The Abusive Novel System Pleads with Me to Resign

Upon hearing this, the others also found it reasonable. Ye Qingchen spoke up first, "I'll go in first."

He stepped forward, randomly chose a door, opened it, and walked inside.

From the outside, they couldn't clearly see what lay beyond the door—only a blinding white light. The moment Ye Qingchen stepped in, his figure was swallowed by the radiance.

Seeing this, the others, organized by their respective sects, also sent one person each to scout ahead.

It had struck them as odd earlier that Ji Liantan and Shen Ying of the Joyous Union Sect hadn't left the secret realm.

This made the motives of the other Joyous Union disciples who had withdrawn even more suspicious.

While waiting, a disciple from another sect approached Ji Liantan and asked, "What's going on with your Joyous Union Sect?"

"Why did so many of your disciples leave?"

Ji Liantan glanced at them dismissively and replied airily, "Too many hands, too little work. A crowd just gets in the way."

The others choked on their words—wasn't this a blatant mockery, implying they weren't even worth needing extra help?

But looking at Ji Liantan's group, they did seem at ease. Most others hadn't fared well in the previous trial.

The Old Ancestor's groupings had been cunning, often pitting evenly matched opponents against each other. And this was only the second layer—already, many had suffered heavy losses, their spiritual energy nearly depleted.

After roughly the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Ye Qingchen opened the door and stepped out.

His expression was relaxed, as if nothing had changed since he entered.

Ninth Junior Brother hurriedly asked, "How was it? What's inside?"

Ye Qingchen replied calmly, "Nothing. I walked around inside and then turned back."

"I thought the door wouldn't open if I did nothing, but it opened easily."

Ninth Junior Brother eyed him skeptically. "Really?"

Ye Qingchen smiled. "I've no reason to lie here."

He glanced at Shen Ying, who nodded in agreement. Ye Qingchen wasn't the only one who had entered.

Whatever lay beyond those doors, there would be plenty of accounts to analyze once the others emerged. A man of Ye Qingchen's pride wouldn't obscure the truth over something like this.

Sure enough, the others who had entered soon came out one by one.

But their states were far from Ye Qingchen's composure.

Some had bloodshot eyes, their killing intent palpable. Others were weeping uncontrollably, their minds clearly shattered.

One even attacked a fellow disciple the moment he stepped out, requiring several people to restrain him.

Shen Ying casually pulled over a rogue cultivator—one bold enough to be among the first to enter—who now looked utterly drained.

She took out a small vial and forced an unknown liquid down his throat.

After coughing violently, the man's condition visibly improved.

Shen Ying asked, "What did you see inside?"

The rogue cultivator answered weakly, "Fire… a great fire. The village was burning, screams everywhere… I couldn't escape."

Even as he spoke, his face remained twisted in fear.

Ji Liantan remarked to Shen Ying, "The others are the same—all faced with their deepest, most unwilling memories."

Shen Ying scanned the surroundings. "Eleven went in, but only seven came out. Why?"

Ninth Junior Brother ventured, "Perhaps they haven't overcome their inner demons yet?"

The nature of this trial was clear—a test of one's heart demons, confronting the obsessions buried deepest within.

Few demonic cultivators had led peaceful lives from childhood.

Ji Liantan frowned. "No. Those who came out each took the same amount of time—one incense stick's worth. There's no reason for three exceptions."

He pointed at a nearby demonic cultivator. "According to him, he spent a year inside."

Then he turned back to the rogue cultivator Shen Ying had treated. "How long were you in there?"

The man answered, "Seven days."

Ye Qingchen added, "In that case, those who haven't emerged are likely trapped in their illusions, never to return."

For cultivators, this was no different from death.

The realization sent a chill through the crowd.

Fighting oneself was often the hardest battle. Until faced with it, no one truly knew if they were as resilient as they believed.

Among those who had entered—and those who hadn't returned—were many sharp-witted and tenacious individuals. Those who had survived the chaos of the first layer and the grueling battles of the second were already the elite of their generation.

Yet in just the span of an incense stick's burning, three had perished, and most of the remaining eight were temporarily useless.

Against ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​‍this backdrop, Ye Qingchen's unshaken demeanor stood out starkly.

All eyes turned to him.

Unfazed by the scrutiny, Ye Qingchen merely said, "Perhaps I've been fortunate—my life has been smooth, with no lingering obsessions."

The moment these words left his mouth, Ji Liantan's expression darkened.

The tension in his jaw betrayed clenched teeth.

As if sensing it, Ye Qingchen glanced at Ji Liantan and smiled. "I wonder what the Young Master will see inside."

A flash of crimson flickered in Ji Liantan's eyes. He smirked dangerously. "I have a way to ensure I don't see anything unpleasant in there."

