Opportunities and Hidden Dangers

After glancing once more at the beautiful figure singing onstage, Lu Yan suddenly realized that his understanding of World Version Updates had been far too narrow.

In the Xianxia Version, strength and cultivation talent represented power and status.

But in the Urban Version, everyone was an ordinary person. Things like strength and cultivation talent were utterly meaningless; even the underlying logic of society had undergone earth-shaking changes.

There could never be a complete one-to-one correspondence between different Versions.

Those who stood at the pinnacle in the Xianxia Version were not necessarily people of high status and great power in the Urban Version.

"The identity of an internet celebrity depends on one's influence and popularity. From another perspective, prodigious cultivators from prestigious orthodox sects, like the Jade Polishing Fairy, indeed possess tremendous influence.

"But this 'washed-up' in washed-up internet celebrity... could it be hinting that the Jade Polishing Fairy's own influence has declined, leaving her unable to maintain the influence of her status as a prodigious direct disciple?"

There was too little information available. Lu Yan could only speculate in secret.

However, the Jade Polishing Fairy's appearance also made Lu Yan think of another opportunity brought about by World Version Updates.

In the Xianxia Version, Lu Yan was merely a lowly ant. Whether it was Cultivation Technique inheritances or cultivation resources, none of it would ever fall to him.

But in the Urban Version, he was the world's only immortal cultivator, standing above mortals.

If Lu Yan identified important figures from the Xianxia Version and found them in the Urban Version, then relied on his status as the world's only immortal cultivator to establish ties with them, wouldn't he be able to gain massive support from these important figures once the Xianxia Version arrived?

By then, Cultivation Technique inheritances and cultivation resources would surely be his for the taking!

Previously, Lu Yan had been focused on finding a way to enter the Qi Refining Stage. After entering it, he had immediately set his sights on killing Gongyang Xuanming to eliminate future trouble, completely overlooking this greatest opportunity.

Now that the thought had struck him, Lu Yan's heart surged with excitement. He could hardly wait to put it into action.

Yet after taking only two steps toward the stage, the expression on Lu Yan's face abruptly froze.

"Something's wrong!"

Lu Yan murmured softly, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions.

"Displaying a cultivator's strength in the Urban Version and establishing ties with those in high positions in the Xianxia Version is certainly feasible.

"But once I enter the Xianxia Version, will those ties truly remain intact?"

"Though there is a gap between rich and poor in the Urban Version, everyone is still human. Everyone has only a hundred years to live, and there is no fundamental difference in the nature of their lives.

"But in the Xianxia Version, Qi Refining cultivators have two Jiazi of lifespan. Foundation Establishment cultivators live three hundred years, while Golden Core cultivators possess a long lifespan of eight hundred years. They can sit and watch seas turn into mulberry fields and dynasties rise and fall.

"Before such powerful beings, low-level cultivators cannot even be considered the same species. There is already a difference in the very nature of life."

This was precisely the greatest difference between the Urban Version and the Xianxia Version.

In the Urban Version, one could still say that all people were born equal. Even those born into wealth and luxury had the same lifespan as everyone else.

But in the Xianxia Version, the second generation of immortals really could live several hundred years longer.

And among those capable of becoming Golden Core or Nascent Soul powerhouses, which one was not an ancient monster who had grown shrewd with age?

Having realized this, Lu Yan's expression grew increasingly solemn.

"My greatest advantage in the Urban Version is nothing more than being able to cast spells and possessing strength beyond ordinary people, allowing me a better chance to befriend these powerhouses.

"But once I reach the Xianxia Version, my First Level of Qi Refining cultivation will be exposed for what it is. Without the boost of being the sole immortal cultivator, there is nothing about me worth mentioning.

"Even if I forge close ties with them in advance, once the disparity in cultivation becomes apparent, those relationships may change."

"Indeed, the closer the connection in the Urban Version, the more likely it may bring backlash.

"Could a Qi Refining cultivator become an honored guest of a Golden Core True Person? Could he call a Nascent Soul powerhouse brother?

"Version Updates do indeed have Information Mapping, but these ancient monsters are no fools. They would absolutely notice something so obvious."

"As for trying to bind these old monsters with love and emotion, that is even more ridiculous.

"If I relied on my status as the sole immortal cultivator to find a high-level female cultivator from the Xianxia Version and marry her, even if we became a loving and harmonious couple, once the Version Change revealed the gap between a high-level cultivator and a Qi Refining cultivator...

"Would a powerful female cultivator at the Golden Core Stage or even Nascent Soul Stage truly be bound by a mere few months of emotion? Would she allow a Qi Refining Stage ant to defile her?"

And this was only the most basic part of it.

Whether he exposed his identity as an immortal cultivator before these old monsters or experienced changes in status, countless troubles would arise.

Lu Yan could practically imagine the consequences of acting recklessly in the Urban Version.

The thoughts coursing through his mind had already successfully calmed Lu Yan down.

Standing at the very edge of the stage, Lu Yan glanced at Ji Xingyao onstage from the corner of his eye and analyzed the situation calmly.

"If I had Golden Core Stage cultivation right now, then using Version Updates to establish ties with other Golden Core powerhouses in the Urban Version and seek benefits would be no problem, because I would already possess a sufficiently solid foundation. The opportunities in the Urban Version would merely be supplementary.

"But for now, I should stop thinking about exploiting bugs in the system to ascend to heaven in a single step. The more entanglements there are, the greater the possible backlash after a Version Update."

"By that logic, Ji Xingyao, this washed-up internet celebrity—washed-up prodigy—is instead the highest-level person I can currently come into contact with.

"After all, we have met before, and there is also the connection of Bamboo Forest Market. It would be reasonable enough to establish contact with her."

"Of course, it is impossible to become close friends in one step. The gap in status is still too vast. Proceeding step by step is the best choice."

Having made up his mind, Lu Yan remained at the edge of the stage. While enjoying the concert, he began searching online for information related to Ji Xingyao.

Late at night, the mall's stage performance had ended, leaving only staff members to clean up the litter around the venue.

Ji Xingyao had once been an immensely popular internet celebrity, but she had ultimately fallen out of favor.

It was fine when people first came to join in the excitement, but as time passed, the crowd gradually dispersed. By the end, only a few dozen scattered people remained beneath the stage to watch the entire performance.

Ji Xingyao, who had just finished performing, stood in the mall's lounge, dealing with the mall manager's openly hostile expression.

The manager, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, held a contract in his hand and spoke sternly.

"Today's turnout was far from satisfactory. Do you know how much money our mall spent preparing this stage performance?"

Ji Xingyao lowered her head. Her eyes were slightly red, but she did not refute the manager's words.

"I'm very sorry."

"According to the contract, since the attendance target was not met, we can only pay thirty percent of the performance fee this time!

"The money has already been transferred to your account. We will not consider you for future mall performances."

With that, the manager strode away, leaving Ji Xingyao standing there alone in desolation.

At that moment, an unnoticed figure slowly entered the lounge.