Carefree Path of Dreams
chapter-340

"Fang Yuan...you...mm?"

In the Dream Realm, Feng Xinzi stared at Fang Yuan and the sword essence that surrounded his hands. His eyes suddenly widened.

"You...you have ascended to The 4th Tier?"

Fang Yuan was toying with a ray of sword radiance, which swam in the air like a little snake. It seemed as though it was alive.

To be able to exert such a degree of control over sword essence was incredible. Feng Xinzi was entirely aware that this was the cultivation of the 4th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage, a state where one's spirituality would be triggered.

"That's right!"

Fang Yuan acknowledged with a smile.

In truth, this was impossible to hide. Although there was an increase in strength, but the increase in rank had not yet arrived. To face off with an enemy was unwise, and there was a need for Fang Yuan to search for a backer and prove his worth.

"Congratulations...I am being honest!"

Feng Xinzi was experiencing a flood of emotions. He remembered how he had been painfully stuck at the 4th Tier for years, and how he had only managed to achieve a breakthrough recently. He had sacrificed so much in the process. Now looking at Fang Yuan, he had this intense feeling of having led a wasted life.

Unknowingly, a sliver of jealousy and depression had been born.

Of course, the dream master of the 4th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage was undoubtedly powerful. Feng Xinzi maintained his smile anyway.

"I'll help you to inform the Elder Smelter! Our line has gained another talent. The Elder will be pleased!"

Feng Xinzi left immediately after speaking.

Fang Yuan looked on silently.

Even though Feng Xinzi had not given away anything, all the more it betrayed his true feelings! Anyone would have felt envy upon seeing his achievements. Suppressing it to such an extent could only mean that he was a dangerous person.

Fang Yuan's endless strings of breakthroughs had ultimately led to cracks in his friendship with Feng Xinzi!

...

In the hall.

"What? That Fang fellow has already reached the 4th Tier?"

The Elder Smelter appeared at the master seat in the form of a fire dragon. He was alarmed.

"Such a qualification would at least bring him into the top 10 list of pugilists in the Alliance...no, for a dream master to rank up, there are considerations other than qualifications. Resources matter as well. Either he has inherited the generous legacy of the forebears, or dream-traversing the different worlds has done him much good!"

"This person has immense talent. I cannot compare to him!"

Feng Xinzi was hunched as he spoke.

"Also...it seems like he carries a secret, and his inheritance is an uncommon one. Elder, you must decide what to do with him!"

"But to be fair, has there been anyone who reached the illusionary divine stage without possessing secrets of their own?"

The Elder Smelter was not overly concerned. He was a dream master of the 7th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage, more powerful than True Divine martial artists and True Elemental spiritual knights. He was a man of great ability and did not lack for opportunities.

He was at an elevated position and was not particularly impressed by a legacy of the 4th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage.

However, Feng Xinzi's words had attracted his attention, and he stared at Feng Xinzi.

"So...what do you think should be done?"

Feng Xinzi felt his blood ran cold. He knew that the Elder Smelter had already picked out the jealousy in his voice, and he fell to his knees immediately.

"Hear me out Elder. Our line has produced yet another talent, and I am elated. Even if I might not be entirely reconciled to this fact, I will not allow these feelings to get in the way!"

The Elder Smelter was approving of Feng Xinzi's frankness and nodded.

"You may continue!"

Feng Xinzi heaved a mental sigh. He knew that he had the Elder's trust.

"Now that Fang Yuan is at the 4th Tier, his abilities would be recognised by the Alliance sooner or later and they would give him a higher level of rights. To mend whatever hard feelings there might be between you and him, why not give it to him right now?"

"This person must have been carrying some secrets to be able to rank up this quickly. But our line has a strong foundation and we can offer him so much more. As long as we continue with our subtle recruitment efforts, he will join us one day. Aggressive behaviour might turn him away instead. But it's a good thing that you have grasped the big picture!"

The Elder continued.

"A dream master at the 4th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage can at least gain the level of rights as a 4th Leaf Cultivator. We should give it to him ourselves or he'll owe the favour to someone else. But he is not a core member after all and we will have to place him under probation! Tell him to come in and I'll see him personally, and give him a higher level of rights!"

"Yes sir!"

Feng Xinzi bowed. He was filled with a sort of anticipation.

The Elder had given him an assurance. Yes, although Fang Yuan and he were both of the illusionary divine stage 4, but he himself was around from the start and was a core member while Fang Yuan was only joining in halfway.

Fang Yuan had to undergo a series of tests and training before he could be useful to the organisation.

'Breaking through stage 4 would exhaust all of one's foundational strength, which would have to be accumulated again...we will now start from the same point. I have an advantage because I am a core member. He won't overtake me."

Feng Xinzi's thoughts had given him more confidence and he swaggered off.

Behind him, the Elder Smelter smiled quietly.

Having gained two dream masters the 4th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage under his wing would give him more authority in the Realm Alliance. This was especially important given that there was impending war.

...

Not long after. The Realm Alliance Mountain.

The residential hall of the Cloud Region's Treasurer.

The Treasurer had a scholarly air about him and was listening to Zhou Hun's reports gloomily.

