Chapter 1: Cultivation Simulator!
【Age 0: Your parents were beggars. You were born in a dog kennel.】
【Age 1: This year, your parents kept you alive by begging. They did not know that your heart was connected to the Spirit Sense, and that you were born with a Spirit Root — though it was the worst kind, the Five Spirit Roots.】
【Age 2: You were learning to speak. You had no technique, and you did not understand what cultivation was.】
【Age 3: An Immortal Master who happened to pass by discovered you had a Spirit Root, and bestowed upon you a jade pendant. It seemed something was hidden inside.】
【Age 4: The village idiot snatched your steamed bun, then threw you into the latrine… you choked to death on the filth.】
【Ding! Simulation ended: You died.】
【This simulation lasted: Four years.】
【Settling simulation results, please wait…】
【Settlement complete.】
【Items obtainable this time: Beggar’s rags ×1, Beggar’s cracked bowl ×1, Mysterious jade pendant ×1, Inferior Five Spirit Roots ×1】
【Simulation Points obtained this time: 1】
【Loading Panel, please wait…】
【Loading complete.】
【Name: Lu Qingyang】
【Bone Aptitude: Tier 0+】
【Comprehension: Tier 0+】
【Fortune: Tier 0+】
【Family Background: Tier 0+】
【Remaining Simulation Points: 1】
【Simulation cooling down: 29 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds】
“It… it’s over just like that?”
The Chaotian Sect, Outer Sect Main Hall.
Lu Qingyang’s expression was strange.
It had been some days since his soul had transmigrated into this world.
This world was called the Prison Dragon Realm, vast and boundless.
The sect he belonged to was named the Chaotian Sect.
It was a top-tier sect in Yun Commandery of the Great Zhou Kingdom.
Of the Nine Commanderies of Great Zhou, the Chaotian Sect occupied one entire commandery.
It had thousands of disciples under its gate — truly a place where experts were as numerous as clouds.
And though the original owner of this body had low aptitude, merely Four Spirit Roots…
Fortunately, last month Lu Qingyang had awakened a mysterious “Cultivation Simulator System.”
And had begun a once-a-month Simulation.
Who would have thought that his very first Simulation would end with an outcome like this…
“It seems the starting attributes in this Simulation are extremely important. Especially that Family Background stat.”
“Otherwise, no matter how good your Bone Aptitude and Fortune are, if your start is bad and you can’t survive, it’s useless.”
Looking at his Simulation Panel, Lu Qingyang sank into thought.
【Name: Lu Qingyang】
【Bone Aptitude: Tier 0+】
【Comprehension: Tier 0+】
【Fortune: Tier 0+】
【Family Background: Tier 0+】
【Remaining Simulation Points: 1】
This attribute panel represented his attribute bonuses within the Simulation.
Lu Qingyang could use Simulation Points to upgrade them.
Thereby obtaining a better start and better rewards in the Simulation.
Simulation Points were gained based on his performance within the Simulation.
At the same time, each time a Simulation ended, he could choose to bring one item back from the Simulation to the real world.
This item could be anything.
Even talent would do.
“The beggar set… inferior Five Spirit Roots… is this the outcome of a Tier 0 Family Background start?”
Looking at what he had gained from his first Simulation, Lu Qingyang smiled self-deprecatingly.
In order to avoid another disastrous start next time.
Lu Qingyang, without even thinking, added that single remaining Simulation Point to the Family Background column.
As Lu Qingyang’s thought settled.
The black plus sign on that attribute column vanished instantly.
At the same time, a crisp system notification sounded in his ears.
【Ding! Simulation attribute upgrade successful!】
【Family Background: Tier 1】
Only after the upgrade was complete did Lu Qingyang turn his attention to the items brought back from the Simulation.
The beggar set was out of the question.
That heaven-defying Five Spirit Roots was even less worth considering.
The only thing that seemed worth a look was that mysterious jade pendant.
At least it was a cultivator’s item.
Thinking this, Lu Qingyang recited inwardly.
“Bring back, the mysterious jade pendant.”
“Shua!”
A white light that only he could see flashed before his eyes.
A jade pendant of ancient style and azure color dropped into his palm.
【Ding! Congratulations, Host, on a successful retrieval.】
【Item Name: Mysterious Jade Pendant】
【Item Origin: Bestowed by the Immortal Master who passed by in the first Simulation】
【Item Analysis: This is not a jade pendant at all, but a Qi Refining stage technique jade slip.】
“Sure enough.”
Lu Qingyang gripped the white jade slip in his hand, his eyes lighting up.
Although the jade slip only contained a Qi Refining stage technique.
Compared to the fact that he currently only knew the Minor Rain-Cloud Art, it was already a rare and precious thing.
Thinking this, Lu Qingyang raised his head and glanced toward the front of the hall.
Within this magnificent hall, a Foundation Establishment True Person in azure robes was speaking with great eloquence.
“You have been in my Chaotian Sect for three years now, and all of you have already begun cultivating.”
“Among you, even the disciples with poorer aptitude have at least stepped into the first layer of Qi Refining.”
“But you must not slacken because of this. You must know that those who have not reached mid-stage Qi Refining within five years of joining the sect will remain menial disciples for life.”
The azure-robed Foundation Establishment True Person’s voice was not loud, yet it resounded through the entire hall.
