Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

With a shift in perspective, Lin Yi, having ended the battle, found himself on a dimly lit street.

This is the information area exclusively for the Paradise of Reincarnation, and the witch's bar is also located here.

Behind the bar, the witch was idly wiping a crystal glass.

"A rare guest indeed, busy man." The witch's voice carried a unique languid huskiness, like a feather brushing against the heart.

"I'll treat you to a newly made 'Echo' cocktail. Don't forget me if you get anything good." The witch skillfully began mixing the drinks, various liquids flying through her hands.

Lin Yi didn't refuse and went straight to the point: "I have something for sale, help me find a buyer."

With a thought, he packaged the information of several pieces of equipment that he wanted to sell and sent it to the witch.

The witch quickly scanned the information: "There's a lot of good stuff. Don't worry, leave it to me. I'll make sure to find you a sucker... oh no, a discerning customer."

Lin Yi nodded slightly in agreement.

In the Paradise of Reincarnation, the cut taken by information brokers and middlemen is an ironclad rule, and the witch's reputation and connections are worth the price.

Just then, the witch suddenly tossed the cocktail glass into the air. The mixture inside transformed into a swirling nebula the moment it detached from the glass, its core a deep, dark blue, while its edges shimmered with silver light, as if a miniature universe had been sealed within the liquid.

"Here, have a taste, the new recipe."

Lin Yi picked up his wine glass but didn't drink it immediately. At the same time, he sent the same product list to "Old Gu".

In a place like the Paradise of Reincarnation, you can't put all your eggs in one basket; it's always good to have multiple avenues for growth.

He needs to quickly convert these equipment into resources to enhance his strength.

About half an hour later, the bar door was pushed open again, and Old Gu walked in.

However, at this moment, Gu Lao was actually holding a girl who looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old in his arms.

The girl was dressed in a slightly revealing black leather outfit that accentuated her youthful and full figure. Her face was still flushed, like a ripe apple, and her eyes were still a little hazy, as if she were still immersed in some kind of afterglow.

She clung tightly to his neck, burying her face deep in his chest, revealing only the tips of her blushing ears and a small patch of her fair neck, looking ashamed to be seen.

Judging from the energy fluctuations emanating from her, she was just a newcomer who had only recently entered the second tier.

The ambiguous atmosphere between the two, unique to those who had just experienced intense "exercise," was so strong it was almost impossible to dispel.

Lin Yi merely glanced at it indifferently before looking away, calmly picking up the "Echo" glass and taking a sip.

At first, it caused a slight stinging sensation, like tiny ice needles stimulating nerve endings. But this stinging sensation was fleeting, replaced by a gentle, soothing force, like a cool stream flowing over a dry riverbed, quickly calming the accumulated fatigue and anxiety. The effect was indeed quite good.

The witch was unfazed, and simply winked mischievously at the old man: "In good spirits? Just finished 'busy'? This little sister is quite pretty."

In a place like the Paradise of Reincarnation, where life is precarious and death is a constant companion, the immense pressure to survive makes it perfectly normal to seek immediate pleasure, temporary physical comfort, and emotional release.

If you hit it off, you don't even need many words; you can go to a private space for an "in-depth exchange." This is nothing new; it's more like an instinctive psychological release in a harsh environment.

A rare hint of embarrassment appeared on the old man's stern face, but he quickly regained his composure.

He placed the girl in his arms on the bar stool next to him, and the girl immediately lowered her head like an ostrich, wishing she could crawl under the bar.

Old Gu sat next to Lin Yi and asked the witch for a glass of the strongest Dragon's Breath rum.

The old man nodded to the witch as a greeting, then his gaze fell on Lin Yi with a hint of inquiry, "I heard you're going to the dream world?"

Upon hearing the words "dream world," the witch seemed to recall something extremely funny and burst out laughing.

A rare look of helplessness appeared on Lin Yi's face as he picked up the "Echo" and took another sip.

The way Gulu acted out – crying, making a scene, and clinging to his leg – and his persistent, nagging attitude, really gave him a headache.

Seeing Lin Yi's expression and the witch's reaction, Gu Lao already understood that there must be a story behind it, and most likely some reasons that would make people both laugh and cry.

