I really was a descendant of the dragon

The third simulation ended.

Jiang Chen's consciousness returned to Spirit Spring Inn.

He thought back over the three simulations.

In the first, after absorbing the demonic energy from the grand formation, he went to see Senior Sister Liu one last time and received a demon core. His cultivation soared to the qi refining sixth layer, and the fox's stock soared along with it.

In the second, he saved both Senior Sister Liu and Reverend Guiqi, then headed to Liyue with Chen Gongxing. He learned that Chen Gongxing was merely a Liyue intern who was using him as a guinea pig and could not guarantee his safety. Chen Gongxing's stock plummeted.

In the third, he had intended to have the she-devil replenish his demonic energy, only to inadvertently help her shatter the Return-Form Formation and kill Reverend Guiqi. Tian Mingye then took him to the Heavenly Demon Sect, where he became her cultivation vessel. Before he could enjoy the pleasures of her four hands, the devil women enjoyed him instead.

This simulation proved only three things:

First, the Devil Race's constitution meant they could cultivate only by eating humans, making reconciliation between humans and devils impossible. The human world at least had occasional legends of beasts assuming human form to repay kindness. Love between humans and devils could only be expressed through the digestive system.

Second, dual cultivation with a devil woman was much like dual cultivation with a beast woman. As long as his body and soul could withstand it, he could level up, but not as quickly as when he used the Demi-Immortal Method to perfectly fuse human, beast, and devil powers.

Third, the she-devil was not all boobs and no brains. She was closer to the cruel, cunning creature of legend. Also, after being returned to mortal form, she was... so soft.

Unfortunately, he had not managed to complete the experiment.

In both the second and third endings, Jiang Chen had found a mighty tree to shelter beneath, with considerable potential for advancement. But that also came with immense risks, including becoming a guinea pig and losing his freedom forever.

Jiang Chen ultimately chose the first ending.

He would advance straight to the qi refining sixth layer while also progressing his romance with Thousand-Faced Fox.

Thousand-Faced Fox was deeply interested in his true identity and his divination techniques. She might observe him in secret, but she would neither casually harm him nor dare to.

This was the safest path!

[The first ending will now overwrite your real-world path. You will be placed under automated control for twenty-four hours, until the ending!]

His vision went black.

When he opened his eyes, Jiang Chen had not moved from his spot, but he could feel the surging vortex within his sea of qi!

He hurriedly checked the system panel—

[Name]: Jiang Chen.

[Cultivation]: Qi refining sixth layer.

[Money]: Low-grade spirit stones ×8.

[Items]:

Multipurpose machete ×1 (mortal grade);

Azure Mist Sect disciple swords ×2 (low spirit grade);

Rapid Spirit-Healing Pellets ×5 (low spirit grade);

Heavenly Demon Sect Demon Shrine ×1 (low demonic grade);

[Skills]:

Eight-Step Mad Blade: Some accomplishment.

Basic Spirit Control: Highly proficient.

Demi-Immortal's Book: Beginner.

[Main storyline]: Three rounds of main storyline simulations completed. No new main storyline discovered yet.

[Butterfly effect]: Three unwatched recordings.

Hmm... the huge cultivation boost is nice, but my pills and spirit stones are nearly gone.

Wait, three unwatched recordings?

Jiang Chen immediately checked them!

The first: Chen Gongxing's assessment review.

A teleportation altar stood in a forest of withered trees.

Carrying Reverend Guiqi's spinal parasite, Chen Gongxing went to meet an old man wearing a black hooded cloak and holding a deadwood staff.

Red fire ants crawled in and out of the crooked deadwood staff. Its ecosystem was well preserved.

Chen Gongxing approached him with a torrent of flattery.

"It's been a hundred years! To think you're still our provincial governor, sir. You're truly brimming with vitality, as long-lived as the mountains and seas, vigorous even in—"

The old man's voice was hoarse, his words sounding as though air were leaking through cracks.

"If you can't flatter, keep your mouth shut. Forcing yourself to imitate others will only have the opposite effect.

"It's been a hundred years, and someone has only just finished his assessment. How could this old man retire?