The dignity of a Foundation Establishment True Person made everyone feel somewhat fearful.
Hearing this, the many disciples in the hall lowered their heads.
Not daring to speak.
“If you do not wish to become menials, then you must train diligently and strive to reach mid-stage Qi Refining as soon as possible.”
The azure-robed Foundation Establishment True Person continued.
“Only after advancing to mid-stage Qi Refining can you become true outer sect disciples of my Chaotian Sect.”
“At the same time, you may also go to the various departments within the sect to learn all kinds of techniques.”
“Only then will you have the chance to become a true pillar of my Chaotian Sect. I hope all of you will encourage yourselves diligently.”
Having said this, that Foundation Establishment True Person summoned a flying sword.
He commanded it to shoot straight into the clouds, transforming into a streak of flowing light that vanished in an instant.
…
“A Foundation Establishment True Person can already ride a sword in flight. Truly dashing.”
Lu Qingyang watched the departing streak of light, murmuring to himself with great envy.
But for now, these things were still far too distant from him.
His most urgent task was still to rapidly increase his strength.
To think of a way to step into mid-stage Qi Refining as soon as possible and become an outer sect disciple of the Chaotian Sect.
Only then could he be freed from the heavy corvée of a menial disciple and focus on cultivation.
Thinking of this, Lu Qingyang took a deep breath and quickly walked out of the hall.
His menial task for today was not yet complete. He could not waste time.
As a Qi Refining second layer menial of the Chaotian Sect.
Lu Qingyang’s daily task was to water a first-tier Spirit Field in the outer sect.
This Spirit Field was the very foundation of the sect’s lifeblood.
Even a first-tier Spirit Field was extremely precious.
Every day, someone had to tend to it, letting it enjoy the nourishment of spiritual rain.
Sure enough, as the sun climbed high, the late-arriving Lu Qingyang discovered that his Spirit Field had already begun to give off a faint scorching heat.
“Oh no! Narcissus Rice is most vulnerable to the midday sun. If I don’t water it before noon, by the end of the day it will likely all wither.”
Lu Qingyang was alarmed, and hurriedly ran to the side of the Spirit Field.
Waving his hand and forming hand seals, he deployed the only Qi Refining technique he knew — the Minor Rain-Cloud Art.
“Weng!”
Accompanied by a soft hum, spiritual power surged through Lu Qingyang’s body.
Instantly, a gentle breeze blew past.
The breeze wrapped around the Spirit Field like silk threads.
Then it spread along the Spirit Field into the air.
Before long, wisps of green smoke emerged from the Spirit Field, gradually growing larger.
Once those emerald vapors grew thick enough, they floated in mid-air like a cloud.
At the same time, fine beads of spiritual rain pattered down, falling into the pitch-black Spirit Field.
Radiating vigorous vitality.
Shortly after.
Those originally wilted, listless spirit rice plants rapidly recovered their vitality at a speed visible to the naked eye.
“Phew… good, good. Not too late.”
“If I had really ruined an acre of spirit plants, my contribution would have been forfeit.”
Seeing this, Lu Qingyang secretly let out a breath of relief.
“Senior Brother Lu, how on earth did you cultivate that Minor Rain-Cloud Art to the advanced level?”
“It’s just a Qi Refining technique, a Hundred Arts technique at that, yet you cultivated it to such a level. Truly worthy of being the sect’s number one menial!”
Abruptly, a familiar voice sounded beside Lu Qingyang.
Lu Qingyang looked toward the sound and saw Yang Yu, dressed in coarse gray linen, standing at his side.
“Senior Brother Lu, when can you teach me how to cultivate a Qi Refining technique to the advanced level?”
“Never mind advanced — reaching intermediate would be enough.”
Seeing Yang Yu looking at him with eager eyes, Lu Qingyang shook his head.
“It’s actually quite simple. Just practice killing techniques less, and practice the Hundred Arts more.”
Although this Junior Brother called him Senior Brother, the other’s cultivation was actually a layer above his own.
Qi Refining third layer, only one step away from the outer sect threshold. As for why the other called Lu Qingyang Senior Brother, that was a long story.
“Senior Brother is joking again. If I don’t learn the way of killing, how can I leave the sect to exterminate demons?”
“Then just don’t go out.”
Lu Qingyang said with a perfectly serious face.
In his heart, staying in the sect to cultivate was just fine.
If in the future he could rely on his own strength to sit in the position of the Chaotian Sect’s current Sect Master, that would be even better.
“……”
Yang Yu could not understand why this Senior Brother, who could almost be called the Chaotian Sect’s number one menial, was so timid.
Never mind anything else — just the fact that he could cultivate a single Minor Rain-Cloud Art to the advanced level, enough to even kill enemies with it!
Was that not shocking enough already?
Yang Yu still clearly remembered that when he was at Qi Refining second layer, he had accidentally disturbed a spirit beast of the sect.
If Lu Qingyang had not passed by and turned a Minor Rain-Cloud Art into a spike of ice, slaying that Qi Refining third layer spirit beast.
He probably would have died long ago.
At the time, he had been utterly thunderstruck that Lu Qingyang could use a Hundred Arts technique to kill enemies.
It was precisely from then on that the title of the Chaotian Sect’s number one menial was firmly cemented in Yang Yu’s heart…