On the outskirts of Soul-Losing Mountain, a faint smell of blood drifted in all directions. The hungry wild beasts that caught its scent had green light gleaming in their eyes, yet they were also somewhat wary.
Jiang Yuan sat cross-legged atop a smooth bluestone, a rather strange expression appearing on his face.
Behind Jiang Yuan lay quite a few Exotic Beast corpses. The faint scent of blood attracted other Exotic Beasts while also intimidating them.
During the battle just now, Jiang Yuan had suddenly figured out a crucial point.
"Use the Luck Bonus Card."
[Please select a simulated life to attach the Luck Bonus Card to] [1. Martial Emperor; 2. New simulated life]
Jiang Yuan relaxed inwardly. Sure enough, the Luck Bonus Card could be attached to a simulated life that was still ongoing.
The key to clearing the First Life must have been placed on this Luck Bonus Card.
After hundreds of simulations, he had pushed every detail to the limit.
If he still could not clear it, then it truly was a dead end.
Yet Jiang Yuan's inadvertent thoughts during battle had unlocked the key to clearing the First Life.
What was the First Life? An Emperor Template, a Protagonist Template. So what separated a protagonist from an ordinary person? Apart from all the other things, the most important thing was naturally luck—or rather, fortune.
Jiang Yuan had realized this when he glanced at his [Personal Backpack] and happened to see the Luck Bonus Card again.
He now had enough Points to begin the Third Life simulation, yet only now had Jiang Yuan discovered the key to clearing the First Life.
"Martial Emperor!"
[Attachment complete. This simulated life journey begins.]
The world around him suddenly spun.
Jiang Yuan found himself in an extremely familiar setting.
Nonsense—he had died here hundreds of times. How could it possibly be unfamiliar?
Before him was the same incomparably familiar figure of the little boy in white. Jiang Yuan expertly used the scant, feeble qi and blood within this infant body to stimulate the exotic bone, together with the stimulus of death.
The Great Sun Blazing Fire Bone in his chest was activated as expected.
Firelight appeared, but however extraordinary that faint firelight was, it still could not block the tender little hand of the boy in white.
The exotic bone in his chest was still dug out.
Jiang Yuan's heart sank.
What the hell?
Even after using the Luck Bonus Card, it still had no effect?
Simulator! Screw your ancestors!
Soon afterward, Jiang Yuan fell unconscious.
Yes, unconscious—not having his consciousness return to reality.
When Jiang Yuan awoke again, he found an old man holding him. There was not a trace of blood on his chest now, as though nothing had ever happened there.
Yet the hollow sensation in his chest unquestionably proved that the exotic bone had already been dug out.
But he seemed not to be dead?
[You have evaded the first great calamity. Your life may continue.] [Age 0: You were born into a top-tier martial arts family. Both your parents were martial arts powerhouses. At birth, your entire body radiated dazzling golden light. After examination by the clan elders, they discovered that you possessed a natural exotic bone and were a martial arts prodigy, drawing the attention of the entire clan. However, when you were three, your cousin, who possessed double pupils, somehow took advantage of your parents' inattention to dig out your exotic bone. However, you instinctively activated a force of vitality within the exotic bone and fell into a state of suspended death. When your parents found you, they believed you were dead. Enraged, they were suppressed. You were casually thrown into a river. You emerged from your suspended-death state and were discovered by an elderly man. He adopted you, and your dazzling life began from that moment.] [Congratulations, you have completed Simulated Life: Martial Emperor (I).] [You have obtained Points*1500, Martial Arts Enlightenment Card*2, Martial Arts Customization Card*1, Sword Talisman Projection of the Martial Emperor*1.] [Exchange rewards have been updated. Please check them yourself.]
Happiness had come too suddenly.
The Luck Bonus Card truly was the key to clearing the First Life!
After all, the First Life was a Protagonist Template. How could a protagonist possibly lack protagonist's luck?
Ah, the sinful First Life was finally over!
But what did the "I" after Martial Emperor mean? The first great calamity...
It could not help but set Jiang Yuan's imagination running wild.
The fifteen hundred Points alone nearly knocked Jiang Yuan senseless!
And the new rewards that appeared afterward delighted Jiang Yuan even more.
[Martial Arts Enlightenment Card: After use, one of your cultivation methods or techniques will gain transcendent enlightenment.] [Martial Arts Customization Card: After use, you may set certain directions and automatically generate a perfect-grade martial art.] [Sword Talisman Projection of the Martial Emperor: A projection of a sword talisman created by Jiang Hao, the Martial Emperor. It contains powerful sword dao force and may be used against enemies or to comprehend sword techniques. Current stored energy: 100/100.]
He had struck it rich!
Jiang Yuan opened the exchange rewards again.
The exchange rewards were things possessed by the Martial Emperor.
