Zui Tian and Wújìn Mèng had spent countless eons shaping the future of realms in ways most immortals could not even begin to comprehend. But this time, their focus was not on defeating cosmic threats or unlocking the mysteries of the universe—it was on education.
The Restless Dream Academies, the grand vision born from Wújìn’s dreams of Earth, were about to become a reality. They had envisioned a cosmos where violence and power were no longer the sole measures of strength. Instead, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding would guide the younger generations. Now, with the immense resources from the Treasure Realms provided by the Godly Manager, they were prepared to implement a universal education system across the Infinite Immortal Realms.
The first step was visiting the Immortal Emperor.
The Immortal Emperor sat in his grand throne room, towering pillars of jade and gold rising around him. The immortal court, usually bustling with activity, was unusually quiet. The Emperor had received word that Zui Tian and Wújìn Mèng were coming with a plan, but even he, with his near-limitless insight, couldn’t have predicted what they were about to propose.
The massive golden doors of the throne room opened slowly, revealing the disheveled figure of Zui Tian and the graceful presence of Wújìn Mèng. They walked with purpose, and as they reached the steps of the throne, the Immortal Emperor stood to greet them.
“Zui Tian, Wújìn,” the Emperor said warmly. “What brings the two of you here? I trust it’s something of great importance.”
Zui, ever casual, took a swig from his Endless Wine Flask before speaking. “We’ve been thinking, Emperor. Now that the Devourer of Nihility is gone, and the realms are at peace for the time being, it’s time to focus on something more lasting. Education.“
The Emperor raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Education?”
Wújìn Mèng stepped forward. “Yes, Your Majesty. We want to establish a universal system of education across the realms. A way to prepare the future generations not just for battle, but for a life filled with wisdom, growth, and innovation.”
Zui smiled. “Think about it—an entire generation of immortals and mortals alike who aren’t just swinging swords and throwing spiritual energy around, but actually building something. We’re talking about schools for children and youths, colleges for older students, and a system that could rival anything we’ve seen before.”
The Emperor stroked his chin thoughtfully. “And what would this system entail? How would it be structured?”
Wújìn nodded, prepared with details. “We’ve modeled it after something from my dreams—a world called Earth. There, education was structured in levels, and we’re adapting that system for the cosmos. We plan to establish three main levels, with the option of adding two advanced levels for specialized learning. Here’s how it would work:”
Restless Dream Academy Curriculum
- Primary School (Ages 4-13)
Each planet, regardless of size or population, would have at least one Restless Dream Academy for children aged 4-13. These schools would be located in every populated area, making education accessible to all.
Curriculum:- Cultivation: Basics of spiritual cultivation, focusing on grounding students in the foundational principles of qi and spiritual growth.
- Heavenly and Earthly Science: Teaching about the cosmic laws that govern both the physical and spiritual realms.
- Racial/Species Anatomy and Medicine: Anatomy of various species, with a focus on understanding and healing through knowledge of spiritual and physical health.
- Political Ideologies: Introduction to the philosophies and governance structures of the myriad realms.
- Architecture and Mechanics: The study of buildings, machines, and other technologies needed to maintain and develop civilizations.
- Spiritual Technology: A newly created branch that merges cultivation with technology to create items such as spiritual networks, communication devices, and spirit-based engineering.
- Philosophy: Grounding students in the understanding of the Way and how to build strong, resilient hearts and minds.
- Secondary Academies (Ages 13-16)
Each planet would also host 18 academies for students aged 13-16, where they could specialize in their areas of interest. Students would choose majors, focusing more deeply on subjects introduced in primary school. Specializations:- Spiritual Engineers: Those who delve deep into the Spiritual Technology branch, learning to build advanced devices that merge technology and cultivation.
- Cultivation Masters: Students who focus entirely on deepening their cultivation through advanced techniques.
- Healers/Anatomists: The elite healers of the realms, able to heal injuries and cure ailments through an understanding of both anatomy and spiritual arts.
- Philosophers and Politicians: Those who wish to lead realms through understanding governance and philosophy.
