In the Dream Realm.

Yin Shen led Shelly to the gates behind God’s domain. The ancient metallic gates of the divine realm slowly pushed outward, letting the light of the Dream Sun shine through.

“Mmmmm!”

Though the gates of God’s domain were clearly opening automatically, Shelly still placed her hands upon them, pretending as if she were the one pushing these impossibly massive doors open herself.

The contrast between the towering gates whose top couldn’t even be seen and her tiny figure created an amusing and comical sight.

Yin Shen walked outward, and Shelly immediately scurried after him on her little legs.

To the right of God’s domain’s gates stood a towering iron giant.

This giant carried a great ship on its back, with its head forming the ship’s ram. It sat cross-legged with its limbs wrapped around itself, appearing to have been asleep for who knows how long.

Strange vines had grown all over the giant’s body, tightly wrapping around its form, with dark silver flowers blooming on the ship it carried on its back.

Shelly had seen this Ship Giant many times before: “It’s all rusty.”

“It must be broken.”

Yin Shen: “It’s just been too long since it last worked, only resting for a while.”

Yin Shen stepped forward and touched the ship’s hull.

The mottled rust instantly fell away, and golden light burst forth.

The Ship Giant gradually awakened, producing sounds of grinding metal that thundered throughout the Dream Realm.

Yin Shen had reactivated the Divine Boat, continuing its former mission.

But it seemed to be missing something, unable to move on its own.

Yin Shen released streams of Light of Wishes that merged into the Ship Giant’s body. The Ship Giant had originally been just a fourth-rank artifact, but now its power began to grow continuously.

Every mark and trace on its body was infused with the power of the Light of Wishes, transforming it into a being composed entirely of crystallized Light of Wishes.

The Ship Giant slowly prostrated itself, becoming a magnificent golden ship.

Aboard the ship.

The Ship Giant emanated a dreamlike domain, released from the ship’s lamps, like a realm of spirits.

Within the Ship Giant’s domain, one could see statues of every kind of being qualified to enter the Dream Realm.

Not just intelligent species, but all life forms capable of dreaming could ascend to the sea of dream stars.

The golden ship departed from the gates of God’s domain, beginning its patrol.

It would cruise through all domains of dreams from day to night, traversing the edges of billions of beings’ dreams, finally taking aboard all life’s dreams.

Setting out at dawn, returning as night faded.

Then delivering all life’s dreams to the Dream Realm’s sea of stars.

Day after day, in endless cycles.

Meanwhile, it was also the main channel and method for entering God’s domain – others who wished to enter the Dream Realm had to do so through this great ship.

Yin Shen watched as the Divine Boat slowly departed, disappearing into the darkness of the Dream Realm.

This ship had already been sailing along the edges of everyone’s dreams, existing between illusion and reality, yet few could see it unless they were at life’s final moments.

Yin Shen: “From now on, it will no longer need someone to pilot it.”

Shelly was somewhat puzzled: “No longer need someone?”

This meant that previously, someone had been piloting this ship.

Shelly’s confusion was quickly answered, as after completing all this, Yin Shen turned his attention to the vines and dark silver flowers that had fallen from the Ship Giant.

The Divine Boat was just an artifact – originally, there had been someone controlling it.

Only when the two were combined did they truly become the being that guided life’s dreams.

Yin Shen watched as those dark silver flowers intertwined together, finally transforming into a human figure.

The Dream Realm Ferryman.

He had a human-like head, but the lower half of his body was a flower. His robes were completely different from those of spirits, being of a dim color.

For the Ferryman was not a spirit, but one born from Wisdom Ability.

Hidden within his will and power were various desires, though they had previously been sealed within the Divine Boat’s lamps.

If one were to describe his true form with a gift, it could only be called the Cup of Desire.

The Ferryman had once also embarked on the Path of Wisdom, becoming a reincarnator.

Time and again, he transformed from flower to seed, then grew anew from the seed, his roots intertwining with the Divine Boat.

Now, he had returned once more.

The Ferryman bowed to Yin Shen: “God Yinsai.”

