84 – Seizing Opportunities

“System, I want to proceed with the free simulation…”

Wang Ping said within his mind.

“Life Simulator activated. The host has eight remaining free simulations…”

The System’s voice echoed, and a screen appeared with words floating on it.

【On the first day, you decided to descend the mountain and arrived at Bai Mu Village, Ye Family. You found Ye Chen and through a transaction obtained the ring in Ye Chen’s possession. The Ye Family was overjoyed, thinking they got a huge bargain by trading the ring for these manuals and numerous spirit stones, believing their family would thrive and become a prominent family in Great Xia.】

【After getting the ring, you probed it with your soul power. Then, you discovered the illusory soul form of an elder within it. He sighed, not expecting such a powerful cultivator as you to appear on the Profound Turtle Continent today and also didn’t expect to fall into your hands, attempting to cooperate with you.】

【He wished for you to help him find some precious herbs that could aid in restoring his soul power in exchange for generous rewards.】

【After some contemplation, you asked the elder what his peak cultivation level was and how he ended up in this state. The elder told you his backstory.】

【It turned out he was also a native cultivator of the Profound Turtle Continent. Two thousand years ago, he was a peerless genius who reached the Spirit Sea Realm and started seeking ways to venture out to sea. His friend died at sea, but he narrowly escaped back to the Profound Turtle Continent thanks to a spiritual artifact.】

【After recovering from his injuries, he began searching for other methods to leave the continent, not wanting to be trapped there. Eventually, he stumbled upon a great stone stele formation in the Purple Sun Mountain Range, which transported him away from the Profound Turtle Continent to the ‘Falling Stars Archipelago’.】

【Listening to the elder’s words, you felt puzzled. Clearly, it was the Seven Star Archipelago, so why was it called the Falling Stars Archipelago? Finally, you guessed that two thousand years ago, it might not have been called the Seven Star Archipelago, and only after the emergence of the Seven Star Palace did it change its name.】

【The elder continued his tale, explaining that he roamed the Falling Stars Archipelago for some years, reaching the Spirit Nurturing Realm before heading to the Eastern Wilderness.】

【Eventually, he made a name for himself in the Eastern Wilderness, becoming a powerful Profound Elixir Realm cultivator. However, in his second life, he was targeted by a strong figure from a grand faction who called him a ‘descendant of sinful blood’ and struck him down.】

【Had it not been for his considerable fortune, he would have perished. After narrowly escaping, he realized the Eastern Wilderness was too dangerous and chose to return to the Profound Turtle Continent to hide. He survived so long thanks to the ring, which nurtured his soul; otherwise, his soul would have dissipated long ago.】

【After hearing the elder’s account, your heart sank. You knew ancient sea monsters called people from the Profound Turtle Continent descendants of sinful blood, and you’d analyzed that sects amongst humans also held such views. Knowing the memory of the Seven Star Archipelago eased your mind slightly, but it proved impossible to escape this truth.】

【The cultivators of the Eastern Wilderness were stronger and knew more ancient secrets, including the matter of ‘descendants of sinful blood’, thus they harbored great enmity akin to the deep-sea ancient beasts and would strike without hesitation.】

【You asked the elder why external cultivators bore such hatred for people from the Profound Turtle Continent and why they called them ‘descendants of sinful blood’.】

【The elder shook his head, indicating that he did not know. He had been pondering this question for years without understanding it, suspecting it was a buried historical account known only to major sects and significant figures.】

【Feeling uneasy, you realized that venturing to the Eastern Wilderness in the future would require careful thought; otherwise, it would be perilous, with even the slightest mistake leading to your downfall.】

【Lastly, you curiously asked the Ring Grandpa why he was so honest in telling him everything, not afraid you would kill him after knowing this information?】

【Ring Grandpa shook his head, explaining he had no choice; they never had the capacity for an equal conversation to begin with. It was better to tell the truth and leave his fate to the heavens than to suffer torture after withholding cooperation. Moreover, these thoughts had been harbored in his mind for many years, and he wished to let them out since no one had been worthy of hearing him before.】

【You admired the elder’s candidness and assuredly that you wouldn’t harm him. You also expressed your desire to become his disciple, wishing for him to guide you in cultivation. Considering him a walking encyclopedia, you didn’t want to miss this opportunity.】

【The elder was very surprised by your request to become his disciple but ultimately agreed. Previously, he had planned to wait until his soul stabilized and then accept Ye Chen as a disciple. However, now you seemed like a more suitable candidate.】

