Chapter 4: The Dreamless Technique
Chapter 4: The Dreamless Technique
In the small courtyard, Cheng Lingyu practiced the Liéyuè Fist, the whooshing winds from his punches shaking the surroundings, infused with scorching heat through the Gathering Yang Technique.
Cheng Yun watched his son, a hint of relief appearing on his aging face.
“Your cultivation speed is astonishing. At this rate, you’ll soon reach the fourth Mortal Martial tier—the Luck Phase.”
Achieving such progress in roughly twenty days surpassed ordinary standards.
“I want to revisit the Sinkhole when possible. There might be traces left behind.”
Sweat dripped from Cheng Lingyu’s face, his sharp features now carrying a touch of grown resolve.
“The month’s end approaches. The estate will be occupied shipping black gold stone to Yunyang City. Use that time to investigate the Sinkhole.”
Once an expert of the Soul Martial Realm, Cheng Yun had fallen to the True Martial Realm, losing status within the Cheng family.
This demotion left father and son overlooked, excluded from black gold stone mining affairs.
Previously indifferent, Cheng Yun now scrutinized mining details—his son’s cultivation demanded resources.
Talent alone couldn’t ensure success; resources shaped futures.
Natural gifts stayed fixed, but resources like sect environments, pills, Spiritual Pulses, and martial techniques could be seized.
Revenge required strength first—this was nonnegotiable.
Then came family politics: Cheng Zhaolong wasn’t just the family head Cheng Feng’s son, but also a Xuanhuo Sect disciple.
Killing Cheng Zhaolong meant confronting cascading consequences.
“I’ll visit the Sinkhole after waking up.”
Exhausted, Cheng Lingyu crumpled onto the courtyard ground and slept.
Cheng Yun chuckled resignedly, leaving his son to slumber beneath open skies.
Darkness swallowed Cheng Lingyu’s consciousness the moment his eyelids closed, his soul motionless in endless night.
A speck of light pierced the void, solitary yet defiant.
Around Cheng Lingyu’s body, unseen currents stirred, lifting him gently upward.
Cheng Yun’s weathered face twitched with shock and delight.
His son’s cultivation surged during sleep—an unheard-of phenomenon. What transformation had occurred at that Sinkhole?
Three days and nights passed undisturbed.
Awakening energized, Cheng Lingyu’s power had skyrocketed to the Luck Phase—defying reason.
His fist shot forward, true energy crackling through the void.
Grinning, Cheng Lingyu darted across the courtyard like flowing light.
Cheng Yun roared with laughter. “Excellent! This path will make you renowned across the lands!”
Cheng Lingyu practiced for half an hour, feeling refreshed and confident.
“I’m going to the Sinkhole now.”
Leaving the small courtyard, he headed toward the back mountain but met his cousin Cheng Qinghua on the path.
“Where are you going, Seventh Brother?”
Though only thirteen, Cheng Qinghua had already reached Mortal Martial Arts’ fifth level – the Shock Phase, one stage higher than Cheng Lingyu.
“Just walking around the back mountain. What brings you here?”
Cheng Lingyu eyed his cousin curiously. The four-year age gap meant they rarely met.
“Let’s explore Wushan together. Want to come?”
Cheng Qinghua’s smile seemed mesmerizing, but Cheng Lingyu detected something sinister beneath it.
“That’s a guarded mining area. We shouldn’t.”
Cheng Qinghua glanced around and lowered his voice. “They say there’s a Mine Source deep inside – black gold stone that can forge weapons. If cultivators merge it with their bodies, they might gain indestructible bodies.”
Cheng Lingyu had heard this legend before, but never paid attention when he couldn’t cultivate.
“The mines are heavily watched. Trespassing’s dangerous.”
“Don’t worry,” Cheng Qinghua laughed. “I’ve gone several times. No issues.”
He grabbed Cheng Lingyu’s arm and dragged him forward. Cheng Lingyu considered resisting but stayed silent.
