Chapter 1333: The So-Called Reality

Tianlong turned around and looked into Qinglong’s eyes. The two locked gazes in silence.

They seemed to be staring at another version of themselves, yet also at a complete stranger.

*”I’ll manage this place… myself?”* Qinglong narrowed his eyes, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

*”Yes.”* Tianlong replied. *”You’re afraid I’ll die in my room one day and drag you down with me. And I’m afraid you’ll kill me before I even get a peaceful dream. Since we’re both living in fear, why not just give me a clean death here and now?”*

Qinglong let out a soft chuckle—

Now was the perfect moment to undo the *”Twin Blossoms”* and kill Tianlong.

What a brilliant plan?

The thought coiled in his mind, and seconds later, an even more twisted grin spread across his face. His laughter grew louder, his hand slapping the table in amusement.

Tianlong joined in, laughing just as wildly.

The two roared with laughter, doubling over as if sharing some hilarious joke between friends—yet the scene was anything but normal.

*”Ah…”* Qinglong stepped closer to Tianlong, shaking his head. *”Tianlong… how ridiculous. You want me to undo the *Twin Blossoms* now? Are you mocking me?”*

*”Hahahaha!”* Tianlong laughed heartily. *”Why not? If you know the way to break it, show me. What’s the harm?”*

*”No harm…?”* Qinglong tilted his head. *”Tianlong… do you even know why I’ve survived this long?”*

*”Wits? Schemes? I don’t know.”* Tianlong shrugged.

Qinglong laughed again, then pointed at the table. Tiny specks of blood had drifted in, clinging to the surface. *”Tianlong, the moment I undo the *Twin Blossoms*, I’ll turn into something like this too, won’t I?”*

*”Yes. Naturally.”* Tianlong nodded. *”My *Dissolution* is always ready for you. Maybe I’ll grind you even finer—this kind of blood mist hardly matches your status.”*

*”Hahaha!”* Qinglong shook his head. *”Tianlong, you really went out of your way. You thought my *Conviction* was drained, so my reason must be slipping too… and yet, you came up with such a ridiculous trick.”*

*”No harm in trying.”* Tianlong stretched lazily. *”Too bad you didn’t fall for it.”*

*”We both know what the other is like.”* Qinglong said. *”Spare me the schemes. Just go back to sleep quietly. You can try to kill me in dreams, and I’ll try to kill you in reality. Meeting once every ten days—harmonious, isn’t it?”*

*”You still don’t understand. Killing you was never my main goal.”* Tianlong sighed. *”Even if we know each other, we’re not the same.”*

*”Right.”* Qinglong smirked. *”You’re so righteous. You even generously grant the *Participants* two days of *reality*. That just makes the truth of *Paradise* even more elusive, doesn’t it?”*

*”Or maybe they just lack brains?”* Tianlong countered. *”The flaws in the *reality* I gave them are obvious. Smart people would notice. They can use *Divine Arts* in so-called *reality*, and everyone’s dreams collapse at the same time. If they just talked about their lives before *Paradise*, they’d realize the same earthquake happened in all their timelines—even the sky split open at the end. Isn’t that suspicious enough?”*

*”Tch…”* Qinglong sneered. *”So these *flaws* were also left out of your *mercy*?”*

*”All I’ll say is, *Participants* and *Celestials* are no different.”* Tianlong replied. *”If they refuse to believe it’s a dream, no flaw matters. Those who don’t want to wake up never will.”*

*”The *Celestials* were *Participants* to begin with.”* Qinglong said. *”Those nine only stand on the reputation of paper tigers. If they die, good—saves us the trouble of executing them in front of the *Terrestrials* and stirring unrest.”*

*”Qinglong, if you don’t change your ways… unrest will come sooner or later.”* Tianlong sighed.

*”Change *my* ways?”* Qinglong raised an eyebrow, amused. *”Do you really think we’re any different? I can change my half, but not yours. Why don’t *you* change your ways instead?”*

*”Hah…”*

Qinglong sat back down at the round table. *”I don’t understand your ideals, and you don’t understand mine. Let’s just fight for our own.”*

As if the jokes were over, both men’s expressions settled into calm within seconds.

The room returned to its deadly silence.

*”Can you even handle those injuries?”* Tianlong glanced at Qinglong. *”First time in years I’ve seen you this hurt.”*

He reached out to touch the wounds, but Qinglong leaned back, avoiding him.

*”I won’t die.”*

Tianlong scoffed and sat back down, rubbing his temples as he slowly steadied his *Conviction*.

Bickering with Qinglong was routine in every cycle—after all, neither could kill the other.

But the real challenge lay ahead.

He had just half a day to pull everyone into the dream.

Perhaps Qinglong never realized why he insisted on *Dreamwalking*.

Because *dreams* carried many things.

Qinglong had his deals with *Participants*—so did he.

Dreams were the only way to reach them. If needed, he’d even alter memories within their dreams, making them believe their *reality* had changed.

This flawless *Dreamwalking* technique required weaving the most realistic dreams from fragments of their memories. Though it drained immense *Conviction*, it kept everyone’s emotions stable.

What *real world*?

The moment they entered *Paradise*, they should’ve known—only *death* awaited.

But *rumors* could spread among *Participants*. They’d find that *Paradise* could affect *reality*, even offering a sliver of hope for escape.

Yet even if they returned to *reality* with *Divine Arts*, nothing would change.

That dream was always despair. That world was doomed to collapse.

Tianlong sighed. Every time he awoke, just using *Dissolution* and *Dreamwalking* drained all his *Conviction*, forcing him back into slumber.

But if he didn’t do this… what other choice was there?

The only way was to find someone who shared his ideals—someone willing to abandon this place, escape *Paradise*, and build a new order.

The two sat in silence for hours before a figure suddenly appeared at the door.

She stood cautiously outside, then knocked.

It was Tianma, rubbing her sore back with a pained expression.

*”Tianma…”* Qinglong turned, his face darkening. *”Thought you were dead.”*

*”Tianlong! I can’t find my precious grandson!”* Tianma fretted. *”I don’t know if he’s okay…”*