Dream-based cultivation.

  It’s quite a mysterious cheat code, different from the previous three straightforward ones.

  The Earthly Money Bank showering money, Tree Brother cutting it down—clear and intuitive. The God’s Eye view? Just watching, easy to grasp.

  Dream-based cultivation, though? Han had been experimenting with it for the past few days and started to understand a bit more.

  For instance, pulling someone into a dream. If the target is someone like Lu Qingmo, even though their cultivation is far superior, Han can still drag them in effortlessly.

  As long as they don’t resist on a deep level, even if they don’t realize it's Han inviting them, they’ll still enter the dream without trouble.

  Han wasn’t sure why this was, but there was probably some kind of special judgment involved.

  However, if the person had an extremely high cultivation level or was an enemy, dragging them into a dream would be much harder.

  Someone like Gao Yuan, with his lower cultivation, was easy to pull in—just drag him in and chop away.

  It wasn’t a serious injury, but the torment it caused was extreme.

  Unfortunately, to use this cheat code, Han himself needed to enter the dream, which meant he couldn’t just sneak up on enemies when they were vulnerable and attack them in the dream.

  If an enemy died in the dream, they’d die peacefully.

  Another ability Han discovered was to split a portion of the dream into a secondary dream.

  If someone was pulled into the main dream and then tossed into the secondary one, it would essentially be a dream prison.

  If Han could adjust the flow of time between the dream and reality—let’s say, a 1:1 ratio—this ability would be fantastic, making it possible to keep someone in a coma indefinitely.

  Sadly, he couldn’t adjust the flow of time.

  The potential for this cheat code was enormous, but Han wasn’t yet able to tap into all its abilities.

  It was likely related to his current cultivation level. If he had gained this cheat code at a lower stage, he might not even have these abilities.

  For example, the dream time might be shorter, or his ability to comprehend might be lower.

  Although the abilities of Dream-based Cultivation were already useful, Han was, of course, wanting more.

  To unlock the full potential of this cheat code, it ultimately came down to his cultivation level.

  Fortunately, with the help of this cheat code and other resources, Han’s cultivation speed was still impressively fast.

  He was getting closer and closer to reaching the peak of the Meridian Realm.

  One morning, Han prepared breakfast, ate his portion, and left the rest for Lu Qingmo.

  Having lived alone in the past, Han had learned to cook.

  Now, he had fully settled into this place as his home. Every day, after “work,” he would come back, and when it was late, he’d go to sleep without needing any reminders from Lu Qingmo. He was always self-disciplined.

  Lu Qingmo had also grown accustomed to Han’s presence.

  Having an extra person in the house wasn’t a big deal.

  Of course, it depended on who that person was.

  After Han left, Lu Qingmo smiled as he looked at what Han had left behind.

  It was a feeling he had never experienced before.

  But it wasn’t bad at all.

  At the martial arts school, as soon as Han arrived, Shen Long came over with a big smile on his face.

  Han understood immediately and summoned two Green Zombies.

  The scene turned into Shen Long fighting zombies.

  However, to everyone’s surprise, Su Chang’an was missing from the school that morning.

  “Where is Fourth Junior Brother?” Bai Ruoyue asked Zhang Yuantao.

  Zhang Yuantao shook his head. “I don’t know. He didn’t tell me he wouldn’t be coming today.”

  It wasn’t until lunchtime that Su Chang’an appeared, looking utterly exhausted.

  “What happened?” Bai Tian asked with concern.

  “There’s been an issue at home,” Su Chang’an explained.

  “My parents went to Niujia Village outside the town yesterday, and they didn’t return until this morning. When they came back, they beat me up.”

  Everyone froze at those words. Beat you up? What kind of twist is this?

  “What did you do?” Zhang Yuantao asked.

  “If I had done something wrong to anger them, I wouldn’t be wasting time like this,” Su Chang’an shook his head.

  “The key is, I didn’t do anything.”

  “Then why did they beat you?”

  Su Chang’an’s face darkened. “I asked them, and the reason... is absurd.”

  “My parents said they had returned late last night. On the way back, they ran into me. I... beat them up, chased them, and only stopped when someone passed by, letting them go before running off.”

  “And they went back to Niujia Village to stay the night and didn’t return until today.”

  “But I was at home practicing martial arts all night, never went out. There’s no way I could have done something like that.”

  Not to mention, if Su Chang’an had truly fought, his parents were mere mortals—how could they possibly have been beaten along the way and still be fine?

  “Are your parents alright?”

  “Did someone impersonate you?” Shen Long said. “Could it have been because of the darkness, and they mistook someone else for you?”

  “This kind of thing is difficult to report to the authorities,” Zhang Yuantao said.

  Everyone knew Su Chang’an too well to believe he would do such a thing.

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  “I thought it might have been something like that,” Su Chang’an nodded. “But after explaining, I was about to leave for the martial arts school to tell the master before dealing with the matter. But just before I left, my father fainted. While I was taking care of him, I found...”

