Unlike the confusion most people experience when just waking up, her eyes were crystal clear, as if they could see straight into one’s heart.

“You’re awake.” Yun Ya quickly walked back to the bedside, his face showing undisguised concern.

Feng Miaojun nodded, not missing the complex emotions that flashed in his eyes: “How long was I gone?”

“Four days and three nights.” He sat down on the rosewood chair beside the bed, pointing to the sky outside the window, “This is the fourth night.”

“I was gone for so long.”

She used the word “gone” rather than “asleep.”

Originally, this dream journey was meant to rescue her foster mother and meet with the Prince of Yan. She had thought it would only take one night, not knowing that unexpected developments would occur.

Feng Miaojun felt her joints had stiffened from lying down, and instinctively wanted to turn over, but—

Her limbs wouldn’t move at all.

She froze, struggling again, but still couldn’t get up. Only then did she exclaim in surprise: “What’s going on?”

As she spoke, Yun Ya’s gaze fell on her hands, seeing her fingertips twitch slightly. He reached out to press her forehead: “You’re ill and need more rest.” His voice was very gentle.

“I’m ill?” Feng Miaojun was between laughter and tears. “How come I don’t know that?” With her current level of cultivation, would she randomly fall ill? “Stop playing around, Yun Ya, release me.”

Her entire body was as stiff as wood—this had to be Yun Ya’s doing!

This man’s home was far from Yingshui City; just to arrive within three or four days would require traveling day and night. Feng Miaojun knew he probably wouldn’t have made it in time for her meeting with the Prince of Yan, but she never expected that he would take advantage of her while she was unconscious!

The two had been intimate for more than just a day or two. Over thousands of nights, he’d had plenty of opportunities, so why did he choose today to make his move?

“No use struggling.” He gently tapped her temple twice, not using much force, yet causing her a slight pain. “I’ve inserted thirteen Soul-Binding Nails into your skull. With your mastery of soul techniques, you surely know what those are, right?”

“Soul-Binding Nails!” Feng Miaojun’s eyes widened in disbelief that he would use such things on her. “Have you gone mad?!”

The Soul-Binding Nails were a very special magical tool, originally used to treat soul-wandering syndrome. People who suffered from this condition were prone to losing their souls at night, so these nails were needed to firmly fix the soul within the body. Later, humans discovered they were more suitable for imprisoning souls, especially ideal for dealing with Heavenly Demons.

Yun Ya spoke softly: “Don’t waste energy trying to break free. The set used on you was obtained by Emperor Haoli from divine bestowal. It’s said to have been used against creatures even more powerful than Heavenly Demons. Once these nails are applied, souls may enter the body but not leave.”

They were indeed powerful. She felt her entire body below the neck was numb, without any sensation. For someone of Yun Ya’s abilities, it was easy to use the Soul-Binding Nails to directly sever the brain’s control over the body. As for her spirit, it was firmly pressed within her sea of consciousness, no longer able to easily leave her body as before.

Feng Miaojun narrowed her eyes, her beautiful face finally showing a thin anger: “What is the meaning of this?!” Yun Ya had many tricks up his sleeve and often liked to play with her. There had been times when he restrained her and did as he pleased.

But this time was different.

He sat with his back to the light, his face hidden in darkness, only reaching out to caress her face: “Who exactly are you? Are you Feng Miaojun, or a Heavenly Demon?”

In their daily interactions, he had made this gesture at least hundreds of times, and even this touch was warm and gentle as always. But his words were like a thunderbolt, shocking Feng Miaojun, who opened her phoenix eyes wide in disbelief: “You think I’m a Heavenly Demon?!”

She couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh: “I’ve been dealing with the Prince of Yan in Yingshui City these past few days. You didn’t show up, which is fine, but how dare you say such things!”

Yun Ya’s gaze flickered: “Where is the Prince of Yan now?”

“I don’t know,” she said angrily, but still added, “He and I joined forces to break through the barrier and return to reality. He should still be in Yingshui City now.” When one enters a dream, the soul cannot stray too far from the body.

She had just awakened, and the Prince of Yan should be the same. Yun Ya immediately stood up and went outside to give a few instructions, and someone promptly relayed this important intelligence.

The Prince of Yan was awake—the difficulty of the search had just increased dramatically.

In a moment, Yun Ya walked back in, sitting down in the chair again, and said softly: “I arrived in Yingshui City on the day of your arranged trade, only to learn that you had been asleep for an entire day without waking. That night, I entered the dream to find you.” He gently patted the bed, “Lying on this very bed.”

He had rushed as fast as he could, but still couldn’t keep up with her pace.

This fellow had entered the dream to find her. Feng Miaojun’s red lips pursed slightly, her anger somewhat subsiding.

“As previously discussed, I searched for the temple in the dream city. I didn’t find a single person, but the Dragon Phoenix Staff stood lonely in the hall.” Yun Ya’s gaze never left her face for a moment, as if he wanted to see her every expression. “Its position was very special.”

“You know about that stuff, don’t you?”

Yun Ya was silent for a good while before saying softly: “Of course. It was originally the ceremonial staff from the Divine Temple, which even common people who came to worship could see. But few people, even within the Haoli Empire, knew that it was also the key to unlocking the Heavenly Demon’s seal.” At this point, he paused briefly, “A key weighing eighty thousand jin. The Prince of Yan searched for it for many years, and a few years ago, Zhao Yun finally found it for his father.”

Feng Miaojun was exceptionally clever. Upon hearing this, she said: “So the Prince of Yan repeatedly sent people to explore Yingshui City because he hadn’t found the correct method to use the Dragon Phoenix Staff?”

“Yes.” Yun Ya nodded, “This treasure can be brought into dreams, and it’s only in dreams that it can open the stone chamber imprisoning the Heavenly Demons.”

“But later the Prince of Yan knew…” Feng Miaojun narrowed her eyes, “Hmm, was it you who told him?”

The corner of Yun Ya’s mouth curved slightly, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. Feng Miaojun knew then that it was indeed him.

The Prince of Yan had obtained the Dragon Phoenix Staff but didn’t know its true method of use. Somehow, Yun Ya had transmitted this information to him, making him firmly believe it.

Originally, the Prince of Yan had two approaches in his quest for immortality: on one hand, collecting altar fragments to ascend to the Heavenly Realm again; on the other hand, searching everywhere for Heavenly Demons. Pacifying the realm and gathering all the fragments was not an easy task, to begin with, not to mention that Wei and Xia joined forces and brought the fight to Yan’s homeland, forcing the Prince of Yan to take the second path.

He wanted to unlock the seal and rescue the Heavenly Demons, but the first major obstacle he faced was being unable to enter the dream city.

Yingshui City had already turned into a ruin with no inhabitants—how could it generate dreams? Moreover, this place was in New Xia territory, not under Yan’s jurisdiction. No matter how far the Prince of Yan’s reach extended, he couldn’t possibly relocate tens of thousands of people to live there.