tln : they still on the dream world.

Shall We Become Dao Companions?

“Now, you will enter the first reincarnation world, ‘The Valkyrie’s Ride.’ Since none of you have reincarnation points, there will be no preparation time.”

Qin Gou’s voice shattered the silence, pulling everyone out of their daydreams about the future.

“Wait, Lord Cthulhu, we still have many questions—”

Without waiting, Qin Gou plunged Shen Tianyin, Cao Yilin, and the others into a deeper layer of the dream, leaving only the white-clad girl who resembled Gu Feiyan behind.

The girl playfully blinked at Qin Gou, who smiled faintly and said, “Do your best.”

“Understood, Lord Cthulhu.” The girl saluted with a cheerful smile before vanishing.

From the beginning, this white-clad girl was nothing more than an illusion Qin Gou had conjured, planted among Shen Tianyin and the others as a spy. Now, she was off to fulfill her true mission.

***

Ten minutes later.

Shen Tianyin and the others reappeared before Qin Gou, battered and bloodied. The most severely injured, Cao Yilin, lay in a pool of his own blood, barely able to open his eyes.

They had spent ten grueling days in the first reincarnation world, barely completing their task.

“Yan’er!”

Shen Tianyin’s tears flowed freely as he screamed, “My Yan’er, where are you!”

He frantically searched for the white-clad girl, but her figure was nowhere to be found.

“Gu Yan’er has perished in the reincarnation world.”

“No, that can’t be true! Yan’er, my Dao companion!” Shen Tianyin’s eyes widened, his expression wild and beastly.

In the first reincarnation world, the girl named Gu Yan’er had quickly formed a deep bond with the group. In the end, she sacrificed herself to save Shen Tianyin, shielding him from a fatal blow. In her final moments, she lay in his arms, sobbing as she whispered her last words.

“Shen Lang, if there is a next life, shall we become Dao companions and seek immortality together?”

“Brother Shen! Stop it. Sister Yan’er gave her life to protect us. She’s already…”

“No, there must be another way. Lord Cthulhu is all-powerful; he must be able to bring Yan’er back, right?” Shen Tianyin turned to Qin Gou, clutching at this last hope.

Gu Yan’er’s heroic sacrifice had solidified their belief in the greatness of the reincarnation world.

“One hundred thousand. One hundred thousand reincarnation points can bring back the dead from the reincarnation world.”

“One hundred thousand?” Shen Tianyin froze. They had risked their lives in the first world and earned only 50 points each. Saving up 100,000 points seemed impossible.

Besides, with 100,000 points, he could exchange for a supreme technique and become a renowned powerhouse in the cultivation world!

“But whether a woman you’ve known for just ten days is worth 100,000 points is for you to decide.”

Shen Tianyin fell silent, the staggering number weighing heavily on his heart.

After a long pause, he finally said, “Lord Cthulhu, please heal our bodies.”

A pale green light enveloped the five, instantly restoring them.

Most of their reincarnation points were deducted, leaving only Shen Tianyin, who had the lightest injuries, with some remaining. He immediately exchanged them for a physique-enhancing pill.

“Go, return to your original world, and await my summons.”

***

Morning. The first rays of sunlight streamed through the windows as Shen Tianyin and the others awoke simultaneously, feeling as though they’d lived a lifetime.

Shen Tianyin got out of bed, flexing his fully healed legs with satisfaction. Glancing at the still-sleeping Qin Gou, he signaled to the others.

***

In a waterside pavilion in Konglan Valley.

Shen Tianyin smiled, “When I woke up, my legs were healed, and the refining pill Lord Cthulhu promised was in my storage bag.”

Cao Yilin, lost in thought, sighed, “It’s all real. Sister Yan’er is really gone.”

“Shut up!” Shen Tianyin snapped, glaring at Cao Yilin. “One day, when I become a great figure in the cultivation world, I’ll find a way to bring Yan’er back.”

“Brother Shen, you’re truly loyal. I wasn’t wrong about you,” Cao Yilin said admiringly. “From now on, as long as I live, I’ll share my reincarnation points with you to help you revive Sister Yan’er. After all, I owe her my life!”

Shen Tianyin’s eyes lit up. He patted Cao Yilin’s shoulder, “Good brother!”

He turned to the other three disciples, smiling, “I hope you won’t be stingy either.”

The three hesitated, nodding reluctantly. “If we have extra points…”

They, too, were grateful for Gu Yan’er’s sacrifice and wished for her revival, but they didn’t trust Shen Tianyin.

Satisfied, Shen Tianyin chuckled. “I noticed Qin Gou was still asleep. He wasn’t chosen by Lord Cthulhu, was he?”

“What a pity,” Cao Yilin sighed. “We can’t tell anyone about the reincarnation world, but if we could fight alongside Brother Qin, things wouldn’t have been so dire.”

“Idiot!” Shen Tianyin snapped. “Are you insane? Calling him ‘Brother Qin’ so affectionately when he’s not even here? Focus on using the reincarnation world to grow stronger.”

Cao Yilin frowned, confused. “Brother Shen, what’s wrong? Since Brother Qin arrived, we’ve been thriving. Those who used to look down on us now bow and avoid us. It’s all thanks to him.”

“Ridiculous,” Shen Tianyin sneered. “Have you forgotten the humiliation he put me through? I haven’t. When I grow strong enough, the first thing I’ll do is take Qin Gou’s head and use it as a ball.”

Cao Yilin looked displeased.

Shen Tianyin laughed coldly. “What? You don’t agree? Go ahead, tell Qin Gou my plan. If you reveal the reincarnation world’s secrets, both you and Qin Gou will be erased by Lord Cthulhu.”

“I…” Cao Yilin’s face turned red with anger, his teeth clenched.

Shen Tianyin smirked. “What? Are you going to say you’ll stop sharing points with me? Think of Yan’er! What would she say if she saw this?”

Cao Yilin, incredulous, shouted, “Shen Tianyin! Are you using Sister Yan’er to manipulate us? Have you gone mad? Do you have no shame for the tears you shed?”

“Get this straight. Gu Yan’er was my Dao companion! Her will is my will!” Shen Tianyin said darkly. “I swear I’ll revive her, but until then, anyone who ever looked down on me will pay dearly.”

—