  “There was a ghostly face on his back, cold and terrifying, like it had been there since birth and couldn’t be wiped away.”

  “Not long after, my mother fainted as well, and she had the same ghostly face on her neck.”

  Hearing this, everyone’s expression changed.

  What had seemed like hooligans now seemed to have traces of something sinister.

  They all looked at Han—he was the only cultivator here.

  “Fourth Senior Brother, we should go to your home first,” Han said.

  “We can’t waste any time.”

  As fellow disciples, Han couldn’t ignore this situation.

  Before Han started his cultivation, Su Chang’an had often guided him, and they had a deep bond from their days together at the Mountain Water Temple.

  “No choice but to trouble you, Junior Brother,” Su Chang’an said.

  Han quickly left with him.

  Su Chang’an’s home wasn’t small. It was one of the wealthier families in town—after all, they could afford to send him to the martial arts school.

  Han went straight to check on Su Chang’an’s parents. The ghostly face Su Chang’an described was small, but extremely vivid, with a grotesque, exaggerated smile.

  After a quick inspection, Han furrowed his brow. “There’s definitely a sinister, evil aura within this ghostly face.”

  “I feel it too. It’s really uncomfortable,” Su Chang’an agreed.

  Han tried to expel the evil aura using his spiritual energy, but the force was stubborn, like a parasite rooted deep inside. If he applied too much force, Su Chang’an’s father frowned in pain.

  “Junior Brother, how’s it going?” Su Chang’an asked with concern.

  “It’s not just regular evil energy,” Han replied. “Don’t worry, Fourth Senior Brother. I have another method.”

  Han began chanting incantations, making gestures with his hands, and stepping through a series of movements as a technique unfolded.

  This was the Purge Evil Technique—a method to remove curses and malevolent forces.

  It was one of the techniques Tree Brother had left him before departing.

  A soft, warm white light emerged, enveloping Su Chang’an’s parents.

  “Hiss!”

  The two ghostly faces began to smoke, releasing a foul odor that made everyone gag.

  Along with this, there were faint, high-pitched screams, as though a spiritual attack was taking place, but it had no effect on Su Chang’an’s parents.

  The ghostly faces vanished, and the dark aura dissipated from the room with a single wave of Han’s hand.

  Looking at Su Chang’an’s parents again, their furrowed brows had relaxed, and their faces had returned to a peaceful state.

  Han examined them once more and nodded at Su Chang’an.

  “They should be fine now.”

  Su Chang’an was incredibly grateful. “Thank you so much, Junior Brother.”

  Not long after, Su Chang’an’s parents woke up. They were confused, unsure of what had happened.

  Su Chang’an explained, saying they had been startled and injured, and Han had come to help them recover.

  “I’m also skilled in medical arts,” Han joked.

  As for the ghostly matter, it was too mysterious and frightening to mention. If he told them, it would only frighten them further.

  Most ordinary people would never see the truth behind this world’s mysteries.

  For some, the extraordinary becomes a part of daily life, an event so common it no longer surprises. Yet, to the average person, these are nothing short of myths, stories handed down through the ages.

  Take Han’s previous life, for instance. Some were content with the mere satisfaction of a meager salary, barely two thousand, while others considered a six-figure price tag on a birthday cake a small price to pay.

  It sounded almost like a dream.

  After everything had settled, Han returned alone to the martial arts hall, leaving Su Chang'an to stay behind and comfort his parents.

  "Yes, we did encounter a ghostly presence, but it's been dealt with," Han reassured everyone, signaling for them to relax.

  "We're just not sure if it was a random occurrence or if there's something more at play here."

  That evening, Han brought up the matter to Lu Qingmo, but was surprised by what he heard.

  "Did Tai Bai’s disciples have family members who faced similar encounters?" Han asked.

  "Why do you say 'also,' Aunt Mo?" Han asked, confused.

  "Because, in recent days, there have been multiple such cases of evil spirits," Lu Qingmo replied.

  "Parents encountered ghosts who resembled their children—beating and torturing them. One child would be assaulted by one ghost, another by a different one."

  "Even if they managed to escape, or if someone else drove the spirits away, the victims would still die mysteriously within three days of the encounter."

  Han was stunned. He hadn’t realized these kinds of incidents had already been happening, and that Su’s parents weren't the first victims.

  "Multiple cases like this? Could it be two ghosts pretending to be the children?"

  "Yes, the death toll has risen, and the Ghost God Division only just started investigating the matter. It will likely take a few more days for any answers."

  "As for the number of ghosts, it’s still unclear. It could be one with the ability to split, or it could be multiple."

  Lu Qingmo sighed. "After the second earthquake, many demons and ghosts were wiped out. But those that remain are no ordinary foes."

