176: Chapter 176 I Choose One!

"No matter who suffers, we cannot let our external self suffer!" Lin Shuangwan muttered righteously, "Me in the simulation, just wrong yourself a bit. Things like integrity are worthless in front of a Top-Grade Spiritual Vein and massive resources. At worst, once I've squeezed dry the Zhao Family's resources, I'll just kick them away with one kick."

Having made up her mind, Lin Shuangwan raised her hand without hesitation and decisively clicked on [Option One].

"Go, me in the simulation! For the great cause of Cultivation, sacrifice your looks a bit!"

As the choice was finalized, the light screen rippled like water waves, and the simulation continued.

["Sister Shuangwan, won't you consider it?" Jiang Xuechan's tone carried a hint of temptation. "The meager Spirit Stones you earn by risking your life drawing Talismans outside can't even compare to lying here and collecting a few months of stipends."]

[Holding an exquisite white jade teacup, you lowered your gaze to look at the spiritual leaves floating in the clear tea soup, calculating inwardly.]

[Join the Zhao Family?]

[You raised your eyes to look around. Every blade of grass and tree in this courtyard exuded Spiritual Qi. Between breaths, the spiritual mist, so dense it was nearly liquefied, drilled through your pores into your body. Even the circulation speed of the Burning Heaven True Art increased by thirty percent. Coupled with Medicinal Pills, her cultivation speed would experience a qualitative leap.]

["Anyway, this is just a simulation." You thought secretly in your heart, "What did I come here for? It's to acquire resources and elevate my cultivation. Since there is a shortcut to take, why not take it?"]

["At worst, once I finish utilizing his resources and my cultivation goes up, I can just find an excuse to kick him away."]

[As for the target, a figure instantly flashed across your mind: Young Patriarch Zhao Zhanyuan of the Zhao Family.]

[His status and position were high enough to access the core secrets and resources of the Zhao Family. He himself was a Top-Grade Talisman Master who could guide your Talisman Dao, and more importantly... In the last simulation, Young Patriarch Zhao Zhanyuan was a dead man.]

["A person destined to die." The smile at the corners of your lips deepened, "According to the rules of the Zhao Family, if a Dao Companion dies in battle, aside from the Family's Legacy items, the rest of the personal inheritance is fully inherited by the surviving partner."]

["Such monstrous wealth, it would be foolish not to take it."]

[With your thoughts settled, you raised your head, meeting Jiang Xuechan's expectant gaze, and a gentle smile bloomed on your extremely beautiful face.]

["Xuechan, you are right. However, such matters depend on fate and cannot be forced." You gently put down the teacup, your tone soft, "Let's see how it goes. If there is truly a suitable one, I won't be overly reserved either."]

[Hearing this, Jiang Xuechan's eyes lit up, as if she had achieved some great merit: "It's good that Sister Shuangwan can see the light! With your conditions, as long as you hint at it slightly, the threshold of the Zhao Family's inner ring will be trampled flat!"]

[Liu Ruyan beside you listened with half-understanding, but also followed along with a silly smile: "Exactly, exactly! Sister Shuangwan is the most amazing!"]

[The three of them chatted idly in the courtyard for a long time, mostly with Jiang Xuechan sharing the various privileges she had enjoyed over the past few days. You listened quietly, occasionally chiming in with a word or two, calmly collecting intelligence about the inner ring of the Zhao Family.]

[As it was time to leave, Jiang Xuechan took both of your hands and mysteriously pulled two small jade bottles out of her Storage Pouch.]

["Sister Shuangwan, Ruyan, these are the Qi Nourishing Pills given to me by my husband. Their effect is much better than ordinary Qi Gathering Pills, and I can't finish them all by myself. Each of you take a bottle."]

[Liu Ruyan was somewhat flattered and waved her hands repeatedly: "This... This is too precious, Sister Xuechan, I cannot accept it."]

[You reached out and took the jade bottles, taking the opportunity to also grab Liu Ruyan's share and shove it into her hands. Smiling at Jiang Xuechan, you said, "Since it's Xuechan's kind intention, we will accept it. Thank you very much."]