- Mechanics and Architects: Builders of the future, specializing in creating cities, defensive formations, and spiritual architecture.
- Colleges (Ages 16-25)
The final tier would be located on main planets—one college per planet—for students aged 16-25. Here, students would refine their skills and become the leaders of tomorrow, whether as spiritual engineers, cultivation experts, healers, or philosophers.
The Immortal Emperor listened intently, his eyes betraying his growing interest. He turned to Zui Tian. “You’ve thought this through, haven’t you? You even have a plan for how to implement all this.”
Zui Tian grinned. “Of course we have. And we’ve got the resources to back it up.”
Wújìn Mèng added, “We’ll need architects and teachers—immortals and experts from across the realms who can build these academies and teach the students. We’ll also need spiritual engineers to handle the creation of new technologies—phones, spiritual networks, and devices that combine cultivation and engineering.”
Zui, leaning in with a conspiratorial grin, said, “And I know you’ll like this part, Emperor—the Dao Ancestor himself attended one of these academies back in the ancient days. He was a bit… arrogant back then, but the academies helped him see things differently.”
The mention of the Dao Ancestor caused the Immortal Emperor to sit up straight. He had always revered the Dao Ancestor, and hearing that he had attended the Dream Academies in his youth made the idea even more appealing. “The Dao Ancestor, you say? Interesting… very interesting.”
Zui Tian leaned back, crossing his arms with a satisfied smile. “So, what do you say? Let’s build something lasting—something that will shape the future of the realms.”
The Immortal Emperor stood, his decision made. “You have my full support. The realms will benefit greatly from this.”
With the support of the Immortal Emperor secured, Zui Tian and Wújìn Mèng wasted no time. Using the immense resources from the Treasure Realms, they began hiring architects, teachers, and spiritual engineers from across the myriad realms. Restless Dream Academies were built on every inhabited planet, with 18 academies for youth and one college on every major world.
Spiritual Engineers became one of the most coveted professions. They were responsible for designing and building the Spiritual Networks, creating devices that allowed for communication and interaction across realms in ways never before possible. Immortals could now use spiritual phones to communicate instantly, and new technological advances based on cultivation opened up limitless possibilities.
Anatomy Masters became revered as healers who could heal with a single touch or glance, understanding the essence of life itself. They were hailed as royalty, given the honor of preserving the health of entire realms.
And so, as the Restless Dream Academies began to fill with students from all walks of life—immortal and mortal, warrior and scholar—the realms themselves began to shift. Knowledge, wisdom, and understanding became as prized as power and strength, and a new era began to dawn.
Zui Tian, sitting atop a cloud as he watched the construction of a new academy from above, took a long swig from his flask. “Well, Big Sis,” he said with a grin, “I think we’ve done something good here.”
Wújìn Mèng, standing beside him, smiled. “Yes, Zui. I think we’ve just changed the future.”
10 years later…
A decade had passed since the Restless Dream Academies were established, and in that time, the entire cosmos had undergone a profound transformation. What once seemed impossible was now a reality: realms that had been defined by chaos, violence, and constant conflict were now flourishing centers of learning, innovation, and self-sufficiency.
At the grassroots level, the effects of the Dream Academies were felt most strongly. In villages that had once been considered backwaters, where ferocious beasts terrorized the populace and poverty reigned supreme, children who had attended the academies returned with knowledge that changed the very fabric of their communities.
In a remote village on a planet called Dust Hills, a boy named Lin Shou had always believed his future would be like his father’s: tending to the barren fields and hoping that the occasional beast tide didn’t destroy everything they had. But when the Restless Dream Academy opened in a nearby town, Lin was one of the first to attend, eager to learn about farming and architecture.
After just a few years at the academy, Lin Shou returned to his village with more than just theoretical knowledge. He brought back spiritual farming techniques, which he had learned during his cultivation studies. He showed the villagers how to infuse the soil with spiritual energy, turning the barren land fertile once more. Crops that had once struggled to grow in the harsh environment began to flourish, producing bountiful harvests.