【After becoming his disciple, you learned his true name, Jiang Huai. This name made you feel emotional, as it belonged to a historic figure on the Profound Turtle Continent, known as the Wind-Slicing Swordsman, with unparalleled swordsmanship in his time.】

【In the following days, Jiang Huai guided your cultivation. He was astonished by your age and the extent of your comprehension of Sword Intent, considering you a rare genius whose future achievements might surpass his. However, you felt a little embarrassed. Your situation was unique; while others might see you as a prodigy, your talent wasn’t as genuine, and you might not reach that height in the future.】

【Time flew by, and three years passed. You successfully learned the secret techniques and martial arts of Ring Grandpa. His cultivation technique, however, was only an earthly-level technique, no stronger than the Red Flame Technique. Therefore, you chose not to practice it. This puzzled you at first; why had such a powerful Profound Elixir Realm cultivator like Jiang Huai only practiced an earthly-level supreme technique?】

【Jiang Huai found it somewhat amusing. Loose cultivators do not easily obtain heavenly-level techniques. Such techniques are possessed only by grand factions. However, heavenly-level martial arts, though also difficult to acquire, had also come into his possession as a Profound Elixir Realm cultivator.】

“Even a Profound Elixir Realm cultivator couldn’t obtain a heavenly-level technique? That’s truly surprising…”

Wang Ping was stunned by the simulation’s content.

Then, he recalled the heavenly-level technique that appeared in the Seventh Star Secret Realm…
That Heavenly-Level Technique was destroyed… What a pity.

If it hadn’t been destroyed, the entire Seven Star Archipelago would likely descend into chaos, perhaps even attracting major forces from other places to vie for it.

“It seems that switching to a more powerful technique in the short term is not realistic. So, I’ll have to honestly continue practicing the Red Flame Technique and see if I can cultivate the Crimson Flame Spirit Fire. If I succeed, I can still use it when switching to another technique in the future…”

Wang Ping shook his head and continued to watch the screen, where more text appeared.

【Three years have passed; although your cultivation hasn’t changed much, your Sword Intent has reached 70%. Coupled with the newly learned Heavenly-Level Martial Art – Sunset Sword Technique and some secret arts, your strength has greatly increased.】

【You finally chose to leave the Profound Turtle Continent and head to the Seven Star Archipelago. When activating the stone tablet array, Jiang Huai felt desolate. His physical body was destroyed, his storage ring was lost, and all the good things he had were gone. Otherwise, it would have been no problem to cultivate you to the Spirit Nurturing Realm in a short time.】

【Listening to Jiang Huai’s words, you also feel regret but don’t pay much attention to it. After all, the resources on the Seven Star Archipelago are abundant. With Jiang Huai’s help, you believe you can rise quickly.】

【With the activation of the stone tablet array, you arrive in a cave on a desolate island outside the Seven Star Archipelago. You leave and head to the Seven Star Archipelago.】

【Upon reaching the Seven Star Archipelago, you contemplate whether to join the Seven Star Palace. Jiang Huai advises against it because his soul is currently very weak and cannot hide well. If you encounter highly powerful Spirit Nurturing Realm experts or semi-Profound Elixir Realm experts, there is a possibility of being discovered.】

【Hearing Jiang Huai’s advice, you find it reasonable and choose not to join the Seven Star Palace.】

【You start living on the Seven Star Archipelago, safely obtaining various resources for cultivation under Jiang Huai’s guidance. Moreover, Jiang Huai is very familiar with some hidden opportunities on the Seven Star Archipelago, benefiting you greatly.】

【In the blink of an eye, over twenty years have passed. In just twenty years, your cultivation has advanced directly from early Spirit Sea Realm to the Great Perfection of the Spirit Sea Realm, much faster than if you had cultivated on your own.】

【You are very satisfied with this, believing that having a Ring Grandpa is great—a walking encyclopedia that upgrades your strength incredibly fast.】

【Finally, the Seventh Star Secret Realm opens, and you choose to enter it. After entering the Seventh Star Secret Realm, you start competing for opportunities.】

【You and a Spirit Sea Realm Great Perfection expert discover a mid-grade Spirit Sword simultaneously. You strike decisively and seize the treasure forcefully.】

【You continue seeking opportunities and obtain some precious medicinal herbs. Three days later, hearing a huge commotion in the distance, you decide to investigate.】

【You find a Grade Six fire-type spiritual item, Explosive Flame Grass, in a place resembling a flame valley. You are overjoyed, believing you can finally break through to the Spirit Embryo Realm.】

【However, you notice that there are quite a few powerful experts present, including three Spirit Embryo Realm experts. Knowing you cannot defeat them, you choose to ask Jiang Huai for help.】

