Simulation Continued, Ma Hongchang's Story

"The Returnees have been won over."

Upper Thousand Provinces, within the Meteor Ancient Realm.

Qin Wangchuan naturally received the news that he had already taken control of the Returnees.

Time travelers... this group is indeed special.

They bring with them knowledge and perspectives from other worlds, often causing unexpected waves of change.

You can't kill them all; the more you suppress them, the more likely you are to create unforeseen changes.

It's better to guide than to block.

Moreover, transmigrators are much easier to subdue than locals; there aren't as many complicated procedures, just give them enough Spirit Stone.

In short, it doesn't cost many Spirit Stones to support them.

But letting them out would mean endless trouble.

Let's return our attention to the system.

[Simulation continues.]

[You were once the youngest half- Twelfth Realm -Half-Venerable in the Ma Family, Ma Hongchang.]

Three months ago, your cousin Ma Hongsheng, whom you personally mentored, joined forces with your childhood sweetheart and fiancée Song Yu'an to plot something.

With Dao Path to enlightenment severed and no hope of Supreme Being, he heard that the Meteor Ancient Realm held the fortuitous opportunity to condense the Heaven and Earth Law, and thus he came here to seek his last hope and exact revenge on that despicable couple!

[Day 0 of entering the Secret Realm]

You failed to break through to the next realm, and your aura was weak. Fearing that someone would steal the Meteor Token you had obtained by chance, you kept your distance from the entrance of the Secret Realm. Even so, you still sensed several gazes.

But soon, all eyes turned to the five teenagers who had suddenly appeared.

You felt nothing for these Young Masters from the Aristocratic Clan, only sighing inwardly, "Looks like we can safely enter the Secret Realm now."

[Day 3 of entering the Secret Realm]

You struggle through the Star Mist Forest, each step aggravating your old wounds.

But you didn't stop for a moment, or even seek out fortuitous opportunity.

Because you feel a gaze clinging to you from behind, like a leech.

"I hope it's just my imagination."

[Day 7 of entering the Secret Realm]

Suddenly, familiar fluctuations of the Ma Family sword technique emanated from ahead and behind—it was the pursuers!

Your current cultivation level is only at the Tenth Realm, so you are definitely no match for him.

He immediately activated a secret technique and hid in a hollow of a dead Star Pattern Wood.

Three Ma Family Shadow Guard swept past your hiding place, the leader of whom was none other than Ma Liu, who had once been so respectful to you.

"Search carefully! The Young Master has ordered that he must not leave this Secret Realm alive!"

It's the Ma Family! They really did catch up!

You hold your breath until they are far away before you dare to breathe again.

"If I succeed in breaking through to the next realm, what will become of mere Ma Liu..." A flash of malice crossed your eyes, but you weren't blinded by anger. Instead, you continued on your journey with even greater caution.

"Now is not the time. Only by reuniting the Heaven and Earth Law can I take my revenge!"

[Day 10 of entering the Secret Realm]

While you were healing your wounds by the Spirit Spring, the spring water suddenly surged.

After cautiously retreating to a safe distance to observe, a broken Stone Tablet was discovered rising from the bottom of the spring.

Only after confirming there were no traps did they step forward and identify it as a legacy left by a predecessor.

You sit by the spring and practice your exercises; your injuries begin to heal.

But the aura here did indeed attract Ma Liu and his group from the surrounding area.

Do not linger; evacuate immediately.

[Day 15 of entering the Secret Realm]

For the past five days, you have been meandering through the Star Mist Forest, studying the cultivation technique you obtained from the Spirit Spring.

It was only later that I discovered this technique required the use of that spiritual Spirit Spring; otherwise, it was just a waste of paper.

"What a disappointment." You felt a pang of regret, but not dejection.

Thinking that since he already had the cultivation technique and the Spirit Spring was useless to others, he figured it wouldn't be too late to go back later.

[Day 19 of entering the Secret Realm]

You find a crimson Purple Sun Red Ginseng Fruit in a rock crevice; this thing is very useful for healing wounds.

But a Tenth Realm Demon Beast was guarding the side.

"With my current strength, I'm definitely no match for this beast. I'll wait for an opportunity."

You patiently observed the Demon Beast all day, and then, taking advantage of its nighttime foraging for food, you picked the fruit and left immediately.

[Day 21 of entering the Secret Realm]

You discover a cave abode built by a cultivator. After observing for half a day and confirming that no one is following you, you enter to investigate.

