Is the Illusion Tougher or Is My Life Tougher

"Teamwork?"

Countless ideas flooded Lu Ze's mind, and he nearly failed to suppress the smirk tugging at his lips.

"Exactly."

Zhao Wendao nodded.

"We must make the disciples understand the importance of unity!"

Lu Ze grinned. "Elder Zhao, don’t worry. Leave it to me!"

……

……

Back in the Spirit Jade Pavilion, Lu Ze stroked his chin, deep in thought.

There were endless possibilities when it came to teamwork-themed games.

Take the recently released Immortal Realm Domination, for instance. Launching a MOBA game now wouldn’t be impossible. The essence of team competition was practically ingrained in their bones.

But timing-wise, Lu Ze felt it lacked the perfect momentum.

For one, the player base hadn’t fully expanded yet. This kind of gameplay might not achieve the explosive popularity it had in his past life. After all, this wasn’t a mobile game with virtual joysticks—the learning curve was debatable.

Secondly, only the Lingxiao Sect had access to the sect’s server. Other sects couldn’t participate.

While it fit the theme, releasing it now might not be the best move.

Lu Ze decided to wait.

As for other games…

Overcooked?

Great for testing patience, but unfortunately, his system wasn’t a "rage-inducing" one—the demonic energy gains would be pitiful.

It Takes Two?

Not bad for farming demonic energy, but the localization effort would be massive, and modifying it for this world would be tricky.

……

"Wait… ‘Takes Two’? Two players?"

A brilliant idea flashed through Lu Ze’s mind.

A game with the same "cooperative" theme, but one that required almost no localization effort.

And most importantly—when players died, they died a lot.

In terms of demonic energy harvested in a short time, this would undoubtedly rank high.

With his goal set, Lu Ze immediately got to work.

He entered the illusionary realm, constructing layer upon layer of platforms and traps within his consciousness space.

Summoning four cybernetic souls with the Banner of Ten Thousand Spirits, he forged a chain and shackled it around their ankles…

……

……

Three days later.

"So soon?"

Zhao Wendao stared at the illusionary crystal Lu Ze handed him, utterly shocked.

Even his master, Nangong Yuan, would have to admit defeat at this speed.

"If the sect needs me, I must deliver as quickly as possible!"

Lu Ze patted his chest solemnly.

He had no choice—he desperately needed the demonic energy to advance.

"Elder Nangong truly took in an exceptional disciple!"

Zhao Wendao sighed in admiration.

Though Lu Ze often acted unpredictably and followed his own whims, when the sect needed him, the boy stepped up without hesitation.

Ask him to craft a trial illusion? Done. A teamwork illusion? Done.

The more Zhao Wendao observed Lu Ze, the more he found him pleasing.

"In the future, when the disciples understand the value of teamwork, they’ll surely be grateful to you!"

Zhao Wendao clapped Lu Ze’s shoulder.

Lu Ze, however, avoided meeting the elder’s eyes. "We’re all fellow disciples. It’s only right… only right…"

……

……

Zhao Wendao acted swiftly.

After instructing Lu Ze to prepare at the Artifact Refining Pavilion’s Illusion Tower, he immediately broadcasted the news across the sect.

In no time, every disciple knew—a new illusion crafted by Lu Ze himself had arrived.

A flood of disciples rushed toward the Artifact Refining Pavilion.

Soon, the illusion hall was packed to the brim.

"Junior Brother Lu, does this new illusion require exactly four players to start?"

Zhong Yi frowned as he asked.

"Yes. If Senior Brother Zhong and Senior Brother Mu are short on players, you can either call for one here or find someone in the illusion’s matchmaking lobby. It shouldn’t take long."

Lu Ze nodded, offering a suggestion.

In his past life, Chained Together supported two or three-player modes.

But fewer players meant lower difficulty—which went against his goal of maximizing demonic energy gains.

So, for this release, he only enabled the four-player mode.

"That… might not be ideal."

After some hesitation, Zhong Yi shook his head.

It wasn’t that he disliked strangers.

Rather, he knew his talent in illusions was mediocre, and he didn’t want other disciples witnessing it.

After all, in the eyes of both outer and inner sect disciples, he was a prodigy.

"Understood. Senior Brother Zhong can wait a little longer, then."

Lu Ze nodded understandingly, well aware that this guy’s "idol complex" was too heavy.

"Zhong Yi!"

Just then, a bold, resonant voice echoed from the entrance of the illusion hall.

Lu Ze glanced up.

A tall, broad-shouldered young man with thick eyebrows and a delicate-faced girl walked toward them.

"Brother Zhou! You’re back!"

Zhong Yi’s eyes lit up as he hurried over.

"Haha! I just returned to the sect. Couldn’t find you at the Qingyun Pavilion, so I came here after hearing you were around."

The young man addressed as "Senior Brother Zhou" laughed heartily, then glanced around in confusion.

"Why is the illusion hall so crowded?"

Having been away on a sect mission for months, he was unaware of recent developments.

"Come, Brother Zhou, let me introduce you to the latest trend…"

Zhong Yi cheerfully dragged Zhou Yue toward Lu Ze.

"Junior Brother Lu, let me introduce you—this is Danqing Peak’s true disciple, Zhou Yue! And this is his younger sister, Qiao Ling."

"Greetings, Senior Brother Zhou. Greetings, Senior Sister Qiao."

"No need for formalities, Junior Brother Lu! We’re all family here!"

Hearing Zhou Yue’s name, Lu Ze’s brows lifted slightly.

He’d heard of this man.

Before joining the Lingxiao Sect, Zhou Yue’s life had been tragic—his family destroyed, leaving only his younger sister to rely on.

Rumors called him a "born calamity," his fate in tatters.

Elder Lin, impressed by his resilience, taught him to defy destiny through cultivation. After entering Danqing Peak, he clawed his way up step by step, securing his place as a true disciple.

By all accounts, he was a legend in the Lingxiao Sect.

Of course, none of that mattered to Lu Ze.

All he knew was—he’d just gained another "experience bag."

"Hah! How hard can an illusion be? I, Zhou Yue, have weathered storms far worse!"

After hearing Zhong Yi’s description of the illusion, Zhou Yue laughed, finding the warnings exaggerated.

"Bring it on! Let’s see whether the illusion’s blades are sharper—or my fate is tougher!"