Server Launch

"So, Junior Brother Lu is releasing a new illusion realm again?"

Zhong Yi's eyes lit up as he immediately caught Lu Ze's drift.

"Exactly."

Lu Ze nodded slightly, taking out two illusion crystals from his storage ring and tossing them to Zhong Yi and Zhou Yue respectively.

After the Remnant Spirit of the Heavenly Dao took control of the illusion realms, cultivators could purchase new illusions directly within the realm itself. However, there was always a group of nostalgic collectors who loved to get their hands on a unique physical crystal version as a souvenir.

Therefore, every time he created a new illusion realm, Lu Ze would always produce an extra batch of sub-crystals.

"Operation Xianyuan? What kind of illusion realm is it this time?"

Zhong Yi looked at the small text on the crystal, making no effort to hide the excitement in his eyes.

"You choose your own equipment, enter a secret realm, and fight other cultivators for resources."

After a brief moment of thought, Lu Ze gave a simple explanation.

"How strange. Why does that sound just like our usual secret realm explorations?"

Zhou Yue rubbed his head and casually pointed it out.

"Not entirely."

Lu Ze shook his head, not directly denying it.

Although it seemed no different from cultivators heading into secret realms to fight for resources on a daily basis, there was actually a huge difference.

In reality, when people went to secret realms, they did so with the resolve to face death.

No one would skimp on resources or hold back their magical treasures.

After all, dying in reality meant you were truly dead.

But an illusion realm was different.

Because it was an illusion realm—or rather, a game—it was bound to present problems that cultivators had never anticipated.

For example, life-and-death teammates entering a secret realm wearing nothing but scrap metal;

For example, surviving the run, but losing all your money;

For example, bringing top-tier gear didn't guarantee a profit, and bringing nothing didn't mean a loss...

Influenced by economic conditions, this combination of various factors created the Loot, Shoot, Extract genre that became wildly popular across the world.

This point applied just as perfectly to the cultivation world.

In his eyes, the extraction genre was absolutely not as simple as cultivators just raiding a secret realm.

If the players from his previous life only wanted the thrill of combat, wouldn't the gunfights in CS2 or PUBG be much more exhilarating?

A unique economic system, resource allocation strategies, the coexistence of different types of players...

These were the true essence of an extraction game.

"Junior Brother Lu, how many people can team up in this illusion realm?"

"Up to three."

"Do you want to join us, Junior Brother Lu?"

"No, I still have some important matters to attend to. Why not find Senior Brother Mu?"

"Junior Brother Mu is currently leading the younger disciples in body tempering, so he probably can't make it. Junior Sister Li is still in secluded cultivation... Looks like we can only call Junior Sister Qiaoling."

"..."

"Hmm? What's wrong, Junior Brother Lu? Why does your expression look a bit off?"

"Nothing, it's nothing... You guys go ahead and call her."

Lu Ze couldn't help but wipe a drop of sweat from his forehead. He couldn't help but recall the time Zhou Qiaoling's cyber soul secretly hoarded night pearls.

"Alright, you two senior brothers should head back first. Operation Xianyuan will be open for entry in about half an hour."

...

...

Unlike the illusion realms of others, Lu Ze had a wide variety of illusions under his belt, complete with forum links.

This served as a natural promotional channel.

As soon as a pinned server-launch announcement was posted on the forum, the online players across his major illusion realms simultaneously received a pop-up notification.

Thousands of cultivators flooded into the illusion world of Operation Xianyuan in an instant.

Lingxiao Sect, Qingfeng Pavilion.

"It's here, it's here! The illusion crystal for Operation Xianyuan is glowing!"

Zhong Yi excitedly patted Zhou Yue's shoulder.

Beside them, Zhou Qiaoling let out a listless yawn.

"Isn't this just a Heavenly Dao Secret Realm? I don't know why you guys are so excited..."

Zhou Qiaoling rolled her eyes.

She liked playing Lu Ze's illusion realms either because the settings were entirely unique, or because she could enjoy the thrill of obtaining treasures inside.

The description of Operation Xianyuan sounded just like an everyday secret realm run.

It was neither novel, nor did it offer real treasures.

She simply wasn't interested in purely fighting for the thrill of it.

"If you ask me, Junior Brother Lu just hasn't experienced enough Heavenly Dao Secret Realms, which is why he thinks this kind of illusion is something new..."

Despite her complaints, she still entered the illusion realm together with Zhong Yi and Zhou Yue.

An animated cinematic slowly unfolded before the three of them.