However, now that the Ship Giant could perfectly complete its mission alone, there was no longer any need for the Ferryman.

Yin Shen told him: “It’s over.”

“Your mission ends here.”

The Ferryman: “Is it that You no longer need me?”

Yin Shen: “This was just an artifact’s mission. Once, the Dream Realm needed a ferryman, so it needed you to carry out this artifact’s mission.”

Yin Shen looked in the direction where the Miracle Tool Divine Boat had departed: “And now, the Divine Boat can complete this mission on its own.”

Yin Shen told him: “You have completed the mission Hila gave you, I shall grant you freedom.”

The Ferryman didn’t seem to have much anticipation for freedom, speaking words that were unexpected.

“Freedom?”

“Isn’t that just endless emptiness?”

The Ferryman told God Yinsai: “My true form is the Flower of Desire, born from the Sun Cup merged with Wisdom Ability’s desire. I was born from the desires and emotions of the Trilobite people.”

“I hope You can give me a mission, let me begin an endless pursuit.”

“Even if…”

“It’s just a dull and monotonous mission.”

Yin Shen looked at the Ferryman: “Why?”

The Ferryman: “Because this way, life can have meaning.”

“Because of having a mission, I am not merely a stone.”

“Having things to want, having an innate mission, allows desire to be born.”

“Only then can one possess joy and sorrow, anger and happiness, only then can one feel alive.”

The Ferryman’s robes emanated the light of Wisdom Ability, with emotions appearing on them one after another, transforming into expressions of crying, laughing, despair, and joy.

“Having goals and desires is what makes a living being alive.”

“Even if their life is a nightmare, even if their desires are utterly ugly, even if everything about them is detestable.”

“It’s still far superior to a dead thing, even if that dead thing is a Mythical Artifact.”

“Because…”

“They are alive.”

The Ferryman suddenly remembered words spoken to him long, long ago by that divine messenger.

The spirit had given their dream egg to the Ferryman, transforming his fear and despair into a nightmare, condensing it into a lamp.

That being, beautiful as if they had condensed all the world’s goodness, spoke to him beneath the starry sky over the sea.

“O Divine Boat that travels between dreams and Dream Realm Ferryman who guides memories!”

“I hope you can replace me in the future, traversing between dreams, guiding all memories returning to the sea of dream stars.”

“Life has not dispersed, their memories and past…”

“Will all become stars forever accompanying God.”

The spirit had given him an endless task, day after day seemingly without cease, never seeing an end in sight.

But when he heard these words, there was not a shred of rejection in his heart.

Instead, a feeling of joy was born.

That joyful emotion even broke through the dark nightmare in his heart, letting him see endless light.

He couldn’t help but say to the spirit: “Th-thank…”

“Thank… you.”

The Dream Spirit smiled and replied: “We made a promise, didn’t we?”

Those words of promise remain carved in his heart even now.

The Ferryman looked at God Yinsai: “I am grateful to her.”

“She gave me purpose, giving meaning to my endless empty world.”

“Even as I sailed through darkness day after day, I found happiness.”

Yin Shen understood, and spoke to the Ferryman.

“The Divine Boat has completely taken over your former mission. The Dream Realm no longer needs you to fulfill this artifact’s task.”

“If you wish…”

“You may choose a new mission.”

Upon hearing of a new mission, the Ferryman’s face bloomed with a smile, as if rediscovering life’s meaning.

“I will most joyfully welcome a new mission.”

“Great God Yinsai.”—

Ruhe Beast Island.

City of Fire Protection.

Fire spread throughout the city, screams of killing and crying everywhere.

Some snake people fled toward the city gates carrying possessions, while others wielded spears and swords, killing people in the City of Fire Protection to seize their wealth. Chaos had descended upon this place.

“Don’t let them escape, secure the altar and palace first.” Crowds of soldiers surrounded a snake person wearing a bronze helmet as they charged into the city, the helmeted snake person issuing commands.

“Loot everything in this city.” The soldiers had gone mad upon entering this prosperous city, greedily plundering everything.

