You're the real sinister demonic path

The moment the "Immortals' Brawl" event was announced, it sparked heated discussions across the sect forums.

[What? An event? Don’t tell me it’s another ploy to make us spend spirit stones…]

[Fellow Daoist above, why so cynical?]

[Diagnosis: too much "Three Kingdoms Kill" gameplay.]

[This event is awesome! Finally, we can use our cultivation in the illusion realm!!]

[Heh, let’s see if a crossbow bolt is faster or my movement technique!]

[Let’s be bold—I bet it’ll just turn into everyone shooting hand crossbows at each other…]

[Flips table! I’m out!]

[I’ll spend tonight preparing spells!]

[Hahaha, let’s see who’s got real skills tomorrow, fellow Daoists!!]

Countless cultivators pulled all-nighters, refining their spells for the showdown at the gaming table the next day.

For a time, the hype around "The Trickster’s Tavern" even surpassed the popularity of the hottest game, "Minecraft."

…

The next day arrived.

The "Immortals' Brawl" event began as scheduled.

Players logged in, armed with their meticulously crafted spells.

Zhong Yi and the Zhou siblings, Zhou Yue and Zhou Qiaoling, showed up at the Artifact Refining Pavilion bright and early, clamoring for a match against Lu Ze.

"Brother Lu, I’ve never beaten you at the gaming table… Now that the illusion realm accounts for cultivation, I must restore some dignity to our true disciples!" Zhong Yi declared with confidence.

"What, Senior Brother Zhong, planning to curse me with your ‘crow’s mouth’?" Lu Ze teased good-naturedly.

He’d more or less figured out the mechanics of Zhong Yi’s "crow’s mouth" curse.

It only worked if Zhong Yi genuinely believed in something and inadvertently spoke it aloud, resulting in the opposite effect—essentially, an accidental reverse jinx.

In other words, it couldn’t be used proactively.

Otherwise, Lu Ze would’ve considered the guy downright invincible.

"Bah! This is a legitimate True Speech spiritual root, I’ll have you know! Don’t listen to that nonsense from Old Zhou and the others!" Zhong Yi’s face flushed as he stubbornly defended himself.

"Senior Brother Zhou is joining too? Didn’t you swear off this game just yesterday?" Lu Ze turned his amused gaze to Zhou Yue.

"Cough… Well, ‘tastes change.’"

Zhou Yue struggled for a moment before recalling a meme that had recently gone viral—courtesy of Zhong Yi.

"Come on, Junior Brother Lu, stop dawdling! I’m taking your first kill today!" Zhou Qiaoling declared with equal enthusiasm.

"Fine, fine. I’ll oblige, then." Lu Ze shrugged indifferently.

The four of them took out their illusion towers and entered Lu Ze’s teahouse.

"Alright, let’s see what tricks you’ve all prepared." Lu Ze grinned at them.

"Don’t be too shocked later…" Zhou Yue said mysteriously.

The "Immortals' Brawl" rules had an added twist compared to the standard mode.

Before the match began, players would take turns selecting the spells they wanted to bring, based on the initial play order.

Only one spell of the same effect could exist per match, so the first player had a slight advantage.

The order was:

1. Zhong Yi

2. Zhou Qiaoling

3. Zhou Yue

4. Lu Ze

"Haha, luck’s on my side today~~~ Junior Brother Lu’s first kill is mine~~~"

Zhong Yi grinned at his freshly dealt hand, feeling triumphant.

Then, he sensed a shadow looming behind him.

Puzzled, he turned—but saw nothing.

"Strange…"

He glanced around suspiciously before fixing his gaze on Zhou Qiaoling.

"Junior Sister Qiaoling, is your neck… a bit crooked?"

"Huh? Is—is it?"

Zhou Qiaoling hastily adjusted her posture.

Zhong Yi went back to his cards.

The moment he looked down, he whipped his head around again—

Just in time to see Zhou Qiaoling’s head stretching out behind him, her neck elongated like a rubber band.

"???"

Zhong Yi was stunned.

This was downright eerie.

"Zhou! Qiao! Ling!"

Zhou Yue’s eye twitched as he enunciated each word.

"Even if this is an illusion realm, remember you’re a righteous cultivator, damn it!!"

"Uh… hehehe…"

Zhou Qiaoling giggled, having memorized Zhong Yi’s hand, then proceeded to crane her neck toward Zhou Yue’s cards.

"Seriously?! If you wanted to peek, why not just pick a divination or clairvoyance spell? Why go full horror mode?!"

Zhou Yue couldn’t help but complain.

"I like it this way."

Zhou Qiaoling rolled her eyes and mentally noted their hands.

Lu Ze’s cards were shielded, so she couldn’t see them.

But with the other three’s hands exposed, she could easily deduce his.

"One [Human]!"

Zhong Yi confidently prepared to play his card—

When suddenly, Zhou Yue smirked.

The next moment, Zhong Yi slapped down a [Earth] instead.

"What the—?! Where’s my [Human]?! How did this become [Earth]??"

He checked his hand again.

Not a single [Human] left. Realization dawned.

"Oh, I get it! Old Zhou, you bastard, you swapped our hands! Ugh, your hand is absolute trash…"

"Caught me!"

Zhou Yue didn’t deny it, looking smug.

"Pfft. I refuse to believe I’ll lose on the first shot!"

Unfazed, Zhong Yi raised his hand crossbow to his forehead.

"BANG!"

The bolt fired with a thunderous crack—

But instead of killing him, a golden barrier flashed, deflecting the shot.

"Heh. I brought [Golden Bell Shield]. Even a crossbow can’t break it. I’m untouchable!"

Zhong Yi smirked triumphantly.

"Wow… you’re all so strong. How are we supposed to decide a winner like this?"

Zhou Qiaoling murmured.

Compared to Zhou Yue and Zhong Yi’s skills, her peeking ability seemed lackluster.

Though in terms of sheer creepiness, she was unmatched.

Knowing everyone’s hands, she played a [Human]. Zhou Yue didn’t challenge.

"One [Human]."

Zhou Yue, now holding Zhong Yi’s cards, looked pleased with his decent hand.

Lu Ze didn’t challenge him either.

And he knew exactly what Zhong Yi, as the next player, would do.

"Three [Human]."

Lu Ze casually tossed out three cards.

Zhong Yi had already fired his crossbow and couldn’t die again.

So of course, he’d challenge.

Since he was "invincible," why not mess around?

"Challenge!"

Just as predicted, Zhong Yi immediately called him out.

And Lu Ze had, in fact, lied.

"Alright, alright. Let’s do this."

Lu Ze pressed the crossbow to his temple, expression blank.

Everyone waited eagerly to see what spell he’d use.

"BANG!"

The bolt shot forth, infused with surging spiritual energy—

And in that instant,

Lu Ze’s head shrank and vanished.

The bolt sailed straight past—

And buried itself in the forehead of Zhong Yi, who stood completely unprepared.

"???"

Zhong Yi’s head exploded on the spot.

Zhou Qiaoling and Zhou Yue gaped in unison:

"HOLY SHIT!!! YOU’RE THE REAL DEMONIC CULTIVATOR HERE!!!"