Which Damned Bastard!

Artifact Forging Hall, the central console for Illusion Realm trials.

Demonic Value +0.1

Demonic Value +0.1

Demonic Value +1

Listening to the unceasing system notifications by his ear, Lu Ze felt flowers bloom in his heart.

After the Outer Disciples spread word of "Demonic Path Escape," it began circulating among the Inner Disciples.

At first, the Inner Disciples did not believe it, thinking the whole thing had been fabricated by the Outer Disciples.

How could there be such an entertaining Illusion Realm trial in this world?

The Outer Disciples were actually stronger than the Inner Disciples?

Impossible!

It was absolutely a scam!

Yet after paying Lu Ze a visit, without exception, every last one of them fell.

Then, through word of mouth, more and more Inner Disciples came to Lu Ze to experience "Demonic Path Escape."

"The amount of Demonic Value really is related to their cultivation."

Lu Ze nodded in satisfaction.

With the Inner Disciples joining in, Lu Ze's Demonic Value rose at a tremendous pace.

The Inner Disciples had given him fewer than five points of Demonic Value all morning. After they joined in that afternoon, he already had thirteen points.

"I can level up!"

Delighted, Lu Ze summoned the system panel.

Behind his cultivation level was a small plus sign.

Raising Qi Refining Level Three to Qi Refining Level Four required ten points of Demonic Value.

Level up?

"Yes!"

As the Demonic Value was deducted, Lu Ze immediately felt a light force envelop his body, and his blood and qi swelled by several degrees.

His cultivation, which had not budged in three years, advanced in an instant.

"Just as expected of a cheat. Damn, it's awesome."

Lu Ze lightly circulated his spiritual power, confirmed his realm, then quickly withdrew it.

Although he had a Talisman that concealed his aura, it was always better to be careful.

The original owner's aptitude had been poor. He had simply not been born with the makings of a cultivator.

If not for his exceptional talent in artifact forging, he would likely have long since been lost among the masses.

He had originally thought that this would be his life.

He would become an after-sales repairman for cultivation equipment, neither outstanding nor lacking, and spend the rest of his days in leisure.

Now that the system could make up for his lack of talent, perhaps he could walk this long immortal path after all.

What if he reached the summit?

"Advancing to Qi Refining Level Five requires twenty Demonic Value... Mm, I should reach that soon enough."

Lu Ze glanced at the system and pondered silently.

With the Inner Disciples joining in, the rate at which he gained Demonic Value had multiplied several times over.

But the further he progressed, the more Demonic Value he would need.

At this pace, it was still somewhat slow.

It seemed he needed to raise the intensity a little more.

Having just advanced his realm and with his Demonic Value growing faster and faster, Lu Ze was in high spirits.

He stood and walked into the Training Hall.

There, he happened to see an Outer Disciple sitting in a daze in the corner by the wall.

Lu Ze found him familiar.

Wasn't this Zhang Ming, the Outer Disciple who had given him the perfected Cloud Shattering Art?

"Junior Brother Zhang, what has made you so upset?"

In a good mood, Lu Ze walked over and asked.

"High-grade..."

Zhang Ming's lips twitched, his chest heaving violently.

"The Spirit Transformation Stage spirit beasts sold in the Shop require High-Grade Spirit Stones, but the ones earned from escape are low-grade!!!"

"There's a full hundredfold difference between them... A hundred times!!!"

"Which damned bastard set these values? He clearly doesn't want us to buy them at all!!!"

Zhang Ming shouted with such heart-wrenching grief that quite a few people nearby turned to look.

Lu Ze's smile froze on his face.

Because he was the damned bastard Zhang Ming was talking about.

"Junior Brother Zhang, when Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility upon a man, it must first torment his mind and exhaust his body. If it is something precious, how could it be obtained so easily?"

Lu Ze comforted him.

The kid before him had some talent for gaming. Quite a few Inner Disciples had been unwilling to accept that their scores were worse than his, so they had remained here, repeatedly playing "Demonic Path Escape."

As long as he kept improving his score, who knew how much Demonic Value those Inner Disciples would contribute?

He could not let such a cash cow get away.

"Senior Brother Lu's instruction is correct. I have embarrassed myself."

After hearing this, Zhang Ming's eyes cleared considerably. He hurriedly rose, cupped his fists, and spoke with great respect.

"The same is true of Trials and cultivation alike... Senior Brother Lu possesses such a state of mind. You are truly worthy of the words 'Inner Disciple.' I have learned much!"

"If you cannot buy a Spirit Transformation Stage one, then buy a Golden Core Stage one! Golden Core Stage spirit beasts are all purchased with mid-grade Spirit Stones."

Lu Ze continued to guide him.

"The Golden Core Stage Blood-Sweat Spirit Steed may not provide much in the way of attribute bonuses, but it boosts Spirit Stone gains and can help you accumulate them faster."

"As long as you work hard enough, you'll get that Spirit Transformation Stage Mount sooner or later!"

Lu Ze patted Zhang Ming on the shoulder, encouraging him.

"Senior Brother Lu is absolutely right!"

"Then hurry back and earn Spirit Stones?"

"Understood!"

After sending Zhang Ming off, Lu Ze continued wandering around the Training Ground.

Outer Disciples and Inner Disciples who had just finished a round of "Demonic Path Escape" were exchanging insights with one another. The hall was bustling with noise.

"How strange, how strange. Why are my results, as a Golden Core Stage cultivator, nearly the same as those of a Qi Refining Stage junior brother?"

"What's strange about that? What use is higher cultivation if you can neither bring it in nor use it?"

"This is good too... If it relied purely on cultivation, how would it differ from other Illusion Realm trials?"

"It's just that the Spirit Stones in there are far too difficult to earn. I even want to trade real Spirit Stones for some."

"It truly is difficult. Without a week of grueling effort, I fear you cannot buy even one Golden Core Stage spirit beast."

"The Cultivation Methods in this Shop are rather interesting. I wonder whether such methods truly exist."

"They definitely do! This Illusion Realm is so extraordinary that it must have come from the hands of some Grandmaster. The Cultivation Methods within were likely gathered during his travels."

"Ah, this Trial really is entertaining. It would be nice if we could take it back and experience it there."

"Such a precious Illusion Realm trial probably has no Replicas. We can only experience it here."

Hearing many Inner Disciples lament that they could not take "Demonic Path Escape" back to their dormitories, Lu Ze felt deeply gratified.

"If my fellow senior brothers want one, I happen to have some Replicas here. Ten Spirit Stones each."

Lu Ze took out the Crystal Replicas he had prepared long ago.

He had prepared Temporary Tokens for the Outer Disciples, while these Crystal Replicas were for the Inner Disciples.

Neither item was particularly difficult to make.

As long as one possessed the main program for "Demonic Path Escape," all that remained was simple copying and pasting—mere manual labor.

As for the price, Lu Ze had not intended to set it too high.

Because if it was too expensive, many cultivators would give up due to the cost.

That would affect the completion of his mission.

Besides.

What was the pleasure of earning a few more Spirit Stones compared to earning more Demonic Value?

Of course, Lu Ze was not some great philanthropist who would refuse Spirit Stones when they were offered.

After all, this stuff was hard currency.

But he was in no hurry.

Once his gaming empire developed,

he could casually add some items and Skins. Would he still need to worry about these foolish, wealthy cultivators refusing to pay?