Chapter Ninety-Four: Clear Day (Combined Edition)

The dragonflame staff in his hand gathered a formidable power of thunder. Pure lightning danced at the tip, like tiny dragons of storm, eager for the moment of release.

At the instant the giant beast opened its eyes, Qi Xiao thrust the staff forward. The force of thunder shot out like an arrow loosed from a bow, striking straight into the monster. A vast current pierced its body in an instant, and the overwhelming numbness left it unable to move. Even its roar was sealed in its throat, unable to escape.

The lightning raged through the hooved beast from within, its muscles convulsing uncontrollably. With each twitch, sparks flashed across its body. Its eyes were filled with pain and terror, and under the impact of the storm its strength drained away little by little, until at last it could only collapse helplessly to the ground, utterly paralyzed by the fierce current.

Qi Xiao gripped the dragonflame staff tightly. Fine beads of sweat had gathered on his brow, clearly showing that this strike had consumed him greatly as well. Yet the effect was plain to see. He had merely drawn upon the lightning already contained within the staff, and with a single blow he had rendered the immense, dreadful beast numb into unconsciousness. Had it been any wizard apprentice instead, it would likely have been charred to ash in an instant.

As the thunder gradually faded, the beast’s body slowly ceased its convulsions and returned to stillness, though its breathing remained weak and ragged, clearly not yet recovered from the assault.

After confirming that the beast had completely lost the ability to resist, Qi Xiao began to consider how to communicate with it. After all, he did not intend to take its life; he only wished to seize the initiative in their conversation.

He drew a deep breath, steadied his mind, and slowly approached the beast. Reaching out, he gently touched its forehead. Streams of pink magic surged from Qi Xiao’s hand and flowed into the beast’s brow, while Qi Xiao’s own eyes were almost entirely stained with pink.

Unfortunately, the effect was meager. Even though the hooved beast had fallen completely unconscious and only its brain’s instinctive defenses remained, weak and pitiful, Qi Xiao still could not force the glamour of bewitching a beast into its mind. After all, this was only a first-tier charm, and Qi Xiao was not especially skilled in such arts; it all felt somewhat strained.

Just then, several mechanical female voices suddenly sounded in Qi Xiao’s ear.

"Congratulations on successfully completing an alchemical supply run. Reward obtained: first-tier charm, Enchant Spirit."

"Congratulations on successfully completing an alchemical supply run. Reward obtained: first-tier charm, Soul Lull."

"Congratulations on successfully completing an alchemical supply run. Reward obtained: first-tier charm, Shock Wave."

"Congratulations on successfully completing an alchemical supply run. Reward obtained: Pure Magic Power."

"Congratulations on successfully completing an alchemical supply run. Reward obtained: Alchemical Formula, Pop Pop Bomb."

It happened to be the weekend, so evidently the alchemical tools Qi Xiao had prepared in advance had been sold. Perhaps because of the time difference, it was deep night on Qi Xiao’s side, while the alchemy shop there had only just opened.

The newly learned charms tangled together in Qi Xiao’s mind like a mess of threads. He was already used to this feeling; after sorting them one by one, he closed his eyes and first interpreted the effect of Soul Lull.

After understanding this dream-type first-tier charm, a trace of delight appeared on Qi Xiao’s face. This spell could guide the target into sleep and allow entry into the other’s dream, which was perfectly suited to the present situation. After all, although Qi Xiao had several backup plans, none were as safe as first attempting a peaceful exchange.

Qi Xiao quickly cast Soul Lull. Perhaps he truly lacked talent in dream magic; even after acquiring dream spells for the first time, he still had little insight into them and could only follow the steps dictated by his mind, one by one, to use it.

The hooved beast was already in a coma, so Soul Lull took effect smoothly, and Qi Xiao instantly entered its dream.

When Qi Xiao stepped into the hooved beast’s dream, perhaps due to the calm and comfort of Rupert’s dream having biased his expectations, he found that this environment was not as tranquil as he had imagined. Instead, he had arrived in a world filled with chaos and turbulence.

The world within the sheep’s dream was broken. The sky was like an overturned palette, brilliantly colored yet disorderly and uncontained. The ground alternated between muddy and stone-hard, reflecting warped shadows of light.