He had no interest in asking for details; who in the cycle of reincarnation doesn't have some unspeakable secrets?

He picked up the glass of Dragon's Breath rum and, without hesitation, took a big gulp.

The scalding liquor, hot as liquid flame, rolled down his throat, instantly flushing his cheeks a dark red. Then, he said seriously, "The dream world... that place is not easy to navigate. The resource output is below average compared to other known worlds, making it not very cost-effective, but the danger level is quite high. The rules there are bizarre; the physical laws of the real world are extremely fragile there. Only those who specialize in soul, mental perception, or special illusion techniques would grit their teeth and venture in for the unique 'Nightmare Essence,' 'Stone of Awakening,' or certain fragments of mental laws. For them, the risk and reward are fairly balanced."

He looked at Lin Yi with a hint of confusion in his eyes: "Given your career path, going there would be a bit of a thankless task, wouldn't it?"

Lin Yi didn't explain Gulu's situation: "I guess you could say it was a promise to the others."

Gu Lao nodded thoughtfully, no longer pursuing the matter.

“Since you intend to delve deeper into the dream world, this might be useful to you.” The old man pushed a skill scroll in front of Lin Yi.

Lin Yi's gaze fell on the scroll, and the brand automatically read the information.

【The Dream Traveler's Fortitude】

Origin: Nightmare Star
Quality: Epic
Type: Skill Scroll

Effects: After learning, it permanently enhances the user's basic physical resistance when entering special mental/consciousness dimension spaces such as "Dream World", "Nightmare World", and "Sea of ​​Consciousness".

Under normal circumstances, when contractors enter such a mentally dominated space, their physical attributes (strength, agility, stamina) can usually only be mapped to 10%-20% (the specific percentage depends on the intensity of the world rules' suppression and the individual's soul strength), while their intelligence and mental attributes can be mapped to 80%-100%.

After mastering this skill, the user's physical attributes will be significantly improved, stabilizing at a baseline value of 50% (it may fluctuate slightly under special extreme world rules, but the minimum guarantee will not be lower than 45%), while the intelligence attribute mapping ratio will remain unchanged.

Learning requirements: 110 points of true intelligence and 50 points or more of soul strength (the Hunter has already met the requirements).

Rating: 698
Synopsis: A sturdy physical body is the ark for consciousness's voyage. This is the cornerstone of survival forged by generations of explorers in countless perilous mental environments.

The value of this skill scroll is strategic for those who frequently need to enter the dream world or similar spiritual dimensions.

With 50% physical attributes reflected in his performance, it means that in a world where mental abilities are paramount, his starting point is significantly higher than others.

Both their survivability and combat effectiveness will experience a qualitative leap.

Especially when facing life-threatening situations, this 50% difference in defense and health may be the difference between life and death!

The witch also leaned over to glance at the scroll's attributes, a hint of envy flashing in her beautiful eyes: "What a treasure! You're willing to take out this most precious thing you've ever kept hidden away?"

The old man glanced at the witch and snorted, "You have nothing to do with me. This thing is just a waste of its potential here. It can only reach its greatest value in his hands."

Having traded with Lin Yi multiple times, Gu Lao was well aware of Lin Yi's potential and style of doing things, and he believed that this investment was worthwhile.

Without hesitation, Lin Yi asked directly, "Price?"

Such a precious skill scroll cannot be given away for free.

Without further ado, Gu Lao pointed to the list Lin Yi had sent earlier: "The [Edwin's Noble Sword] and [Alluring Shadow] are mine."

Lin Yi immediately took out Edwin's Noble Sword and Alluring Shadow from his storage space and handed them to Gu Lao.

Old Gu picked up Edwin's Noble Sword and Alluring Shadow and nodded: "Not bad. Although you may need to find a specific buyer to sell them, you won't lose out in terms of value."

With a flick of his wrist, he pushed the scroll of "The Dream Walker's Fortification" into Lin Yi's hands.

The deal was struck, without further ado.

The girl following behind Gu Lao glanced curiously at the longsword that had disappeared from the bar, and then looked at Lin Yi.

