Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

Zero was not angry at Gulu's request; he simply turned his head calmly and nodded slightly to the shadows behind him.

A simply dressed subordinate silently left the room and returned a moment later carrying a thin but clearly specially reinforced electronic board, which he respectfully placed on the coffee table between Lin Yi and Gulu.

The screen lights up, displaying a dense list of categories and item icons, with labels next to them indicating the name, brief description, and inventory quantity.

Gulu grabbed the electronic board without hesitation, his fingers swiping rapidly across it, his eyes scanning every item like a scanner, occasionally making meaningless tsk-tsk sounds or curling his lips in disdain.

Lin Yi didn't look at the list; his gaze remained fixed on Zero.

"Where did the prophecies come from? Who made them, and when and under what circumstances?"

Based on Lin Yi's experience, nine out of ten prophecies are either deliberately mysterious or seriously misunderstood ramblings. The remaining one is mostly just the nonsense uttered by someone who is drunk or mentally unstable, but it just happens to be taken as truth and regarded as gospel by some people with ulterior motives.

If it were a wise saying left by an extremely powerful being who originated from the void and whom even he had to treat with caution, Lin Yi might still consider it. After all, absolute strength itself can give words a certain weight, even if it is just a breath casually exhaled by a powerful being.

But if he were just a so-called prophet from an ordinary world... Forgive Lin Yi for speaking frankly, but if there really were such a person who could clearly foresee the future and understand fortune and misfortune, the City of Slumber would not be in its current despairing and oppressive state.

He should have slapped away that persistent trouble deep within the Nightmare Realm long ago. Why let this city and its people fall into such a long and painful slumber?

Zero listened silently, his ordinary expression unwavering, not even a flicker in his eyes. He seemed to have anticipated Lin Yi's question and was prepared with an answer—or rather, a "no answer" answer.

He shook his head slightly, his voice still calm: "Unfortunately, sir, the organization's records regarding the specific source of the prophecy are also very vague. It seems... to be very ancient, circulating in certain very small circles at the very beginning of 'Salvation,' or even earlier. There is no clear record indicating who it originated from; it is more like a fragment of information that has existed there since some unknown time. We cannot trace its origin; we can only verify certain fragments of it by looking at some subsequent events."

After listening, Lin Yi didn't ask any more questions.

Zero's answer was not beyond his expectations. The reliability of information of unknown origin, which cannot be disproven, yet is firmly believed by some people, is naturally greatly reduced.

He quickly categorized this so-called prophecy as information that required high vigilance but should never be readily believed, and temporarily set it aside for further observation.

His attention shifted back to Gulu, who had quickly finished browsing and tossed the electronic board back to him with an expression that said, "So-so, barely passable."

"finish watching?"

"Hmph, there's a lot of junk, but I can still pick out a few usable items." Gulu crossed her legs and started listing the things she wanted like a menu, "Soul Crystals plus that 'Mourning Cloak,' 'Soul Walker's Leggings,' and those three bottles of 'Concentration Elixir,' that's all."

Lin Yi quickly scanned the items Gulu had mentioned, confirming that they were all the most valuable and practical items on the list, especially the Soul Crystals, which were both hard currency and important resources for improvement.

He added, "Plus the 'Shadow Amulet' and the 'Requiem Scroll'."

Both of these items focus on concealment and protection, and are also rare large-area mana restoration skills, which may have unexpected uses in special circumstances.

Zero's gaze lingered on the electronic board for a few seconds, especially on the emptied Soul Crystal inventory item; his eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

He didn't raise any objections, but simply nodded: "Okay. These items will be delivered to your hotel as soon as possible."

"I hope so." Lin Yi stood up, and Gulu jumped up as well.

"It's a pleasure to work with you both." Zero stood up, his tone still steady, making it impossible to tell whether he was being sincere or just being polite. "I look forward to the news you bring back from the Nightmare Realm."

Without further pleasantries, Lin Yi and Gulu turned and left the secret room.

As they walked through the corridor and returned to the falsely glamorous banquet hall, the atmosphere inside remained somewhat stagnant, and many eyes darted around when they saw them come out.

The two ignored them and walked straight through the lobby and out of the Salvation Headquarters building.

The modified jeep was still arrogantly parked across the main entrance. I got in, started the engine, and drove away from the area with a roar.

The journey back to the hotel was unusually calm. The feeling of being tacitly "cleared out" by various forces was even more pronounced than on the way there, as if an invisible hand had cleared the road for them in advance, leaving only emptiness and deathly silence.

Upon arriving at the hotel entrance, Lin Yi keenly noticed that the receptionist had changed.

There were a few somewhat familiar faces; it seemed like I had seen them on some occasion before.

When they saw Lin Yi and Gulu enter, their faces immediately broke into professional yet slightly ambiguous smiles.

One of them even subconsciously pulled down her collar, revealing more of her snow-white curves, and looked at Lin Yi boldly and directly, conveying the implication that "any need can be met".

Lin Yi's gaze swept coldly over the badges pinned to their chests—Survivor.

