriate to attribute it to the previous dynasties, so he decided to attribute it to the First Ancestor.

The Soul Calming Talisman and Guiding Talisman glowed faintly, and a strong drowsiness overcame Zhao Xing. His eyelids grew heavy, and soon he began to snore softly.

In the dream, Zhao Xing suddenly sat up and looked around.

Endless clouds enveloped the surroundings, thick and indistinct.

A massive gate tower, several dozen feet tall, appeared before him.

Ancient characters were carved on it: Great Dream Academy

"Did I really come in?"

Zhao Xing's first thought was to check the interface, but he couldn't, confirming he had truly entered.

His second thought was:

"I'm rich!"

"This is the early version of the Yunmeng Academy, no, it's still called the Great Dream Academy! A completely unexplored gold mine!"

"Compared to the later version, where Emperor Wu had already taken all the treasures, leaving it as a daily player dungeon, this is incomparable!"

Zhao Xing was somewhat excited.

In his previous life, he didn't have the opportunity, but now it was different.

He organized his thoughts, recalling certain precautions, and stepped into the misty gateway.

With one step, the scene changed abruptly.

Before him appeared a series of palaces, each enclosed in a semi-circular light dome, resplendent and magnificent.

[Reincarnation Hall], [Heart Inquiry Platform], [War God Tower], [Secret Art Treasury], [Heavenly Wisdom Pavilion], [Sacred Beast Palace], [Fate Palace]...

Terraces, pavilions, and palaces, connected by corridors and sky bridges, were arranged in a staggered and layered manner, surrounded by mist, like a fairyland.

Zhao Xing's eyes widened, and his mouth watered.

In the 'background story' summarized by players in his previous life, Emperor Wu gained the confidence to conquer the eight directions after obtaining the Da Li Dynasty's treasure trove.

Now, these treasures were presented before Zhao Xing, but before he could examine them, most of the palaces disappeared into the clouds, leaving only a few small pavilions.

"Huh? What's going on?" Zhao Xing was taken aback. "Why did they disappear?"

He quickly chased after the direction where one of the palaces had disappeared. After walking a few dozen meters, he was blocked by a gentle force, making it difficult to move, and eventually, he couldn't advance at all.

After several attempts, he stood there, frowning in thought, and finally realized.

This is the Great Dream Academy, not the Yunmeng Academy.

"The Great Dream Academy of the Da Li Dynasty was specifically for cultivating geniuses, while the 'Yunmeng Academy' of the Zhou Dynasty was open to all, regardless of talent."

"The former not only allows the learning of advanced secret techniques but also brings back physical rewards, each of which is a precious treasure. However, it has an entry threshold and high-difficulty tests."

"The latter mainly focuses on mid-to-low-level secret texts, with very few physical rewards. However, it has no threshold, and even children can explore the entire academy without any tests."

Realizing this, Zhao Xing could only helplessly watch as the treasures disappeared into the clouds.

Now he didn't need to search for them himself.

Because as soon as he moved, the mechanism was triggered, and what remained were the places he could attempt to obtain rewards.

"Let's see what's left. There's no need to rush. It will be at least a few hundred years before Emperor Wu empties the treasure trove." Zhao Xing's mindset relaxed; he had plenty of time to slowly empty this place.

After a moment, all the palaces and pavilions disappeared, leaving only a high platform floating in the sky.

Clouds rolled, and a spiral staircase extended from the platform to Zhao Xing's feet.

"Heart Inquiry Platform?"

"It seems my level is too low, and I don't have the qualifications to touch the others. Only this 'Heart Inquiry Platform,' which is unrelated to cultivation level, offers a chance to pass and receive a reward."

The tests on the Heart Inquiry Platform are mostly about emotions and desires, tailored to different individuals.

It has some patterns: creating the most desired or feared scenarios.

Looking at the Heart Inquiry Platform, Zhao Xing recalled some unpleasant memories.

"Will it start with something terrifying and unbearable..."

He took a deep breath and cautiously stepped onto the first step.

"Hum~"

The surrounding scene suddenly changed, and Zhao Xing suddenly smelled a refreshing fragrance.

Ripples spread on the water, petals floated on the surface, steam rose, and a beauty was leaning against the side of a tub.

Partially exposed buttocks, bare back, shoulders, and long hair...

"What? A lust test?"

"Heart Inquiry Platform, did you make a mistake? What I desire most now is not such low-level entertainment!"

(End of Chapter)