“Kill!” The looting finally turned to slaughter.

These were snake people from Moonlight city, Sains City, and the northern Stone Demon tribe, who had suddenly attacked this city.

The reason?

It was because the high and mighty Fire Guardian had increased their tribute requirements, demanding large quantities of grain and beast meat, and additionally requiring tribute of many female snake people.

This completely enraged the snake people of Moonlight city and Sains City. They had originally only meant to resist the City of Fire Protection’s rule, gathering soldiers to oppose the city’s army.

But after engaging in battle, these rebel forces discovered that the City of Fire Protection’s army was weak.

The Fire Guardian, who only knew how to enjoy pleasures, didn’t dare to enter the battlefield himself, only hiding behind his soldiers. He thought himself the ruler of the snake people, that none could oppose him.

How could the fighting spirit and morale of ordinary soldiers compare to the enraged rebel snake people? The City of Fire Protection’s army crumbled at first contact, which transformed the rebels’ initial trepidation into burning ambition.

They wanted to attack the City of Fire Protection, teach the greedy and tyrannical Fire Guardian a lesson.

The rebels conspired with the northern herding Stone Demon tribe, forming an alliance to attack the City of Fire Protection together.

Now not only had snake people with abilities invaded the City of Fire Protection, but large numbers of minor fire demons and stone demons followed them as well.

The clashing powers of fire demons and stone demons not only destroyed whole sections of buildings but also set great fires throughout the city.

This made the City of Fire Protection even more chaotic, with everyone running about like headless flies.

The rebel soldiers continuously charged toward the altar and palace, the wealthiest places in the City of Fire Protection and where the nobles resided.

They charged there in a frenzy, climbing the steps one after another toward the top.

At this moment, towering flames erupted from atop the altar.

“Whoosh!”

The terrifying sound of the fire demon rang out, causing everyone to turn toward the direction of the soaring flames.

Some faces lit up with joy, while others contorted in terror.

“The great fire demon.”

The Fire Guardian had finally resorted to his last option – summoning the great fire demon that his ancestor Alcina had left behind.

Before the palace, the Fire Guardian slowly emerged.

He shouted: “All rebels shall be burned to ash beneath the demon fire!”

However, unexpectedly, although the Fire Guardian had summoned the great fire demon in the chaos, he clearly had never fought alongside this fire demon before.

Apart from communicating with the fire demon once when he ascended to the position of Fire Guardian, he had never commanded this great fire demon to do anything else.

He was the high and mighty Fire Guardian – what person was worthy of him using the fire demon left by his ancestors?

Now his weakness was laid bare for all to see.

He had no way to control this great fire demon as if it were his own limb. His commands even completely conflicted with the fire demon’s desires, causing problems that resulted in his own people being burned to death.

The rebels immediately noticed this problem. Those who had been terrified now showed wild joy on their faces.

“Our chance has come.”

“Kill him.”

“If he doesn’t die, we’ll die.”

Besides the great fire demon, the Fire Guardian himself wasn’t a particularly powerful ability user.

The rebels charged up. Most were immediately burned to death by the fire demon.

But several second-rank ability users charged up the steps into the palace, found an opening, and fought their way to the Fire Guardian.

The Fire Guardian cried out in terror, but no one could save him now.

The most noble of the snake people, the Fire Guardian was instantly killed by the rebels in the palace.

Moreover, the blood-crazed rebels not only killed the Fire Guardian but completely slaughtered everyone of the Alcina family in the palace, finally looting it clean.

The formerly high and mighty families and nobles now wailed beneath the butcher’s blade.

Those noble bloodlines and surnames meant nothing under the rebel soldiers’ weapons.

Western City of Fire Protection.

A group of soldiers still battled with the rebels, led by a tall, strong snake person male. His muscles gleamed like bronze, his wild curly hair and eyes carrying a natural authority even without anger.

With sword in one hand and short spear in the other, he drove the rebels back repeatedly, leaving corpses everywhere and rivers of blood.

When rebel snake soldiers tried to stab him with their weapons, they found his bronze-colored skin was as hard as steel.

