All around, hundreds of thousands of soldiers were clearly focused on Zhou Yu. Their eyes burned with fervor. These were troops who had willingly followed him here—most were from the Eastern Wu navy and already served under Zhou Yu's command. Following him was only natural. The rest came from under Liu Bei's banner. Altogether, their numbers reached into the hundreds of thousands.
Zhou Yu had entered the dream realm of the Battle of Red Cliffs and, with his sharp intellect, immediately sensed something was off. He realized he had replaced his dream-world counterpart and taken the position of Naval Commander, once again stepping onto the battlefield of Red Cliffs.
Soon after, a bold idea formed in his mind. Since dreams in the Nightmare World could be made real—as previous information suggested—then if one survived until the end of a dream, there was a chance of manifesting into reality.
And that opened many doors.
"What the Great Yi Dynasty lacks most is talent—especially top-tier talent. With its ongoing expansion, its demand for skilled individuals is immeasurable. If I could bring the generals and soldiers from this dream of the Red Cliffs into the Eternal World, wouldn't that bolster Great Yi's strength? That could also serve as my offering, a means to enter the imperial court—not inferior to passing the imperial examination."
After Zhuge Liang secured first place in the imperial examination, Zhou Yu was naturally displeased. Though he said nothing, he'd originally planned to compete in the next examination and seize the top spot himself—to prove that Zhou Yu still stood among the greatest minds of the world.
But plans never keep up with changes.
With the emergence of the Nightmare Gate and his entrance into the Nightmare World, where he took over his Red Cliffs self, Zhou Yu had a more daring plan. He knew how the battle would play out, its outcomes and variables. Winning was not difficult—but victory wasn't his ultimate goal.
He wanted to bring people out of the dream: talents, soldiers—human capital that would become the foundation of his future influence.
After thorough planning, he took action.
First, he secretly sent elite troops to Xuchang, the enemy capital, while most of Cao Cao's forces were engaged at Red Cliffs. Seizing the moment, they abducted Xun Yu, Cao Cao's greatest advisor, and brought him back. Then, he arranged for Liu Bei, and many of Cao Cao's strategists and warriors to converge at Red Cliffs. When the great battle concluded, the dream shattered, and some survivors manifested into reality.
However, things didn't go exactly as planned.
Zhou Yu once had many more warriors and strategists under him. But during manifestation, many simply disappeared, dissolving into Nightmare energy, vanishing like foam into nothingness.
Those who remained were few.
Yet among them were Huang Gai, Xun Yu, and Zhao Yun—they had successfully transitioned from dream to reality.
And from a deep intuition, Zhou Yu understood that the Nightmare World's manifestations were not without rules.
"If someone already exists in the Eternal World, they cannot be manifested again from the Nightmare World. Though connected, the Eternal and Nightmare realms are distinct. In the river of history, famed figures can only exist once. Only those not already present in the Eternal World can manifest. This is the law of 'Singular Fate, Singular Destiny'—an unbreakable rule."
Zhou Yu gave a bitter smile. Still, he had gained something.
Hearing the questions of the surrounding generals, Zhou Yu smiled and said, "Although I'm not sure whether the Nightmare Gate can truly take you all out, I do know one person who definitely can."
His expression brimmed with confidence.
"Could it be the one you mentioned before—His Majesty, the Emperor of Great Yi?" Xun Yu's eyes flashed.
"Exactly. The Nightmare Gate is a treasure of the Yi Emperor. Whether lifeforms from the Nightmare World can be brought into the Eternal World, I cannot say for sure. To avoid mistakes, I must seek the Emperor's guidance."
Zhou Yu didn't want to take any risks. These warriors and strategists were his offering to Great Yi. Personally handing them over to Yi Tianxing would leave a deep impression.
"Very well, Commander. Let's not delay. I can't wait to see the Eternal World and what Great Yi is like. This world is so strange… To be manifested from a dream, entering the Nightmare World, and even regaining youth—it's truly incredible."
Huang Gai, who should have been an old veteran, now looked like a man in his prime—his strength and energy fully restored. This feeling of a second life deeply shocked him and helped him accept that he had once been fictional and now was real.
The same happened to Xun Yu, Zhao Yun, and the others—all had regained their youth. Zhao Yun now looked like he was in his early twenties, Xun Yu in his middle age. These transformations allowed them to accept the surreal truth: that they were now real, and the Nightmare World was only a part of the greater structure that included the Eternal World.
"Summon the Nightmare Gate!"
Zhou Yu activated the Nightmare Mark within his body. Every citizen of Great Yi who entered the Nightmare World possessed such a mark. When triggered, it would summon the Nightmare Gate and allow exit from the world.
Whoosh!!
As the mark activated, a mystical force gathered before him, forming an ancient black gate, deep and mysterious. It was the Nightmare Gate.
Zhou Yu could feel that, by stepping through, he would return to the Eternal World and re-enter his true body.
"Zhou Yu has recruited many generals and strategists within the Nightmare World and humbly requests His Majesty's guidance on bringing them back to Great Yi," he transmitted, sending his thoughts into the gate.
Though he didn't know if this would work, it was the only thing he could try. Unless he exited the world to send a message by conventional means, this was his only option.
Fortunately, it worked.
The Nightmare Gate was connected to the Star Network—and thus visible to Xinghai. The moment Zhou Yu sent the message, Xinghai captured it instantly. Realizing its importance, she immediately notified Yi Tianxing.
At that moment, Yi Tianxing was meditating, circulating his cultivation technique and comprehending the imperial dao. His cultivation brought constant growth in Dao Years, each session increasing his strength and insight. The joy of progress made cultivation a pleasure.
Many cultivators spend years in seclusion, not because they're antisocial, but because cultivation itself is deeply fulfilling—a transformation of their very being.
Yi Tianxing felt the same.
Currently, he was approaching five hundred years of Dao cultivation, the threshold before facing the Three Great Calamities.
He had been suppressing his growth, lingering at four hundred and ninety-nine years, polishing his foundation, accumulating crystalized Dao power within his divine sea, where shimmering Dao Crystals gleamed like stars—each representing profound law and truth.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Xinghai appeared in his chamber in a flash of light.
"Father!"
Seeing her, Yi Tianxing smiled gently. "Xing'er, something important must have happened for you to come here directly."
"Yes. It's about the Nightmare World," she replied, immediately explaining everything.
"Zhou Yu entered the Nightmare World and participated in the Battle of Red Cliffs. He disrupted the entire course of history and has gathered many elite warriors—including Xun Yu and Zhao Yun."
Yi Tianxing was visibly surprised.
He had known of Zhou Yu, but since he never took office, he hadn't pressed him. Now it seemed Zhou Yu had been preparing a grand offering all along.
Xun Yu, a peerless strategist under Cao Cao, rivaled even Zhuge Liang in talent. Zhao Yun, a supreme general of the Three Kingdoms, possessed unmatched battle prowess.
Though Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were comparable in strength, Yi Tianxing had always personally admired Zhao Yun—for his integrity and noble character.
"Enter the Nightmare World."
Without hesitation, Yi Tianxing made his decision.
With a thought, the Nightmare Gate appeared before him. This time, he stepped through in his true body, not just a spiritual projection.
"Commander, will the Yi Emperor really show up?" Huang Gai asked skeptically.
"I don't know. But this is the only option. If I leave now, I'll lose the Nightmare Mark's coordinates. Next time I enter, I'll be somewhere else entirely. The Nightmare World is vast beyond comprehension—it's nearly impossible to meet again once separated."
Zhou Yu shook his head. That uncertainty was his greatest concern.
Once separated, a reunion would be as unlikely as finding one another in an endless ocean.