Ant, get lost

Leigong Peak, summit.

Zhao Wendao shut out all distractions beyond the peak, wholly immersed in the mod editor of Minecraft.

Over the past two days, he had Zhong Yi explain to him the intricate logic behind Minecraft's mechanics.

The more he learned, the clearer the flaws in his spells became.

This illusory world, deceptively simple, was in truth infinitely profound.

Be it creatures, terrain, tools, or spells—

everything followed a complete, self-contained logic.

Similar to reality, yet not entirely the same.

After repeated attempts,

Zhao Wendao could sense himself inching closer to success.

Faintly,

he seemed to brush against an elusive, almost mystical law...

......

......

Sword Inquiry Peak, Sword Inquiry Manor.

Li Moran, too, was lost in the mod editor.

For days, she had been playing Minecraft with Zhou Qiaoling and others.

Her gaming talent was extraordinary, her in-game movements terrifyingly precise.

Driven by curiosity, she accidentally opened the mod editor, attempting to compile a swordsmanship mod into the game.

The result, predictably, was failure—

one after another.

Yet Li Moran refused to be discouraged, refining her approach step by step.

"So that's how it is... the sword intent here should be like this..."

"This movement is just slightly off..."

In this blocky world,

everything was segmented into cubes.

Large cubes split into smaller ones,

smaller cubes into even tinier fragments...

Spells and techniques,

likewise, were magnified and dissected.

Li Moran's sword intent grew ever more precise,

and she felt herself on the verge of enlightenment...

......

......

Lihuo Peak, Spirit Jade Pavilion.

"This is the disciple who created the illusion?"

The sect master's voice was laced with doubt.

In his eyes,

a prodigy capable of ensnaring countless cultivators—even draining the spiritual energy of Nascent Soul cultivators—

should at least be a Nascent Soul expert himself.

Yet the Lu Ze before him was merely at the Golden Core stage, hardly a plausible suspect.

"It's the absolute truth... This boy is cunning, calculating, and excels at deception. Sect Master, do not be fooled by his cultivation level!"

Ding Mingcang smirked venomously at Lu Ze.

"Aren't you describing yourself, Elder Ding?"

Lu Ze met Ding Mingcang's gaze coldly, already formulating contingency plans.

With Nangong Yuan currently at the Tianxuan Sect, he couldn't rely on him.

Elder Zhao?

Unlikely to help either.

Ding Mingcang held the Sect Master's token this time—Zhao Wendao would be hard-pressed to protect himself.

Fortunately, the illusion did have cultivation-boosting properties, but Lu Ze needed to prove it.

Yet Ding Mingcang, that sly old fox, would surely slander him at every turn...

"Disciple Lu Ze of the inner sect! You crafted this illusion to sow chaos, drain spiritual energy... What is your true aim!?"

Ding Mingcang pointed accusingly, putting on a show.

"Minecraft was created at the request of Tianxuan Sect's Grand Elder Chi Shengtian—not to harm our sect. I beg the Sect Master to judge fairly."

Lu Ze ignored Ding Mingcang, speaking directly to the Sect Master's divine sense.

With the Tianxuan Sect as a shield, he could buy some time.

If the sect master sought verification, the Tianxuan Sect would undoubtedly mobilize to protect him.

"Silver-tongued wretch! Let's see who can save you now!"

Ding Mingcang sneered.

"Sect Master, this boy is too crafty to confess willingly... Allow me to extract his soul for interrogation!"

With that, he formed a hand seal, conjuring a devastating spell aimed straight at Lu Ze.

"Elder Ding, show mercy!!"

At the critical moment, Zhong Yi and Zhou Yue—who had just arrived—acted simultaneously.

A golden palm and black-red karmic flames barely managed to block Ding Mingcang's attack.

Lu Ze exhaled inwardly.

A moment later, and he would have unleashed every cybernetic soul in his Ten Thousand Souls Banner to flee.

"Hah, you two again?"

Ding Mingcang's sneer deepened.

This scene felt familiar.

Last time, disciples had intervened one after another until Zhao Wendao stepped in to save Lu Ze.

He glanced at the Sect Master's divine sense.

Though slightly puzzled, the Sect Master remained silent, offering no objection.

Ding Mingcang grinned inwardly.

With the Sect Master's backing, even Zhao Wendao's arrival wouldn't change the outcome!

"The Sect Master's token represents his authority! Do you think being core disciples makes you untouchable? Stand down!"

With a roar, Ding Mingcang activated four Soul-Binding Chains, immobilizing Zhong Yi and the others, cutting off their spiritual energy.

"Sect Master, reconsider... Disciple Lu's illusion is profoundly mystical—it may enhance cultivation!"

Zhong Yi shouted desperately.

"Within that illusion, my cultivation has progressed daily! I beg you to investigate!"

"Is this true?"

The Sect Master frowned.

"Preposterous! How could a Golden Core disciple boost a Nascent Soul cultivator's progress? Even I cannot do such a thing!"

Ding Mingcang scoffed, then smirked at Zhong Yi.

"You claim progress—yet where is your breakthrough?"

Zhong Yi fell silent.

Breakthroughs took time, but he felt the subtle improvements.

Yet how could he prove it?

The Sect Master nodded.

For now, he was seventy percent convinced by Ding Mingcang's claims.

This illusion neither boosted cultivation nor upheld the sect's discipline.

On one side stood a loyal elder; on the other, an unknown inner disciple.

He wanted this resolved quickly, to restore the sect's peace.

"Enough. The boy is yours to deal with. Afterward, find Zhao Wendao."

The Sect Master's expression turned icy.

"Gladly!"

Ding Mingcang's face twisted with glee.

Months ago, Lu Ze had landed him a month's punishment in Reflection Valley.

That humiliation had festered like a demonic heart-tribulation, fueling his hatred day and night.

Had Lu Ze not hidden on Lihuo Peak or traveled under Nangong Yuan's guard,

Ding Mingcang would have disposed of him long ago.

Now, with this chance, he wouldn't hold back.

"Ahahaha—"

Cackling, Ding Mingcang slowly drew a massive broadsword from his spatial ring.

"Sect Master... Zhong Yi speaks the truth. The illusion doesn't drain energy—it's a fragment of the Heavenly Dao."

Lu Ze spoke calmly.

His pact with the Tianxuan Sect forbade revealing the Heavenly Dao's remnant spirit—

unless his life was at stake.

Now, he could say it outright.

The Sect Master's brow twitched.

"You? Connected to the Heavenly Dao?"

Ding Mingcang cut in furiously.

His body surged with spiritual energy, the broadsword gleaming with blood-red malice.

"I'll cripple your cultivation first!!"

Just then—

A crimson bolt of lightning struck down from the heavens, blasting Ding Mingcang away.

"Ant, begone!"

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