Wu Ji Tian took a deep breath as he stepped further inside, taking in the drastic transformation of his shop. The air was cool, crisp, and free of the damp, musty scent that had once clung to the wooden walls. Instead of creaky old boards, his feet now touched smooth, polished tiles, reflecting the ambient light from the newly installed fixtures above.

  The space itself had expanded—not physically, but through clever rearrangements. The once cramped, cluttered shop now had an open, modern yout, where each section felt intentional.

  His eyes wandered toward the new additions.

  To his left, a sturdy, high-tech counter stood where his old, barely-holding-together wooden sb used to be. Dark, polished wood with subtle golden engravings ran along its surface, giving it an air of elegance. Behind it, floating shelves lined the walls, though they remained empty for now.

  To his right, neatly arranged along the far wall, were three VR helmets resting atop a long, metallic table, each accompanied by a comfortable-looking chair. Their sleek bck surfaces gleamed under the soft glow of the ceiling lights.

  And at the very back of the shop—two futuristic capsules stood side by side, their exteriors smooth and glowing faintly with unknown energy. Unlike the VR helmets, these machines radiated a presence, as if they were more than just tools—they were gateways to something far greater.

  Wu Ji Tian felt a tingle of excitement.

  “This is insane,” he muttered. “My run-down shop turned into this?”

  [Yes, and yet you still stand there gawking instead of testing it out.]

  Wu Ji Tian rolled his eyes. Of course, the System couldn’t let him enjoy the moment.

  He decided to start small.

  VR first.

  Grabbing a helmet from the table, he settled into the chair, adjusted the fit, and took a deep breath.

  Time to see what this thing could do.

  ===============================

  The moment Wu Ji Tian pced the VR helmet on his head, he was surprised by how smoothly it fit. It adjusted to his head like it was tailor-made, hugging his scalp with an almost weightless touch. Before he could marvel at the design, a soft chime echoed in his ears.

  [User detected. Registering…]

  A faint glow washed over him, scanning every inch of his body in an instant. Moments ter, a confirmation tone sounded.

  [Owner detected. Automatic registration complete. Welcome, Wu Ji Tian.]

  “Huh. That was easy,” he muttered. But he quickly realized that wouldn’t be the case for normal customers.

  [For standard users, a full-body scan is required. This ensures accurate synchronization and security.]

  Wu Ji Tian nodded. That made sense. If he wanted people to use this VR system, he needed to understand how it worked.

  A new notification popped up before him.

  [Welcome to the Cultivator’s Haven.]

  The dark void around him shifted, repced by a vibrant, open courtyard. Ancient pagodas loomed in the distance, with floating nterns drifting zily in the air. The setting was breathtaking, but something else caught his attention.

  Floating menus.

  [Game Selection][Store][Friends List]

  Wu Ji Tian raised an eyebrow at the ‘Store’ section and tapped it out of curiosity.

  The menu expanded, revealing an overwhelming selection of skins, outfits, and even different character effects. Sparks of lightning, fmes flickering around the body, twinkling lights—even heart-shaped effects.

  “…You’re telling me cultivators care about cosmetics?”

  [Appearance is everything. Even in death, you should look your best.]

  He sighed. “Right. Because dying in a fancy robe is so much better than in rags.”

  Ignoring the system, he scanned the avaible games.

  There was only one.

  Battle Royale: Daoist Survival

  Wu Ji Tian selected it, and another menu appeared, showing a simple matchmaking screen.

  [Starting Match…]

  He frowned. “How am I supposed to py if there are no other pyers?”

  [Oh, don’t worry. You’ll be pying against AI. That’s what happens to dead games, right?]

  “…I don’t like how accurate that is.”

  Before he could react, his vision blurred—

  And he was falling.

  Wind roared past his ears as he descended through a sea of clouds. The battlefield stretched below—a vast nd of broken pagodas, abandoned vilges, and dense forests. Rivers cut through valleys, and towering cliffs loomed in the distance.

  A glowing prompt appeared before him.

  [Choose Your Landing Spot!]

  Scanning the terrain, he picked a ruined vilge near a river. It had buildings for cover but enough open space for maneuvering.

  [Landing Confirmed.]

  A second ter—

  BOOM!

  He hit the ground in a smooth roll, the impact surprisingly realistic.

  A mechanical chime echoed in his mind.

