The Artifact Forging Hall, at the control console for the Illusion Realm Trial.
Demonic Value +0.1 Demonic Value +0.1 Demonic Value +1
Listening to the endless stream of system notifications in his ears, Lu Ze felt joy blossom in his heart.
After the Outer Disciples spread the news of "Demonic Path Escape," word reached the Inner Disciples.
At first, the Inner Disciples did not believe it, thinking the Outer Disciples had made the whole thing up.
How could such an entertaining Illusion Realm Trial exist?
Outer Disciples were actually better than Inner Disciples?
Impossible!
It had to be a scam!
Yet after coming to Lu Ze's place to have a look, every last one of them fell hopelessly under its spell.
Then, through word of mouth, more and more Inner Disciples came to Lu Ze's place to experience "Demonic Path Escape."
"The amount of demonic value really does depend on their cultivation."
Lu Ze nodded in satisfaction.
With the Inner Disciples joining in, Lu Ze's demonic value rose rapidly.
That morning, the Inner Disciples had earned him fewer than 5 points of demonic value in total. After more Inner Disciples joined that afternoon, he now had as many as 13.
"I can level up!"
Delighted, Lu Ze summoned the system panel.
There was a small plus sign beside his cultivation level.
Advancing from the third level of Qi Refining to the fourth level of Qi Refining requires 10 demonic value. Upgrade?
"Yes!"
As the demonic value was deducted, Lu Ze immediately felt a light, buoyant force envelop his body, and his blood and vitality swelled considerably.
His cultivation, which had not budged in three years, advanced in an instant.
"A cheat really is a cheat. Fucking awesome."
Lu Ze briefly circulated his spiritual energy, then quickly withdrew it after confirming his new realm.
Although he wore a talisman that concealed his aura, it never hurt to be careful.
His body's original owner had possessed poor aptitude and simply had not been born for cultivation.
If not for his exceptional talent in artifact forging, he would probably have long since vanished into the sea of ordinary people.
He had originally thought this was all his life would ever amount to.
He would work as an after-sales repairman, worse off than some but better off than others, and idle away the rest of his days.
Now that he had a system to compensate for his lack of natural talent, he might yet be able to walk that long immortal road toward eternal life.
What if he reached the very summit?
"Advancing to the fifth level of Qi Refining requires 20 demonic value... hmm, I should reach that pretty soon."
Lu Ze glanced at the system, silently mulling it over.
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 his current pace, it was still a little slow.
It looked like he needed to turn up the intensity.
Having just advanced in cultivation, with his demonic value accumulating faster and faster, Lu Ze was in a good mood.
He stood and walked into the Training Hall.
He happened to see an Outer Disciple crouched in a corner, looking utterly dejected.
Lu Ze found him familiar.
Wasn't this Zhang Ming, the Outer Disciple who had given him the fully mastered Cloud Shattering Art?
"Junior Brother Zhang, what has you so upset?"
In high spirits, Lu Ze walked over and asked.
"High-grade..."
The corners of Zhang Ming's mouth twitched, and his chest heaved violently.
"The spirit beasts at the Spirit Transformation Stage in the Shop cost high-grade spirit stones, but escaping only earns you low-grade ones!!!"
"That's a full hundredfold difference... a hundredfold!!!"
"Which bastard who deserves a thousand cuts set these numbers? They never wanted us to buy them at all, did they!!!"
Zhang Ming's heart-rending cries drew sidelong looks from quite a few people nearby.
Lu Ze's smile froze on his face.
Because he was precisely the bastard Zhang Ming said deserved a thousand cuts.
"Junior Brother Zhang, when Heaven is about to entrust someone with a great responsibility, it first torments his mind and wears out his muscles and bones. If something is precious, how could it be so easily obtained?"
Lu Ze offered him comfort.
The young man before him had some talent for gaming. Quite a few Inner Disciples had stayed here playing "Demonic Path Escape" over and over simply because they could not stomach scoring lower than he did.
As long as he kept improving his score, who knew how much demonic value those Inner Disciples would contribute?
Lu Ze could not let a god of wealth like this get away.
"You are right to teach me, Senior Brother Lu. I lost my composure."
After hearing him out, Zhang Ming's eyes cleared considerably. He hurriedly rose and cupped his hands, speaking with utmost respect.
"Trials are like this, and so is cultivation... with such a mindset, Senior Brother Lu, you truly deserve the title of Inner Disciple. I have learned my lesson!"
"If you can't afford one at the Spirit Transformation Stage, buy one at the Golden Core Stage! Golden Core spirit beasts all cost mid-grade spirit stones."
Lu Ze continued to guide him.
"The Blood-Sweat Spirit Steed at the Golden Core Stage doesn't give much of a stat boost, but it does give a spirit stone bonus, helping you save up spirit stones faster."
"As long as you work hard enough, you'll get a Spirit Transformation Stage mount sooner or later!"
Lu Ze patted Zhang Ming on the shoulder, encouraging him.
"You're absolutely right, Senior Brother Lu!"
"Then hurry back and earn some spirit stones?"
"Understood!"
After sending Zhang Ming off, Lu Ze continued strolling around the Training Ground.
The Outer Disciples and Inner Disciples who had just finished a round of "Demonic Path Escape" were exchanging their insights, filling the hall with lively chatter.
"How strange, how strange. I'm at the Golden Core Stage, so why is my score barely any different from those junior brothers at the Qi Refining Stage?"
"What's strange about that? What good is higher cultivation? Can you bring it inside or use it there?"
"This is good, too... if it depended purely on cultivation, how would it differ from any other Illusion Realm Trial?"
"It's just too hard to earn spirit stones in there. I've even thought about trading real spirit stones for some."
"It really is hard. Without a week of grueling effort, I doubt you could buy a single Golden Core Stage spirit beast."
"The cultivation methods in this Shop are rather interesting. I wonder whether they actually exist."
"They certainly do! This Illusion Realm is so extraordinary that it must be the work of some Grandmaster. Those cultivation methods were probably all collected during his travels."
"Ah, this Trial really is fun. If only we could take it back with us to play."
"Such a precious Illusion Realm Trial probably has no replicas. We can only experience it here."
Hearing so many Inner Disciples lament that they could not take "Demonic Path Escape" back to their rooms, Lu Ze felt deeply gratified.
"If any of you senior brothers want one, I do happen to have some replicas here. Ten spirit stones apiece."
Lu Ze took out the Crystal Replicas he had prepared beforehand.
He had prepared Temporary Tokens for the Outer Disciples, while these Crystal Replicas were meant for the Inner Disciples.
Neither item was difficult to work with.
As long as he had the main program for "Demonic Path Escape," the rest was simply copying and pasting—pure manual labor.
As for the price, Lu Ze had no intention of setting it too high.
If he did, many cultivators would give up because it was too expensive.
That would affect the completion of his mission.
Besides.
How could earning a few more spirit stones compare to the thrill of earning a little more demonic value?
Of course, Lu Ze was no saint who would refuse spirit stones when there were some to be made.
After all, the stuff was hard currency.
But he was in no hurry.
Once his gaming empire took shape,
all he would need to do was put up a few items and skins for sale. Would he really have to worry about these cultivators with more money than sense refusing to pay?
Before you continue