Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

The moment the prompt from the Paradise of Reincarnation appeared in Lin Yi's mind, the space in front of him shattered like broken glass.

The space seemed to have become a thick pane of glass struck by a tremendous force, with countless cracks spreading wildly in all directions from the center of his vision.

The cracks are not simply black; bizarre and colorful patterns surge within their fissures. Even a glimpse of them is enough to throw an ordinary person's reason into chaos.

A tremendous repulsive force arose out of nowhere, and the scene in the cinema before my eyes receded rapidly like the receding tide, eventually being completely replaced by the absolute darkness surging from the crack.

A strong feeling of weightlessness enveloped my entire body, but it lasted only for an extremely brief moment, so short that it almost felt like an illusion.

The next moment, Lin Yi felt as if he was sitting on a soft cushion.

He returned to his hotel room in the real world.

Almost simultaneously, Gulu sat up abruptly, ripped off his mask, and revealed a face full of displeasure.

“*&%￥#@！…” A series of indistinct but extremely offensive mutterings were squeezed out between his teeth, the words broken but filled with resentment that almost solidified into a tangible form.

Her newly awakened abilities were almost useless in that rule-based environment, and most of the time she could only passively follow the fixed procedures, which made her feel extremely frustrated.

Lin Yi ignored Gulu's complaints and focused his gaze on the last notification message on his retina.

[Warning: You have been marked with a 'Nightmare Mark'. Something has noticed your actions. This mark will continue to reveal your location and may attract even more terrifying nightmare creations. Survival difficulty has increased significantly!]

Although the exact effect of this marking is unclear, it's obvious to anyone with a brain that it means big trouble.

Being held hostage by a clearly highly conscious and malicious being will inevitably lead to a series of troubles.

In order to deal with any unforeseen circumstances, Lin Yi decided to submit the promotion task that he had already completed.

[Note: The contractor has submitted promotion quest one: Rules Apprentice.]

[Mission Requirements: Survive and decipher the core rules and logic of at least three different types of Nightmare Realms.]

Current progress (7/3)

[Task evaluation in progress... Evaluation complete.]

[Mission completion: 200%]

[Note: The Hunter has completed Promotion Quest One.]

[Note: Promotion Quest 2 has been activated. Please check it promptly.]

[Promotion Quest Two: Tracing the Echoes]

Difficulty level: Lv.54
Mission Summary: Track down and locate the source of "Echoes of Sleep." Echoes of Sleep are aberrant mental fluctuations that periodically spread throughout the Nightmare Realm, and their source may be closely related to the core secrets of the City of Sleep.

Mission Information: The Echoes of Slumber are not a natural phenomenon, and their fluctuations and the information they contain are highly likely to point to the key to the current state of the Sleeping City. Some members of the research society are currently working on this research.

Task deadline: None (it is recommended to complete it as soon as possible)
Quest Reward: Soul Crystal (Complete) × 3
Failure penalty: Forced teleportation to a higher-level nightmare realm (based on the current contractor's combat power, the contractor's survival rate is less than 0.3%).

Lin Yi closed the task panel, stood up and said, "I'm going to the research institute."

Gulu snorted, still brooding over his ordeal: "Whatever. I'm going to go into the Nightmare Realm again by myself. I think I was definitely dragged down by your luck."

Gulu shook his hands, seemingly trying to shake off his previous frustration, and deliberately emphasized the word "luck" when he spoke.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi merely glanced at her without replying.

In his view, it was clearly Gollum's own bad luck that made him more likely to be pulled into that bizarre realm of rules.

But his long experience dealing with Gollum told him that any kind of argument on this issue was pointless and would only be a waste of time and breath.

He left two shadow ninjas guarding the room, then left the hotel room and headed to the research institute's headquarters.

The hotel corridor remained dark and quiet. In the past two days, it wasn't that no one had tried to take advantage of him; the modified Jeep parked outside was too conspicuous in this resource-scarce place.

However, all those who tried to approach and probe or directly attack were turned into corpses and dragged away and disposed of by the shadowy soldiers.

After such an efficient and ruthless process of eliminating more than a dozen groups of clueless fools, the previously greedy and burning gazes around them finally disappeared completely, leaving only awe.

All the major and minor factions in the core area learned through various channels that a ruthless and unfathomable figure had recently arrived. Even the skilled agents sent by the infamous Hell to test him failed to gain any advantage and instead suffered heavy losses.

Very little information about Lin Yi has been released; all that is known is that he seems to have some connection with Bliss, a well-connected veteran in the research society.

His specific abilities and origins are all a blank, shrouded in mystery.

The few remaining fragments of information circulated sporadically from a handful of dreamers who had miraculously escaped from different nightmare realms. They mentioned that Lin Yi often displayed terrifying combat power far beyond conventional understanding in the nightmare realms, and seemed to possess some extremely rare and powerful auxiliary ability, but no one could clearly describe the specific details.

This uncertainty only deepened the apprehension of others.

