The Third Simulation

After leaving the clothing store, the two bought some daily necessities before heading to the best Map Store in the city.

Outsiders like Xiao Feng and Xiao Yi Xian could easily lose their way in the Tagor Desert if they entered without a map.

Following the directions of passersby, Xiao Feng and Xiao Yi Xian soon found the map shop named "Ancient Map."

Looking at the map shop that exuded an ancient air, Xiao Feng's Sword Eyes narrowed slightly, and a trace of emotion flashed through them.

Who would have thought that the owner of this map shop was actually the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, once renowned throughout the Jia Ma Empire?

After quietly marveling to himself, Xiao Feng led Xiao Yi Xian into the map shop.

The interior was not particularly spacious, yet just two Moonlight Stones made it fairly bright.

Xiao Feng swept his gaze around the shop before it finally landed on the white-haired old man lying in a rocking chair with his eyes closed, taking a nap.

"Shopkeeper, give me your most detailed map of the Tagor Desert."

Hearing Xiao Feng's words, Hai Bodong slowly opened his eyes. He then pulled an ancient-looking map from the bookshelf beside him and casually tossed it onto the counter. In an indifferent tone, he said, "One hundred gold coins. No bargaining!"

"May I inspect the map first?"

"Yes."

Xiao Feng unfolded the ancient map and examined it. Seeing that the major cities, landmarks, and routes within the desert had all been clearly marked, he nodded in satisfaction. "Alright, I'll take this map."

As soon as Xiao Feng finished speaking, he took out one hundred gold coins and placed them on the counter.

Hai Bodong glanced at the coins and, only after confirming the amount was correct, waved his hand. "If there's nothing else, you can leave. Don't disturb this old man's sleep."

Hearing that, Xiao Yi Xian could not help but complain, "You're quite an interesting shopkeeper. This is the first time I've seen a shopkeeper like you who chases customers out."

"Alright, Xiao Yi Xian. Let's not disturb the old man's rest. Let's go!"

Xiao Feng paid no mind to Hai Bodong's cold attitude and simply took Xiao Yi Xian's jade-like hand before leaving.

Xiao Feng had come to Hai Bodong's shop to buy a map purely because the maps sold there were recognized as the best in all of Stone Desert City. He had no other intentions.

Although Xiao Feng knew that a Fragment Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame was hidden in this map shop, Hai Bodong had deliberately put that fragment out as bait.

Even though the seal on Hai Bodong's body had yet to be removed, he still possessed Dou Ling-level strength.

Unless Xiao Feng transformed into the Colossal Titan and used the Trump Card of Transformation Explosion to instantly kill Hai Bodong, his current strength was insufficient to snatch anything from Hai Bodong.

Therefore, Xiao Feng had no intention of taking the Fragment Map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame by force. Besides, until all the fragments were gathered, those fragment maps were little more than useless scraps, so there was no need to rush.

As for the Heavenly Flame map in Hai Bodong's possession, it held no appeal for Xiao Feng either, because he knew that the Green Lotus Core Flame was actually hidden in the underground magma near Stone Desert City.

Unfortunately, Xiao Feng was not yet able to withstand magma damage, so he could only set aside the matter of the Green Lotus Core Flame for now.

At night in the desert, the temperature plummeted, and the chill cut to the bone.

Stars speckled the pitch-black sky like dust. Below them, the curves of the sand dunes glimmered with a silvery sheen beneath the moonlight, tranquil and mysterious.

After Xiao Feng and Xiao Yi Xian finished dinner in the lobby of the inn where they were staying, they each returned to their rooms on the second floor to rest.

"Begin simulation!"

Seeing that the number of simulations on the Character Attribute Panel had changed from 0 to 1, Xiao Feng did not hesitate to begin his third simulation.

"Ding! Randomly selecting Simulation World..."

Under Xiao Feng's expectant gaze, the text in the selection box shifted wildly before finally settling on three words: "Embroidered Spring Blade."

"Ding! Please choose a simulation method!"

Text Projection Simulation (No cost)

Body Projection Simulation (Costs 400 Merit)

Seeing this, Xiao Feng frowned, and the anticipation in his eyes turned to disappointment.

Xiao Feng had watched the film Embroidered Spring Blade as well. Although the martial artists in it knew martial arts, their skills would probably not even qualify as third-rate techniques in the world of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils.

Moreover, Embroidered Spring Blade was set in an ancient society without supernatural powers, so it would likely be difficult to draw anything good from it.

If Xiao Feng used Body Projection Simulation, then even if he could gain a few extra free drawing opportunities, he probably would not be able to earn back the 400 Merit.

Since that was the case, there was no need to waste Merit. Xiao Feng directly chose Text Projection Simulation.

"Ding! Text Projection Simulation begins!"

Day One: You transmigrated into a small village near the Capital City. After a brief period of confusion, you began secretly rejoicing, convinced that you were the chosen one of destiny.

Day Two: Because you had no household registration, you became an undocumented person. In order to survive, you were forced to become a beggar.

"..."

Looking at the text displayed on the simulation panel, Xiao Feng's eye twitched.

Did there really have to be such a huge difference between free simulations and paid simulations?

A classic case of money buying happiness. No money, no fucking fun!

Day Three: With your stomach growling from hunger, you silently encouraged yourself: Are kings and nobles born to their station?

Although you had become a beggar, you would not remain one forever. You decided to follow Zhu Yuanzhang's example.

Just as your blood began to boil with heroic fantasies, a kind-hearted person tossed you two copper coins. Since things had come to this, you decided it was better to fill your stomach first...

Day 18: After being a beggar for over half a month, you had gradually adapted to the life of a beggar. You suddenly felt that this kind of laid-back life of gaining without working was actually pretty nice...

Day 59: After this period of learning and hard work, you had become a qualified beggar and even learned how to stage accidents for compensation.

Every day when you went out to beg, you would seek out kindhearted passersby, pretending to cause all sorts of accidents and falling down right in front of them.

With your superb acting skills at playing the victim, you successfully begged for quite a bit of money, and your fortune gradually grew...

Year 3: Through three years of daily begging, you had accumulated a fortune of several thousand taels of silver. You had long since resolved your household registration problem and transformed into a small landowner in a village near the Capital City...

Year 4: Just as usual, while you were in the Imperial Music Bureau of the Capital City, pedaling hard on the Zhou Miaotong-brand bicycle beneath you, Shen Lian suddenly burst in with bloodshot eyes and used his Embroidered Spring Blade to sever your head. You died!

This simulation has ended!