Ninth Junior Brother, standing between them, quickly took a large step back to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

But before the tension could escalate, Shen Ying pushed Ye Qingchen aside, cutting through the hostility.

"Enough. I'd hoped you'd be slightly more mature than our senior brother, but it seems you're cut from the same cloth."

Ye Qingchen's face stiffened at her words, while Ji Liantan shot him a cold, triumphant look.

How did it feel to have the woman he liked openly defend another man?

Ji Liantan scoffed. "Fine. I'll give my junior sister face and not stoop to his level."

With that, he moved toward the door—only for Shen Ying to stop him.

"Wait, senior brother. Let me go first."

Ye Qingchen frowned. "The Old Ancestor deliberately separated you earlier. If you enter now, he might manipulate the flow of time inside."

Old Ancestor: "…"

Ninth Junior Brother chimed in, "Right? The Old Ancestor's so transparent, thinking we wouldn't notice his schemes."

"If you're delayed inside, we'll be stuck waiting, putting us at a disadvantage."

Shen Ying grinned. "Exactly why I should go first."

"You all stay here. No one moves to the next layer until I return."

"And if anyone dares to sneak ahead—don't hesitate. Kill them."

The three immediately understood. If the Old Ancestor intended to pressure them into abandoning Shen Ying by forcing the trial's progression, they'd simply make everyone wait for her.

At worst, they'd all be stuck together.

The others glared at Shen Ying in outrage, but one look at Ji Liantan drained their defiance.

Even if he couldn't kill everyone at once, he could slaughter a significant number.

With two other formidable allies by his side and the remaining few dozen competitors too fractured to unite, no one dared gamble on being the lucky survivor.

Under their resentful but powerless gazes, Shen Ying strode to a door and pushed it open.

Before entering, she turned to the three. "If I'm not back in an hour, withdraw from the trial immediately."

Ji Liantan's brow furrowed. "Nonsense. There's no way you'd fail here."

Shen Ying shrugged. "Senior brother, I'm serious. This Old Ancestor is petty and underhanded. I have doubts about the quality of his true blood."

"If it were his own true blood, I fear even using it would be beneath you, Senior Brother. To be honest, I'm already considering backing out."

"If this were just an ordinary trial, it wouldn't matter—a drop of inferior true blood isn't worth all this scheming and strategizing. The Old Ancestor clearly has some sinister plan in mind. He doesn't seem like an elder who cares about the future of the demonic path."

"If I don't come out in time, Senior Brother, you should leave and find our master. Have him activate the Demon Sovereign's Decree to summon the ancient ancestors from the underworld and drag the Old Ancestor out."

Ji Liantan nodded. "Fine. You can go in without worry. Honestly, I'm not even that interested in the Old Ancestor's true blood anymore."

"Such weak and foolish blood—forget assimilating it, even refining it into a weapon would be embarrassing."

With a mocking glance at Ye Qingchen, he added, "If someone else wants to fight for it, I'll gladly let them have it."

Ye Qingchen: "...Why are you looking at me, Young Master? I'm just a rogue cultivator here to broaden my horizons. I wouldn't dare entertain any improper thoughts."

Ninth Junior Brother: "Then... then I don't want it either. I'm afraid absorbing that blood would make me stupid."

Tugging at Shen Ying's sleeve, he pleaded, "Senior Sister, maybe you shouldn't go in either. Let's just withdraw now."

"Then we can investigate the Old Ancestor's identity outside and have the sect leader remove him from the Demon Sovereign's records."

"At the very least, the ancient demons like Gu Laomo, who lost their sons, would support us."

Hearing their words, the Old Ancestor burned with fury and bitter sorrow.

He, a revered Demon Ancestor, was now being scorned by these ignorant juniors.

Fortunately, Shen Ying spoke up. "No, I still want to see what my inner demon is."

There weren't many things she feared or clung to—if asked, she wouldn't even know where to begin.

So she was deeply curious: how could this trial possibly trap her?

She stepped through the door. After the blinding light faded, a scene unfolded before her eyes.

The moment she saw it, Shen Ying was stunned.

And she immediately admitted—her inner demon knew exactly how to target her.

Before her stood a lavish private club room, opulently decorated with dim, atmospheric lighting.

Inside, there were already over a dozen male escorts, each strikingly handsome, impeccably built, and radiating irresistible charm.

What's worse—they looked familiar.

Then, a sharp-featured man with jet-black hair and a dangerous aura approached, holding a glass of wine.

Frowning, he demanded, "Why did you invite me to a place like this?"

His voice turned icy. "Didn't you promise never to come here again?"

"Did you think bringing me along would make it acceptable?"

His disdainful gaze swept over the men in the room, his instincts screaming in alarm.

Furious, he snapped, "Who recommended these lowlifes to you? Was it Gao Yingli?"