The research institute's headquarters still resembles an activity center for retired cadres, completely out of place with the overall atmosphere of the Sleeping City.

Upon entering the hall, Lin Yi was surprised to find that the old man Bliss was not holed up in his room, but was sitting in a corner of the hall, facing another old man in a research society uniform at a small table, intently staring at a complex chess set made of various crystal nodes and metal rails.

This is an ancient game unearthed from a high-difficulty nightmare realm. Its rules are obscure and its calculations are extremely complex. It is very popular among the old scholars within the research society.

Lin Yi didn't make a sound to disturb them, but simply stood quietly to the side with his arms crossed, his eyes scanning the chessboard.

He had initially suspected that Bliss, this seemingly extremely mercenary old man, might have obtained his high-ranking position in the research institute purely through buying and selling contribution points.

At this moment, seeing his brows furrowed and his fingers hesitating and lingering above several crystal nodes before finally placing a piece, he successfully blocked his opponent's attack, forcing the opponent to resign, which showed some real skill.

"Haha, old Jack, your plan is still too conservative!" Bliss stroked his sparse beard smugly, then noticed Lin Yi standing to the side, his smile widening. "Oh! My generous partner has arrived! Looks like you've got another big business opportunity for me?"

The two returned to Bliss's room, and Lin Yi went straight to the point, explaining his purpose.

Upon hearing the words "Echoes of Slumber," Bliss's shrewd smile faded slightly, and his brows furrowed a little.

Instead of answering directly, he first manipulated his permission panel, displaying a new virtual interface to Lin Yi.

“What you’re asking for concerns one of the Society’s top research secrets,” Bliss said, lowering his voice.

Lin Yi looked at the faction shop, and at the very top, a new purchasable item had appeared:
Access permissions for a portion of the "Echoes of Sleep" research archive.

Price: 250,000 Research Society Contribution Points.

(Note: Purchasing this access will unlock relevant classified information and a list of high-level resources and special equipment for exchange. The access level will be equivalent to that of a senior officer of the Research Institute.)
A full 250,000 contribution points, and there was no indication of a discount after that price. "This access level... my discount quota is ineffective on it," Bliss said, shrugging with a helpless expression. "This is a project directly controlled by the highest levels of the academy, supposedly related to the very foundation of the entire Sleeping City. No one except the guild leader can offer a discount. Everyone who knows the inside story has been placed under the strictest soul restriction; any leak will result in..."

He pointed to his temple. "Bang! My head's exploded. So don't expect me to tell you anything. If you want to know, you have to buy it yourself. That's the only legal and safe way."

Lin Yi stared blankly at the exorbitant price, then took out several cartons of high-quality cigarettes from his storage space and placed them on the table to offset the price difference.

"make a deal."

Payment completed, 250,000 contribution points were deducted instantly.

The faction shop interface in front of Lin Yi flashed and refreshed, and a large number of items that had never appeared before emerged, ranging from high-precision nightmare energy detectors and specially made soul protection devices to various analytical reports on the deep structure of the nightmare realm, a dazzling array.

More importantly, all these new items now have a clear "60% off" label next to their price, which is a direct benefit of the advanced privileges.

Lin Yi's gaze quickly swept over the newly added lists of supplies, but he didn't linger on them for long.

He looked at Bliss again; now, he could legally obtain information.

"Now tell me what you know about 'Echoes of the Sleep'."

Bliss rubbed his hands together, carefully locked a few packs of cigarettes into the safe behind him, and then sat back down, his expression becoming much more serious: "'Echoes of Slumber'... that name isn't entirely accurate. Within the Society, researchers who have actually accessed its raw data prefer to call it... 'The World's Lament'."

He pulled up a complex energy spectrum diagram, which showed countless intertwined ripples, with an extremely faint but highly regular wave line running through it all.

"It is a periodic mental pulse, like a heartbeat, that periodically sweeps across all the interconnected nightmare realms. It is not strong, and is even difficult for ordinary dreamers to detect, but it is everywhere."

"Our research found that this echo contains a large number of fragmented and difficult-to-interpret information fragments, like the memories, emotions, and even... the obsessions of countless people before their death, forcibly mixed together by some force to form this unique fluctuation."

Bliss switched screens, displaying several constantly changing, complex models.

“Most importantly, we have been tracing its origins for a long time. All the clues vaguely indicate that its origin is not a specific nightmare realm.”

He pointed to a constantly flashing red dot at the core of the model.

"Its source is most likely located in the 'gap' or 'layer' of the Nightmare Realm. It is an extremely unstable area, a buffer zone created by the collision and distortion of countless realm rules. Ordinary methods cannot reach it at all, and even accurate observation is extremely difficult. The Academy internally speculates that there may be an 'initial lesion' there that caused the Sleeping City to fall into its current state, or rather, a control core."

He paused, as if remembering something, and added, "The only tangible help the school can currently offer you, besides these written materials, is a specially made 'resonance device'."

