The crucial thing to remember was that cultivation techniques carried an inherent exclusivity—only one technique could occupy each cultivation tier. Simultaneous cultivation of multiple techniques was impossible.
Just like equipment, bloodlines, classes, and cultivation manuals weren't exactly rare within the near-omnipotent Illusionary Realms. Yet high-quality Purple-tier or above items were exceptionally scarce, their acquisition difficulty dwarfing that of equivalent-tier equipment by factors of ten or more.
Obtaining the F-Gold [USS Bio-Enhanced Special Forces Training Manual] might have seemed straightforward, but consider this: without Luo Jie's trump card—the EX-tier [Demi-Human] bloodline, vastly overpowered for the current realm—even doubling his base stats wouldn't have let him defeat a single USS squad member, let alone accomplish the hellish difficulty task of wiping out the entire squad.
Equipping the [USS Bio-Enhanced Special Forces Training Manual] boosted Luo Jie's Constitution to 120. His Spirit attribute, amplified by the [Demi-Human] bloodline, skyrocketed to 240.
Of course, this wasn't the manual's limit. He'd converted all his points into ammo before leaving the "Dead Rising" realm, leaving nothing to upgrade it yet.
Only one chest remained in his storage space—the [Golden Leaderboard Chest].
This exclusive reward for the top ranker on the Points Leaderboard was rumored to contain hidden items unobtainable within the realms themselves. In his past life, Luo Jie's pitiful strength had never allowed him to witness its contents.
Now, he'd finally see it firsthand.
Luo Jie took a deep breath and lifted the lid of the dazzling golden chest.
You have opened the Golden Leaderboard Chest. You have obtained 30,000 Points. You have obtained the item: Shepherd's Lasso. You have obtained the item: Space-Time Key. You have obtained the item: Tier-1 Constitution Potion x3. You have obtained the Commemorative Badge: Dead Rising x3. Player has broken this scenario's highest record. All rewards doubled.
Watching the chest dissolve like windblown sand in his hands, Luo Jie froze.
That… that was it?
This was the legendary "exceptionally bountiful" reward? It felt more like a disappointing online shopping haul…
Shepherd's Lasso x2 Type: Item Quality: F (Purple) Description: Rope blessed by the Shepherd God, traditionally used to tame fierce beasts. Remember, it's still just flimsy hemp—don't let the beast snap it.
Space-Time Key x2 Type: Item Quality: EX Description: A mysterious key granting access to any Tier-1 Illusionary Realm. Use only within the Illusionary Realms.
Tier-1 Constitution Potion x6 Type: Item Quality: F (White) Description: Permanently increases Constitution by +10. Excessive use may build tolerance.
Commemorative Badge: Dead Rising x6 Type: Item Quality: F (White) Description: Just a pretty badge. At least it proves you were there.
After a long moment, Luo Jie's lips curled into a self-mocking smile.
He realized his perspective had been skewed by his earlier, extraordinary windfall. Viewed through the lens of an ordinary Tier-1 player, the Golden Leaderboard Chest's contents were undeniably lavish.
Crucially, besides the points and badges, the other three items were special artifacts impossible to obtain directly within the realms.
The [Shepherd's Lasso] was the only item for taming mounts or combat pets. Despite being Purple-tier, its exclusive drop from the top three Leaderboard Chests, usually consumed internally, made it notoriously scarce and perpetually sold out on the player market.
The [Space-Time Key] was even more potent. It bypassed realm cooldowns and could temporarily unlock realms not yet open to the public, allowing entry to seize first-mover advantages without player competition.
The [Tier-1 Constitution Potions] were the rare, permanent stat-boosting items mentioned before. Any player knew using them early was best.
Yet, after brief consideration, Luo Jie stored all six potions, along with his other loot, back into his digital storage space.
Players only had two core attributes, but true balance was a myth. Jack-of-all-trades players might survive early on, but they'd hit a wall mid-game, becoming hopelessly outclassed later by specialists unable to wield high-tier skills and gear.
His past life had been dedicated to a Constitution-focused melee build. This time, however, the [Demi-Human] bloodline's innate gift changed everything. Sticking to his old path would squander its potential.
New Humanity (Passive) – Base Spirit attribute +100%. (Non-Upgradable)
Percentage-based boosts to base attributes were rare gems in the Illusionary Realms, typically reserved for the most powerful bloodlines. This scaling might lack the immediate punch of flat numerical bonuses early on, but its terrifying compounding effect guaranteed dominance later.
His plan? Trade all six [Ti
er-1 Constitution Potions] for their Spirit-boosting counterparts, [Tier-1 Spirit Potions], at the player market. This simple swap would double their effectiveness for him.
As for the newly acquired 60,000 points? Luo Jie left them untouched. His stats and gear already dwarfed most peers at his tier, especially his weapon's overkill firepower. There was no urgent need for upgrades. Keeping a hefty point reserve for the player market felt smarter—he'd see what unique treasures surfaced.
The next morning.
South Main Street Life Plaza, 5th Floor Cafe. Iron Mountain City Center.
Luo Jie stirred his coffee mechanically, the silver spoon tracing endless circles. His gaze drifted through the spotless windowpane, fixing on the bustling shoppers in the atrium below. For a moment, his focus blurred.
A subtle fragrance, clean and floral, brushed his senses.
He turned instinctively. A young woman in a soft yellow chiffon dress stood beside his table. Her features were delicate, framed by long dark hair, an air of gentle shyness about her. Her voice was quiet, melodic.
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Luo?"