Chu Yuan, Utterly Deceived, Shattered Dao Heart

[Ding! Host successfully scammed the Chosen One Chu Yuan, earning 50 million points.]

Clearly, who else but Jiang Che could pull off such a shameless act?

This time, Jiang Che had anticipated Chu Yuan’s moves. He guessed that Chu Yuan wouldn’t dare stash his treasures in the system space again, so he used his special abilities to secretly pocket the original Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir from the secret realm.

The theft was blatant!

Then, he replaced it with a fake elixir using special effects. As for why Chu Yuan felt that surge of fiery excitement... well, the fake pill was actually a type of aphrodisiac known as the "Joyful Union Powder." Those in the know, know!

No wonder he felt fired up!

Jiang Che lowered his gaze, glanced at the genuine elixir in his hand, and smirked.

Good stuff. Truly good stuff!

[Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir (Nine-Rune Immortal Pill): A supreme-grade pill forged by the ancient Heavenly Court’s Grand Supreme Elderly Lord. The elixir possesses a pill spirit, and each refinement cycle adds a rune to its surface. Nine runes mark its pinnacle, making it an exceedingly rare treasure.]

His immortal ancestors had gifted him over a dozen Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs, all top-tier immortal pills—but combined, they still couldn’t compare to this one!

A pill personally crafted by the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord? Who wouldn’t be awestruck hearing that?

This thing was also available in his system’s store, but the price? A tad steep—900 million points!

...

"Why isn’t this working? System, are you messing with me?"

Yet, in response to Chu Yuan’s question, the system remained aloof and silent.

The guy was already growing suspicious of the system. Responding now would only fuel his doubts further.

Not that it mattered anymore. Chu Yuan was already too deep into relying on the "Ironhead" system.

It’s like gaming—once you start cheating, it’s hard to go back to playing fair.

"Whatever, maybe the elixir’s effects are just slow-acting," Chu Yuan muttered, resorting to self-delusion.

Next came the second trial.

[The future Heavenly Court Sovereign must possess an indomitable Dao heart. You will now face your greatest inner demon. Overcoming it will grant you the treasure: Immortal-Binding Rope.]

"Inner demon? Hah! What inner demon could I possibly have?"

Chu Yuan burst into laughter.

"I, Chu Yuan, have no parents, no siblings, no lover—no family, no love, no friendships. I’m the textbook orphan protagonist. What inner demon could haunt me?"

Well said. Even Jiang Che, watching from the shadows, couldn’t help but chuckle at Chu Yuan’s self-awareness.

But the reward for the second trial? That caught Jiang Che’s attention.

"Immortal-Binding Rope? Could it be... the one I already have?"

Jiang Che glanced down at the gleaming golden rope in his hand, his interest piqued.

According to the system, his Immortal-Binding Rope was a genuine artifact from the ancient Heavenly Court era.

If the real one was in his possession, then what was Chu Yuan’s reward supposed to be?

Surely there weren’t two of these ropes lying around?

...

Chu Yuan’s Dao heart nearly shattered!

"NO!!!!"

"I, Chu Yuan, swear to live and die with the Cultivator Academy!"

He ranted like a drunken madman, throwing punches at the air.

Jiang Che: "..."

This guy’s inner drama is intense.

True, he had no family or lover, but he had joined the Cultivator Academy!

No one could be completely detached. Even the so-called "Supreme Emotionless Immortal" had failed to sever all ties.

In the inner demon’s illusion, there was no trace of Young Master Jiang.

Without Jiang Che’s existence, the spiritual revival plunged the world into chaos. Cultivators from the Nine Heavens descended, enslaving and oppressing Earth’s inhabitants.

The nations formed the Cultivator Alliance and the Cultivator Academy, and Chu Yuan joined them.

But soon, the powerful beings from the Nine Heavens arrived like a horde of bandits, plundering the mortal realm’s secret realms and ruins. Even the Cultivator Academy was eventually annihilated.

Without the Ironhead system, Chu Yuan lacked the courage to stand against the invaders. He could only hide and grow stronger, forced to witness the slaughter and devastation.

"Pfft—"

Chu Yuan jolted awake, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his body wreathed in dark energy.

"No... I won’t let this happen!"

"I, Chu Yuan, swear upon the Heavenly Dao—I will never cower in fear again!"

His eyes burned crimson, deeply shaken by the vision.

He even made a Heavenly Oath!

This inner demon had shattered his cowardice. Hiding would only lead to more loss.

From this day forth, the "Cowering King" Chu Yuan was dead. Now, he was the "Ironhead King."

[Congratulations on passing the second trial. Reward: Immortal Artifact ‘Immortal-Binding Rope.’]

The cold voice snapped Chu Yuan back to reality.

"An immortal artifact? Perfect... With this, even a Martial God won’t scare me." He exhaled, shaking off the remnants of the vision.

But after the announcement, silence followed.

Chu Yuan: "???"

"Hello? Where’s my reward?"

No response.

Silence was the night’s only reply.

"Where’s my Immortal-Binding Rope? Are you scamming me?"

"......"

[Ding! Dear inheritor, this is the true test of your inner demon. A cultivator must rely on their own strength, not external treasures.]

Chu Yuan: "So... where’s my artifact? You promised! This is damaging the Heavenly Court’s credibility, you know?"

His temper flared. The inner demon had already shaken him, and now this?

Life felt like one big trap.

[Ding! The Transcendent Realm trial is complete. Next secret realm opening: Martial God Stage.]

Without warning, the secret realm ejected him.

"@#%&￥#@#"

Needless to say, Chu Yuan’s curses were colorful.

"Screw your Heavenly Court! It’s all a scam! The Grand Supreme Elderly Lord’s Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir? Why not say the Jade Emperor forged it?"

"Fake! All of it! Even that Celestial Origin Pill last time was a fraud!!"

"Now I see—it’s not the system screwing me over. This so-called Heavenly Court secret realm is the real scam!!!"

Chu Yuan raged. His mindset had shifted—now, he was all about defiance.

He’d doubted the system but never the secret realm. But now? To hell with the Heavenly Court!

If you’re gonna scam someone, at least don’t target the same guy over and over!