Chapter Forty-Four: Captain Zhang's Super-Timid Sequence Forbidden Artifact

Zhang Changlin knew that Du Fang had immense potential. After training, he had even praised him as the strongest rookie in nearly thirty years. But praise alone was useless. If Du Fang truly wanted to live up to such acclaim, he had to become the top new talent at the rookie invitational tournament.

However, from what Zhang Changlin understood, becoming the champion this year would be extraordinarily difficult. For some reason, this year saw an unusual number of monstrous newcomers who had survived high-grade Dream Calamities alone. Each had awakened a variety of powerful special abilities. Even that true prodigy possessing an infinite Dream Spirit would be competing.

Du Fang’s half-baked version of the infinite Dream Spirit—if he ever faced the genuine article—might just be crushed completely. After all, Du Fang lacked any special abilities, which put him at a considerable disadvantage.

Zhang Changlin shook out a cigarette from its pack, clamped it between his lips, and continued, “This year’s provincial tournament will be held in Jiangling. If the invitational follows the usual format, there will be two rounds: the Dream Calamity Raid and the Dream Fiend Battle.”

“The first, the Dream Calamity Raid, is for screening contestants. Most participants are eliminated in the first round; only those who survive the Dream Calamity can proceed to the next round, where they’ll face real-life Dream Fiend duels to determine the provincial champion.”

Zhang Changlin began to explain the rules to Du Fang. After all, Du Fang had come from another world and knew little about the rookie Dreamwalker Invitational, let alone its structure.

“I just got the news yesterday—this year’s provincial invitational will be held in Jiangling City. All rookie Dreamwalkers from major cities in the province will participate as registered teams. There’s no need to travel across cities, so you’ll have the home advantage.”

“There’s not much to say about the Dream Calamity Raid. Just make it out alive and you qualify for the next round.”

“As for the real-world Dream Fiend Battle, that’s all about fighting skills and combat ability. I’ll find time to show you a real Dream Fiend so you can get some hands-on practice,” Zhang Changlin said.

The rules were quite simple, as this was only an invitational and not the national Dreamwalker Championships. There weren’t even groups. The event was popular, yes, but couldn’t hold a candle to the real championships.

Du Fang nodded, feeling a slight rush of excitement. He had set two goals for himself at this rookie invitational: one modest, one ambitious. The modest goal was to make it into the top sixteen and at least win a consolation prize—ten thousand yuan. The ambitious goal, of course, was to win the championship, become the new top rookie, and strive for the million-yuan reward!

Zhang Changlin was actually moved by Du Fang’s determination. What a rare sense of team loyalty! Little did Zhang Changlin know that what truly motivated Du Fang to go all out at the rookie invitational was simply the million-yuan prize.

To Zhang Changlin, the cash prize was a mere pittance compared to the forbidden artifact awarded to the champion—not even worth mentioning.

Having finished discussing the rules, Zhang Changlin clapped his hands. “Alright, let’s continue training. The rookie Dreamwalker Invitational is in two days. Don’t slack off.”

“When you sparred with me before, you controlled a forbidden artifact, but there are levels to manipulating such items.”

Zhang Changlin led Du Fang onto the training room’s arena.

Chen Xi, Si Nan, and the others, drenched in sweat, paused their training to watch curiously.

A broken blade appeared in Zhang Changlin’s hand—inky black, exuding a stifling aura.

“A forbidden artifact is an object born from the imprint of spiritual will on an item during a Dream Calamity. It can manifest in reality,” Zhang Changlin explained. “The power of forbidden artifacts varies, but whether it’s a grade-forbidden or a sequence-forbidden artifact, it can be unsealed to unleash forbidden strength.”

He turned to Du Fang. “Take out your forbidden artifact.”

Du Fang’s expression grew solemn as he drew the Auntie’s cards from his coat pocket.

“You’ve only scratched the surface of controlling your artifact in combat. But forbidden artifacts can be unsealed, allowing you to summon the will contained within and greatly enhance your fighting power.”

“However, unsealing comes at a cost. At worst, you’ll just bleed a little; at best, your spirit could be destroyed, your soul wiped out.”

Zhang Changlin, cigarette dangling from his lips, continued coolly, “This forbidden artifact of mine is called Sequence—098, a sequence-grade artifact with three levels of unsealing. Watch closely.”

