Ch 124: Guide to Running a Shop in Another World II

This footage was a holographic recreation, carefully edited and preserved after Lu Yao built the Heavenly Ladder.

Lu Yao originally planned to release it after the first beta test as bait to kick off the Celestial-Demon Conference.

Today, with notable elders and even sect masters from major sects gathered at the Internet café, it was the perfect opportunity.

Not only that, Lu Yao had also prepared to livestream the first beta test of the Heavenly Ladder.

After a short segment of holographic projection, a palm-sized black butterfly slowly descended from the ink sea, gently flapping its wings. As the thin mist dispersed, the projection screen became clear again.

The appearance of the Heavenly Ladder had already caused a stir among the guests, and as the image brightened once more, the discussions gradually quieted.

The cultivation world also had similar real-time broadcasting artifacts, often using water screens or mirrors as mediums, much like television broadcasts.

The advantage of holographic projection was the immersive experience, leaving a deep impression on the viewers.

Lu Yao stood with the little Tangkang and Sishang in front of six large black-bronze gates.

To the café guests, the six gates seemed to stand right in front of them—close enough to touch. Some even felt an eerie chill emanating from the doors, as if they were truly there.

Unlike the gates of the first illusion, these six black-bronze gates were tall, ancient, and profoundly mysterious.

The guests in the hall stared up at them, completely engrossed.

The Beast Taming Sect’s sect master immediately recognized the pink piglet lying before the Myriad Beasts Gate as one originating from their sect, casting a sidelong glance at Jin Huaichen.

Jin Huaichen lowered his head respectfully. “The boss once visited the Beast Taming Sect. I truthfully told her about the little Tangkang’s condition, but she insisted on buying it. Given its situation, it wouldn’t have survived much longer. Since coming to the café, its weakness hasn’t improved, but at least it’s alive. I don’t know why the boss wants to bring it into the illusion realm.”

The Kunlun elder narrowed his eyes. “Why else? To defy fate for the piglet.”

Jin Huaichen, still young, didn’t yet understand how rare the sight before him was—a Heavenly Ladder built with World tree and Xirang.

The little Tangkang pressed its head against the black-bronze door, its hooves straining, veins bulging on its forehead, but the door didn’t budge.

The Sishang, dragging its tail, crouched at Lu Yao’s feet, tilting its head in confusion.

Lu Yao crouched down, stroking the Sishang. “Which door do you want to go through? Choose for yourself.”

The Sishang nudged Lu Yao’s hand with its head, acting coy and unwilling to move.

Lu Yao gently pushed it forward. “Don’t be afraid. No matter what kind of ‘Qiuyu’ you are, I will like you.”

The Sishang dug its claws into the ground, turning its head forcefully. Its small, beady eyes shone with a kind of endearing clarity, and it opened its tender yellow beak, chirping softly in confusion at the term “Qiuyu.”

“Qiuyu,” Lu Yao repeated, stroking its head. “I thought long and hard about this name. Do you like it?”

The Sishang suddenly became excited, turning and repeatedly nudging Lu Yao with its head.

Qiuyu.

Its name was Qiuyu.

A deep rumbling sound echoed.

The heavy black-bronze gate creaked open slightly as Lu Yao and Qiuyu looked up.

The little Tangkang had scratched deep grooves into the ground with its hooves, forcing the door open with its head.

Lu Yao walked over and encouraged it. “Kangkang, you can do it! Kangkang, keep going!”

The little Tangkang: “…”

Using every ounce of its strength, the piglet squeezed its head through the door. After another quarter of an hour, it dragged its weak hind legs inside.

The Myriad Beasts Gate slowly closed. Lu Yao reassured it, “Don’t worry. I’ll meet you inside.”

She turned toward the “World of Mirage” gate, glancing back at Qiuyu at the threshold. “Choose your path.”

Qiuyu chirped once, decisively turning and walking toward the Demon Refining Gate.

While the little Tangkang had struggled desperately to enter its gate, Qiuyu merely extended a claw, gently pushing the Demon Refining Gate open.

