Volume One: Entering the City Chapter Fifty-Four: The Willow Grows Unintentionally

Lu Yi memorized the information on the slip of paper, then tore it up. At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed from the stairwell.

"Lu Yi, I'm so glad you're okay," Ke Yunyao gasped, leaning on her knees.

Lu Yi helped Ke Yunyao to a chair and bought her a drink from the vending machine, handing it to her.

Ke Yunyao instinctively accepted the drink. "Lu Yi, I feel like you've changed a bit."

"Changed? In what way?" Lu Yi was momentarily surprised, then smiled as he asked.

"I can't quite say, but there's definitely something different." Upon hearing Ke Yunyao’s words, Lu Yi suddenly realized that it must be the effect of the Ring of Saint Lion’s Protection.

He didn’t pursue the previous conversation, instead he asked casually, "By the way, why did you rush to find me? Did something happen?"

"It's because you were in the hospital. I was worried something had happened to you," Ke Yunyao shot him a look.

Lu Yi was taken aback, then gratefully grasped Ke Yunyao’s hand. "Thank you."

"There's no need for thanks between us," Ke Yunyao murmured, her face clouded with worry. "I’ve been thinking, and I believe that whatever attacked you at Tu Xiaoxi’s house was real. That director is just like you, isn’t he?"

"That’s right, but I’ve already found a solution," Lu Yi said calmly.

"Really?" Ke Yunyao looked delighted. "So you won’t encounter such dangers again?"

"Yunyao, I remember you said you wanted to join Dong Xingteng’s company," Lu Yi shifted the topic and asked.

Ke Yunyao looked at him. "Lu Yi, why won’t you answer me? Are you lying?"

Lu Yi hurriedly replied, embarrassed, "I’ll tell you in a moment. Listen to me first." Seeing her nod, he continued, "Dong Xingteng is in the same situation as I was. I met him recently, and he’s likely to die soon."

At that moment, both Ke Yunyao and Lu Yi’s phones chimed simultaneously. Lu Yi glanced at the message and said, "Check your phone. The money should have arrived."

Ke Yunyao looked at him in confusion, then checked her messages. "Twenty million... How do you have so much money?"

"I asked a friend to quickly sell my shares. In the end, I’ll probably have around a hundred million." Lu Yi smiled. Those shares in Dong Xingteng’s company had been discovered during a property inspection, hidden extremely well.

"You could use this money to start a company or invest," Lu Yi said to Ke Yunyao.

"Lu Yi, what’s wrong with you? You seem..." Ke Yunyao looked at him, worry filling her eyes.

"This is the other thing I wanted to tell you." Lu Yi stood up, turning the Violet Moon Spirit Ring on his finger. Instantly, two ethereal spirits appeared beside him, their wings fluttering as they circled him.

Seeing Ke Yunyao’s stunned expression, Lu Yi smiled confidently. "I’m fine. I haven’t lost hope. I’ve chosen to strengthen myself and fight back. I’ve also met some capable people, so I’ll walk the path of cultivation."

Ke Yunyao reached out to touch the spirits, but her hand passed through the illusions. She snapped back to reality. "So you want me to manage your wealth?"

"No, I want you to use this money to fulfill our dreams. You can also help other friends or those with ambitions," Lu Yi said earnestly.

"And this is my cultivation manual. When you have time, you can practice too. You’ve seen it—the world is far more complex than we imagined. Without some martial strength, one could easily become prey for the wicked." Lu Yi’s face was grave as he spoke.

Ke Yunyao gazed at him in gratitude, her lips trembling, unable to find words. She could only keep nodding.

The Luck Ring on Lu Yi’s hand shimmered. He took Ke Yunyao’s hand, then let go. A mysterious mark appeared on her palm, glowing briefly before fading.

Ke Yunyao watched in astonishment, turning her hand over several times as if searching for the vanished mark.

"This mark will bring you good fortune," Lu Yi said. Ke Yunyao looked at him in disbelief.

Lu Yi chuckled, "You heard right—not wishing you luck, but giving you luck." He had considered giving the mark to Li Xinran, but although he didn’t know what Li Xinran had gone through, she was definitely not an ordinary person.

There was no point in keeping it either. Lu Yi would grow stronger, and his chosen companions would be anything but ordinary. The Luck Ring would eventually create marks to boost his teammates’ fortune.

Ke Yunyao suddenly hugged Lu Yi tightly, clutching his shirt. "Lu Yi, you’re so good to me. I won’t let you down."

Lu Yi gently stroked her hair. "Don’t focus too much on the outcome. It’ll put too much pressure on you. You should savor the journey of pursuing your dreams."