Shiyang Town’s mineral-rich lands included Wushan’s black gold stone mine. The ultra-hard stone was vital for weapon forging. Legends spoke of active metal sources in its depths – rare materials that could grant indestructible bodies if merged with a cultivator’s flesh. But the merging process proved deadly, as the metal’s corrosive nature overwhelmed most people.
Cheng Qinghua knew the way well, pulling Cheng Lingyu through a hidden cave entrance into excavated tunnels pulsing with eerie darkness. Moving swiftly through familiar passages, they reached a pitch-black zone.
“This feels wrong. Let’s leave,” Cheng Lingyu whispered, sensing danger.
“Don’t fear, Seventh Brother. I’ll protect you.” Cheng Qinghua’s wicked grin widened as he tightened his grip.
Rounding a bend, they found piles of white bones and corpses.
“What happened here? So many dead!” Cheng Lingyu exclaimed.
Cheng Qinghua remained silent, his youthful face darkening as they passed hundreds of scattered corpses. Growing wary, Cheng Lingyu watched his cousin’s reactions closely.
Ahead, silver light revealed two liquid metals entwined on a stone wall – one silver, one purplish-black. They writhed like living serpents, their metallic gazes fixed on the intruders. Cheng Qinghua stiffened, eyes burning with hunger.
Cheng Lingyu was deeply shaken, sensing immense danger.
“Qinghua, what is this?”
“These are the legendary active metal sources. The silver one’s origin is unknown, while the purplish-black one must be the Black Gold Mine Source.”
Cheng Lingyu said, “This looks too dangerous. Let’s leave.”
Cheng Qinghua smirked viciously, “These are treasures I’ve studied for years. Why would I abandon them?”
“Can you actually claim them?”
“With Seventh Brother’s help.”
Cheng Lingyu startled, “What do you intend?”
Cheng Qinghua sneered, “Just need you to test the path. Since you’re worthless in Cheng family, this might prove your use.”
Cheng Qinghua swung his right arm, hurling Cheng Lingyu at the stone wall.
Furious, Cheng Lingyu never imagined his thirteen-year-old cousin would sacrifice him so ruthlessly.
Trapped mid-air, Cheng Lingyu couldn’t evade. The silver and purplish-black liquid metals seized him instantly.
Both active metal sources coiled around him like serpents, their binding force immobilizing him completely.
Struggling only worsened his predicament. The crushing pressure choked his breath, nearly killing him.
Cheng Qinghua observed intently as the metallic liquids began permeating Cheng Lingyu’s flesh.
After prolonged exposure, the purplish-black source vanished into Cheng Lingyu first, while silver liquid coated his entire body.
When the last dark traces disappeared, a black snake shadow erupted from the wall, darting at Cheng Qinghua.
“Snake Soul! Exactly what I sought!”
Cheng Qinghua intercepted the spectral serpent. It pierced his chest, fusing with his being.
Without sparing Cheng Lingyu a glance, the youth departed immediately after landing.
Deep in the mine, Cheng Lingyu’s futile resistance ended as darkness consumed him. His consciousness froze, entering the Dark World.
The silver metal kept infiltrating his body. The stone wall glowed briefly before exploding, erasing its secrets forever.
Both active sources transformed Cheng Lingyu’s Constitution while he lay unaware in deep sleep.
Within endless darkness, a faint glimmer appeared. Then came a second light point tinged purple, followed by a silver-white third.
Forming a perfect triangle, they triggered echoing words in his mind:
“Like mist, like dream, creation shaped world. Time fades, eternity dwells alone.”
The sounds carved a mark through infinite night, revealing doors to new realms:
“Boundless dark, silent starlight. Dreamless eternity, heaven-earth cycle.”
Mysterious echoes imprinted legends within Cheng Lingyu’s Soul until three words crystallized – Dreamless Technique.
“Dreamless eternity, thoughts silenced. Heavens bow, void endless.”
This mantra held the technique’s essence, containing fathomless mysteries.
Cheng Lingyu’s body floated in the mine’s darkness as invisible black particles merged with him – imperceptible yet powerful substances beyond mortal senses.
The active metal sources saturated every cell, every blood drop, rewriting his very being.