[Seeing that you did not decline, a bright smile also appeared at the corners of Jiang Xuechan's mouth.]

[Time flew by, and another two months passed in the blink of an eye.]

[During these two months, you served your duties in the Spirit Beast Garden by day and cultivated bitterly in the small courtyard by night. Supplemented by the Qi Nourishing Pills gifted by Jiang Xuechan, your cultivation steadily advanced toward the Peak of the Third Layer of Qi Gathering.]

[As for the Talisman Dao, thanks to that First-Grade Medium Grade Scarlet Flame Wolf-Hair Brush, your Talisman-making success rate had stabilized at forty-five percent, and you could occasionally draw a few Fireball Talismans of exceptional quality.]

[Today was once again the day when the Zhao Family's internal market opened.]

[You early on packed up the more than one hundred Talismans accumulated over the past three months and headed to the market. Relying on the reputation of Fairy Lin and the solid quality of your Talismans, as soon as your stall was set up, it was bought out in less than half an hour.]

[Weighing the heavy nearly seventy Low-Grade Spirit Stones in your Storage Pouch, you did not leave immediately, but instead walked straight towards the depths of the market, to that remote stall belonging to Young Patriarch Zhao Zhanyuan.]

[However, to your surprise, that familiar bluestone slab was completely empty; Young Patriarch Zhao Zhanyuan had not come.]

[You frowned slightly. He actually broke his promise?]

["Could something unexpected have happened?" You pondered inwardly, but quickly shook your head again. The Zhao Family was currently at the zenith of its power; what could possibly happen? He was probably tied up by some Family affairs.]

[It couldn't be that before the plan even started, Young Patriarch Zhao Zhanyuan himself died first. If that were the case, there would be nothing to be done.]

[Since he was not around, you did not intend to wait idly. You turned and walked towards the All-Treasure Pavilion in the center of the market, which was a Magical Artifact shop officially opened by the Zhao Family.]

[Although your current cultivation had reached the Third Layer of Qi Gathering, aside from your mastery of the Fireball Spell and Talismans, you didn't even have a decent Magical Artifact on you. If you truly encountered danger, relying solely on throwing Talismans would be a bottomless pit.]

[Walking into the All-Treasure Pavilion, the dazzling array of Magical Artifacts exuded various spiritual lights. You didn't look at those Medium Grade Magical Artifacts that easily cost a hundred Spirit Stones, but went directly to the Low Grade Magical Artifact area.]

[In the end, your gaze fell upon a three-foot-long sword that was entirely crimson, with firelight faintly flowing along the blade.]

[The shopkeeper was a chubby Zhao Family manager: "This sword is named 'Scarlet Flame Sword', and it is the very best among First-Grade Low Grade Magical Artifacts. One tael of Scarlet Fire Copper is mixed into the blade body, providing a fifteen percent power bonus for Qi Gathering early and Middle Stage Cultivators who Cultivate fire-type Cultivation Techniques. The selling price is sixty Low-Grade Spirit Stones."]

[You pulled out the long sword, flicked the blade with your finger, producing a crisp sword hum, and the spiritual power of the Burning Heaven True Art within your body resonated slightly with it.]

["Fifty Spirit Stones." You bargained expressionlessly.]

["Aiyo, Fairy, this is forged from Scarlet Fire Copper! Fifty stones aren't even enough for the cost..."]

["Fifty-two stones. If you won't sell it, I'll go check out another shop." You made a motion to leave.]

["Deal, deal! Consider it making friends with the Fairy!" The shopkeeper hurriedly stopped you, taking the Spirit Stones you handed over with a look of feigned heartache.]

[Putting the Scarlet Flame Sword into your Storage Pouch and feeling your shrunken wallet, you sighed slightly. Cultivation was indeed a money-burning bottomless pit.]

[After buying the Magical Artifact, you returned once again to Young Patriarch Zhao Zhanyuan's stall.]

[The bluestone slab was still empty.]

[Standing in place with your brows slightly furrowed, leave or wait?]

[...]

[Here it comes, here it comes, the extra chapter is here!]