Perhaps wary of Lu Yao’s gaze, Qiuyu didn’t look back.

Lu Yao calmly stepped into the Mirage.

In the café hall, the guests’ expressions varied.

The Tales of the Six Realms players—

“This gate is different from the first level.”

“This is the gate to the Heavenly Ladder.”

“The boss is actually human.”

“That much is obvious.”

“…I thought she would choose the Gate of Seeking Dao.”

The newly arrived sect elders—

“What is that little creature that looks part bird, part dragon?”

The Beast Taming Sect’s sect master shook her head, her brow furrowed. “It’s not a spirit beast. It’s a demon, merely disguised as a spirit beast.”

Jin Huaichen couldn’t help but add, “It did hatch from an egg. I’ve already told the boss that this creature is highly dangerous and should be handed over to the Beast Taming Sect as soon as possible. But she seems unwilling to give up on it.”

The Beast Taming Sect’s sect master cast him a glance but said nothing.

The hot-headed elders, surprisingly, calmed down and even found chairs to sit on.

With their wealth of experience, they had already realized the boss intended for them to witness this event.

On the projection screen, after the human, the demon, and the spirit beast separated, only the boss’s figure was visible.

A shadow butterfly accompanied Lu Yao, identical to the one projecting the live feed from within.

These butterflies were the remnants of the old god of the Nitean Continent, now residing in Lu Yao’s portable warehouse. Occasionally, they were enlisted to help with tasks.

It was a long, dark path—silent and seemingly endless.

After about ten minutes, a faint light appeared ahead.

Lu Yao walked straight to the exit, where the Heavenly Ladder came into view.

Exiting the gate and walking another hundred steps, she finally reached the true Heavenly Ladder.

Six black-bronze gates were spaced evenly in six directions, surrounded by an inky sea devoid of light. The towering Heavenly Ladder shimmered with golden light, like the only beacon on a dark path.

There was no sign of the little Tangkang or Qiuyu. Lu Yao stood before the Heavenly Ladder for a moment before stepping onto the stairs—one step, two steps, three steps—then stopped, turned around, and sat down.

The café hall erupted into noise. The demons, devils, and cultivators were full of questions, louder than a swarm of a thousand mosquitoes.

“So this is the Heavenly Ladder?”

“She climbed three steps in a row—it doesn’t seem that difficult.”

“True. Isn’t the Heavenly Ladder a pathway connecting heaven and earth, as the legends say? If it’s so easy to ascend, wouldn’t we soar to the heavens in no time?”

The sect elders exchanged looks, their eyes filled with doubt.

The Heavenly Ladder, built with World tree and Xirang, couldn’t possibly be fake. They had initially underestimated this young woman.

…

Lu Yao sat on the steps, bored, and pulled out a tablet to read books Alfred had scanned for her.

About half an hour later, the little Tangkang crawled out of the Myriad Beasts Gate in a miserable state, battered and bruised, dragging itself toward the Heavenly Ladder.

As it reached the base of the Heavenly Ladder, Qiuyu emerged from the Demon Refining Gate. The wings on its back were broken, and its fur was a tangled mess—it had clearly endured significant hardships.

Lu Yao stretched out her legs and waved at the two creatures. “Come here.”

The little Tangkang was closer. Upon seeing the outstretched hand, it whimpered softly and crawled forward.

As soon as its pink hoof touched the first step of the Heavenly Ladder, it felt an immense weight press down on its back, forcing it to retreat, bow its head, and submit.

The little Tangkang’s beady eyes widened as it stubbornly stared at the pale, jade-like hand in front of it. It was the same hand that had gently brushed away the thorny leaves pressing against its back, carried it out of the seemingly endless Beast Mountain, and always caressed it softly. Every time it approached, it felt warm.

So much so that whenever that hand reached out, it couldn’t help but lean into it, wanting to nuzzle against it. And every time, she would call its name gently.

The little Tangkang refused to retreat, its whimpers turning into desperate cries.