Unfortunately, with her mere second-tier rank and pitifully low branding permissions, she could only see a bunch of flashing question marks indicating "insufficient permissions" hovering over the location of [Edwin's Noble Sword]. Epic equipment was still too far away for her, leaving a trace of bewilderment and longing in her eyes.

Lin Yi carefully put away the scroll of "The Dream Walker's Fortification," picked up the "Echo" brewed by the witch, and took another sip.

Not long after, the bar door was carefully pushed open a crack.

A small head, which looked to be only twelve or thirteen years old, wearing an exquisite white Lolita dress and holding a crystal staff that was almost half her height, peeked in.

This little girl has soft, light blonde curly hair, skin that is so fair it's almost translucent, and large, bright blue eyes that look like a startled fawn as she timidly scans the noisy bar. She exudes a delicate and pitiful aura.

Her appearance was like that of a little princess who had stepped out of the purest fairy tale picture book, completely out of place in the cruel environment of the Paradise of Reincarnation, which was filled with bloodshed, killing, scheming and naked desire.

She seems more suited to places like Apocalypse Paradise or Holy Light Paradise, which are relatively mild and orderly.

When her timid gaze swept quickly across the bar area and locked onto the old man beside the bar, her fragile expression, as if she were about to cry at any moment, vanished instantly, replaced by a sense of security as if she had found someone to rely on.

She ran over quickly with small, quick steps, the heavy crystal staff feeling as light as a feather in her hands.

“Ancient.” The little girl’s voice was clear and sweet, with a hint of coquetry.

When Gu Lao saw the little girl, his expression softened slightly, a rare occurrence: "You've arrived, Tian Lei. Did you bring the things?"

"Mmm!" The little girl named Tian Lei nodded vigorously, then looked intently at Lin Yi, her eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of scrutiny. "The equipment you're talking about, is it this brother's?"

Her voice was still sweet, but Lin Yi could detect the aura of a top predator in her seemingly innocent eyes.

It wasn't pure curiosity; it was more like assessing a potential prey. This stark contrast instantly put Lin Yi on alert.

The old man introduced Lin Yi to Tian Lei, saying, "Tian Lei is a seventh-tier contractor. She is very interested in your [Myriad Manifestations] item."

The introduction is extremely simple, but the identity of a seventh-tier contractor in the Paradise of Reincarnation itself represents strength, which is enough to explain a lot.

The witch covered her mouth and chuckled, clearly recognizing the little girl, her eyes carrying a hint of anticipation.

Tian Lei gave Lin Yi a sweet smile and said in a soft voice, "Hello, brother, my name is Tian Lei. Can I take a look at that piece of equipment? Grandpa Gu Gu said it restores mana very quickly."

Lin Yi nodded and shared the attribute information of [All Things in the World] with him.

Tian Lei's big, bright blue eyes immediately lit up, as if she had seen a priceless treasure, and her little face was flushed with excitement.

She jumped up and down excitedly, causing the heavy crystal staff to sway with her movements, and the huge gemstone embedded in the staff head almost hit the edge of the bar.

She immediately realized her lapse in composure, quickly clutching her staff tightly. Her face flushed slightly as she looked at Lin Yi with incredibly eager eyes: "Brother! Sell it to me! 200 soul coins! I can pay right now!"

She quoted a rather high price, which was enough to demonstrate her determination to win.

Ancient spoke up at the opportune moment: "You can use techniques, priests, abyss-type equipment or skill scrolls to offset the cost."

He was trying to help Lin Yi secure resources that better aligned with his development strategy.

"Oh! Right!" Tian Lei patted her head as if she had just realized something. The action, combined with her appearance, made her look especially charming and cute.

She tilted her head, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly, trying hard to recall her collection. "Technique... Priest... Abyss type..."

Suddenly, her eyes lit up, as if she remembered something. She waved her small hand in front of her and took out a skill scroll that exuded a strong life force from her personal storage space.

"This, [Ode to Life]." Tian Lei proudly handed the scroll to Lin Yi, "Brother, take a look at this, how about it? Although it's a priest-related scroll, its effects are incredibly powerful!"

