Strangely, even though the two of them were conversing,

to the other patrons in the cafe, their words sounded like nothing more than ordinary small talk.

This was all because Hu Qi had used a sliver of his Dream Eye’s power to distort their conversation.

Although Ouyang Shuokong had lost his body as a Refining God Venerable, his Divine Soul was still at the same level. His perception of his surroundings far exceeded that of an ordinary person, so he naturally noticed this anomaly.

His awe for Hu Qi deepened.

’It has only been a few short days since I arrived in this world.’

’I’ve only just reached the Entry-Level of the Pile Skill and achieved the Qi Blood First Transformation.’

’Yet the other man has already mastered this kind of power.’

’Is this what one should expect from someone who has reached that realm?’

"In that case, I assume you have some understanding of this world by now?"

Hu Qi asked casually.

"I do."

Ouyang Shuokong nodded, his expression turning grave as he continued.

"From what I’ve gathered, this world’s technological development isn’t too different from the old Earth Star.

The only difference is the existence of an Extraordinary phenomenon called Nightmares, which are extremely dangerous.

Occasionally, however, ordinary people can enter a Nightmare and obtain something called a Dream Eye—the source of the Nightmare—and become a Dream Master.

This power is different from that of a Secret Martial Artist; it doesn’t require Cultivation.

As long as you don’t die while claiming it, you can become a Dream Master.

The power they can unleash is enough to easily kill Secret Martial Artists of the Qi Blood Realm, and even members of a Martial Arts Family who have opened their Essence Element Divine Treasure.

And those are just the most common Initial Awakeners. Above them are Dreamwalkers, who are comparable to Qi Dao Grandmasters.

However, the Extraordinary path of a Dream Master is quite distorted. Their abilities are too specialized and have fatal flaws. If a Secret Martial Artist of the same level is prepared, killing one is as easy as slaughtering a dog..."

Ouyang Shuokong spoke with self-assurance.

He clearly knew a great deal about Dream Masters.

It was also clear from his tone that he didn’t think much of their Extraordinary path.

This was understandable.

As the founder of Qi and Blood Secret Martial Arts, Ouyang Shuokong naturally had more faith in his own path.

As Hu Qi listened to Ouyang Shuokong’s explanation, a flicker of understanding crossed his eyes.

What he had said included the different tiers of Dream Masters and even some specific information only a Dream Master should know.

’It seems Ouyang Shuokong’s new identity isn’t just some run-of-the-mill aristocrat. Otherwise, it’d be impossible to get this kind of information in such a short time.’

Thinking of this, he asked,

"Have you ever met a Dreamwalker-level Dream Master?"

Hearing this, Ouyang Shuokong first nodded, then shook his head.

"I’ve heard of a Dreamwalker-level Dream Master. There seems to be one in the Zhou Family, who I believe is my current body’s older cousin. However, I haven’t been in this body for long, so I haven’t met him. It’s just something I found in her memories. A Dream Master of that level is very powerful."

"Also, there’s something else. The Dream Eyes in this world seem a bit... unsettling. As a Dream Master controls more of them,

their personality is subject to the Dream Eye’s Erosion, making them increasingly radical and apathetic.

And the so-called ’killing rules’ of a Dream Eye are somewhat similar to the residual resentment that legends say powerful beings leave behind after they die."

Hu Qi was, of course, already aware of what Ouyang Shuokong was saying.

However, according to common sense, such a thing should be impossible.

After all, when an ordinary being dies, its Light of the Soul returns directly to the Sea of Sumeru to have its memory imprints cleansed.

Only the resentment from a deceased Refining God Venerable could linger in the mortal world for a short period.

Even then, for it to transform into something like a Dream Eye would be nearly impossible.

Of course, this didn’t rule out the possibility that this world was simply special.

Afterward, their conversation continued, allowing Hu Qi to grasp Ouyang Shuokong’s current situation.

The body he now occupied belonged to a woman named Zhou Qing.

The Zhou Family was one of the ten great families of the Yu Country.

They had lived through the war-torn era eighty years prior, earning countless merits.

They contributed immense power to the founding of the modern Yu Country.

The family’s deeply rooted and intertwined influence was vast beyond imagination.

According to Ouyang Shuokong, once it was discovered that Nightmares could be controlled,

these top families and powerful figures were like sharks that had smelled blood.

They immediately began dispatching their own scions to try and master them.

Although many were lost in the process, there were also many who succeeded.

However, most of them could only reach the most basic level of Initial Awakener.

Those who managed to control three Dream Eyes, achieve a balance, and become Dreamwalker-level Dream Masters were few and far between.

However, compared to ordinary people,

the scions of these great and powerful families had powerful Dream Masters in their clans to look after them, so their mortality rate was significantly lower.

Hu Qi remained noncommittal about this.

’That’s just how the world is.’

It was just like a saying he’d once seen while surfing the internet on Blue Star.

"By the time the world announces that Cultivation is possible, you’ll find that some people can already fly."

The meaning was more or less the same. There was no such thing as true fairness in the world.

After that, Hu Qi asked about the Controller Level.

