"With so many members of the Observatory breaking into the Dream Realm created by the Nightmare, the safety of the common people will be guaranteed. The one I’m actually most worried about is you."

Shen Bai shook his head. "There’s no need to worry about me, Lord Liu. But what is my assignment this time? Will I be Entering the Dream with everyone else?"

The Nightmare had made a major move this time. The Wild Taoist Sect and the Wild Buddhas behind it were certain to have a next step planned, which was why Shen Bai asked.

As for the specifics, he would naturally follow Liu Wufeng’s arrangements. After all, he was working for the Observatory now.

Liu Wufeng shook his head. "No, you won’t be Entering the Dream with them. You can just stay here. Leave the matters inside to the others."

"Oh?" Shen Bai asked, intrigued. "Stay here and watch everyone break into the Dream Realm?"

Liu Wufeng nodded. "That’s right. You and Elder Mu will remain outside. Elder Mu and the Liu State Governor will protect me, as well as you. I can’t be distracted while activating this device, so all matters of security will be handled by them."

Nearby, Elder Mu stood with a longsword in hand.

"Shen Bai, just listen to Lord Liu and stay out here," he said. "If this is a Dream Realm that so many members of the Observatory can’t break, you going in would be a drop in the ocean. A Nightmare of this level can’t necessarily be broken just by having greater strength."

The Dream Realm was a very peculiar thing.

It couldn’t be broken by strength alone.

Shen Bai had to agree with that.

After all, everyone’s dreams were different. When they all converged, there was no telling what they would weave together.

Since the plan was already in place, Shen Bai readily accepted his role.

Just then, as the last of the townspeople was carried into the clearing, Liu Wufeng pulled an object from his sleeve.

It was an eye carved from wood, and it looked remarkably lifelike.

It emanated an unusual aura, making it clear at a glance that this was no ordinary object.

Liu Wufeng weighed the Wooden Eye in his hand and spoke slowly. "As the saying goes, a single leaf can block one’s vision. The Dream Realm is like that leaf, covering one’s eyes. This Wooden Eye in my hand, then, is the eye we shall use to re-enter the dream."

"Ever since this Nightmare affair began and Shen Bai told me what happened, I have been preparing for this. Today, I can finally put it to use."

As Liu Wufeng spoke, the many members of the Observatory, as if they already knew what to do, each took out a stick of Dream-Entering Incense and sat cross-legged, encircling the townspeople.

It wasn’t just the members of the Observatory; even the constables from the Government Office did the same.

Liu Wufeng turned to Elder Mu and the Liu State Governor. "I’m entrusting my safety, and Shen Bai’s, to you both."

Elder Mu nodded. "Rest assured."

A writing brush appeared in the Liu State Governor’s right hand. "If anything happens to you, something will happen to Fenglin State. And if that happens, I’ll be in trouble too. We’re all in the same boat for this fight, so I will do everything in my power."

Hearing these words, Liu Wufeng felt a little more at ease. He then turned his gaze back to Shen Bai, thought for a moment, and said...

"Be extremely careful. The Wild Taoist Sect and the Wild Buddha Sect have been entrenched in Fenglin State for many years. Something unexpected could very well happen."

Shen Bai agreed. "Don’t worry, Lord Liu. As you said, if any uncontrollable accidents occur, I’ll use the most effective means to resolve them."

Things had already come to this. To put it another way, they were past the point of no return.

All they could do was minimize the risks as much as possible.

Liu Wufeng said no more. He slowly walked a few steps forward to the very front, surveyed the crowd, and simply said two words: "Light incense."

The moment he spoke, every member of the Observatory and every constable present lit the Dream-Entering Incense in their hands.

In an instant, smoke billowed out, completely enveloping the massive clearing.

From the outside, it was impossible to see what was happening within.

The moment the Dream-Entering Incense was lit, Liu Wufeng raised his right hand, which was clutching the Wooden Eye.

The Qi in his body began to Vibrate, and rays of light shot out from the pupil of the Wooden Eye.

The light was like a blazing sun, illuminating the darkness.

The instant the light erupted, it scattered, enveloping each and every one of the townspeople.

The townspeople’s murmurs and contorted movements gradually subsided. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Then, Shen Bai felt as if something was enveloping the Space around them—something between real and illusory, like a fleeting dream.

Liu Wufeng sat cross-legged on the ground. The Wooden Eye hovered above his head, bobbing up and down.

Then, Liu Wufeng slowly closed his eyes and spoke.

"Enter the Dream."

At his words, all the seated members closed their eyes.

Shen Bai scanned his surroundings. Everything was as still as the surface of a calm lake; not the slightest ripple of disturbance could be seen.

"They’ve Entered the Dream," Elder Mu said with a glance, walking over to Shen Bai’s side with his longsword in hand.

After a moment’s thought, the Liu State Governor also moved to Shen Bai’s right.

"Stick close to us this time," the State Governor said. "I’d like to see just what tricks the Wild Taoist Sect and Wild Buddha Sect are going to try and pull."

"Some of the most powerful people in Fenglin State are gathered right here. Even if the leaders of the Wild Taoist Sect and Wild Buddha Sect came themselves, they wouldn’t be able to take your life."

Listening to them, the corner of Shen Bai’s mouth twitched. "Why do I feel like a General in an opera, covered in death flags and about to go on stage?"

Elder Mu and the Liu State Governor looked at Shen Bai, confused.

Shen Bai shook his head. "It’s nothing. Just a bad joke."

He turned his gaze to the crowd, now deep in the Dream Realm, and thought to himself.

’Why do I have this feeling that their plan isn’t this simple? A feint? No, it can’t be a feint.’

With this thought in mind, Shen Bai continued his observation.

Just then, Shen Bai noticed something unusual.

He looked down and saw that Amber, nestled in his robes, wasn’t reacting at all.

Shen Bai frowned. ’Something’s wrong. Amber is a Deceitful Beast. Why isn’t it reacting at all?’