Lin Yi took the scroll and branded it to read the information:

A Tribute to Life

Origin: Ancient forest

Quality: Epic
Type: Skill Scroll

Effect: Consumes 10000 Abyssal Power. Creates a spherical area with a radius of 1000 meters (increases with skill level) centered on the caster, which is a mental link for all friendly units within the area that have established a mental connection or have been marked.

Restores 1% of the target's maximum health plus (0.5 times the Intelligence attribute) per second for 10 minutes (increases with skill level).

Friendly units under the healing effect will reflect magic damage equal to 5% of the healing amount back to the attacker each time they are attacked by melee attacks during the duration of the healing effect.

Friendly units within the aura's range gain a 10% increase in abnormal status resistance and a 20% increase in stamina recovery speed.

Learning requirements: 110 points of true intelligence, and Master level 1 or above in basic healing skills (Hunters must meet these requirements).

Warning: This skill requires an extremely high base cost; those who do not meet the requirements are strictly prohibited from learning or using it.

Rating: 700
Synopsis: The whispers of the heart of the forest, a hymn to the revival of all things.

Such powerful group healing and support effects, with a large range, considerable healing amount, and also comes with damage reflection and buffs! This is absolutely a god-tier skill on the battlefield.

Whether in a war-torn world or a large-scale PvP battle, a priest with this skill is absolutely a core pillar of the team and is extremely valuable.

But...that consumption?
The base cost is 10000 points of Abyss Power, and level one requires a full 10,000 points. What does that mean?
Lin Yi's current total Abyss Power, even with the support of equipment and talents, is only a little over 30,000. Casting a level 1 [Blessing of Life] will directly drain one-third of it.

No wonder the [Ode to Life] item is gathering dust in Tian Lei's hands. For most people, it's just a flashy but impractical luxury that they simply can't afford.

Tian Lei watched as Lin Yi stared at the "10000 points consumption" notification, her little face falling down with a hint of embarrassment and grievance: "I know this consumption is a bit scary, but its effect is really amazing. I risked my life to get it back in an extremely difficult war world."

Clutching her staff, she looked at Lin Yi pitifully: "How about... I add another 50 Soul Coins and exchange it for your [Myriad Manifestations]?"

This price, considering the value of the [Celebration of Life] itself, is quite reasonable.

[All Things in the Universe] is a core piece of equipment for her that can immediately boost her combat power, while [Ode to Life] is just a piece of waste paper in her hands and takes up space.

Lin Yi pondered for a moment. The flaws of this skill were indeed frighteningly severe, making it a veritable "mana black hole," but its potential was immense.

With the upper limit of the abyssal power brought by his SSS-level [Redeemer] talent, it is not impossible for him to control it.

Especially on large battlefields, the strategic value of this skill far exceeds its cost.

"Deal." Lin Yi made the decision.

"Yay! That's great!" Tian Lei jumped up with joy, her big blue eyes curving into crescents, her sweet smile extremely infectious.

She immediately handed Lin Yi the [Ode to Life] and the bag containing 50 Soul Coins, and then eagerly took the [Myriad Phenomena] ring from Lin Yi's hand.

She played with the ring with great affection, enjoying the mana regeneration effect, her little face full of happiness and satisfaction.

With this, she can finally unleash her mana-burning ultimate moves more recklessly.

Old Gu watched the transaction complete and nodded slightly.

The witch watched Tianlei's excited expression with a smile and teased, "Little Tianlei, don't really think of yourself as a perpetual motion machine this time. Be careful that before you've drained your magic power, the enemy will have their heads smashed by that 'stick'."

Upon hearing this, Tian Lei hugged her staff, proudly raised her chin, and the innocent and weak expression on her face vanished instantly, replaced by an almost fanatical excitement and eagerness to try: "No way. With this, I can fight for much longer! Melee mages are the way to go! Just you wait, in the next mission, I guarantee I'll smash the skulls of at least ten... no, twenty enemies with this staff."

As she spoke, she unconsciously brandished her heavy crystal staff, creating a whooshing sound that contrasted sharply with her petite frame.

Lin Yi: "..."

Gu Lao rubbed his temples helplessly, clearly used to but also a little annoyed by Tian Lei's "hobby". (End of Chapter)