Planning the Simulation, Setting the Goal

The moment he said it, Old Jack smacked Chu Chen on the back of the head.

"You think you're an emperor? Drinking one bowl and throwing out the next? Even an emperor can't waste food, you hear me?"

"Heh, I was just saying. Just saying..."

Chu Chen grinned sheepishly and ducked his head. He polished off the whole bowl of meat porridge in a few gulps, then lifted his chin proudly.

"But if I become emperor, you'll be the emperor emeritus! You won't have to eat meat porridge then. You can stuff yourself with chicken, duck, fish—whatever you want!"

"And I'll get you a huge harem. Take your pick of all the pretty old ladies in the world! We've got to make it three thousand beauties!"

"And... huh? Grandpa, shouldn't you be using chopsticks to eat? What's the stick for?"

"To give you a good beating!"

Old Jack stormed toward Chu Chen, wooden stick in hand.

"Emperor, is it? Pretty old ladies? Three thousand beauties? I'll beat the nonsense out of you today, you little brat!"

The Family Sayings of Confucius, compiled by Wang Su during the Three Kingdoms period, said: "Accept a small stick, but flee a large one, lest you lead your father into wrongdoing."

Judging by Old Jack's expression, that was no "small stick."

So Chu Chen bolted out the door.

Old Jack chased after him, and Holy Soul Village grew lively in the evening.

It was only when Chu Chen reached the village entrance that Old Jack finally stopped.

He glared at the grinning Chu Chen ahead of him and tossed the stick onto the ground.

"Don't run too far. The people from Spirit Hall will be here first thing tomorrow. Come home and sleep once you've had your fun!"

Then he turned and headed home.

Watching Old Jack's figure recede, Chu Chen couldn't help chuckling.

Not bad. With the old man's health as it is now, he'll definitely live to see me make something of myself!

I might even be able to take him to the Divine Realm once I become a god!

Heh... becoming a god. Eternal life...

Chu Chen shook his head and headed toward the stream outside the village.

Over dinner, Old Jack had reminded Chu Chen of something.

Today was Chu Chen's sixth birthday!

The simulator had activated on his fifth birthday. If he got one simulation a year, his second one would be today!

At the thought, Chu Chen summoned the simulator panel with a thought.

[Life Simulation System]

[Current simulation attempts: 0 (cooling down)]

[Cooldown: 0 days, 18 hours, 15 minutes, 42 seconds]

Huh. So tomorrow at noon?

Chu Chen smiled, found a dry patch of ground, and sat cross-legged. He closed his eyes to meditate while turning things over in his mind.

Do what you can while you have time, rather than waiting until you're too busy to manage it.

After his first simulation, Chu Chen knew he needed to plan ahead if he wanted to get the most out of the simulator.

Before this, all he had thought about was latching on to the protagonist in a simulation. Reality, however, had not cooperated.

Now he was less keen on the idea. For one thing, his randomly assigned identity might not give him the chance. For another, latching on to the protagonist might not even help him!

In reality, Chu Chen was still struggling at the Dou Qi stage. Chasing grand ambitions now would put the cart before the horse!

Chu Chen rubbed his chin, weighing his options.

He had realized this when his first simulation ended.

As a Second-Rank Alchemist in the simulation, he could certainly have obtained valuable things. Xuan Tier cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, mid-rank magic cores, even third- or fourth-rank pills were all within his reach.

The problem was that even if he got them... they would be useless!

Even if they appeared among the rewards he could choose at the end, all he could do was stare at them.

The reason was simple: he couldn't use them!

In reality, he was a weakling at the third stage of Dou Qi. What was he going to do with a pile of treasures far beyond his current needs?

That would just be stupid.

Don't aim too high!

With that, Chu Chen calmed down and considered what he needed most right now.

First, he needed pills to speed up his cultivation through the Dou Qi stage. The Foundation Building Spirit Liquid was the only thing that came to mind.

Next was a decent cultivation method, so he could keep cultivating normally after breaking through to Dou Zhe.

He could also get a Qi Gathering Powder to help with that breakthrough. There was a whole year until the next simulation. Who knew? He might actually make it.

A magic core was worth considering too. Chu Chen was curious whether a magic core from the Dou Qi Continent would be altered by the rules of the Douluo Continent, and whether a Soul Master could use it to form a Soul Ring.

Beyond that, Chu Chen wanted a body-tempering cultivation method. After all, he still lived on the Douluo Continent, where his main path would be that of a Soul Master.

Soul Masters had to absorb Soul Rings, and the older the Soul Ring, the better. One of the deciding factors in absorbing an older Soul Ring was the strength of a Soul Master's body.

That made a body-tempering cultivation method essential for Chu Chen.

Then there were pills. Chu Chen had always wanted to repay Old Jack, so he felt he should get the old man something worthwhile.

If he could obtain a life-extending pill like the Azure Nether Longevity Pill in a simulation, he wouldn't mind spending one of his reward choices on it.

Repaying kindness was something to do sooner rather than later. Chu Chen had no wish to experience the regret of wanting to care for a loved one after it was too late.

Soul cultivation methods and soul Dou Techniques would also be useful, but Chu Chen did not expect much on that front.

He would be delighted if he found one and unsurprised if he didn't. Such things were rare opportunities, not something he could count on.

As for the Dou Qi Continent's famous specialty, Heavenly Flames...

Forget it. Chu Chen knew his limits. Heavenly Flames were not something he could covet right now.

Even if he risked his life to get one in the simulator, bringing it back to reality would probably burn him to ash.

A weakling at the third stage of Dou Qi going after Heavenly Flames? No one could give Chu Chen that much courage!

But even with only the things he had listed so far...

Three choices don't seem like enough...

Chu Chen scratched his head, torn.

After a while, he abruptly shook his head and cast all those tangled thoughts aside.

If I get it, great. If I don't, that's how it goes. It's all free anyway, so why overthink it?

I'll take things as they come. Foundation Building Spirit Liquid is my first choice, followed by a body-tempering cultivation method, then a regular cultivation method.

If I actually manage to get a soul cultivation method or an Azure Nether Longevity Pill, though, either one goes straight to the top of the list.

And if my luck is terrible and I don't find anything good during the simulation, I can settle for a magic core.

I get a simulation every year, after all. There'll be plenty of chances. No point worrying about every gain and loss.

That settles it. Time to go home and sleep!