The First Proposition: Climbing the Tower

Once the Illusion Alliance’s recruitment post went up, it immediately sparked heated discussion among the cultivators.

What’s going on? The Illusion Alliance is giving out perks again?

Is there anyone in this world more generous than the Illusion Alliance?

There is. That guy who bet on The Last Dusk in the last Heavenly Dao competition and gave everyone money.

I suggest this person join the Illusion Alliance.

Holy crap, our sect’s ultimate treasure isn’t even as good as their second prize…

Is the first prize way too over-the-top? These are priceless relics passed down from ancient times!

Looks like the Illusion Alliance is really pulling out all the stops to recruit talent.

I’m signing up! I’ve got to try for the first prize!

To get the first prize, you have to take first place in three consecutive rounds… The difficulty is too high. Only Old Demon Lu could pull it off.

If he joins, the Illusion Alliance might as well just hand over the reward…

Don’t worry. Old Demon Lu doesn’t get along with the Illusion Alliance. There’s no way he’ll participate.

Besides, would someone like him even care about these measly prizes?

…

“What do you mean I wouldn’t care? I care a whole lot.”

Lu Ze smiled and shook his head, then replied to the post with a message:

I, Lu Ze, am signing up!

…

…

At the Illusion Alliance headquarters in Luofeng Continent.

“Alliance Leader! That kid finally signed up!!”

Blood Crow burst into the great hall in high spirits, rushing to report to Mind Demon, who was resting with his eyes closed.

“So he came after all.”

Mind Demon let out a relaxed smile and immediately summoned the other three elders to the hall.

“Are all your illusion realms ready?”

The four elders exchanged knowing smiles. “Naturally.”

“Good.”

Mind Demon nodded, his gaze gradually turning fierce.

“It’s time to let him taste what failure feels like…”

…

…

The news of Lu Ze signing up caused an uproar on the forum.

Everyone knew Lu Ze’s strength. Once he signed up, there was no suspense about who would take first place.

The worst part was that the Illusion Alliance’s first, second, and third prizes were tied to a point system.

That meant if Lu Ze won the first prize, no one would be able to claim the second or third.

For a while, the forum was filled with wails of despair.

The next day, Lu Ze packed his bags and, together with his master Nangong Yuan, stepped into the sect’s teleportation formation.

Joining them were Zhong Yi and Chao Wendao.

Zhong Yi had always been fascinated by illusion realms and had often consulted Lu Ze in private.

Now that he saw the Illusion Alliance’s exchange event, he decided to participate as an illusion master to gain some practical experience.

Chao Wendao claimed he was escorting his own disciple on a long journey, just like Nangong Yuan.

But anyone with eyes could see that Zhong Yi didn’t really need protection. The real purpose was to accompany Nangong Yuan in safeguarding Lu Ze.

After all, the Illusion Alliance’s methods in their illusion realms weren’t exactly above board.

No one dared to take Lu Ze’s safety lightly.

He was the key to Lingxiao Sect’s future fortunes.

…

With Chao Wendao using magic to clear their path, the four of them traveled incredibly fast.

In just half a day, they arrived at Tianshui City.

Aside from the capital, Tianshui City was the most prosperous town in the Great Qian Kingdom.

The kingdom was blessed with strong national fortunes and a steady stream of cultivators.

As a frontline city, it wasn’t unusual to see cultivators walking among the streets.

Nangong Yuan, having traveled extensively over the years, knew Tianshui City well. He quickly led the group to the Xianyun Manor, where the exchange event was being held, and got them settled.

Lu Ze had been so focused on cultivating the Art of Transformation that he hadn’t kept up with outside happenings.

In truth, the Illusion Alliance’s announcement about the exchange event had already been posted over half a month ago. Now it was the end of the month.

In just three days, the event would begin.

…

Soon.

Three days later.

Tianshui City, Xianyun Manor.

“Junior Brother Lu, that spatial stacking technique you taught me yesterday was truly ingenious! It solved a problem that had been bothering me for ages…”

Zhong Yi came to Lu Ze’s room early in the morning, animatedly discussing his various insights into crafting illusion realms.

“Not bad, Senior Brother Zhong. You’re truly a born ox— I mean, a talented illusion master!”

Lu Ze gave him a thumbs up, almost slipping up and quickly correcting himself.

Teaching Zhong Yi how to create illusion realms was a good thing.

As Zhong Yi’s skill in making illusion realms grew day by day, his cyber soul would also strengthen.

He was practically born to be a top-tier workhorse!

So Lu Ze had been teaching Zhong Yi everything he knew.

“Junior Brother Lu, are you joining this exchange event to get that Primordial Void Soul Crystal?”

Zhong Yi asked.

“Yeah. The boost it gives an illusion master is no joke.”

Lu Ze didn’t hide it. He admitted it outright.

“I have a feeling this won’t go smoothly… Sigh!”

Zhong Yi furrowed his brow and let out a sigh.

Lu Ze blinked, then actually looked relieved. “Thanks for the blessing, Senior Brother.”

“???”

Zhong Yi’s mouth twitched.

“Junior Brother Lu, I’m being serious here! That Primordial Void Soul Crystal is on a completely different level from the other rewards. It’s clearly a bait from the Illusion Alliance to lure you in…”

“I know.”

Lu Ze nodded calmly.

He was well aware of the problems Zhong Yi mentioned.

The Illusion Alliance’s listed rules seemed ordinary on the surface, but there were plenty of opportunities for them to pull tricks.

For example, forbidding participants from bringing their own illusion towers and forcing them to use the Illusion Alliance’s? What if they gave him a defective one? Even a skilled craftsman couldn’t work without proper tools.

What about leaving the competition topics to an unnamed sect or organization? Given the Illusion Alliance’s shady nature, leaking the topics and preparing illusions in advance was almost guaranteed.

And then there was…

…

But in the end, the Illusion Alliance added one rule: “Under the supervision of the Heavenly Dao.”

That meant they absolutely wouldn’t dare to interfere within the illusion realms.

Lu Ze had already “casually” mentioned this to the remnants of the Heavenly Dao spirit.

When the time came, he could just ask that guy to publicly disclose the data. There was no need to worry about the Illusion Alliance fudging numbers.

That gave Lu Ze more than enough confidence.

Even if they prepared their illusion realms in advance, so what?

With all the masterpieces he had experienced in his past life, if he couldn’t beat these locals, it would be a laughingstock!

As long as they used illusion realms as the competition ground, he couldn’t lose!

“Let’s go, Senior Brother. Time to meet the Illusion Alliance folks.”

…

…

In the center of Xianyun Manor stretched a vast lake called Xianyun Lake.

On the lake’s surface, the Illusion Alliance had used magic to build a massive stage.

At the hour of Si, the exchange event officially began.

A figure wearing a green ghost mask, Rakshasa, acted as the event’s host and launched into a lengthy welcome speech.

Whenever Lu Ze met his gaze, he could always sense a trace of venomous resentment…

“Next, I invite Elder Sikong Che of the Vast Dao Sect to announce the first topic of this exchange event!”

Rakshasa raised his hand, and a thin, tall Daoist appeared beside him.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Sikong Che got down to business.

“When it comes to illusion realms, I don’t have much skill… I just remember that back when I was a disciple, the illusion realm was all about climbing towers and training, over and over again.”

“With that in mind, I’ll set the topic as—”

“Tower Climbing.”