He clicked on a compass-like device in the newly unlocked shop list that looked like it was made of countless intricate gears and crystal prisms.

"It can amplify and capture the fluctuations of 'Slumbering Echoes,' and theoretically it can help you navigate through a chaotic gap between realms. But it's extremely dangerous there, with a chaotic spatial structure, bizarre rules, and you might even encounter other 'things' that are also tracking the echoes. The Society once sent out three elite reconnaissance teams, but all of them lost contact, and even their soul signals completely disappeared."

After finishing his sentence, Bliss leaned back in his chair: "That's all I know. More crucial data requires higher access, or... perhaps the guild leader will personally meet you once you return alive from there. So, do you still need to purchase this 'Echo Resonator'? As a loyal customer, it's originally priced at 30,000, but after a 40% discount, it's 18,000 contribution points. If you obtain any information about 'Sleeping Echoes,' the society is willing to pay a high price to buy it back."

Lin Yi's gaze fell on the intricately structured compass. He did not answer immediately, but instead fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

Tracing the source of the 'Sleeping Echoes' is undoubtedly like venturing into the lion's den.

High danger often comes with high reward. This mission is not only about promotion, but may also touch upon the core secrets of this world.

He glanced at his contribution points balance. After paying for the file access, he still had some left, but it was far from enough to reach 18,000.

"I need to exchange for contribution points," Lin Yi said, taking out items from his personal space.

Some rare materials were even taken out, including several pieces of Nightmare Crystal Core (Fragmented) obtained from killing the Charred Corpse and the Shadow of the Flame.

Bliss's eyes gleamed, like the most shrewd pawnbroker, as he carefully examined and evaluated each item, frequently quoting prices.

After taking stock, Lin Yi had collected 18,000 contribution points to purchase the [Echo Resonator].

A palm-sized, cold and heavy brass compass appeared in his hand.

Instead of a pointer, the center of the compass features a cluster of tiny, slowly rotating crystal prisms surrounded by densely packed markings and gears that constantly adjust their position. One can sense extremely subtle energy flows within it.

You have obtained the 'Echoing Resonator' (Epic).

[Echo Resonator]

Origin: The City of Slumber, Research Society's Highest Workshop

Quality: Epic
Category: Special props

Equipment Effect 1: Echo Capture (Passive): The crystal prism array inside the device is exceptionally sensitive to "Sleeping Echo" fluctuations, continuously capturing and locking onto their source direction, and providing a fuzzy calculation of the relative distance.

Equipment Effect 2: Constant Calibration (Passive): This device undergoes a special process, achieving a delicate balance between its core and the fundamental rule layer of the Nightmare Realm. Within the Nightmare Realm and its gaps, interlayers, and other abnormal spaces, its pointing accuracy remains unaffected by most spatial distortions, temporal disturbances, mental interference, or rule conflicts, consistently maintaining the highest level of precision.

Equipment Effect 3: Deep Resonance (Active): Consumes 300 mana points per minute. When activated, it allows the resonator to be deeply synchronized with the next "Sleeping Echo" wave, greatly improving tracking accuracy in a very short time and having a certain probability of parsing the fragmented information carried in the echo.

Note: The information obtained through deep resonance is highly abstract and uncertain, and users need to interpret it themselves.

Rating: 680 (Epic items have a rating of 530-700 points)
Synopsis: Listen for the singular lament amidst a cacophony of noise, guide the unchanging path home through endless chaos. Do not lose your way on the path it reveals.

Price: 345000 Paradise Coins
Just as Lin Yi held the resonator in his hand and carefully felt its structure, the compass suddenly vibrated very slightly, and the gears on its surface began to adjust themselves at a faster speed, emitting a faint clicking sound that was almost inaudible.

The central crystal prism suddenly accelerated its rotation, emitting a faint energy fluctuation like water ripples.

Almost simultaneously, Lin Yi felt an extremely faint "pulse" coming from deep within the compass, pointing in a vague direction.

It is not the cardinal directions in the real world, but a deeper direction, as if it has pierced through the veil of reality and points to some invisible dimension.

The pulse was slow and constant, carrying an indescribable heaviness and sorrow, as Bliss put it, like the lament of the world.

This is the "dormant echo," which the resonator successfully captured and clearly indicated the direction of its source.

Almost the second after the resonator was activated, Lin Yi keenly sensed that the flow of the surrounding space seemed to have become extremely stagnant.

A feeling of being watched crept in, more subtle than in the Nightmare Cinema, resonating with the [Nightmare Mark].

Using powerful items closely related to the deep rules of the Nightmare Realm indeed intensifies its reaction, much like lighting a torch in the dark, making it easier for hunters in the distance to spot it.

Bliss seemed to sense something as well, shifting his body uneasily and looking around in confusion, but he didn't find anything obviously unusual.

Bliss watched Lin Yi put away the resonator, then patted him on the shoulder: "Good luck, buddy. Hopefully, next time we meet, you'll walk in intact, instead of becoming part of the nightmare." (End of Chapter)