My gorgeous wife Chapter 1981 - 1949: Dream Realm

"So this is... Eternity?"

Gazing at the two individuals beside him who remained asleep, a peculiar expression settled on Li Chen’s face.

He had an indistinct feeling that he had unearthed something extraordinary.

The truth of Eternity, in silence, he had now drawn near to it.

"The Heavenly Dao... what exactly did it face?"

Li Chen lowered his head, lost in profound contemplation.

He was still adrift in the Mist of the Three Births River, but as for the duration of this Eternal Dream, he himself was unaware.

"Right."

Shaking his head, Li Chen disembarked from the boat and began to scrutinize the Mist.

He recalled the reason for his presence here. He had come in search of Yang Xin and Tian Yi, yet upon entering the Three Births River, he had succumbed to slumber. This Eternal Dream—up to this moment, he had found no sign of them.

"This is perilous. If they also ventured here, they would likely be unable to traverse the Three Births River. But if it's Tian Yi..." After a brief pause for thought, Li Chen shook his head once more.

Although logic dictated that crossing the Three Births River was impossible without the Floating Mind Sky-Patterned Iron, observing Tian Yi’s existence suggested she was a being who defied conventional understanding.

Perhaps others could not accomplish it, but for Tian Yi, nothing seemed beyond her capabilities.

Yet, where were they at this exact moment?

After observing for a considerable time, Li Chen discerned that even his Eye of the Dao offered limited vision in this place, compelling him to abandon his search with a hint of helplessness.

He gently guided the boat forward, commencing his journey toward the opposite bank of the Three Births River.

Beside him, Zhang Shutong and Christina continued to slumber deeply.

Zhang Shutong’s features were peaceful, whereas Christina’s brow was knitted in a tight frown, as if she were experiencing a distressing nightmare.

Propelling the small vessel, Li Chen gradually calmed his spirit, allowing the profundities gained from that Eternal Dream to settle within him.

The Bright Dream Dharma Talk, the Divine Ability of Space-Time—these were the fruits of that single dream, and now he needed to assimilate them, making them intrinsically his own.

"An Eternal Dream... but was that truly merely a dream?" Li Chen pondered, his gaze cast downwards. "Or was it an account of events that genuinely transpired?"

Li Chen remained uncertain. To him, he was no more than a transient visitor, or perhaps, a witness.

He had observed the magnificence of the Supreme Asura Realm, felt the formidable power of its geniuses, and also witnessed the devastation that befell the Seven Realms.

"But... why me?" Li Chen grew silent. "Am I truly a chosen one, devoid of the right to choose?"

"Must everything, absolutely everything, fall upon my shoulders?"

Li Chen was not one to shy away from responsibility, but the weight of Eternity’s truth was overwhelmingly immense.

So immense that he felt it might be beyond his capacity to bear.

"What is it that you truly seek?" At that precise moment, a voice suddenly echoed beside Li Chen’s ear.

"Who?" Li Chen's gaze sharpened, his eyes darting around like ferocious blades scanning his surroundings.

Yet, all that surrounded him was still the Mist-laden expanse, empty, with no entity present.

"You... what is it you truly desire?" The voice spoke again, but even when Li Chen pushed his Eye of the Dao to its utmost limit, he could not pinpoint the origin of the sound.

It was as if the voice had materialized from absolute nothingness.

"Does the Three Births River harbor such strangeness?" Li Chen remained silent, but the Yuan Force within his body subtly stirred.

He even faintly initiated the Space-time Law, poised to react instantly.

The Divine Ability of Space-Time he had just conceived was undeniably potent, yet Li Chen's proficiency remained nascent, and he had been eager to find a suitable adversary for practice.

"What do you want?" The voice queried once more, persistent, yet within the space surrounding Li Chen, only boundless emptiness persisted—absolutely nothing.

"What I want..." Li Chen stated in a low tone, "and what concern is it of yours?"

"It is of concern." The voice responded, and this time, it finally articulated a different statement: "For I am you."

"You are me?" Li Chen emitted a cold chuckle. "I am myself; I am Li Chen. But you, I have no idea what manner of spectral entity you are."

The voice fell silent for a fleeting moment.

"Are you weary?"

"What business is that of yours?"

"You ought to be tired." The voice carried a tinge of loneliness. "It stands to reason. I have always inclined towards shouldering all burdens myself, and once I do, they are carried for Yisheng and Yisheng. Days such as those are indeed taxing."

Li Chen offered no verbal reply, yet within his heart, he perceived a subtle, inexplicable resonance of truth.

"You are not a Savior. You are but an ordinary individual. What you desire most is simply to find a sanctuary and live a tranquil life, contentedly, alongside your family, is that not so?"

"You don’t need to answer. I already stated it—I am you, so I comprehend you the best." The voice spoke in a measured tone.

"Do I possess any other alternative?" Li Chen abruptly withdrew all his aura, reseated himself on the boat, and let out a soft sigh as he voiced his question.

He possessed a vague understanding of what this voice represented.

Much like the entity encountered on the Three Lives Bridge, this voice was merely an ephemeral existence from the netherworld, possibly not truly corporeal.

"For others, indeed. But for you, no." The voice conveyed a sense of detached blandness.

"Ah, indeed, no." Li Chen shook his head, a wry smile touching his lips. "From the very instant I drew my first breath, perhaps I forfeited any semblance of choice."

"Given that reality, why engage in this conversation with me?" Li Chen inquired.

The voice responded slowly: "Nothing of great consequence. Merely conversing to occupy the passage of Time."

"Heh." Li Chen emitted a short, mirthless laugh. "Such a disposition truly mirrors my own. At times, even I perceive myself as somewhat idle, perpetually seeking out predicaments for myself."

The voice fell silent for a beat, then resumed: "You observed it, did you not?"

"Observe what?"

"War."

"I witnessed it. And subsequently?"

"That conflict, in the days ahead, is highly probable to engulf you. And you—are you prepared for its advent?"

"Perhaps. My own certainty wavers. It’s also conceivable that in such a colossal confrontation, this modest measure of my Power might scarcely register." Li Chen made a gesture of shrugging. "As for what the future holds, who can truly say? I shall simply navigate it as it unfolds."

"Mm. Your response aligns precisely with my expectations, for it is precisely my own temperament reflected." The voice sounded faintly pleased.

"Is that so?" Li Chen let out a soft chuckle.

"Indeed."

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Li Chen, my future self." The voice uttered softly.

"So, this implies you are my previous incarnation?" Li Chen’s eyebrows lifted. "The individual encountered on the Three Lives Bridge previously—was that also you?"

"That... perhaps you will attain clarity in due course. Very well, it is time for you to awaken. Your companions have been anticipating your return for a considerable Time." The voice articulated slowly. "Live vibrantly. Do not falter."

Li Chen’s eyes fluttered open once more.

This time, he found himself situated on the firm ground of the shore, with several individuals gazing at him, their countenances etched with concern.

Upon noticing Yang Xin and Tian Yi standing close by, a smile bloomed across Li Chen’s face.