Three hours after the release of Phantom Ghost Town.
Since many cultivators were live-streaming their gameplay, the forums were flooded with stories of experts being terrified by the sinister entities in the illusionary realm.
[Shocking: Lingxiao Sect’s True Disciple Locked in Basement, Death Gruesome!]
[Hahaha, Lingxiao Sect’s livestream is comedy gold! The drawing lots part had me dying!!]
[Poor True Disciple Zhou… but I still can’t stop laughing]
[Are these really Nascent Soul cultivators? How can they be so scared of mere ghosts? Disgrace to us cultivators!]
[Even the elite disciples of major sects are useless? Clearly, they only cultivate power, not their Dao hearts—without their fists, they’re nothing!]
[If you’re so tough, you try it]
[Fine, just wait! I’m going in right now!]
[Remember to stream it. If you actually clear it, I’ll send gifts!]
[Hahaha, after watching their streams, I feel like I could totally do better!]
[The smallest gap between me and a Nascent Soul cultivator yet!]
[Time to teach those big sects a lesson and show them what real skill looks like!]
……
The repeated failures of these experts made countless ordinary cultivators eager to enter the illusion and prove themselves.
After all, watching a livestream was one thing—playing it yourself was another.
By now, livestream permissions had been fully opened.
As long as one passed a blood essence verification, even rogue cultivators could broadcast.
Many rogue cultivators rolled up their sleeves, ready to showcase their skills.
The result?
They were brutally schooled by the Fear-Soul Binding Array.
And the weaker the cultivator, the worse they fared—many were so terrified they severed their connection on the spot.
The first wave of stubborn rogue cultivators soon returned to the forums, wailing about the horrors of the illusion.
Then came the second wave, convinced the first group was exaggerating…
……
Wave after wave, like a never-ending cycle.
It proved one thing: cultivators were inherently defiant and thick-skulled.
How could mere evil spirits scare me?
If Nascent Soul cultivators are like this, how could I possibly be afraid?
How could an illusion frighten me like this?
No, I have to prove myself!
With this mindset, cultivators threw themselves into the illusion again and again, battling ghosts in a futile struggle.
……
……
Zhong Yi’s illusionary world.
“Junior Brother Mu, you’re here—WHAT THE HELL?! JUNIOR BROTHER MU, WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOUR FACE?!”
“It’s a Skin-Peeler!! It must have—AHHH!!”
“Damn it, Senior Brother’s dead too… Why is it still hunting?! AHHH, STOP CHASING ME!!”
“Junior Sister Zhou, drop the Yin-Yang Compass! It reacts to magical artifacts—QUICK—”
“AHHH!!”
……
After a series of screams, Zhong Yi’s team was wiped out—again—inside the Haunted Manor.
Back in the safe room, the four of them exchanged glances, still shaken.
“Dammit, why does it feel like the ghosts have different strength levels, not just types?” Zhou Yue grumbled.
“I noticed that too! Whenever that unlucky guy finds the ghost first, it’s always terrifyingly strong!” Zhou Qiaoling added, earning a glare from Zhou Yue.
“That Skin-Peeler… it peeled off my skin and stuck it onto itself… I-I was actually scared…” Even the usually fearless Mu Yawen looked unnerved.
“DROP THE ARTIFACTS, DROP THEM! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY IT?!” Zhong Yi was fuming.
He had been analyzing the ghosts’ behavior and realized their vision was poor—but they could sense magical artifacts from a wide range.
That was why they had been instantly wiped out.
Zhong Yi even wondered if they could exploit this pattern to “kite” the ghosts…
“No, we’re going again! I refuse to believe we can’t beat a damn ghost illusion!” Zhou Yue’s frustration only grew.
In the game, under the influence of the Fear-Soul Binding Array, everything felt terrifying.
But back in the safe room, the fear faded, leaving only regret over their stupid mistakes.
So after every round, they immediately wanted to try again—to prove they weren’t that weak.
“Alright—HOLY SHIT! The Amateur difficulty is gone!!” Zhong Yi’s shout reminded the others of a crucial detail.
The initial Amateur difficulty only gave each player five attempts.
At first, Zhou Yue had scoffed, saying Amateur was beneath him. Now, he didn’t dare speak, his eyes practically glowing with desperation.
Everyone shared the same thought:
If the Amateur difficulty was already this terrifying…
What kind of nightmare are the higher difficulties?!
Zhou Qiaoling looked like she was about to cry.
Then she suddenly remembered the calming presence of Senior Sister Li Moran whenever they teamed up.
“If only Senior Sister Li were here right now…”
……
……
At the same time.
Icewing Pavilion, Sword Inquiry Peak.
The austere chamber was as cold as a glacial cavern.
Frigid air continuously seeped from the pavilion.
If not for the barrier surrounding it, the entire peak would have been encased in frost.
Amid the ice, a woman seated before the illusionary tower suddenly opened her eyes.