Although everything inside had been looted long ago, some of the Defensive Formation were still operational, which provided a good opportunity to repair them and refine the Purple Sun Red Ginseng Fruit.

[Day 22 of entering the Secret Realm]

You successfully refined the Purple Sun Red Ginseng Fruit and broke through to the Eleventh Realm.

After letting out a long breath and exiting the meditation state, he suddenly realized something and thought to himself, "Oh no!"

"Ma Liu's men are most likely still around. If I break through now, wouldn't I be exposing myself..."

You can't help but curse yourself for being careless.

I never expected that the Purple Sun Red Ginseng Fruit would have such terrifying medicinal power, enough to help me break through to the next level.

If they had set up an array beforehand to conceal their presence, they wouldn't be in such a dangerous situation now.

The moment you stepped out of the cave abode, your heart sank.

Ma Liu, accompanied by more than ten Shadow Guards, spread out in a fan shape, their faces bearing a mocking expression of a cat catching a mouse.

But the most glaring thing was the familiar figure in white standing beside him—it was none other than his childhood sweetheart, Song Yu'an, who had betrayed him!

Faced with this woman who betrayed you, the moment your eyes met, you turned and ran without hesitation.

The only way to survive now is to seek revenge in the future!

"Stop him!"

A strong gust of wind came from behind.

Your newly attained realm was not yet stable, and you were quickly subdued by several Shadow Guards, who pressed you heavily to the ground.

Song Yu'an walked slowly over, her skirt brushing against the blood-stained ground.

The dagger in her hand gleamed with a chilling blue light, and her star-studded eyes held a cold glint in them. "Finally caught him. It took quite a bit of effort."

You gaze at the woman with whom you once made a vow to grow Pledge of Lifelong Devotion, a thousand words stuck in your throat.

However, before he could even speak, a bone-chilling coldness surged through his chest.

The dagger pierced the heart with pinpoint accuracy, unleashing a burst of Spiritual Power that shattered the heart meridian completely.

"Why...?" You choked on a mouthful of blood, your vision beginning to blur.

Song Yu'an leaned close to your ear, her fingertips lightly stroking your lower abdomen, a mocking smile playing on her lips, "Why? Because you're carrying Hongsheng's child."

Your pupils contracted violently, and blood kept gushing from the corner of your lips.

"You're so boring, all you know is practicing martial arts. Only he understands me." Song Yu'an chuckled, her fingertips tracing your cool cheek. "You don't know, do you? While you were practicing your sword in the front yard, I was making love with Hongsheng in your bedchamber. Even your favorite jade table... bears our marks."

Your eyes were bloodshot, and you made a hoarse sound from your throat.

"The Ma Family only needs one genius." She slowly straightened up, wiping the blood from her fingertips with a silk handkerchief embroidered with twin lotus blossoms. "Blame yourself... for being both dazzlingly obstructive and ridiculously foolish."

The silk handkerchief embroidered with twin lotus blossoms drifted down gently, touching your blood-stained face in the instant it touched you.

Memories began to surface like a revolving lantern.

It was as if time had flowed back to the Ma Family Backyard thirty-five years ago.

Under the Spring Begonia Tree, seven-year-old Song Yu'an clutched your sleeve, tilting her innocent face upwards. "Brother Hongchang, I've heard that there are seas that glow and mountains higher than the moon in the outside world... I really want to go see them."

Nine-year-old you were diligently whittling Wooden Sword when you heard this. You looked up and said, "Okay, once I've trained hard, I'll take you to see all the Four Seas and Eight Wastes."

"But..." she nervously twisted the hem of her dress, "I've heard there are a lot of bad people outside."

You raised your freshly carved Wooden Sword and clumsily twirled it. "What are you afraid of! I will become the strongest in the Ma Family. Anyone who dares to bully you, I'll beat them to a pulp!"

She smiled through her tears, pulled a silk handkerchief embroidered with twin lotus blossoms from her bosom, and placed it in your palm. "It's a deal! This handkerchief is our token. The day you become the strongest in the Ma Family, we'll travel the Four Seas and Eight Wastes!"

The silk handkerchief was soaked with warm blood, blurring the pattern of the twin lotus flowers.

In your unfocused pupils, the last thing you saw was the hem of her skirt as she turned away without a trace of lingering affection.

You are dead.