The creatures moved stiffly, yet with surprising speed, contorting their bodies as they madly pursued Yan Jiaojiao.
Yan Jiaojiao ran wildly through the mist, finally noticing Dongfang Cangwu standing still.
She immediately changed direction and ran towards him.
Dongfang Cangwu seemed resigned to his fate. Without waiting for Yan Jiaojiao to approach and beg for help, he raised his hand and flicked it towards the group of monsters, attempting to blast them to smithereens.
However, his expected outcome failed again. The projectile Dongfang Cangwu threw was merely a trace of spiritual energy, at most killing only the foremost monster!
Dongfang Cangwu looked at his hand in disbelief.
By then, Yan Jiaojiao had reached him, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "You're so beautiful, but it turns out your cultivation is only at Rank Three of the Red level, just like mine!"
Hearing this, Dongfang Cangwu understood.
This dream belonged to Yan Jiaojiao, so the limit of cultivation techniques within her dream was her own cultivation level. Even for Dongfang Cangwu entering it, he could only manifest techniques at Rank Three of the Red level.
"Run! They're coming!"
Without further thought, Yan Jiaojiao grabbed Dongfang Cangwu's wrist and fled.
The monsters behind them pressed on, while the mist beside them slowly receded after Dongfang Cangwu's appearance. Gradually, they could see their surroundings: a scene of dilapidated tall buildings.
Dongfang Cangwu glanced around as he ran, realizing it looked like an abandoned city.
The buildings here were tall, their walls reflecting the sunlight, seeming to pierce the heavens. Everything appeared to be made of stone, yet it was more solid and regular than stone. The path beneath their feet was also incredibly hard, and everywhere were large, damaged metal boxes, with round things like tires underneath…
In short, everything was bizarre.
Yan Jiaojiao seemed very familiar with the terrain, pulling Dongfang Cangwu as they weaved and dodged. They actually managed to create some distance from the monsters, and finally, after crossing a metal gate, Yan Jiaojiao turned and locked it, successfully sealing the monsters outside.
Yan Jiaojiao released Dongfang Cangwu's hand, panting and resting with her hands on her knees.
"I, I think I've seen you somewhere before."
At this, Dongfang Cangwu turned to look at Yan Jiaojiao and noticed that her clothes had changed. Gone were the wide-sleeved robes, replaced by a neat, tight-fitting short top and long pants, which surprisingly gave her a somewhat dashing appearance.
Yan Jiaojiao also noticed Dongfang Cangwu's different attire. After catching her breath, she straightened up. "You certainly have a sense of leisure. It's the apocalypse, and you're still cosplaying."
Apocalypse?
Even though Dongfang Cangwu had just awakened from a thousand-year slumber, he had never heard of such a thing.
The Boundless Continent was in its golden age of Dharma. Where could an apocalypse come from?
Dongfang Cangwu narrowed his long, almond-shaped eyes. What was this woman's background? If she hadn't truly experienced these scenes, her dream could not have been so vivid.
Seeing his silence, Yan Jiaojiao moved closer, scrutinizing him. "Seriously, I must have seen you somewhere before. Were you a celebrity back then?"
What was a celebrity?
Dongfang Cangwu remained silent.
Feeling snubbed, Yan Jiaojiao gave up and turned away. "Fine, if you don't want to talk, I don't want to bring a burden either. Let's go our separate ways."
With that, Yan Jiaojiao began to walk away.
"Who are you?"
Dongfang Cangwu finally couldn't help but ask.
Yan Jiaojiao turned back, a hint of confusion on her face. "Me, right, who am I?"
"Then what do you remember?" Dongfang Cangwu prompted her.
The effect of the Soul Guiding Incense had muddled her mind. It was normal for her to be confused about her identity in a dream.
Yan Jiaojiao began to ponder seriously. "I, I only know I'm a Rank Three of the Red level!"
As she spoke, Yan Jiaojiao kicked a small stone at her feet, then offered Dongfang Cangwu an apologetic smile for her behavior. "I don't know why, but thinking about this makes me angry."
She had already forgotten about the matter of pondering "who she was."
Dongfang Cangwu raised an eyebrow and looked again at the monsters grunting and trying to break through the metal gate. He asked, "You said this is the apocalypse."
Yan Jiaojiao gave him a strange look. "Are you really stunned? The living have turned into zombies, and you call that not an apocalypse?"
So, the things beyond the metal gate were what Yan Jiaojiao called "zombies."
The zombies continuously slammed against the metal gate, emitting terrifying sounds.
Yan Jiaojiao frowned. "We should leave quickly. These zombies seem particularly ferocious today, and this metal gate might not hold for long. If zombies who can use cultivation techniques appear, we'll be finished immediately."
Dongfang Cangwu glanced at the high wall on the other side. They had no retreat. Yet Yan Jiaojiao didn't seem to notice this.
The Soul Guiding Incense was lethal, so it naturally aimed to push people to their absolute limit in a dream.
"I advise you to leave with me," Yan Jiaojiao continued.
Dongfang Cangwu merely tilted his chin to indicate something.
Yan Jiaojiao followed his gaze and was indeed stunned. "It's a dead end! Who built such a high wall that you can't see the top, and it's impossible to jump over!"
The metal gate was already starting to loosen.
If these zombies broke through, Yan Jiaojiao would surely die.
Dongfang Cangwu, unable to use high-level cultivation techniques to save the situation, had to force Yan Jiaojiao to manage the crisis herself, so he could have time to find the dream's weak point and break out. Otherwise, he would also suffer misfortune.
However, awakening someone affected by the Soul Guiding Incense was not easy.
"What do we do now?" Yan Jiaojiao asked dejectedly, even casting a pleading gaze at Dongfang Cangwu.
"You are dreaming," Dongfang Cangwu stated directly.
Yan Jiaojiao was taken aback.
"Even when sleeping, people dream. Some realize they are dreaming and become proactive, controlling the dream," Dongfang Cangwu said slowly. "Do you understand?"
His voice was clear and cool, like a refreshing spring pouring into Yan Jiaojiao's heart, calming her agitated emotions.
"I'm dreaming?" Yan Jiaojiao murmured in disbelief. "You mean, I can control the situation?"
"Try it. Focus on amplifying what you imagine," Dongfang Cangwu continued to guide her.
"Those zombies are about to break through. Stop joking around now," Yan Jiaojiao said anxiously. "Let's think of a way to escape."
Dongfang Cangwu was growing impatient. "Just try it!"
"Alright, alright, don't be so fierce!"
Yan Jiaojiao was startled by Dongfang Cangwu's impatience and, listening to the sounds, reluctantly closed her eyes, half-believing him.
"Roar!"
A howl came from not far away. A dark shadow suddenly leaped from a tall building, landing with a "thud" behind the group of monsters, smashing a large pit into the hard ground and sending countless flying stones scattering!
It was a giant zombie, twice the size of a normal one. Its blood-red eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty light, greedily staring at the two figures behind the metal gate!