A flock of sheep was huddled together, trembling. Aside from their filthy fleece and the fact that some of them were not entirely whole in limb, they matched Qi Xiao’s impression of a flock of sheep quite well.

A horn-broken sheep was kneeling and worshiping a bizarre statue made of sheep bones, wool, and twisted flesh. Qi Xiao only glanced at it and instantly felt as though his mind had been tainted, so he quickly averted his gaze.

His eyes shifted, and soon settled upon a pure white sheep.

When Qi Xiao’s gaze fell on that white sheep, he immediately sensed a wholly different aura. Its appearance stood in stark contrast to the sheep around it. Its fleece was as pure and flawless as snow, with not a trace of dirt upon it, and even in this chaotic dream it was strikingly conspicuous.

Its wool was clean and soft, covering its entire body, and under the dream’s strange, prismatic light it gleamed with a silver-white sheen, as though draped in a thin layer of frost and snow.

Its eyes were large and bright, suffused with gentleness and wisdom. Though it stood in this shattered dream, there was no fear in its gaze. It merely watched the flock in silence, carrying an air of deep calm and faint sorrow.

Although its horns were not curved and sharp like those of the hooved beast, but instead were white as jade, smooth in line and vastly different in shape, Qi Xiao still recognized it at a glance: this must be the hooved beast’s true form within the dream.

Only, this image was far removed from what Qi Xiao had imagined...

Qi Xiao’s expression turned conflicted. But if the hooved beast remained unconscious in the dream, that would be one thing. Yet judging by its appearance, it was clearly aware. Then it should have sensed him the moment he entered the dream, so he no longer concealed himself and controlled his direction to fly toward the sheep.

Around this sheep there seemed to be a peculiar atmosphere, causing the surrounding chaos and turbulence to temporarily subside. It was like a patch of pure land within the dream.

"You have come, strange yet familiar wizard. Call me Clear Day."

Qi Xiao fell silent for a moment, then first explained, "I apologize, Lord Clear Day. Your true form’s majesty, together with the delicate blossoms beside you, gave me an unfavorable first impression. I should apologize for that."

The pure white sheep seemed not to care. It continued looking at the flock in the distance as they knelt before the bizarre statue. Though it was only a sheep’s face, Qi Xiao could still make out the nostalgia and sorrow contained within it.

"Young wizard, what brings you here?"

As the horn-broken sheep in the lead melted into a pool of blood, Clear Day finally seemed unable to bear watching any longer. It turned its head toward Qi Xiao, meeting his gaze with those clear eyes.

What brought him here? Qi Xiao himself was not entirely sure. He could only change the subject for the moment and ask back, "You said I was familiar yet strange before. Have you seen me... or another wizard of the spatial path?"

Qi Xiao guessed that it was most likely referring to the teacher, and tried his best to steer the topic in that direction.

Clear Day gave an indistinct laugh, as though it understood Qi Xiao’s thoughts, and answered directly, "He may be the benefactor of our race, but to me personally, he is no different from a demon."

Qi Xiao was silent for a moment. He did not know exactly what his teacher had done to their race here. But since his senior brother had said that their race owed the teacher a personal debt of gratitude, it ought to have been for the better. Yet from his teacher’s notes, he could also tell what his style was like when traveling abroad... not exactly gentle, and even harsh and cruel. For that reason, he had always been skeptical that the teacher would help another race. Now it seemed there was indeed more to it than met the eye.

"The self-image within a dream does not differ much from the shape of the soul. That means in your heart, this is what you truly look like. Then why have you become what you are now?"

Qi Xiao kept changing the subject, playing the role of the curious one.

Clear Day glanced at him and said calmly, "Then you should ask your good teacher."

Qi Xiao was not surprised that it could identify his identity. After all, the badge Senior Brother Rupert had given him had been worn on his person the moment he entered, and it probably represented the teacher’s identity. He had only not expected every one of his questions to step so precisely on hidden mines.

