Chapter Summaries

Five-year-old Lin Heng awakened his Past Life Wisdom and discovered the Life Simulator, which could let him experience simulated lives and earn rewards. He began his first simulation and received a selection of Talents, leaving him to choose how to prepare for it.

• Lin Heng read the Life Simulator's instructions and learned that surviving simulated lives could earn him rewards and improve his real circumstances.
• He reviewed his attributes and recognized how his desperate life as an abandoned beggar contrasted with the advantages of his previous life.
• With only four Simulation Counts remaining and near starvation, Lin Heng started a simulation.
• His Fortune gave him 90 Talent Points, and the Simulator presented him with five positive Talents to choose from.

Lin Heng selected negative Talents to gain extra points, then configured his Attributes and positive Talents for survival and cultivation in the simulation. He began the simulation and lost consciousness after noticing a fragrance.

• Lin Heng ruled out Heavenly Fiend Lone Star, Lost Fortune, and Gluttonous and Lustful, but chose Sign of Early Death and Alchemy Furnace Explosion to gain forty Talent Points.
• Lin Heng spent all 130 Talent Points on Cultivation Prodigy, Naturally Optimistic, Artifact Forging Expert, and Reset Attributes.
• Lin Heng used Reset Attributes to maximize Family Background, Charm, and Comprehension, while lowering Constitution and Fortune to 1.
• Lin Heng inspected his new Attribute Panel and began the simulation.
• The Life Simulator screen vanished, and Lin Heng smelled a heady fragrance before his consciousness sank into a haze.

Lin Heng was abducted and taken to Li Hen Pavilion, where the sect prepared to turn him into a cauldron. As he soaked in the Blood Pool, the old man assigned to watch him was suddenly struck down by a fatal attack.

• The Ugly Man drugged Lin Heng, carried him from the Desolate Village, and sold him to Li Hen Pavilion for sixty taels of silver.
• A masked steward ordered Lin Heng cleaned and placed in the Blood Pool to awaken his potential and rapidly mature his body, despite the pool shortening his lifespan.
• The steward instructed the white-haired old man to watch Lin Heng for six hours, then left to let the old man guard him alone.
• The old man abandoned his post to gamble, but someone pierced his heart and caused him to collapse.

Cloud Sword Palace destroyed a Li Hen Pavilion manor and rescued Lin Heng from its Blood Pool. Xiao Rang saved Lin Heng's life, accepted him as his direct disciple, and brought him back to the mountain gate, where Lin Heng awoke after seven days.

• Cloud Sword Palace attacked the Li Hen Pavilion manor and killed its members, then discovered Lin Heng in the underground Blood Pool.
• Zhang Yuan rescued Lin Heng and asked Xiao Rang to treat the critically ill child.
• Xiao Rang expelled the poison and excess medicinal power from Lin Heng, saving his life, and decided to accept him as his disciple.
• Cloud Sword Palace burned the manor and carried the unconscious Lin Heng back to its mountain gate over seven days.
• Lin Heng awoke after his condition passed the danger point.

After waking from seven days of unconsciousness, Lin Heng learned that Xiao Rang, the Sect Master of Cloud Sword Palace, had rescued him and wanted to take him as a disciple. Lin Heng accepted, and Xiao Rang explained the cultivation realms and Lin Heng’s unusual aptitude.

• Lin Heng woke after seven days and recovered his strength by drinking Spirit Rice porridge fed to him by Xiao Rang.
• Xiao Rang explained that traffickers had sold Lin Heng to Li Hen Pavilion as a Cauldron, and that the Tiger Wolf Medicine had left him frail with a Sign of Early Death.
• Lin Heng recognized that he was living through a simulation and accepted Xiao Rang’s offer to become his disciple.
• Xiao Rang told Lin Heng to rest before holding a public discipleship ceremony, noting that Cloud Sword Palace had verified his background and innate talents.
• Xiao Rang described the Postnatal, Xiantian, Grandmaster, and Great Grandmaster Realms and said Lin Heng’s Innate All Meridians Open gave him an advantage in cultivation.