But Lin didn’t stop there. He also learned architecture at the academy, and using this newfound knowledge, he led the villagers in building reinforced homes that were resistant to both weather and beast attacks. Using a mixture of earth cultivation techniques and spiritual engineering, they constructed walls around the village that could withstand the most ferocious of beasts.
In just a few years, Dust Hills, once considered a poor and desolate village, became a thriving agricultural hub. Word spread of Lin Shou’s achievements, and soon, other villages sought his expertise, turning him into a local hero.
On the far edge of the Southern Immortal Realms, the town of Greywater had long been forgotten by the rest of the cosmos. Cut off from major trade routes and with no significant resources to speak of, it had become a place where families barely scraped by, surviving on their knowledge of simple cultivation techniques.
That all changed when Mei Hua, a young girl who had left Greywater to attend the Restless Dream Academy, returned home after several years of study. Mei had majored in Spiritual Technology, an advanced field that merged cultivation with technological innovation. She brought with her the blueprints for spiritual communication devices, which allowed the people of Greywater to connect with the rest of the realms via the spiritual networks she helped install.
But her greatest achievement was helping to establish teleportation portals in Greywater, linking the once-isolated town to major cities and trade routes. With easy access to resources and knowledge from across the realms, Greywater underwent a complete transformation. Once a forgotten place, it became a vibrant center of commerce and culture, a testament to what could be achieved through education.
Perhaps the most astonishing story of all came from a small, unremarkable planet called Golden Creek, where a brilliant young woman named Xu Wenyan had grown up in a poor fishing village. Her future seemed limited until she was selected to attend one of the Restless Dream Academies at the age of 13. Xu had always been a bright child, but no one could have predicted the heights she would reach.
Xu Wenyan quickly became known for her incredible intellect, particularly in the areas of cultivation theory and political philosophy. Her keen mind caught the attention of many teachers at the academy, and soon, her reputation spread beyond the school. It wasn’t long before the Immortal Emperor himself took notice of the young woman, intrigued by the reports of her innovative solutions to problems in the immortal courts.
The Emperor invited Xu to his palace to serve as an advisor, and in just a few months, her strategic insights and political acumen solved countless issues that had long plagued the immortal realm. She streamlined the celestial bureaucracies, implemented more efficient systems for realm-wide communication, and even devised new spiritual governance structures that reduced conflict among the factions.
The Immortal Emperor, impressed by her brilliance, offered her the position of personal apprentice, an honor rarely bestowed. Xu Wenyan became a central figure in the Imperial Court, solving so many problems that the Emperor found himself with little to do but attend ceremonial duties. Her influence over the realms grew, and she became a living example of the Dream Academies’ success.
The changes brought about by the Restless Dream Academies were not limited to individual stories. Across the Infinite Immortal Realms, entire planets and realms were being transformed by the knowledge their young people brought back home. The teleportation portal network, which connected every corner of the cosmos, allowed for unprecedented communication and trade between worlds. Even the most remote villages could now easily access resources, ideas, and innovations from other parts of the cosmos.
Standardized cultivation techniques taught in the academies ensured that even small towns and villages could defend themselves from ferocious beasts. What had once been a struggle for survival became a way of life where even the least powerful could protect themselves through communal cultivation techniques and spiritual formations learned in school.
Spiritual Engineers built machines and infrastructure that not only improved daily life but also allowed the realms to develop new methods of governance, transportation, and agriculture. Entire cities were now powered by spiritual energy, their systems run by spiritual networks that allowed communication across dimensions.
Where once violence and conflict were the only means of resolving disputes, philosophy and political science were now part of the curriculum, teaching young leaders how to negotiate and mediate conflicts before they escalated to war. Local governments and councils across the cosmos were now filled with educated, well-rounded individuals trained in governance and conflict resolution.
In the imperial palace, the Immortal Emperor stood on his balcony, watching over his realm with a sense of quiet satisfaction. It had been ten years since Zui Tian and Wújìn Mèng had proposed the Dream Academies, and the results had surpassed even his most optimistic expectations. The realms were flourishing, connected by portals, knowledge, and understanding. Even the endless factions that once fought for supremacy had found common ground in the pursuit of learning.
