Sun Yi was blissfully unaware that his “plagiarism” of a cultivation web novel quote had just triggered a spiritual revolution outside. He was currently standing in a white void, staring down a simulated wolf.

The Battle Tower’s virtual environment was impressive. The silver Demon Wolf manifested with a flash of light, growling with realistic audio fidelity. It was the size of a calf, radiating a faint, predatory aura.

Level 1: Qi Refining Level 1.

Sun Yi didn’t even draw his sword. He pointed a finger. A single bolt of golden sword Qi—a low-cost projectile—shot out and pierced the wolf’s skull.

The wolf dissolved into pixels of light. A staircase materialized.

Sun Yi walked up, treating it like a tutorial level.

Level 2: A Demon Fox. Slightly faster AI, better stats. Dead in one hit.

Sun Yi breezed through the first thirty floors. The enemies were painfully weak, capping out at Qi Refining Level 4. It was like a max-level player running through the starter zone.

By floor forty, the difficulty curve finally spiked. The enemies grew smarter, their numbers increased, and they began using coordinated tactics. The illusionary tech was surprisingly robust; the beasts didn’t just attack—they flanked, baited, and used suppression fire.

Whoever coded this simulation deserves a raise, Sun Yi thought, dodging a barrage of wind blades. It’s way better than the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) I asked for.

He cleared up to floor sixty without much trouble.

On floor sixty-five, the simulation changed.

Three enemies spawned: A Giant Bear (Tank), a Demon Ox (Bruiser), and a Wolf Demon (DPS/Assassin). All three were rated at Qi Refining Level 7—the same tier as Sun Yi.

Roar!

The trio charged. The pressure was real. They moved with the intent to kill, their auras locking onto him.

Sun Yi raised his right hand. Golden Sword Art: Split Process.

Three streaks of golden light shot out to intercept.

Bang!

The bear swatted a sword beam aside, its paw smoking but intact. The ox lowered its head, shattering another beam with its reinforced horns. The wolf howled, launching a wind blade that neutralized the third beam.

Sun Yi smirked. Finally, a stress test.

He could have ended it instantly by drawing the Dragon Roar Sword—his “nuclear option.” But that would defeat the purpose. He was here to grind proficiency, not just clear the level. He needed to optimize his software (sword art) before relying on his hardware (artifacts).

Sun Yi engaged the trio in a dance of light and claws. He treated the simulation like a high-stakes rhythm game, dodging attacks by millimeters and countering with precision strikes.

Thirty minutes passed. Sun Yi was sweating, but his eyes were sharp. His control over the Golden Sword Art was evolving in real-time.

“Optimization complete,” he whispered.

He formed a new seal. Five golden sword beams materialized—two more than his previous limit.

Execute.

Thwack-thwack-thwack!

The five beams moved like a hive mind. Two pierced the bear’s skull. Two shredded the ox. The final one decapitated the wolf mid-leap.

The simulation dissolved.

“Efficiency up 40%,” Sun Yi noted, wiping his brow. “Next level.”

Battle Tower Control Center

In a hidden monitoring room, three Foundation Establishment managers stared at a holographic screen. Their jaws were practically on the floor.

“He’s been in there for five days,” one manager whispered. “Five days of continuous combat.”

“His recovery speed defies logic,” another noted. “Whenever his spiritual energy dips, he burns a Top-Grade Spirit Stone. It’s madness. He’s consuming more wealth in recharge items than the entire yearly budget of a small clan.”

“He’s on floor seventy-five now,” the third manager said, pointing at the screen. “That’s… that’s ridiculous. He’s a Qi Refining cultivator.”

On the screen, Sun Yi was fighting for his life.

Floor 75

The simulation was no longer a game. It was a war zone.

Sun Yi stood in the center of a chaotic melee. Nine demon beasts surrounded him—all peak Qi Refining Level 7 elites. They were coordinated perfectly, a hit squad designed to overwhelm solo players.

Howl!

A Wolf Demon launched a flurry of claw attacks, creating a net of lethal wind pressure.

Sun Yi flicked his left wrist. A cyan hexagonal device shot out—the Turtle Shell Shield. It expanded into a two-meter barrier of solid light.

Clang-clang-clang!

The claws raked against the shield, sparking harmlessly.

Before Sun Yi could counter, a massive Demon Bear slammed into the shield like a wrecking ball. The impact shook Sun Yi’s bones, but the shield held.

Boom!

A Firebird swooped down, vomiting a massive fireball. It exploded against the barrier, bathing the area in flames.

Sun Yi stood behind the glowing shield, his face illuminated by the fire. He wasn’t smiling anymore. This was the limit of his “software.”

It was time to bring out the hardware.