"Yes, Master."
The Confucian scholar carefully chose his words before explaining slowly, "Master, during our suppression and containment of the deeper layers of the dream to prevent them from encroaching on reality and the surface dream, your subconscious gradually mastered some strange techniques."
"Not long ago, your subconscious granted all of us dream avatars an ability, the name is undecided, so for now, we call it 'Revival'."
"The 'Revival' ability isn't intended for our use in suppressing the deeper dream, but was created to address potential crises you might encounter, Master."
Hoshimi sipped his tea quietly, listening without interruption.
"When a dream avatar uses 'Revival', it can transfer the 'calamity' you, Master, suffer onto itself, bearing the 'calamity' on your behalf."
"These 'calamities' include, but are not limited to, aging, illness, physical impairment, fatal injuries, and death."
"However…"
The Confucian scholar looked solemnly at Hoshimi, "When a dream avatar uses 'Revival', it signifies its own demise."
"In other words, 'Revival' is an ability triggered at the cost of the dream avatar's existence."
"After it is activated, no matter how minor or severe the 'calamity' the dream avatar bears, it ultimately leads to its extinction."
Hoshimi pondered for a moment while sipping his tea before asking a crucial question.
"How many dream avatars are there?"
The Confucian scholar shook his head, "The exact number is unknown, but it is certainly not small. To suppress the ever-expanding deeper dream, your subconscious has birthed countless dream avatars."
"Unknown?" Hoshimi set down his teacup and looked at the Martial Artist in the corner of the pavilion, "Martial Artist, do you know how many dream avatars there are?"
The Martial Artist opened his eyes and bowed slightly, "Master, I don't know the exact number either, but six months ago, I visited the ninety-nine times speed dream. According to the dream avatar there, there are at least a thousand dream avatars."
"A thousand dream avatars…" Hoshimi tapped his finger on the table, murmuring with a distant gaze, "If each dream avatar can 'Revive', does that mean I have a thousand lives?"
Suddenly, Hoshimi seemed to recall something. He turned to the Martial Artist, "By the way, Martial Artist, why did you go to the ninety-nine times speed dream?"
"For training and exploration. I am one of the earliest dream avatars, so I was curious about the subsequent developments. After discussing with the Confucian scholar, I decided to explore the deeper dream."
"Hmm?" Hoshimi asked suspiciously, "You still need to explore on your own? Didn't my subconscious share information with you?"
"Since we began guarding the layered dreams, the subconscious rarely provides us with information unless necessary, allowing us to develop autonomously."
"I see…" Hoshimi thought for a moment and then asked with interest, "Martial Artist, you've been to the ninety-nine times speed dream, which means you've seen ninety-seven avatars. Can you describe what they're like?"
The Martial Artist thought for a moment before answering succinctly, "There are men and women, old and young, good and evil. All your fantasies and possibilities are manifested as dream avatars."
"..." Hoshimi's expression turned a bit strange.
Good and evil are normal and understandable.
Old and young are also normal; he had imagined being a carefree child or envisioned his old self.
But what's with being both male and female?! Did he ever fantasize about becoming a woman?
Hoshimi thought about it and realized he might have...
"Ahem~" Hoshimi cleared his throat and turned back to the Confucian scholar, shifting the topic back to the previous question.
"Confucian scholar, you mentioned that 'Revival' can transfer 'calamities', but you are dream avatars, illusory beings, while the calamities I face are real. How can you transfer them successfully?"
The Confucian scholar explained unhurriedly, "Master, we transfer the concept of the 'calamity'."
"For instance, if we transfer the concept of 'aging', you, Master, will regain your youth. The same principle applies to death and illness."
"Transferring concepts?" Hoshimi pondered for a while and then said, "According to your explanation, if a dream avatar transfers the concept of 'aging', wouldn't that mean I will never age?"
The Confucian scholar shook his head, "No, it's not a permanent solution. One-time permanent solutions are about concept stripping. Concept transfer by dream avatars is more like swapping concepts."
"The 'calamity' indeed occurred, which won't change. Our transfer means cleverly making it seem as though it happened in the dream, borne by the dream avatar."
"I see…" Hoshimi played with the teacup and said, "So, does that mean my immortality relies on constantly consuming dream avatars?"
"Yes." The Confucian scholar nodded calmly.
"Isn't there a one-time permanent solution?" Hoshimi's eyes sparkled with an indescribable light.
"A one-time permanent solution would involve stripping concepts, distorting rules, and would challenge the fundamental rules of the world. The consequences are unpredictable, and it's best not to consider it at this stage, Master."
Noting the deep meaning in the Confucian scholar's words, Hoshimi didn't pursue the matter further but asked, "Confucian scholar, you mentioned that as long as I am in a sleep state, the deeper dream will expand, right?"
"Yes."
"And as long as the deeper dream continues to expand, my subconscious will keep creating dream avatars, correct?"
"Yes."
Hoshimi thoughtfully rubbed his chin.
Sleeping = deeper dream expansion = more dream avatars = more 'Revival' users.
In other words, sleeping equates to storing universal life-saving cards for himself?
Hoshimi pondered and then asked, "Can 'Revival' save me if I die?"
"Yes, the moment you die, 'Revival' will instantly activate to bring you back."
"Are you 100% sure?"
"100% sure..." The Confucian scholar thought for a moment and added, "Unless someone can first destroy your deeper dream, you won't be able to die. But that's nearly impossible. If they can, no amount of life-saving methods would matter; they are not opponents we can contend with."
Hoshimi nodded and then asked, "Are there any other limitations on using 'Revival'?"
"For the stability of the deeper dream, it's best to use 'Revival' once a month."
"What if I need to use 'Revival' frequently in a short period?"
"In such cases, your life takes priority. After surviving the calamity, other matters can be considered."
Hoshimi looked at the Confucian scholar and asked meaningfully, "If you were to guess, how many dream avatars would you estimate there are?"
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