I'm bombarding the Supernatural World with my firearms

"Perhaps he was just curious,"

Zhou Shen shook his head, "Actually, Jingjiu City had already invented the method to enter dreams using AI dream pills and improve skill proficiency experience in them quite some time ago."

"But it was never promoted."

"Because it wasn't very significant, using sleep time at night to enhance strength couldn't bring about a substantial increase in combat power, not to mention many wealthy people don't like dreaming."

"What they want can be achieved in reality."

"But... until the discovery of the dream within a dream."

"That is, the first person to create an AI dream pill in the dream and consume it."

"He discovered that after taking an AI dream pill, one would enter a layer of dream where the flow of time is consistent with the outside world, but if one takes another AI dream pill in the dream, they will enter a second layer of dream where the time flow ratio to the outside world is 10:1."

"That means if you enter the second layer of a dream, you're only asleep for 8 hours outside, but you've actually spent 80 hours in the dream, and all of these 80 hours are spent increasing skill proficiency, which can significantly enhance your combat power."

"Wow..."

Startled, Hungry Monkey touched his nose and murmured, "Have to say, scientists sure are scientists. When I entered the dream, I never thought of these things at all. Then again, would you think about these things in a world where you can create freely?"

"I have a question."

Chen Miao, who had been silent since entering Zhou Shen's office and now sitting in the chair, lit a cigarette and put it to his lips, asked with interest, "According to you, if one swallows another AI dream pill in the second layer of the dream, is it possible to enter a third layer?"

"That's correct."

Zhou Shen pushed the ashtray on the table towards Chen Miao and spoke with a serious expression, "The time flow ratio of the third layer to the outside world is 100:1, which means if you sleep for one day outside, you have actually spent 100 days in the dream."

"Can you imagine someone you couldn't beat yesterday, suddenly becoming extremely strong after just one day?"

"However, this layer is more dangerous, as it can cause some damage to the human brain, and 100 days is too long. Once you forget that you're dreaming, you'll be trapped in your own dream forever."

"By the third layer, your control over your dream decreases significantly, as your subconscious starts to take over your dreamscape, constructing it to be almost identical to reality, making you believe you are living in the real world. Once you forget you're in a dream, you won't be able to wake up."

"Is there a fourth layer?" Hungry Monkey asked curiously, "Or is the third layer the limit?"

"There is..."

Zhou Shen fell silent for a while before speaking, "The time flow ratio of the fourth layer to the outside world is estimated to be 10,000:1, possibly even higher. According to experiments, the Federation sent a total of more than 5,000 people to the fourth layer of the dream."

"If the experiment is successful, it means that in one night, a supernatural being's skill proficiencies can all be maximized."

"But unfortunately, the experiment failed."

"None of these 5,000 people ever woke up; they all became vegetative. The scientists concluded that the fourth layer is a world completely constructed by the subconscious, identical to the real world. But upon falling into the fourth layer, it's as if waking up from one's own bed, completely unable to realise one's actually in a dream."

"Let alone starting to improve one's proficiency."

"Until they slowly aged in the dream, and then suffered brain death in the real world."

"But I believe there must be a way; it just hasn't been revealed. Miao, do you know what it would mean if this problem were to be overcome?"

"..."

Chen Miao's expression remained calm, and after a long pause, he suddenly laughed, "It means that we 'Tomb Guardians', no matter what, must get this method at any cost."

The Tomb Guardians' faction effect allows for unlimited skill proficiency.

If given a time flow ratio of 10,000:1, allowing them to increase their skill proficiency without restraint in the dream, it would mean that as long as they could wake up successfully, each of their powers would greatly increase."

"That's correct."

Zhou Shen nodded firmly, "But that's not the most important thing. The reason I am telling you this so seriously, Miao, is to let you know if the Tomb Guardians' faction effect were to be exposed, and those people from Jingjiu City found out..."

"And it's after confirming that AI dream pills can increase skill proficiency, do you know what they would do?"

"They would, like you, stop at nothing to acquire your faction effect; with our current strength, we simply cannot withstand those Jingjiu City powerhouses. Therefore, our most important task at this stage is to keep it secret, not to reveal the Tomb Guardians' faction effect to anyone."

"Once it's exposed, it will be a calamity."

Chen Miao nodded, signaling that he understood. So far, there were no extraneous people among the Tomb Guardians, and he trusted them all; he had long since told them to keep silent. The only concern was a Black Doctor from Broken Pot City whom he had never met and did not know well.

He immediately sent a message to Doctor Gou, asking him to check out the Black Doctor's background, and if necessary, for the sake of security, to take him out first.

