Simulation

At this moment, the three discounted items displayed in the second-tier Trait Module exchange consisted of two white and one blue.

Sword Affinity (White): All sword art levels +1, sword art proficiency requirement reduced (-90%, Source Point: 9.9)

Primary Sword Sense (White): Increased affinity for swords, increased control over swords, sword art proficiency requirement reduced (-90%, Source Point: 4.5)

Born of Sword Sense (Blue): All sword art levels +2, sword art proficiency requirement reduced (-90%, Source Point: 99.9)

Perhaps because the Shop had just opened, all three Trait Modules were offered at maximum discounts.

At the same time, Zhao Cheng knew he could lock one of the three modules to prevent it from refreshing.

As for why all three traits were related to swords, it was not because Zhao Cheng was particularly lucky.

Rather, the Shop's refreshes were inherently biased, leaning toward directions favorable to Zhao Cheng.

Since he walked the path of the sword and possessed the Sword Seed (Fragmented) trait, the trait refreshes naturally skewed in that direction.

Traits come in five colors: white, blue, purple, gold, and red.

The required Source Point ranges for each vary significantly.

White: 10-99

Blue: 100-999

Purple: 1,000-9,999

Gold: 10,000-99,999

Red: 1,000,000

Zhao Cheng had already discovered that any trait increasing the sword art level cap was the most expensive within its respective range.

Furthermore, red traits were the rarest, while white traits were the most abundant.

White traits numbered in the hundreds of millions, while there was only one red trait.

However, this referred to the entire library of Trait Modules.

Within the white category, there were only millions of sword-related traits, accounting for only one percent, yet even this number was terrifyingly large, considering this Trait Module encompassed all life forms.

At the same time, Zhao Cheng discovered that in the entire trait library, there were only a thousand purple traits, over nine hundred of which were sword-related; by the time one reached gold, every single one was sword-related.

This likely indicated that the level cap for life traits in this world was originally purple.

Any life form possessing a purple trait was likely akin to a Child of the World, destined to accomplish "great feats" regardless of their species.

But the appearance of the Sword Seed changed this, not only making it possible for life in this world to possess gold traits, but also ensuring that all life had the potential for the red trait that transcended gold, even if it was only a fragment.

In the entire expertise library, there were only thirteen gold Trait Modules, and as for red, there was only one—the unique Sword Seed.

As for its effects:

Sword Seed (Red, Ultimate): Sword art level cap +30, Innate Sword Body, Undying Sword Soul, Immortal Sword God, Eternal Sword Intent, Peak of the Heavenly Dao, Reincarnation-Proof, Heaven-Sword Unity, Dao-Sword Unity, Peerless, Invincible in the Ten Directions, Great Thousand Worlds; one of the strongest sword dao talents.

Compared to the complete Sword Seed, Zhao Cheng's Sword Seed (Fragmented) 13% (Red): Sword art level cap +3, moderate increase in sword affinity, moderate reduction in proficiency required for sword art improvement, seemed extremely pathetic.

According to the principle of tenfold increments, the exchange cap for a red Trait Module should have been 999,999, but the Sword Seed broke this limit, reaching a staggering 1,000,000.

This difference of one Source Point might seem insignificant, but Zhao Cheng knew there was a reason for the Panel's logic in setting it this way.

Perhaps that extra point was tied to the "Ultimate" designation.

If someone were to possess the complete Sword Seed trait, they would likely be a mortal in the morning and a Sword God by nightfall.

The sword art level cap +30 at the very beginning of the Sword Seed description was merely an accessory; the text that followed was where the true power of the Sword Seed lay.

Zhao Cheng even suspected that the reason his Sword Seed was fragmented—or rather, why the Sword Seeds of all living beings in this world were fragmented—was simply because no living being could bear the weight of a complete one.

This trait was simply not meant for the life forms of this world.

After reading the description of the Sword Seed, Zhao Cheng fell into deep thought.

One million Source Points seemed like a lot, but it wasn't insurmountable; if he got lucky and hit the maximum discount for the Sword Seed, it would only cost one hundred thousand.

He had already gained 8.8 Source Points on his first day, and that was while he was still inexperienced; as he progressed, the Source Points he earned would surely increase. Even at a conservative estimate of ten points per day, he would collect enough in ten thousand days—less than thirty years.

"It seems all I have to do is lie low for thirty years, find a way to get myself a module slot, and I'll be invincible," Zhao Cheng muttered to himself.

"I'll only be in my forties then. Talk about late blooming—don't look down on a man in his middle age!"

Thinking of this, Zhao Cheng felt even more motivated.

People don't fear difficult circumstances; they fear a lack of hope. With the Sword Seed trait ahead of him, Zhao Cheng felt he could work himself to the bone.

"Wait, why does this Shop setup feel so much like an online game?"

Feeling the exact same urge he had in his past life when he wanted to grind a game, Zhao Cheng suddenly realized.

The idea that grinding one more character every day would make you slightly stronger, and that by getting a little stronger each day, you would eventually become a top-tier player with maxed-out gear.

Unfortunately, until the moment he transmigrated, his own gear had only reached +14.

"As expected of me, my subconscious mind believes the most motivating mode is that of an online game..."

Zhao Cheng thought to himself.

Everything on the Panel was a manifestation of his own cognition; if his subconscious believed another method would better facilitate his growth, the Shop would likely look entirely different.

Of course, the essence of equivalent exchange would remain unchanged; there was no such thing as a massive discount on a Trait Module.

Just a moment ago, upon first glance at the Shop interface, Zhao Cheng had clearly seen the three limited-time items in the third column.

Unnamed Weapon (White) (Unique): Choose any weapon form to solidify; growth-capable, upgradeable, and enchantable (Source Point: 1).

Enhancement Stone (White): Can infuse a weapon with mysterious power, limited to +5 and below (Source Point: 1).

Full Recovery Potion x3: Fixed recovery of 80% of the Hyper-Dimensional Body's total status, no cooldown (Source Point: 1).

It could be said that this Shop had maxed out its sense of déjà vu.

However, despite the overwhelming familiarity, the grind was still a necessity.

First, Simulation Points were a must-exchange, followed by the Unnamed Weapon in the shop. As for the Enhancement Stone, Full Recovery Potion, and Traits, Zhao Cheng intended to wait and see what the simulation mode was actually like.

As Zhao Cheng moved his consciousness, the Simulation Count on the Panel, which had been zero, instantly changed to one, and the word "Simulate" appeared beside it.

Without hesitation, Zhao Cheng tapped it with his mind.

Immediately, the Panel interface shifted.

Simulated dungeon drawing in progress...

Dungeon drawing complete, please select one:

Raging Sea(87%), Winter Is Coming(85%), The Iron Tower Remains(92%), Orphan of the Fog City(91%), Great Wall Watch(94%), Ragnarok(83%), Ziwei Shines Upon the World(96%), Hell Redemption(95%)