The cub’s high-pitched cries, sharp to begin with, became even more piercing and shrill in its pain-filled screams, making them unbearably ear-splitting.

The café guests couldn’t help rubbing their arms as chills ran down their spines. The little piglet’s cries were so pitiful it made their hair stand on end. Yet, the boss remained completely unmoved, sitting there as if nothing were happening.

At that moment, Qiuyu rolled over with light taps of its feet, crying pitifully toward Lu Yao.

Lu Yao withdrew her legs and patted the spot beside her. “Come to my side. The view here is excellent.”

Qiuyu, ever obedient, didn’t miss the chance to act pitiful. It stretched a trembling paw toward the steps.

As soon as it placed its paw on the step, it let out a shrill cry.

The sound was unusual, no longer the chirping of a young bird. It was clear and resonant, piercing the heavens like the roar of a ferocious beast.

The Beast Taming Sect’s sect master’s face subtly changed upon hearing it.

The elders of Kunlun, Tianyan Sect, and Lingxiao Sword Sect also looked grim and troubled.

The little Tangkang, having just climbed the first step, was lying there utterly exhausted, gasping for breath, covered in wounds.

Qiuyu had both claws on the step and was screaming like a slaughtered pig.

The little Tangkang mustered some strength and gently licked Qiuyu’s paw.

Lu Yao: “…”

Qiuyu, tickled by the licking, looked as though it couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry. It flapped its broken wings, trying to climb up with effort. Eventually, it succeeded, but not without breaking both sets of wings entirely. Dark red blood soaked its fur and dripped to the ground.

Panting heavily, Qiuyu collapsed on the step.

The little Tangkang crawled onto Qiuyu’s back and started licking its wounds.

Qiuyu: “…”

Lu Yao took out her phone and snapped a photo.

The café guests watching the scene: “…”

The first step was the easiest, but each subsequent step became more challenging.

By the time the little Tangkang reached the second step, its front hooves were bloody and mangled, and its hind legs were bruised and swollen.

Qiuyu began shedding its fur, the once soft down falling off like sharp thorns being plucked away. The little creature let out heart-wrenching cries all the way up.

On the third step, the little Tangkang collapsed halfway and fainted.

Qiuyu, covered in blood, struggled to move closer, intending to carry the little Tangkang.

A pitch-black staff reached out, tapping Qiuyu’s bald head lightly. Lu Yao’s voice was calm. “You haven’t even figured out your own path, yet you want to carry it. Qiuyu, why did you become a demon?”

Qiuyu, enraged, opened its beak and tried to bite the staff, but its claws lost their grip, and it fell back to the second step.

The café guests watched in stunned silence, sighing deeply.

It was just too difficult.

The little Tangkang, used as a cushion, woke up in shock from the impact.

This time, it seemed to have gained some understanding. It held its breath, no longer wailing, digging its front hooves firmly into the step while its hind legs tried to push.

After a long struggle, a beam of silver frost-like light descended, shining directly on the little Tangkang.

It pushed off with its hind legs, letting out a long howl, and scrambled up in one swift motion.

The little Tangkang spun around in confusion, its eyes dazed, seemingly unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Its body had doubled in size, coarse, bristly fur sprouted over its skin, and tusks extended from the sides of its mouth. All of its wounds had mysteriously healed, and even its once-weak hind legs now moved with ease.

“Ang-ang?”

Lu Yao said, “Kangkang, you’re amazing. I knew you could do it.”

The little Tangkang tilted its head, still unable to fully understand.

But its legs were healed—it no longer needed to crawl along the ground. With its cheerful and carefree nature, it immediately forgot the suffering it had just endured. Snorting softly, it began rubbing its head against Lu Yao’s leg.

Qiuyu lay on the second step, seemingly out of strength, its dim, beady eyes haunted by memories of the past.

