One and a half hours had passed.
Inside the Hall of Spirit Nurturing, the argument still raged on.
"Old Thief Yang, if you dare make trouble for my disciple again today, don’t blame me for not giving you face!"
Nangong Yuan’s face was flushed with anger as he pointed at Yang Zhengxin’s nose and roared.
He had always been fiercely protective of his own, especially since he had long-standing grudges against the likes of Yang Zhengxin and Ding Mingcang.
Hearing that Yang Zhengxin had forced Lu Ze to create a Grade-C or higher mechanism, Nangong Yuan had rushed over from the Artifact Refining Pavilion to demand justice.
"Hah! It was your disciple who provoked me repeatedly! Besides, making mechanisms was his own suggestion. He was the one who boasted that even a group of elders wouldn’t be able to pass his traps—how is that my fault?"
Knowing that Nangong Yuan was unreasonable, Yang Zhengxin matched his stubbornness with his own.
"Bullshit! My disciple is pure-hearted and simple-minded—he would never ask to create trap mechanisms on his own! You must have tricked him into saying it!"
Nangong Yuan immediately countered.
"I don’t care. Those words came from his own mouth… If you’re so capable, why don’t you design an immortal-grade mechanism for your disciple? I’ll pretend I didn’t see it!"
Yang Zhengxin sneered.
"You—!!"
Nangong Yuan was furious but helpless.
An immortal-grade mechanism?
If he had the ability to make something like that, would he still be the sixth elder of the Lingxiao Sect?
Even the sect master would have to step down for him!
"Today, forget immortal-grade… If even a scratch comes from his mechanism, I’ll admit defeat! Hahaha!"
Yang Zhengxin laughed again.
Just as Nangong Yuan was about to retort—
Lu Ze opened his eyes.
Exactly one and a half hours had passed.
"What? Giving up already?"
Yang Zhengxin taunted.
Lu Ze didn’t even spare him a glance, instead cupping his fists toward Nangong Yuan and Zhao Wendao. "Master, Grand Elder. This disciple’s illusionary realm is complete."
Zhao Wendao and Nangong Yuan exchanged glances, their eyes filled with disbelief.
They knew Lu Ze was capable of crafting illusions.
But this was far too fast!
For anyone else, one and a half hours would barely be enough to set up half the scene—how had Lu Ze already finished the traps as well?
"Disciple, if you’re unsure, I can assess it for you," Nangong Yuan quickly offered.
"Elder Zhao, you claimed this illusionary realm was the work of a sect disciple. Now Elder Nangong wants to take credit? Do you think the eyes of the other sects are blind?"
Yang Zhengxin naturally wouldn’t let them have their way and immediately challenged them.
The others present nodded in agreement.
Everyone understood the situation.
When Zhao Wendao suddenly announced that this year’s secret realm would be handled by a sect disciple, it was likely just to boost the reputation of some newly emerged genius.
If they had secretly prepared some things in advance and passed them off as the disciple’s work, that would be one thing—but to cheat so blatantly in front of everyone was too brazen.
"In my opinion, it’s better to let Elder Nangong handle the secret realm."
"Unacceptable. I’d like to see what kind of illusionary realm a junior could create."
"Hmph, this old man also wants to witness it… What kind of mechanism could possibly make even us hesitate?"
The elders from the other three sects chimed in one after another.
After all, Lu Ze’s earlier declaration had been far too arrogant, leaving them displeased.
Just as Zhao Wendao and Nangong Yuan were about to speak, Lu Ze stepped forward first.
"This disciple thanks Master for your kindness. However, designing trap mechanisms is a trivial matter—there’s no need for Master to intervene."
With that, he placed the illusionary crystal in his palm and presented it to the crowd.
"The illusionary realm is complete. Please examine it."
Hearing Lu Ze’s words, Nangong Yuan sighed softly.
He had always known Lu Ze was prideful, but never to this extent.
With just a little provocation, he had actually taken the bait?
With him and Zhao Wendao backing him, he could have easily avoided this.
But in the end, this was his disciple. He began calculating how to salvage the situation later.
If necessary, mutual destruction with Yang Zhengxin wasn’t off the table…
At this point, there was no turning back.
"Since that’s the case, let’s begin."
Nangong Yuan waved his hand, and a spatial spell instantly manifested.
The high-tier Illusion Tower from the Artifact Refining Pavilion was teleported to the center of the hall in an instant.
Lu Ze stepped forward, placed the illusionary crystal inside, and gestured for Yang Zhengxin to proceed.
For a brief moment, Yang Zhengxin hesitated.
There was something unsettling about the smile on Lu Ze’s face—
as if…
He was eagerly anticipating his entry.
"Hmph! Trying to intimidate me?"
Yang Zhengxin focused his spirit, and the strange feeling vanished from his mind.
He strode forward and stood before the Illusion Tower.
"Come! Let’s see how a mere Foundation Establishment disciple’s mechanism could possibly stop me from clearing it!"
As spiritual energy poured in—
Yang Zhengxin’s consciousness entered the illusionary realm designed by Lu Ze.
A line of text appeared in the space:
"A Cultivator’s Descent—100 Floors."
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
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!
ng to die together with you." Lin Xuan is dead, his body thrown into the river by his scumbag lover and her accomplice. She, the president of the Su Group, is decisive, ruthless, and ice-cold. For three days and three nights, she had his body fished out of the river, and without hesitation, she kissed the bloated corpse of Lin Xuan. She laid down beside him in a cold coffin, their fingers intertwined, a smile lingering on her lips as she closed her eyes. The noble and cold-hearted woman, only bending for one man—Lin Xuan. Lin Xuan, with his golden finger, is reborn and returns to the day of his wedding to the treacherous woman. Su Qiang comes to steal the bride. Lin Xuan's eyes light up, eager to pledge his loyalty on the spot, but instead, her kiss transfers a glass of drugged wine into his mouth, causing him to pass out... 【Male Protagonist with Single Female Lead】【Yandere Tycoon】【Action-Packed】【True vs. Fake Heir】
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