Lin Heng learned the martial arts realms from Xiao Rang and began recovering under his care as the Sect Master’s Direct Disciple. Xiao Rang showed him Cloud Sword Palace’s vast mountain gate and explained its power, resources, and creed, leaving Lin Heng with a clearer sense of the status his family background had given him.

• Lin Heng asked Xiao Rang about martial arts strength, and Xiao Rang explained the Houtian, Xiantian, Grandmaster, Great Grandmaster, and legendary Heaven-Human realms, identifying himself as a Great Grandmaster.
• Xiao Rang promised to teach Lin Heng to read and write the next day, while Lin Heng rested after growing drowsy from the strain of his weakened body.
• Xiao Rang fed Lin Heng expensive Emerald Rice porridge and found his condition had improved enough that he might begin cultivation after two and a half years of recuperation.
• Xiao Rang carried Lin Heng around Cloud Sword Palace’s mountain gate, showing him the Training Ground and explaining the sect’s history, million-plus disciples, and martial arts standing.
• Xiao Rang told Lin Heng that Cloud Sword Palace funded its operations through industries and annual taxes from surrounding nations, and urged him to remember that strength was needed to eradicate evil.

Lin Heng studied the written language and cultivation knowledge under Xiao Rang while recovering at Cloud Sword Palace. After half a year, he learned the Cloud Sword Nineteen Forms almost immediately and discovered how much he enjoyed growing stronger through cultivation.

• Xiao Rang taught Lin Heng the written language, and Lin Heng mastered more than ten thousand characters in a single morning.
• Xiao Rang took Lin Heng fishing and shared stories, but caught no fish until he blasted them with his inner force.
• Lin Heng spent the following months studying cultivation and Jianghu knowledge, meeting sect members, and receiving spirit medicines and fruits as his health improved.
• Xiao Rang taught Lin Heng the Cloud Sword Nineteen Forms and its breathing methods for guiding qi and blood.
• Lin Heng memorized the Sword Art after one demonstration, practiced until his movements grew smooth and fierce, and relished the feeling of becoming stronger.

Xiao Rang secured the Elders’ approval to use a Dragon Tiger Golden Core to restore Lin Heng’s depleted Origin and speed his cultivation. After Lin Heng swallowed the pill, Xiao Rang began teaching him the Cloud Sword True Art, and Lin Heng entered meditation as soon as he heard the method.

• Xiao Rang told the Cloud Sword Palace Elders he planned to prepare a Dragon Tiger Golden Core for Lin Heng, and they approved the investment.
• The Elders agreed to descend the mountain to deal with Li Hen Pavilion and recover their losses for harming Lin Heng.
• Cloud Sword Palace gathered precious medicines, and its Spirit Pill Elder refined the Dragon Tiger Golden Core over seven days.
• Xiao Rang gave Lin Heng the pill and began teaching him the Cloud Sword Palace sect-defending art, the Cloud Sword True Art.
• Lin Heng understood the Internal Cultivation formula and entered a meditative state.

Lin Heng began Internal Cultivation and, using his Innate All Meridians Open and the Power of Heaven and Earth, quickly developed Xiantian Internal Breath. Xiao Rang predicted he could become a true Xiantian Expert within a year, planned a Master Acknowledgment Ceremony, and began teaching him new martial arts.

• Lin Heng completed his first Great Circulation, cultivated powerful Xiantian Internal Breath, and felt the Heaven and Earth Origin Energy nourish him.
• Xiao Rang examined Lin Heng and said he could become a true Xiantian Expert within a year, then announced plans for a Master Acknowledgment Ceremony.
• Lin Heng rested for the night, while Cloud Sword Palace began preparing for the ceremony a year later.
• Xiao Rang asked which kind of Unarmed Martial Art Lin Heng wanted to learn, and Lin Heng chose finger techniques.
• Xiao Rang taught Lin Heng Primordial Finger, which Lin Heng quickly mastered, and then began teaching him the Gale Cloud Movement Technique.

