Chapter 321 : Chapter 321

Chapter 321: Regulation and Warrant for Outsiders

Underground City, Extraordinary Research Base.

After obtaining the initial primal rune ritual, the research on the Nightmare had made a breakthrough.

However, what I was researching seemed to be quite different from their expectations.

For the people here, the goal of researching the Nightmare was naturally to eliminate it.

But for me, the value of the Nightmare was far more than just that.

The Nightmare itself was something from the dream state, and it was the part of the dream belonging to the former dream creatures.

Yet it could use a person's consciousness as a springboard to communicate between reality and the dream, even if it was just informational communication, that was a very powerful ability.

At the very least... it had such a talent, the talent to trap a person's consciousness in the dream state.

And this talent could also be expressed using runes.

The manifestation of any transcendent power could be deconstructed into runes, just like any arithmetic could be deconstructed into formulas and theorems and then expressed.

Did I want to wake up from the dream myself?

Perhaps initially, but now that I think about it, it's meaningless.

For me to risk entering the dream just to get out, it sounds like a joke!

There was no meaning in waking up from the dream, or rather... it was easy for me now.

I needed to set a goal for my coming here, because I came in with confusion.

From the moment I entered until now, I haven't had any clear goal, just hoping for the Academy Head to have some arrangement, fantasizing about the success of the plan the Academy Head had for me.

To put it bluntly, I was just waiting for fate's arrangement.

And now... I'm tired of it.

Since the Academy Head's arrangement won't change, because the Academy Head's goal is what I'm looking forward to, I just want to speed up the distribution of this Destiny a bit.

On the chessboard of the script, a figure like the Academy Head would certainly not care about how the process develops, because with her long-term vision that far exceeds ordinary people, she can easily see whether the final direction is in line with her expectations.

Then all of this doesn't matter.

This leads to the conclusion that I, in principle, have a high degree of autonomy.

So, I don't have time for those people to be messing around up there.

And if I want to interfere with the plot direction here, just relying on the existence form of being trapped in a dream is definitely not enough.

Of course, the script node event I'm currently experiencing will definitely end with the complete annihilation of the Nightmares, and I must also ensure that the script leads to such an ending, because only by using the power of the script can I sever the connection between the Nightmares and the Fool's Dream.

Then there is the timing of severing the Earth Vein chains.

Theoretically, this should be a link that the Academy Head helps me complete.

After all, this involves the life level of the transcendent, which is not something my Floating World-level Spirit Vision can interfere with.

But this doesn't mean that I don't want to learn about the existence of the Earth Vein chains myself.

Before that, I also had to solve the matters at hand.

I don't care about finding a way to eliminate them through research on the Nightmare, because for me, eliminating them only requires one spell.

But I need a trump card that can be mastered by ordinary people to eliminate the Nightmares, to cover for all of this.

And such a troublesome matter naturally cannot waste my time.

This is one of the main reasons why I couldn't get away from the laboratory.

I had to use a way they could understand to teach them how to use the constantly updated and iterated primal rune ritual to create a Nightmare killer.

Don't they have Type I, II, and III extraordinary killers?

This is what I applied for at the base, an unofficial model born to deal with the Nightmare incident, the Nightmare killer project.

I estimate that this kind of thing will be approved soon.

After all, the people in charge of the review are not blind and can see the harm brought by the Nightmares.

So, while this application has not yet been approved, we have already started the preliminary preparations.

This is my exclusive privilege.

After all, the development and preliminary preparations for this project do not use their funds.

If I'm not asking for their funds, then naturally, I can be as arrogant as I want.

There are quite a few talents in the base whose research and application projects were not looked upon favorably and had their funds restricted, eventually leading to their inability to proceed.

This is a common occurrence.

Did I not use any funds for the series of research I'm currently conducting on the Nightmare?

I did, and quite a lot.

Just the equipment for containing that Nightmare was particularly expensive, but the consumption of these resources was not within my consideration.

After all, almost all the resources in the underground city were supplied to the base, and at no cost, at least for projects related to extraordinary skills that were evaluated as valuable.

"I've basically finished talking about the basics of runes. The Nightmare killer is essentially an extension of the primal rune ritual created based on the rune system, so the basics of Runology should also be learned along the way. I'm not worried about you on this point. Now that the sub-projects have also been assigned, I have nothing more to say, nor any words of mobilization. We will officially start work when this project is approved."

