Hearing the mission prompt from the system, Lu Ze's brows furrowed slightly.
Even without the task reminder, he had already planned to take action.
Zhong Yi shared a deep bond with him, and several elders had even prioritized his safety over their sect's reputation.
Lu Ze had no intention of swallowing this insult.
After all, crafting an illusion to humiliate others was just a trivial matter for him.
The real issue lay in the mission's requirements.
Change the Righteous Path Cultivators' perception of the demonic path?
Such a thing couldn't be altered overnight, nor could it be achieved through a mere illusion.
This was a red line—one that spelled death for anyone who crossed it, even Lu Ze.
'This mission might be a bit too difficult to complete...'
Lu Ze clenched his jaw, silently strategizing in his mind.
As for Lu Ze stepping in, none of the other sect elders objected—in fact, they welcomed it.
Defeating Lu Ze in the illusion, climbing over his reputation to reach the Heavenly Dao...
This was a golden opportunity, one that any sect would gladly seize.
"Young friend Lu, after you."
Zhang Yuxian offered a polite smile and gestured for him to proceed.
Without hesitation, Lu Ze flashed onto the Demon-Slaying Platform.
Aside from the five major sects, six other factions—large and small—participated in the [Demon-Slaying Conference].
Eleven massive Illusion Towers were transported onto the platform.
"This Illusion Tower was specially crafted by our Qingshan Sect for the conference. For the next seven days, all representatives must remain inside without leaving."
Zhang Yuxian's voice boomed with pride as he explained the rules of this round.
"The theme of this illusion is [Righteous and Demonic], with no restrictions on presentation."
"The illusion must be completed independently by each representative—no external assistance is permitted... Otherwise, disqualification."
When he emphasized "external assistance," Zhang Yuxian deliberately paused, casting a meaningful glance at Lu Ze.
Lu Ze understood perfectly—the man was hinting that any intervention from the remnants of the Heavenly Dao would result in his loss.
"After seven days, all participating sects and organizations will jointly vote to determine the rankings!"
......
Qingshan Sect.
"Elder Zhang, how did it go?"
Seeing Zhang Yuxian return in high spirits, Yang Zhengxin hurried forward to inquire.
"Everything went smoothly. As expected, Lingxiao Sect’s representative was replaced by Lu Ze."
Zhang Yuxian took a sip of tea and nodded leisurely.
"Hmph, without the Heavenly Dao’s help... Let’s see how this brat plans to compete!"
A venomous flame flickered in Yang Zhengxin’s eyes.
Memories resurfaced—the humiliation he suffered a year ago at Lingxiao Sect, crushed by "Cultivator’s Descent: 100 Floors."
"Are you truly confident you can defeat Lu Ze?"
Zhang Yuxian narrowed his eyes, glancing at Yang Zhengxin and the young man beside him.
"Without the Heavenly Dao’s aid and under such tight time constraints... Even if he’s a genius, there’s no way he can win."
Yang Zhengxin spoke with absolute certainty.
They had known the [Righteous and Demonic] theme for a full month in advance and had begun preparations early.
They had even enlisted outside help—the young man beside Yang Zhengxin.
His name was Huang Qi, a master of illusion techniques renowned as the "Mirror Immortal." A distinguished Nascent Soul cultivator, he held considerable prestige within the Illusion Alliance.
With an elder laying the foundation and Huang Qi’s expertise shaping the illusion, combined with a month’s head start, Yang Zhengxin was certain of victory.
"If I recall correctly... Lu Ze’s illusions are known for their novelty, always capturing attention?"
Still uneasy, Zhang Yuxian pressed further.
"Elder Zhang, rest assured. I’ve thoroughly dissected his tricks."
Huang Qi wore a look of unwavering confidence.
"Just wait for the results. My illusion will undoubtedly surpass his."
Hearing this, Zhang Yuxian nodded, feeling slightly more at ease.
Cut off from the Heavenly Dao’s aid, a month of preparation—
With these two advantages stacked against him, no matter how talented Lu Ze was, Zhang Yuxian believed defeat was inevitable.
"Lingxiao Sect has basked in glory for far too long... But this alone isn’t enough."
Still seething, Yang Zhengxin leaned in and whispered to Zhang Yuxian:
"A mere true disciple wavering on the principles of righteousness and demonic paths... That’s worth making a fuss over, don’t you think?"
......
Demon-Slaying Platform, inside Illusion Tower No. 12.
In a void of milky white space, Lu Ze floated cross-legged, deep in thought.
Should he attempt the system’s mission?
He had to.
But...
Glorifying the demonic path as a whole was tantamount to suicide.
Even if he replicated the finest works from his past life, it wouldn’t matter.
Lu Ze closed his eyes, countless ideas flashing through his mind.
In his previous life, there were many excellent games with villains as protagonists.
But considering localization challenges and the project’s scale, most were quickly ruled out.
This competition allowed only seven days total—for both creation and playtesting.
Factoring in at least one day reserved for the cultivators to experience it...
Lu Ze had just six days to craft his illusion.
A massive-scale illusion was out of the question.
Even if he rushed to finish, it’d be meaningless if the cultivators couldn’t reach the ending.
"In other words..."
"Small-scale. Or rather, a compact setting."
Lu Ze nibbled his finger, murmuring to himself.
"Next..."
"A narrative-driven... RPG (role-playing game)."
To shift the Righteous Path’s view of demonic cultivators, the focus had to be on story and characterization.
"Finally..."
Lu Ze narrowed his eyes, pondering the "red line" issue.
"Center the perspective on specific 'individuals,' not the entire demonic faction."
With these conclusions, the pool of options shrank significantly.
Countless brilliant stories and characters flickered through his mind.
Just as he hesitated over which to choose, an image surfaced—the numb-eyed young man and the defiant girl he’d seen not long ago.
Then, a title emerged in his thoughts—
"This Killer is Not So Cold."
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
y came from. The chests contained supplies, currency, class-change scrolls, skills, talents… and even godhood! The laws of the world were completely rewritten. This became a world where everyone gambled with their fate! Some people, despite having nothing, opened a divine artifact and rose to the top, eventually ruling the world. Others went bankrupt, opened nothing but worthless junk, and leaped from skyscrapers in despair. Lin Ye arrived in this world from another reality, utterly bewildered. “What is going on? Why is everyone a gambling addict?!” “Opening chests? No way. I refuse to gamble. I’ll start with myself!” Until— On his first chest, he obtained a Mythic Talent: Void Incarnation! He could become completely intangible, pass through all things, and reduce everything to nothingness! … On his fiftieth chest, he obtained a Mythic Weapon: Blade of Karma! With a single slash, karma shattered, twisting the universe and overturning the myriad phenomena of creation! … On his ninety-ninth chest, he obtained a Mythic Divine Treasure: Primordial Purple Energy! It could split open the heavens and earth, create all things, and evolve countless worlds with a single thought! Lin Ye: “Now that I think about it… shouldn’t someone have told me that every chest is guaranteed to contain something Mythic?!”
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
