The Ultimate Winner, Lu Ze

Everyone knows that the Emotionless Path is difficult to cultivate.

As one's realm and cultivation base improve, the seven emotions and six desires of an Emotionless Path cultivator are nearly severed.

This is not to say they lack such emotions and desires altogether.

Rather, the conditions required to trigger them are exceptionally severe.

Ironically, the fastest way for Emotionless Path cultivators to advance is precisely to refine and dissolve these emotions.

Thus, the further an Emotionless Path cultivator progresses, the slower their cultivation speed becomes.

Lu Ze's "Journey to the Moon Realm" had, in a short time, stirred up a torrent of emotions within Guo Yunfeng.

If these emotions were not refined quickly, it could actually be extremely dangerous.

Yet, coincidentally, with the triggering of the hidden ending of the second playthrough, "Journey to the Moon Realm" brought Guo Yunfeng two opposing extreme emotions.

Under the clash of these two opposing emotional extremes, Guo Yunfeng successfully found a breakthrough opportunity and advanced all the way to the mid-stage of the Void Refining Realm.

"Truly... youth brings forth heroes."

Guo Yunfeng sighed, then walked right up to Lu Ze and, without any regard for pride, bowed deeply.

A great cultivator at the Void Refining Realm bowing so respectfully to a junior in the Nascent Soul Realm drew countless gasps from those behind.

"This 'Journey to the Moon Realm' shall be taken back to the Emotionless Sect for all disciples to revere and study."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ze was overjoyed.

What a great deal!

Cultivators of the Emotionless Path possess far more emotional fluctuations than ordinary cultivators.

They would provide him with demonic cultivation value for free!

"Honored Elder Guo, since you grant your approval, do you think I have won this challenge?"

Lu Ze concealed his inner excitement and asked with a smile.

"Most certainly."

Guo Yunfeng nodded, then let out a self-deprecating laugh.

"So many disciples witnessed this old woman weeping uncontrollably. That cannot be faked."

With that, her gaze shifted toward her dwelling.

The commotion from her breakthrough had been so great that no one noticed another breakthrough had occurred within Leisure Cloud Villa.

That person was none other than Liu Mengli, the Saintess of the Emotionless Sect.

She was surely crying her eyes out in her room at this very moment.

Guo Yunfeng had originally accepted the invitation precisely to obtain the Blood Crystal of Mortal Tears needed for Liu Mengli's Nascent Soul breakthrough.

Now, thanks to Lu Ze's illusion realm, Liu Mengli had already broken through ahead of schedule, making the transaction with the Illusion Alliance unnecessary.

Of course, even if Liu Mengli had not broken through, the fact that Guo Yunfeng had shed tears before a crowd was an indisputable fact—there was no way to deny it.

With that thought, she cleared her throat.

Her icy voice rang out across the entire Leisure Cloud Lake.

"The third challenge: Lu Ze wins."

As her words fell, although the cultivators had anticipated this outcome, they still buzzed with discussion.

"Three out of three... a complete sweep!"

"Incredible. Especially that third challenge... who would have thought the Supreme Elder of the Emotionless Sect would shed tears over an illusion?"

"The first challenge was no joke either! When Old Demon Lu faced it, there was no way out—only death—and yet he fought his way through!"

"Indeed, Old Demon Lu deserves this victory. Pick any one of those three challenges—they were all death traps. Pick any one of those three illusions—each was a masterpiece. If Old Demon Lu doesn't win, who can?"

"But the question is... will the Illusion Alliance honor their word?"

"Why wouldn't they? Old Demon Lu earned those three points without a single shred of controversy!"

...

The crowd murmured among themselves.

Lu Ze was also curious whether the Illusion Alliance would uphold their reward promise.

He knew very well that the purpose of hosting this exchange meeting was to lure him in using the Soul Crystal of the Void.

From the selection of the challenges, it was clear they never intended for him to win.

For the third challenge, no one else could possibly have succeeded.

He exchanged glances with Zhao Wendao and Nangong Yuan.

The two immediately understood and, with strained smiles, approached the Rakshasa directly.

"Elder Rakshasa, congratulations, congratulations! Your top prize was won by our disciple from the Illuminated Spirit Sect. What good fortune for your Illusion Alliance!"

"Oh, this brat of a disciple told us that, just to add some weight to your Illusion Alliance competition, he traveled thousands of miles to participate... haha, hahaha..."

"Elder Nangong, what exactly did your disciple want again?"

"I think it was the Soul Crystal of the Void. Surely it hasn't run out of stock, has it? That can't be, can it?"

As they spoke, they deliberately released subtle traces of their aura.

Zhao Wendao had once stumbled upon a sliver of fate within an illusion, allowing him to master the final thunder of the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, making him the strongest under the Unity Realm.

No matter how arrogant the Rakshasa was, he wouldn't dare cause trouble in front of Zhao Wendao.

'Let him have it. No matter.'

Just as the tension reached its peak, a voice transmission from the Heart Demon reached the Rakshasa's ears.

The next moment, a strange transparent crystal appeared in his hand.

"You two elders jest. Our Illusion Alliance never goes back on its promises."

Despite his reluctance, the Rakshasa had no choice but to steel himself and, with a smile, handed the Soul Crystal of the Void to Lu Ze, a flash of envy flickering in his eyes.

"This Illusion Alliance exchange meeting..."

"The final victor: Lu Ze!"

...

...

Three hours later.

Leisure Cloud Villa, Floating Sky Pavilion.

"Alliance Master, are we really just giving him that Soul Crystal of the Void?"

The Rakshasa asked the Heart Demon, bitterness in his voice.

"Given the current circumstances, the Illusion Alliance's foundation is unstable. Reneging on a promise would invite backlash."

The Heart Demon gazed out the window, seemingly indifferent to the loss of the reward.

"The exchange meeting was held under the banner of recruiting talent. If we refused to give Lu Ze what was promised, we would lose the people's trust. It would be difficult to recruit talented cultivators in the future, let alone compete with Lu Ze."

"Besides, don't forget what I said..."

"Given Lu Ze's cultivation aptitude, if he tries to refine the Soul Crystal of the Void, he will only harm himself."

The Heart Demon spoke with absolute certainty.

As the only contemporary cultivator who had refined the Soul Crystal of the Void, he knew its power all too well.

Even with his talent, he could only refine one-third of the crystal's energy.

Absorbing even a fraction more could cause his divine sense to explode.

And what about Lu Ze?

As everyone knew, before Lu Ze came into contact with illusions, he was a complete waste!

If not for his chance encounter with a heavenly opportunity of fate, allowing him to enter the Dao through illusions, who knows where he'd be now?

No matter how talented he was with illusions, it couldn't hide his mediocre roots and average qualifications.

With such aptitude, if he dared to touch the Soul Crystal of the Void, there would be only one outcome!

At best, his divine sense would be severely damaged. At worst, his soul itself would be obliterated!

What did it matter if they lost one Soul Crystal of the Void?

If Lu Ze, their greatest rival, could be eliminated, even losing another would be worth it!

"Congratulations, Alliance Master! It seems the Illusion Alliance's future path is about to be completely cleared!"

The four elders exchanged glances, understanding the logic, and quickly flattered him.

The Heart Demon unhurriedly produced a massive Illusion Tower from the void.

On its surface was clearly engraved the identifier "749."

This Illusion Tower was the true core purpose behind all the money and effort he had poured into hosting the exchange meeting.

"Next..."

"You shall join me in reopening the Four Symbols Heaven-Earth Formation."

"Lu Ze's secret to his illusions must finally be uncovered this time."