To this, Ouyang Shuokong admitted he didn’t know.

Although his new identity was that of a Direct Lineage member of the Zhou Family, she was ultimately still an ordinary person, and the information she had access to was limited.

However, he speculated that even if any existed, they would be exceedingly rare.

Just then, as if struck by a sudden thought, Ouyang Shuokong stared directly at Hu Qi.

"If I’m not mistaken, Master... you’ve already mastered this world’s power of Nightmare, haven’t you?"

Hu Qi had no reason to hide it, so he simply nodded. "I have."

Receiving Hu Qi’s confirmation, Ouyang Shuokong still couldn’t conceal his shock.

"Oh, right. This is for you."

Hu Qi said nonchalantly.

As he spoke, he pulled a small notebook from his coat and tossed it in front of Ouyang Shuokong.

Ouyang Shuokong looked down. It was a cheap, blank exercise book, the kind you’d find in any stationery store for a few dollars. It even had blank fields for a name and class, though they were currently empty.

"What’s this?"

Ouyang Shuokong asked.

"The human bodies in this world have a flaw. The highest one can reach is the Peak of a Martial Arts Family. If you want to advance further, you must find another way.

This notebook contains some of my insights on the path forward.

It might be helpful to you. If you want to continue getting stronger, your only option is to integrate this world’s Dream Eye system and forge a new path."

Hu Qi explained.

"Thank you, Master!" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Ouyang Shuokong looked at the exercise book on the table with a strange sense of dissonance.

Nevertheless, he carefully picked up the notebook and tucked it away.

As a former Refining God Venerable, his first instinct upon arriving in this world had been to retread the path of the Secret Martial System.

However, after examining the constitution of his new body, he had come to understand the flaws of this world’s humans compared to those from Earth Star.

He had naturally considered creating an Inheritance Secret Martial Arts that could control Dream Eyes, but so far, he had no solid ideas.

He hadn’t expected that just when he needed it most, a solution would present itself.

The insights of an expert at the Void Realm Level—their value went without saying.

"I called you here today because there is something I need you to do."

At that, Hu Qi’s fingers began to tap lightly on the tabletop, making a soft sound.

He was getting to the purpose of their meeting.

"Please, give me your orders, Master!"

Ouyang Shuokong replied.

If he were following his original instincts, his best course of action after arriving in this world would have been to lay low and develop his strength slowly.

But now that he had handed his Divine Soul Origin over to Hu Qi, he had no other choice.

Besides, he had just received a great benefit; he couldn’t just do nothing in return.

"It’s nothing major."

Hu Qi smiled, his gaze shifting to the window.

Seeing this, Ouyang Shuokong followed his line of sight.

Just then, a man and a woman were walking out of the hospital entrance.

"That man’s name is Wei Fan. He is one of this world’s Celestial Fate People, and I suspect he is a Reincarnator.

He possesses a very powerful Dream Eye.

What I need you to do is watch him. Report all of his movements back to me."

Hu Qi said quietly.

As a Celestial Fate Person, Wei Fan’s every word and action represented the future direction of this world.

He had to be kept under surveillance, but Hu Qi himself had other matters to attend to.

He couldn’t possibly watch the man like a babysitter.

And so, he had thought of Ouyang Shuokong.

After meeting and talking with him, Hu Qi was very satisfied with Ouyang Shuokong’s current situation.

He was rich, powerful, and in a female body—the perfect combination for getting close to a Celestial Fate Person like Wei Fan.

Ouyang Shuokong was unaware of Hu Qi’s thoughts. His attention was completely fixed on Wei Fan at the street corner.

After hearing Hu Qi’s words, he couldn’t help but freeze in astonishment.

As a former Celestial Fate Person himself, he understood better than anyone what that title meant.

Celestial Fate People were beings favored by the will of the world, blessed with great destiny.

They were the protagonists of their era, embodying both great opportunity and great trouble.

He recalled his own time as a Celestial Fate Person during a dynastic age; he had fought in no fewer than a thousand battles.

Of course, the benefits had also been immense.

If he were to interact with this Wei Fan, he might even be able to reap some indirect benefits.

Thinking of this, he immediately responded.

"Yes, Master. But before that, I need some time to handle a few personal matters, if that’s permissible?"

"Of course."

Hu Qi nodded.

Hu Qi wasn’t worried about whether Ouyang Shuokong could handle the task.

The man was an old monster who had lived for several hundred years, a former ruler and Celestial Fate Person from a dynastic age.

His cunning and methods were far beyond those of any ordinary person.

If not for the fact that his Divine Soul Origin was in Hu Qi’s hands and he knew the terrifying extent of Hu Qi’s power,

Ouyang Shuokong would never have been this obedient.

Even if Wei Fan was a Reincarnator, he was no match for Ouyang Shuokong.

The only thing to worry about was that special Dream Eye.

But with Hu Qi’s warning, Ouyang Shuokong surely knew what to expect.

Afterward, the two exchanged a few more pleasantries before getting up and leaving the cafe.

Ouyang Shuokong, flanked by two men who looked like bodyguards, got into a luxury car parked by the roadside and drove away.