Chapter Sixty-Six: The World in the Dream

If Ning Xianyu ever made it back home one day, she vowed to write a book titled "A Chronicle of Days Teetering on the Edge of Life and Death."

At this moment, the great demon's eyes were pitch-black, flying toward her like a ghost—so terrifying that she was reminded of the machines in films that strangled mutant beings.

Frightened, she turned to run.

But terror overwhelmed her; she forgot to summon her spiritual power. She managed only a couple of steps before crashing onto the ground with a slap.

She struggled to flip herself over, intending to escape again, but as soon as she did, the demon had already arrived.

He hovered above her, horizontal in the air, eerily reminiscent of a drifting apparition.

He was above; she was below; their gazes met.

She stared into his expressionless, lifeless eyes—not sure what he was looking at in return.

Then, before Ning Xianyu could react, he dropped down.

Their faces pressed together, and the demon's lips met hers.

Because their bodies had been switched, Ning Xianyu wasn't even sure who was teasing whom, or who was taking advantage.

She widened her eyes in shock, marveling at how their bodies had compressed the snow, leaving a pit, and then how they both slid deeper into the snow nest along its path.

The snow was so thick that they kept sinking, descending without end.

What should have been an ambiguous scene was rendered comical by the constant crunching of the snow beneath them.

Ning Xianyu couldn't laugh.

She dared not move. The one atop her was as cold as an ice block, leaving her numb with chill; their lips, pressed together, felt nothing at all due to the biting cold.

Not entirely without sensation—more like licking an iron rod in winter: unappetizing and impossible to pull away.

She had no choice but to activate her spiritual power, wrapping them both in a protective barrier against the freezing air.

Yet, that very action prompted the one above to move again.

He reached out, cradled her head, deepening their kiss and binding them even closer, letting out a contented hum.

Damn it!

Ning Xianyu opened her eyes wide, certain now that he was conscious—and blatantly misbehaving.

She tried to resist, but had no strength to fight back. Then Xuan Yuan Tunhan pressed his forehead to hers.

It felt good; the inner turmoil caused by forcibly raising his cultivation eased somewhat.

But it wasn't nearly enough—he wanted more.

Ning Xianyu felt her vision blur, as if she were being pulled into a strange world.

This place was ethereal and insubstantial—she reached out, but saw nothing.

She glanced down: nothing beneath her feet, as if her body had vanished.

She shouted, "Hey!"

No sound came; the silence was absolute.

Dazed, Ning Xianyu walked forward. The void before her gradually cleared, and sounds began to reach her ears.

A vast palace appeared before her, surrounded by blooming flowers, lush green grass, sunlight, and white clouds.

In the distance lay the sea, its golden sands and waters shining alike.

Inside the palace, there was a large bed; beside it, a small table piled with food and a pot of succulents.

Beyond was a row of enormous refrigerators with transparent doors, all packed full of food.

The place was spotless and refreshing, like an air-conditioned room set at twenty-five degrees in summer.

Ning Xianyu squatted in front of the fridge, wanting to take something to eat—but she had no body now, and couldn't take anything.

Helpless, she thought to go out and look at the sea, and noticed a tall, green, translucent tree planted by the door—beautiful and imposing.

Someone was lying on the tree.

Wait, wasn't that the great demon?

But here, he had reverted to his own body, lying atop the tree with his eyes closed, asleep.

Ning Xianyu walked beneath the tree and called, "Ancestor?"

This time, she could make a sound.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan ignored her.

She thought for a moment, exerted herself, and flew up to the demon's side.

He was certainly handsome: sharp brows meeting the temples, a high nose, thin but well-shaped lips.

His facial lines were exquisite, his figure admirable.

He wore a mage's robe, his waist cinched with a gold-threaded belt, accentuating broad shoulders and a narrow waist.

Ning Xianyu took a moment to appreciate, then called again, "Ancestor, why are you here? What is this place?"

This time, Xuan Yuan Tunhan opened his eyes, glanced at her, and said, "Shut up."

Fine. He was the great demon, after all—always ordering silence or telling her to scram.

Ning Xianyu was used to it, nearly laughing, when she remembered she had no form. How could the demon see her?

"Ancestor, can you see me? I can't see myself."

Xuan Yuan Tunhan opened his eyes again, helplessly, "If you can't see, so be it. What's the concern?"

How could it not matter?

Ning Xianyu felt it was a big deal; she didn't want to become a wandering spirit.

She wondered—had she died?

Lost in thought, she felt tears fall from her eyes. She reached up to wipe them, suddenly realizing she had regained her form and could see herself.

Landing on the ground, she looked herself up and down.

She was back in her original body—light and nimble, much better than before.

Though still bewildered, Ning Xianyu, carefree as she was, soon felt joy and planned to hurry into the palace to eat while she had a body.

Just as she was about to go, she tripped over a stone.

She looked down—it was a red stone, oddly familiar.

Ning Xianyu picked it up, and it transformed before her eyes into a little naked boy.

It was a boy, complete with all his parts.

"What on earth is this?"

The stone-child opened his eyes, grinned at her, then flew up and circled her a few times, then circled the green tree, before finding a branch to lie on and sleep.

Ning Xianyu felt like she was dreaming. What kind of tree was this, so perfect for sleep?

Both the demon and the child loved sleeping on it.

Ning Xianyu called for her system, but got no response.

She guessed this must be a dream—otherwise, everything wouldn't fit her ideal world so perfectly.

Ah, only dreams could be so beautiful.

She went to touch the tree, and a green light flashed before her eyes, returning her to the real world.

She looked around—white snow everywhere, a wall of snow beside her.

Her own body was still pressing down on her; this time their lips were no longer touching, but neither moved.

So it really had been a dream.

Just then, Xuan Yuan Tunhan suddenly sat up, stiffly looked at her, and his eyes flashed as he regained the imperious air he always carried.

"Ancestor, I just dreamed of seeing you," Ning Xianyu said.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan gave her a look reserved for fools, got up, flew out of the snow pit, and left.

What did that mean?

Ning Xianyu climbed up and returned as well.

The great demon was strange—always so mysterious, what was he up to?

Ning Xianyu entered the house, cautiously hugging the wall, still hoping to ask if she could avoid being eaten.

But at that moment, the demon turned around, his expression unreadable as he stared at her, making her want to dig a hole and hide.

"It's been a month," the demon said coolly.

Ning Xianyu paused. "Huh?"

What was he talking about?

The demon said, "A month has passed. You said we could switch back after a month. Now it's been a month."

They could finally return to their own bodies.