The Emperor glanced at Xu Wenyan, his brilliant young apprentice, who was standing beside him. She had grown into a formidable presence, and under her guidance, the realm ran smoothly, with fewer disputes and more cooperation than ever before.
“I never thought I’d live to see a time when I had so little to do,” the Emperor mused with a smile. “You’ve made my job too easy, Xu.”
Xu Wenyan smiled softly. “It’s the academies, Your Majesty. They’ve changed the realm for the better.”
The Emperor nodded, his thoughts drifting back to Zui Tian and Wújìn Mèng. “Yes, they have. And we have them to thank for it.”
The Restless Dream Academies had done more than just educate the younger generations—they had reshaped the very fabric of the cosmos. In just ten years, the Infinite Immortal Realms had evolved into a place where wisdom and understanding stood alongside power, where the future was built not through war, but through knowledge, innovation, and cooperation.
The peaceful hum of progress echoed through the realms, but like still water disturbed by an unseen current, subtle shifts had begun beneath the surface. Though the Restless Dream Academies had changed the cosmic landscape, a realm as vast as the Infinite Immortal Cosmos never remained static for long.
On a seemingly ordinary day in Starfall City, one of the most prestigious cities of the Immortal Realms, a peculiar visitor entered through one of the teleportation portals. He was an old man, hunched over, with deep-set eyes that shimmered with a strange light, but his attire was that of a humble mortal scholar. His appearance was odd, given that most immortals dressed in flowing, celestial robes, but what made him truly stand out was the ancient medallion that hung from his neck, shimmering with a faint, otherworldly energy. Those few who noticed him passing by thought little of him, yet the atmosphere around him seemed to thrum with suppressed power.
The old man moved slowly through the bustling city, heading toward the Starfall Dream Academy, which stood tall at the center of the city—a gleaming beacon of knowledge and education. Its towering spires reached into the heavens, and students, both mortal and immortal, flowed in and out of the academy gates, chattering excitedly about their studies. The man walked unnoticed, moving through the crowd with the grace of someone who had lived countless lifetimes.
At the entrance to the academy, the man paused, looking up at the grand stone pillars inscribed with ancient symbols of knowledge and wisdom. His eyes, though filled with a timeless wisdom, held a hint of melancholy as he murmured to himself. “The seeds have been planted well,” he whispered, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “But every seed casts a shadow.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the cosmos, Zui Tian and Wújìn Mèng sat in the garden of the Celestial Tavern. The gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh blooms, and the serenity of the moment was matched by Zui’s unusually contemplative mood. His usual playful, carefree demeanor had given way to something quieter, more introspective, as if he sensed something shifting in the fabric of reality.
He took a long swig from his Endless Wine Flask, glancing over at his sister, who was sitting in quiet meditation, the peaceful expression on her face betraying none of the worries that now tugged at the edges of Zui’s thoughts.
“Do you ever feel it, Big Sis?” Zui asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Wújìn opened her eyes, her calm gaze meeting his. “Feel what?”
Zui hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words. “The change. It’s like a subtle shift, like the wind’s moving in a direction it wasn’t supposed to. Something’s stirring.”
Wújìn Mèng considered this, her brow furrowing slightly. She trusted her brother’s instincts—Zui Tian might have been a drunken wanderer, but his connection to the cosmos was deeper than most could comprehend. If he felt something was off, it was worth paying attention to.
“Do you think it’s connected to the academies?” she asked.
Zui shrugged, though there was a seriousness in his eyes. “Maybe. We’ve done something no one’s ever tried before—restructuring the entire cosmos through education. It’s bound to cause ripples, some we might not have anticipated.”
Wújìn nodded, understanding his concern. “The Dream Academies were meant to unite the realms, to shift focus away from violence and power, toward wisdom and understanding. But change always brings opposition, whether we see it or not.”
