Han Han: Why Was I in Such a Hurry in the Simulation?

Hurry up!

Move faster! With talent this poor, just being allowed to live is already a gift from your superiors.

Two Silver-Armored Guards whipped two men who were at the fourth level of Apprentice Rank. Clearly, they hadn't reached the fifth level of Apprentice Rank by the required age.

From a distance, Han Han watched it all.

If I didn't have the Life Simulation System, I'd end up just like them in a few years.

Strength...

Han Han unconsciously clenched his fists. After holding them tight for two seconds, he turned and hurried toward Three Illusion Tree Valley.

As time passed, his speed at gathering Three Illusion Leaves increased dramatically. Just like in his first simulation, he'd single-handedly raised the collection standard, proving he had talent.

That meant he could spend more time cultivating after gathering the Three Illusion Leaves.

"This time, the Iron Vine Grass won't break through to Planetary Rank. I should be able to escape Thousand Leaf Planet, at least in theory."

Han Han focused on the Life Simulation System. The moment he saw his Simulation Count change, he used it.

For now, he had plenty of free time.

[Life simulation begins]

[Age 22. Though you are at the seventh level of Apprentice Rank, you possess an Iron Vine Grass at the ninth level of Apprentice Rank. Your subconscious tells you that the Iron Vine Grass must not break through to Planetary Rank]

[You start thinking about escaping Thousand Leaf Planet]

[Age 23. You successfully break through to the eighth level of Apprentice Rank. Your strength puts you among the top in Thousand Tree District. If you grow any stronger, you'll be taken to the Central High Tower and implanted with a Slave Chip. Since you want to escape, you naturally refuse to do that]

[You secretly begin looking for people who long for freedom]

"Several years earlier than before."

Han Han sighed. That was the difference having an Iron Vine Grass at the ninth level of Apprentice Rank made. It had greatly boosted his confidence.

"I wonder what will change."

[Age 24. The Qianye Star People seem to have been enslaved for so long that many would rather endure it, having grown accustomed to this exploitation. You feel sorry for them, but there's nothing you can do]

[Age 25. You cultivate while searching]

[You gain two subordinates, but both have better talent than you. You warn them to slow down their cultivation and resist the urge to break through]

[At first, you want to tell them about the Iron Vine Grass, but you quickly dismiss the idea]

[You feel that you haven't known them long enough. Revealing your trump card this early would be foolish, so you decide to wait until shortly before you make your move]

[Age 26. You suggest that everyone choose a name. They each pick one for themselves, and you name yourself Han Han]

[Age 27. Someone at the sixth level of Apprentice Rank says he wants to join you. You gladly agree, because you sense something unusual about him: a powerful vitality, like what you felt while cultivating the Iron Vine Grass]

[You guess he's probably taken a treasure, too]

[He names himself Pansy]

[Age 28. Pansy improves at an astonishing rate, breaking through to the eighth level of Apprentice Rank in just one year. You wonder if it's the effect of that treasure]

[You communicate with the Iron Vine Grass]

[Unfortunately, although the Iron Vine Grass didn't use the Locke Divine Water to break through to Planetary Rank, it still absorbed the water to strengthen its body]

That's a good thing, Han Han thought.

The stronger a Plant Lifeform's foundation, the greater its potential. The Iron Vine Grass was ordinary to begin with. If it absorbed more Locke Divine Water while still at Apprentice Rank, its future breakthroughs would be easier.

Unfortunately, the version of himself in the simulation didn't know that.

[You feel regret, hating yourself for not realizing it sooner]

[You think of Pansy, so while gathering Three Illusion Leaves together, you approach him. You're clever: rather than saying you suspect anything, you confidently tell him that he must have a treasure]

[Pansy is startled and begins recalling how he came to possess the Silver Token]

[He's sure no one knows, but your certainty makes him doubt himself. In the end, he gives in and confesses that he found a bottle of mysterious liquid that greatly increased his cultivation speed. He says he buried it somewhere in Three Illusion Tree Valley and offers to retrieve it and share it with you]

[You're delighted. You didn't expect it to be true]

[Knowing you've wronged Pansy, you confess that you found some as well, but used it all to cultivate the Iron Vine Grass, which is the key to your escape]

[Pansy shows great interest in the Iron Vine Grass and keeps asking you questions as you head there]

[Unfortunately, you know very little about the Iron Vine Grass. You don't even know why you recognize it, so all you can tell Pansy is that the time isn't right yet]

[You arrive deep within Three Illusion Tree Valley]

[Pansy sneaks off to a secluded spot. In truth, he uses a bottle to draw half a bottle of Locke Divine Water from the Silver Token, then returns to meet you]

[You receive 100 milliliters of Locke Divine Water]

"Woc!"

Han Han was speechless. "I went through a whole year of simulations before settling on six milliliters, and you get a hundred just like that? Come on, man."

He was jealous of himself.

[You've already finished your gathering task, so you immediately take out one drop of Locke Divine Water and drink it. Pansy tries to stop you, but you've already swallowed it]

"Damn it," Han Han said.

The vitality contained in one drop of Locke Divine Water was definitely no less than that of a Wood Bud Crystal.

His talent was poor, but that was by Thousand Leaf Planet's standards. Back on Earth, he'd be among the best. With one drop of Locke Divine Water, he'd almost certainly reach the ninth level of Apprentice Rank, even if Planetary Rank was another matter.

Why are you in such a hurry?

``` [You feel every cell rejoicing. You've never experienced such comfort before, and you're incredibly excited, because cosmic energy has begun flowing into your body on its own]

[But gradually, something feels wrong. Your improvement doesn't stop, even after you reach the peak of the eighth level. By the time you try to stop it, it's already too late]

[You break through to the ninth level of Apprentice Rank]

[You realize you've been careless. Your feelings are complicated, and you know there's no escaping what's coming: everyone entering Three Illusion Tree Valley is scanned by the intelligent system, which identifies their level. There's no way to hide your breakthrough]

[You sigh. You know nothing can be done, and it's all your own fault. You have no one else to blame]

[You return the remaining Locke Divine Water and warn Pansy to be extremely careful when using it, even though he may be better at hiding things than you are]

[You take him to the Iron Vine Grass]

[Pansy recognizes the Iron Vine Grass and learns the name of the Plant Lifeform inside the Silver Token for the first time]

[You order the Iron Vine Grass to obey Pansy as well as you from now on. You feel that Pansy might be able to escape this dark planet and gain his freedom]

[Before leaving Three Illusion Tree Valley, you tell Pansy everything you know]

[For example, the Iron Vine Grass must not break through to Planetary Rank before you make your move, and it's safe to cultivate the Iron Vine Grass. Of course, you can't explain why; you just know it's the right thing to do]

[You leave Three Illusion Tree Valley first]

[The intelligent system identifies your level as the ninth level of Apprentice Rank. The guard beside you immediately approaches, then escorts you to the Central High Tower] ]