If multi-dimensional space were likened to a chessboard, then this realm and the mortal realm would merely be two small dots on it. So, how vast is four-dimensional space?
According to Liu Yilin, it is infinite.
Since it is infinite, it is understandable that such ruins are actually a small area within multi-dimensional space.
"Humanity is too insignificant!"
This was a conclusion Liu Yilin reached after her research.
Humans deem themselves the spirit of all creation, a self-proclaimed title born of pride. But is this truly the case in higher dimensions?
Ning Beichen landed before the dream beast, grasping it in one hand. It was plump and soft, like a ball of dough. It didn't bite and was very timid. Held in Ning Beichen's hand, it trembled incessantly.
Ning Beichen recalled his mental communication with the giant tiger and attempted to establish a similar connection with the dream beast.
However, despite Ning Beichen's persistent efforts, the dream beast showed no reaction, which angered him.
"I want you to submit to me. I can take you with me. But if you continue to give me no response, I will consider you unwilling to submit. Since you refuse to submit, I can only kill you, as you are of no use to me."
Ning Beichen threatened it mentally, increasing the pressure in his hand, preparing to crush the dream beast.
If it refused to submit, it was merely his enemy. Why should Ning Beichen show mercy?
The dream beast creaked and groaned under Ning Beichen's grip. Just as its intestines seemed about to be squeezed out, a voice like that of a child finally echoed in Ning Beichen's mind.
"Don't kill me, I submit to you."
Hearing the voice in his mind, Ning Beichen did not stop, but instead increased his strength.
"Then why did you refuse to submit earlier and only agree now? Do you harbor malicious intentions? I cannot keep a treacherous being by my side. You are not that important to me, no, not important at all!"
Ning Beichen said fiercely.
"I don't. I tried many times before, to communicate with you."
The dream beast said pitifully.
"Really?"
Ning Beichen had not considered this possibility.
"Really, I have never communicated with a human before. You are the first human I have communicated with."
The dream beast quickly explained.
"Then how can I believe you have truly submitted? How do I know you won't act against me when I'm not paying attention?"
Ning Beichen said impolitely.
The dream beast was not like the giant tiger. Ning Beichen trusted the giant tiger because he never intended to take it back.
But this creature was different. He planned to bring it back and give it to Liu Yilin for self-defense. He needed absolute trust.
As soon as Ning Beichen finished questioning the dream beast, a mysterious beast-taming scripture suddenly appeared in his mind.
After studying it for a while, Ning Beichen's eyes lit up. This beast-taming scripture could precisely control the dream beast, and not just it, but most Taoist beasts.
Ning Beichen immediately used the beast-taming scripture on the dream beast. Before long, Ning Beichen sensed a profound connection established between himself and the dream beast.
Moreover, this beast-taming scripture was extremely domineering. With just a thought from Ning Beichen, he could control the dream beast's actions and even its life and death.
"Domineering is good, I like things that are domineering."
Ning Beichen, content, tossed the dream beast onto his shoulder. The dream beast climbed onto Ning Beichen's shoulder and settled there obediently, as if it had been tamed by him.
After subduing the dream beast, Ning Beichen, along with the old Taoist priest and the giant tiger, continued towards the other end of the plaza.
Unfortunately, although the dream beast could communicate, its mind was simple, possessing the intelligence of a two or three-year-old infant at most. It could not comprehend anything complex.
However, he did learn from the dream beast that this place was once the site of an ancient sect called the Haotian Sect.
Later, for reasons unknown, or perhaps due to encountering a powerful enemy, the sect vanished overnight, leaving behind only a plaza and a few other scattered locations.
The dream beast itself did not know why it was here. It seemed that ever since it gained sentience, it had been here, usually dormant, only awakening when disturbed.
Ning Beichen found this situation very similar to the two ruins he had visited before. The sects there seemed to have encountered sudden, unknown calamities within a certain period, and their disciples had either disappeared or become omens of misfortune.
However, what surprised Ning Beichen was that there were no omens of misfortune here, nor did he find anything useful, apart from the dream beast.
Therefore, Ning Beichen speculated that the sect might have relocated entirely, or abandoned this place.
But Ning Beichen could not understand why all these ruins were related to this particular world.
"Could it be that the so-called 'blessed lands' actually exist in another dimensional space? That's why the term 'blessed land' exists. Otherwise, why don't blessed lands appear elsewhere?"
"If his guess is true, then it implies that each blessed land has a place that connects to dimensional space, or rather, a passage that crosses dimensions."
Ning Beichen muttered to himself, the more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
In fact, it wasn't necessarily blessed lands; many special locations had dimensional passages, such as the unpopulated areas of the Sahara Desert or the bottom of volcanoes on Cherry Blossom Island.
And these passages might not all be naturally formed; they could also be private spaces opened up by powerful beings, making them the best treasures for establishing sects.
"So, what was the reason that caused them to abandon their sects, relocate, or disappear within such a short period?"
"The appearance of powerful enemies?"
"Or did something happen in dimensional space that forced them to leave?"
Ning Beichen felt the second possibility was more likely.
Because Liu Yilin had once mentioned that some dimensions were unstable, and between the third dimension and the fourth dimension, there should exist an unstable 3.5 dimension.
And these places should be in the 3.5 dimension, situated between the third and fourth dimensions.
However, these were just speculations between him and Liu Yilin. They had not yet found accurate answers and could not confirm if this was indeed the real reason.
There was nothing left in this place. Before long, Ning Beichen, the old Taoist priest, and the giant tiger departed.
Upon exiting, Ning Beichen intentionally checked the time and found that the time inside had indeed been inconsistent.
When entering, Ning Beichen had deliberately recorded the time and date. After coming out, the time and date had become disordered, no longer matching the actual time.