After announcing all the current matters, I felt a weight off my shoulders.

These days, I had basically been immersed here.

It was rare to give myself a break.

The scholars here might be used to this kind of life, but I wouldn't.

If life only had the pursuit of the transcendent and truth, then such a life was not worth living.

But thinking back on my previous daily routine, it seemed to be just like this, making useless efforts like a demon.

Looking back now, it was indeed laughable.

And now, I thought that I had indeed neglected Big Sis Bai a little these few days.

I didn't know what Big Sis Bai was doing at this moment.

With my departure, the Fool's Dream in the base also had a little holiday.

After all, they were not professional scholars or masters in the transcendent field.

Even if they followed me around and did various chores, they lacked too much basic knowledge in the transcendent field.

This was not something that could be made up by just learning from me.

These days, because of the previous incident, the troubles the Fool's Dream encountered had also decreased a lot, but it wasn't that they wouldn't encounter trouble.

In this regard, the people of the Earth Patrol Team could be said to have done a good job.

As for what the Earth Patrol Team asked of me, I also gave it to them.

It was less like I gave it to them, and more like an application, an application for the renewal of the Earth Patrol Team's armament, to better create a safe and harmonious atmosphere in the underground city.

It could be said that I didn't lift a finger at all.

Even this application was written by a Fool's Dream on my behalf.

Just as I was thinking of going back to see if Big Sis Bai was there, I ran into an acquaintance at the entrance of the base.

"Hmm? Ninglan Qiuyue, I didn't expect to meet you again. What brings you to the underground city this time?"

I asked curiously.

Actually, I was still looking forward to her coming down to chat with me often.

After all, I was also very curious about what fun things were happening in Ninglan New City at the moment.

Had there been any conflicts between the students of the transcendent academies?

Had they figured out any means to quickly subdue the Nightmares?

And had those Nightmare Demons pulled any new tricks?

If it weren't for the fact that I was busy and couldn't get away, I would have really wanted to go up and see.

Now that Ninglan Qiuyue had come down, it was just what I wanted.

Although she probably came down for some purpose every time, I didn't care.

After all, I would naturally say what could be said, but what couldn't be said, no matter how she tried to get it out of me, I would remain silent.

"Teacher Little Han, that's great. I didn't expect to see you as soon as I got here."

"Oh? It looks like you came specifically to find me?"

I looked at Ninglan Qiuyue's appearance and asked curiously.

I saw a trace of anxiety, worry, and... urgency?

On her face.

A simple deduction, it was highly likely that something had happened in Ninglan New City.

I just didn't know what it was.

Could it be a large-scale Nightmare covering the entire Ninglan New City?

Or... the so-called energy tide had come early, and the beast tide had also come early?

"Yes, it's not convenient to talk here. You should be free now, right?"

"You came at a good time. I have nothing on my hands right now. Is there something you want to say? You can come to my laboratory, there's no one there," I said.

After all, the place where I researched the Nightmare was a laboratory converted from a containment room, and the laboratory assigned to me was now empty.

After saying goodbye to the Fool's Dream around me and sending them away, I also took Ninglan Qiuyue to the laboratory.

My laboratory was very simple.

Many things were configured for me by the base, but I mostly didn't use them.

After all, I could just use the Dream Rewrite Spell to create the things I needed in the dream.

But the premise was that I had to know the structure of that thing.

Just having the concept in my mind and rewriting it into the dream in the form of information was actually quite troublesome, but... to some extent... also quite convenient?

As Ninglan Qiuyue closed the laboratory door, she had no time to marvel at the simplicity of my place.

"Teacher Little Han, have you heard about the situation on the surface?"

"No, what happened?"

I asked.

"My father... the Ninglan City Lord has changed his previously friendly attitude towards outsiders, implemented control measures against outsiders, and issued a warrant for some outsiders..."

"Huh? What did you say?"

I subconsciously cleaned my ears, somewhat unable to believe that these words came from Ninglan Qiuyue's mouth.

Regarding Ninglan Qiuyue's statement, my first reaction was disbelief.

Who gave that City Lord the guts to make this decision?

