The endless desert was drenched in fire rain.

This was a dream within the Evil Brain.

The fire rain fell, scorching the sand and creating patches of black residue. These residues quickly began to soften and move, transforming into thick, black-and-white striped worms, resembling a mosaic of sorts. They roamed everywhere, searching for something suspicious.

Sun Huai carefully avoided these suspicious-looking creatures.

Their bodies emitted a kind of consciousness, like giant webs radiating in all directions and connecting with each other, conducting an impenetrable scan of the area.

Sun Huai cautiously evaded their perception.

It wasn't that no other consciousness had intruded into this dreamscape.

But a consciousness with such alteration and destructive abilities, besides Dream Demons, was the first of its kind encountered.

Sun Huai mused.

No wonder even the Light Core Level Dream Demon fell here.

It searched the desert but failed to find any traces of its kind, only discovering some peculiar consciousness fragments. They floated in the air, slowly twirling according to some pattern.

Sun Huai first examined these sand dunes.

There was nothing beneath the sand.

This place was also continuously polluted and covered by Usurper Worms using Evil Brain.

Sun Huai redirected his focus to the floating fragments, assembling and reorganizing them to uncover their secrets.

This was a coordinate!

The fragments revealed a circular Conscious Key structure.

Sun Huai leaped into the ring.

He arrived at a grand palace. It had robust and towering railings, throne perched lonely like an altar, layered stone walls and steps, pillars reaching the clouds, and black-and-white servants.

The palace's outer walls, pillars, and floors were riddled with cracks and breaks. Usurper Worms had also invaded here, creeping everywhere in search of targets.

The servants made from Conscious Key fragments were also entangled or hollowed out by the worms, frozen in place like statues.

Sun Huai watched in terror.

Creating double-layered dreams was a tremendously difficult task, one that few Dream Demons could achieve, as even the slightest mistake would cause the dreamer to disconnect and awaken.

The second-layered dream had also been breached.

Within the vast, ruined palace, there was still no sign of that Dream Demon.

After a careful sweep, Sun Huai found a circle of consciousness fragments on the back of the throne, even more hidden than before.

He assembled them again.

Another ring emerged.

Sun Huai pressed on.

The third-layered dream was an open field surrounded by dense white fog.

On the field was an old recliner next to a roaring campfire that crackled and popped.

Usurper Worms were also present here, but they had transformed into black lines, gathering from the ground and fog towards this place. They moved sinuously through the chair and fire, appearing and disappearing unpredictably.

Sun Huai keenly observed.

The chair and the fire represented two distinct paths.

Unlike the second layer, only one path was true while the other was false. This seemed to be a measure devised by the Light Core Level Dream Demon to distract and mislead some of the Usurper Worms.

Entering the false path could lead to great danger.

Sun Huai considered his two choices.

Recliner, or the campfire?

The deliberate design of these objects suggested they were clues left intentionally. The Usurper Worms couldn't discern these items, meaning they were hints for fellow Dream Demons.

In worldly terms, the recliner appeared safe, and the fire clearly dangerous.

But to a Dream Demon, the latter was safer; blatant violence was more controllable...

Sun Huai's hand stalled as it reached for the fire.

No.

Something wasn't right.

The dream's design should block as many Usurper Worms as possible. The first two layers had already consumed numerous worm fragments...

Sun Huai hesitated, then grabbed the chair and threw it into the fire.

The chair combusted instantly, transforming into a square black window frame.

This is it!

Sun Huai leapt through it.

On the other side, he immediately heard a voice.

"An underage? How dare you break in? Want to die?"

Speaking was a tall, slender Dream Demon.

It was seated, playing with a puzzle of fragments.

Its head bore curved horns, expansive bat wings folded on its back, red pupils in its eyes, and its entire body appeared weakly translucent.

"He-Hello," Sun Huai greeted.

He glanced around with the corner of his eyes.

This was a severely confined space, surrounded by darkness, with only the central area illuminated, the only place to move around.

Fortunately, there were no Usurper Worms here.

The great Dream Demon looked Sun Huai over. "You weren't dismembered by those monsters... Did the worm brain die?"

"No."

"Then you should leave. Don't come back. Although I'm trapped here, I won't let an underaged take unnecessary risks. Wait until you're an adult and reach Light Core Level. Leave, and don't make trouble."

Sun Huai had a lot of excuses planned.

But seeing the other's demeanor, he realized those excuses would be futile; he couldn't deceive this Dream Demon.

A bold idea sprang into his mind.

