Building Arrow Towers at the Doorstep

Lu Ze kept switching between the perspectives of his own sect and the Qingshan Sect.

On one side, he methodically controlled slaves to mine spirit stones and build infrastructure.

On the other, he began constructing arrow towers right at the entrance of the Qingshan Sect.

The demonic path's main strength lay in the early game.

With tanky yet agile blood puppets, harassing assassins, and overpowered defensive towers…

But once the late game arrived, the demonic path's high-tier units like illusionists had limited utility, making them comparatively weaker in pure combat.

Lu Ze had to secure a massive economic lead early on.

For him, this was child's play.

He had participated in training matches between all the major sects.

These players treated the AI demonic path's aggression as the gold standard.

For example, high-difficulty AI would launch coordinated attacks three minutes into the game, while cultivators usually farmed for two minutes before building training halls to muster defensive forces.

Against Lu Ze, they’d likely delay that timing even further.

No one expected Lu Ze to attack just one minute in.

And worse—using slaves to build defensive towers right at their doorstep. What a shameless tactic!

Lu Ze chuckled as he directed his slaves to construct the towers.

Arrow towers built faster than training halls.

By the time Xu Huoyao finished his training hall, no unit would make it past the gates without being turned into a pincushion by the towers.

Xu Huoyao was frantic.

He might be inexperienced, but he wasn’t stupid.

He immediately sent his disciple laborers to chase off the demonic slaves.

But Lu Ze leisurely maneuvered his slaves, circling around the half-built towers like a game of cat and mouse—all while continuing construction.

Xu Huoyao’s seven disciple laborers failed to land a single hit on the slaves. Instead, they got bonked on the head a few times by the slaves’ hammers.

"Dammit! Stop!! Are you even playing fair!?" Xu Huoyao roared in frustration.

Too bad Immortal Realm Domination didn’t have a voice chat system.

Otherwise, he’d have suffered even more humiliation.

Under Xu Huoyao’s despairing gaze, three arrow towers rose one after another.

---

Outside the match.

Zhong Yi commentated with wild enthusiasm.

"What is Lu Ze doing!? He’s building arrow towers at the Qingshan Sect’s entrance!"

"Xu Huoyao realizes something’s wrong! He’s starting a training hall!"

"Too late! The training hall takes too long—by the time it’s done, the towers will have him surrounded!"

"Xu Huoyao’s sending his disciple laborers to fight the demonic slaves… Oh no! Lu Ze’s slaves are too slippery!!"

"Lu Ze’s towers are up! What!? The damage is insane! The Qingshan Sect’s disciple laborers are wiped out!!"

"The demonic slaves are pushing forward! Still building towers! They’re about to reach the sect’s doorstep!!"

"The Qingshan Sect is getting spawn-camped by three demonic slaves!!!"

---

The spectators were stunned.

"Holy crap, you can play like this!?"

"That’s so dirty… So demonic…"

"Why didn’t Xu Huoyao build his own towers? Doesn’t the righteous path have them?"

"The demonic path’s towers are way stronger!"

"Poor Qingshan Sect…"

"This strategy is unbeatable! Impossible to counter!"

"Damn, I’m gonna have to watch out for enemy laborers and slaves in war mode from now on…"

---

With victory assured, Lu Ze leisurely pushed forward.

This was a "first-time ambush" tactic.

If the opponent had never seen it before, they’d almost certainly get steamrolled.

In RTS games from his past life, such tactics were everywhere.

Like Protoss cannon rushes in StarCraft or Human tower rushes in Warcraft.

Lu Ze’s current strategy wasn’t as systematic or brutal as a Human tower rush.

But for an early-game surprise attack at this stage, it was practically foolproof.

The Qingshan Sect had already lost all ability to fight back.

How could they?

Training hall units got shredded by arrow volleys the moment they spawned.

Disciple laborers were insta-killed just passing by.

By now, Lu Ze had built towers right in Xu Huoyao’s face.

Not only that—he’d also constructed a demonic sub-sect inside the Qingshan Sect’s territory.

More slaves were recruited, openly mining the Qingshan Sect’s spirit stones right under Xu Huoyao’s nose.

"I… I!!! DAMN IT!!!"

Xu Huoyao slammed his fists on the command desk, seething with rage, wishing he could tear Lu Ze apart.

As a prodigy always praised by others, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

The thought of countless disciples watching his disgrace made him dizzy with fury.

"AAAAAHHHH!!!"

Xu Huoyao roared.

Spiritual energy erupted from his body, forcibly breaking the simulation’s level restrictions.

