Myriad Realms Gatekeeper

The darkness receded like a tide.
A Heroic City stood atop a lofty cliff.
Below the cliff were dreamlike, brilliant colors.
——This was the light manifested by the Dream Realm Rules.
The entire cliff and even the Heroic City were worlds transformed by the Dream Realm Rules.
The Heroic City was enveloped by a massive “Water bubble.”
In this “Water bubble,” everything seemed frozen in place.
This was the Dream World yet to be awakened!
Suddenly.
A ethereal voice echoed from the Void above the castle:
“Descend.”
“Panluo Mizi Demon King, who exists only in the dreams of all beings, you are the Demon King at the end of antiquity, reigning over all prehistoric massacres.”
“We have paid the price and invited you to descend here.”
“Come, bring true death!”
The sealed castle shook.
Along with a deep roar, the massive “Water bubble” shattered.
Everything within the castle was unsealed from its frozen state.
A Physique slowly rose.
Its form was vast, turning into a dark gray mist, shrouding the entire castle, and then condensing into four heads atop the castle’s four turrets, each gazing into the dark Void.
The four monster heads spoke in unison:
“I am very pleased with your sacrifice, I will kill the target in this trial, rest assured.”
In midair, the voice replied respectfully:
“Thank you kindly.”
Seeing the matter settled.
One by one, Runes leapt forth from the Void.
These Runes cast a dim halo, illuminating the entire castle, forming a circular pattern in midair.
“Ah, it seems no good.”
The voice of the Panluo Mizi Demon King carried a trace of regret, continuing:
“I have an agreement with the Dream Realm Rules; it allows me to roam the Dream, and I must give it this face.”
“——So I won’t kill that person.”
“How could it be!” The voice in the Void said anxiously, “Then if you don’t kill him, just trap him.”
“Trap?” The Demon King said mockingly, “For me to take action and merely trap an insect, I will not do such an absurd and ridiculous thing.”
“Payment increased tenfold.”
“…You stingy folks, you’re actually willing to pay so much?”
“It can be paid in advance.”
“Of such high value, it seems the target is not an insect—since it’s not an insect, it won’t harm my prestige; then so let’s say—prepare the remunerations.”
“As you wish.”
The conversation ended.
Everything fell silent.
Time.
Flowing nonstop.
Finally.
The designated person appeared.
Shen Ye.
He leisurely landed outside the castle, looking up at the monster heads on the castle wall.
“Is this my second trial?”
“Yes, come in, I will properly test your abilities,” the four heads of the Panluo Mizi Demon King spoke together.
“I see, but I need to warm up a bit before entering,” Shen Ye said.
“As you please,” said the Demon King.
Shen Ye drew a long blade, piercing his own body with a single stroke.
Dim light and small characters immediately appeared:
“You have applied ‘Blade Technique: Zouma Lantern’ to yourself.”
“Since you can now freely use various Laws without restriction, the power of this blade is enough to sustain you in the Dream you have created for nine hundred years.”
“——When you can execute a 360-degree slam dunk, you can still perform the basic three-step layup.”
Shen Ye’s current strongest Sword Technique was “Jumping Blade.”
But he could still perform “Zouma Lantern”!
In an instant.
He disappeared from in front of the castle.
——He went directly to practice Sword Techniques.
The Panluo Mizi Demon King waited for a while, then suddenly said:
“Someone else has intruded into the trial.”
No response came.
The gap in the Void had been blocked by the mayor.
The Saints could not enter here in haste to provide further action payments.
Therefore, the Panluo Mizi Demon King remained at the castle.
The actual target was only this kid.
The new Trialists might need attention, or perhaps be irrelevant altogether.
——But there was no remuneration.
What to do?
The Demon King pondered silently.
Suddenly.
Smack.
A soft sound.
A completely black Good Duck appeared in front of the castle.
Good Duck slowly raised its head, looking at the monstrous heads on the castle.
“Gah!”
Good Duck exclaimed in surprise.
The Panluo Mizi Demon King glanced at it, a bit disappointed.
“A duck…”
Fetching high rewards for dealing with the new human species.
Such matters uphold one’s status.
But——
Dealing with a duck?
You, a Demon King, catching a duck and expecting payment?
How to get along in the future!
“Go play elsewhere.”
The Panluo Mizi Demon King said coldly, sweeping a hand, instantly creating a new trial ground in the Void.
——This trial ground had the same lofty cliff and castle.
Just like what the Time Saint encountered!
Initiating two trials simultaneously!
Without hesitation, Good Duck spread its wings and flew into the new trial ground.
——Inside, there was no Panluo Mizi Demon King.
Only a towering castle.
“Yaha, now with no one to disturb, I can finally start a normal trial!”
A colorful Paper Man jumped out, shouting.
“A normal trial?” Good Duck asked.
“Yes, the mayor has made every effort—the second trial is temporarily isolated, the outside world cannot provide the Demon King with information or instructions.”
Good Duck immediately understood.
“Cut the chatter, please introduce this trial right away,” it said quickly.
“Okay, in this trial, you must vindicate yourself.”
The Paper Man also quickened its speech:
“——The ‘Nightmare’ will challenge your ‘Nightmare,’ either being stripped of your name or successfully passing the trial.”