This seemed like a place straight out of the Immortal Realm, with colorful auspicious clouds and pink lakes, a land covered with gemstones, and gold-and-jade magnificent lofts.
Exotic flowers and herbs emitted a rich fragrance, and there was even a hint of mist lingering around; hidden within the thick fog were deep valleys and towering mountains.
In the distance, there were various buildings, some traditional, some replete with modern technology, and others in architectural styles Zhang Menglong had never seen before, something not even the most imaginative fantasist could conjure up in their mind.
Yet, for some reason, Zhang Menglong felt this dream was incredibly real, as if his soul had left his body and arrived at this mysterious and beautiful place.
"Respected new master, welcome to the Super God Academy. I am the AI butler of this school; you may give me a new name," it said.
"What's going on? How can a country bumpkin like me have such a trendy dream?" Zhang Menglong was shocked by this sudden voice.
"Master, you are not in a dream right now because you have not yet obtained the permission to activate the Super God Academy. Therefore, your mother used hypnotism to let your consciousness enter here. Strictly speaking, you are not dreaming," it explained.
"My mom hypnotized me?" Zhang Menglong paused, "I didn't know my mom knew hypnotism."
"Kid, there are many things you don't know!" Just then, the voice of Zhang Xiaoyun appeared behind Zhang Menglong; his parents had appeared behind him unnoticed.
"Mom, dad, what exactly is going on? Can someone explain this to me?" Zhang Menglong felt his worldview of over twenty years was starting to crumble.
"It's not something I can explain quickly," Zhang Xiaoyun said. When he had inherited this vast wealth and the miraculous Super God Academy from his own father, Zhang Menglong's grandfather, his reaction had been even more exaggerated than Zhang Menglong's.
"Simply put, the Super God Academy is a treasure that has been passed down through generations of the Zhang Family. Once you unlock all its permissions, anything you desire can be made real here!"
"Dad, I am a materialist, I believe in science. So, can I become immortal?" Zhang Menglong asked in return.
Zhang Xiaoyun and his wife, Wang Yajie, looked at each other and then smiled, "Immortality, is that hard?"
Immortality is not just hard; it's downright impossible!
"You will slowly come to understand how magical the Super God Academy is as you gradually unlock its permissions," Zhang Xiaoyun said with a mysterious smile, "But as this treasure is our family heirloom, I can't just let you inherit it so easily. I must first test you!"
"Alright, you have to spend a trillion within one year, then I will give you access to the Super God Academy," he declared.
"Yes, settings completed. The new master can unlock access to the Super God Academy after spending a trillion within a year. Donations, damages, and gifts are invalid!" the earlier voice chimed in again.
"What? Spend a trillion?" Zhang Menglong shuddered at the number, spending a trillion in one year meant spending three billion a day; what kind of test was this?
"Wait a minute, if you have entrusted the family wealth and this heirloom to me, what are you going to do?" Zhang Menglong always felt something was off. Usually, assets were transferred to the next generation when someone was making final arrangements, could it be...
Zhang Xiaoyun knew what Zhang Menglong was thinking from his expression, "What nonsense are you thinking about, kid? We just want to check out other places!"
Zhang Xiaoyun pointed towards the end of the magical Super God Academy where there was a spectacle similar to a stairway to heaven, spiraling into the clouds as if leading to an unknown new world at its end.
"In this world, mom and dad have enjoyed all that money can buy. The joy it brings is fleeting, and we're tired of it; we want to explore a new world!"
"Wait, what are you talking about? I don't understand!" Zhang Menglong was utterly confused. What new world were they exploring? Were they monsters or immortals?
"Son, when we come back next time, we hope to see that you've gotten married and had children, one or two won't be too few, five or six won't be too many!"
"Boom!" Just at that moment, at the top of the heavenly ladder, a beam of light descended from the sky, and a golden column enveloped the entire ladder as if a mysterious force was pulling everything together.
"Honey, it's about time," Zhang Xiaoyun and his wife Wang Yajie exchanged glances.
"Yes! It's time to go!"
The couple reluctantly looked at Zhang Menglong, "Menglong, enjoy your life thoroughly. If there's anything you need, just go to Steward Hong. In this world, you only need to remember three points!"
Although he didn't know exactly what was happening, Zhang Menglong knew that their words must be important!
"First, there is no one richer than our family; second, there's nothing our family can't solve; third, if you ever find someone richer than us or something we can't solve, you must still be dreaming!"
Zhang Menglong opened his mouth. He was seriously waiting for Zhang Xiaoyun to assign some important task, and this was what he had to say?
But, was all of this real? Or was everything since he picked up the phone in his dorm until now just a dream?
Suddenly, Zhang Menglong's parents held each other's hands, and to his shocked eyes, they actually flew up. They soared through the place known as Super God Academy like a shooting star, then merged into the distant heavenly ladder and disappeared into the clouds bathed in that golden column.
"Did... Did my parents ascend?" Zhang Menglong stared blankly at the sky, his face filled with astonishment. Yes, he must be dreaming. When he reopens his eyes in a while, he will definitely be leaning over his dorm room desk, the computer screen still displaying that failed interview email!
"New master, please name the system as soon as possible!"
"Let's call you Xiao Ji then!"
"This name has already been used by the 23rd generation master. Please rename it!"
Zhang Menglong: "???"
"Alright then, let's call you Xiao Wang!"
"This name has already been used by the 16th generation master. Please rename it!"
"What? What kind of monsters were my ancestors?" Zhang Menglong slapped his forehead, "Then let's call you Gen Ji!"
"This name has already been used by the 249th generation master, who is your father. Please rename it!"
"Zhang Xiaoyun, you..." Zhang Menglong clenched his fist, "I'll call you Gou Dan then!"
"Naming successful. Super God Academy smart assistant Gou Dan at your service. According to the command of the 249th generation master, you need to spend 100 billion within a year to unlock Super God Academy. The countdown starts now!"
Suddenly, everything around became pitch black, and the fantastical academy disappeared from his view.
"Just you watch!" Zhang Menglong took a deep breath, if this is all real and not a dream, I will stand on my head, washing my hair while eating instant noodles!
Zhang Menglong opened his eyes, a blinding light from the window shot into his eyes. He was lying in his own room, now the only person left in the house. On the bedside table, there was that small box adorned with a green gemstone.
Zhang Menglong's breathing suddenly became rapid. Could... could all this be real?