Purple Cloud Mountain Master, Momentary Brilliance

A scene appeared before Su Yang's eyes.

In a room with an ancient and elegant atmosphere.

A stern-looking middle-aged man lay on the bed, covered in blood. His eyes were tightly shut, his face utterly devoid of color, as pale as paper. He was slumped limply, as if unable to muster any strength.

The only proof that he was alive was his chest, which still rose and fell slightly.

Beside the bed stood several elders who looked like immortals, along with two young men.

One of the young men, by appearance, was Su Yang himself.

"This must be the Purple Cloud Mountain Master. How tragic! I wonder how he got so badly injured."

Su Yang sighed and shook his head.

He wasn't unfamiliar with the Simulator showing him scenes. It had happened during his first simulation.

From what he understood, the system would present scenes when there was a significant change in the simulated person's life.

Su Yang continued to watch.

In the scene, the Purple Cloud Mountain Master struggled to open his eyes and whispered something.

Everyone was shocked. The other young man was not only shocked but also filled with resentment. Even the simulated Su Yang's face was full of bewilderment.

At this point, the scene disappeared.

[You have entered the Purple Cloud Mountain Master's room.]
[On his deathbed, he announced you as the next Purple Cloud Mountain Master.]
[Everyone was utterly astonished. The Mountain Master's personal disciple, Zhao Fanyu, was filled with resentment. He had always believed he was the Purple Cloud Mountain Master's sole heir, even after your appearance.]

"He's actually passing it to me?"

Su Yang, outside the simulation, was greatly surprised to see this.

After all, during previous simulations, the Purple Cloud Mountain Master had tried to trick him, saying he'd pass the position to him once he reached Qi Cultivation level ten. But later, he learned that he never reached Qi Cultivation level ten.

Wasn't that a clear sign he didn't want to pass it on?

Why would he suddenly change his mind now?

Was this the power of the Simulator?

When introducing his identity, it said he was the Purple Cloud Mountain Heir.

If he couldn't inherit it, why call him an heir?

[Although you do not understand, you still accept this heavy responsibility and become the new Purple Cloud Mountain Master.]
[After the news spread, many disciples of Purple Cloud Mountain were displeased. Led by Zhao Fanyu, they began to protest, but were ruthlessly suppressed by the Elder Council.]
[Zhao Fanyu was even sent away to guard a mine.]

"Awesome! It looks like the higher-ups of Purple Cloud Mountain are quite united! This means my life in the simulation shouldn't be too difficult!"

Su Yang continued to read.

[The handover of the Mountain Master position passed quickly, and you began to handle matters pertaining to the Purple Cloud Mountain Master.]
[You discovered that there were very few matters belonging to the Mountain Master. Minor issues were handled by the internal and external affairs stewards, while major decisions were made by the Elder Council.]
[The most important matter for the Mountain Master was cultivation, ensuring Purple Cloud Mountain's high-end combat power.]
[This suited you perfectly.]
[You continued to cultivate diligently.]
[Because you became the Mountain Master, the resources you could acquire greatly increased. You had spirit food for every meal, ample low-grade Spirit Stones, and occasional medicinal pills to aid you. Your cultivation speed increased dramatically.]
[At 23, you broke through to Qi Cultivation level five.]
[At 27, you broke through to Qi Cultivation level six.]
[At 33, you broke through to Qi Cultivation level seven, becoming one of Purple Cloud Mountain's high-end combat forces.]
[Many elders rejoiced, believing the previous Mountain Master had indeed passed the position to the right person. With your current cultivation speed, you had the potential to attempt Foundation Establishment before the age of 60, while your vitality was still strong.]

"Holy crap, my breakthrough speed in this simulation is actually this amazing!" Su Yang was shocked himself.

"Is this the effect of having talent combined with resources?"

Su Yang understood that his rapid cultivation speed this time was not only due to better talent than last time but also the result of ample resources. It was the combined effort of both.

But this also fully demonstrated the importance of having a good identity.

Therefore, if he had the chance, he definitely needed to get himself an even more powerful identity.

[You were full of vigor and your enthusiasm for cultivation grew even higher.]
[At this moment, the Grand Elder found you and poured cold water on your enthusiasm.]
[He said that if you continued cultivating like this, Foundation Establishment would be hopeless for your entire life.]
[You asked him why.]
[He told you that Purple Cloud Mountain was too weak and too poor, and if you wanted to achieve Foundation Establishment, you could only rely on yourself.]

Seeing your confusion, he continued to explain that attempting Foundation Establishment at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation has less than a one-in-a-hundred success rate, and failure means death. Using a Foundation Establishment Pill increases the probability to around thirty percent, and even failure ensures survival.

However, Purple Cloud Mountain is too poor, so poor that the entire sect cannot afford a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Purple Cloud Mountain is also too weak, so weak that even if they sold everything to scrape together the money for a Foundation Establishment Pill, they wouldn't be able to protect it.

Therefore, for your Foundation Establishment, you can only rely on yourself.

You felt a pang of sadness, believing your path to immortality was hopeless. But then you thought, the Grand Elder wouldn't just be trying to discourage you; perhaps there was a solution.

You asked him for a way to resolve this.

