Transformation

"Hiss..."

After regaining consciousness, Su Cheng could not help letting out a pained groan.

He felt as though his head were about to explode.

It had nothing to do with the extra memories. The human brain had self-protection mechanisms and would not be burst apart by memories.

It was the sword intent.

Sword intent followed the heart. Unrestrained by one's bones or talent, it manifested naturally.

But with the strength of his Physical Body and Spiritual Power at present, he was utterly incapable of containing such powerful sword intent.

This was not his final Sword Intent Entity. The power of that strike had long since been completely exhausted.

Besides, there was no way an energy construct like that could have been brought out.

This was the sharp aura formed from his comprehension of the sword dao in the Simulated World. No matter how desperately he suppressed it, the faint aftershocks leaking out were still more than he could bear.

In the blink of an eye, blood began gushing from his seven orifices.

Before long, his sea of consciousness would likely be sliced to pieces by his own sword intent.

Fortunately, at that moment, waves of warm currents from an unknown source began continuously repairing and replenishing his body and sea of consciousness.

Side Quest reward settlement: Physical Constitution enhanced.

Side Quest reward settlement: Martial Soul Talent Domain.

Two notifications appeared.

Su Cheng understood the human body extremely well and instantly sensed the changes within himself.

"It isn't merely a simple strengthening of my physique.

"The texture of my bones, the density of my fibers, and the toughness of my Meridians have all changed. This is an enhancement on the cellular level.

"Most importantly, certain Acupoints and bone structures have undergone extremely subtle changes, greatly improving force generation and the application of strength."

This was an all-around enhancement. His strength, speed, reactions, and dynamic vision had all improved to varying degrees.

Naturally, the most important thing was the upgrade to his potential. Though its effects were not as immediate, its long-term benefits would likely far surpass those of an Immortal Herb, and there would be no accumulation of medicinal toxins.

At the same time, rainbow light shimmering with five-colored radiance appeared at his side. A long sword Martial Soul also manifested uncontrollably, while streams of sword qi circled around his body.

Talent Domain.

Main Quest reward settlement (settlement bonus: 265%): Twin Martial Souls awakened. Martial Soul strength additionally enhanced.

"Whew..."

Su Cheng breathed lightly and finally stabilized his sea of consciousness, recovering.

He secretly counted himself fortunate.

The sudden development had completely exceeded his expectations. He had never imagined that sword intent would place such a tremendous burden on the body.

Even now, he could only suppress the sharpness of his sword intent as much as possible, yet stinging pain still struck him from time to time.

He was too weak right now, and his Spiritual Power had never been strengthened either. After absorbing a soul ring and supplementing it with medicinal conditioning for a while, he would probably return to normal.

Gently pressing his fingers against his forehead, Su Cheng sighed.

"Still, it seems that even after I add the First Soul Ring to my Martial Soul, I can't immediately begin the next simulation. I might as well let the Simulator accumulate energy first."

There was no helping it. His foundation was far too weak. If something similar happened again, it was difficult to say whether he would be as fortunate as he had been today.

If possible, Su Cheng did not want to take risks. Besides, the gains from his first simulation were already enough to keep him occupied for quite some time.

"Still..." He extended his right hand, and a long sword appeared in his grasp. "The settlement bonus was much higher than I expected. I was only 35% away from the maximum reward."

Originally, he had expected the settlement reward to reach somewhere above 250%.

After all, he probably had not obtained all the rewards from the third stage. In the fourth stage, he had not chosen the most difficult task in the end either. And as far as he knew, Qian Renxue had not died in the end.

After closing his eyes and regulating his breath for a moment, Su Cheng sensed his current condition.

Energy filled the Meridians throughout his body, while warmth circulated from head to toe. It was worlds apart from the feeling he had once experienced with 0.5-level Innate Soul Power.

He had now reached the level of Innate Full Soul Power.

No, it was not merely Innate Full Soul Power. In truth, it was even higher, but before adding the First Soul Ring, he had no way to measure exactly how much higher it was.

Then he looked at the Martial Soul in his hand.

Unless one had the enhancement of a cultivation technique like the Mysterious Heaven Skill, Innate Soul Power represented the strength of one's Martial Soul.

"I never expected it to be the Longevity Sword."

The sword Martial Soul floating in Su Cheng's hand was precisely the form of the long sword that had accompanied him for so long in the Simulated World.

"That saves me quite a few steps in rebuilding the Five Elements cycle. And this Talent Domain..."

He examined the five-colored rainbow light around him. It was not the Sword Dao Domain he had imagined before, but the Five Elements Domain.

That was naturally a good thing.

The Sword Dao Domain was a variation of his soul skill, and he could rebuild it in the future.

The Five Elements Domain, on the other hand, was an endlessly self-generating auxiliary skill, making it more suitable as a Talent Domain.

Retracting the domain, Su Cheng extended his right hand and summoned the other Martial Soul he had just awakened.

It was an auxiliary Tool Martial Soul. "Innate Array Diagram?"

Looking at the simple yet profoundly mysterious energy array floating above his left hand, then at the Longevity Sword in his right, Su Cheng immediately had some ideas.

However, his research into Martial Souls was still far too shallow, and there was no need to rush the development of his second Martial Soul. For now, he only needed to focus on improving the Longevity Sword.

With that thought, he calmed himself.

"First, I'll advance to Soul Grandmaster in Notting City. Then I'll see which Advanced Spirit Master Academy would be convenient to join."

He had already decided to participate in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament in the future.

Then he would win the championship and use that opportunity to join Spirit Hall.

"Angel Inheritance..."

He had to continue researching Godhood Inheritance.

In the Simulated World, Qian Daoliu had been somewhat wary of him. Moreover, his identity had been sensitive at the time, drawing great attention within Spirit Hall, so it had been difficult to find an opportunity to approach the Angel assessment at close range.

As for the other Godhood Inheritances, the Rakshasa God Inheritance had long been initiated by Bibi Dong. He did not even want to touch the inheritances of the Asura God and the Sea God.

Those two deities paid far too much attention to their inheritors. He was too weak now and did not want to draw the attention of the God Realm.

Looking at it that way, the Angel God was the best choice.

Beyond that, Su Cheng had another purpose.

He wanted to see whether this Angel Inheritance had been tampered with.

If possible, he wanted to help Qian Renxue in this world—at the very least, let her truly possess a life of her own.

Though he understood in his heart that the Qian Renxue of the two worlds was not the same person.

A month later, Su Cheng followed the village chief, Wang Pan, to Notting City. As he observed the surroundings, he patiently listened to the other man's detailed explanations.

Although after his explorations in the Simulated World, his own understanding of this place might have been much deeper.

Over the past month, Su Cheng had almost completely nursed his body back to health and had once again perfectly adapted to this transformed body.

Before long, the two arrived near Notting City Junior Spirit Master Academy.

"Hm?"

Su Cheng's gaze sharpened as he saw an old man and a child being harassed by the gatekeeper at the academy entrance not far ahead.