Afterward, he shook his head with a sigh of resignation, "10,000:1, one day in reality is 27 years in a dream. If one were to live for 27 years in a dream, even if they were to wake up, would they still be able to distinguish between reality and dream?"

"Especially when the dream, constructed by the subconscious, is identical to reality."

"Even if it's possible to distinguish, would they still be willing to accept that reality is indeed reality?"

"The side effects are too great, very easily leading to the loss of oneself, not worth the risk."

"For the time being, that's the case."

Zhou Shen nodded, "This challenge is still in the conquering stage, but once it is conquered, it's predictable that the powerhouses of Jingjiu City might erupt with an unprecedented frenzy for AI pills."

Just at that moment—

There were knocking sounds from outside the office.

Zhou Shen hurriedly got up to open the door, but before he took more than a few steps, he saw a middle-aged man with graying temples walk into the office, accompanied by some men in simple clothing.

He waved his hand to indicate Zhou Shen should sit down.

Then he took a seat next to Chen Miao, catching his breath for a few moments before turning his head to look at Chen Miao and revealing a quite amiable smile, "Young man, you look quite impressive."

"You need to defeat Sang Biao today and then become the representative for Fengtian City, in a month you'll represent Fengtian City in the City-State Competition."

"A total of 128 main cities will participate in the City-State Competition, last year Fengtian City's ranking was 119th."

"As long as you rank higher than last year, you will still be Fengtian City's representative next year, and all kinds of resources from Fengtian City will tilt in your favor, including informational resources, material resources, and political resources."

"If you can enter the top 100, you will receive great respect in Fengtian City."

"If... if by chance you make it into the top 80, Fengtian City will grant you the right to legally kill and the position of honorary mayor."

"In short, the higher your ranking, the more Fengtian City will give you. Even if Fengtian has been somewhat inconspicuous in the federation in recent years, it is still one of the 128 main cities of the federation, a skinny camel is ultimately bigger than a horse, you won't be treated poorly."

"As long as you make Fengtian City famous."

"All the foundation that Fengtian City has accumulated over the years will become your foundation, Chen Miao."

"As the mayor of Fengtian City, you can trust my word."

"Is that all?"

The Hungry Monkey sitting aside raised an eyebrow, "Won't mention the reward for taking first place? The highest mentioned only goes to the top 80? Sounds like you're not holding Miao in very high regard."

The Hungry Monkey was overflowing with confidence in Miao, believing that if Miao didn't come first in the City-State Competition, it would only be because Miao let it happen.

"First place?"

The elder, who was ready to leave, paused. Seeing that the expression on Hungry Monkey's face did not appear to be joking, and Chen Miao was just quietly drinking tea with a suddenly upturned corner of his mouth, he chuckled.

"Interesting."

Casually picking up Chen Miao's cigarette case from the table, he took out a cigarette and lit it against his accompanying doctor's advice, and took a satisfying deep inhale before speaking with significant implication.

"Not to mention first place, if... if it's really possible to make it into the top ten."

"You 'Tomb Guardians' can go anywhere in this city; you'll be... the new emperor of Fengtian City."

"But perhaps you should have a look at the previous City-State Competitions, it's not child's play; these are the strongest candidates from the younger generations of each city, each one a prodigy."

"They have so many trump cards that you can't even count them all."

"The difficulty of reaching the top ten is akin to making Fengtian City into a central federal city like Jingjiu City."

"But it's always good for young people to have vitality and sharpness."

"As long as you rank well enough, Fengtian City will definitely give you a lot."

Having said that,

the elder stubbed out the barely-smoked cigarette in the ashtray, patted Hungry Monkey on the shoulder with a laugh, and left the office, swift and concise. From beginning to end, there was no superfluous chitchat or official jargon, just some promises given to Chen Miao before leaving.

Perhaps in the mayor's mind, a promise made in person carried more weight, more worthy of trust.

...

"So..."

After the mayor left, Hungry Monkey, suddenly undermined by the mayor's parting words, tentatively looked at Chen Miao, "Miao, first place shouldn't be a problem, right? I feel that with you personally taking action, isn't first place within easy reach?"

"If we really must, we'll obtain the list of representatives from the other city-states."

"Then, before the City-State Competition begins, we'll find them one by one for a roundup? By the time only you, Miao, are left in the City-State Competition, wouldn't that naturally make you the first place?"

"..."

Zhou Shen was speechless and gave Hungry Monkey a look, "Feeling unsure now? You were so arrogant just moments ago, I almost thought you were Miao. Do you know how many years in a row Jingjiu City has been in first place?"

"To this day, no one has been able to snatch first place from the hands of Jingjiu City."

"Remember that."

"No one! Ever!"

"Over these many years, there was only one time when Jingjiu City didn't claim first place in the City-State Competition, and that first place went to a dog."