And with that, he was forcefully disconnected.

The Qingshan Sect’s base exploded on the spot.

Watching his opponent vanish abruptly, Lu Ze shook his head regretfully.

"What a shame. I didn’t even get to start spying to steal his units yet…"

---

[The Qingshan Sect has been annihilated by the demonic path!]

The sudden system notification startled Guo Yunwen.

Moments later, two alliance requests popped up.

[The Lingxiao Sect has sent you an alliance request. Accept?]

[The Cloud Immortal Palace has sent you an alliance request. Accept?]

Guo Yunwen immediately accepted.

The three of them materialized in the same command room.

"What just happened? How was the Qingshan Sect taken out so fast? Senior Disciple Zhang, what’s the deal with your junior brother?" Guo Yunwen asked urgently.

"No idea… That’s why I wanted to ask you guys!" Zhang Shifei replied, equally baffled.

"Lu Ze? That doesn’t make sense… I’ve fought him at least five times. He was never anything special," Li Yuluo muttered, biting her lip in confusion.

She and her senior sister from the Cloud Immortal Palace had often trained against Zhong Yi and Lu Ze. Never had Lu Ze shown any exceptional skill.

"Maybe Xu Huoyao got reckless, attacked the demonic path without enough forces, and got counter-pushed?" Zhang Shifei theorized, convinced he’d figured it out.

"Perhaps…" Guo Yunwen nodded.

There was no other explanation.

Even the highest-difficulty demonic AI couldn’t wipe out a sect this fast.

Surely Lu Ze wasn’t more terrifying than that insane, hyper-aggressive demonic AI?

"Still, we shouldn’t let our guard down. If Lu Ze speedran the Qingshan Sect, he must be strong! Everyone, build up your forces ASAP to prevent a surprise attack!" Guo Yunwen warned.

[The Peerless Sword Sect has rejected your alliance request.]

Seeing the new notification, Guo Yunwen sighed.

Chen Feng of the Peerless Sword Sect was too arrogant to ally with them.

Shaking his head, Guo Yunwen focused on mustering his troops.

---

Outside the match.

Zhong Yi’s commentary grew even more electrifying.

Because Lu Ze’s playstyle was shattering everyone’s expectations!

"Lu Ze now controls two spirit stone mines! His economy is skyrocketing!"

"Lu Ze’s beast garden is complete! Looks like he’s planning something big again!"

"However, at this point, the defensive forces of the other sects have already been built up. Junior Brother Lu Ze's troops aren't enough..."

"Junior Brother Lu Ze has summoned three Shadow Rhinos! Only three rhinos? Isn’t that too few?"

"The three rhinos are heading toward the farthest outpost!"

"It's the direction of the Wuji Sword Sect!!"

...

Southwest corner of the map.

The Wuji Sword Sect’s outpost.

After rejecting the alliance proposal from the three major sects, Chen Feng sneered and began developing his own sect’s forces.

"Hmph, trying to cling to my coattails? Dream on!"

Chen Feng scoffed.

"Once you’ve exhausted the demonic faction’s forces, I’ll wipe you all out!"

Just as his grand scheme was falling neatly into place—

A sword cultivator sent out for reconnaissance suddenly spotted

three violet-black rhinos charging menacingly toward the Wuji Sword Sect in the distance.

"Heh, so it’s time for battle!!!"

Chen Feng’s blood instantly boiled with excitement.

The sword cultivator swiftly retreated toward their base.

Meanwhile, the troops stockpiled at home all surged forward.

"Come on then! Let’s fight to our hearts’ content!!"

Chen Feng roared.

Two Sword-Patterned Tigers, eight body refiners, and three spirit archers rushed out in formation.

"Tch, trying to contest the spirit mine? With just three rhinos, I doubt you’ll manage!"

Chen Feng sneered.

Ahead lay a spirit mine not far from the Wuji Sword Sect—he had long planned to expand his operations there.

"Stay right there!"

Chen Feng bellowed.

His entire force charged forward without hesitation!

At that moment—

Lu Ze’s three Shadow Rhinos also sprang into action.

Dark crimson energy gathered at the tips of their horns before erupting in a violent barrage.

"Hahaha, from that distance, who do you think you’re hitting??"

Chen Feng couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the sight.

The next second, his grin froze—

The blood-red energy spheres didn’t strike his troops.

Instead, they slammed straight into the spirit mine.

The faint blue glow of the spirit mine shattered under the barrage of crimson orbs, reduced to utter ruin!