Instead of the expected spurting blood, there was only a crisp metallic clash.

They stood dumbfounded, having never witnessed anything like this before.

“How is this possible?”

“What kind of monster is this?”

The snake man let out a roar, casually smashing the rebel soldier’s head with one punch, then throwing the corpse at other rebels.

The rebel soldiers retreated in terror before this monster of immense strength whose skin no blade could pierce.

But at this moment news arrived, someone wailing loudly.

“The Fire Guardian is dead.”

“The Alcina family is completely gone, their lineage broken.”

All soldiers looked in terror at the person speaking these words, their faces showing disbelief.

The City of Fire Protection had been attacked before, armies had invaded the city before.

But no one had ever dared to kill members of the Alcina family – this was a rule, an iron law.

However now, this rule and iron law had been broken.

Among the crowd, rebels shouted: “The Fire Guardian is dead, you’re finished!”

“Surrender now!”

But that tall, strong snake man paid no attention, his eyes reddened as he let out a roar.

“Kill!”

“Defend our city!”

It seemed the snake man commanded great respect – at his roar, the soldiers immediately followed, completely obeying his orders.

The man’s name was Alpens, a captain of the city guard.

Alpens was a renowned warrior in the City of Fire Protection. Although he wasn’t an ability user nor descendant of an illustrious family.

But Alpens possessed an unparalleled powerful physique.

Blades couldn’t cut his skin, divine techniques could hardly tear or pierce his flesh. His tenacious vitality gave him regenerative powers that seemed nearly immortal to ordinary snake people.

To ordinary people, he seemed like a monster not of this world.

Some speculated he wasn’t truly born of the snake people, but rather possessed a peculiar, almost mythical bloodline from an ancient, unknown origin.

However, even Alpens’s powerful physique and strength could not turn the tide – the City of Fire Protection had fallen completely.

More and more soldiers fell as powerful warriors and demons converged on their position.

A snake person ability user arrived, and upon seeing Alpens, immediately commanded their contracted stone demon to attack him.

“Kill this monster.”

Though Alpens faced swords and spears without fear, he still held his breath when confronting a stone demon.

The several-meter-tall stone demon swung its arm down at him, and Alpens immediately raised both arms.

The crowd gasped in astonishment.

For Alpens had managed to block the stone demon’s attack. Though the immense force cracked the ground tiles beneath his feet layer by layer, Alpens was clearly uninjured.

To withstand a stone demon’s power with a mortal body was simply unheard of.

Even the most powerful ability users couldn’t achieve this, as Wisdom Ability was never known for physical strength.

The stone demon continued its assault on Alpens, but amazingly, he blocked its attacks again and again.

Alpens’s body began showing signs of injury, though the wounds healed in moments. Still, it was clear that Alpens was starting to lose ground.

An even bigger problem was that other powerful ability users among the city’s rebels would likely arrive soon.

Even with such a powerful body, Alpens would eventually be captured and imprisoned by them.

Alpens quickly made his decision.

Defeat was inevitable – now they could only escape.

He broke free from the entanglement with the stone demon and ability user, shouting to his subordinates.

“Follow me and fight our way out!”

Alpens no longer engaged the ability users and demons, instead charging toward where ordinary rebel soldiers were most concentrated.

His powerful physique and blade-proof body were far beyond what ordinary people could handle.

Indeed, Alpens managed to cut a bloody path through, leading a group of people out of the City of Fire Protection.

Of the hundred who began the charge, fewer than half made it out alive.

Everyone was wounded, their bodies drenched in blood.

In that moment of escape, they all felt a sense of disbelief.

The snake people either roared in anger or wept with covered faces.

“We made it.”

“We escaped.”

“The City of Fire Protection is gone, the Fire Guardian is gone.”

Alpens also turned to look back at the City of Fire Protection, which had fallen into a sea of flames.

In that instant.

He too felt lost.

He had previously sworn loyalty to the Fire Guardian, but now the Fire Guardian was gone.

He had fought to defend the City of Fire Protection, but in the end, he couldn’t protect it.

