018 [Title]

[Congratulations, player, on obtaining a Title Synthesis Voucher!]

"A title?"

He Zhao's face filled with question marks as he hurriedly checked the properties of this so-called synthesis voucher.

[Title Synthesis Voucher: Insert at least one talent to synthesize a title matching that talent. (Note: During synthesis, there is an extremely small chance that part of a talent's effect will be offset in order to strengthen another talent's effect.)]

"This thing looks pretty good. At the very least, it solves the awkward problem of me having too many talents while only being able to bring three into a Simulation Scenario. Let's see which talents I should synthesize."

Before long, he finally made up his mind.

[Endure Hunger] + [Mastery of Cold Weapons] + [Hand-to-Hand Combat] + [Master Archer].

After deliberating for a moment and thinking it over several times, He Zhao tossed [Death Omen] in as well.

A title synthesized from five talents should be incredibly powerful, right?

He truly could not bear to part with [Indomitable Through Hundred Deaths] and [Child of the Night]. If either one got offset, he would not even have a place to cry.

[Dismantling in progress. Synthesizing in progress. 1%... 5%... 15%... 98%... 100%... Title synthesis complete. Please check it yourself, player.]

[Congratulations, player, on obtaining the title—Hundred Battles Elite.]

[Hundred Battles Elite (Title): ① elite: Hunger will not affect your killing efficiency, and your stamina will always remain at its peak. ② Veteran: You are proficient in all cold weapons, and the traits of certain cold weapons will be amplified in your hands.

③ Hundred Battles: During combat, all physical attributes +2. ④ Sixth Sense: Not only are you extraordinarily sensitive to danger, you can also vaguely lock onto an enemy's position during long-range combat. ⑤ Until Death: When severely injured, all attributes +2 until death or until you leave the Severe Injury state, at which point the effect disappears.]

[Note: Only one title may be equipped in each Simulation Scenario.]

Slap!

He Zhao clapped his hands excitedly, silently thanking his lucky-koi father for the blessing.

This effect was far too tyrannical. The title synthesized from five talents had not only perfectly inherited their previous effects, but strengthened them as well.

As expected of a [top-tier] Infinity Sign. The synthesis voucher was forever the god!

"Sleep. I need to take it easy for a few days." Although the Simulator protected his mind, the half-year-long life of a recruit had still left He Zhao somewhat exhausted.

The next day, at noon, He Zhao woke up feeling refreshed. Last night had been the soundest sleep of his entire life.

He first sorted out the Hundred Battles Elite Armor, made a simple rack, and propped the armor up in the living room. Then he placed the Ancient Sword and longbow, both brimming with killing intent, beneath the armor.

"I need to get a more professional one."

Since He Zhao was not short on cash, he snapped a picture of the Elite Armor and sent it to the uploader AJiu, asking him to make a rack and mail it over.

"Time to eat."

After getting dressed and heading out, his eyes suddenly widened.

Room 602 across the hall had been surrounded by the officers. Quite a few people were moving in and out, taking photographs and gathering evidence.

"Sir, we have a few questions we would like to ask."

One officer stepped forward, showed his identification, and spoke.

"Please go ahead."

He Zhao was a law-abiding citizen. Besides, cooperating with the people's officers was every person's duty.

"Did you hear music outside your door in the early hours of yesterday morning?"

"No."

"Play the recording for him."

Another officer took out his phone, aimed it at He Zhao, and tapped the play button.

"Didi dada. He has feelings, she has intentions; with one clap, it is a match, without suspense. There is fate in birth, there is cause in departure; fate is decreed by Heaven, do not force it."

The music was festive, but the female voice was mournful, making one's mood sink uncontrollably.

He Zhao carefully recalled the previous night. He could confirm that he truly had not heard that chant.

"I went to sleep at around 12:15 last night. If that recording really played outside my door, there was no way I should not have heard it."

"Very well, sir. Have you seen her?"

After recording He Zhao's statement, the officer pulled an old photograph from his bag.

The photograph showed a woman wearing a qipao, with a gentle and classically elegant bearing.

"I remember her. About seven days ago, when I came back from the bar, there was a photograph exactly like the one in your hand pasted across the hall. I even wondered which photography studio had taken it. It looked almost no different from the Republic of China era."

At the time, he had even thought about how wonderful it would be if she were his girlfriend. Who would not want a wife with fair skin, a beautiful face, and long legs?

"Very well, sir. Thank you for your cooperation."

The two officers turned and left. He Zhao had wanted to ask what exactly had happened, but forcibly swallowed the words.

Time flashed by, and it was soon the early hours of the morning.

[My Wallet: 356 Simulation Coins.]

"Forget it. I should rest properly for a few days."

He Zhao fell asleep. Tomorrow, he would continue grinding. He absolutely had to grind out the 1,000 Simulation Coins needed to buy [Diligence Compensates for Lack of Talent].

Not long after he fell asleep, a person wearing a Republic of China era magua and a Melon Skin Hat, with a deathly pale face that did not look human, entered Huyuan Residential Complex while holding an old photograph.

Before long, he arrived outside Room 601, Building 4, Unit 5.

He picked up the photograph and gently pasted it over the Cat's Eye.

At the same time, the Ancient Sword placed in the living room, filled with killing intent, suddenly began to hum. As if it had encountered an enemy, it became incomparably violent, seemingly thirsting for blood.

He Zhao jolted awake from his dream. Without even bothering to put on clothes, he threw open his bedroom door and rushed into the living room.

"Buzzzzz—"

The Ancient Sword trembled. With a swish, its tip pointed at the anti-theft door.

"Hm?!"

The vibration grew increasingly violent before He Zhao could step forward and pick it up.

Then, the Ancient Sword shot through the air, flying straight at the iron gate.

Pfft—

Before He Zhao's stunned eyes, the blade easily pierced the door.

The Melon Skin Hat, who had just pasted up the photograph and turned to leave, suddenly froze in place. He lowered his head to look at the sword tip protruding through his chest, disbelief written all over his face.

"Aah—"

A shrill scream rang out, waking countless residents from their sleep.

"Are you wailing at a funeral? It's the middle of the night! Are people supposed to sleep or not?!"

"Goddamn it, you little bastard, making such a racket!"

He Zhao: "..."

You probably would not believe it if I told you. Our family's sword had become a spirit—it had actually turned into a flying sword.

He strode forward, grabbed the hilt, and pulled it out.

"Aah—"

An even more piercing scream erupted, once again enraging countless people.

"Go die, you dog-bred bastard!!"

Holding the Ancient Sword, He Zhao could be said to have skill enough to make him bold. He opened the anti-theft door and saw an illusory figure kneeling on the ground with its back to him, trembling all over as though it had suffered a devastating blow.

At that moment, a photograph slowly drifted down from midair and landed by his feet.

Ruthless He Zhao looked down, and his spirits immediately jolted.

It was precisely the old Republic of China era photograph the officers had asked him to identify yesterday at noon.

"I hit the jackpot?"

The next moment, he came back to his senses, and savage light burst from his eyes.

Having witnessed Corpse Demons and Demon Eaters in the Simulator, not only did he feel no fear toward this thing that had been severely injured by the Ancient Sword, the killing intent in his heart instead boiled over.

Strike while you are sick—take your life!

He stepped forward and swung his sword backward, beheading it in one stroke.

With the blessing of the talent [Child of the Night] and the title [Hundred Battles Elite], his movement was exceedingly skilled and fluid. It was as though he had used this move to cut off countless heads before!!

Pfft—

One sword stroke, and the head flew.