42 – Peril at Dawn

For members who joined the group early, they have already become accustomed to death.

After all, too many comrades died shortly after joining the group. Perhaps it was deeply moving at first, but eventually, everyone became numb.

Even though the group chats were usually filled with laughter, deep down, everyone harbored fears and confusion about the future.

Perhaps, to Liu Mei and others, their untimely deaths were simply inevitable.

Wang Ping looked at the group’s chat content and slightly shook his head.

He was no different.

If not for the Life Simulator, he too would have died very soon.

He had lived through so many simulated lives, each ending with unexpected death, never once meeting a peaceful end.

This didn’t even account for the added risk from the chat group.

Even Wang Ping knew that having the Life Simulator didn’t completely eliminate the possibility of unexpected death.

The Transmigrators’ Chat Group was ruthless, unconcerned with members’ deaths.

The Life Simulator was merely a golden finger derived from the Transmigrators’ Chat Group.

If he were to die from a task assigned by the chat group, it would be perfectly normal.

However, after experiencing two simulations of Wang Ping’s life, especially the one today, he had developed a reverence for life and death, without fear, and clarity about the future.

With the advantage provided by the Life Simulator, his state of mind had elevated, surpassing his fellow group members.

When the group fell silent due to Liu Mei’s message, Wang Ping spoke up.

Wang Ping (66) @Cai Yonglong (1): ‘Brother Cai, I want to ask you something…’

Cai Yonglong (1): ‘What is it?’

Wang Ping (66): ‘I want to ask, what is the lifespan of a cultivator at the Great Transcendence?’

Cai Yonglong (1): ‘The lifespan at Great Transcendence… For those at the Spirit Sea Realm, it’s 400 years. Both Spirit Embryo Realm and Spirit Nurturing Realm have a lifespan of 500 years. However, at the Spirit Nurturing Realm, the soul becomes exceedingly strong. Even if the body is destroyed, with some luck, one can rely on certain soul-nurturing artifacts to survive. I’ve read ancient texts from my sect about some old monsters who survived with remnants of their souls, possessing others to live a new life.’

Fang Yun (3): ‘Oh wow, living for four or five hundred years… envy all around… Lemon Tree, You and Me.jpg’

Zhang Hu (5): ‘As expected of a fantasy world, even soul possession crops up.’

Wu Jun (20): ‘Just to chime in silently, fantasy worlds have soul possession too, right?’

Zhang Hu (5): ‘That’s a mage’s business, what does it have to do with us knights!’

Liu Mei (15): ‘Be it a fantasy world or a cultivation world, both are awe-inspiring and intimidating. The power and methods in both worlds are formidable and unpredictable. I can accept death, but being possessed… that’s just too tragic.’

Cai Yonglong (1): ‘It’s not that easy though… Even though possession is possible, every soul imprint is not easily erased. Forcibly taking over someone else’s body would likely result in two merged souls that end up insane. In that case, the new soul would just be a chaotic mix. Thus, unless absolutely necessary, Spirit Nurturing Realm cultivators would not possess others.’
Zhang Jun (70): “This kind of situation is very favorable to those geniuses. Otherwise, if Spirit Nurturing Realm old monsters could seize anyone’s body at will, there would be no environment for those geniuses to grow.”

Cai Yonglong (1): “Not necessarily. Infants in the womb, whether their bodies or souls, are pure and immaculate. If Spirit Nurturing Realm old monsters possess such infants, it won’t affect their own souls and personalities.”

Fang Yun (3): “Damn, doesn’t that mean the Spirit Nurturing Realm experts in your world could live forever by crazily seizing infants’ bodies?”

Zhang Hu (5): “Goodness, this method of possession reminds me of a certain perverted count in an anime who frantically possesses his descendants to survive. Speaking of which, I highly suspect our world might have such magic as well. After all, death is always terrifying, and I wouldn’t be surprised by what those insane magicians would do to stay alive.”

Cai Yonglong (1): “People will do anything to survive. Watching their bodies gradually age, reek of decay, and finally wither away, those old monsters who have long held power over hundreds of millions are very desperate. Although it’s not absolute, most of them are like this. Unfortunately, the way of heaven is merciful. In this world, powerful cultivators can possess others and live a second life, but no matter what being you possess, you can only do it once.”

Wang Ping (66): “I see, that’s quite good. If not, I would always feel like there are hidden old monsters everywhere.”

“Five hundred years…”

Wang Ping’s eyes flickered as he murmured.

He initially thought that the Great Transcendence could live for a thousand years. It seems he was overthinking.

However, the enemies of the Chi family were at least from a thousand years ago. How can they still be alive now, causing the disappearance of all the people from Chi Village?

Or could it be, it’s not the Chi family’s enemies as I imagined, but there’s another hidden truth?

Or perhaps the Chi family’s enemies survived for over a thousand years through possession, and now their cultivation is even beyond the Great Transcendence…

Cai Yonglong (1): “Yeah, I was also startled when I first read the ancient books thinking there were monsters everywhere. Fortunately, I saw the latter part and felt relieved.”

Chen Yao (71): “…”

Fang Yun (3): “Hey, Chen Yao, you’re online. What’s going on? Did something happen to you, or were you ‘sliced up’? Bad smile.jpg.”

Chen Yao (71): “Blocked.”

Fang Yun (3): “Damn, don’t! I was just joking!”

Zhang Hu (5): “Hahaha, serves you right. Who told you to have such a foul mouth! Speaking of which, you think you can wander the world and win over beauties with that mouth of yours. You must be dreaming. You’re doomed to be alone, you scoundrel!”

Fang Yun (3): “Damn it, how am I so despicable.”

Cai Yonglong (1): “Some people’s faces just scream ‘punch me’. Just ignore him. By the way, Chen Yao, want to share what’s been happening to you?”

Chen Yao (71): “Nothing much, it’s just that the demons are becoming even more rampant. A small county with a population of 100,000 was massacred and devoured by a great demon. And this, is probably just the beginning.”

Wang Ping (66): “100,000… Is the situation in your world really that dire?”

Wang Ping’s gaze sharpened in surprise.

Although he had learned from Chen Yao’s scattered words that the situation in her world was dire, seeing this, it was worse than he imagined.

In such a world, Chen Yao’s life was in grave danger. Even the cultivators in that world might not be able to protect her from the demons.