Lu Ze had been fighting for two full hours.
Outside, the disciples had been watching for two hours as well.
The crowd of onlookers grew larger by the minute.
Even the stewards and elders from various peaks came over to witness the spectacle.
As the last red-eyed barbarian zombie of the fiftieth level was smashed in the head by the Ice Melon and slowly collapsed,
Lu Ze calmly chose to withdraw, smiling softly as he glanced back at Ding Mingcang, whose face had turned ashen.
“Elder Ding, is fifty levels enough?”
Ding Mingcang’s expression was dark and gloomy.
He never would have dreamed that even with the combined efforts of numerous elders and true disciples, they couldn’t break past level twenty in the endless mode.
Yet Lu Ze had breezed through fifty levels with ease.
Not once had he died along the way.
Now, speechless and unable to argue, Ding Mingcang could only snort coldly and sweep his sleeves as he turned and left.
The once lively crowd instantly fell into a stunned silence.
“Since the outcome is clear, everyone may disperse.”
Zhao Wendao’s voice rang out like a bell, and his figure appeared before Lu Ze.
Upon hearing this, the disciples reluctantly began to leave.
“Is there really no room for negotiation regarding the sect’s contract?”
Zhao Wendao asked.
As fellow elders, he still needed to consider the sect’s reputation.
Because of one disciple’s actions, the Second Elder had been punished and sent to Reflection Valley for solitary contemplation, so word getting out wouldn’t be good.
“None at all.”
Lu Ze answered resolutely.
Ding Mingcang had tried multiple times to forcibly strip him of his cultivation and expel him from the sect; there was no way Lu Ze would back down on this matter.
Given that old man’s temperament, even if Lu Ze compromised, he would only harbor resentment.
Might as well be the villain to the end.
Besides, collecting more rewards from the system could give him more leverage to deal with future troubles.
“If you insist on this, then I won’t stop you.”
Zhao Wendao nodded.
He wasn’t surprised by the outcome.
Although he personally preferred someone like Zhong Yi—honest and righteous—
he had to admit that a prodigy like Lu Ze, who carried a certain pride and sharpness, was actually quite normal.
As for why he didn’t see Lu Ze as a genius...
Zhao Wendao cast a glance at Lu Ze’s innate roots.
A chaotic mix of the five elemental roots, it doomed his cultivation ceiling.
“Such a pity...”
Zhao Wendao sighed.
If Lu Ze’s talent were just a little better—say, even the standard of an ordinary inner sect disciple—perhaps some elder would be willing to take him as a true disciple.
With such roots, foundation establishment was likely his absolute limit.
“Since you’ve reached the Foundation Establishment stage and are the registered disciple personally appointed by Elder Nangong, from today onward, you’ll officially cultivate within the inner sect.”
Zhao Wendao said.
“Thank you, Elder.”
Lu Ze cupped his fists and bowed.
“By the way, since you’re determined to fulfill the sect’s contract punishment, there’s something you’ll need to do for Elder Ding in the near future.”
A sly glint flashed in Zhao Wendao’s eyes; he clearly had something prepared.
Lu Ze cautiously asked, “May I ask what it is?”
“Every four years, the five great sects hold an exchange martial arts tournament for disciples. The participants are outstanding new disciples who have joined within the past four years.”
“This year, it will be hosted by our Lingxiao Sect, just half a month from now.”
Lu Ze listened and felt puzzled. “You mean you want me to represent the disciples and participate in the sparring exchange?”
“Yes... and no.”
Zhao Wendao smiled faintly and shook his head.
Each generation’s disciple representatives were either true successors of their sects or inner disciples with exceptionally high cultivation.
Although he intended for Lu Ze to participate, the matter at hand was not a mere sparring match.
In terms of martial strength, even ten Lu Ze combined wouldn’t be a match for a true successor.
“As per tradition, the sect hosting the martial arts exhibition will provide a secret realm for exchange… This task has always been handled by Elder Ding in the past.”
