One Step to the Heavens!

Just as Tang San finished his second simulation and, in reality, gritted his teeth as he judged that Yu Xiaogang "had earned himself a death sentence,"

Fu Shiyan, far away in that shabby little hut, was staring fixedly at the System Panel before him.

Suddenly, a string of dense notification chimes rang out in his mind, like the most wonderful celestial music!

[Ding! Detected intense emotional fluctuations and deep trust from "Child of Destiny Tang San"!]

[Faith Points +500,000!]

[Ding! The observer's recognition of and immersion in the simulation content have greatly increased!]

[Faith Points +700,000!]

[Ding! Total Faith Points received: 1,200,000!]

[Current total Faith Point balance: 1,320,000!]

One million three hundred and twenty thousand!

Fu Shiyan sprang up from the ground, his eyes wide as he stared at that dizzying string of numbers on the System Panel. Even his breathing grew heavy.

Wild ecstasy erupted in his chest like a volcano! He had worked so hard before, even going so far as to fabricate a script that practically "tormented the protagonist" to provoke Tang San, yet he had only accumulated one hundred and twenty thousand Faith Points in total. This single simulation had actually brought him one million two hundred thousand!

This meant Tang San's "trust" in him had reached an entirely new height. It was no longer merely initial trust, but a deeper recognition and emotional bond!

"I'm rich! I'm really rich this time!"

Fu Shiyan spun around several times in excitement before finally forcing himself to calm down.

He took several deep breaths and looked at the system interface again, his eyes blazing.

"System!"

His voice trembled with barely restrained excitement.

"Based on my existing 'Fu Shiyan' character template, if I perform the optimal character manifestation and truly obtain all the abilities possessed by the simulated Fu Shiyan at his current stage, how much Faith Power will it cost?"

Light flowed across the system interface, which swiftly provided a detailed response:

[Calculating character manifestation costs...]

[Calculation basis: Character template completeness 100% (no multiplied consumption)]

[...Calculation complete.]

[Manifestation items and Faith Power cost breakdown:]

1. Cultivation increase (Level 8 Soul Warrior → peak Level 69 Soul Emperor): 616,100 Faith Power

(Including level increases from Soul Warrior to Soul Emperor, as well as the corresponding Spirit Ring configuration: yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black)

2. Knowledge system bestowal (herbalism expert + master-level Martial Soul theory knowledge): 60,000 Faith Power

3. Bestowal of eight Self-Created Soul Skills: 180,000 Faith Power

(Soul Skill list: Blue Silver-Dragon's Fury, Caomu Huashen, Senluo Soul-Locking Bind, Blue Silver Four-Pillar Prison, Blue Silver Senluo Dharma Image, Void Reality Illusion Domain, Bodhi Funeral, Blue Silver Salvation, Bodhi Immeasurable—Bodhi Dharma Body)

[Final total Faith Power required: 957,575 Faith Power]

Nine hundred and fifty-seven thousand five hundred and seventy-five points!

Looking at that final number, an unprecedented gleam burst from Fu Shiyan's eyes!

It was enough! More than enough!

He would even have over three hundred thousand Faith Points left for emergencies!

"Manifest it! Right now! Manifest it for me immediately!!"

He practically roared the command at the system without the slightest hesitation.

[Command confirmed! Beginning character manifestation... Faith Points consumed: 957,575!]

[Remaining Faith Points: 362,425!]

The instant the system notification ended, an indescribable, majestic force that seemed to originate from the very source of the world descended abruptly and completely enveloped Fu Shiyan!

"Urgh—ah!"

Intense pain swept through his entire body in an instant, as though every inch of muscle and every bone were being forcibly torn apart and remade!

Yet his heart was filled with mad joy, because this pain represented rebirth, represented power!

Under the cleansing force of that power, his originally haggard, weathered face—made wan by hardship and malnutrition—began to undergo earth-shaking changes at a visible rate.

His wrinkles were smoothed away, his skin became clear and elastic, and the contours of his features grew deeper and more striking.

His messy short black hair grew wildly, swiftly shedding its dark color and becoming a cascade of silver-white hair that gleamed like moonlight.

His body also grew taller, becoming more proportioned and upright. His ragged clothes were replaced by an exquisitely tailored set of jet-black brocade robes under an invisible force.

In only a few moments, the dejected, gloomy man dressed in rags disappeared. In his place stood a handsome young man who appeared to be about eighteen, with silver hair and black robes, an otherworldly temperament, and beauty so refined that he seemed untouched by mortal dust!

Then, even more astonishing changes occurred within him.

Vast and majestic Soul Power surged through his meridians like a slumbering dragon awakening! At the same time, brilliant Spirit Rings condensed on their own, appearing beneath his feet:

Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black!

Six Spirit Rings, symbolizing the formidable strength of a peak Soul Emperor!

That Spirit Ring configuration, which defied all common sense, radiated a suffocating pressure!

The energy impact from the condensing Spirit Rings made his body tremble slightly, but his face bore only an almost crazed smile of excitement.

When everything finally settled, Fu Shiyan slowly opened his eyes. Brilliant light flashed within them like stars.

He let out a long breath and felt the unprecedented power within him, power that seemed capable of controlling everything. Feeling as well the vast ocean of herbalism and Martial Soul theory knowledge that had appeared in his mind from nowhere, he finally could not help throwing back his head and laughing wildly:

"Hahahahaha!!!

Power! Knowledge! Soul Skills! I now... lack nothing!!!!"

As he laughed, tears began to flow from his eyes without his noticing.

After calming himself for a while, he walked over to a dust-covered water vat and examined his new appearance in the reflection on its surface.

Looking at the extraordinarily handsome young man in the water, with silver hair and black robes, he could not help reaching out to touch his smooth cheek. Tears glimmered in his eyes, yet he clicked his tongue in wonder.

"Tut, tut... young people these days really are... so young!"

The scene returned to Holy Soul Village.

Since the end of the second simulation, killing intent had taken root in Tang San's heart.

But he knew that one had to think before acting.

He did his best to recall every detail from the simulation, trying to devise a foolproof plan.

"Yu Xiaogang has a close relationship with Bibi Dong... could there be someone Bibi Dong arranged to protect him in secret?"

This thought made Tang San's heart tighten.

If he acted rashly, even if he succeeded, he would very likely expose himself and draw the pursuit of the colossal Spirit Hall.

Although he knew that his father, Tang Hao, was immensely powerful and a Title Douluo, the scene of Tang Hao's tragic death in the simulation remained vivid in his mind. He was afraid. He absolutely did not want to see his father driven into desperate straits again because of his own impulsiveness.

The enormous risk forced him to suppress the urge to act immediately. He chose to continue enduring in silence and wait for a more reliable opportunity.

The days passed one by one. Tang San still forged iron daily at the Blacksmith Shop. During his spare time, he silently polished hidden weapons and prepared poisons, burying his killing intent deep in his heart.

At last, the day came for him to report to Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy.

It was not as though Tang San had never considered avoiding Nuoding Academy to evade the possible troubles ahead.

But he immediately remembered a crucial piece of information from the simulation—Fu Shiyan's master had once gone looking for him after he enrolled!

He had merely been unable to meet him because Yu Xiaogang had stopped him. If he did not go to Nuoding Academy, he would likely miss this true mentor.

"I have to go! I have to meet Master Fu Shiyan!" Tang San made up his mind.