Chapter 227
Today was Thursday.
According to the traditions of the Summer Shop, it was bound to be a wild day.
After enjoying a massage, Ningguang stayed for some fried chicken.
She wasn't particularly fond of greasy foods, but she couldn't resist the enticing aroma of Xia Zhi's cooking.
Once she finished, Ningguang thanked Xia Zhi and left the shop with Baishi.
Back at her office in Yuehai Pavilion, Ningguang reclined in her chair, resting for a moment with a lazy demeanor.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes and addressed her assistant.
"Baishi, summon Baixiao for me."
"Yes, Lady Ningguang," Baishi replied softly before exiting the room.
Soon after, Ningguang's private steward, Baixiao, entered the office.
"Lady Ningguang, how may I assist you?"
"That shop next to the Summer Shop—it's not ours, is it?"
"No, that area is too close to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Business there hasn't been great, so it wasn't included in our acquisition plans."
"Reach out to the shop owners in that area and negotiate. I want all the properties there under our control. You can take your time with the rest, but I need the deed for the shop next to the Summer Shop on my desk by tomorrow afternoon."
"Yes." Baixiao nodded seriously, understanding the importance of the task.
---
Late at night, Xia Zhi returned to his room.
He didn't do his daily minimum tasks but instead checked his system panel.
His health, mana, divine energy, and mental reserves were all full.
Aside from his sealed gray eyes, all his attributes were normal and displayed in green.
Xia Zhi lit a Perfect Calming Incense in the [Blazing Incense Burner].
He had already used up his previous bottle of Calming Pills and was now working through a new one.
The familiar aroma filled the room, bringing a sense of tranquility to his mind.
He lay on his bed and took out the Pillow of Altered Dreams, preparing to fall asleep according to the instructions given by the [Phantom Mirror].
Closing his eyes, Xia Zhi slowly drifted off to sleep.
---
In a daze, a system notification echoed in his mind.
"Host has entered the second layer of the dream."
Xia Zhi jolted awake to find himself in an unfamiliar dreamscape.
Gone was the vibrant sea of dreamlike bubbles. Instead, a vast, dark void surrounded him.
In the distance, faint, peculiar points of light flickered.
Scanning this desolate dream world, Xia Zhi's memory recalled the description of the [Dream Pillow]:
- When using this item for sleep, there is a chance to enter a dreamscape.
- First-layer dreamscape: 98% probability.
- Second-layer dreamscape: 2% probability.
Though a 2% probability was twice that of the Enhancement Crystal's success rate of 1%, Xia Zhi had never successfully triggered it over the past two months.
Tonight was his first time entering the second-layer dreamscape, a deep dream realm accessible only to those with exceptionally strong mental power.
This explained the desolate appearance of the space.
"Could this be why the [Phantom Mirror] suggested I use the [Intertwined Fate] tonight?"
Xia Zhi pondered aloud.
"Is the person I'm destined to meet connected to the second-layer dreamscape?"
He took out the [Phantom Mirror] and used it to inquire:
"Should I use the [Intertwined Fate] now?"
The mirror displayed a single word: Yes.
Xia Zhi retrieved the pale blue orb from his inventory and chose to use it.
The orb emitted a dazzling light, and the scenery around him transformed into a radiant starry sky.
The orb's glow intensified until it burst into a golden shooting star, which streaked across the sky and illuminated a beautiful constellation.
- "Intertwined Fate used successfully. You have drawn your fated connection: The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata."
As the process concluded, the starry sky dimmed, leaving only the glowing constellation.
Its gentle starlight bathed Xia Zhi, and a series of vivid images flashed through his mind.
Each vision featured the same graceful and intellectual woman, her demeanor both elegant and wise.
She sat alone in thought, conversed with others, and displayed a full range of emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.
This… was a glimpse of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's life.
The final vision showed her breaking a tender branch from a massive tree. Her eyes carried a hint of regret as she slowly vanished, her lips parting to utter her final words:
"Let the world… completely forget me…"
Those words felt hauntingly familiar.
The world… forget…
Xia Zhi suddenly remembered. This was the phrase repeated by the mysterious "Echo Spirit" in the dream world.
So, the Echo Spirit was actually the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?
As the visions faded, the constellation's starlight dimmed.
A shooting star descended from the constellation, returning to Xia Zhi's hand.
The pale blue orb had now transformed into a pure blue orb.
He inspected its updated details:
[Acquaint Fate]
- Quality: Platinum
- Type: One-time consumable
- Traits: Destiny, Connection
- Effect: A subsequent item obtained after using [Intertwined Fate]. Using it will open a unique portal, ensuring an encounter with the fated individual.
- Hidden Effect: The fated individual's initial favorability will be set to "Friendly," and favorability growth is increased by 50%.
---
This was the first time Xia Zhi encountered such an item progression system.
But the critical takeaway was that the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata seemed to have perished, sacrificing herself to save the Irminsul.
The "Echo Spirit" present in his dreams was likely just a fragment of her consciousness.
Could the [Phantom Mirror] be suggesting he open a portal to meet her fragment in the Irminsul and reverse five centuries of history to save her?
His divine energy certainly wasn't sufficient for a time reversal of that scale.
Xia Zhi consulted the [Phantom Mirror] again.
"What should I do now?"
The mirror displayed: Use [Acquaint Fate].
"And then?"
Return to 500 years ago and help the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata resolve the problem of [Forbidden Knowledge].
"How do I go back in time?"
Use [Acquaint Fate].
Xia Zhi fell silent.
Placing the mirror aside, he took out the pure blue orb and activated it.
The orb dissolved into countless light particles, forming a blue portal before him.
Without hesitation, Xia Zhi stepped through.
A system notification echoed in his mind:
- Host has acquired the trait: Space Rip.
- Host has acquired the trait: Time Rewind.
- This fate-based portal enables [Time-Space Travel]. Would you like to proceed?
"...Yes."
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