[Simulation begins. Simulated character this time: Xiao Yi Xian!]
That familiar feeling of weightlessness swept over him once more. When he opened his eyes again, Xiao Chen had already completed his transformation.
"What's going on? Why did it skip the text simulation this time?"
Xiao Chen surveyed his surroundings and realized he was inside a cave. The rock walls were damp and gloomy, and thick vines covered the cave entrance. "Looks like this is the cave where Xiao Yi Xian found the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture!"
Once he had figured out where he was, Xiao Chen didn't hesitate. He set off into the cave. After walking for about a quarter of an hour, a massive boulder appeared before him, blocking the way.
With his original strength, he could have smashed the boulder with a single punch. But he was now playing Xiao Yi Xian in the simulator, and breaking through with brute force wasn't realistic. He could only patiently search for the mechanism that opened the passage.
Fortunately, the mechanism here wasn't all that ingenious, and Xiao Chen soon figured it out.
As the boulder slowly shifted aside, the scene inside the cave came into full view. Its furnishings were extremely simple: just a stone table, three stone boxes on top, and some gold coins and medicinal herbs piled carelessly in a corner.
Xiao Chen ignored the gold coins and herbs and went straight to open the three stone boxes one after another. "Just as I thought—the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture. This is what changed Xiao Yi Xian's fate, isn't it?"
[Ding! Simulation ended. The host changed Xiao Yi Xian's fate. Rewards: Woe Poison Body (Gold), Seven-Colored Poison Scripture (Gold)!]
As the system notification sounded, the scenery before Xiao Chen gradually blurred. When he opened his eyes again, he was back in his room at the inn.
"Two Golden Traits? The Seven-Colored Poison Scripture is Gold too?"
The Woe Poison Body being a Golden Trait had been within Xiao Chen's expectations. He simply hadn't expected the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture to be Gold as well. That was a little beyond what he'd anticipated.
And this simulation had been much too short. It had even skipped the text simulation and dropped him straight into the pivotal moment of Xiao Yi Xian's fate.
For a moment, Xiao Chen couldn't tell whether fate had favored him or the system was playing favorites. When he'd changed Xiao Yan and Xun'er's fates before, he'd spent ages simulating.
Unable to figure out what was going on, Xiao Chen didn't dwell on it. He directly fused the two traits, and the contents of the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture surfaced in his mind.
"No wonder the system rated it a Golden Trait. Combined with the Woe Poison Body, this thing is practically a cheat!"
After absorbing the information, Xiao Chen understood why the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture was Gold. It was practically tailor-made for the Woe Poison Body.
Perhaps the noise he'd made while receiving his rewards had been too loud, because he'd woken Xiao Yi Xian from her sleep. The girl was now sitting by the head of the bed, staring blankly at Xiao Chen.
"Did I wake you?"
Xiao Chen turned to Xiao Yi Xian, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "But it's good that you're awake. Come on, I'll take you somewhere that can change your fate!"
Although he already had the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, there were still other treasures in the cave. Rather than leave them there for someone else, he might as well claim them for himself.
Xiao Yi Xian didn't ask where they were going. She obediently nodded and came to Xiao Chen's side, quietly waiting for him to decide what to do.
Xiao Chen took her hand and led her to the window. He pushed it open, then swept her into his arms in a bridal carry and leaped out.
At the same time, a pair of wings formed entirely from Battle Qi unfolded behind Xiao Chen. In the blink of an eye, they vanished into the night.
Looking at Xiao Chen's Battle Qi Wings and handsome face, Xiao Yi Xian's cheeks flushed again. Women admired the strong, and Xiao Yi Xian was no exception.
If I could spend my whole life with a peerless genius like him, then I'd have no regrets.
At the thought, Xiao Yi Xian subconsciously clung tighter to Xiao Chen. Noticing the lovely girl in his arms acting differently, Xiao Chen's lips lifted slightly, and he deliberately slowed his flight.
The journey should have taken half a quarter of an hour, but Xiao Chen spent a full half-hour flying there. When they landed, Xiao Yi Xian's legs were so weak she had to lean against him to keep from falling.
"Brother Xiao Chen, you're so reckless! Good thing there's no one here, or I'd never be able to show my face again!"
Xiao Yi Xian puffed out her cheeks and gave Xiao Chen's waist a light pinch, vexed. Even so, she wasn't truly angry. Instead, a trace of pride rose in her heart.
After all, "A scholar will die for one who understands him; a woman will beautify herself for one who delights in her" was no empty saying. To make a heaven-blessed talent like Xiao Chen fall for her was surely a kind of recognition of her looks.
Xiao Chen awkwardly rubbed his nose and gave a silly laugh, hurrying to change the subject. "Xian'er, the thing that can change your fate is in the cave below. Let's hurry down!"
"Brother Xiao Chen, you're mistaken. The things there can't change my fate!"
Xiao Yi Xian shook her head, took Xiao Chen's hand, and placed it against her cheek. Her gaze as she looked at Xiao Chen was utterly sincere. "It's you who truly changed Xian'er's fate, Brother Xiao Chen!"
Looking into Xiao Yi Xian's clear eyes, Xiao Chen had to admit that his heart had begun racing beyond his control.
It wasn't until Xiao Yi Xian realized that Xiao Chen seemed to be pointing a gun at her that she came back to her senses. A little flustered, she hurried to change the subject. "Brother Xiao Chen, we should head down first!"
Xiao Chen knew better too. This wasn't the time to fool around. He suppressed his desire, picked up Xiao Yi Xian, and flew down the cliff.
With Battle Qi Wings, they naturally didn't have to go through all the dangers from the original story. The two of them found the cave entrance with ease.
This time was much easier than in the simulator. When a boulder blocked their path, Xiao Chen simply punched straight through it. Once they entered the cave, the familiar stone boxes sat on the stone table.
Xiao Chen stepped forward and opened a stone box, then put the sheepskin scroll into his storage ring. If he remembered correctly, it recorded not only the location of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame but also served as a vessel for the Pure Lotus Demon Sage's remnant soul. It was a key item for subduing the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame.
But he couldn't make use of it himself. He'd put it away because he planned to give it to Xiao Yan later. A troublesome task like collecting a Heavenly Flame was best left to the protagonist. Xiao Chen could just pick up the spoils in the simulator.
After putting away the sheepskin scroll, Xiao Chen opened the other two stone boxes, took out the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture and Eagle Wings, and handed them to Xiao Yi Xian.
"The Seven-Colored Poison Scripture—it's just like in my dream!"
Xiao Yi Xian couldn't help murmuring as she looked at the scripture in her hands. The only difference was that in the dream, Xiao Chen hadn't seemed to be there. She'd been alone.
Hearing her murmur, Xiao Chen whipped around. "Xian'er, what did you say? What was just like in your dream?"
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