"My lord…"

Zhou Hun was on his knees. His face was streaked with tears and he had a palm print on his cheek that he had put on deliberately.

"That Guardian is an arrogant prick. He humiliated me, which is akin to not giving you respect!"

"Jerk!"

The Treasurer had a dangerous glint in his eye.

"I already knew that this person was excessively proud, but I had no idea that he was violent and temperamental as well... he hasn't stepped out of line yet though. I cannot deal with him."

He laughed coldly to himself.

'Since he has already been assigned a task, the amount of land available for use in the Golden Sun Prosperous Land must be lacking. He would have to put in much effort to maintain his appointment and avoid war at all costs! All the more we should ruin his plans!'

The Treasurer then turned to Zhou Hun.

"Go to him again in a month's time and if he has completed his assignment, issue him another one with a workload that is twice as heavy as his current one!"

"Ah...my lord, this defies logic!"

Zhou Hun was stunned.

Although he wanted to take revenge very much, he did not want to put himself in unnecessary danger.

"So, there is only him! If the Golden Sun Prosperous Land is given a larger share, the Cloud Region and other places will have less to do. This is a good thing, and no one would object other than the Guardian of the Golden Sun Prefecture."

The Treasurer laughed with mirth.

"As for him? Hmph...just a 3rd Leaf Cultivator. If he disobeys orders, it means that he is disregarding the big picture. I could report that to the leaders, who would remove him from his post and send him to the battlefield!"

"My lord is brilliant!"

Zhou Hun felt a chill in his bones.

He could not imagine himself being the one involved in this situation. His lordship's greed could never be satisfied. But these feelings were soon replaced with a sense of satisfaction.

'Haha...to think that this day would come. This must be your retribution for hitting me back then...eh?"

At this moment, he glanced a figure charging into the residential hall from his peripherals.

"Who is that?"

The Treasurer was equally perplexed.

He did not know who the intruder was yet, but it was surely a person with the same level of rights as he. A 4th Leaf cultivator of the Realm Alliance, a force to reckon with.

"Get lost!"

Fang Yuan kicked out casually, and Zhou Hun flew out by several yards with a scream.

"Ahh...are you the Guardian of the Golden Sun Prosperous Land? Fang Yuan?"

The Treasurer was startled.

"You? Have you attained the 4th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage? Do you have the 4th Leaf level of rights?

The rapidness of his promotion was astounding. He was a prodigy.

"You are the Cloud Region's Treasurer?"

Fang Yuan sized him up defiantly. He considered the Treasurer his equal, which was the truth in terms of power and authority.

"I am Zhou Tian. What do you want?"

The Treasurer frowned.

"What do I want?"

Fang Yuan roared with laughter.

"Zhou Tian! We both know it very well. You dared to interfere in my conflict with Li Qin. Are you bent on challenging me on the Stage of Life and Death?"

"You…"

Zhou Tian choked and was silent for a moment.

The Stage of Life and Death was a method of resolving conflicts between dream masters in the Realm Alliance. They would fight each other to the death on a platform.

The rule was that only dream masters of the same level of cultivation could fight each other, and they had to receive the blessings of the elders. All their weapons and magical tools would be taken from them to ensure fairness.

Zhou Tian had not expected Fang Yuan to make such a huge fuss. He had only antagonised Fang Yuan slightly, and now Fang Yuan was challenging him to a death match. Had all his training been for nought?

Even if he was 90% confident that he would win, a death match was still a worrying prospect.

As a dream master, he was almost immortal. He could expect to live on for a long time. How could he take part in a death match so readily?

The key thing was, how had he offended Fang Yuan? It was not worth it for him to risk his life for a Mysterious Elemental Crystal. He was not stupid.

'Damn it! How did I forget that this person is a mad bull! For the sake of the Ye sisters, he actually dared to challenge Li Qin at only stage 3…"

Zhou Tian was becoming more afraid and beads of perspiration lined his forehead. He decided to smile obsequiously.

"Brother Fang, you need to calm down. Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding!"

"Misunderstanding?"

Fang Yuan smirked.

"How do you explain the issue with the quotas?"

"This was all the fault of my subordinate...this Zhou Hun has made a blunder and I will punish him! As for the stated quota, it will definitely be changed! Changed!"

Zhou Tian took on a fierce look immediately and waved his hand. Zhou Hun gave a shriek and his spiritual will disappeared into thin air.

Fang Yuan giggled to himself as he observed the scene. This was the fate of a servant.

At the same time, he was himself a newbie. To protect his interests, he had to either find a powerful backer, or become so belligerent that his enemies would think twice about crossing him.

Unless they had good reason to kill him, his foes would leave him alone.

There was an immediate shift in Fang Yuan's mood and he gave a gentle smile this time.

"Oh, it must be a misunderstanding then. Treasurer Zhou, although we have the same level of rights, but based on appointment, you are my superior. Please do look out for me!"

"Yes...yes…"

Zhou Tian's face began to spasm.

"This person is very mercurial. He is a scheming character indeed!"

Knowing that Fang Yuan was no push over, Zhou Tian realised that many of his plans were unfeasible. He was suddenly annoyed at Li Qin.