Chapter Summaries

Xu Changxing activated the Life Simulation System and learned that fleeing Gao Teng would lead to his death, while yielding could let him survive and grow stronger. He claimed a simulated breakthrough to the qi refining second layer, then began a new simulation in which he became Gao Teng’s lackey and reached the qi refining fourth layer.

• Xu Changxing discovered the Life Simulation System and spent a low-grade spirit stone to simulate his future.
• In the first simulation, Xu Changxing tried to flee Gao Teng, was captured by his underlings, and was sold to the Yin Corpse Sect, where he was refined into a puppet and died.
• Xu Changxing chose the simulated qi refining second-layer cultivation as his reward and broke through in reality.
• In a second simulation, Xu Changxing handed Gao Teng sixteen spirit stones and became his lackey, then advanced to the qi refining third layer.
• Gao Teng made Xu Changxing an enforcer, and Xu Changxing began extorting vendors before reaching the qi refining fourth layer.

After dying again in a simulation, Xu Changxing chose a reward that raised his cultivation to the fourth level of Qi Refining and began a third simulation. In it, he became manager of Kettle Bell Town’s market and cultivated to the seventh level before a sinister young man killed him.

• Xu Changxing chose fourth-level Qi Refining cultivation as his reward and demonstrated the increased power of Condense Qi into Gang.
• Xu Changxing spent eight spirit stones to start a third simulation and avoided Gao Teng while leaving the market.
• Xu Changxing joined the Yin Corpse Sect, joined Sha Tai’s gang, and suggested taking over Kettle Bell Town’s market by killing Gao Teng.
• Sha Tai killed Gao Teng and became the market manager, but the inspector turned him into a yin corpse after catching him cursing.
• Xu Changxing became manager, endured the inspector’s extortion, and advanced to the seventh level of Qi Refining.
• A sinister young man appeared in place of the inspector and killed Xu Changxing.

Xu Changxing reached the seventh Qi Refining level, killed Gao Teng and his men when they attacked him, and took their possessions. After leaving the market, he began a new simulation to seek safety in righteous territory near the Setting Sun Sect.

• Xu Changxing chose the seventh Qi Refining level as his reward and spent two days adjusting to his improved cultivation while practicing talisman drawing.
• Gao Teng entered Xu Changxing’s hut with attendants and three Corpse Yin, but Xu Changxing destroyed the Corpse Yin and killed Gao Teng and his men.
• Xu Changxing searched the bodies and found spirit stones, Spirit-Gathering Pills, and other items before leaving the market as vendors watched.
• Xu Changxing spent 64 spirit stones to start a simulation and headed toward the Setting Sun Sect.
• On the second day of the simulation, Xu Changxing rested in a ruined temple, where a hunter carrying a dead deer saw him and left.

After learning from the simulation that a temptress had caused his death, Xu Changxing chose to view the life’s footage instead of taking a cultivation reward. He followed the simulated route south and, after finding a hunter in the ruined temple and smelling a powerful stench of blood, decided to investigate.

• Xu Changxing’s simulation ended with him dying after spending days making love with Liu Jiaochan, and the system offered him a first-person replay or cultivation at the eighth level of Qi Refining.
• Xu Changxing chose the replay because his remaining spirit stones could fund two more simulations at his current cultivation level, then resolved to guard against Liu Jiaochan’s bewitchment.
• Xu Changxing followed the route from the simulation south to avoid pursuit after killing Gao Teng.
• Xu Changxing found that a hunter had occupied the ruined temple because watching the replay had delayed his arrival.
• Xu Changxing smelled a rotten stench of blood from the temple, recalled a similar smell in the simulation, and approached in secret to investigate.

Xu Changxing discovered that a hunter was using blood to weaken a demon’s seal beneath a ruined temple, but chose to simulate his options before acting. The simulation showed him fleeing, joining the Setting Sun Sect, and later suffering a ruined cultivation foundation before dying in a trap while searching for a cure.

