By the time the sun reached its highest point in the sky, the once quiet paths leading to Cloud Mist Peak had become unusually crowded. Groups of disciples could be seen climbing the stone steps that wound around the mountain, their conversations filled with curiosity and excitement. Only a few days ago, Cloud Mist Peak had been considered the most forgotten place in the Lingyuan Sect, a peak with almost no disciples and a master who rarely appeared in public. Yet now, rumors about a strange new "training hall" had spread across the entire sect like wildfire.
The rumor was simple but unbelievable.
There was a place on Cloud Mist Peak where disciples could fight terrifying monsters inside a strange illusion world. Not only that, but the battles inside the illusion could improve their real combat abilities. Some disciples even claimed that their techniques had become smoother after only a single session.
At first, most people dismissed the rumor as nonsense.
However, when several outer disciples demonstrated noticeable improvements in their movements and reactions during training, curiosity quickly replaced doubt.
Outside the newly built Cloud Mist Internet Café, more than a dozen disciples had already gathered near the entrance. Some of them stared at the signboard above the door with puzzled expressions, while others whispered among themselves.
"Is this really the place?" one disciple asked quietly.
"I heard Zhang Wei fought some kind of undead creature here," another replied.
"Undead creature? That sounds ridiculous."
"Then why did his spear technique improve so much this morning?"
The small crowd continued to grow as more disciples arrived.
Inside the shop, Lin Tian sat calmly behind one of the computer tables while observing the system panel floating in front of him.
Current Players: 12
Total Spirit Stones Earned: 60
Technique Comprehension Events: 4
Lin Tian leaned back in his chair and smiled slightly.
"So it really works."
He had originally thought the system might exaggerate its effects, but the results were becoming clearer with each passing hour. The cultivators who entered the virtual realms were gaining genuine combat experience. Although the improvements were not dramatic, the small advantages accumulated quickly.
In a cultivation sect where disciples spent years training their techniques, even a slight improvement could make a significant difference.
Just then, the door of the shop slowly opened again.
A group of three young disciples stepped inside.
Unlike the outer disciples who had visited earlier, these three wore blue inner disciple robes.
Their arrival immediately caught the attention of everyone in the shop.
One of them, a tall young man with a sharp gaze, looked around the room before speaking.
"So this is the place everyone has been talking about."
Another disciple crossed his arms and examined the strange machines lined up on the tables.
"These things are supposed to create illusion worlds?"
The third disciple laughed lightly.
"I still think this is some kind of trick."
Lin Tian calmly stood up and walked toward them.
"You must be here to try the training realms," he said casually.
The tall inner disciple turned his attention toward Lin Tian and cupped his fists politely.
"Greetings, Peak Master Lin."
Although many disciples doubted the usefulness of the shop, Lin Tian's identity as a Peak Master still commanded respect.
Lin Tian nodded slightly. "First time?"
The tall disciple smiled faintly.
"We heard some interesting rumors. We wanted to see for ourselves."
Lin Tian gestured toward the empty computers.
"Take a seat."
The three inner disciples exchanged glances before sitting down.
Several other disciples in the shop watched curiously.
Inner disciples were much stronger than outer disciples. If even they acknowledged the effectiveness of the training realms, the reputation of Cloud Mist Peak would rise rapidly.
Within moments, the system activated.
Bright light flashed across the screens as the three disciples entered the virtual world.
Their surroundings instantly transformed.
They found themselves standing inside a ruined city filled with broken buildings and dark streets. The sky above them was gray and lifeless, and an eerie silence hung in the air.
One of the disciples frowned.
"This illusion feels incredibly real."
Before anyone could say anything else, several monstrous figures slowly emerged from the shadows.
Their bodies were twisted and decayed, and their glowing eyes stared hungrily at the three intruders.
The tall disciple drew the sword that appeared in his hand and narrowed his eyes.
"Let's see how real this illusion is."
The monsters suddenly rushed forward.
The three disciples immediately began fighting.
Inside the computer shop, the glowing screens displayed their intense battle.
Other disciples gathered around to watch, their expressions filled with amazement.
Lin Tian calmly observed the battle while sipping tea.
Unlike the outer disciples from earlier, these inner disciples fought with far greater skill. Their sword techniques were precise, and their movements were swift and controlled.
Even the monsters in the virtual realm struggled to keep up with them.
After several minutes of fierce combat, the tall disciple finally struck down the last creature with a powerful slash.
The moment the battle ended, the virtual world dissolved.
The three disciples suddenly opened their eyes back inside the shop.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
Then the tall disciple slowly clenched his hand around the hilt of his sword.
His eyes widened slightly.
"My sword technique…"
He stood up and performed several quick strikes.
Each movement flowed smoothly into the next.
The other two disciples immediately noticed the difference.
"You improved!" one of them exclaimed.
The tall disciple nodded slowly.
"Just a little… but it's definitely real."
The three of them looked toward Lin Tian with completely different expressions than before.
"What exactly is this place?" the tall disciple asked seriously.
Lin Tian smiled calmly.
"A training ground."
"A place where cultivators can sharpen their combat skills."
The tall disciple took a deep breath before reaching into his robe and pulling out a small pouch of spirit stones.
"How much does it cost?"
Lin Tian answered calmly.
"Five spirit stones per hour."
The disciple placed the pouch on the table without hesitation.
"We'll continue."
Within minutes, the three inner disciples entered the virtual world again.
Meanwhile, outside the shop, more disciples continued arriving at Cloud Mist Peak.
The once quiet mountain path was now filled with curious cultivators.
Some came out of curiosity.
Some came hoping to improve their techniques.
And some simply wanted to see the strange place everyone was talking about.
High above the peak, hidden behind drifting clouds, a tall figure silently observed the growing crowd below.
His sharp eyes focused on the strange building that had appeared overnight.
"So this is the mysterious place…"
The man's gaze slowly narrowed.
"I should take a closer look."
Far below, inside the shop, Lin Tian calmly watched as the number of players continued to rise.
Cloud Mist Peak, once ignored by the entire sect, was slowly becoming the center of attention.
And this was only the beginning.