The Infinite Immortal Realms were undergoing a transformation unlike anything seen before. What had once been a slow trickle of ascensions—mortals transcending the limitations of their worlds to join the ranks of the immortals—had become a flood. Daily, mortals reached the brink of immortality, their bodies filled with power that propelled them into the higher realms. The once-peaceful Ascension Pools, sacred places where souls passed from the mortal to the immortal plane, were overflowing with activity, glowing with intense light as one ascendant after another emerged.
But among these new arrivals were irregulars—beings who, though they had ascended from the mortal worlds, did not follow the typical path to immortality. They had fought their way up, battling through sheer willpower and fierceness. These irregulars, rather than being guided by the traditional cultivation methods of the mortal realms, had carved their own paths through blood, conflict, and raw survival instincts. When they landed in the Ascension Pools, their presence shook the very fabric of the immortal realms.
The irregulars were different. Unlike the typical ascendant, who entered the immortal world with the foundational knowledge of cultivation and the established rules of the cosmos, these warriors brought with them a different understanding—one of battle and survival. Their fierce independence and unorthodox methods made them both feared and respected.
The Dream Academies, founded on the principles of balance and knowledge by Wújìn Mèng, quickly became aware of these irregulars. While many of them were picked up by powerful sects and clans that sought to nurture their strength, offering them resources and guidance, others chose the path of the lone immortal, rejecting the overtures of the established powers. These lone immortals, strong-willed and independent, caught the attention of the Dream Academies, which sought to guide them toward a deeper understanding of the cosmos, duality, and the balance between strength and weakness.
One such irregular was a young woman named Mei Li, who had fought her way through her war-torn mortal world. Her ascension was unexpected, but when she emerged from the Ascension Pool, the raw energy she exuded caught the attention of every major clan in the region. However, Mei Li chose to walk her own path, rejecting the offers of wealth and power that came from the sects.
Instead, she found herself drawn to the Restless Dream Academy, where she hoped to learn more about the nature of her power and the universe that now surrounded her. Mei Li, like many of the other irregulars, had fought not just for survival but for freedom. And it was this desire for independence that led her and others like her to the Dream Academies.
Across the immortal realms, the Dream Academies were growing in influence. What had begun as an effort to spread knowledge and balance had now become a powerful network that guided the fiercest and most skilled ascendants—especially the irregulars. The Restless Dream Academy, located on the outskirts of a massive celestial city, had become a hub for young immortals, particularly those who had ascended before reaching the age of 100. These young ascendants were often viewed as prodigies, their power and potential far greater than those who took centuries to ascend.
The Dream Academies had recognized the value of these irregulars early on. Zui Tian and Wújìn Mèng had both understood that the future of the cosmos lay in the hands of those who could grasp the full breadth of duality—the balance between strength and weakness, creation and destruction. The irregulars, with their raw power and unorthodox methods, were uniquely suited to this understanding.
As a result, the academies began recruiting these lone immortals, offering them not just knowledge but the tools they needed to navigate the complex and often contradictory nature of the immortal realms. The curriculum expanded to include lessons on philosophy, cultivation theory, and even the laws of duality that Zui and Wújìn were working to master. These irregulars, many of whom had never known formal cultivation training, were now learning how to harness the energy of ideas, the strength of concepts, and the intricacies of balance.
As the influx of irregulars continued, the sect leaders and clan patriarchs of the immortal realms began to take notice. While they had long held dominion over the new arrivals, nurturing them in exchange for loyalty and service, the presence of the Dream Academies and their focus on independent thought was changing the balance of power. Some sects feared that these irregulars, trained in the ways of balance and chaos by the Dream Academies, would disrupt the established order. Others saw potential and began sending their own disciples to study at the academies, hoping to harness the knowledge and power that Zui Tian and Wújìn Mèng had cultivated.
The immortal world was in a state of flux. As more mortals ascended, the very fabric of the cosmos began to shift. The Ascension Pools, once serene and calm, now boiled with the energy of a new generation of immortals—many of whom did not fit the mold of their predecessors. These irregulars were redefining what it meant to be immortal, and with the support of the Dream Academies, they were quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with.
