Continuing the Simulation

Xu Changxing looked at the result, his expression darkening.

While watching the simulation just now, he had been convinced that success was assured this time.

Yet he had never expected the Yin Corpse Sect to awaken that Old Devil ahead of schedule because of him.

Although being awakened early would certainly have weakened the Old Devil, and he might not have survived Shi Haoyan's self-detonation.

No matter how he looked at it, however, he had failed this time.

I still relied too heavily on the previous simulation...

Xu Changxing had long known that the developments in a simulation were not entirely accurate, and that a single unexpected event could change the course of things at any moment.

But when it came to major, defining events, he still placed considerable trust in the simulation's results.

He simply had not expected that, after reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, he would already have the power to influence the broader course of events.

Xu Changxing shook his head and waited for the evaluation that followed.

[Simulation complete]

[Evaluation: You entered the Dao through slaughter and died amid slaughter. A fitting death.]

[Based on the simulation results, you may choose one of the following rewards]

[1. Experience the simulated life from a first-person perspective]

[2. A golden core infused with killing intent (early-stage Core Formation cultivation)]

[3. A further-improved wood spiritual root.]

Xu Changxing was slightly taken aback as he looked at the rewards.

The first thing he noticed was the change in the first option's description.

The first option had changed from "view recorded footage" to "experience the simulated life."

Xu Changxing instinctively thought of the change in his vision when he had viewed the simulation records last time.

Could it be that the more spirit stones I spend, the more realistic the viewing experience becomes?

What would happen if it reached the limit?

Xu Changxing shook his head and did not pursue the thought, since there would be no answer to that question for now.

He focused his consciousness directly on the second option.

Before the results appeared, he had thought the reward would most likely be foundation establishment late stage cultivation. He had not expected it to offer him a golden core.

From that perspective, the system's evaluation of this simulation was actually rather favorable.

Could that Old Devil from the Yin Corpse Sect have died in Shi Haoyan's self-detonation?

Xu Changxing's consciousness lingered over the second option for a long time, but he still could not bring himself to choose it.

That golden core was clearly not a normal first-grade golden core, but one infused with killing intent.

He felt a considerable aversion to the words "killing intent."

More importantly, he was unwilling to accept the outcome of this simulation.

He kept feeling that if he simulated once more, he should be able to find a more perfect solution.

But if he chose to form the golden core, the spirit stones he had on hand might no longer be enough for another simulation.

After hesitating for a long time, Xu Changxing finally chose the third option, strengthening his spiritual root once again.

Whatever the case, spending two thousand low-grade spirit stones to strengthen his spiritual root was no loss.

As his words fell, a faint green glow once again rippled through his sea of consciousness.

When the green light faded, the range within which he could sense wood spiritual energy had increased by roughly twenty percent.

Other than that, there was no particularly obvious improvement.

A first-grade wood spiritual root was evidently the current limit.

Even absorbing another Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures would not yield much improvement.

Xu Changxing took out another two thousand low-grade spirit stones and began topping up the system.

Once his points reached two thousand, he started another simulation.

[First month: You refined the Flying Cloud Robe...]

[...]

[Second year: You entered the Secret Realm and fought...]

[Third year: You entered the Dao through slaughter and formed a first-grade golden core...]

[...]

[September of the fifth year: You achieved Core-Breaking Ascension, condensing a Slaughter Nascent Soul.]

Through the fifth year, this simulation was largely the same as the previous one.

Perhaps because his aptitude had improved, he formed his nascent soul three months earlier this time.

Xu Changxing patiently continued watching the developments that followed.

[October of the fifth year: After stabilizing your cultivation realm, you intended to kill a few nascent soul cultivators from the Yin Corpse Sect to celebrate, but an inexplicable sense of caution stopped you.

You decided to suppress the killing intent in your heart and first investigate the Yin Corpse Sect's movements in secret.]

[May of the sixth year: After more than half a year of investigation, you gained a general understanding of the Yin Corpse Sect's plans.

You suppressed the urge to investigate further and returned to the Setting Sun Sect, where you told Shi Haoyan everything you had uncovered.

Although your findings were still incomplete, Shi Haoyan held you in high regard and believed what you said.

He took you to see the sect's other Spirit Transformation Ancestor, Zhou Jinglie.

Zhou Jinglie felt that, if this was true, it would affect the entire righteous path, and your Setting Sun Sect should not bear the burden alone.

He proposed first forming an alliance with several nearby sects, then joining forces to encircle and eradicate the Yin Corpse Sect.]

[June of the sixth year: Shi Haoyan took you to the Star Cloud Sect, but you were told that its Spirit Transformation Ancestor was still in secluded cultivation.

After a moment's hesitation, Shi Haoyan informed the Star Cloud Sect's current sect leader of the matter.

The sect leader took it very seriously and said that the patriarch would be informed as soon as he emerged.

Although Shi Haoyan felt this was a little too slow, he could hardly disturb the patriarch's secluded cultivation and could only leave for now.]

[July of the sixth year: You visited the Langhuan Pavilion and informed them of the Yin Corpse Sect's plans.

The Langhuan Pavilion's Spirit Transformation elder frowned deeply and said that an investigation was needed before any conclusions could be drawn.]

[October of the sixth year: Shi Haoyan and you traveled back and forth between several sects, finally convincing most of them of the gravity of the matter.

Aside from your Setting Sun Sect, five Spirit Transformation elders were willing to join forces with you to eradicate the Yin Corpse Sect.]

[November of the sixth year: You gathered seven Spirit Transformation Ancestors and dozens of Nascent Soul Cultivators, preparing to annihilate the Yin Corpse Sect.

But when you arrived, you discovered that only a paltry handful remained in the Yin Corpse Sect.

The two Spirit Transformation Ancestors guarding the Yin Corpse Sect had received word in advance and abandoned the sect.

After searching, you finally found the place where the unnamed Old Devil had previously resided.

But that place was equally deserted.

Your allied sects could only issue a kill order to eradicate the Yin Corpse Sect's remnants.]

[June of the eighth year: Under the kill order, more than half the Yin Corpse Sect's cultivators had been killed or wounded, and even several Nascent Soul Ancestors had fallen.

Yet the Yin Corpse Sect's original two Spirit Transformation Ancestors were still nowhere to be found.]

[September of the ninth year: You felt a faint unease, sensing that something major might happen within the sect.]

[October of the ninth year: You suddenly received devastating news.

The Star Cloud Sect had been destroyed, and its Spirit Transformation Ancestor had been refined alive into a Corpse Yin.

The righteous sects were enraged. Six Spirit Transformation Ancestors left their sects together, preparing to surround and kill the Yin Corpse Sect's old devils.

But just three days later, news arrived that struck terror into the righteous sects.

Of the six Spirit Transformation Ancestors who had gone to surround and kill the Yin Corpse Sect's old devils, three had actually fallen.

The other three fled with severe injuries.

The Yin Corpse Sect, however, had lost only one Spirit Transformation Ancestor.

The Old Devil who had just awakened had suffered only minor injuries.] ```