"Our Liyue has a history of a mere five hundred years, and your assessment to become a Liyue agent took a hundred of them. After all that trouble, I assume you've mastered Myriad Phenomena Resonance."

Chen Gongxing sighed and helplessly spread his hands.

"I've only scratched the surface of Myriad Phenomena Resonance. I came for an early review today because I found a similar technique that can fuse human, beast, and devil powers."

The cloaked elder paused, looking somewhat disappointed.

"Did you?

"Do you know why, back when you formed your Nascent Soul at barely over two hundred, I deliberately tricked you into searching for a technique so perfect it couldn't possibly exist? I judged your talent decent, but nowhere near the best on the Ascending Dragon Continent.

"I intended to make you settle down and cultivate, instead of always wanting everything and trying to learn it all.

"Those of us with mediocre talent must take an unconventional path and specialize in a single art if we wish to fight above our level.

"For Liyue apostles, many extreme missions are simply impossible without the strength to fight above their level.

"That was precisely why I gave you an abridged manual of Myriad Phenomena Resonance.

"Who would have thought that, after barely scratching the surface of the resonance method, you would insist on searching for an impossible technique? In the end, you've wasted a hundred years..."

Jiang Chen was dumbfounded. Chen Gongxing was a Spirit Severing powerhouse at just over three hundred, and his talent still was not considered top-tier?

Chen Gongxing's expression stiffened. He wanted nothing more than to fight the old man on the spot.

"In that case, we might as well throw this method away!"

As he spoke, he took out the bamboo tube, preparing to grind Reverend Guiqi's head and spine to dust and scatter the ashes.

"Wait!"

The elder seemed to notice something extraordinary about the spine.

"This little old fellow's talent is utterly mediocre. By rights, even foundation establishment should have been difficult for him, yet he formed a Nascent Soul?"

Chen Gongxing froze, inexplicably feeling aggrieved.

"Why else would I have observed him for over a hundred years? I was checking how he cultivated, whether there were any side effects, and whether it could help with the resonance method!"

Without another word, the elder gripped Reverend Guiqi's crown acupoint and performed a soul search.

"The Form-Returning Book... marvelous, absolutely marvelous! To think such a strange and wondrous secret art exists! The imagination of mediocre people truly cannot be underestimated!"

Jiang Chen suddenly felt as though he had taken a ten-thousand-ton critical hit!

Chen Gongxing asked in confusion:

"But this method can't perfectly fuse human, beast, and devil powers. What makes it so marvelous?"

The elder gave a long laugh.

"Returning all things to their original forms is precisely the path Liyue must take to achieve its goal. Its importance far exceeds perfectly fusing human, beast, and devil powers."

He then took out a Liyue uniform emblazoned with a crimson insect crawling across the moon, an apostle's sword, and an apostle's ring, and handed them to Chen Gongxing.

"Chen Gongxing, from this day forth, you are officially a member of Liyue, holding the rank of one-star Liyue apostle.

"Completing an apostle mission raises your rank by one star. Once you reach the maximum of three stars, you can take up a post at headquarters.

"Work hard, and this old man will soon be promoted from Liyue provincial governor to Liyue guardian, too... I have high hopes for you!"

Chen Gongxing accepted the Liyue apostle gear he had dreamed of, though the provincial governor's words left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.

"So, what's my next mission?"

"Rest assured, Liyue has no easy missions.

"Your routine assignment is the same as the other apostles': travel the land in search of dragon bones from the Elder Dragon Clan.

"It was finding one such dragon bone that earned me this position."

Chen Gongxing looked rather surprised.

"So dragons really were spirit beasts that existed? I never believed it."

The elder gave a long sigh.

"Had I not personally found a bone, I wouldn't believe in such bizarre beasts either."

"What makes them different?"

"This land is called the Ascending Dragon Continent because dragons are the only spirit beasts in the cultivation world capable of ascending to the immortal realm without assuming human form.

"Strictly speaking, they are divine beasts.

"If there is a spiritual body in the cultivation world capable of serving as a vessel for the perfect fusion of human, beast, and devil powers, it can only be a dragon."

Jiang Chen froze, then suddenly understood. Wang Leehom had sung it right—

I really was a descendant of the dragon!