  "Moreover, the Black Cloud Domain is in utter chaos right now. The number of deaths among martial artists and cultivators has risen, making it even easier for such evil incidents to occur."

  The chances of cultivators turning into ghosts after death are higher than for ordinary people. However, if someone’s soul is shattered, they won’t have the chance to return as a ghost.

  Han fell silent, his mind piecing together recent events—the cursed bodies in the mine and Su’s parents’ ghostly encounter. He finally understood the meaning of the "busy affairs" Lu Qingmo had mentioned before.

  After the first earthquake, it was Han and Yun Duo who went to clean out the ghosts.

  After the second earthquake, Han entered the Black Mountain, while Lu Qingmo left the matter to the Ghost God Division to handle.

  "Aunt Mo, if anything comes up, feel free to come to me," Han said seriously.

  "I can help you with your troubles now. I’m no longer weak."

  "You’re worried about wasting my time, but I want to do something for you. You’ve always helped me, and now I want to help you."

  "Aunt Mo, we’re in this together. We’re one, inseparable."

  Han had said this before, but now, repeating it, he made his feelings clear.

  He wasn’t interested in saving the Black Cloud or clearing the world of evil spirits—that was beyond his reach. But if he could help in any way, why not? It would also lighten Lu Qingmo’s burden, and, of course, benefit his own cultivation.

  The daytime was the perfect time for such tasks.

  Cultivation wasn’t just about learning; it also required action.

  Bai Tian deeply understood this principle.

  Had he not ventured out of Black Cloud Town, traveling the world, he wouldn’t have had the chance to meet so many fortuitous events, nor would he have surpassed other martial arts masters in his achievements.

  "You silver-tongued brat," Lu Qingmo teased with a smile.

  Han caught the warmth in her eyes, and he smiled back.

  "Understood," she replied.

  After Han returned to his room, Lu Qingmo’s expression grew complex. Finally, a look of determination crossed her face as if making a decision.

  "Alright, let it be. I’ll give it to him..."

  As time passed, Han entered the dream once again.

  In the dream, Lu Qingmo stopped him just as he was about to cultivate.

  "I plan to teach you a technique," she said. "It's not from the Xuandu Sect's teachings, but something I acquired from my travels. It's quite powerful."

  Han paused, surprised. Why was she suddenly offering to teach him a technique?

  But then he thought about it and shook his head. "Aunt Mo, I’m willing to help you, but I’m not interested in your techniques."

  "I’m not after any of your teachings."

  Although Han didn’t lack in spiritual arts, he felt he was already complete in that regard.

  Lu Qingmo smiled. "I’m not offering you this technique just because you’re willing to help me."

  "Those from the Ghost God Division are already helping me. There's a system of rewards and punishments in place for them, and I won’t reward them in the same way."

  "I’m doing this because it’s you."

  The words made her feel a little awkward. She had said more than she intended.

  "Aunt Mo..." Han felt his mood brighten.

  "Junior Brother, my heart is shattered! Hurry up and fix it!" Bai Ruoyue’s voice cut through the moment.

  Han looked over and saw her clutching her chest, dramatically spitting blood as if on the brink of death.

  Han sighed. "Sister, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?"

  He helped Bai Ruoyue "mend her heart," and she grinned mischievously before resuming her cultivation. But every now and then, she glanced over at Han and Lu Qingmo’s side.

  "What’s going on with Junior Brother? He spends all night with Aunt Mo, and now even in his dreams, they can’t be apart! This is urgent!"

  "What technique are you going to teach me?" Han asked.

  "A powerful killing technique, one of the best," Lu Qingmo said seriously. "The Thunderfire Seal."

  "This technique has two parts: the Thunder part and the Fire part."

  "The Thunder part is beyond your current level, and even I couldn’t cultivate it before. It was only after entering your dream that I could even begin to understand it."

  "You can only practice the Fire part for now. It’s divided into three levels: the Yin level, the Yang level, and the Mixed Yuan level. After mastering the first level, you can form the Yin Fire Seal and control the Yin Fire. Its power is immense."

  "After mastering the second level, you can form the Yang Fire Seal and command both Yin and Yang. The power is boundless."

  "Master the third level, and you can form the Mixed Yuan Fire Seal, where Yin and Yang merge, and nothing can escape its flames."

  "This was an opportunity from my youth. It’s incredibly rare."

  Lu Qingmo was serious, and Han could see how important this technique was to her.

  "I’ll learn it!" Han said decisively.

  Lu Qingmo nodded, then glanced around, lowering her voice. "Come with me."

  Without waiting, she stepped into a nearby loft.

  Han followed, puzzled. Why did she need to take him into a private space to teach him?

  Everyone else was cultivating, and no one could see them, except for Bai Ruoyue, who was nearby.

  Aunt Mo, who are you trying to hide from?

  Bai Ruoyue, seeing them enter, grew even more impatient.

  What are they doing in there now? What’s going on?