  [Survive. Eliminate all opponents.]

  Wu Ji Tian’s hands moved instinctively, searching nearby structures. Inside a half-destroyed hut, he found a basic sword and a talisman.

  “This should do for now.”

  As Wu Ji Tian stepped out of the hut, movement caught his eye.

  A lone opponent stood in the clearing, gripping a rusty sword. Unlike the stiff, predictable AI he expected, this one took a proper stance—bde raised, feet positioned for bance.

  Wu Ji Tian smirked. “Alright, let’s see what you got.”

  Without warning, the AI lunged.

  Wu Ji Tian parried the strike, sparks flying as their bdes cshed. The AI didn’t hesitate this time—it followed up with a quick thrust toward his chest.

  He twisted his body, narrowly dodging, then countered with a diagonal ssh. The AI blocked, pushing against him in a brief contest of strength.

  For a moment, Wu Ji Tian almost forgot this was an AI.

  But experience won out. He baited an overhead strike, stepped to the side at the st moment, and drove his sword straight through the AI’s torso.

  [Opponent Eliminated!]

  The body disintegrated into motes of light, leaving behind a few low-tier talismans.

  Wu Ji Tian flicked his sword to the side, as if shaking off imaginary blood. “Now that’s more like it.”

  He had barely caught his breath when—

  An arrow whizzed past his head.

  Wu Ji Tian dove behind a crumbling wall. “Oh, come on—campers already?!”

  A second arrow struck the dirt beside him. Someone was sniping from a rooftop.

  [What did you expect? It’s a battle royale. If there aren’t snipers, is it even real?]

  He groaned. “I hate that you’re right.”

  Peeking out, he spotted a shadowy figure on top of a pagoda, bow in hand.

  With no armor, he couldn’t take a direct hit. Instead of rushing in, he crept through the ruins, using cover to get closer.

  When he was within striking range, he grabbed a loose brick and hurled it.

  The AI flinched.

  That was all he needed.

  Wu Ji Tian lunged, tackling the AI off the edge of the pagoda. With a well-pced punch, he sent it tumbling down.

  [Opponent Eliminated!]

  A bow and a few arrows dropped beside the fading corpse.

  Wu Ji Tian smirked. “Not bad.”

  Then, a loud gong rang across the battlefield.

  [Zone Shrinking!]

  A massive golden barrier closed in, swallowing the outskirts of the battlefield. Trees, buildings—everything outside the zone vanished into golden mist.

  Wu Ji Tian sprinted toward the safe zone, avoiding unnecessary fights. He picked off weaker enemies along the way, gathering better weapons and talismans.

  By the time only two pyers remained, he had a mid-tier sword, defensive armor, and one st healing pill.

  His final opponent?

  A high-ranking AI wielding a massive fming spear, decked out in upgraded gear.

  Wu Ji Tian sighed. “Why do AI always get the good loot?”

  [Skill issue.]

  “…Shut up.”

  The AI charged, its spear igniting in fmes. Wu Ji Tian barely dodged, rolling as the ground exploded behind him.

  He was outmatched in raw strength.

  But he had one advantage—his gamer instincts.

  Instead of trading blows, he baited attacks, forcing the AI to overcommit. With each dodge, its stamina drained.

  Then—the perfect opening.

  Activating a movement talisman, Wu Ji Tian teleported behind the AI.

  With a swift strike, his bde found its mark.

  [Final Opponent Eliminated!][Victory!]

  Wu Ji Tian colpsed onto the ground, panting. Even though it was just a game, it felt real.

  A sarcastic chime rang.

  [Congratutions! You survived longer than expected. Truly, an inspiration to weaklings everywhere.]

  He rolled his eyes. “Thanks, System. Very motivating.”

  As the world faded, he felt himself being pulled back to reality.

  Removing the helmet, Wu Ji Tian sat still, processing everything.

  The VR experience was incredible—but it wasn’t perfect. No qi circution, no true body sensations, only simuted combat.

  For a normal gamer, this was groundbreaking.

  For a real cultivator?

  His gaze drifted to the glowing capsules.

  “If the VR is this good… then what about full immersion?”

  A familiar chime answered.

  [Oh, you’re finally asking the right questions.][Go on, Step into the capsule.]

  Wu Ji Tian smirked. “Don’t mind if I do.”