• Xu Changxing saw the hunter draw strange symbols with the deer’s blood and suspected a demon was sealed beneath the ruined temple.
• Xu Changxing retreated to a safe place, spent sixty-four low-grade spirit stones, and started a simulation.
• The simulation had Xu Changxing flee south, settle in Red Sparrow Town, befriend Xia Shanyang, and join the Setting Sun Sect as an outer disciple.
• Xu Changxing reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, returned to the ruined temple, and escaped its bloody power with his cultivation foundation damaged.
• After leaving the sect, Xu Changxing searched for a way to heal his foundation and entered a dangerous secret realm seeking a Spirit Transformation senior’s legacy.
• Xu Changxing found the Spring Renewal Art, but demonized vines revealed it was bait and crushed him to death.

After dying in the simulation, Xu Changxing chose the Spring Renewal Art as his reward, only to discover that it required a wood spiritual root he did not possess. He began another simulation to seek a path forward, which ended with him killing Liu Jiaochan at the Setting Sun Sect.

• Xu Changxing rejected the footage and ninth-layer cultivation rewards and chose the Spring Renewal Art.
• Xu Changxing learned that he lacked a wood spiritual root, but the art could help him develop one using wood-attribute treasures.
• Xu Changxing spent his remaining spirit stones to restore the system's points and started another simulation.
• Xu Changxing settled in Red Sparrow Town, reached the eighth Qi Refining level, and set up a marketplace stall to attract Xia Shanyang.
• Xia Shanyang approached Xu Changxing, gave him a letter of recommendation, and Xu Changxing traveled to the Setting Sun Sect.
• Xu Changxing spotted Liu Jiaochan beside a stream and killed her before she could react, leaving the young man with her furious and bewildered.

Xu Changxing’s simulation lasted ten years, ending when demonic forces attacked the Setting Sun Sect after he achieved Foundation Establishment and gained a third-grade Wood Spiritual Root. He chose the Wood Spiritual Root as his reward and sensed the spiritual energy around him for the first time.

• Xu Changxing’s simulated life began after he killed Liu Jiaochan, and an old man reacted mysteriously before Xu entered the Setting Sun Sect as an outer disciple.
• Xu offered the Spring Renewal Art to the supplies elder and used rootless wood to cultivate a Wood Spiritual Root, gradually improving it while advancing to the ninth level of Qi Refining.
• Xu raised his Wood Spiritual Root to fifth grade, bought a Foundation Establishment Pill, and successfully achieved Foundation Establishment.
• Xu investigated ruins that resonated with him, where an unknown seed struck his head; afterward, his Wood Spiritual Root improved to third grade.
• Demonic forces broke the Setting Sun Sect’s grand formation, and a fiend killed Xu before he could resist.
• Xu chose the third-grade Wood Spiritual Root reward and sensed the spiritual energy drifting between heaven and earth.

After mastering the Spring Renewal Art and discovering the benefits of his third-grade Wood Spiritual Root, Xu Changxing chose the safer route to Danque Town instead of confronting a demon. He tried to sell his Spirit-Gathering Pills at a local pavilion and was surprised by the assistant’s lax inspection practices.

• Xu Changxing cultivated through the night, mastered the basics of the Spring Renewal Art, and found that his spiritual root improved both his cultivation efficiency and spell power.
• Xu Changxing decided against attacking the demon in the ruined temple and traveled to Danque Town instead.
• Xu Changxing bought a courtyard near the cultivators' market, then chose to sell his Spirit-Gathering Pills rather than use them.
• Xu Changxing visited a Spirit Pill Pavilion, where an assistant offered fifty low-grade spirit stones for his twelve middling-quality pills without requiring the shopkeeper to inspect them.
• Xu Changxing recalled how the shopkeeper at Huling Town's Spirit Pill Workshop personally inspected every pill and severely punished assistants who accepted goods without permission.

Xu Changxing sold pills and herbs at the Spirit Pill Workshop, where a senior alchemist recognized the pills as originating from Yin Corpse Sect territory and told the assistant to inform Xia Shanyang. Xu Changxing began another simulation, which followed his quiet life as a rogue cultivator through his marriage to Yun Yanwan and the birth of their two sons.