Lin Heng trained in three martial arts and received lavish Spirit Foods and Medicinal Baths from Cloud Sword Palace, resolving to repay the Sect’s investment through lifelong dedication. After seven months of disciplined cultivation, he became a fully realized Xiantian Expert and prepared to open his acupoints before the Master Acknowledgment Ceremony.

• Xiao Rang taught Lin Heng the Gale Cloud Movement Technique and told him to focus on three martial arts while his cultivation remained shallow.
• Xiao Rang explained that the Sect had supplied Lin Heng with nourishing Spirit Foods because he had begun Internal Cultivation, and Lin Heng realized how costly his training would be.
• Xiao Rang reassured Lin Heng that the Sect Elders had jointly chosen to provide him with the best resources, and Lin Heng resolved to devote himself to the Sect.
• Lin Heng followed a daily routine of Qi Refining, martial arts practice, reading, and Medicinal Baths, steadily strengthening his Physique and Internal Breath.
• After seven months, Lin Heng's Internal Breath circulated autonomously, making him a fully realized Xiantian Expert.
• Lin Heng planned to open as many acupoints as possible during the five months before the Master Acknowledgment Ceremony.

Lin Heng advanced into the Xiantian Realm and used Acupoint Opening Pills to raise his cultivation to the Xiantian Third Level. On the eve of his Master Acknowledgment Ceremony, Xiao Rang told him that prominent guests had gathered at Cloud Sword Palace to witness the event.

• Lin Heng told Xiao Rang that his Internal Breath had reached ceaseless regeneration, and Xiao Rang gave him Acupoint Opening Pills for Xiantian cultivation.
• Lin Heng ignored Xiao Rang's suggestion to rest and began opening acupoints with the pills and the Cloud Sword True Art.
• Lin Heng trained daily, opening one or two acupoints at a time and strengthening his body, senses, and Internal Breath.
• By the day before the ceremony, Lin Heng had opened 182 acupoints and reached the Xiantian Third Level.
• Xiao Rang told Lin Heng that the ceremony would begin at noon the next day and that nobles, martial arts leaders, and returning Cloud Sword Palace experts had arrived.

Lin Heng ignored an attempted assassination on the eve of his Master Acknowledgment Ceremony, then learned that Li Hen Pavilion’s plot had failed. He arrived at the ceremony as Cloud Sword Palace’s Young Sect Master, impressing the assembled guests with his talent and appearance.

• Xiao Rang warned Lin Heng that a fire at the Alchemy Room was a distraction for an assassination attempt, but Lin Heng washed up and went to sleep without investigating.
• Xiao Rang told Lin Heng that a Li Hen Pavilion Grandmaster had served as bait while a Great Grandmaster disguised as a maid tried to kill him; Lin Heng’s Martial Uncles wounded the infiltrator, who escaped, and killed the bait.
• Lin Heng said he was angry at Li Hen Pavilion but would wait until he had enough strength to retaliate, and Xiao Rang promised to teach him Cloud Sword Palace’s sect-defending Sword Art after the ceremony.
• Lin Heng ate breakfast with Xiao Rang, cultivated, and changed into ceremonial robes with the help of maids who had been checked for safety.
• Lin Heng entered the Main Hall for the Master Acknowledgment Ceremony, where the gathered Elders, envoys, and guests praised his talent and considered befriending him.

Lin Heng formally became Xiao Rang’s Direct Disciple and received priceless gifts at his Master Acknowledgment Ceremony, including a sword and five million taels of silver from the Five Vassal States. The ceremony continued with extraordinary offerings from the other two Martial Arts Holy Lands.

