Chapter 40: Cousin and Teddy

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The thunderous pounding on the door yanked Wei Cheng from a deep sleep. Still dazed, he barely registered what was happening before a figure burst through the door—he’d forgotten to lock it…

The intruder was Xu Wangwang: Wei Cheng’s roommate, secondary landlord, childhood classmate from kindergarten, distant cousin, creditor, and a fierce rival in the pursuit of their mutual goddess. For all these layered identities, not one brought Wei Cheng any particular benefit—especially not when it came to rent, which Xu Wangwang never let slide by a single cent. In fact, he even had the nerve to mooch Wei Cheng’s instant noodles whenever he pleased.

“Wei Cheng, hurry, hurry—damn, you’re still sleeping? Something huge has happened! Come out and see! There’s a celestial realm in the sky now, and the fairies up there are truly stunning!”

“I’m telling you, this must be one of those legendary ‘spiritual awakenings.’ A mysterious world of immortals is merging with ours—maybe you and I will both get the chance to live forever—ahhh! Who the hell are you?!”

Only now did Xu Wangwang finally get a good look at Wei Cheng, and he leapt back a full meter in fright, his face turning ghostly pale.

Just last night, Wei Cheng had been a chubby guy—now, by morning, he’d turned into a handsome man. Anyone’s heart would skip a beat.

“Speak up! Who are you? If you don’t, I’m calling the police!”

Xu Wangwang grabbed a half-eaten sausage for a makeshift weapon, trying to look fierce but clearly nervous, more like a startled puppy than a threat.

Wei Cheng was momentarily baffled by Xu Wangwang’s shouts, but quickly understood. He had no desire to explain himself. Like an eagle snatching a chick, he tossed the noisy pest out the door—he needed a moment of peace.

Well, perhaps not.

He picked up his phone and checked the time; hardly any had passed since he’d pulled an all-nighter gaming—no more than ten minutes. Yet, in the true trial he’d just experienced, at least half a year had slipped by.

Was it all just a dream?

Wei Cheng calmly circulated his internal energy, and a golden shield shimmered around him—his strength remained, even greater than before.

Dispelling the shield, he changed into a loose set of clothes and opened the door again. Xu Wangwang was nowhere to be seen—he really was like a little terrier, popping in and out unpredictably.

From the looks of it, Wangwang hadn’t slept in, so he hadn’t entered the dream trial.

Wei Cheng glanced at the neighbors’ doors—all tightly shut. The former goddess next door wasn’t awake yet.

Yes, the former goddess: Song Feifei.

Xu Wangwang’s college classmate, she’d moved in three months ago, sharing the apartment with Wei Cheng and Wangwang. This woman had a knack for teasing the two single guys, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not.

Her provocations led to frequent bickering over who’d foot the bill, and they saw each other as lifelong rivals.

Reflecting on those ridiculous days, Wei Cheng could only smile wryly now.

Sirens echoed through the city.

“Don’t tell me he actually called the police?” Wei Cheng wondered, hurrying to the living room balcony. Outside, the roads were packed, traffic at a standstill. Even the police seemed unconcerned, standing on the sidewalks, craning their necks to the sky.

Following their gaze, Wei Cheng looked up—and froze.

It truly was something monumental.

A colossal, borderless translucent sphere hung in the sky. Though sunlight still poured down, everything within the sphere was vividly clear.

Mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, plains, cities, towns, villages—even storm clouds, lightning, gales, torrential rain, hail, and death.

Some regions bloomed with exotic beauty; others were littered with corpses and rivers of blood, scenes too horrifying to behold.

Elderly figures with flowing white hair stood above the heavens, their gestures unleashing countless sword-lights that tore through sky and earth.

Fairies in purple robes floated gracefully—only to lose their heads the next instant.

From within terrifying vortexes of darkness, mangled corpses tumbled down—some human, some not.

Both sides fought with utter madness, the battle lines stretching endlessly. Everyone was drawn in—willingly or by force. No one knew how long the war would last, or if there was any future beyond it.

In three hundred years, would this war spread to Earth?

Wei Cheng’s mind was blank. Could they really hold the line? Or was this a war they’d have to fight, even knowing it would end in death—one last desperate surge before oblivion?

“Spiritual fire fading, demonic invasion… So it wasn’t just a dream.”

A voice spoke beside Wei Cheng. Turning, he saw Song Feifei, the former goddess. She looked drastically different now—her usual dark circles gone, her beauty brighter, her whole aura transformed.

But that wasn’t the most important thing. What mattered was the unmistakable energy Wei Cheng sensed from her—the unique, lively rhythm of the Ling Yan technique.

At least two hundred and forty years of cultivation behind her.

Song Feifei glanced at Wei Cheng, surprise flickering in her eyes, then laughed, “You’re Wei Cheng? Didn’t expect you’d look so handsome after slimming down. So, you practice Mountain Moving—what district are you from?”

Once, such a smile and casual conversation would have left Wei Cheng red-faced, flustered, and likely banging into the wall with excitement.

Now, however, he felt nothing. It was as if all this had happened in a previous life.

What did it matter to him?

“What district? Did the authorities move that fast?” he replied.

Song Feifei smiled. “Of course not, but after clearing the fifth stage, you can collect your number at the City Lord’s mansion in Floating Cloud City—five thousand people per district; your number is your district. We’re District 5. I don’t remember seeing you in our group.”

Wei Cheng fell silent, suddenly unwilling to speak. So there really were people capable of leading perfect clears. Floating Cloud City really could be defended. The City Lord could truly be met. There were even numbers assigned. Damn it!

“Feifei, you’re awake?”

“Damn it, is this guy trying to harass you?”

“Don’t worry, Feifei, I’ll protect you!”

Little terrier Xu Wangwang popped up out of nowhere and flung himself at Wei Cheng with a howl, only to be tossed several meters onto the sofa by Song Feifei’s single hand.

She turned to Wei Cheng with a sweet smile. “Let’s talk more later, I need to go. Our district leader wants everyone to assemble immediately after logging out. Bye!”

Wei Cheng remained silent, unwilling to speak.

From the sofa, little terrier Xu Wangwang bawled, wailing about his broken heart and the end of his world.

“Don’t forget to sleep in, fifteen days from now.”

Leaving those words behind, Wei Cheng left as well. All he wanted now was some peace.