"Does this sound like two solutions to the same problem?"
As Li Boyang’s disciple, Lu Huaijin naturally has a profound understanding of the concept of the "Path."
So in her view, the stark contrast between Zhuang Zhou and Posun seems more like different interpretations of the same path.
[Hmm, the ’Path of Great Freedom’ I pursue is built upon illusion, originating from a dream of mine.]
[In that dream, I seemed to have transformed into a butterfly...]
[After waking, I couldn’t distinguish whether I had turned into a butterfly, or the butterfly had turned into me.]
[From then on, I realized the state of ’forgetfulness of self and objects.’]
[First, there is no achievement, then no name, followed by no self, until finally, there is nothing to rely on, and one roams infinitely, free between heaven and earth.]
After a slight pause, Zhuang Zhou, fully absorbed in his thoughts, continued speaking.
[But I also understand that simply letting oneself go and imagining infinitely is merely an empty dream.]
[Just like waking from a dream, I am still me, not the butterfly in the dream.]
[My body truly exists, my family and friends truly exist...]
[They will wake me up in time when I am in the state of ’forgetfulness of self and objects.’]
Silently listening to Zhuang Zhou’s narration, Lu Huaijin didn’t interrupt this time.
On the contrary, through Zhuang Zhou’s description of the state of ’forgetfulness of self and objects,’ Lu Huaijin seemed to think of those personalities she had split from herself.
If she didn’t have various anchors in the real world, she might also doubt whether she was the personality that had been split off.
[Suddenly, one day, I had a thought.]
[If the butterfly in the dream also truly existed and had its own family and friends...]
[Then, when they wake the butterfly, could I once again transform into the butterfly?]
Admittedly, Zhuang Zhou’s idea is indeed whimsical.
But it is precisely through such a unique Dharma Gate that Zhuang Zhou can repeatedly venture to other timelines and world lines to seek enlightenment.
The only problem is, how does Zhuang Zhou turn his dream into reality, making the butterfly in the dream another real self?
[Dreaming Enlightenment, Refining Illusion into Truth, this is the key I thought of.]
[Compared to the ’Returning to Heaven and Returning to the Sun’ Divine Power personally passed down by the Tao Ancestor, this ’Dreaming Enlightenment Method’ has many restrictions, even unable to directly interfere with the river of time.]
[But its advantage is equally apparent, that is, until ’Refining Illusion into Truth’ is completed, everything I experience is just a dream.]
[I can try again and again, until I am born into this era in the most optimal state.]
Before being born as a Giant Roc, Zhuang Zhou had already had countless dreams.
In those dreams, he had become human, become a Spirit Monster, and even become Gods.
But for various reasons, Zhuang Zhou ultimately couldn’t refine those dreams into truth, and thus was born in the form of a Giant Roc.
The events that followed were almost as Xiluo had learned.
Zhuang Zhou wanted to lead the Giant Roc Race to rise, wishing to ascend as a Celestial God in this era.
However, at the last moment, he was counterattacked by Posun, forced to give up ownership of the Great Freedom Heaven, and his body was buried in the Land of Eternal Frost at the End of Heaven.
Fortunately, Zhuang Zhou has countless experiences of failing to become a Pathfinder.
He was prepared for emergencies at the first opportunity, using the Dreaming Enlightenment method to refine illusion into truth, pulling elements from countless previous dreams into reality.
"Pulling the dream into reality?"
Startled, Lu Huaijin widened her eyes and asked with sudden realization.
"So you’re saying that you are not the real you now, but just a dream that the real you pulled into reality?"
This would explain why Zhuang Zhou’s consciousness appeared out of thin air deep in her mind.
Because he was inherently not truly existent, but a dream forcibly pulled into reality.
The only question is, what exactly happened in Zhuang Zhou’s dream, did he dream of becoming her?
At that thought, Lu Huaijin’s expression turned peculiar.
Even though she had long known for these Pathfinders coming across time and space, age, gender, and even species no longer held much significance.
But the thought of someone becoming her in a dream and then going through her life gave Lu Huaijin an inexplicable sense of unease.
"What other dreams did you have?"
Thinking of this, Lu Huaijin suddenly asked again.
Since Zhuang Zhou pulled all his previous dreams into reality, theoretically, there would be more than one Zhuang Zhou.
[Rest assured, at this stage, I am the only one who can remember everything.]
Immediately realizing Lu Huaijin’s concern, Zhuang Zhou quickly responded.
[I have practiced the ’Six Desires Demon-Separating Chapter,’ naturally aware of the dangers of split personalities...]
[So even if dreams are pulled into reality, those ’Zhuang Zhous’ in the dreams will only maintain their original life trajectories and will only remember their identity when awakened.]
Saying this, Zhuang Zhou paused for a moment, then spoke in a slightly hesitant tone.
[I am actually not the first ’Zhuang Zhou’ to be awakened, there was another ’Zhuang Zhou’ before me who was awakened.]
[That was Zhuang Zhou’s ’first dream,’ where he dreamt of becoming a butterfly.]
[Thus, a special race named ’Butterfly People’ was born.]
[They originated from Zhuang Zhou but also developed their own unique traits...]
With wide eyes of astonishment, Lu Huaijin couldn’t imagine that Zhuang Zhou’s dream could involve the Butterfly People.
"Dreaming Enlightenment could achieve such a level?"
Lu Huaijin clearly knew that the existence of the Butterfly People predated Zhuang Zhou’s arrival by far longer.
This meant that Zhuang Zhou’s first dream, in some sense, changed history, embedding the race of the Butterfly People, which suddenly came into being, into the long river of history.
[It’s not just that, in that dream, ’Zhuang Zhou’ further perfected the Dreaming Enlightenment Divine Power.]
Sensing some meaning in Zhuang Zhou’s words, Lu Huaijin couldn’t help but narrow her eyes.
"What did he do?"
With a faint yet helpless smile, Zhuang Zhou softly said.
[Since it was his dream, he did whatever he wanted.]
[He forcefully intruded into Wushan and seized part of the power of the ’Wushan Tripod,’ using it to perfect the Great Freedom Heaven.]
[If this part of the dream also became reality, then the current Great Freedom Heaven must contain part of the ’Wushan Tripod’s’ power.]
[That is the power of the second Witch King, a power that can truly turn illusion into reality.]
[I think the current Great Freedom Heaven must have become a different world from what I imagined.]
[Transfiguration and Freedom... perhaps it has truly arrived!]
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