It had been an egg, meant to hatch a thousand years ago. But due to some unforeseen accident, it had failed to break the shell on time. Drifting for a millennium, its obsession had turned Qiuyu into a demon. Finally finding a place of refuge, Qiuyu now faced the prospect of losing it all again. Qiuyu was unwilling to accept this.

Qiuyu let out a guttural roar and struggled, blood tears streaming from its eyes. Flecks of silvery light, like delicate feathers, began to fall as its small body started to transform. The snout elongated, the beak fell away, and the pitch-black, beady eyes turned round and red. Qiuyu‘S plump, bald body shrank, merging with the half-dragontail behind, now covered in smooth black scales. Its four slender claws grew short, sharp, and sturdy.

A dragon’s roar echoed through the heavens. Qiuyu rose on a cloud, soaring straight over the third step, landing beside Lu Yao. Her tail immediately coiled tightly around Lu Yao’s wrist with a mix of dominance and affection.

Lu Yao lifted her fingers to gently rub the little demon dragon’s head, her tone calm and steady. “So, you’re a dragon. That’s good—now we’ve got an Eastern dragon.”

Qiuyu swished its tail, opening its mouth as if to bite Lu Yao.

But Lu Yao’s reflexes were quick. She pressed down on Qiuyu, then reached out to tap the shadow butterfly beside her. “Come back. The first round of beta testing is over.”

The projection in the café ended simultaneously. The guests in the hall, still craning their necks to watch, froze in place for a moment before the first person snapped back to reality and grabbed Ji Zhixin. “Did you just say the Heavenly Ladder will open in half a month?”

This was no longer a game—it was a paved path to ascension.

Anyone who entered the Heavenly Ladder would have the chance to ascend.

The excitement among those who had witnessed the beta test—human, demon, or devil—was impossible to suppress. Even the sect elders couldn’t help but feel tempted.

A few minutes later, Lu Yao emerged from the lounge, her face slightly weary.

The little Tangkang, having exited the Mirage, had reverted to its piglet form and was following close behind Lu Yao like a little tail.

The little demon dragon, now unmasked, coiled around Lu Yao’s arm like a wristband, its tail tip in its mouth.

The Beast Taming Sect’s sect master crouched down to pick up the little Tangkang, inspecting it carefully. Her expression betrayed her astonishment. “Sturdy and strong—this Tangkang is indeed no longer frail.”

A demon guest squeezed through the crowd and asked loudly, “Boss, when will the Heavenly Ladder open?”

Lu Yao beamed. “In a month.”

The guest protested, “Didn’t you just say half a month?”

Before taking Qiuyu and the little Tangkang into the Mirage, Lu Yao and Alfred had run several rounds of model testing to ensure there were no safety issues. However, the results of the public beta had far exceeded expectations—the existence of the Heavenly Ladder was truly extraordinary.

Lu Yao immediately adjusted her plans and announced, “In twenty days, this shop will host the long-lost Celestial-Demon Conference, inviting talents from all six realms. The winner will gain entry to the Heavenly Ladder.”

The demons: “…”

The devils: “…”

The cultivators: “…”

The once-obscure, remote mountain of Baixian became famous thanks to the Interdimensional Internet Café. What truly skyrocketed its reputation was a new game developed by the café: Tales of the Six Realms. Translated on Hololo novels.

This game not only connected to the Mirage but also linked to the legendary Heavenly Ladder.

To climb the Heavenly Ladder was to gain the supreme opportunity to break through one’s cultivation bottleneck, possibly achieving instant ascension.

Across the vast Mortal Continent, aside from ordinary mortals uninterested in cultivation, who could resist such a temptation?

As the café’s fame grew, word began to spread even among the sharp-eared and bold mortals. Some obtained teleportation scrolls and ventured directly to Baixian Mountain.

Beyond gaming, the Interdimensional Internet Café offered a myriad of fascinating experiences.

Baixian Mountain became lively. Mortals, cultivators, demons, devils, and even ghosts adhered to the café’s rules. For the first time in millennia, all these beings coexisted peacefully in one space—occasionally even exchanging lighthearted banter.

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