This dream was incredibly agonizing for Liu Buli.
It felt as if his soul was being scorched over an open flame, an torment beyond words.
He constantly urged himself in his mind to maintain his sanity.
Yet, a voice seemed to whisper to him—
If he chose to give up, he wouldn't have to endure this pain any longer.
If he relinquished ownership of this body, if he simply vacated this shell, if he returned to the world he belonged to, if he wished it, all the suffering he was experiencing would vanish along with this world.
This voice was like poison. Once Liu Buli noticed it, it began to fester and spread.
Eventually, Liu Buli felt as if only this single voice remained in his mind. The other voices that had been urging him to persevere were completely drowned out. It was as if all his current efforts were futile; he could only listen, listen to that voice telling him again and again—
"Give up. If you give up, everything will be alright."
When the voice reached its peak volume, Liu Buli's eyes snapped open. He found himself sitting in a sea of fire. The flames were indeed burning his body, a terrifying torture. As he felt the searing pain, his body continuously healed itself. This cycle repeated, keeping him at the peak of agony while ensuring his consciousness remained sharp, preventing him from passing out from the intense burning.
He took a few deep breaths, but it seemed sparks were erupting from his very organs. Liu Buli was in so much pain he wanted to cry, but he couldn't even shed tears.
The surrounding fire was too fierce.
Even if tears welled up, they would be instantly scorched and dried before reaching his eyes. He could feel his body screaming for help, but the only things that remained unshaken were his heart and his mind.
"If I were going to give up so easily, I would have done so from the start, and I would never have chosen to be with him."
Liu Buli finally spoke, murmuring the words. He slowly raised his head, looking beyond the flames, and said, "Do you think these tactics will make me give up? Honestly, the more you do this, the happier I feel. Because it proves that as long as I don't give up, you can't do anything to me. I understand this much; don't treat me like an idiot."
As if hearing his words, the person outside intensified the flames surrounding Liu Buli. A sinister laugh reached Liu Buli's ears, laced with a hint of pleasure. The voice said, "You're not wrong. Because you are in control of this body, unless you actively surrender, I can't truly harm you. But the problem is your own lack of caution, pushing yourself into such a desperate situation. In this world of consciousness, I am the true master. I can't directly seize control, but I can make you give up yourself. These flames will endlessly burn your soul. Given your current physical state, your mind will absolutely not remain clear. Honestly, I'm curious, how long can you endure?"
How long could he endure?
Liu Buli didn't know himself.
But he knew that his life was saved by his foolish disciple.
If he died now, or surrendered control of his body, not only would he be letting himself down, but he would be utterly failing Lu Wuming...
Thinking of his beloved, the pained expression on Liu Buli's face softened slightly. Perhaps it was true, as novels often described, that when you met your soulmate, they became your medicine. No matter the illness or suffering, their presence could heal it.
The more Liu Buli thought about it, the more relaxed he felt.
In the end, he even smiled at the other Liu Buli and nodded gently. He said, "Then let's see together. I also want to know, for him, what I am capable of."
Time in the world of consciousness passed similarly to the outside world. Or rather, time here was slower, and more drawn-out.
In that sea of fire, Liu Buli had initially thought that once he got used to the pain, even if his skin constantly burned and festered, and then regenerated only to be burned again, he would be alright once he adapted to the rhythm.
But reality proved him wrong.
The pain did not diminish with the passage of time.
On the contrary, it seemed to intensify with the unfolding of time.
There was no sunrise or sunset here, not even anything to mark the passage of time. He could only constantly occupy his mind with random thoughts to keep his thoughts from wandering. Doing something else also helped him escape the near-desperate pain a little.
He had no idea that in a situation where a normal person would not last five minutes, he had gritted his teeth and endured for over a month.
A month had also passed in the real world.
As a divine beast, Shen Muzhi possessed innate healing abilities. Coupled with Yun Xiang's similar spiritual energy and You Siqi's guidance, Yun Xiang had helped Shen Muzhi clear his spiritual meridians. Thus, after they returned, only five days had passed before Shen Muzhi's consciousness awoke.
For the next twenty-odd days, Shen Muzhi had been desperately trying to find a way to wake Liu Buli as well. However, no matter how long he tried or how many methods he employed, Liu Buli remained lying there, covered in cold sweat, his brow furrowed, showing no signs of waking.
Although he hadn't opened his eyes, from his current condition, everyone knew that the dream he was experiencing was far from peaceful.
As time dragged on, You Siqi couldn't help it. He tugged at Shen Muzhi's sleeve and whispered, "If this keeps dragging on, do you think Liu Buli will lose to the other Liu Buli?"