Daring to treat outsiders like this, wasn't he afraid of angering all the outsiders and then causing an irreversible shadow in their lives?

Even if both sides couldn't touch each other, but when that City Lord wanted to sleep at night, and a row of outsiders were standing in a line in his bedroom, that scene was simply unimaginable.

Even if he had the ability to hire, or even turn some outsiders, that couldn't protect him, I said so.

"I'm not joking. The City Lord issued the latest notice. Any outsider in Ninglan New City must be under the control of the City Guard and is not allowed to do anything out of line in the city. He has also issued an ultimatum for the unscrupulous behavior of some outsiders."

"Where did he get the confidence? The Ninglan City Lord is not such an irrational person. Can you tell me?"

I asked.

Since Ninglan Qiuyue said it again, it meant that it was still very credible.

There must be a reason for such an unusual event.

Could it be that the other party had mastered a weapon that could counter us?

But the research and development focus of Ninglan New City in the extraordinary field was all in the underground city, and the underground city was theoretically in an equal cooperative relationship with Ninglan New City on the surface.

If such a weapon really appeared, it would be impossible for me not to know, and they couldn't have gone to such great lengths to hide it from me.

After all, the finished product of the Nightmare killer project I submitted had not even appeared yet.

Where did they get the means to counter us in the dream state?

It was also impossible for those scholars to secretly conduct research behind my back.

"They..."

Speaking of this, Ninglan Qiuyue's tone also became low.

She supported her forehead with one hand, resting on the table.

"The City Lord used some unknown means to make at least half of the City Guard... become like you."

"Like us?"

Hearing Ninglan Qiuyue's description, I was stunned for a moment, then reacted.

This was projecting their consciousness into the dream state?

"Your City Lord used the power of the Nightmare to imitate us, trapping a person's consciousness in the dream state?"

I asked.

After all, when I went to catch that Nightmare before, I discovered that after the people here were invaded by the Nightmare, their consciousness would also be trapped in the dream state.

But they were not as clear-headed as we were, nor did they show any signs of being able to act independently.

They seemed to be unable to separate from their main body even in the dream.

This phenomenon was very magical, but at that time I didn't have time to carefully ponder the key to it, and now there was no opportunity to let the Nightmare experiment on a living person.

"No... the situation is worse than you imagine. The power the City Lord used was not the Nightmare, but... the Nightmare Demon!"

Ninglan Qiuyue said in a deep voice.

"Nightmare Demon?"

Hearing this answer, I was suddenly amazed.

It was unexpected, but also within reason!

"Genius! It seems your father has finally realized that compared to those incompetent and even infighting outsiders, those Nightmare Demons are more reliable."

I sincerely lamented at this moment.

"You..."

Ninglan Qiuyue looked at me with a shocked expression, at a loss for words for a moment.

"What? You would subconsciously stand on our side as outsiders, even though we and those Nightmare Demons are both outsiders to you, even invaders. Any of their kindness or malice is a personal act and has little to do with the collective."

"But... your Nightmare friends, they were also affected."

"Them? Are you sure? Even if your entire Ninglan New City entered the dream, it wouldn't take them much time to destroy the entire city. Are you worried about them?"

I retorted.

It wasn't that I was subconsciously looking down on the strength of those City Guards, but I really looked down on them.

They were beings that might not even be able to block an ordinary Fireball spell.

Not to mention this world was more special, and the effects of spells were even more terrifying.

What were they going to use to carry out this plan?

Rely on those Nightmare Demons?

Alright, I admit that those Nightmare Demons were a bit tricky, but they were not invincible.

Although I had teamed up with the City Guard to kill that Nightmare Demon in the city before, and it was indeed a bit difficult without the City Guard's help in reality, wasn't this the time for the script to test the protagonists?

What was the difference between a Child of Destiny who only had smooth sailing and a piece of trash?

"Destroy..."

Ninglan Qiuyue's tone faltered when she heard my description.

This was the first time she had so directly felt the strength of the outsiders.

Before, it had always been a situation where their actions did not interfere with each other.

She couldn't have imagined it herself, nor would she have cared.

At this moment, should she be glad that the other party could only be in the dream?

"State your request. You didn't come down this time just to tell me such explosive news without asking for anything else, right? I wouldn't believe it even if you said so."

I interrupted her dazed state and asked directly.