Previously, when Meng Qiuzhen explored the first three acts of the dream, everything had gone smoothly. But the fourth act had given him trouble back and forth several times.
Fifth Act of the dream.
"Well now, this time I've become 'Blue Beast,'" Meng Qiuzhen sighed.
He had become the bald young man.
The atmosphere in the Earth Family Fortress had also changed.
After asking around, Meng Qiuzhen learned the full story: when Huang Xiaomi had been rescued, two Fourth Transformation Elders had given chase and engaged Huang Wan in battle out in the wilderness.
After a brief and fierce life-or-death clash, one of the two Elders had been killed and the other wounded. Though Huang Wan was also gravely injured, she had managed to escape with Huang Xiaomi.
The Earth Family Fortress was the dominant power in this region. Having two of their most important Elders end up in such a miserable state immediately ignited their fury.
The Patriarch issued orders at once to raise an army and crush this Mushroom Person tribe.
How could one sleep peacefully while a stranger snored on the same bed?
The strength the Mushroom Person Gu Masters had displayed, along with their ability to infiltrate and lay low, had the upper echelons of the Earth Family Fortress on edge.
Those who are not of our kind must surely harbor different hearts—the safest course of action was to wipe this Mushroom Person tribe out entirely!
With the enemy's strength still unknown, the Earth Family Fortress began mobilizing all of its forces to prepare for war.
They launched a massive recruitment drive.
The Earth Family Fortress used "Earth" as its surname. Their own clan was numerous, and they had no shortage of vassal clans bearing other surnames as well.
Led by the Earth Family Fortress, five surrounding powers had been successively brought under their control. To demonstrate their allegiance, members of these other-surnamed groups would add "Earth" as a suffix to their names.
For example, the mortal girl who had rescued Huang Xiaomi earlier was called Fang Tu.
"If you distinguish yourself in this war, the Earth Family may even bestow upon you the surname Earth—making you a true member of the clan!"
Many people, upon seeing the posted notices, were greatly roused and enlisted one after another.
Meng Qiuzhen joined as well.
Because given the bald young man's thoughts and temperament, the probability of him signing up was extremely high.
The Earth Family Gu Master who processed his registration was pleased: "You've come. The Third Elder is truly recuperating, but he's already left instructions regarding you. You've performed well and shown great loyalty to the Earth Family Fortress—very good. You'll serve as a squad leader."
Meng Qiuzhen had found the right approach, and the dream continued evolving along this track.
Back home, Meng Qiuzhen told Huang Wan about his decision to join the army.
Huang Wan flew into a rage and forbade him from going.
"My son, fame and fortune are but fleeting clouds. All your mother wants is for you to live happily and safely."
"But I'm a man in the prime of life—if I achieve nothing, how can I ever be happy? This is the best opportunity there is! I have to seize it."
Meng Qiuzhen mimicked the bald young man and got into a fierce argument with Huang Wan. They parted on bad terms.
Everyone in the Earth Family Fortress assumed that Huang Wan and Huang Xiaomi had fled. None of them suspected that Huang Wan had only feigned a retreat. After leaving false clues outside the city, she had brought Huang Xiaomi back into the Earth Family Fortress to continue hiding.
Huang Wan was severely injured and had to maintain her disguise by force, while also secretly caring for Huang Xiaomi. She could only watch helplessly as Meng Qiuzhen became part of the Earth Family Fortress's auxiliary forces.
"How old are you, exactly? And you think you're fit to lead us?"
"That's right—you'll have to prove yourself before we'll accept you!"
"You're an outsider, a vassal of our Earth Family. How dare you try to command a clansman like me?"
When Meng Qiuzhen met the members of his squad, he was predictably isolated and looked down upon—consistent with the bald young man's standing.
Meng Qiuzhen imitated the bald young man and rubbed his own scalp: "Oh my, would you look at that temper of mine. Come at me, all of you at once!"
"What?" The four Gu Masters were stunned.
Meng Qiuzhen let out a savage grin and struck without warning.
BOOM!
A deafening crack rang out. His fist, wrapped in a layer of hard stone skin, sent one person flying.
The Gu Masters snapped out of their shock and scrambled backward.
Meng Qiuzhen stomped the ground hard, and with a resounding thud, the earth suddenly caved in.
One Gu Master, caught off guard, plunged into the pit.
"You think this little trick can control me?" He was about to fly out when he looked up in horror to see Meng Qiuzhen lifting a boulder the size of a carriage above his head and hurling it down.
"Don't—!"
BOOM!
The boulder crashed down, slamming the Gu Master deep into the bottom of the pit. He fell silent immediately. Fresh red blood soon seeped out from beneath the stone.
"What are you doing?! Have you lost your mind?!"
"You just laid hands on an Earth Family clansman?!"
The two remaining Gu Masters witnessed the whole thing, their hearts pounding with terror.
"Isn't this because you wouldn't accept my authority?" Meng Qiuzhen snarled, pressing forward once more.
The bald young man's collection of Gu Insects was limited, but under Meng Qiuzhen's combat expertise, these ordinary Gu Masters were no match for him at all.
In short order, he had knocked them all flat.
"Stop, stop! I submit!" The Gu Masters hurriedly begged for mercy.
Sixth Act of the dream.
Meng Qiuzhen had become the Mushroom Person Huang Xiaomi once more.
His injuries had fully recovered, and the Mushroom Person plague had been successfully cured through Huang Wan's secret treatment.
Huang Xiaomi obtained additional poison Gu from Huang Wan. By using these poison Gu to form a killing move, the racial plague that had been devastating the Mushroom Person tribe could finally be eradicated.
Huang Xiaomi slipped away in secret.
The perimeter of the Earth Family Fortress was regularly patrolled by Gu Masters.
A squad of five Second Transformation Gu Masters was advancing through the forest.
"Stop. We'll rest here for a moment." The squad leader suddenly raised his hand in a signal.