A Repetitive Daily Life

Some items in the Simulation Shop are colored, while others—things that are difficult to define—have no color at all.

Gray, however, signifies immense side effects.

This is the reason why this item costs only one Simulation Point.

If such an item had no side effects, its grade color rating would be at least purple.

As for the price, you would likely have to add two zeros to the end.

At the same time, the effect is terrifying: fifteen times the explosive power and reaction speed for three seconds.

As for the devastating nerve and brain damage that follows, that is to be expected; after all, it is the nervous system and the brain that determine a person's reaction speed and explosive power.

This drug is essentially trading a lifetime for three seconds of glory.

Nevertheless, Zhao Cheng redeemed it to keep as a trump card.

If a situation were to arise in reality where this was needed, it would certainly be an infinitely urgent situation, most likely a life-or-death crisis. Compared to one's life, mere nerve and brain damage are nothing.

No matter how bad things get afterward, it is still better than having an enemy dancing on one's grave.

With fifteen times the explosive power and nerve reflexes, given Zhao Cheng's current swordsmanship, even a Swordsman could be killed.

The former is one thing, but the latter? What kind of concept is that?!

That is essentially bullet time; one second for others is equivalent to fifteen seconds for him.

Although a Swordsman's nerve reflex speed is fast, it cannot possibly reach such a level.

Having redeemed this, Zhao Cheng now has the idea of redeeming a Purification Elixir, even though he thought it was useless just yesterday.

But today?

Ultimate Potential Stimulation Elixir (Gray) + Purification Elixir costs only eleven Simulation Points, and he could be a "real man" for three seconds in reality with no lingering consequences.

The only question now is whether the Purification Elixir can be refreshed in the shop.

As for saving up Simulation Points, safety in reality always comes first; only by staying alive can one better grind the instances.

Zhao Cheng is very clear on this point.

After buying the items, Zhao Cheng immediately redeemed a Simulation Count and began the simulation.

As usual, he practiced swordplay in the darkness, used a Full Recovery Potion midway, and after two hours, his swordsmanship proficiency increased by 6, and his Quietude proficiency increased by 1%.

The improvement in his realm this time was not as great as the last.

If he could gain 2% proficiency every time he practiced, that would be too absurd.

Afterward, the Blood Moon appeared. Zhao Cheng rushed to the Heavenly Phoenix Pavilion, rested for fifteen minutes, and then, sword in hand, engaged in a fierce battle. At the cost of his left arm being severed, he hacked the Fist Art Master to death, gaining 1 Source Point. No Treasure Chest dropped this time.

Subsequently, Zhao Cheng found a basement, managed to seal it, and continued practicing swordplay in the darkness.

However, this time, he did not use a Full Recovery Potion to restore his state; instead, he directly squeezed his life potential to practice his swordsmanship.

Such exertion relied entirely on willpower to maintain. He did not know how much time had passed, but his swordsmanship proficiency increased by 2, while his realm saw no improvement at all.

In fact, had the Hyper-Dimensional Body not erased the negative effects, his realm would have regressed.

Zhao Cheng proved with facts that over-squeezing life potential for cultivation yields half the result with twice the effort.

Then, Zhao Cheng's consciousness jolted, and he returned to reality. Instantly, all fatigue and pain vanished, and his state was restored.

He looked at the Log.

First hour: You diligently practiced swordplay, swordsmanship proficiency +3.

Second hour: You diligently practiced swordplay, swordsmanship proficiency +3, Quietude proficiency +1%.

Third hour: You rushed to the Heavenly Phoenix Pavilion, killed Grunt x1, Simulation Point +1.

Fourth hour: You stayed in the darkness, the influence of the strange power weakened, and you practiced swordplay by exhaustively ravaging your body and spirit.

Fifth hour: You continued to practice swordplay by exhaustively ravaging your body and spirit, your swordsmanship proficiency +2, you died, cause of death: exhaustion of life essence.

Summary: Your exploration degree this time was extremely low, Simulation Point +1.

For the first time, Zhao Cheng survived until the fifth hour in the instance.

Facts proved that a lightless environment does indeed slow the loss of life essence.

That moon is quite problematic.

Zhao Cheng fell silent, pondering for a while. This time, he redeemed two Simulation Counts and began the second simulation.

Practiced swordplay, proficiency +6, realm unchanged.

Killed a Grunt, Simulation Point +1, sustained an injury; because he was more skilled, the injury was lighter—the bone was only cracked, not broken.

Afterward, Zhao Cheng began scouting the map, heading to the suspected locations of the Longteng Building and the Zhengshang Office Building to confirm the situation.

This time, Zhao Cheng explored three buildings before he confirmed the location of the Longteng Building.

On the nineteenth floor of the Longteng Building, at the Longteng Boxing Gym, Zhao Cheng encountered a Fist Art Zealot over two meters tall. He exchanged two moves with the monster, was pounced upon, and died instantly.

Thus, Zhao Cheng obtained three locations with monsters and discovered four types of monsters. Compared to the first simulation, the changes were undoubtedly huge, though the process was a bit costly in terms of lives.

At this moment, Zhao Cheng's Source Points reached 10.4, and his Simulation Points reached 12.

He did not simulate a third time; the third attempt would require four Source Point, which was a bit too costly.

After reflecting on the experiences of the two simulations and practicing his breathing technique for a while to calm his mind, Zhao Cheng lay down to sleep.

Waking up in the morning, he went through his daily routine: his swordsmanship conversion rate increased by 1%, and his realm conversion rate increased by 7%, remaining extremely stable.

In the morning, he spaced out, brainstorming.

In the afternoon, he studied fist manuals, brainstorming.

Halfway through his brainstorming, it was time for his swordsmanship class; he practiced sword, then continued brainstorming.

However, while Zhao Cheng was in the middle of his brainstorming, his swordsmanship instructor Wu Nian found him, informed him that the processing for joining the swordsmanship class was complete, and handed him a box of incense.

This was sandalwood used for practicing swordsmanship, which had the effect of calming the mind and focusing the spirit; it was better and more expensive than what was used in the general swordsmanship classes.

Therefore, the school only provided a limited supply for free to members of the swordsmanship class, and this box was a week's worth.

Afterward, he notified Zhao Cheng that, apart from Tuesdays and Thursdays when there were general swordsmanship classes, he should come to District 3 of the gymnasium after evening classes on the other three days for extra tutoring. The sessions would last one hour, and he was told to inform his family to arrange his schedule accordingly.

Then, he added that tomorrow happened to be a special day, and at seven o'clock, everyone in the swordsmanship class would be there. It would be a good opportunity to meet the others, as they might be teammates fighting side by side in the future.

All these things meant that Zhao Cheng was no longer completely in the dark about the swordsmanship class.

At night, it was the familiar routine again: watching TV, practicing sword, and simulating at twelve o'clock. Source Point +10.4. He exchanged for a Full Recovery Potion; the Purification Elixir still didn't appear, but it wasn't a big problem.

In the first simulation, he practiced sword and killed a Grunt, but still got injured. Afterward, he scouted the map, confirmed the location of the Zhengshang Office Building, unlocked a new monster, the Despairer of Fist Arts, and was killed by two punches.

In the second, he practiced sword and killed a Grunt, got injured, and scouted the map. He wasn't killed, but his luck wasn't great; he only roughly confirmed a spot where a monster existed and died from the exhaustion of his life essence.

Little by little, he explored; little by little, he grew stronger. There was always a harvest.

Sleep, wake up, repeat the daily routine, until this night...