Chapter 390: Restrictions
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
The feeling of dream-traversing was a mysterious one.
Fang Yuan had already dream-traversed to 3 other worlds and was considered rather experienced.
However, even the previous dream-traversing expedition to the Ancient Realm didn't feel as long as this time.
The transference of one's True Spirit should happen in a moment.
However, due to the fact that this new realm was too far away, the time taken to transfer his True Spirit felt extremely long.
His True Spirit floated in a dark space, unable to interact with the surroundings and even time seemed to have come to a stop. That feeling was a hundred times more torturous compared to being trapped in a small dark room and it was a feeling which could potentially turn someone crazy.
The long journey was also depleting the energy of Fang Yuan's True Spirit.
Just as his True Spirit was about to be completely depleted, Fang Yuan felt as though he was about to return without any rewards from this expedition.
"Rumble!"
The space around him shook and a streak of lightning tore the black space apart, allowing light to flood in.
"Whooo!"
Fang Yuan sweated profusely. He felt as though he was a drowning person who was just being rescued. Standing up, he took in a deep breath.
In the sky, the glaring sunlight caused heatwaves to be spread across the land.
Subconsciously, Fang Yuan stretched his right hand out to shield himself from the sunlight. With that, he took notice of his dirty and small hands. He was a skinny boy who seemed around 12 years old.
"Am I now a kid?"
Fang Yuan let out a bitter smile and observed the surroundings.
On a white birch tree, there were many chirps.
His small body was wearing a white shirt and a green pair of long pants. They were of good quality but were pale from being washed many times. There were holes in his shoes.
In his sight, he could see a cemented building. It was a short building and was at most two storeys high.
The field was surrounded with a cemented wall painted in red paint. There were taglines painted on the walls. On an antenna by the side of the field, there was a huge loudspeaker blasting loud music. Occasionally, there was the energetic voice of the broadcaster.
"Television, broadcast?"
Fang Yuan felt that everything was a little weird. "Didn't she say that it was steam technology?"
All of this gave him a weird sense of familiarity. It was as though the faded pictures of his past life had actualised into the world.
Racking his brains, he finally recalled some bits and pieces of memories.
Although he was only a kid, he had undergone education and Fang Yuan was able to deduce the details of the world from his incomplete memories.
This realm was spherical and was known as Planet Earth. In outer space, there was a sun, a moon, and other planets, forming a solar system. However, there was only one such planet in the entire system that was suitable for humans to live on.
70% of the surface of this planet was covered in oceans and there were 3 main continents. Over a 100 countries were spread across these continents. There were more than 1,000 races of people and these races were constantly in conflict. In fact, a devastating world war had just ended.
With the advancement of technology came the improvements in the quality of life, but there were troubles as well.
After the world war, over 10 countries were wiped from the surface of Planet Earth. A few billion people were killed. However, at the same time, there were countries which benefited from the war and grew stronger.
For instance, in the country he was in - Chinese Country, the country had successfully taken the opportunity to unify a few countries in the vicinity, forming an alliance across an entire land mass across a continent. The country now had a coast which stretched over ten thousands of miles. Because the people of these unified countries were similar and once had strong ties, their cultures were smoothly integrated and their combined powers were rather substantial. After the war, the unified country became one of the superpowers with substantial influence in the world.
Mmmm, this realm only had 3 continents, split into the East Continent, Middle Continent and West Continent. The people of the West Continent had fairer skins, blond hairs and green eyes. The people of the East Continent were mixed, while the people of the Middle Continent were people with yellow skin.
Fang Yuan was now in an orphanage in Chinese Country.
After all, this was the year 999. It was only 5 years after World War 1. Therefore, many kids were orphaned and taken care of by the country. The body which he was possessing was one of the unfortunate children.
"Fortunately... I am still known as Fang Yuan. I won't have to change my name that way!"
Fang Yuan took in a deep breath, closed his eyes and focused.
After a while, Fang Yuan revealed a desperate look. "It is indeed impossible! This realm is not hospitable to supernatural forces! The rules of reality are too harsh."
Just previously, he had tried to detect natural elemental energy. However, he had gotten nothing from it, as though this realm was a desert for natural energy.
Fang Yuan knew that the source of energy of this realm was bountiful and that this was not the end. The only explanation would be that his system was not compatible with this world.
"How hard would it be to cultivate in another technique? Let's forget that idea for now... In terms of martial arts, as soon as it involves elemental force, it will no longer work. I can only preserve the most basic martial arts to strengthen my physical body."
He shook his head and exclaimed. "Stats!"
