Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 1467: Chapter 1465 Artificial Existence Core (35)

In the very beginning, it was likely in the dreams of everyone over that age.

Strolling through the sunlit square, although the sun was not visible in the sky, Fu Qian pondered silently.

Upon entering the square, the feeling differed from the corridor earlier.

A significant change was that continuing to conceal oneself became difficult.

To some extent, this further proved that while the old man had made his way here, this part of the dream was not solely his creation, but more a convergence of multiple dream wills.

The people wandering in the square were almost of the same nature as the old man; he was no longer the sole core of the dream.

Because of this, there was no need to continue hiding.

This dream connection might belong to a rather deep cognitive category, and the states of the many dreamers were not exactly lucid.

Even if someone slightly younger appeared among them, it wouldn’t be too alarming.

As for the target he sought, Fu Qian never thought his concealment would be meaningful in its absolute domain.

In fact, from the moment he forcibly put the old man to sleep, Fu Qian sensed a considerable rejection from the dream.

This was not surprising; regardless of his current state, after all the exchanges earlier, especially with Mr. Lek’s death, it was impossible for that entity not to be on full alert.

This was also why Fu Qian chose to expend SAN Points to activate the Pseudo-Divine Being rather than directly transforming into the Mythical Form of the Abandonment King.

Theoretically, the latter should be more effective, and after a period of rest, a brief activation was not an issue.

The issue was that entering the dream was just the beginning.

While traversing it, the struggle was ceaseless.

The duration of the Pseudo-Divine Being, if replaced with the Abandonment King, would be exhausting.

And within this vast dream convergence, finding a target set on hiding would be incredibly challenging.

...

Terror, sorrow, yet there was an inescapable sense of relief.

Standing before a bluish-black, slightly abstract stone sculpture, Fu Qian looked at the aged features on it, and at the similar styled statues in the distance, along with the bizarre buildings, doors, and streets further away.

Only a few wandered here; the other realms made up of various wills were represented over there.

The old lady earlier went from a waking state to sleepwalking and attacking, which basically implied that even if one was lucid on the surface, there likely remained a connection with this place deep in consciousness.

Perhaps weak, but it didn’t hinder the target from hiding within it, just as mentioned before, finding it was a massive undertaking.

But it was already much better than imagined.

Considering the population density of Los, the number of people who have turned fifty-nine would be alarmingly large even in small areas.

If they were all converged here, Fu Qian believed the scene wouldn’t be like this.

In fact, in his judgment, the target indeed originally could have achieved that magnitude — otherwise, how was it polluted?

Mr. Lek had changed dramatically right after his fifty-ninth birthday.

If the previous speculation was true and it was indeed caused by it, the speed of change seemed to indicate that meeting the age criterion and encountering it were almost causational.

And pollution was still pollution, no matter how waned the state of the old Divine Beings, Fu Qian never underestimated their dying struggles.

Perhaps this mysterious creature managed its demise joyfully, even holding some initiative, finding ways to gain benefits, but its desecrated nature remained unchanged.

This resulted in it being unable to enter other ordinary dreams, greatly reducing its habitat.

Does it sound like subjective speculation, purely imagination?

There’s even current evidence right in front of us — if it could reach other places, why would this guy be trying so hard to push itself out?

Wandering through many dreams, wouldn’t tiring itself to death be better?

Of course, it was doing it very cautiously, and despite the struggle, no traces had been caught so far.

And although longer-lasting than Mythical Form, the Pseudo-Divine Being still had its limits.

With the current intensity of rejection, once it ended, he’d be inevitably propelled out.

Then he’d spend another ten SAN Points to retry, beginning once again.

The problem was that narrowing the range didn’t mean it was small, and he didn’t have ample SAN Points.

Exploring other means to reduce the difficulty of finding was possible too, like physically eliminating the tainted ones.

If removed thoroughly enough, they might not even need to confront it in the dream directly.

But such a slaughter would most likely catapult him, the Frost Demigod, to the top of the Night Watchman’s wanted list.

Fortunately, Fu Qian didn’t intend to adopt these methods.

As everyone knows, I’ve always been the type game parlor owners hate the most.

Ten SAN Points were sufficient, and my strategy was indeed not to engage it in the dream.

Hey!

Standing on the square filled with aging fear, Fu Qian warmly greeted the emptiness before him.

Simultaneously, his figure swelled terrifically.

...

Burly and robust, like a Tyrant descending upon the world.

Countless delicate, ice-crack-like lines spread from his body, extending into the surrounding Void, flickering and changing.

In that instant, this dignified dream, both one and all, seemed as if the most horrifying grinder had dropped in.

Even while standing still, everything around appeared to be disintegrated by those cracks.

The reason for the delay in searching was because Fu Qian never intended to search in the first place.

Should he open each room one by one just because there are many? Why not just demolish the building?

Using the Brilliant Tyrant for such tasks, a brief passage through the Pontiff’s realm had long made it second nature for me.

As for the efficiency?

It was indeed perceivable that after a brief shock, the opponent was striving to maintain and repair.

And his Pseudo-Divine Being didn’t have much time left either.

But it didn’t matter.

In the next moment, Fu Qian’s hand reached into a crack appearing in the Void amidst raging ice lines.

Coincidentally, it was located on that aged statue.

And Fu Qian’s actions were so smooth, retrieving without any hesitation in an instant.

Visceral Critical Strike aimed at abstract concepts, applying this move was part of the special training at the Pontiff’s place.

The most ingenious part was, executing a skill that destroyed all related concepts, the Visceral Critical Strike’s target truly was "an entirety," entirely avoiding any oversight.

Roar——

Activated by a Second Phase Transcendent, there wasn’t even a need for a second strike.

With a violent pull, the crack shattered, spreading this uncontrolled destruction to every corner.

The repelling force vanished instantly, replaced by a soul-piercing howl.

Of course, it merely rends ordinary men; for the Abandonment King, at the moment Mr. Lek died, this source of malady was already a dead man.