“Where should we go now?”

Alpens was born during the city-state’s peak. “Al” meant “my child” – when naming children, the snake people of the City of Fire Protection liked to add these two characters at the front.

This all originated from their ancestor Alcina – “cina” meant “little girl,” together meaning “my little daughter.”

And “Alpens” meant that my child would be like the legendary Pence, possessing his wisdom and courage.

Alpens’s parents had very high expectations for him. He was born with a special red mark on his back, and in his youth he displayed strength and physique far beyond normal.

And Alpens did indeed become what they imagined – finally becoming a warrior and the captain of the City of Fire Protection’s guard.

Alpens found a small village outside the city to rest for the night, tossing and turning in his sleep.

He didn’t fall asleep until nearly dawn.

But after falling asleep, he had a dream.

He saw an endless sea of blood, from which a great being emerged.

Behind her was reflected an ancient and desolate land, where ancient cities stood, but they were blown by wind and sand, becoming endless ruins in the blink of an eye.

Millions of blurred humanoid shadows appeared behind her – they were an incredibly ancient species.

In the air echoed voices chanting her name.

“Ruler of the Blood Kingdom of the Deep Sea, Great Blood Progenitor, Queen of the Most Ancient Race.”

“Life… the origin of life, servant of the Mother God…”

“All shall return to… billions of years ago.”

The voices grew louder, reverberating in Alpens’s ears like great bells.

“Ha!”

Alpens suddenly awoke, looking toward the horizon.

Dawn had not yet broken.

Alpens gasped for breath, his body drenched in sweat, his eyes showing a fear rare for him.

Because he felt that what he had seen in his dream was no ordinary being.

This being could only have been a deity.

“Who was that?”

“Why did I have such a dream?”

At the same time, he had an overwhelming sense of familiarity.

He suddenly remembered that he had had this dream when he was very young, had also dreamed of that woman in the endless blood colors, yet could never see her appearance clearly.

But as he gradually grew up, he forgot about this dream.

Unexpectedly, he had this dream again, right when he faced choices and uncertainty.

He felt this was divine revelation.

“Life?” he recalled this word spoken in the dream.

“Could what I saw be the Mother of Life?”

But he felt the appearance was quite different from the Mother of Life in mythology.

Alpens pondered for a long time, until dawn slowly broke.

Only then did he decide: “Perhaps I should go see the City of Life. That is a divine place – perhaps I can find the revelation meant for me.”

Alpens decided to seek revelation in the City of Life. Though no one had ever returned alive from that city, Alpens had a kind of confidence in himself.

Or rather, he sensed someone there calling to him, waiting for his arrival.

After dawn.

Alpens gathered all the snake person soldiers he had led out. Most of these soldiers’ homes were in villages and towns around the City of Fire Protection, with only a few living in the city itself.

“Everything is over now. You should all return home first!”

The soldiers looked at Alpens, and someone said reluctantly: “Captain, is this really how it ends?”

Alpens shook his head: “Of course not.”

“I now have something very important to do, so I must bid you farewell for now.”

“Nothing has truly ended yet – go home and wait.”

“When I find the answer, I will return to gather you all.”—

Dense jungle, ferns covering the ground.

A mountain peak like a pillar soaring into the sky, winding rivers flowing past its foot.

Alpens looked up at this mountain peak from afar. Most of it was hidden in clouds – from the foot of the mountain, one could only see its lower half.

“This is the place.”

After traveling thousands of miles, he had finally arrived at the Mountain of Life’s Origin.

That is, the mountain where the City of Life stood.

It originally had no name, but gradually gained one in snake people mythology, becoming known as the Mountain of Life’s Origin.

The snake people believed all life and intelligent species began here – this was the origin of everything.

Alpens gazed toward the mountain’s peak, his bloodline boiling more intensely, the echoing voices in his ears growing stronger.

He seemed to sense the power and presence of the City of Life, that supreme ruler at the source of his bloodline.

He walked to the mountain’s foot and took out his tools.

He prepared to climb this peak that no snake person had ever conquered.