With that, a screen appeared. Although it was hard to read the figures, Fang Yuan could still vaguely make out the words:
"Name: Fang Yuan
Essence: 0.5
Spirit: 0.1
Magic: 0.9
Profession: ???
Cultivation: ???
Technique: ???
Skill: [Medicine (Level 3)], [Botany (Level 5)], [Fiery Golden Eyes (Level 1)]"
"Everything has been cleared indeed! This is even scarier than the Water Realm!"
Fang Yuan had a premonition that even though he had the special ability of fixed stats, it would still be extremely hard for him to restore his cultivation in this realm.
"However, it is surprising that my skills are still with me! Maybe... In such a long period of time, I will have to rely on my skills."
With the ability of fixed stats, Fang Yuan could be assured the fact that he would be able to reach the peak of his cultivation even after dream-traversing.
This was akin to a bottle. Regardless of which realm he was in, the bottle would always be the same volume and would not be reduced.
However, it was one thing to have his fixed stats remaining and another thing for his cultivation to be restored. Ultimately, he would still have to fill the bottle with liquid.
In the previous 3 realms, there was natural elemental energy for Fang Yuan to easily fulfil this.
However, in this realm, there was almost no elemental energy. There might be other forms of energy but they were not as easy to absorb. Therefore, it would be extremely hard to restore his cultivation and his peak condition.
"Since it is already so hard for me, wouldn't it be even harder for Extreme Darkness? No wonder she would give up on this realm... this difficulty level is almost like hell..."
Fang Yuan stood up, looked for a pond, examined his own reflection and laughed.
In the reflection, there was a 12-year-old boy with a messy hair and yellow skin. He was skinny and appeared malnourished.
Such a boy would lose his life if he were to merely fall sick!
"This is such a difficult start... The only thing good about this place is that the time flows faster here and I will have around 50 years to explore the realm..."
Fang Yuan rubbed his rumbling tummy as though he had recalled something. With that, he scooted off to the canteen.
This was his lunch break. If he did not get some food now, he would have to endure his hunger.
As he ran to the canteen, he noticed a row of young boys and girls seated on a bench. Big ceramic bowls were placed in front of them.
"Fang Yuan, why are you late?"
An old woman wearing a black-framed glasses appeared displeased.
It was evident that she was angry.
"I... I had a stomach ache!"
Fang Yuan made up an excuse.
"Report!"
At this point in time, a young girl with braids wearing a pink shirt raised her hand. With a clear voice, she shouted. "Reporting, teacher! I saw Fang Yuan lazing around at the field, taking a break from his voluntary work!"
"Mmm, Wei Xiaohong, good!"
The old lady gave off a sinister vibe. "Fang Yuan, after lunch, see me at my office. Reflect on your behaviour! Now, please get yourself seated."
"Yes!"
Fang Yuan tiredly made his way to his sit as he glared at the young girl. He hated those who would snitch on their friends.
"Hmph!"
The young girl seemed fearless as she glared back with pride and a look of justice on her face.
Fang Yuan was speechless and paid no attention to such a snitch.
More importantly, the chef of the canteen had arrived and served them bowls of porridge.
It was real porridge and the soup was clear to the point where Fang Yuan could see the bottom of the bowl.
Scratching his head, he seemed to have recalled something.
Since the independence of Chinese Country, there were many administrative issues to be sorted out. As a drought struck, resources were scarce and therefore tightly rationed among the people.
Even on the streets, a typical man would only be given a few scoops of rice per day. Therefore, as orphans, they would not expect much.
It was already fortunate enough if these orphans did not die of hunger.
"This cannot go on!"
Fang Yuan quickly slurped down his porridge, but his hunger was not satisfied. Instead, it only made him more hungry.
"This cannot go on. If I were to go hungry every day, what else can I do?"
Fang Yuan thought to himself.
"After lunch, all of you will have a one hour break. Afterwards, report to your respective classes!"
This orphanage was huge and there were more than a thousand orphans here. They were split according to their age and gender and had to go through a daily curriculum.
A female teacher with the vibe of a disciplinary mistress raised her glasses. "Also... We have a physical test tomorrow. Everyone is to take part, and no one is to be absent! This is tasked by the province!"
Through her glasses, the teacher glared at the few troublemakers, giving her stern warning.
Fang Yuan was one of them.
"Why do we need to go through the physical test? Didn't we already did it this year?"
One of the orphans beside him quipped.
"Mmm, that's right!"
Guo Jianjun added.
Fang Yuan shook as though he had understood something. "That's right. We have already done it this year and it seems like the norm already... Could this be related to the mysterious force described by Elder Extreme Darkness?"