“Holy crap, that old man’s fast. Does he really have to run that fast?”

A young man leaned against a tree, panting. It was Ye Xiaobai, who’d only just come to his senses a little while ago.

“Whew, I’m exhausted. I must not have eaten enough tonight. I don’t even have the strength to run anymore.”

“That old man’s been around for centuries, and his strength is no joke. He blinked in front of me, and now he’s just a tiny black speck.”

“Wait, that doesn’t add up. I’m a Sword God, and I can’t even catch a Sword Saint? There’s no way my Sword God realm is fake. That old man must’ve used some kind of forbidden technique.”

“Still, I don’t get it. The sky isn’t about to fall. That old man must’ve paid a huge price to move that fast. What’s he even doing it for?”

Xiaobai watched as a tiny black speck raced into the distance without looking back or answering his calls.

It grew smaller and smaller.

He sighed helplessly, turned away, and summed up his first attempt at chasing a dream.

There was no doubt about it. His first dream-chasing attempt had failed spectacularly.

His dream had gotten away from him, but it wasn’t because he lacked ability. That dream was just too crafty. The worst part was, it had planned its escape from the start—and it was weirdly determined, running freaking fast.

He glanced up at the sky. It was probably almost midnight, and he was getting sleepy. He’d find a tree to rest under for a while, get some sleep, then look for something to eat once it was daylight.

That said, this mountain was huge. He’d run at full speed for ages and only made it a quarter of the way down. No wonder it was the tallest and biggest peak in the Demon Beast Mountain Range—the Mountain of Heaven.

As for that shameless, mischievous “dream” from earlier, he’d leave it alone for now.

If he happened to run into it again someday, would he ask it about it first? No way.

To make sure history didn’t repeat itself, he’d go straight up and beat the crap out of it until it was too scared to run again.

(Down at the foot of the mountain, a certain old man suddenly shivered... Old man: “It’s summer, isn’t it? Why do I suddenly feel colder than I would on a mountaintop in winter...?”)

He found a tree, picked a suitable fork in its branches, settled in, closed his eyes, and fell asleep in a second.

They say that once you calm down, things become much clearer.

And wasn’t that the truth?

He still had no idea what the old man was up to, and he still had no food lined up for the future.

But thanks to the old man’s escape, Xiaobai suddenly realized, in his dream, that one fact was crystal clear.

That was, this, Sword, God, was, finally, free!

He’d practiced his sword for ten years, putting up with the old man beating him down without a single complaint—all so he could one day reach the old man’s level, or even surpass him.

There was one small reason he hadn’t gone down the mountain right after breaking through: he had no idea which way to go.

Now the old man was running for his life, so this had to be the right direction.

He’d just keep running this way. He couldn’t go wrong.

Once he ran into someone, he’d ask for directions. Some place called the El-something Academy—at his speed, he’d be there in no time. Man, I’m clever.

He really had to thank the old man for running off.

From now on, he’d never have to stand around on a mountaintop, bored out of his mind, swinging his sword.

From now on, no one could hold him back. He could do whatever he wanted.

If he didn’t go out and see the world, make a name for himself, he’d be wasting his Sword God strength.

Powerful fighters, dangerous places—none of them were anything in front of him.

Who in this world could stop him? And if anyone could, he’d cut them down with one swing. If one wasn’t enough, he’d use two.

Hahahaha! The world was wonderful!

How lonely it is to be invincible~ How lonely it is to be invincible~

Xiaobai, dreaming away, slept like a baby.

Just then,

suddenly,

the beasts all around began to roar.

“Awooo~”

“Rooar~”

The beasts’ roars were deafening, as if they were right beside Xiaobai’s ears. It sounded like they were welcoming the arrival of some great being.

“So loud... Are you gonna let me sleep or what?”

The deafening noise shattered the beautiful dream he’d only been having for a minute.

He struggled to pry open his fighting eyelids and looked around. There was nothing there. His face fell into a deep scowl.

“Who is it? What’s wrong with you? It’s the middle of the night—why are you out here partying and making so much noise? I’ll be straight with you: if you’ve got the guts, show yourself. This Sword God demands a face-to-face duel.”

First he’d failed to chase his dream, and now even his dream had been ruined. This baby was getting upset......