• Xu Changxing sold a bottle of Spirit-Gathering Pills and selected herbs to the Spirit Pill Workshop for a total of seventy low-grade spirit stones.
• The middle-aged alchemist identified the pills as having been refined with Yin fire and told the assistant to report Xu Changxing to Xia Shanyang.
• Xu Changxing deposited sixty-four low-grade spirit stones into the system and started a new simulation.
• In the simulation, Xu Changxing failed to gain Xia Shanyang's recommendation and settled into life as a rogue cultivator, reaching the eighth level of Qi Refinement by the third year.
• Xu Changxing rescued Yun Yanwan, who became his maidservant; they later married, and he taught her cultivation while she taught him to use weapons.
• Xu Changxing declined Xia Shanyang's later offer of a recommendation, reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement, and had two sons with Yun Yanwan.

After reaching the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement in the simulation reward, Xu Changxing tried to secure Xia Shanyang’s recommendation to join the Setting Sun Sect. He admitted that he had grown up in Kettle Bell Town, within the Yin Corpse Sect’s territory, and left Xia Shanyang to judge whether his background would disqualify him.

• Xu Changxing chose the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement as his simulation reward and suspected that selling the Spirit-Gathering Pills had cost him Xia Shanyang’s recommendation.
• Xu Changxing prepared for Xia Shanyang’s visit, familiarized himself with his stronger cultivation, and drew talismans.
• Xia Shanyang visited Xu Changxing’s courtyard, and Xu welcomed him with tea and polite conversation.
• Xu Changxing said he wanted to join the Setting Sun Sect but could not prove his clean background.
• Xu Changxing revealed that he had grown up in Kettle Bell Town, within the Yin Corpse Sect’s territory.

Xu Changxing revealed his third-grade Wood Spiritual Root and Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement cultivation to Xia Shanyang to secure a chance to join the Setting Sun Sect. An elder took an interest in him and arrived in Red Sparrow Town to meet him.

• Xu Changxing told Xia Shanyang that he had secretly cultivated in Kettle Bell Town, killed Gao Teng and his men in self-defense, and fled before the Yin Corpse Sect could learn of it.
• Xia Shanyang promised to report Xu Changxing's request to join the Setting Sun Sect, then used a Message Jade Pendant to inform an elder of his talent and background.
• The elder ordered Xia Shanyang to remain nearby while the sect verified Xu Changxing's account and considered admitting him.
• Xu Changxing waited anxiously, believing his history in Kettle Bell Town could be confirmed by local stallholders.
• On the seventh day, Xia Shanyang brought Elder Liu of the Setting Sun Sect's Internal Affairs Hall to Xu Changxing's courtyard, and Xu Changxing bowed to greet him.

Xu Changxing became Liu Chenyu’s third disciple and joined him at the Setting Sun Sect, where Liu taught him to strengthen his cultivation before Foundation Establishment. The chapter left Xu Changxing beginning the Cloudglow Reflecting Immortal Art, with his senior brothers’ achievements as a measure of the challenge ahead.

• Liu Chenyu accepted Xu Changxing as his third disciple, gave him the Purple Cloud Sand, and named his senior brothers Li Changge and Zhou Lechi.
• Liu Chenyu rewarded Xia Shanyang with Spirit-Gathering Pills and promised him contribution points toward returning to the mountain.
• Liu Chenyu took Xu Changxing to the Setting Sun Sect and assigned him a quiet hill for cultivation near Flying Stream Peak.
• Liu Chenyu confirmed Xu Changxing had a third-grade wood spiritual root and told him to delay Foundation Establishment until he had strengthened his foundation.
• Xu Changxing received the Cloudglow Reflecting Immortal Art and learned that Li Changge had condensed seven cloud patterns while Zhou Lechi had condensed five.

Xu Changxing received resources from Liu Chenyu, learned the basics of the Cloudglow Reflecting Immortal Art, and used his spirit stones to run a cultivation simulation. The simulation followed his rise through the sect tournament and into Foundation Establishment, ending with him reaching the middle stage in just over a year.

