Server Announcement

"Just you?"

Wang Tai sneered at Lu Ze.

The latter met his gaze calmly:

"Just me."

"Good!"

Wang Tai clapped his hands with a cold laugh.

Above his head, a floating Memory Sphere slowly materialized.

He had clearly come prepared.

"Everything Junior Brother Lu just said has been recorded by the Memory Sphere... Don’t try to deny it later when we face the Second Elder, alright?"

Wang Tai pointed at the sphere with a sly grin.

It was a mystical artifact capable of capturing images.

He had been recording since the moment he entered, hiding it with an invisibility spell to avoid detection.

Having secluded himself for research these past few days, he had no idea what had transpired outside.

It wasn’t until the Second Elder personally sought him out that he learned Lu Ze had caused such a massive stir.

He had promised the Second Elder he would uncover the mastermind behind Demonic Sect Escape today—hence this confrontation.

He hadn’t expected Lu Ze to admit it so readily.

Not that he believed Lu Ze, of course.

But did that matter?

All he needed was someone to take the blame.

Once he handed Lu Ze over to the Second Elder, the elder had ways to extract the truth.

Every disciple of the Lingxiao Sect knew the Second Elder’s methods.

Completing the elder’s task while eliminating his most despised junior brother? A win-win.

"Why wouldn’t I dare?"

Lu Ze showed no fear.

The Second Elder was ruthless, but the Lingxiao Sect was, after all, a righteous sect.

The foundational logic of Demonic Sect Escape was designed for cultivating the Shattered Cloud Art.

Surely the Second Elder couldn’t punish him too harshly.

Still, human hearts were unpredictable, and Lu Ze decided to take precautions.

"I’ll bring the Illusion Crystal now and go with you to face the Second Elder!"

Feigning anger, Lu Ze turned to retrieve the crystal.

"Finally showing some sense."

Wang Tai snorted.

"Hurry up. The Second Elder is waiting for us in the Judgment Hall!"

Watching Lu Ze’s back, his brow suddenly furrowed.

Was this guy...

tampering with the crystal?

"What are you doing!?"

Just as Wang Tai moved to stop him, Lu Ze handed the crystal over.

"Just checking for damage. Wouldn’t want you to have trouble explaining things."

Lu Ze’s expression was unreadable.

Wang Tai inspected the crystal closely but found nothing amiss, his suspicions fading.

In the span of a single breath, even he couldn’t have altered the crystal—what could Lu Ze have done?

No way to destroy evidence.

Satisfied, he stored the crystal in his spatial ring and gripped Lu Ze’s shoulder.

"Kneel and beg for forgiveness when we see the Second Elder!"

With that,

the two vanished.

......

......

Outer Sect, disciple dormitories.

"Move aside, my turn!"

"Wait, didn’t you just play?"

"Dammit, lost again! You guys fight dirty..."

"Ban the Misplaced Ghost, it’s broken!"

......

Around two miniature Illusion Towers, outer sect disciples crowded in line, eager for their turn.

At a hundred spirit stones apiece, the towers were a luxury most outer sect disciples couldn’t afford.

But a few wealthy ones could spare the cost.

"Heh, finally my turn..."

Zhang Ming rubbed his hands, ready for another run.

While he’d been busy grinding missions for spirit stones, rumors said the inner sect disciples had pushed the record past five thousand steps—a staggering feat.

Surpassing them was hopeless.

He’d aimed to beat his own record and compete with the inner sect.

But the moment he entered the game, a scroll unfurled before him:

[Server Announcement: The creator of Demonic Sect Escape is visiting the Judgment Hall. Fellow cultivators are welcome to join and exchange insights.]

"Holy shit!"

Zhang Ming immediately exited, shouting at the top of his lungs:

"The mastermind behind this illusion is at the Judgment Hall!"

Demonic Sect Escape had taken the sect by storm, and its creator was revered like a legend.

The outer sect erupted:

"For real?"

"A living master? I thought it was some ancient ancestor’s work!"

"Must see the grandmaster in person!"

"Move it! Latecomers won’t get a spot!"

"Maybe there are other illusions we haven’t seen yet!!"

......

In the inner sect, the news spread like wildfire through mental transmissions.

"What? The designer of Demonic Sect Escape is at the Judgment Hall?"

"Elder Ding’s territory... scary."

"Scared of what? The master invited us! Elder Ding wouldn’t disrespect a senior!"

"But why’s he there suddenly?"

"Probably discussing the Dao with Elder Ding... what else? You think he got arrested?"

"No time to waste, let’s go!"

......

Tempering Gold Peak, Body Refinement Secret Realm.

"Junior Brother Mu! Big news!!"

Zhong Yi rushed over, excitement written all over his face.

"Senior Brother Zhong, what is it?"

Mu Yawen didn’t pause his relentless training, his movements sharp and disciplined.

"The creator of Demonic Sect Escape is currently at Elder Ding’s Judgment Hall!"

"Oh? Now that’s rare."

Mu Yawen halted, flashing a bright grin.

"Wait for me, Senior Brother. I’ll change and go with you!"

......

Sword Inquiry Peak, Cliff of Lost Thoughts.

Amidst a storm of sword qi imbued with profound meaning, Li Moran’s figure suddenly stilled.

In that instant, every strand of sword qi around him shattered.

The usually howling gorge fell silent.

"The creator of the illusion?"

Reading Zhong Yi’s message, Li Moran frowned.

After a brief contemplation, he stepped onto a silver longsword.

"Worth meeting, I suppose."