As he finished speaking, dream energy surged from Zhang Changlin’s body—an overwhelming force sweeping out like a storm. Today, he was going to teach Du Fang how to unseal a forbidden artifact and squeeze out every drop of its power.

Du Fang, holding onto Luoluo with his wife’s hand draped over his shoulder, watched wide-eyed, awestruck by the roiling dream energy in the air.

Captain Zhang... is truly incredible!

“This is the first unsealing—activating the forbidden artifact with dream energy. You’re at this level,” Zhang Changlin explained. “Now, watch the second unsealing.”

He bit his thumb, blood spurting as he smeared it along the blade’s edge. The broken blade absorbed the blood, and instantly, a twisted black shadow emerged.

Du Fang stared at the shadow, feeling the air turn icy cold in an instant—his heart pounding.

Behind Zhang Changlin, the black shadow slowly raised its head. Its face was indistinct, but a chilling will seemed to thrum through the air...

That will swept over Du Fang—who stared in awe—over Luoluo, who tilted her head and drooled at it, over the little pink pig clamped under Luoluo’s arm, oozing disdain, and over the silent hand resting on Du Fang’s shoulder, index finger tapping gently.

It felt as if the sky darkened.

The black shadow: “!!!”

What is this?! Why did you summon me? Is Zhang Changlin trying to get me killed again? Damn it!

Without hesitation, the shadow deflated like a pricked balloon and shrank back into the blade, vanishing without a sound.

Zhang Changlin: “……”

Why are you like this?!

He couldn’t comprehend it! Had their bond vanished? After all those years of man and blade, how could it be gone in an instant?

Anger welled up in Zhang Changlin’s heart. Back during the double Dream Calamity, it was understandable for the sword’s will to shrink away—after all, that blood-red hand was terrifying. But now, when he finally had a chance to show off in front of Du Fang, why did the shadow still cower? What are you so afraid of?! You’re a blade—you should be as bold as I am!

Du Fang was a bit stunned, his face full of questions and confusion as he looked at Zhang Changlin.

“Captain Zhang, is that it?” Du Fang asked. Where was the promised surge in power and awe-inspiring might? Why did it seem even weaker than the first unsealing?

Zhang Changlin smiled awkwardly. “I was afraid it would be too overwhelming and traumatize you. I just wanted to show you the process. All you need to know is that forbidden artifacts can be unsealed further. Sequence artifacts can be unsealed three times. Yours is a third-grade spectral artifact, so it should only have two levels…”

“Your task today is to learn to unseal it.” Zhang Changlin shifted the topic and looked at Du Fang seriously.

“Here, give it a try,” Zhang Changlin said.

Du Fang was actually quite nervous. After all, it had always been Luoluo who controlled the forbidden artifact; he wasn’t sure if he could unseal it himself. Now, standing on the arena under everyone’s gaze, he was afraid of failing.

Still, being able to unseal the artifact and increase his combat power was important.

After some thought, Du Fang followed Zhang Changlin’s example and raised his thumb, preparing to bite down.

But as soon as he lifted his hand, the wife’s hand grabbed his, as if unwilling to let him hurt himself. Beside him, Luoluo shook her head vigorously.

“Daddy, you don’t need to bleed,” she said. “Just do this.”

Luoluo raised her delicate face and showed him, curling her chubby finger and tapping lightly.

Du Fang was taken aback. Was it really that simple? No need to bleed? He thought of Zhang Changlin’s perpetually bleeding thumb… Was the captain doing that just to look cool?

On the arena, Zhang Changlin, cigarette in mouth, watched Du Fang intently, sucking on his wounded thumb.

He saw Du Fang slowly lift his hand, curl his finger, and tap the card lightly.

A surge of dream energy burst forth.

Immediately, two graceful black shadows joyfully emerged from the card, hovering on either side of Du Fang like guardian sentinels.

The cigarette fell from Zhang Changlin’s lips to the ground. He glanced at his thumb, tasting the blood in his mouth, and suddenly felt an urge to cry.

Look at his forbidden artifact! Look at how sensible those shadows are! There’s no pain like comparison.

Why did he always have to bleed to unseal his artifact’s second level? Why was he always the one getting hurt?