World-saving Plan: The Only Savior
Chapter 128 - 26 Dragon Sleep Stone

Chapter 128: Chapter 26 Dragon Sleep Stone

The atmosphere on the field is now quite strange, as everyone watches the elder on the stage with varied expressions—delight, excitement, sorrow, greed...

Even the elder’s grandson at this moment is no exception, his face filled with longing and anticipation.

In the entire hall, the only ones not engulfed by the anomaly are Zhang Xiaoman and Ye Cang, who has yet to open his eyes.

"What exactly is going on here, could this be hypnosis? But this seems too exaggerated...

And why has everyone else fallen for it, but I’m fine..."

Zhang Xiaoman looks around at the scene, his thoughts whirling rapidly in his mind.

Next to him, Pei Laoliu has already completely lost himself in it.

He has a wide grin on his face, occasionally making clicking noises; if one listens carefully, they can hear faint phrases like "old goose" and "delicious," among other incomprehensible words.

"This must be caused by the mist coming out of the incense burner, right? Could they really be entrapped in some kind of illusion?" Zhang Xiaoman murmurs to himself.

Mr. Ye on the stage is struggling too, although not in the same way as the others.

He keeps his eyes tightly shut, his muscles tense. It’s as if there’s always a voice whispering in his ear, tempting him to open his eyes.

Seeing this, Zhang Xiaoman feels that he may have found the root of the problem.

Just as he hesitates about whether to wake Master Liu or not, he notices the fog gradually thinning, signaling that the substance in the incense burner is almost spent.

Turning back to Pei Laoliu, he sees that the man’s face is now streaked with shallow tears, and the content of his mumbles has changed, seemingly calling out someone’s name.

A few minutes quickly pass, and as the smoke completely dissipates, everyone on the field gradually comes back to their senses, though not yet fully awake. Many still have a dazed look on their faces, as if savoring what they have just experienced.

"It was so real, she was so real... I really wish I could have looked at her for a little longer..."

The muttering voice of Pei Laoliu reaches Zhang Xiaoman’s ears, further confirming the latter’s beliefs about what had just transpired in the great hall.

Indeed, as he had guessed before, that strange white fog could interfere with one’s mind, plunging them into a very realistic illusion.

"But why wasn’t I affected..."

Zhang Xiaoman says, his gaze involuntarily falling on the ring in his right hand, as a realization dawns on him.

"Tsk tsk, the Ye family’s Dragon Sleep Stone is truly miraculous. That moment just now probably lasted only 5 minutes, but it felt as if a whole 5 hours had passed... It’s really astonishing!"

Pei Laoliu is slowly coming around, his gaze still slightly vacant, but his thoughts much clearer.

"Right, this Dragon Sleep Stone is said to project whatever one desires most in their heart. Kid, what did you see in the illusion just now?"

Zhang Xiaoman scratches his head and honestly replies, "Me? I didn’t see anything at all."

"Hey, you’re acting as if you don’t want or need anything anymore, huh?"

Pei Laoliu gave him a sidelong glance, taking Zhang Xiaoman’s reticence as embarrassment about what he had just witnessed. He chose not to press the issue further.

At this point, with the exhibition by Mr. Ye concluded, the most anticipated part of the Cultivation Conclave had come to an end, leaving only the challenge segment remaining.

However, it’s worth mentioning that this final part usually goes by without any actual challenges.

In their circle, reputation and seniority are particularly esteemed, and without overwhelmingly superior skills on display, there’s virtually no hope of success.

"Now we come to our sparring segment. Is there any esteemed colleague here who wishes to issue a challenge?"

The host recited his usual script, knowing full well that it was just a formality.

Soon, he could declare the end of the discussions after asking a couple more times with no responses. Then he could hurriedly leave and properly check on his liver issue at the hospital!

After all, Elder Ye, the saint of Chinese medicine, had just warned him, and he couldn’t afford to delay any longer...

Yet, just as this thought began to take hold, it was interrupted. A somewhat aged but strong voice rose from the crowd, declaring a challenge.

However, it seemed that he was not nominating himself, but recommending someone else.

"Fellow practitioners, I am a cultivator from Meihua City known as Liao Kongxu, a disciple of Shen Xuzi, and have been honored with the title of Master by my peers in the Martial World. I enjoy some renown locally."

"Recently, in the Jiangnan Region, there emerged a practitioner whose fame has skyrocketed. Before witnesses, he effortlessly extracted and destroyed an evil spirit inhabiting a human body, saving the entire Su family, thirteen souls! This was witnessed by dozens of practitioners present, and was certainly no idle claim!"

With these words, the crowd below became restless. Those who knew of the incident began sharing everything they knew with the people around them.

Those who were unaware scoffed in disbelief. Everyone there was a seasoned figure in the Martial World; who didn’t understand such tricks? Deceiving the common folks was one thing, but trying to fool fellow insiders?

As for these sorts of insider dealings, no one was more aware than these old charlatans themselves. To them, everything was but an act to swindle others.

In this world, what true cultivators are there? To date, only Mr. Ye of the Ye Family was considered to possess some genuine ability, notably because of the mysterious effects of the Dragon Sleep Stone.

Apart from that, while Mr. Ye’s talent as a master of Chinese medicine was real, if you said he possessed any mana or cultivation of that sort, people would never believe it to death.

Master Liao paused for a moment, took in everyone’s reactions with a smile, and continued:

"This person’s methods are mysterious and profound. Despite his youth, his cultivation is inscrutable, qualifying him as a master in his own right. In Qionghua City, he’s even known as Half-immortal Pei!"

"I share a meaningful connection with Mr. Pei. After the Su family incident, it felt as though we met too late in life, and since then we became fast friends despite the age difference. I’m extremely familiar with his capabilities! Hence, I, Liao, would like to recommend Mr. Pei this time, hoping he could come onstage and showcase his skills so that all could observe and learn. The venerable elders present might also offer him some guidance in the spirit of exchange at this conclave."

Zhang Xiaoman had recognized him from the moment he stood up - it was Master Liao, the very same who had tried to take credit for his work at the Su residence.

Yet the words Master Liao spoke now had him dumbfounded; wasn’t that "Half-immortal Pei" title just what he had used while masquerading as Master Liu?

Listening to this man now, it seemed as though they were close acquaintances. What was all this about a profound connection and an age-defying friendship? He certainly didn’t remember being so chummy with him.