Lin Fei was in a predicament. His martial arts techniques always followed the principle of "volunteers take the bait". Essentially, they would willingly adopt his methods, complementing each other's strengths. As for making concerted efforts to comprehend and cultivate these techniques? There was almost none. But what about the Great Dream Heart Sutra? Could it pose a threat?

A thought struck Lin Fei. The Great Dream Heart Sutra must be of a high echelon, perhaps even surpassing the level of Martial Gods. Among the martial arts he had encountered so far, the only one that belonged to the Martial Gods level was his self-created "Four Symbols and Five Elements Creation Technique."

"Great Dream Heart Sutra, would you like to become part of my martial arts? I can lead you to the pinnacle of the martial path!" Lin Fei, as usual, tried to entice the scripture, hoping it would voluntarily become part of his repertoire. Unfortunately, despite his long wait, there was no response from the scripture.

"It's time for the Four Symbols and Five Elements Creation Technique to take action," Lin Fei commanded his self-created technique, which naturally obeyed his orders. "Bring the Great Dream Heart Sutra to me!"

In Lin Fei's mind, a long-missed voice from the system rang out. He concentrated and looked into his sea of consciousness. There, the lights representing the Four Symbols and Five Elements Creation Technique and the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra clashed fiercely.

Despite the grandeur of his creation technique, it couldn't overpower the scripture. In fact, the scripture counterattacked several times, leaving the Four Symbols and Five Elements Creation Technique flickering with spiritual light.

"Your Four Symbols and Five Elements Creation Technique has failed in its duel against the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra, suffering severe damage."

A chill ran through Lin Fei. His creation technique had failed, thoroughly beaten by the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra. This was a first for Lin Fei, who had always had smooth sailing. In the past, if he wanted a martial art, even if it was unwilling, a duel initiated by his own techniques usually resulted in success. But now, just the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra had left his own technique disoriented and defeated.

What was he to do?

"There must be a way," Lin Fei thought determinedly. "Every martial art has its weakness. The first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra..."

He pondered deeply. What did this first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra need? Then it struck him. Perhaps the scripture sought to be completed?

"This is just the first layer. The complete Great Dream Heart Sutra must be terrifying," Lin Fei realized. He then declared, "Great Dream Heart Sutra, if you follow me, I will gather all the techniques for you, completing you!"

No sooner had Lin Fei finished speaking than the Great Dream Heart Sutra transformed into a streak of light and flew directly into his body.

"It worked!" Lin Fei's heart leapt with joy. He hadn't expected it to be so easy to succeed. The Great Dream Heart Sutra, it seemed, merely longed for completeness.

"The first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra has become your martial art."

The system panel appeared before Lin Fei's eyes:

Host: Lin Fei

Martial Arts Realm: Martial Gods (Thunder Tribulation not yet crossed)

Great Dream Heart Sutra: First Layer (Progress 1%)

Lin Fei had reached the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra, but his progress was merely 1%. Simultaneously, a segment of memory emerged in his mind. This was his memory of cultivating the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra. However, this memory was bizarre, almost as if... there was no memory at all. Indeed, Lin Fei felt like he had a blank in his memory.

"There's nothing? But it clearly shows that I've cultivated the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra," Lin Fei frowned, puzzled. Up until now, he had no idea what exactly the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra entailed.

Deciding to seek answers, Lin Fei stood up and left his private chamber for the main hall. Upon arriving, he saw the two Martial Gods of the Great Dream Sect he had encountered before. Their eyes held an inexplicable hint of surprise upon seeing Lin Fei.

Lin Fei directly addressed them, "Fellow daoists, this first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra is indeed mysterious. I feel as though I have succeeded in cultivating the first layer, yet I also feel nothing. Can you enlighten me?"

The two Martial Gods exchanged glances, a hint of a smile appearing on their faces. "The essence of the Great Dream Heart Sutra lies in the character for 'dream'. Life is like a grand dream, where everything in the dream follows your heart's desire.

As long as you wish, it will be so in the dream. This is the highest realm of the Great Dream Heart Sutra. In the dream is reality, whatever exists in the dream exists in reality. The dream is a reflection of reality!

However, your current level is still low, merely at the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra, just beginning to enter the dream state. You can't yet discern what is real and what is illusory. So, are you still not awake?"

With their thunderous shout, Lin Fei felt the sound of thunder reverberating from all directions.

"Whoosh." Lin Fei shuddered all over. Where he looked next was not the hall – he was still in his cultivation chamber.

"Dream? Reality?" Lin Fei was astounded. Was everything just now a dream? Yet, his system panel clearly showed that he had reached 1% progress in the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra.

"Could this still be a dream?" Lin Fei, a mighty Martial God, was beginning to struggle to distinguish between reality and illusion.

Thus, he rose and went directly to the hall. There, the same two Martial Gods were present. Before Lin Fei could speak, they both smiled and said, "Congratulations, fellow daoist, on cultivating the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra. Soon, we shall be from the same sect."

"What do you mean?" Lin Fei was puzzled. "How did you know I had cultivated the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra?"

"Fellow daoist, didn't we just meet in the dream?" they responded.

"Met in a dream? So, everything just now was real?" Lin Fei was startled.

"Hahaha, fellow daoist, this is the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra. In fact, the first layer is about entering the dream. Why do we in the Great Dream Sect consider the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra as the threshold for beginners? Only those who have cultivated the first layer can become core members.

The reason is simple. Only by cultivating the first layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra can one enter the dream, where we can meet in the dream. The world within the dream is the true gate of our Great Dream Sect. We are a sect established within the realm of dreams."

Lin Fei's eyes widened in disbelief at the scene before him. A sect established in the realm of dreams? The true Great Dream Sect resided within a dream world?

"This is indeed beyond imagination," Lin Fei murmured to himself.

"It is indeed extraordinary, but all of this was created by the Great Ancestor of the Great Dream," they explained. "In reality, the Great Dream Heart Sutra serves as a gateway to the world of dreams. Only those who successfully cultivate the Great Dream Heart Sutra are qualified to enter this dream world and become the true core members of the Great Dream Sect. The Great Dream Heart Sutra begins to reveal its miraculous nature starting from the second layer. When you reach it, you will understand the myriad of benefits it holds."

Lin Fei nodded in agreement. It seemed that the Great Dream Sect was not as simple as the little information he had gathered. This was to be expected. In the entire Ancient Covenant, the Twelve True Immortals, Eight Great Martial Ancestors, and Three Great Hermits – which of them was simple? To be at the level of a 'True Immortal', an undying and unperishable being, was to be a terrifying Great Being, transcending heaven and earth, far beyond Lin Fei's imagination.

His interest in the second layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra grew stronger. He was eager to discover the marvels of the second layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra. What wonders would it hold?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com