Fine rain drifted down, and Qing Mao Mountain appeared even more verdant and lush in the drizzle.
Fang Yuan sat quietly in the room, facing his younger brother Fang Zheng.
"Brother, why are you still so stubbornly misguided? Our uncle and aunt have raised us with such hardship and sacrifice over all these years, and yet you reported them to the clan's Elder Council. This is nothing short of ingratitude!" Fang Zheng stood tall before Fang Yuan, his posture righteous, his tone stern and accusatory.
Fang Yuan's expression was calm, his gaze like ice. He surveyed his surroundings and thought, *This dreamscape is quite realistic.*
Then he inspected himself and found the Wine Worm, All-Out Effort Gu, and several others nestled within his Third Transformation Empty Orifice.
Fang Yuan's heart settled. *This cultivation level is equivalent to when I was in the Three Kings' Blessed Land,* he thought.
At that moment, Fang Zheng before him shouted emotionally, "The Elder Trial hasn't started yet. There's still time for you to withdraw your complaint, Brother. If you really go through with this, your reputation will be ruined. Everyone around will look down on you, and I won't acknowledge you as my brother anymore!"
Fang Yuan chuckled softly, rose to his feet, and walked toward Fang Zheng.
Fang Zheng took a step back. "Brother, what are you going to do?"
Seeing him like this, a wave of disgust rose in Fang Yuan's heart.
*This is a dreamscape obstruction,* Fang Yuan understood clearly. He endured the disgust in his heart, passed by Fang Zheng, and headed toward the door.
"Brother!" Fang Zheng suddenly turned and grabbed Fang Yuan's arm.
Fang Yuan couldn't move forward. He turned back to look at his brother, the disgust in his heart intensifying. An impulse surged up—he wanted to slap Fang Zheng across the face and stride away.
But Fang Yuan grew even calmer. He gently grasped Fang Zheng's arm and slowly applied pressure, trying to break free from his grip.
But then, Fang Zheng's other hand also seized hold of Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan let out a helpless sigh, but a sharp gleam flashed through his eyes. He suddenly raised his leg and kicked Fang Zheng directly to the ground.
Fang Zheng was kicked flat on the ground, unable to get up for the moment.
Only then was Fang Yuan free. He turned around, strode forward, and walked out the door.
The moment he stepped outside, the scene before his eyes abruptly changed.
He had arrived at the Guye Clan's Great Assembly Hall.
Elders sat in rows on both sides. The Patriarch occupied the central high seat, looking down upon Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng.
Fang Yuan examined himself and only then realized he was kneeling on the ground. Fang Zheng beside him was also kneeling.
Fang Yuan's mind was as clear as a mirror. He knew that having just kicked Fang Zheng down had stirred up his emotions, making the dreamscape obstruction even stronger.
The first scene had only a small room and two people. Now this assembly hall was far more spacious, with nearly ten figures appearing—though all their faces were blurred except for Fang Zheng's. As Fang Yuan's gaze swept around, he happened to linger on the Patriarch's face a moment too long, and it began to gradually become clearer.
Fang Yuan quickly looked away and didn't look again.
The more he looked, the more his memories would be stirred, making the dreamscape more and more vivid. What was truly dangerous was the stirring of emotions. Once emotions took hold, he would fall into the dreamscape obstruction.
Without a Dream Path Immortal Gu to assist him, once he fell into the obstruction, it would be extremely difficult to escape.
*Where exactly is the Gu refining material in this dream? Could it be that it's not in this second scene, but somewhere deeper below?* Fang Yuan searched with his gaze but found nothing. Just as he was pondering, the Patriarch in the hall spoke.
Then, an Elder stepped forward from the crowd and announced to everyone the matter of Fang Yuan accusing his uncle and aunt of embezzling his parents' inheritance.
Fang Zheng, serving as a witness, spoke publicly on behalf of the uncle and aunt.
Fang Yuan heard every word, and the disgust in his heart gradually grew, along with a thread of indignation lurking beneath.
The Elders in the hall spoke up one after another, their words clearly favoring Fang Zheng's side, showing no goodwill toward Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan's situation was dire, but his heart remained as cool as ice and snow. He carefully examined the emotions within him, and deep down, he held nothing but disdain.
"Bring in the accused party," the Patriarch suddenly declared.
The uncle and aunt appeared, wearing expressions of righteous indignation. From the moment they opened their mouths, they berated Fang Yuan, proclaiming his usual unfilial behavior and attitude. This was pure slander, completely fabricated—yet every Elder took it as truth, regarding Fang Yuan with cold stares and sneers.
"This is your last chance. Do you have anything to say in your defense?" Finally, the Patriarch spoke, directing the question at Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan let out a cold laugh. This was a trap within the dream. If he actually spoke and stirred up his emotions, he would fall into grave danger.
So he shook his head and said nothing.
The Patriarch's expression changed immediately. He sneered and pointed at Fang Yuan. "As expected, you're in the wrong and have nothing to say. I hereby announce that the Nine-Leaf Vitality Grass Gu shall be handed over to your uncle and aunt."
The Nine-Leaf Vitality Grass was lifelike as it was taken from the Patriarch's Empty Orifice and handed over to the uncle and aunt on the spot.
Fang Zheng kowtowed repeatedly, expressing his gratitude. "Thank you, Patriarch! Thank you, esteemed Elders, for your keen discernment in restoring my uncle and aunt's innocent reputation!"
A faint sorrow and indignation rose in Fang Yuan's heart, but he held it all back.
His eyes burned bright as he fixed his gaze on the Nine-Leaf Vitality Grass.
The Gu refining material in the dream had appeared—right before his eyes was the "Nine-Leaf Vitality Grass."
*Truly insidious. They place the key item and then try every means to provoke my emotions. The more I focus on this dream material, the more my feelings will be stirred, and the deeper I'll fall into the dreamscape obstruction.*
With this thought, Fang Yuan suddenly burst into action. He surged his True Essence and channeled it into several Gu insects.