It's just a skin, what's there to be ashamed of

Lingxiao Sect, Thunder God Peak.

Zhong Yi’s Qingfeng Pavilion was as crowded as ever with fellow disciples.

Years later, the concept of the Illusion Competition Room became popular in the cultivation world, and Zhong Yi played no small part in promoting it.

Zhong Yi was still teamed up with Zhou Yue and Mu Yawen, venturing into Juku Province.

The three of them were preparing on the battle island, waiting for the countdown to end.

After a month of development, *Eternal Tribulation* had matured steadily, both in its illusion realm and its players.

The ranked match mode was already live, and players were beginning to explore various strategies within the illusion world, gradually forming their own playstyles.

For example, in a three-person squad, each character took on a different role.

During battles, there were tactics like focused fire and splitting attacks.

“First do this, then do that…”

Zhou Yue closed his eyes lightly, gesturing in the air with his hands.

“Old Zhou, what are you doing?” Zhong Yi asked curiously, patting his shoulder.

“Just thinking about that thing you mentioned—the, uh, Rising Dragon?” Zhou Yue replied.

Lately, everyone had been obsessed with the Sword Training Room.

Besides the basic pure sword duels, they had started practicing real combat duels—no skills allowed, just 1v1 fights.

Zhou Yue had been thoroughly beaten by Li Moran and was eager to regain his pride.

As the old coach, Zhong Yi devised a strategy for him, based on Zhou Yue’s most commonly used “Fire Guy” character.

The plan leveraged Ji Canghai’s ultimate skill, whose sensitivity was far superior to other characters, allowing Zhou Yue to cancel the attack’s stiffness with dodges and chain multiple Rising Dragons.

“Ah, but that’s just theory, not guaranteed to work…” Zhong Yi reassured him.

Soon, the countdown ended, and the three leapt as usual into the core area of Tianren City.

“Old Zhou, how about Mu Yawen and I head to the distant Soul Return Altar to revive first?” Zhong Yi, now transformed into a soul tomb, said sheepishly.

He had been defeated in a 1v1 fight upon landing.

On top of that, he was disarmed of a golden broad sword, and his swift strike also took down Mu Yawen beside him.

At this moment, Zhou Yue was fighting two opponents alone, deeply engaged in a fierce battle.

“No need!” Zhou Yue glanced at his ultimate energy bar and said solemnly.

Thanks to the honing in the Sword Training Room, Zhou Yue’s combat skills had become remarkable.

Even against two opponents, he held his ground, and due to continuous hits, his ultimate energy was nearly full.

“Watch closely, Old Zhong!” Zhou Yue’s eyes blazed like a torch, and a fiery aura burst from his dantian.

“Fiery Blaze!!”

The spirit of Ji Canghai suddenly appeared behind Zhou Yue, roaring fiercely.

His whole body was engulfed in flames!

He swung his sword, and both enemies in front of him were stunned stiff.

Zhou Yue’s body dipped slightly, then he suddenly leapt upward with a slash.

“Watch this! Infinite Rising… uh?”

Zhou Yue had just landed a Rising Dragon strike, cutting through two figures and also slicing down a lantern hanging beneath a signboard.

The lantern fell onto Zhou Yue’s head, instantly dazing him and causing him to lose control of his body.

The lantern shattered, and the flames inside spread across his body.

Zhou Yue was not only dizzy…

He was also taking burning damage!

“???”

Zhou Yue was stunned.

Was this even possible?

The two wounded opponents, who had been knocked to the ground by Zhou Yue, exchanged glances and quickly drew their swords, wildly slashing at him.

Staring at this utterly despairing scene, Zhou Yue shouted furiously:

“I jumped from ten thousand meters up in the air and came out unscathed, and you’re telling me a lantern knocked me out??”

“I’m a fire user… a fire user, damn it!!”

“How does it make sense that a fire user like me got burned by a lantern? Does that make any sense?!”

“Junior Brother Lu, just look at what you’ve done!!”

……

……

The Illusion World.

Li Moran’s custom room.

The mist-shrouded Sunset Temple, where two figures darted back and forth.

A flash of frost appeared, but missed its mark.

Lu Ze’s long sword was already pressed against Li Moran’s nape.

“...I admit defeat.”

No sooner had Li Moran spoken than Lu Ze’s blade mercilessly took her life.

“...”

The woman’s face was as cold as ice. From the distant respawn point at the edge, she revived and clenched her fists tightly.

She just couldn’t understand—if she had already lost, why did Lu Ze insist on delivering a fatal blow, forcing her to run all this way again?

Li Moran returned once more to the overgrown courtyard of the Sunset Temple. Lu Ze was just finishing sharpening his long sword.

“If you lose the next round, Senior Sister Li, will you accept the consequences?”

Lu Ze smiled faintly, waving his sword.

“Skin promotion?”

Li Moran’s brows twitched slightly before settling back into calm.

In her heart, nothing was more important than surpassing Lu Ze.

Before their match, Lu Ze had set a condition.

He wanted her to help promote some upcoming skins for *Naraka: Bladepoint* — the game they were in — and to wear those skins within the illusion.

Apparently, Zhong Yi, Zhou Yue, and the others had already agreed to Lu Ze’s invitation, so Li Moran hadn’t given it much thought.

Wearing a skin was no big deal. What could be so shameful about it?

……

……

Wuji Sword Sect, Illusion Sword Peak.

Jiang Lingfeng stared grimly at the Illusion Tower in his hands.

It displayed various data— all about the revamped *Heavenly Dao Secret Realm*.

“Copy? You still can’t figure it out?”

Jiang Lingfeng shot a sharp look at Du Cheng.

The latter looked dejected and speechless.

He had done everything he was supposed to.

The new map and mode were entirely modeled after *Naraka: Bladepoint*.

Entering the map empty-handed, gear all scavenged.

Periodic poison zones shrinking the play area, forcing cultivators into combat.

Yet, despite all this, *Heavenly Dao Secret Realm* remained half-dead.

It was only thanks to Jiang Lingfeng’s use of elder authority that Wuji Sword Sect disciples used the Secret Realm as a cultivation illusion.

“Could it be because there’s no restriction on cultivation levels?”

Jiang Lingfeng mused thoughtfully.

“But… wasn’t it your order to keep cultivation levels unrestricted? Otherwise, it’d be no different from that guy’s map…”

Du Cheng explained reluctantly.

Jiang Lingfeng paused. That did sound like something he had said.

“Then should I limit cultivation levels too?”

Du Cheng clicked his tongue nervously and finally asked again.

“Forget it.”

Jiang Lingfeng waved his hand, feeling a little vexed.

At the start, he had made “preserving cultivation levels” the core feature to compete with Lu Ze.

If everything was the same, why would anyone come to his illusion?

“Elder Jiang, I have an idea…”

Du Cheng suddenly grinned slyly and whispered into Jiang Lingfeng’s ear.

"Since our illusionary realm can no longer be advanced, why not let that kid’s illusion shatter completely?"

"If an illusionary realm that restricts cultivation suddenly encounters a cultivator who isn’t bound by those limits, then..."

"This matter will require your assistance, Elder..."