Inside a room filled with mechanical contraptions, a massive television screen hung on the wall.
Zhu Zhu's shrill voice echoed from afar.
"You idiot, you idiot! How could you just walk straight past that? If you jumped just a little, you could've grabbed a mushroom!"
"This is infuriating, absolutely infuriating!"
"Argh! How do you even get bitten there? Are these people pigs? They must all be pigs!"
Yun Jin curiously leaned over.
"Master," Yuan Yuan lowered his hands that had been covering his ears, his face full of grievance. "Zhu Zhu is just too noisy."
"Noisy? It's not me who's noisy, it's these people who are stupid!" Zhu Zhu retorted angrily.
"Don't rush, don't rush," Yun Jin said calmly. "Zhu Zhu, you've just made another fatal mistake."
Zhu Zhu froze. "Master, what mistake?"
"These disciples, this is their first time encountering a game. They're beginners. Tell me, did you give them any new-player guidance?" Yun Jin settled into the sofa, sinking comfortably into the cushions.
"New-player guidance?"
"Yes. A simple introduction to help them adapt faster. Just one extra step like that can greatly improve their gaming experience. That's not something you should ever skip." Yun Jin took a satisfied sip of tea.
"Really…" Zhu Zhu tilted her head in thought. She had found yet another direction to improve. Her master truly was her guiding beacon!
While Zhu Zhu pondered, Yun Jin had already turned her attention to the television screen with interest.
The feed cycled randomly between different players, and at that moment it happened to land on Li Xiaoran.
This particular game had been designed as a stage-clearing challenge. Each player's objective was to break through all the levels and claim the final treasure chest.
There were five stages in total. Every stage was filled with strange and unpredictable traps, and at the end of each stage stood a guardian spirit beast.
Of course, those beasts would suppress their strength to ensure the challengers' abilities remained on equal footing. Otherwise, with monsters like Rong Zhou and the other peak beasts, none of the disciples would ever make it through.
The first stage was the Forest Trial.
The ground was cluttered with tangling vines, while countless branches jutted out in midair. Random bombs also fell from above, and anyone hit would immediately be eliminated for that round.
The difficulty of the stage was adjusted according to the challenger's cultivation.
Li Xiaoran had only just stepped onto the path of cultivation, barely at the first layer of Qi Refining. So, naturally, the stage's difficulty was tuned to match the first layer of Qi Refining. Her style of play was thorough, almost obsessive—carpet-searching every corner.
Some tree stumps, when opened, might hide monsters, or they might contain strengthening buffs. Li Xiaoran refused to skip a single one. Even though she had suffered losses several times in a row, she still insisted on opening each stump she came across.
Yun Jin watched for a while, then switched the screen.
The display flickered to reveal a scrawny man howling like a ghost. This man seemed to specialize in speed, but when it came to combat ability, he was sorely lacking. His entire approach was built around speed runs—dashing past every obstacle without attempting any exploration.
Yun Jin switched the screen again.
This time, she saw Ji Heng. An old acquaintance. For him, the impact of this trial was undoubtedly greater than it was for others. He was an elite disciple of a super sect, and he had even toured the halls of Qingxiao Pavilion. By all accounts, he should have been one of the most well-informed among the new disciples. But sometimes, the more you've seen, the more shocking certain things become when you truly encounter them.
In any Holy Land… had there ever been such a vivid illusion?
And more importantly—
He had just discovered something terrifying. This forest contained real spiritual energy. He had tested it himself: if he wished, he could actually sit down and cultivate here as if it were real. An illusion… that contained genuine spiritual qi. Was this falsehood, or reality?
Ji Heng was still in shock when a bomb dropped from above. He had no time left for amazement, forced instead to scramble forward in a panic.
Yun Jin watched for a while, until suddenly Zhu Zhu's voice rang out: "Oh? Someone's reached the stage guardian of the first trial."
The guardian of the first stage was none other than the Tongtian Hou, Xiao Bao.
Among the peak spirit beasts, Xiao Bao was still regarded as a baby. But in truth, he was already a terrifying beast at the Unity stage. At this moment, he gazed with interest at the first person to reach him.
"It's that speed-focused one," Yun Jin chuckled. "His skills are far too lopsided. I doubt he'll make it past Xiao Bao."
Even though Xiao Bao would hold back his strength, against someone this one-sided, even the slightest swipe would be enough to send him packing. Following Zhu Zhu's instructions, Xiao Bao pulled a ferocious expression, then lunged forward with a howl.
"Hey!" Zhu Zhu roared in fury.
"I told him to growl, not to howl! The former sounds fierce, the latter makes him sound like some dumb, silly pup!"
Fortunately, the nervous new disciple didn't notice anything off. Within moments, he was smacked aside by Xiao Bao's tail and eliminated.
Soon after, the second challenger arrived before Xiao Bao.
It was none other than Kuang Wuchang.
Following Zhu Zhu's orders, Xiao Bao tested him briefly, then stepped back and allowed him to pass. Before letting him go, he produced a small treasure chest and spoke the lines Zhu Zhu had prepared.
"Warrior, I reluctantly acknowledge your strength. But the monsters ahead will not yield so easily. This chest may contain something that will help you become stronger."
Curious, Kuang Wuchang opened the chest.
And then his pupils constricted violently.
Inside the chest—
Was a talisman pattern!
"I have observed that you excel in the art of talismans. If you can master this one, it should aid you in the trials ahead." Xiao Bao spoke solemnly before stepping aside and closing his eyes.
Kuang Wuchang was completely shaken. A spirit beast within an illusion… that knew he specialized in talisman arts. And this chest contained a pattern for a seventh-rank talisman!
The rules of the game prohibited outside items. But according to the beast's words, this talisman could actually be used within the game itself!
Kuang Wuchang's hands trembled as he held it. This was only the first stage. And already such a reward was being given.
What about the stages ahead?
What about the final great chest?
What treasures could possibly lie hidden within?
Wait a moment!
Hadn't the Wushuang Sect supposedly bankrupted itself just to rescue the other sects' disciples?
This level of extravagance… didn't fit that story at all!
In a daze, Kuang Wuchang moved on to the second stage.
Meanwhile, others had also begun receiving treasures. Over the past three days, the disciples' strengths and weaknesses had been meticulously studied, and Yuan Yuan had prepared rewards tailored exactly to each one of them.
In an instant, spirits soared.
This game— actually had real rewards! And not just any rewards, but the very best suited for them!
What more was there to hesitate about?
Charge forward!
Yun Jin watched the group of disciples and nodded with satisfaction.
Excellent.
They were all brimming with drive.