DARKS (DxD)

[DREAMWALK: COMPLETE]

I snapped upright in my bed. Back in the Waking World.

The Codex closed and drifted down to my waist.

I stood up and stretched. 

Flexed my fingers.

Still felt the madness humming in my bones.

I opened the system to check my Qi cultivation.....

'Well, well, well, it was all according to my plan'

I chuckled as I saw the stats for Cultivation and True Power...

[DING!]

[SYNCING DREAMWALK PROGRESS...]

[TITLE: VOID GRANDMASTER ]

[CULTIVATION: NASCENT SOUL (EARLY)]

[TRUE POWER: HIGH-CLASS DEVIL (PEAK+)]

[SHADOWKHAN: PSEUDO-ULTIMATE CLASS]

[FAMILIARS: EZIZH (MYTH GRADE), TASI (MYTH GRADE)]

[SKILL UNLOCKED: MADNESS IMMUNITY ]

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.

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[SYSTEM SYNC COMPLETE]

Progress that would've taken decades, condensed into a year.

Except... only three days had passed here.

I pulled back the curtain. Afternoon sun in Kuoh is bright and warm

Relaxing....

I stared out for a while,....

The Birds are chirping and the monkeys are dancing...

'!?!?!....Monkeys?!!!'

My eyes widened.

"…FUCK!!!"

I'd forgotten it completely...

The soul transmission....."SIFU...!!" My face was already pale.

I rushed to get my suitcase and opened my closet, shoving clothes into it.

I'd gone to the Dreamlands in the first place to escape being scolded by him for not cultivating....

And forgetting the weekend plan is stupid of me....

Flight. I needed the evening flight to Beijing or I'd never make it to Mount Huaguo by morning.

If I missed that?

Forget the cultivation. I'd be cultivating bruises for the next month strapped to a peach tree.

I checked the time - 3:12 PM.

Check-in window closes at 5:45.

"Alright," I said, grabbing my stuff and bolting toward the door.

Next Morning, Mount Huaguo.....

The clouds parted as I entered the Mythical Realm. 

Mount Huaguo stood tall, crowned by heaven-piercing peaks and waterfalls made of pure bliss...

Peach blossoms fluttered around me as rivers sparkled. 

The mountain hadn't changed.

It was still paradise.

I walked the familiar stone steps. Memories flooded in.

Seven years. It had been seven years in DxD since I last saw him.

For me, more than 10 years have passed, and since I started aging slowly after I hit my Youth Dragon age.

 I no longer age like humans, but I look normal, like a first or second year student at best right now ...

My clothes shimmered and changed into a flowing hanfu.

Without waiting, I rushed to the top.

The immortal peach tree was still there. Covering the skies.....

Under it, just like always, rested my master.

Sun Wukong.

He lounged on a thick branch like a lazy king.....

"Sifu... your disciple has returned," I knelt, kowtowing with respect....

His golden eyes opened slowly. He leapt down and landed in front of me with a cheeky grin.....

"Welcome home, kid," he said warmly. "You made this old monkey worried."

He helped me up and slapped my back.

"Well damn, brat! You really grew up... handsome too! Not as much as me, of course. 

You'll get there someday. Hahahaha!"

I chuckled, rubbing my shoulder. His pats still hurt; the raw strength difference was glaring.

He gripped my arm, testing my bone density, muscle structure, and cultivation.

"Not bad, not bad. Nascent Soul at your age? Mental cultivation at the Heaven Symbol Master stage? Hehehe... you're smart. 

Most so-called prodigies don't even bother with mental defense. 

But you? You could kill them before they use their fancy techniques."

"Yes, sifu," I nodded.

His remark may sound cruel, but this is the reality, this is the world of DxD. 

where different Pantheons, Gods, and Supernatural beings exist.

Many of which are at odds with each other to gain dominance over the human faith and beliefs. 

A true Dog Eat Dog world.

Unforgiving, Cold, and Ruthless...

We walked side by side, just like old times,

Then he sniffed.

His expression darkened.

"Brat... is that Madness Qi in your meridians? It's silent but noticeable.

Don't tell me....you've been Dreamwalking?"

I widened my eyes and weakly laughed, 

"Uhh... maybe... yes...? Did I do something wrong, Sifu?" I asked

He looked at me for a second and smacked my head, 

"Ouch!"

He sighed, "It's nothing Wrong, kid, 

No path in cultivation is right or wrong.

Only the person walking it is.....

As long as you are true to your heart and don't lose your morals, 

All Paths Lead to Ultimate Power"

His eyes narrowed again.

"But don't go stirring up crap in the Dreamlands. The Endless doesn't appreciate that. Especially Dream."

I coughed. "Well, umm... I might've... pissed him off a little."

He stopped walking.

"...What did you do?"

I told him.

Ezizh. Tasi. Their sacrifice. 

My resurrection of both, a blatant disrespect to the Endless One.

Wukong blinked.

Then smacked my head again.

"You dumbass! First time Dreamwalking and you already offended the Lord of Dreams and Nightmares? Damn, brat..."

Then he laughed.

"You got some Balls, kid? Two Mythic-grade familiars? 

Not bad for someone who just started mental cultivation."

I rubbed my head again. "Will Dream come after me?"

"No," he said, waving it off. "Just... lay low. Don't Dreamwalk for a while. Sleep normally. He's not petty these days. But you'll get nightmares. Deal with it."

I nodded.

We walked a bit more.

Then I blinked.

We weren't on the mountain path anymore.

We were... somewhere else. A different realm entirely.

Ancient air buzzed with divine power.

"We're here," Wukong said.

I saw it.

A massive array, stone-carved and glowing, lay out at the peak of this mountain.

Embedded in them are things I only saw in books....

Some are Celestial Ascension Stones, while Others are Evil Gods Bleeding stones. 

Both used by the Heavens and the Demons for getting baptized respectively...

It also has radiating Emeralds and Crystals as the Power channel for Formation. 

These are so rare that the Celestial Court banned them from using them anytime other than promoting a Celestial Prince or princess of the different God families.

I gulped as I understood the scale of blasphemy I am standing in front of...

"Umm....Sifu....where did you get this stuff?... They aren't exactly Easy to mine.. aren't they....?" I asked flabbergasted

He grinned.

"Don't worry, kid, I acquired through good means... and a little 'convincing'."

I felt my scalp itch.

"You didn't..."

"Brat, I've been building this for two years. 

A Heaven-defying Nine Tribulations Technique. 

Just for you."

He laughed like a madman, the wind picking up behind him, 

His silhouette framed by drifting blossoms and coiling clouds.