• Liu Chenyu gave Xu Changxing a Storage Bag of spirit stones and pills, then guided him through the Cloudglow Reflecting Immortal Art.
• Xu Changxing reached his peak, mastered the art’s basics in two days, and spent spirit stones to start a simulation.
• In the simulation, Xu Changxing met his senior brothers Li Changge and Zhou Lechi, then condensed cloud patterns and advanced his cultivation.
• Xu Changxing placed second in the sect tournament, losing to Kong Yun'an, and Liu Chenyu rewarded him with thunderstruck wood.
• Xu Changxing failed to condense an eighth cloud pattern even after cultivating in the Cloudglow Secret Realm, then completed Foundation Establishment without a pill.
• Xu Changxing advanced to the Foundation Establishment middle stage in just over a year.

Xu Changxing chose to inherit seven cloud patterns after a simulation ended with the Setting Sun Sect destroyed and Liu Chenyu’s decision to let him escape. He considered how to gain an eighth pattern, then began a new simulation hoping to improve his spiritual root, but its opening showed his self-hypnosis had not changed his plans.

• Xu Changxing resolved not to reveal simulation results involving the Yin Corpse Sect after Liu Chenyu’s suspicions had led to his confinement and eventual escape before the sect fell.
• Xu Changxing selected the reward of seven cloud patterns, which greatly strengthened his dantian and let him condense three strands of gang qi at once.
• Xu Changxing considered finding a higher-grade natural treasure or improving his wood spiritual root to condense more cloud patterns.
• Xu Changxing hypnotized himself to seek a spiritual-root-enhancing treasure and started another simulation.
• The simulation began with Xu Changxing waking from the hypnosis and deciding to try condensing cloud patterns instead.

Xu Changxing used the Spring Renewal Art to help Liu Chenyu obtain an emerald-green crystal, raising his wood spiritual root to first grade and allowing him to condense nine Cloud Patterns and establish his foundation. He gained control of a cave abode but was killed by a Yin Corpse Sect attack, leaving him determined to oppose the sect in a future simulation.

• Xu Changxing learned that Liu Chenyu could not find treasures to improve his spiritual root, so he gave Liu the Spring Renewal Art, which led Shi Haoyan to take them into the Demonwood Secret Realm and reward him with an emerald-green crystal.
• Xu Changxing absorbed the crystal, raised his wood spiritual root to first grade, and later condensed nine Cloud Patterns with Liu Chenyu's help, completing Foundation Establishment.
• Xu Changxing advanced to Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and Shi Haoyan brought him to the Demonwood Secret Realm, where he helped him gain control of a cave abode.
• Xu Changxing drove an intruder from the cave abode, but the intruder returned with a terrifying yin corpse and the sealed abode left Xu unable to escape.
• Xu Changxing died in the attack and resolved to wipe out the Yin Corpse Sect once he had cultivated enough.

Xu Changxing chose a first-grade wood spiritual root, then used simulations to advance his cultivation and expose the Yin Corpse Sect’s plot. He gained nine cloud patterns and established his foundation, but with simulations now costing a thousand points, he turned to consolidating his cultivation as Liu Chenyu’s attendant arrived.

• Xu Changxing chose the first-grade wood spiritual root and found he could sense and passively absorb wood-attribute spiritual energy.
• He simulated two years of cultivation, then continued reading as his simulated self exposed the Yin Corpse Sect’s plan to revive the Old Devil and was killed by nascent soul patriarchs.
• Xu Changxing rejected the cultivation reward and chose nine cloud patterns, completing foundation establishment and forming wood-attribute true essence.
• He discovered that a new simulation cost one thousand points, abandoned the attempt, and began consolidating his cultivation.
• After several days, someone knocked at Xu Changxing’s courtyard gate, and he recognized the likely visitor as Liu Chenyu’s attendant.