• Lin Heng bowed to Xiao Rang, accepted the Clear Cloud Sword, and was recognized as Cloud Sword Palace’s Young Sect Master.
• Cloud Sword Palace Elders welcomed Lin Heng with valuable treasures, production resources, and gift lists.
• The Five Vassal States each presented Lin Heng with one million taels of silver, and he promised to keep in closer contact with their representatives.
• Heavenly Star Valley presented Star Sand Brocade, while Ice Frost City offered Ice Cold Dew.

After Lin Heng’s Master Acknowledgment Ceremony, gifts from the two Martial Arts Holy Lands increased his cultivation speed and restored the lifespan and potential he had lost. He returned to quiet cultivation, grateful to Ice Frost City for the Ice Cold Dew.

• The Transmission Elder and Law Enforcement Elder presented Lin Heng with cultivation treasures, and guests at the banquet praised him and sought his favor.
• After the guests departed, Lin Heng’s fame spread across Lan Continent, drawing admiration as well as secret resentment from bitter rivals and Li Hen Pavilion.
• Xiao Rang gave Lin Heng the Bright Moon Pendant, Blood Jade Thumb Ring, Star Sand Brocade, and Ice Cold Dew, while arranging for the Sect to manage the other gifts and money.
• Lin Heng tested the treasures and found that they improved his cultivation speed by roughly thirty percent.
• Lin Heng drank the Ice Cold Dew, which tempered his body, purified his Internal Breath, and restored the potential and thirty-five years of lifespan he had lost.
• Xiao Rang told Lin Heng he owed Ice Frost City a debt of gratitude, and Lin Heng resolved to remember the favor.

Xiao Rang taught Lin Heng the Ethereal Immeasurable Sword Technique, and Lin Heng quickly integrated sword practice with his internal cultivation. A year later, Lin Heng had reached the Xiantian Ninth Level, and Xiao Rang proposed giving him twenty Sword-Bearing Maids to ease his relentless training.

• Xiao Rang explained the three realms of the Ethereal Immeasurable Sword Technique and taught its core secrets to Lin Heng.
• Lin Heng practiced the sword art, learned to draw on Heaven and Earth Origin Energy, and combined sword practice with Internal Cultivation.
• Lin Heng spent the next year training and advanced from the Xiantian Third Level to the Xiantian Ninth Level.
• Xiao Rang told Lin Heng that the five imperial dynasties had sent ten young women to serve as Sword-Bearing Maids and that he planned to select ten more from Cloud Sword Palace.
• Lin Heng asked whether the Sword-Bearing Maids would distract him, and Xiao Rang said he worried Lin Heng might overcultivate and suffer a Cultivation Deviation.

Lin Heng welcomed twenty sword-bearing maids to Empty Bright Hall and continued cultivating while resisting the temptation to indulge in their company. More than halfway through his ninth year, he opened his final acupoint, reached the Great Perfection of Xiantian Eighteenth Level, and began breaking through into the Grandmaster Realm.

• Xiao Rang arranged twenty sword-bearing maids and a new residence, Empty Bright Hall, for Lin Heng.
• Lin Heng met the maids, learned their names, and gave each of them a hundred taels of silver.
• Lin Heng enjoyed the maids’ company during breaks but restrained himself, realizing Xiao Rang wanted him to grow accustomed to beauty and avoid future traps.
• Lin Heng cultivated diligently and strengthened his resolve and sword intent by resisting indulgence.
• More than halfway through his ninth year, Lin Heng opened all 1,296 acupoints and reached the Great Perfection of Xiantian Eighteenth Level.
• Heaven and Earth Origin Energy poured into Lin Heng through every acupoint, nourishing his body as he entered the Grandmaster Realm.

Lin Heng broke through to the Grandmaster Realm, gaining a transformed physique and senses powerful enough to threaten an army’s commander, though he still could not defeat tens of thousands of soldiers in a frontal battle. Xiao Rang and the elders celebrated his achievement, and Wei Xuan proposed a Grandmaster Ceremony to publicize Lin Heng and strengthen Cloud Sword Palace.