He told you there was only one method: continue to break through.

Breaking through to the tenth level of Qi Cultivation grants a thirty percent chance of Foundation Establishment, the eleventh level grants a seventy percent chance, and the twelfth level guarantees a hundred percent success. Furthermore, the quality of your Magical Power will far surpass that of others at the same level.

You were surprised, never expecting that Qi Refining could reach the tenth, eleventh, or even twelfth level. It seemed the previous Purple Cloud Mountain Master wasn't deceiving you back then, but rather had placed great hope in you.

Coupled with what you've overheard at Purple Cloud Mountain over the years, you knew how deep the bond was between the former Mountain Master and your cheap master.

Perhaps after the Purple Cloud Mountain Master confirmed your identity, he had already decided to pass on the position of the next Mountain Master to you.

The agreement of the tenth level of Qi Cultivation was merely to motivate you.

You felt a surge of emotion, but you still didn't forget to ask the Grand Elder for further guidance on how to break through.

The Grand Elder told you that only by refining a Spell Seed within your body could you break through to the tenth level of Qi Cultivation. Three Spell Seeds would allow you to break through to the eleventh level, and nine Spell Seeds would enable you to break through to the twelfth level.

Spell Seeds are only born after a formal spell has been cultivated beyond perfection.

You understood and began diligently practicing spells, choosing the Blazing Sword Technique.

As your focus was divided by practicing spells, your breakthrough speed clearly slowed, but your progress in spells was remarkably pleasing.

Two months later, your Blazing Sword Technique successfully entered the introductory stage.

At 34 years old, your Blazing Sword Technique reached the minor accomplishment stage.

At 39 years old, your Blazing Sword Technique reached the major accomplishment stage.

At 41 years old, you broke through to the eighth level of Qi Cultivation.

At 50 years old, your Blazing Sword Technique reached perfection, just one step away from breaking through the limit and condensing a Spell Seed, but this was the most difficult step.

At 52 years old, you broke through to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation.

In the same year, a terrifying earthquake occurred in Fengyuan Prefecture, and Purple Cloud Mountain suffered heavy losses. You actively organized disciples to participate in disaster relief.

At 58 years old, your Magical Power at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation reached perfection, and you could attempt Foundation Establishment, but you dared not.

You decided to wait two more years, to make your decision at 60 years old.

At 60 years old, your choice is...

[1, Go all in, disregard everything, and forcefully break through. There is a very high probability of death.] [2, Continue to hone your swordsmanship and attempt Foundation Establishment after condensing a Spell Seed. However, as time passes, the possibility of breaking through to Foundation Establishment will rapidly decline. After the age of 70, there will be no hope of breakthrough without second-tier or higher blood and qi medicinal herbs or pills.] [3, Sell all the sect's assets and seek to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.]

"The second option."

Su Yang chose option two without even thinking.

Taking a gamble and breaking through wasn't his style; stability was the key.

Besides, after reaching the tenth level of Qi Cultivation, the probability of dying from a failed breakthrough was very small.

You continued to diligently cultivate your swordsmanship.

At 68 years old, you finally condensed the Spell Seed for the Blazing Sword Technique.

You decided to enter seclusion to attempt breaking through to the tenth level of Qi Cultivation and the Foundation Establishment realm.

In the same year, you broke through to the tenth level of Qi Cultivation and immediately began Foundation Establishment.

You succeeded, and you failed.

You successfully condensed Foundation Establishment Magical Power, which only Foundation Establishment cultivators possess. However, as you mobilized your entire body's blood and qi to shape your foundation, a tremor shook the earth, and your foundation crumbled.

In other words, you possess the strength of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but your lifespan is equivalent to that of an ordinary mortal. You will even die once you deplete the Magical Power within your body.

You emerged from seclusion and learned the cause of the earthquake. Zhao Fanyu, who had been sent to guard the mines years ago, had somehow obtained a pseudo-second-tier Earthquake Talisman. At a critical moment, he activated the earth veins, causing the earthquake.

At this point, Zhao Fanyu had been captured, but he refused to reveal who funded his Earthquake Talisman or who leaked the news of your breakthrough.

Zhao Fanyu was subjected to extreme torture.

Everyone asked if you had broken through. You simply nodded.

You passed on the position of Mountain Master and took on the role of Supreme Elder for the sect.

Half a year later, you found clues to the two forces that had funded Zhao Fanyu. Both were rival forces that had resource disputes with Purple Cloud Mountain.

That day, you took action, your sword light sweeping through the two sects.

Afterward, when people went to observe, they found only remnants, severed limbs, and bodies everywhere. Not a single living person remained.

Your name spread throughout the entire Fengyuan Prefecture!

[But besides the new Mountain Lord, no one knew that after you made your move, you had already silently died.]

[Simulation ended.]

[Generating evaluation.]

[Calculating simulation points.]

[Evaluation: For most of your life, you were unknown. Only your final moments could be called glorious, with your name spreading throughout Fengyuan Prefecture.

Even in death, you ushered in a hundred years of prosperity for Purple Cloud Mountain.

However, if you had placed more importance on Purple Cloud Mountain's internal management and ideological/cultural development, you might have achieved even greater success.]