Chapter 4: The Dream of Knowledge
Fen Hao awoke in his own room, the soft glow of the morning light filtering through the window. His mind was restless, churning with unsettling thoughts. If my mother is truly a devil princess, he wondered, then how did my father even meet her? Did he know who she was? And if I am half-devil, what will happen to me if others find out?
His questions seemed endless. Overwhelmed, he closed his eyes again, seeking solace in sleep. But as soon as he drifted off, he found himself back in that dream palace once more.
"Haa… I can't even sleep peacefully," he muttered, rubbing his forehead in frustration.
Fina stood in front of him, calm and poised as ever.
"Fina," he said, his tone steady but tinged with urgency, "can you at least tell me about the creator of this dream space?"
She inclined her head respectfully. "Master, I cannot reveal that to you—my memories from that time have been wiped clean. However, I can share the message that was left behind once you unlock all the rooms. For now, all I can say is that this realm was created specifically for you. Only you can access it."
Fen Hao's brow furrowed in thought. "So once I open all the rooms, I will learn the truth."
Fina nodded solemnly. "Indeed. Moreover, once you fully open your Knowledge Sea, you will be able to merge this palace realm with it. This will grant you the ability to store living beings within your Knowledge Sea, where they will remain safe under my watch. And once you reach the Immortal King Realm, you will be able to bring this entire realm into reality."
Fen Hao's eyes gleamed with renewed determination. "Then let us begin merging this realm with my Knowledge Sea. If I can do that, I'll be able to enter it at will—no need to rely on sleep."
Fina smiled faintly, a hint of pride in her expression. "As you command, Master. First, take this Soul Liquid. It will purify and strengthen your soul. Then take this Nine Universes Pill—it will fortify your Knowledge Sea and may even allow you to craft your own soul technique. Remember, Master: the Knowledge Sea is the foundation of the soul, just as the Inner World is the foundation of cultivation. These are the pillars of your power—do not neglect them."
Fen Hao took the vial and the pill, noting their extraordinary presence. I've never heard of anything like these… and she always mentions the Chaos Domain… But before he could ask about it, Fina interrupted softly. "Now, we may begin."
He nodded and drank the Soul Liquid in one smooth motion, feeling its warmth spreading through every corner of his being. Then he swallowed the Nine Universes Pill, and immediately, an enormous surge of energy began to circulate within him. His soul felt as if it were dancing—light and unbound.
Moments later, he found himself in a colorful expanse—a place unlike anything he had ever seen. A magnificent castle floated there, its grandeur eclipsing everything else in sight. Fen Hao had never wondered before where this palace truly resided, but now he understood: this was its rightful home.
He watched in silent awe as the vast, ethereal palace began to merge seamlessly with the vibrant space around it, settling into place as if it had always belonged there.
Fina appeared once more, her expression filled with reverence. "Congratulations, Master," she said softly. "You have opened your Knowledge Sea even before reaching the Immortal Lord Realm. You have accomplished what most cultivators only dream of."
Fen Hao's eyes narrowed with curiosity. "Fina… are you a human or a soul, are you alive? What exactly are you, in the end?"
A moment of silence passed before Fina answered, her voice low and measured. "I only remember that I was once a sinner who destroyed an entire universe in my quest for revenge. The one who took me in afterwards was a cultivator from the Origin Domain. Beyond that, I remember nothing. I do know this: once I complete my mission here, I will uncover the truth of my existence. But I am definitely human—my clan possessed a unique talent: we can read all information from anything we consume. That is the true nature of my lineage. It is precisely because of this talent that my clan was turned into slaves…"
A hush fell over them—silent, heavy with ancient memories and forgotten truths
Fina fell silent for a moment, her gaze steady on Fen Hao. Then he exhaled a slow breath, his expression unchanging. "Ahh… well," he said evenly, "I would also destroy everything if my family were enslaved and killed. So don't dwell on it, Fina. Ultimately, we are all living beings driven by emotion."
When Fina heard this, she was reminded of a distant figure—an echo of another soul, one she could no longer name, but whose conviction burned bright even across the ages.
Fen Hao stood, his resolve hardening like tempered steel. "Now," he said, his voice calm and sure, "let's go and meet my father. It is time to get some answers."