• Lin Heng broke through from the Xiantian Eighteenth Level into the Grandmaster Realm and sensed his body and perception transforming.
• Lin Heng concluded that he could move freely through an army and kill its commander if no comparable experts guarded them, but he could not yet overwhelm a vast army alone.
• Xiao Rang congratulated Lin Heng, and the sect elders gathered to praise his achievement as a Grandmaster before he was ten.
• Lin Heng credited his success to the Sect and Xiao Rang’s guidance, including the Sect’s abundant cultivation resources.
• Wei Xuan proposed holding a Grandmaster Ceremony to make Lin Heng famous, attract neutral factions, and collect gift money for the sect treasury.

After reaching the Grandmaster Realm at ten, Lin Heng began cultivating toward the Great Grandmaster Realm with Xiao Rang’s guidance. He trained at the Back Mountain Cold Pond using Ethereal True Aura, estimating he could reach the Second Heaven in about half a year.

• Xiao Rang scheduled Lin Heng’s Grandmaster Ceremony for October 3rd, his tenth birthday, and the Sect celebrated his breakthrough.
• Lin Heng resumed cultivation and learned that the Grandmaster Realm required strengthening the Physique and accumulating Internal Breath across Twenty-Seventh Heaven.
• Xiao Rang gave Lin Heng the Ethereal True Aura manual, explaining that it could temper his body and turn weaker qi-force attacks to his advantage.
• Xiao Rang directed Lin Heng to cultivate at the Back Mountain Cold Pond and eat fruit from the nearby Yin Plum Trees.
• Lin Heng entered the Cold Pool and trained with Ethereal True Aura, the Ethereal Immeasurable Sword Technique, and the Cloud Sword True Art, estimating he would reach the Second Heaven in roughly half a year.

Lin Heng’s master, Xiao Rang, supplied him with costly cultivation resources to accelerate his progress through the Grandmaster Realm and prepare him for the Great Grandmaster Realm. Lin Heng accepted the Sect’s investment and began refining three Heaven and Earth Treasures.

• Lin Heng assessed that he could reach the Great Grandmaster Realm before age twenty-five, though Xiao Rang believed his cultivation could advance faster.
• Xiao Rang presented Lin Heng with Vajra Fragrant Oil, Snow Heart Pills, three Heaven and Earth Treasures, and plans for Essence Pills.
• Lin Heng noted that the resources represented an enormous expense, but Xiao Rang said they would help Lin Heng reach the Heaven-Human Realm sooner.
• Lin Heng thanked Xiao Rang and the Sect, accepted the resources, and agreed to cultivate diligently.
• Xiao Rang told Lin Heng to use the Vajra Fragrant Oil and Snow Heart Pills during daily cultivation and refine the three Heaven and Earth Treasures immediately.

Lin Heng used three Heaven and Earth Treasures to reach the third level of the Grandmaster Realm, then accelerated his cultivation with a Cold Pool, Vajra Fragrant Oil, and a Snow Heart Pill. As news of his talent spread and Cloud Sword Palace prepared his Grandmaster Ceremony, Li Hen Pavilion organized a secret gathering to arrange his death.

• Lin Heng swallowed the Heart Cleansing Lotus, Five Elements Ganoderma, and Blood Pear, then reached the third level of the Grandmaster Realm.
• Lin Heng left Xiao Rang for the night, rested, and began a new day of sword training in the Cold Pool.
• Lin Heng noticed his cultivation had improved and calculated that he could reach the Great Grandmaster Realm years earlier than expected.
• News of Lin Heng becoming a Grandmaster before the age of ten spread through the Jianghu, drawing visitors and potential allies to Cloud Sword Palace.
• Li Hen Pavilion organized a secret gathering of powerful forces to plan Lin Heng's death.