Ye Chen and Liya emerged from the mysterious "trial," their hearts filled with confusion and curiosity. They found themselves standing on a vast, desolate plain, surrounded by scenery that seemed dreamlike, with distant mountains looming like an unreal painting. Everything around them felt like someone's imagination, yet it also exuded a strong sense of reality.
"Is this world really sustained by the power of imagination?" Ye Chen murmured to himself, gazing into the distance. Although the recent trial hadn't posed much of a threat, it had given him a profound sense of pressure, as if this world was testing not only his strength but also his understanding of its underlying rules.
Liya gently patted Ye Chen on the shoulder, smiling as she said, "Stop daydreaming and let's get started! Didn't you say you wanted to figure out the source of imagination?"
Ye Chen turned his head, a slight smirk appearing on his lips. "Yeah, I have a feeling it's not as simple as it seems."
At that moment, a low voice interrupted them. "Are you discussing the power of imagination?"
Both Ye Chen and Liya turned to see a man draped in a black cloak walking toward them. His figure was obscured in the sunlight, as if he might vanish at any moment.
"Who are you?" Ye Chen asked warily, his instincts already on high alert. The recent trial was still fresh in his mind, and this stranger's sudden appearance clearly indicated he was no friend.
The cloaked man didn't directly answer Ye Chen's question; instead, he chuckled softly. "You newcomers always think that mastering just the surface of imagination will allow you to roam freely in this world. Little do you know, this is only the beginning."
"Surface?" Ye Chen frowned. "Do you know a deeper secret about the power of imagination?"
The cloaked man slowly lifted his head, revealing a pale face reminiscent of parchment, with eyes as deep and cold as a bottomless pit. His voice echoed like a ghost's: "The source of imagination is far different from what you believe. Do you think it merely draws from the void or is enhanced by rare materials? How naive. Imagination comes not only from the void; it also stems from your inner desires, fears, and memories. That is the deepest secret of imagination."
Ye Chen and Liya exchanged glances, clearly startled by this explanation.
"So, you mean we have to accumulate imagination not just through practice, but also through our emotions?" Liya couldn't help but ask.
The cloaked man nodded. "Exactly. The truly powerful dreamers don't just control their own worlds; they can influence the imaginations of others. By igniting others' emotions, they can quickly amass immense power. Those who rely on rare materials to enhance their imagination are merely taking shortcuts."
Ye Chen contemplated this. "Influencing others' imaginations… does that mean being able to affect their worlds?"
"Precisely," the cloaked man replied coldly. "This is the key you need to understand. The true strength of imagination lies in its ability to affect reality through waves of emotion. The more you can touch the depths of a person's heart, the more control you can wield over this power."
"So, you became strong through this method?" Ye Chen couldn't help but ask.
The cloaked man smiled faintly, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes. "You aren't yet qualified to know my story."
Just then, distant footsteps echoed urgently. Ye Chen turned to see several armored men rushing toward them from behind a hill, their faces filled with panic, clearly fleeing from something.
"Run! It's chasing us!" the leading soldier shouted.
Before Ye Chen could respond, a massive rumble shook the ground behind him. It felt as if some enormous creature was approaching.
"It's a phantom beast!" Liya's expression changed instantly as she grabbed Ye Chen's hand and ran forward.
Ye Chen glanced back, gasping in shock. A gigantic creature, towering over ten meters high, loomed before them, shrouded in black smoke. Its eyes glowed red, and it let out a deep, rumbling roar. Each of its massive footsteps caused the ground to tremble beneath them.
"What is that thing?!" Ye Chen thought, horrified. "We barely understand the rules of this world, and we're already facing such a monster!"
"Welcome to the reality part of the fantasy world," the cloaked man's voice rang out again, this time laced with cold mockery. "The real world will not give you any breathing space."
Liya suddenly yanked Ye Chen. "What are you waiting for? Run! We can't fight that thing right now!"
Ye Chen finally snapped back to reality and, along with Liya, sprinted toward the hill. The cloaked man remained where he was, his cold gaze fixed on their fleeing figures, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"One day, you will understand... true power."
As they ran, Ye Chen's mind raced with the cloaked man's words. He understood that the power of imagination was far more complex and profound than it appeared on the surface. But he didn't have time to ponder these thoughts; the most pressing concern was how to escape the pursuing beast.
"It's getting closer!" Liya shouted anxiously.
"I know!" Ye Chen glanced back; the beast was now less than a hundred meters away, and the path ahead was narrowing, blocked by large stones on the hill.
"How about… we take a gamble?" Ye Chen paused, a look of determination flashing in his eyes.
"Gamble? Are you crazy? We barely have any imagination power left! What are we going to bet with?" Liya stomped her foot in frustration, but she also knew that Ye Chen's suggestion wasn't entirely unreasonable. They would be caught eventually; it was better to take the initiative than to be passively beaten.
Ye Chen took a deep breath, bringing his hands together as he began to construct his first imagination in his mind—a figure drawn from his memories of Earth.
"Open the heavens and break the earth, with strength to move mountains!" Ye Chen shouted, and the air around him vibrated suddenly. A massive, ethereal battle axe appeared in his hands. It was the legendary weapon he had imagined from Chinese mythology—the Axe of Creation.
Liya's eyes widened in surprise as she witnessed this. "How did you summon that?"
Ye Chen chuckled. "I'm a man backed by mythology!"
Before Liya could respond, Ye Chen charged toward the beast, the battle axe raised high. The creature roared, slashing its massive claw toward Ye Chen with immense force.
"Boom!" The axe collided with the claw, producing a deafening sound. Ye Chen was pushed back several steps by the force but gritted his teeth and held his ground.
"Come again!" Ye Chen roared, pushing off the ground as he swung the battle axe down with all his might.
A low hum resonated through the air as the axe sliced through with a brilliant glow, striking the beast's foreleg.
The beast howled in pain, staggering back two steps as it recoiled.
Liya stood nearby, speechless in shock. "He… he really pushed back that monster?"
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Ye Chen smiled with pride. "It's not that impressive."
However, the beast wasn't defeated yet. Rage flickered in its red eyes, and the next moment, it let out a deafening roar. Its body swelled larger, as if it aimed to swallow both Ye Chen and Liya whole.
"This is bad! It's not backing down!" Ye Chen cursed under his breath, his mind racing as he sought a way to counter the attack.