Combat Simulation

As Shi Lan looked at the vast expanse of white space before her, a flood of detailed information about this space poured into her mind, leaving her bewildered.

Shi Lan closed her eyes, beginning to process the information.

After a while, Shi Lan slowly opened her eyes, a sense of relief filling them. Fortunately, this side quest hadn't failed, or the losses would have been immeasurable.

This virtual space could be broadly divided into three functions: Environment Simulation, Combat Simulation, and Character Simulation.

Environment Simulation, as the name suggested, could simulate various external environments, including weather, geographical features, and all objects present within that environment.

Combat Simulation contained many sub-functions, including the ability to simulate a mirror image of Shi Lan herself.

The mirror image would possess all the cultivation techniques and martial skills Shi Lan knew, and its proficiency could be adjusted at her will, from beginner to master, to spar with her. It was an excellent method for accumulating combat experience.

Character Simulation was a branch of Combat Simulation, and it was the function that Shi Lan found most interesting. This function could simulate any person Shi Lan had met, with the similarity determined by the degree of contact.

This similarity was not in appearance, but in strength.

Shi Lan opened the list of characters available for simulation. At the top was Shi Feng, with a perfect simulation accuracy of 100%.

Following behind were the names of the guards who had accompanied her earlier, with simulation accuracies ranging from about 30% to 40%.

Shi Tianlu and Su Lanyue were listed after these guards, with similar simulation accuracies of less than 20%.

After them came a large number of names Shi Lan didn't recognize, likely citizens of the city.

After a brief scan, Shi Lan clicked on Shi Feng's name, still very curious about his specific strength.

[Character Simulation function activated, target: Shi Feng. Current simulation accuracy: 100%. Adjust?]

"No adjustment, keep it at 100%."

[Enable Environment Simulation?]

"Enable. Shi Family training grounds."

The surrounding space twisted, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into the Shi Family training grounds.

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, and a gentle breeze blew around them. If not for the expressionless Shi Feng standing not far in front of her, Shi Lan would have almost believed she was truly in the training grounds.

[Character Simulation complete. Environment Simulation complete. Begin combat?]

Shi Lan licked her lips, took a few deep, slightly excited breaths, and then said:

"Begin!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Shi Feng's figure vanished from Shi Lan's sight.

Shi Lan blinked in confusion, suddenly feeling her vision darken. In the blink of an eye, Shi Feng had appeared before her, less than an arm's length away!

Before Shi Lan could react, she felt a powerful force strike her chest.

"Crack—"

A series of crisp bone-cracking sounds echoed in Shi Lan's ears.

A sweet taste filled her mouth, and she couldn't help but spit out a large mouthful of blood, her body uncontrollably sent flying backward.

Before she could even hit the ground, Shi Lan felt a large hand grab her head and instantly exert force!

"Crack..."

After a sharp snap, Shi Lan instantly lost consciousness.

"Hiss... gasp..."

Shi Lan took deep breaths, her body trembling uncontrollably. She had truly died just now, killed without any resistance.

There was indeed great terror in the face of death; the ancients did not lie.

She never wanted to experience that suffocating feeling a second time.

[Combat Simulation ended. Host defeated. Replay combat?]

Listening to the System's prompt, Shi Lan gradually regained her senses.

After calming her emotions, Shi Lan nodded: "Replay combat."

She hadn't even reacted properly just now, so she naturally didn't know how 'Shi Feng' had killed her.

A giant light screen slowly unfolded before Shi Lan, two figures standing opposite each other – the replay of her recent combat simulation.

"Begin!"

After the Shi Lan in the recording gave the command, 'Shi Feng's' figure suddenly disappeared. The next moment he reappeared, he was standing in front of Shi Lan.

'Shi Feng' didn't hesitate at all, raising a palm and striking Shi Lan's chest. The powerful palm force penetrated her body, shattering countless of Shi Lan's ribs.

Shi Lan's chest instantly caved in, the back of her clothes torn by the overflowing palm force. She was almost directly pierced through by that strike.

After Shi Lan was sent flying backward, 'Shi Feng' followed up closely, grasping Shi Lan's head and unhesitatingly twisting her neck.

Listening to the crisp sound from the light screen, Shi Lan felt her teeth ache. Shi Feng's methods were indeed ruthlessly effective.

In the end, she still hadn't figured out Shi Feng's strength, but it was clear that her current strength was far too lacking.

Shi Lan sighed and exited the virtual space.

The immediate priority now is to quickly raise my strength to the fourth level of the Body Tempering Realm and complete the System's mission.

[Two items in the System's temporary storage are about to exceed their storage period. Please retrieve them promptly. If they exceed the storage period, the System will reclaim them.]

Shi Lan was slightly taken aback. She opened the System's temporary storage and retrieved the Body Refining Pill. After a moment's hesitation, she also took out the White Crane Dress.

After all, it was a two-star item. It would be too much of a waste to let the System reclaim it. Even if she didn't wear it herself, she could give it to someone else.

Shi Lan carefully folded the White Crane Dress and tucked it into the very bottom of her wardrobe. Then, she placed the Body Refining Pill into a small brocade box and put it away.

Once everything was tidied up, Shi Lan walked over to her desk and picked up the half-eaten Blood Ginseng.

After a rough calculation of the remaining amount, Shi Lan took another bite of the Blood Ginseng.

The familiar warmth surged through her. Shi Lan didn't dare to delay, so she sat down on the spot and began circulating the Jade Body Forging Technique.

After neutralizing this wave of medicinal power, Shi Lan felt her strength increase by another notch, bringing her closer and closer to the first level of the Body Tempering Realm.

Time flew by until noon, and Zi Que arrived again with medicinal cuisine. This time, the portion was significantly larger than yesterday's.

"The Madam wants the Eldest Young Master to train martial arts at home during this period and not go out causing trouble anymore."

After Zi Que left, Shi Lan devoured the medicinal cuisine in a flash and buried herself in her training once more.

By evening, more than half of the Hundred-Year Blood Ginseng had been consumed by Shi Lan.

Thanks to the Jade Body Forging Technique, Shi Lan showed no signs of over-nourishment. Her strength grew steadily.

Gradually, Shi Lan's muscles, bones, and skin seemed to reach a critical point. The white airflow generated by the Jade Body Forging Technique circulated faster and faster.

Suddenly, as if breaking through a thin film, Shi Lan felt a wave of comfort wash over her entire body. She couldn't help but open her eyes and get up to practice the Vajra Divine Fist.

As Shi Lan moved, her bones and joints let out a series of crisp cracking sounds.

With her muscles and bones resonating, the first level of the Body Tempering Realm was achieved!