It is likely that control of this hotel quietly shifted from a small or medium-sized organization to the survivors during the time they were attending the banquet.

This is probably a way for survivors to show goodwill or monitor others.

He withdrew his gaze expressionlessly, and walked straight to the elevator with Gulu, ignoring the complex gaze behind him that was a mixture of disappointment and relief.

The elevator doors closed, isolating the outside world from everything.

I went back to my room and closed the door.

Gulu immediately pounced on the sofa, like a kitten finally returning home, and comfortably sprawled inside, letting out a satisfied sigh.

"When do we go in?" she asked, swinging her legs, referring to the Nightmare Realm.

"No rush." ​​Lin Yi walked to the window and looked at the still gray and lifeless city streets outside. The lights in the distance were strange and grotesque, but they could not dispel the gloom that permeated the corners of the city.

“This time it will feel a little different,” he added, a hint of seriousness in his voice.

Gulu pouted, but didn't object. She knew that Lin Yi's perception and adaptability were more special than hers.

Not long after, there was a knock on the door.

The Salvation Organization was very efficient; the promised items were delivered.

Several tightly sealed metal boxes were carried in, and after confirming that everything was in order, the deliveryman left respectfully.

After taking stock of the harvest, store it properly.

Lin Yi looked at Gulu: "Ready?"

Gulu nodded, got up from the sofa, and took out her dream-entering device.

The two put on their devices, lay down, and started the process.

The familiar feeling of separation washed over me, but this time, it felt particularly strong.

Just as Lin Yi's consciousness completely sank into the Nightmare Realm, his hotel room, and indeed the entire building, shook violently.
It wasn't the shaking of an earthquake; it felt more like an invisible hammer striking a weak point in the physical structure.

Inside and outside the hotel, all the personnel from various organizations who were lying in wait were so startled by the sudden tremor that they almost jumped up. They looked at the hotel building with suspicion and uncertainty, their equipment turning on to check the energy readings, only to find that everything was normal—except for the intense tremor.

Then, something horrifying happened—the entire hotel building began to blur, its outline distorted, as if shimmering with heat.

The building's color quickly faded, turning grayish-white, like a giant mirage or phantom losing its color and substance.

The next second, under the watchful eyes of many, the hotel building completely "faded." It still stood in the same spot, but had lost all its physical presence, like a realistic holographic projection, with sunlight even shining through it onto the street behind it.

One of the closest perimeter observers instinctively reached out and touched what used to be the hotel's exterior wall.

His fingers passed through without any resistance, as if there were nothing there. Only a strange sensation, like a faint static charge, brushed past his fingertips, causing him to abruptly pull his hand back, his face filled with shock and bewilderment.

The hotel, along with Lin Yi and Gulu inside, was temporarily "erased" from reality.

Or rather, this place has been dragged into a bizarre dimension that is extremely close to reality yet completely different from it, leaving only a deathly silence of shock and unspeakable fear in the outside world.

……

Lin Yi and Gulu "woke up" almost simultaneously, their consciousness quickly anchoring from the feeling of being detached.

They found themselves still lying in their hotel room, on the familiar bed, the room layout and furniture exactly the same, even the box containing their spoils was still there. But the dream-entering device they had been wearing was gone.

The room's layout seemed unchanged, yet there was an indescribable sense of subtle difference.

Everything seemed too "standard" and "neat," like a showroom in a hotel's promotional photos.

Lin Yi sat up, rushed to the window, pulled back the heavy curtains, and then pushed open the window—the window opened with an unusually smooth touch.

A cacophony of vibrant voices surged in instantly, overwhelming the senses like a tidal wave!

Outside the window, the streets were no longer deathly silent and filled with despair.

Below is a bustling scene of cars and people.

The sleek, futuristic hovercraft silently traverses the multi-level elevated highway, leaving elegant trails of light in their wake.

Pedestrians, dressed in brightly colored, stylish, and trendy clothing, hurried along the streets or strolled leisurely, making phone calls, looking at screens, and drinking beverages.

The sun was so bright it was almost blinding, and the sky was a near-perfect azure blue, with a few fluffy white clouds drifting by.

You can even hear the low hum of an advertising airship in the distance, catchy pop music playing from a shop on the street, and the faint sound of a street performer playing the saxophone.

A vibrant and near-perfect modern urban scene, brimming with the essence of "life".

This place is completely different from the slumbering city they previously inhabited, struggling in silence. It's as if they are two entirely different worlds on the same coordinate point, one forgotten in gray despair, and the other bathed in golden sunlight.

Gulu also came to the window, looking at the overly normal, even somewhat overheated, bustling scene below, and blinked: "Wow... this time they're really direct. They didn't even bother to change the scenery, just gave us a new skin? Did the Nightmare Realm slack off or get an upgrade?"

Lin Yi's expression turned serious: "It's not a simple scene replacement. This place... feels more 'real.' Unlike the places we've been to before, where you could feel the distorted and illusory underlying atmosphere."

