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The Ancient Nightmare Beast had a calm expression, tinged with dejection. "The spirit race dwells in the beauty of Yunmengze, content in their decadence and apathy, never considering a way out. Even though our Nightmare Beasts have made contracts with them, we're simply waiting to die."

"No, their Spirit Race won't die. But our Dream Devourers will…"

Could it be that the Dream Devourer clan, unable to obtain what they desire, destroys everything in their path, which is why they attack one or two people every now and then?

The old nightmare beast seemed to guess what Lin Qi was thinking.

"Back then, when entering the Yunmeng泽, even the Northern and Southern Heaven Officials were worried that the Spirit Clan, after years of war, would become attached to this well-prepared Yunmeng泽 and be unwilling to leave. They had discussed with the Spirit Clan's leader about how to cultivate disciples to venture out and gain experience."

However, the patriarch of the Ling clan thought that the celestial venerables of the north and south didn't want the Ling clan to stay in Yunmengze for long, so he deliberately found an excuse.

This incident caused a rift between them, and they fell out completely, refusing to have anything to do with each other.

"This matter I once heard an old man from Yunmengze say, but he said that Yunmengze was banished by the North and South Celestial Venerables..."

"It's fine if it's exile."

The old dream-devouring beast nodded slightly. "The South and North Celestial Lords felt that the Spirit Race was ungrateful, and in a fit of anger, they were unwilling to care for them anymore. But he always remembered that kindness and didn't want to repay it only to harm the Spirit Race instead. So he made a contract with us."

"The North and South Heavenly Lords allowed my Dream Devouring Beast clan to remain in the Yunmeng Marsh forever, but he feared that the Spirit Clan would be too secluded, hiding in the Yunmeng Marsh and never venturing out. He let my Dream Devouring Beast clan seize the opportunity. If the Spirit Clan truly had this tendency, I would send one or two Dream Devouring Beasts outside each year to harass them, making them feel a sense of crisis and seek their own path..."

The old Dream Devourer's face was a picture of indescribable emotions.

"As the North and South Heaven Lords predicted, things are indeed unfolding as planned."

"He guessed everything right, but he didn't guess that even though people died every year, the Spirit Race never made any progress. They never considered leaving Yunmengze to seek out new life, instead they had a trend of staying in Yunmengze for a lifetime."

“My Dream Eater clan seeks a way to survive, but without the assistance of the Spirit Race citizens' contracts, we are fundamentally unable to leave Yunmengze alone. The Spirit Race citizens have an opportunity but do not strive for it… Over time, the agreement with the North and South Celestial Venerables has become a task.”

When saying this, the old Nightmare Devourer clearly had a hint of resentment in his voice.

Upon further consideration, there was a helpless frustration akin to wanting to hammer iron into steel.

The Nánběi Tiānzūn exhausted himself to pave the way for the Línng race and also intended to help the Shī mèng shòu clan, but unfortunately, the Línng race was truly incompetent, which is why today's stalemate exists.

The Spirits don't seek a way out, and the Dream Devourers can only follow suit. Every year, they let one or two playful children go out for a spin, conveniently fulfilling the pact made by the Heavenly Lords of North and South back then.

Lin Qi listened and didn't know what to say.

"Are those who have fallen asleep truly dead?"

The ancient Dream Devourer suddenly raised its head, and with a wave of its hand, many transparent bubbles appeared on the originally empty tree. Inside these bubbles flickered countless images.

"This is the dream of those who have been devoured."

"As soon as these dreams are returned, they will wake up."

The old Dream Eater rested his hand on his cane once more, "But I still say this, what difference is there between living and dying for these people in the Cloud Dream Marsh now?"

Their dreams remain here with us, kept safe. To sleep underground for a lifetime is still to live, and to toil on the land for a lifetime is also to live. According to human reckoning, as long as one's breath endures, they are alive, aren't they?

Lin Qi couldn't refute the old Nightmare Beast's words.

Because even she herself thinks that way.

Lin Qi raised her head to look at the sky, "So the true test of Yunmengze is to lead the spirit clan out of Yunmengze?"

But that's impossible, isn't it?

The North and South Celestial Lords paved the way for the spirit race for millennia, and there is also the threat of death from the dream-eating beasts. The spirit race in Yunmeng Marsh not only has no desire to leave, but there is a trend of staying longer and longer, living their whole lives without leaving.

Even the human cultivators who came from outside became absorbed in the otherworldly world within Yunmengze, like immortals.

Why should we bother trying when everything can be achieved without effort?

Lin Qi can understand the Ling clan's way of thinking, but their pursuit is different, so he can't agree.

But to let her take the Spirit Clan out... unless she destroys Yunmengze, it's simply impossible!

Inside the Cloud Dream Marsh, there resided a group of ancient fairies who had lived for over ten thousand years. Unlike those in the Demon Valley whose power was restricted by their nameplates, these fairies were not bound by such limitations.

As soon as Lin Qi displayed any aggression, she would be destroyed mercilessly, just like a large gust of wind that day.

The gap in strength is too big, this method won't work at all.

It is easy to destroy a person's fighting spirit, but it is very difficult to awaken one.

But within the Cloud Dream Marsh, it wasn't just one person, but a group of people!

For a moment, Lin Qi gazed at the aged Dream Eater, revealing the same helplessness, and then sighed.

Midway through her sigh, she suddenly stopped, "Can I see these people's 'dreams'?"

Even Lao Shi Meng Shou hadn't expected Lin Qi to make this request.

The bubbles on the tree, rather than being dreams of slumbering people, seem more like remnants of their memories.

The Dream Eater steals what's called the ability to dream, but actually it seals away all of a person's memories in their brain with dream bubbles.

A person loses their memory in a dream, trapped in a pitch-black nightmare and unable to escape.

The old dream-eating beast didn't understand what Lin Qi wanted to do, but his kind and gentle nature still nodded.

Lin Qi flew into the air, her gaze sweeping past the transparent bubbles hanging from the trees.

She saw fragments of memory trails, many of them familiar faces.

It wasn't that she intentionally wanted to pry into other people's memories, but rather that a thought suddenly struck her.

If Qingyun Zhenjun has ever visited Yunmengze, some of the fellow cultivators should have some memories.

If Lin Qi can find the memory related to Qingyun Zhenjun, she will also be able to get some information about her.

Lin Qi looked intently at the memory orbs. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed, and she leaned closer to one of them.

"Master!"

Lin Qi's eyes flashed with a hint of excitement!

She actually found the memories related to Qingyun Zhenjun!

"Shall I help you look for it?"

The dream-devouring beast's kind inquiry.

Lin Qi was slightly taken aback, raising her finger to point at the painting within the bubble. "Can you help me find the memories related to this cultivator?"

The old Dream Eater didn't say anything, just tapped his cane.

A gust of wind blew by, and the transparent memory bubbles hanging on the trees spun rapidly.

The quilt containing Qingyun Zhenjun's memories was taken out and slowly presented before Lin Qi.

As the second batch of people to enter Yunmengze, Qingyun Zhenjun and others still brought a considerable shock to the local residents of Yunmengze.

At first, both parties were wary of each other, but later they gradually put down their guard and began to get along normally.

Originally, the area where Lin Qi and others now resided was a place specifically designated by the locals of Yunmengze for cultivators from outside to live.