"I'm Sun Huai. This Evil Brain was captured by our company. The company is researching it. Usurper Worms are using it as a consciousness vessel to capture others... The Chairman sent me to check your situation..."

Sun Huai spoke the truth while omitting some key secrets.

The Dream Demon's eyes narrowed. "As expected from Otherworldly Life, no wonder it's highly effective against us."

"Being able to crack the Evil Brain and Usurper Worms... That Chairman of yours is exceptional."

He abruptly changed his tone. "If you want to survive, just do your job well and don't have other thoughts."

"Telling me the truth carries great risk for you. I've seen many winners come and go. We maintain our status because we adapt."

"If you plan to take me out and wish for my help to escape from that company, you'd better abandon that thought. It would mean facing endless pursuit from the Chairman."

Sun Huai waved. "That's not what I meant."

"Then what do you mean?"

Suspicion gleamed in the Dream Demon's eyes.

"I mean... Everyone has their own demands. Our company seeks information about the Heavenly People, and you just happen to have access to that. You need to escape, and the Chairman has the means to get you out of here."

Sun Huai paused, a glint in his small eyes. "Why not cooperate?"

"As long as you join our company, becoming one of our own, the Chairman will have the reason and motivation to free you from the Evil Brain. My good brother Sun Hao has the capability to heal you."

The Dream Demon grinned, revealing sharp teeth. "He dares to free me? You should know, once out of this special restriction, I can immediately return to the Great Holy Spirit."

"In this world, few things can hinder me."

Sun Huai confidently said, "Of course, he dares. Because he's the Chairman."

"The Chairman isn't afraid of opposition or betrayers, not because he has absolute power, but because cooperation with him usually yields the greatest benefits. In this world, no one else can offer better terms than the Chairman."

"Interesting," the Dream Demon's red eyes flickered with surprise. "You speak for a foreign entity like that."

"To be honest, our company is developing space initiatives for Mars, the Moon, and the Mud Tree World," Sun Huai unveiled.

"Mars is rich in Light Seed Ore; the Moon is the Moon People's habitat, and they're gradually being recruited by our company. The Mud Tree World is ruled by Usurper Worms, and the Chairman is developing those bugs. Our company's Mud Tree People employees fell to the worms; their civilization was destroyed..."

Sun Huai directly disclosed their strength.

The other's expression changed subtly.

"You mean the Usurper Worms could continuously enter here?"

"Yes," Sun Huai explained. "Using the Mud Tree People's brains as arks, if there's one case, they'll likely be a second, third... This is extremely hazardous for Dream Demons."

"I'm not fearmongering, but no one can suppress and tame them like our company. Cooperating with the Chairman is the best response to this threat for Dream Demons."

"..."

The other studied Sun Huai. "Did your Chairman teach you this, or is it your own idea?"

"Of course, it's my own idea," Sun Huai grinned. "I'm called Sun Huai because I always consider the worst-case scenario."

"The worst-case scenario is the Usurper Worms have already infiltrated Earth, hiding and congregating in the Dead Sea. Do you Dream Demons have countermeasures?"

The other admitted, "No."

"So, why not cooperate with our company?"

Sun Huai beamed, revealing sharp teeth. "You reminded me to stick to my duty to survive. As a return favor, our company has seven Light Core Bodies. Joining us won't shortchange you. Adapting to the times, isn't that what you said?"

The transparent Dream Demon slowly raised its head, scrutinizing the youngling. "The young are to be feared."

"Without the nurturing and environment provided by the elders, we wouldn't thrive," Sun Huai humbly responded.

The great Dream Demon toyed with a bunch of consciousness fragments, speaking unhurriedly. "Our kind respects and fully supports those who lead an era. Our trust and friendliness are reserved for absolute strength. If not qualified, we abandon anyone unhesitatingly."

"Is your Chairman qualified?"

"Undoubtedly," Sun Huai earnestly said. "Though my rank in the company is low, my good brother Sun Hao is the Chairman's son. Through him, I know some inside information..."

"The Chairman's targeted opponents are never grounded, so our company isn't worried about the cold war with the Mechanical and Electrical City Group, sea lords, or governors, for we know if things truly escalated, they'd be undoubtedly defeated."

"In my judgment,"

"The Chairman's only rivals are the Heavenly People."

"Is that qualification enough?"

The other froze for a moment, then laughed heartily. "Interesting, very interesting!"

"Then let's see how far your Chairman can go! Will he be the next Black Emperor, or the next Daisyo!"

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