Xu Changxing concealed his nine cloud patterns after reaching foundation establishment, and Liu Chenyu gave him a Flying Shuttle for protection. Li Changge recognized Xu Changxing’s unusually stable foundation and proposed taking him to the Secret Realm to train as a sword cultivator, leaving Liu Chenyu to consider letting his disciple choose.

• Xu Changxing told Liu Chenyu that he had reached foundation establishment, and Liu Chenyu assumed he had failed to condense cloud patterns.
• Liu Chenyu gave Xu Changxing a Flying Shuttle, and Xu Changxing chose not to reveal that he had condensed nine cloud patterns.
• Li Changge examined Xu Changxing and praised his flawless aura and exceptionally stable foundation.
• Liu Chenyu told Xu Changxing to consolidate his cultivation and enter the Sect Grand Competition in a few months.
• Li Changge proposed taking Xu Changxing to the Secret Realm to complete his five-element sword formation, and Liu Chenyu objected that Xu Changxing was still a new foundation-establishment cultivator.

Xu Changxing accepted Li Changge’s gift of spirit stones, pills, a Sword Pellet, and the Yi Wood Sword Art, then began a simulation to test his progress with the sword art. In the simulation, Li Changge invited him to a secret realm, and Xu Changxing accepted, leaving him wondering why this path had changed.

• Liu Chenyu kept Xu Changxing from following Li Changge and explained Foundation Establishment cultivation to him before sending him away.
• Xu Changxing opened Li Changge’s storage pouch and found spirit stones, cultivation pills, a Sword Pellet, and a jade slip containing the Yi Wood Sword Art.
• Xu Changxing spent spirit stones to add points to the system and began a simulation.
• In the simulation, Xu Changxing refined the Sword Pellet, practiced the Yi Wood Sword Art, advanced to the Foundation Establishment middle stage, and impressed Liu Chenyu at the sect tournament.
• Li Changge invited Xu Changxing to fight in his secret realm, and Xu Changxing accepted.

Xu Changxing’s simulation followed his rise from a Foundation Establishment sword cultivator to a feared fighter who could kill Nascent Soul old devils. After avenging his fallen friends and recovering from severe injuries, he returned to the Secret Realm and killed a wounded enemy despite two others arriving to help.

• Xu Changxing joined Li Changge and four Core Formation sword cultivators in the Five Elements Sword Formation, then improved his swordsmanship through practice and battle.
• When demon beasts ambushed the group with a Nascent Soul-level foe, Xu Changxing forcibly formed a second-rank Golden Core, helping the formation trap the enemy so Li Changge could kill him.
• A Nascent Soul old devil ambushed Xu Changxing and his companions, killing two and forcing the survivors to shatter their Golden Cores; Xu Changxing survived and vowed revenge for his friends.
• Li Changge returned and led Xu Changxing through battles that killed five Nascent Soul old devils, after which Xu Changxing formed a sword core and chose to keep fighting in other Secret Realms.
• Xu Changxing later reached the Core Formation Late Stage, killed the old devil who had ambushed him, and eventually returned to a Secret Realm after recovering from injuries.
• Xu Changxing grievously wounded a lone Nascent Soul old devil and killed him after pursuing him, while two other old devils who came to help stayed behind without pursuing.

Xu Changxing reviewed a simulation in which he became a nascent soul sword cultivator, gravely wounded the Old Devil, and died. He chose the Divine Sword Phantom as his reward, gaining a one-use attack, and resolved to refuse Li Changge’s invitation to the Secret Realm.

• Xu Changxing concluded that Li Changge’s Secret Realm had pushed his simulated self toward a heroic death and decided he would refuse the invitation.
• The system offered Xu Changxing four rewards, including core formation late stage cultivation, the Five Elements Sword Art, and a Divine Sword Phantom.
• Xu Changxing rejected the cultivation and sword art rewards, choosing the unexplained Divine Sword Phantom instead.
• The reward manifested in Xu Changxing’s sea of consciousness and could reproduce his simulated sword strike at half power once before vanishing.
• Xu Changxing welcomed the phantom as a life-saving trump card but reaffirmed that he would avoid Li Changge’s Secret Realm.