Qi Xiao organized his thoughts and replied, "Senior Clear Day, I have come this time chiefly by my teacher’s command, to resolve your clan’s matter. But my teacher, in order to test me, did not tell me what the problem is, and said I would have to discover it myself. If possible, I would ask that you inform me."

The flock in the distance had already melted into a blood-red lake, and the bizarre statue had sunk beneath it. Clear Day did not look over, only said softly, "Even your teacher could not completely solve our race’s problem, much less you, a mere wizard apprentice. That weapon of yours is formidable indeed, and I had no power to resist it, but this is not something brute force can solve..."

Qi Xiao simply put on an unwavering expression and said, "Since my teacher sent me here, then there must be his reason. I cannot let him down."

Clear Day looked somewhat helpless and shook its head. "I do not know this matter very well. Though I seem lucid now, that is only how it is within the dream. My true body in reality is no different from a beast without reason."

As if it knew what Qi Xiao was about to ask, Clear Day immediately went on, "The reason I can remain lucid is that within the dream I have stripped away the memories of what that wizard changed in me. I can only tell you some of the troubles our race once encountered, and not even all of them, lest I violate some taboo..."

Qi Xiao nodded to show understanding, then sat down beside Clear Day, looking all ears. For him, learning even a little information was better than being in the dark and stumbling about blindly here.

"Our race was once merely a flock of sheep with somewhat unusual bloodlines. Later, after encountering a wizard who cultivated the Path of the Cup, our race was left forever unable to bear offspring. We used many methods but could not produce any descendants. Just when we were on the verge of extinction, we encountered your teacher..."

When Clear Day said this, a nostalgic look flickered across its face, then quickly dimmed as it continued, "After he learned of our situation, and because he was greatly curious about the Path of the Cup, he reached an agreement with us. We would provide him unrestricted research, and he would do his best to help us solve the problem of infertility... To tell the truth, at that time we had already reached the end of the road. Your teacher was the last straw we could cling to, and naturally we would not refuse."

"And then?" Qi Xiao could not help asking.

"And then? Then we became what you see now. Your teacher brought in a biological alchemist and transformed our race into these monstrous forms, each different from the next... As for me, I have no sanity left, like a beast."

When Clear Day said this, its expression remained blank. In a low voice it said, "I understand... without your teacher’s intervention, our race may already have vanished without a trace. Even though it is painful now, we can still barely survive in this world. It is only that I was too greedy..."

Clear Day let out a long sigh and continued, "I can accept it, but some of my companions may not. As the first batch of results from the transformation, I suffered the most severe side effects. They should still retain some of their self-awareness and may not be as gentle with you as I am. You must prepare yourself... Also, although due to the partitioning of memory I do not know what specifically happened outside, I can still vaguely sense that our race is now able to bear offspring. That is truly heartening."

Clear Day seemed profoundly comforted. Clearly, this made it feel that its sacrifice had been meaningful, and it was also one of the reasons that, even after being made into this state, it still acknowledged Midir as their race’s benefactor.

"But this fertility clearly comes with enormous side effects and aftereffects... Go now, young wizard. Since your teacher sent you here, you must surely have exceptional gifts. I hope you can solve this completely... or at least ease the crisis of our race. I bless you. May you never lose your way on the road in pursuit of truth."

When Clear Day said this, it carried a sanctity that, combined with its appearance, truly gave off a sense of a divine envoy bestowing a blessing.

"I will, Senior Clear Day. I hope the suffering of you and your people will soon fade away."

Qi Xiao bowed, preparing to leave the dream.

"Go... and do not come into any contact with my true body, or it will surely fight you."

Qi Xiao nodded, accepting the warning, and his figure dissolved within the dream.

Watching the dream rift where Qi Xiao had sat, Clear Day seemed a little lost, murmuring to itself, "This was my choice. Why must you... Midir..."

Qi Xiao looked at the ferocious beast before him. Its hooves were twitching slightly, and it seemed about to awaken. He found it hard to connect its image with that of the sacred sheep named Clear Day.

"Biological alchemy..."

Qi Xiao still remembered that his teacher had once said he would one day take him to visit an official-ranked alchemist. That alchemist was a master of the craft. Could the biological alchemist his teacher had brought in to help be the very one he was destined to study under in the future?