A chime sounded in Lu Yi’s mind: "Detected that the trial-taker is assisting a native, suspecting an attempt to form a faction in this trial world." Simultaneously, Lu Yi felt himself drawn into a special space.

"Assessing trial-taker’s contribution to the trial world. Contribution sufficient. Assessing trial-taker’s identity relationships. Trial-taker has relationships with important figures from at least two factions, in addition to mundane ties. Condition met.

Permission granted to form a faction in this trial world.
Note: Once you confirm the formation of a faction, your identity in this trial world will be permanent, even if you return in future trials.

Do you wish to confirm the formation of a faction?"

Lu Yi fell silent, surprised by the turn of events. He’d never intended to form a faction. His actions had been motivated by Ke Yunyao’s concern for him, as well as a sense of responsibility—he and other trial-takers had disrupted Ke Yunyao’s life and prevented her from joining that company.

After a moment’s thought, he asked internally, "Mist City, what happens if I don’t form a faction?"

"Warning: The following information must not be disclosed in any way.

Because your equipment skill ‘Blessing’ introduces an element of uncertainty that does not meet retention criteria, if you choose not to form a faction, the following will occur:
Your Blessing mark will be dissolved, and Ke Yunyao’s cultivation will fail;
If you do not form a faction, upon your death or departure from the trial world, your identity here will die, your assets will be disputed, and only a small portion will end up with Ke Yunyao.
Special note: After this identity’s death, Mist City will cause it to fade, allowing you to re-enter the world in the future. This fading only affects your original friends, not those you meet anew during missions."

So, in short, if he didn’t form a faction, all his efforts just now would be wasted. Lu Yi grumbled internally.

"What are the benefits of forming a faction?" He was almost certain to choose to form one, but needed to understand the details.

He wondered, could he one day bring people like Katerina into his faction?

Mist City quickly dashed his hopes: "Note, original factions in the trial world cannot be absorbed into a newly created faction, nor can natives taken out of the world be included."

"Why?" Lu Yi asked immediately.

"Insufficient permissions. No answer," Mist City replied coldly.

Insufficient permissions—Lu Yi remembered this issue. "Alright, tell me the benefits."

"After forming a faction, you gain the following benefits:
Faction missions: You may enter the corresponding trial world during rest periods, leading your team to complete missions;
Faction abilities: If your faction has talented individuals, you can bring materials into the world to craft equipment, saving vast reward points;
Reputation and Luck bonus: As your faction’s rank increases, you gain initial reputation in certain missions, and great deeds performed by your faction grant you luck;
Call for aid: When your faction reaches a certain level, you may summon members for limited-time assistance in the trial world;
Other benefits await discovery."

Lu Yi felt a surge of excitement—he had two valuable materials stored with Helian Xun. If his faction had people skilled in crafting, he could save a fortune in reward points once he gathered all the materials.

He didn’t hesitate. "Form a faction."

"Please confirm your faction’s proxy nearby."

Lu Yi checked his interface—Ke Yunyao was the only option. Without further thought, he selected her name.

A light screen appeared before him.

"Name: Ke Yunyao;
Gender: Female;
Aptitude: Exceptional;
Bloodline: Unawakened;"

Ke Yunyao’s aptitude was far higher than his own, and she even had a bloodline. Seeing this, Lu Yi felt a strong urge to nurture her, and without hesitation pressed confirm.

"Faction formation successful. This mission world now contains twenty-three factions formed by trial-takers.
Your current faction rank: Unknown. Please recruit or train new members and complete faction missions to develop your faction.
You may name your faction later," Mist City concluded.

Lu Yi returned to himself.

"Lu Yi, are you asking me to form a faction?" Ke Yunyao suddenly asked.

He understood it was Mist City’s change after his confirmation. He nodded, "Yes."

"What should it be called?" Ke Yunyao asked.

Lu Yi pondered. "The company on the surface can be named as you wish. Let’s call the faction Yun Tower."

"Greetings, Tower Master," Ke Yunyao smiled at him.

"Take this," Lu Yi quietly handed her a Huiyuan Fruit. "Use it after you go home. It’s extremely rare, so don’t mention it to outsiders."

Ke Yunyao carefully put the fruit away and nodded to him.

"Take your time, don’t rush," Lu Yi reminded her before she left.

"Got it," Ke Yunyao smiled. "Remember to come visit us."

After parting ways, Lu Yi turned his Spirit Ring. "Strange, Li Xinran said she’d come for the make-up session. Why hasn’t she arrived?" His expression changed as he hurried toward the hospital ward.