He realized that they had entered the Nightmare Realm, but the way and location of their arrival were extremely unusual.

It's as if the entire real-world coordinates have been quietly replaced, and they have been seamlessly "stitched" into this exceptionally realistic mirror image.

A quick search of the room revealed no obvious dangers or abnormalities.

The telephone receiver played a normal dial tone, and the room door seemed to open normally. Outside the door was a familiar hotel corridor, exactly as I remembered the hotel layout.

"Let's go out and take a look." Lin Yi made the decision, as staying in place would not allow him to obtain more information.

Upon opening the door, one finds a hallway carpeted with thick, soft carpet and warm, bright lighting.

I hadn't walked more than a few steps when several young girls in stylish short skirts, carrying shopping bags with trendy logos, walked towards me, chattering and laughing.

Their faces radiated youthful carefree energy, making them look like college students out shopping together.

The group's eyes lit up when they saw Lin Yi and Gulu.

Although Lin Yi's priest's robe and Gulu's gothic skirt seemed a bit out of place in this environment, this abruptness did not seem to arouse any alarm. Instead, they naturally attributed it to some kind of interesting cosplay or unconventional fashion performance art.

"Wow! Are you guys going to the anime convention or gaming event downstairs? Your costumes are amazing! So realistic!" A girl wearing a beret and exquisite makeup exclaimed excitedly, her eyes sparkling. She immediately took out her phone. "The costumes are amazing! The texture is so realistic! Can I take a picture with you? Which character are you playing? Is it from a new game? It looks so cool!"

Several other girls were immediately drawn in and gathered around, all agreeing and raising their phones to enthusiastically ask for photos.

Lin Yi's eyes flickered slightly, and he instantly realized that interacting naturally with these seemingly ordinary "residents" was an excellent opportunity to obtain basic information about this world.

He showed no impatience, and instead gave a very friendly smile, as if he were just an actor happy to fulfill fans' requests.

Gulu seemed a little impatient and subconsciously tried to avoid the camera, but Lin Yi stopped him with a look.

She pursed her lips, suppressing her displeasure, and reluctantly raised her chin, crossed her arms, and struck a slightly rebellious and cool pose, which actually suited her gothic style even better, eliciting another round of low gasps and laughter from the girls.

Taking advantage of a break in the photo shoot and a brief moment of excited conversation with the girls, Lin Yi casually changed the subject: "Anything interesting happening in the city lately? Or... any strange or unusual news?" He was trying to extract information from these seemingly ordinary "residents".

The girls chattered away, mostly talking about upcoming concerts, discounts at newly opened shopping malls, and trendy bubble tea shops – topics full of everyday life.

This world seems unsettlingly normal.

One of the girls, who seemed a bit quieter and wore glasses, thought for a moment and said, "Strange news? It doesn't seem like anything... Everyone's fine, everything's normal. Oh, right, a few days ago my mom told me that one of her colleagues' uncles seems to have a strange illness. He's been sleeping non-stop, like he's asleep, but no matter how much she calls him, she can't wake him up. They took him to the city's central hospital, but they couldn't find any specific cause. His vital signs are all normal, he just can't wake up. But it seems like only a few people are like this, it hasn't been reported in the news. Maybe it's some rare special case? It shouldn't be anything serious?"

Her tone was a little uncertain and confused, but she was quickly distracted by her companions' discussion about lipstick colors, as if it were just a trivial little episode.

"Can't wake up? Can't find the cause?" Lin Yi showed just the right amount of curiosity and concern. "Which hospital is it? It sounds quite worrying."

"It's the city center hospital, right? Yes, the biggest general hospital. I don't know the specifics, my mom just mentioned it casually and didn't go into details." The girl shook her head, her attention quickly returning to checking the photos they had just taken, laughing with her companion and comparing whose photo was better.

After chatting for a few more minutes and satisfying the girls' desire to take photos, Lin Yi and Gulu said goodbye to them.

As he watched their cheerful figures disappear around the corner of the corridor, the gentle smile on Lin Yi's face gradually faded, and he regained his usual calm and composure.

“The differences between the two worlds have emerged. It seems we need to check out the ‘City Center Hospital’ here first; it may very well be the first breakthrough point.”

He sensed that this journey into the Nightmare Realm was full of unusual significance from the very beginning.

Unlike previous encounters with monsters or bizarre rules, everything here is shrouded in an overly perfect and comforting disguise.

The sun shines brightly, technology is advanced, people seem to live carefree lives, and even the air is incredibly fresh.

But this perfection gives people a creepy sense of unreality, as if they were in a meticulously constructed photography studio, where every detail has been deliberately arranged just to maintain a fragile appearance.

This seemingly prosperous and peaceful city mirror image hides a danger beneath its perfect surface that is perhaps even more bizarre than the directly visible horrors of the past.

The previous Nightmare Realm was like a ferocious beast with bared fangs and claws; although terrifying, at least the danger was clear.

Here, the danger is subtle, like a colorless and odorless poison lurking in a corner. (End of Chapter)