One day, a particularly intense Ascension Pool overflowed in a blinding flash of light, heralding the arrival of a group of irregulars unlike any before. These warriors, clad in tattered robes and bearing the scars of countless battles, stepped into the immortal world not as students, but as masters of their own fate. They radiated a fierce independence, their power unshaped by the traditions of the immortal sects.
Among them was Kai Ren, a mortal who had risen from the depths of the most war-torn and desolate realm. His eyes burned with a fierce determination, and as he emerged from the Ascension Pool, the sects clamored for his attention, each offering him wealth, power, and resources beyond imagining. But Kai Ren, like so many others, turned them down, seeking instead the path of the lone immortal.
The Restless Dream Academy, having already identified his potential, welcomed him with open arms. Kai Ren, alongside others like Mei Li, soon became one of the most promising students, quickly mastering the balance between strength and weakness, creation and destruction. He, like the others, was no longer just a warrior—he was becoming a philosopher, a cultivator of the highest order, a being who could shape the cosmos through his understanding of duality.
As the years passed, the immortal realms continued to evolve. The irregulars, once viewed as outliers, were now being seen as the future of the realms. Their independence, their strength, and their understanding of balance set them apart, and the Dream Academies became a beacon of hope for those who sought something beyond the established order.
The Immortal Emperor, ever watchful, took notice of this shift. While his reign remained unchallenged, he could see the potential in this new generation of immortals. The Dream Academies had done more than educate—they had fostered a new way of thinking, one that embraced both strength and weakness, that understood the balance between creation and destruction.
And so, as the immortal realms entered a new era, one shaped by the Ascension of the Irregulars, the future remained uncertain but filled with possibility. The Dream Academies, led by Zui Tian and Wújìn Mèng, continued to guide the cosmos toward balance, preparing for the battles that lay ahead, knowing that the strength of the irregulars would be crucial in the coming conflicts.
The Devourer of Nihility still lurked in the shadows, waiting for its moment to strike, but with each passing day, the realms grew stronger, more united in their understanding of the dualities that governed all things.
The sun rose over Dragon City, casting a warm golden light over its towering walls and bustling streets. The city, a center of both commerce and cultivation, stood proudly as one of the most powerful in the immortal realms. But today, something new was stirring within its walls—something far more subtle and quiet than the usual machinations of sects, clans, and immortals. A fresh group of students, all irregulars, had arrived at the Royal Academy of Dragon City, seeking something they had never had before: peace.
These were no ordinary students. Each of them had clawed their way up from their mortal worlds, ascending through battle, bloodshed, and sheer determination. For as long as they could remember, their lives had been a constant struggle for survival, with no time to rest, no time to simply exist without the threat of death looming over them. But here, at the Dragon City Royal Academy, they had been given the chance to experience something entirely foreign to them: safety.
Zui Tian, the Immortal Drunkard, would be their teacher—a man who seemed more like a wandering beggar than a figure of immense power. Dressed in his usual tattered robes, Zui Tian spent most of his days lounging around with his flask of Endless Wine, seemingly indifferent to the grand dramas of the immortal realms. Yet beneath his disheveled exterior lay a mind sharp enough to wield the very forces of existence itself.
The group of irregulars shuffled nervously through the wide, tree-lined courtyard of the Royal Academy, their usual battle-worn expressions softened with confusion. It was a strange feeling—not being on edge, not needing to fight for every scrap of power, food, or life.
Among them was Kai Ren, a fierce warrior with jet-black hair, his muscles taut from years of combat. Next to him, Mei Li, the prodigy who had ascended without formal cultivation training, glanced around cautiously, her fingers twitching out of habit as though expecting an ambush at any moment. There was also Jian Feng, a quiet young man whose sharp eyes betrayed a history of precision and lethal efficiency. All of them had been honed by violence and survival, but now, for the first time in their lives, they were being offered a different kind of training.
They had heard stories about the Dream Academies from other immortals—their lofty ideals, their focus on balance and duality—but nothing had prepared them for this.
“Is this it?” Kai Ren muttered, his eyes scanning the tranquil surroundings. “Where’s the hidden army? The traps?”
Mei Li chuckled softly, her voice laced with skepticism. “Yeah, it feels… too easy. This can’t be it. We’ve got to be missing something.”