Martial Emperor! Though he did not know what level that was, the name alone told him it was undoubtedly a realm beyond his reach at present.
[Exchange Rewards] [Gifted Intelligence]: Points*1000 [Perseverance]: Points*1000 [Unusual Constitution]: Points*1000 [Martial Arts Prodigy]: Points*3000 [River Spirit's Blessing]: Points*500 [Savage Ox Fist Mastery Cultivation Experience]: Points*200 [Finger Flicking Art Mastery Cultivation Experience]: Points*300 [Minor Accomplishment of Spirit Snake Movement Technique Cultivation Experience]: Points*300 [Acquired Savage Physique]: Points*500 [Breakthrough Experience for the Hua Jin Heavenly Gate]: Points*300 [Heavenly Formed Exotic Bone Feather Ascension Scripture (Fragment) (First Volume)]: Points*700]
Jiang Yuan was somewhat stunned.
The [Exchange Rewards] had indeed added quite a few things, but was this a little too sparse?
It was completely unlike the peerless divine abilities he had imagined a Martial Emperor would possess.
Soon, a stream of information appeared in Jiang Yuan's mind.
This was the subsequent simulated life of the First Life.
[Age 0: You were born into a top-tier martial arts family. Both your parents were martial arts powerhouses. At birth, your entire body radiated dazzling golden light. After examination by the clan elders, they discovered that you possessed a natural exotic bone and were a martial arts prodigy, drawing the attention of the entire clan. However, when you were three, your cousin, who possessed double pupils, somehow took advantage of your parents' inattention to dig out your exotic bone. However, you instinctively activated a force of vitality within the exotic bone and fell into a state of suspended death. When your parents found you, they believed you were dead. Enraged, they were ruthlessly suppressed. You were casually thrown into a river. You emerged from your suspended-death state and were discovered by an elderly man. He adopted you, and your dazzling life began from that moment.] [Age 1: Your intelligence blossomed. You now possessed the wisdom of an ordinary seven- or eight-year-old, and you learned to speak. The villagers all thought you were a monster. No children dared approach you from afar, and you were somewhat lonely. You began chatting with the river at the village entrance. Those idle villagers said your grandfather had picked you up from the river. You were somewhat confused, not knowing what that meant, but you felt an inexplicable closeness to the little river and began treating it as a friend. Then one day, a woman formed of water suddenly appeared in the river. You were shocked, but felt even more closeness. Before long, the two of you became both teacher and friend to one another. She said you could call her River Spirit. She also said your life would be full of hardships, and began teaching you martial arts. One technique, the <Heavenly Formed Exotic Bone Feather Ascension Scripture>, left you feeling as though you were lost in clouds and mist, but River Spirit told you that one day, you would use it.] [Age 2: The River God manifested and killed the Exotic Beasts invading the village, shaking the entire village. They erected a shrine for the River God, but you knew it was not the River God—it was Sister River Spirit. You found the martial arts River Spirit had passed down quite interesting and began cultivating diligently. That same year, you broke through the qi and blood barrier and became a Qi and Blood Martial Artist.] [Age 3: You diligently cultivated the Savage Ox Fist and Spirit Snake Movement Technique passed down by River Spirit, achieving some success. Relying on these two martial arts, you entered the mountains to hunt and earn money for your grandfather's treatment. You learned the importance of strength, and your cultivation began to surge.] [Age 4: Grandfather died of illness. You were deeply saddened and felt that life was nothing more than this. Not long afterward, River Spirit told you that she too was leaving. You were even sadder. You asked where she was going, and River Spirit said she did not know. You said nothing more, yet secretly resolved to practice martial arts well and find River Spirit one day. Before leaving, River Spirit told you that her name was Luo Shen. That same year, you broke through to the Mid Qi and Blood Stage. Savage Ox Fist reached Minor Accomplishment, and Spirit Snake Movement Technique reached Minor Accomplishment.] [Age 5: Savage Ox Fist reached Mastery. You often entered the mountains to hunt. Once, you killed a strange animal and found a beautiful pearl inside its corpse. After consuming it, you gained the special constitution known as the Acquired Savage Physique and broke through to the Late Qi and Blood Stage.] [Age 6: Bandits attacked the village. You intervened and killed the bandits, obtaining considerable wealth and martial arts, but rather than thanking you, the villagers regarded you as a monster and drove you out. Disappointed, you left the village. That same year, you diligently cultivated a practical martial art obtained from the bandits, the Finger Flicking Art, reaching Minor Accomplishment.] [Age 7: You met a young girl. You told her of your experiences, and she smiled as she comforted you. You felt a trace of warmth and traveled with her. That same year, Finger Flicking Art reached Mastery.] [Age 8: You knocked open the Hua Jin Heavenly Gate and became a Hua Jin Martial Artist.]
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