“Hah… Hah…”
Li Moran’s pupils were dilated, her chest heaving violently.
A storm of icy spiritual energy swirled around her.
Only after sensing the surging power within her did her breathing gradually steady.
The faint traces of fear in her eyes vanished, replaced once more by an abyss of frost.
“Why…?”
Li Moran fell into contemplation.
What was fear?
She had never given it thought before.
Even with her spiritual power sealed, she shouldn’t have been afraid of mere ghosts.
She had never feared death.
Yet Lu Ze’s illusion had achieved the impossible.
“This serves no purpose in cultivation… I’ll set it aside for now.”
……
……
The illusionary server world.
The remnant of the Heavenly Dao wore an expression of pure delight.
This time, while possessing the ghosts in the illusion, it had discovered a new joy.
In Phantom Ghost Town, ghosts were invincible.
Players had no means to harm them—only to flee or await death.
Coupled with the countless ways ghosts could torment cultivators, it was a perfect match for the remnant’s tastes.
As Zhong Yi’s group had guessed, in Lu Ze’s modified version of Phantom Ghost Town, ghosts of the same type had varying strength levels.
The stronger the ghost, the more ways it could torment cultivators—and the more brutal its hunting methods.
For example, the Skin-Peeler that had flayed a cultivator earlier? That had been the Heavenly Dao remnant’s personal performance.
“When will I get to play a Ghost Immortal-level character?”
The remnant licked its lips, still craving more, and glanced at Lu Ze.
The latter also wore a look of intoxication—but for a different reason.
Lu Ze was drunk on the endless flood of Demonic Path Value.
The efficiency of harvesting it through fear was shockingly high—almost on par with killing cultivators outright!
The more terrified the cultivator, the greater the yield.
At the peak of terror, the value could multiply tenfold!
For instance, the recent [+16], [+17], and [+18] Demonic Path Values had come from Zhong Yi, Zhou Yue, and Li Moran respectively.
All three of them achieved breakthroughs in the illusory realm. What made Lu Ze a bit regretful was that from now on, Zhong Yi's strength would no longer be 1.2 but 1.6.
"Soon, soon... After five rounds, they won't be able to play on the amateur difficulty level anymore."
In response to the question from the remnant spirit of the Heavenly Dao, Lu Ze replied.
In the amateur difficulty level, players have a protection period and won't encounter super-high-level ghosts.
Once they break away from the amateur difficulty...
The players are in for a real treat.
Just then, Lu Ze suddenly received a game invitation.
[Li Moran invites you to a custom game.]
Lu Ze's eyes lit up.
Why is this Li Moran still so obsessed with "Struggle between Immortals and Demons"?
She should contribute some demon path values. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Once the cultivators gradually get used to all kinds of evil creatures, it'll be a bit difficult to harvest such high demon path values.
Li Moran is such a high-quality player. Not only does she yield a high amount of demon path values, but she also often gives enlightenment experience and rare skills. Lu Ze can't afford to let her slip away.
"No, I have to give her a push!"
He knew very well that Li Moran preferred battle-oriented illusory realms because they were more helpful for her cultivation insights.
Recently, she had made great progress in "Struggle between Immortals and Demons".
Occasionally, she could even touch the threshold of "the unity of the human soul". She was second only to Bai Mu under the white curtain.
Whenever she saw that he was online, she would send an invitation for a one-on-one battle.
This time, Lu Ze flatly rejected her and sent a message in return.
[Bai Mu: Clear the highest difficulty level of "Ghost Town of Fear", or there's no way.]
[Li Moran: …]
After receiving a rather long ellipsis,
Li Moran's avatar instantly turned black and white.
Looking at her response, Lu Ze couldn't help but laugh.
"Who would have thought... She's actually afraid of ghosts."
ng to die together with you." Lin Xuan is dead, his body thrown into the river by his scumbag lover and her accomplice. She, the president of the Su Group, is decisive, ruthless, and ice-cold. For three days and three nights, she had his body fished out of the river, and without hesitation, she kissed the bloated corpse of Lin Xuan. She laid down beside him in a cold coffin, their fingers intertwined, a smile lingering on her lips as she closed her eyes. The noble and cold-hearted woman, only bending for one man—Lin Xuan. Lin Xuan, with his golden finger, is reborn and returns to the day of his wedding to the treacherous woman. Su Qiang comes to steal the bride. Lin Xuan's eyes light up, eager to pledge his loyalty on the spot, but instead, her kiss transfers a glass of drugged wine into his mouth, causing him to pass out... 【Male Protagonist with Single Female Lead】【Yandere Tycoon】【Action-Packed】【True vs. Fake Heir】
g Yu was preparing for retirement when her organization decided to eliminate her. She transmigrated to a zombie apocalypse world. However, a tiny unexpected situation occurred: She somehow transformed into an adorable little girl?!
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