Zui tilted his head back, looking up at the sky. “Yeah, and I think those ripples are starting to reach us.”
Back in Starfall City, the old man had entered the halls of the academy. As he moved through the corridors, students and teachers passed by, oblivious to his presence, as if some unseen force kept him from their awareness. He wandered through classrooms where children were learning about spiritual technology, cultivation techniques, and cosmic philosophy—everything that Zui and Wújìn had envisioned when they established the academies.
But the old man’s gaze was distant, his mind elsewhere.
Finally, he arrived at the academy’s Great Library, a vast hall filled with scrolls and tomes that contained the accumulated knowledge of countless generations. He approached the central altar of wisdom, an ancient stone pedestal where only the most sacred scrolls were kept. His hand hovered over the altar, and with a soft sigh, he spoke.
“The wisdom of the ages… is never as pure as it seems.”
As his fingers brushed against the scrolls, a subtle ripple of dark energy spread through the room. Unseen by any but him, the shadow of something old and forgotten stirred within the heart of the academy. The old man’s eyes flashed with an ancient light—something not entirely mortal, not entirely divine.
“The Dream Academies have opened doors,” he murmured. “But some doors should never be opened.”
At that exact moment, back in the Celestial Tavern, Zui Tian stiffened. His eyes flashed with sudden awareness, and he immediately stood up, startling Wújìn.
“What is it?” Wújìn asked, instantly alert.
Zui’s expression darkened. “Something’s wrong. I can feel it.”
Without another word, Zui Tian opened a portal with a flick of his wrist, the air around him shimmering as the fabric of space bent to his will. Wújìn quickly rose to her feet and followed her brother through the portal, her heart pounding in anticipation.
They emerged in the heart of Starfall City, just outside the academy grounds. The atmosphere was charged, a strange tension hanging in the air. Zui Tian’s instincts were rarely wrong, and now, both he and Wújìn could feel it—an ominous presence lurking just beyond the edge of perception.
Without hesitation, the two siblings made their way to the Great Library, the source of the disturbance Zui had sensed. As they entered the grand hall, they saw the old man standing before the altar of wisdom, his hand still resting on the sacred scrolls.
“You,” Zui Tian called out, his voice sharp with authority. “Who are you, and what do you want here?”
The old man turned slowly, his ancient eyes meeting Zui’s. For a moment, there was silence, and then the old man smiled—a smile filled with both sadness and knowing.
“You’ve built something remarkable, Zui Tian,” the old man said softly, his voice tinged with regret. “But every dream has its shadows. You cannot hope to change the cosmos without awakening what lies beneath it.”
Zui narrowed his eyes, stepping forward. “Who are you?”
The old man’s form seemed to flicker for a moment, as if he were caught between two realities. “I am Renxu, the Keeper of Forgotten Truths. I was born long before your realms took shape, tasked with watching over the forgotten histories of the cosmos.”
Wújìn stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. “What have you done?”
Renxu’s gaze shifted to her, and for the first time, there was a flicker of hesitation in his ancient eyes. “I have touched what should not have been touched. The knowledge you seek to spread… it is noble, but dangerous. There are truths buried in the past that were meant to stay buried. By opening the academies, you have disturbed the balance of those forgotten truths.”
Zui Tian’s expression darkened further. “What are you saying? That the academies are dangerous?”
Renxu shook his head slowly. “No, not dangerous. But they have awakened something ancient. Something that does not belong in this era. The past is returning, Zui Tian, and you must be prepared for the consequences.”
As the old man’s form flickered again, he took a step back toward the shadows of the library. “I am only a messenger. You must decide how to deal with what comes next.”
And with that, Renxu disappeared, leaving Zui and Wújìn standing in the vast hall of the Great Library, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air.
Outside the academy, the skies darkened, as if a great storm was brewing. The winds whispered with secrets long forgotten, and the peaceful hum of the realms began to shift.
The Restless Dream Academies had changed the cosmos—but in doing so, they had awakened something far older and far more dangerous than anyone had anticipated.
And the ripples of that awakening were only just beginning to be felt.