Just then, a figure approached them, his steps slow and casual. Zui Tian appeared as if from nowhere, a disheveled, half-smiling drunkard in robes that looked like they had seen far too many decades. He waved lazily at the students, the gourd of wine strapped to his side sloshing as he took a swig.
“Welcome, kids,” Zui said, his words slurred but strangely clear. “You’re not missing anything. This is it. No ambushes, no assassins, no death traps. Just peace and quiet… well, until I say otherwise.”
The group of irregulars stared at him in disbelief. This was their teacher? The Immortal Drunkard?
Zui Tian chuckled at their reactions, clearly enjoying their discomfort. “You all look like you’re waiting for a sword to the back. Relax. You’re at the Royal Academy now. You’re allowed to just… be. No one’s going to kill you here.”
Mei Li, ever the cautious one, narrowed her eyes. “What’s the catch?”
Zui grinned and waved his hand dismissively. “No catch. You’re here to learn, to grow, to figure out who you are when you’re not fighting for your life every second of the day. That’s the whole point of the Dream Academy—understanding balance. You’ve survived long enough in chaos; now it’s time to learn the other side of that.”
The irregulars exchanged uncertain glances, but slowly, their guard began to drop. The tension that had held them so tightly began to ease as they realized they were, for the first time, in a place where they didn’t have to be warriors.
The days that followed were like stepping into a dream. For many of these irregulars, the concept of normalcy was as foreign as the immortal realms had been when they first ascended. They were given simple rooms with beds—soft, comfortable places to rest that didn’t require them to keep one eye open for attackers. They were taught in classrooms with open windows, sunlight streaming in, and birds chirping outside. The idea of being in an open space without fear of sudden death was strange, but it was also strangely liberating.
Zui Tian, despite his drunken and often lazy demeanor, turned out to be an unexpectedly insightful teacher. His lessons were unorthodox, to say the least. Most days, he would lounge under a tree in the academy’s sprawling gardens, flask in hand, while the students gathered around him. But his words carried weight.
“Why do we fight?” Zui asked one morning, as the students sat on the grass. “You’ve all fought to survive. But what happens when you no longer need to fight? Who are you without the fight?”
Kai Ren, leaning back on his elbows, frowned at the question. “I’ve always fought because I had to. If I didn’t, I’d be dead.”
Zui nodded, taking a sip from his flask. “Exactly. But now you’re here. No one’s going to kill you if you don’t fight. So what’s next?”
Jian Feng, his voice quiet but firm, replied, “We learn. We grow.”
Zui smiled. “Good answer. But more than that, you need to understand balance. You’ve mastered chaos. Now it’s time to master order. Peace. Simplicity. There’s power in those things too, power you’ve never had a chance to explore because you’ve always been on the defensive.”
The students found themselves adjusting to this new life, but it wasn’t easy. For warriors who had spent their entire lives in combat, it was strange to have free time. They spent their days learning about cultivation, philosophy, and the nature of the cosmos. But they also had time for simple pleasures—games, laughter, and even friendships that weren’t built on the necessity of survival.
One afternoon, Kai Ren and Mei Li found themselves in the academy’s training grounds, sparring not to the death, but simply for the sake of practice.
“You’re going easy on me,” Mei Li teased as they circled each other.
Kai grinned. “For once, I don’t need to kill you.”
They laughed, a sound that echoed across the grounds, light and free, like the lives they were starting to build here. For the first time, they weren’t warriors fighting for their lives—they were students, learning who they were beyond the battlefield.
As the days turned into weeks, the group of irregulars began to understand the true purpose of the Dream Academy. It wasn’t just about teaching them new skills or philosophies. It was about giving them a chance to rest, to learn who they were beyond the chaos of survival. Under Zui Tian’s strange but wise guidance, they were beginning to see that balance wasn’t just a concept—it was a way of life.
And so, the irregulars of the Dream Academy, fierce warriors who had ascended from their mortal realms through blood and battle, slowly began to transform. They were still warriors, still powerful beyond measure, but now they were also something more—they were students, learning not just how to survive, but how to live.
The Dream Academies, especially the Royal Academy in Dragon City, were becoming not just places of learning, but places of healing, where the most battle-hardened souls could finally find peace. And under the watchful, if somewhat tipsy, eyes of Zui Tian, these irregulars were being given the greatest gift of all: the chance to rest.