“So, you mean… you want me to do it?”
Lu Ze pointed at himself but immediately refused without hesitation:
“No way, I’m not handling the secret realm.”
Though only a single character apart, illusions and secret realms were worlds apart in their creation.
Lu Ze’s expertise in illusions was profound, thanks to his mastery over various devices and rule settings, far beyond ordinary people.
Creating a secret realm, however, demanded far more in terms of one’s own cultivation and mystical arts.
Most importantly, illusions were entered by divine consciousness, while secret realms required the physical body itself.
Since this was a disciple sparring event, it would obviously be a controlled confrontation—no fatalities allowed.
This meant no accumulation of demonic energy points.
He wasn’t about to do a thankless task.
“Well… illusions could also work,” Zhao Wendao stroked his beard with a smile. “There have been precedents.”
His thoughts were simple.
With Lu Ze’s ingenuity, the illusions he crafted would surely be a visual feast.
Other sects relied on elders to create secret realms or illusions, but the Lingxiao Sect had a Foundation Establishment disciple do it, and at a level only improving.
The disciples’ martial arts exchange was, frankly, a showdown of the five great sects’ prestige.
What could be more honorable than this?
Zhao Wendao was tempted, and so was Lu Ze.
Disciples representing their sects in martial exchanges?
These were the elite of the elite, with the lowest cultivation at least at the Golden Core stage, right?
All of them were walking piles of pure demonic energy points!
Seeing Zhao Wendao’s delighted expression, Lu Ze feigned reluctance: “Elder Zhao, designing illusions is no easy feat…”
“Oh? Is that so…”
Zhao Wendao frowned slightly but did not doubt him, only feeling a bit regretful.
“The main issue is I’m mentally and physically exhausted, and without incentive, I can’t get motivated.”
“…”
Zhao Wendao understood perfectly.
This kid was fishing for a reward!
“You may lack talent, but your comprehension is excellent. Though I can’t grant you the status of a true successor, I can specially approve your stipend as one.”
“Two thousand spirit stones a month, plus some pills. How does that sound?”
Seeing Lu Ze remain silent, Zhao Wendao raised another finger: “You can also receive a set of cultivation techniques and a weapon, just like other true successors.”
Lu Ze’s eyes widened in surprise: “Elder Zhao, don’t get me wrong. Spirit stones are just material things; I only want to help the sect!”
“I really don’t know how Elder Nangong teaches you normally.”
Zhao Wendao sighed helplessly.
“My master? He bet me I couldn’t win today and still owes me a magic treasure he hasn’t delivered.”
Lu Ze answered calmly, without a hint of embarrassment.
“…”
Zhao Wendao’s mouth twitched involuntarily.
He wasn’t sure if the sect had found a treasure or a troublemaker.
“What are the requirements for the martial exchange illusions? Please, Elder, give me some guidance.”
“There’s no rush. We’ll decide after the disciples from other sects arrive and the elders discuss it.”
“I understand, Elder.”
…
…
Ding Mingcang kept his promise that very day and went to Reflection Valley to meditate in solitude.
It wasn’t that he was particularly trustworthy.
It was simply the binding power of the sect’s contract.
Going to Reflection Valley to meditate in disgrace was humiliating enough.
But disturbing the sect leader, who was in seclusion, to plead for the contract’s cancellation—that would be even more shameful.
Lu Ze didn’t go to see Ding Mingcang off in person, but inside the Artifact Refining Pavilion, he already knew the old man had entered.
Because a pleasant system notification sounded in his ear:
[Host has won the challenge. Upright cultivator Ding Ming has been confined to Reflection Valley for one month, disgraced and with his Dao heart damaged.]
[Congratulations, host, you have overachieved your mission!]
[Reward granted: A perfect cultivation method tailored to your root constitution.]
[Ding! You have obtained: The Art of Harmonizing Heaven and Earth.]
close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
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!
