Chapter 178 - 144: Why Is the Safe Zone Only in Baijiang City?

Chapter 178: Chapter 144: Why Is the Safe Zone Only in Baijiang City?

Realizing this, Long Xingzhou and Chen Moxuan looked around again, only to discover...

The area behind the main gate was indeed a corridor of the Lighthouse, but the view through the adjacent floor-to-ceiling windows revealed an area with ancient pavilions, streams, and flowers.

It was just like a park.

Be it the grand hall or the park outside... if one were to disregard the converging auras of the Curse Objects and the faint, drifting wisps of chilling cold, they would have no way of telling they were in the Nightmare World.

The group decided to head out into the garden.

The garden was its own distinct area. After two upgrades by Shi An, its total size had expanded severalfold, making it spacious enough to accommodate dozens of Dream Descenders without feeling crowded.

The eastern side of the garden was furnished with numerous tables and chairs where Dream Descenders could rest and have tea. However, most preferred to find a seat inside the main hall, only coming outside when it became too crowded.

Outside, the Dream Descenders were still clustered around the Curse Testing Device.

The device could be used for free, so many Dream Descenders, including powerful members, would come here from time to time to test themselves.

It was the simplest way to check if their strength had improved.

Next to the testing device was an open space roughly the size of two basketball courts—the ’Sparring Zone.’ Dream Descenders could use and test their Curse Objects and Curse Arts in this area.

Using Curse Objects or Curse Arts in other parts of the Safe Zone, like the main hall, was against the rules.

At this moment, a few powerful members were discussing Curse Arts, surrounded by more than a dozen other Dream Descenders who were listening in, hoping to absorb some wisdom from the experts.

One member extended his index finger. A black particle of light materialized at the tip, then rapidly expanded into a black sphere the size of a small bowl.

The sphere wasn’t launched; instead, it revolved slowly around the member’s raised index finger, exuding a dangerous and mysterious aura.

"The key to the Curse Missile is condensation. Essentially, we’re solidifying our Curse Power and shaping it into a sphere. The greater its cohesion and stability, the more Curse Power the ’sphere’ can hold, and naturally, the more powerful it will be."

Around them, many rookie members who had just entered the Refining Stage and hadn’t been learning Curse Arts for long looked thoughtful. A moment later, their faces lit up with understanding.

"So that’s it! I think I get how to practice the Curse Missile now! Li Wei is an expert for a reason. Listening to him for a few minutes is better than me struggling for days!"

"On that note, Captain Li Wei, based on your logic, does that mean I can adjust my Heavy Slash like this?"

Curse Power, like smoke and clouds, coiled around one member’s blade. He couldn’t yet condense the Curse Power into Sword Qi, but he was starting to get the idea.

Another member chimed in, "It’s pretty difficult to fully shape your Heavy Slash. You’d be better off learning the Hand of Curse with me. The Hand of Curse is arguably the easiest Curse Art to shape. Once you practice it, you’ll be able to apply the principles to other things, and learning other Curse Arts will become much easier."

Li Wei said, "Old Fan’s right. By that same token, maintaining the Curse Missile like this is one way to practice Shaping. Once your Shaping ability improves, your other Curse Arts will naturally advance much faster."

In the distance, Captain Chen of Celestial South, who had just walked out of the main hall, was stunned.

Many Dream Descenders might not understand the skill this display required, but of course, he did.

’To maintain a Curse Missile, condensed and stable without dissipating... that requires Master Level proficiency in Curse Arts, at least! And this Dream Descender is already delving into Curse Shaping Power this early?’

Li Wei’s Curse Shaping Power was only at the Entry Level. Truly powerful Shaping techniques could even mold a Curse Missile into a bird in flight, or a spider!

However!

’Curse Shaping Power, property manipulation... these are subjects one typically only begins to study in the Extraordinary Realm. Some Dream Descenders stuck at the Peak of the Third Refinements Realm might also attempt to research them. But this Dream Descender isn’t even at the peak, is he? Studying such advanced subjects so early? He looks like a genius!’

’And it’s not just him. The other few at the Refining Stage are also quite remarkable.’

"Your Baijiang City seems so vibrant, brimming with new geniuses. You’re in much better shape than Lindong or Chongshan."

There was more he left unsaid.

’If Baijiang is doing this well, why did you spend the whole trip complaining to me about how dire your situation is? The experts in a city that’s truly in crisis wouldn’t have this kind of time to spare.’

Long Xingzhou could only manage a hollow laugh and brush it off.

’I have no idea either!’

’Although Fen Huo had mentioned that the recent rise of civilian Dream Descenders in Baijiang was directly linked to the Safe Zone, it couldn’t be that... the entire transformation of Baijiang was caused by the Safe Zone, could it?’

’Impossible. Absolutely impossible!’

Chen Moxuan noticed something else, too.

That genius in the distance and the other formidable members at the Refining Stage were all generously sharing their insights and experiences.

’How rare was that?’

’Only within their own Countermeasures Bureau, and in a few other massive organizations, would you find perks like veterans mentoring rookies or experts teaching classes.’

’For most Dream Descenders, due to the ’incommunicable,’ ’mysterious,’ and ’dark forest’ nature of the Nightmare, just being civil to strangers was already a tall order. To actually communicate and pass on experience? That was absolutely out of the question!’

’And yet, this impossible thing was happening right before his very eyes.’

Chen Moxuan was keenly aware that this sharing and teaching wasn’t just reserved for those they were close to; it was completely open to the public.

After all, even a ’stranger’ like him had been able to listen in on all these experiences and techniques, hadn’t he?