【With Jiang Huai’s assistance, your strength surges. You successfully kill all the present experts and seize the Explosive Flame Grass, preparing to break through to the Spirit Embryo Realm.】

【You find a secluded place to begin your breakthrough in seclusion.】

【As you fully concentrate on your breakthrough, Jiang Huai finally reveals his true intentions and attempts to seize your body. If he waits any longer, once you enter the Spirit Nurturing Realm, he will no longer have the chance to seize you.】

【You are furious and question why he dares to seize your body, aren’t you afraid of losing your personality? Jiang Huai sneers, saying that even with treasures to nurture the soul, it cannot exist in the world forever and will eventually dissipate. He doesn’t want to die, even if forcibly seizing your body means becoming a new personality and going mad… As long as his personality remains dominant, that’s all that matters.】

【You curse Jiang Huai as a madman and start to resist. However, your soul’s strength is ultimately weaker than Jiang Huai, the old fox, and you are seized by him.】

【Your soul merges with Jiang Huai’s, forming a new entity. As a result, you die.】

【Due to your death, this simulation ends.】

“Is it true that the Rebirth Talisman cannot resurrect after being seized? Or is it only in the unique case of soul fusion that resurrection is impossible? If the soul is extinguished, or both the body and soul are destroyed, can it resurrect?”

Wang Ping, looking at the simulation’s content, recalls the issue of the Rebirth Talisman and furrows his brow.

“Forget it, analyzing it now is useless. I’ll have to experiment slowly in future simulations.”

“Besides, that old guy… did he hide so deeply?”

Wang Ping’s expression became slightly gloomy.

In reality, encountering Jiang Huai and conversing with him… even in the Life Simulator, before he was exposed, there was no sign of anything abnormal.
This guy is just too good at hiding himself.

Clearly, from the moment the other party saw him, he began to plot. The reason for directly revealing everything was to earn his trust and leave a great first impression.

Perhaps he would be cautious in the future, but with this groundwork laid, he would eventually lower his guard and completely trust the other party.

“The older the ginger, the spicier it gets…” Wang Ping chuckled bitterly, “This old monster who has lived for two thousand years is too deep-minded. He cannot be trusted. Whether it’s Nangong Yun, the ancestor of the Seven Star Palace, or this old dog Jiang Huai, they’re all teaching me lessons.”

“Besides, I’ve read too many web novels, which has influenced me to instinctively think that ‘Ring Grandpas’ are all good.”

Wang Ping mumbled again.

“Maybe it’s also because I’m not the Child of Destiny. If I were the Child of Destiny, the other party might have the thought of fully cultivating me and wouldn’t choose such extreme means of possession.”

Thinking of this, the corner of Wang Ping’s mouth twitched slightly.

A Child of Destiny can always turn the impossible into the possible, changing many people and things.

“Hmm, this Jiang Huai, in the upcoming simulations, I’ll fully extract his value and then kill him.”

Wang Ping stood up, walked to the balcony, looked at the sunset glow with his hands behind his back, and made a decision.

Such a dangerous guy is fine if there is no conflict of interest.

If there is a conflict of interest and you still let him go, it’s like keeping a poisonous snake, waiting for it to bite you at any time.

In the Life Simulator, after extracting all the remaining value, he could directly kill him to prevent accidents.

But in reality, Wang Ping wouldn’t keep him around.

After all, Wang Ping did not want the locals of this world to know the secrets of his body. All risks of exposure must be eliminated.

Even with Cai Yonglong, a fellow transmigrator, Wang Ping hadn’t planned to meet with him until he found a way to prevent exposure.

That would be too dangerous.

“Next, it’s time to descend the mountain.”

After calming his mind, Wang Ping soared into the air. A Spirit Sword appeared under his feet, and he sped towards the outside of the Sword Spirit Sect mountain.

The sunset glow faded, and night fell.

Bai Mu Village also grew quiet.

A village can never be as lively as the Royal City at night.

At this moment, a red light appeared in the sky, quickly arriving above Bai Mu Village and coming to a halt.

Wang Ping, standing on the flying sword, looked down at the Ye Family courtyard. His gaze flickered as he saw a child still diligently practicing fist arts in the yard. He unleashed his spiritual sense, scanning the entire Ye Family.

Then, he understood the general situation of the Ye Family.

He also realized that the child practicing fist arts was Ye Chen.

“Practicing boxing so late, you’re quite hardworking.”

Wang Ping smiled lightly, stepped on his flying sword, and swooped down, stopping a dozen meters above the Ye Family courtyard.