Chapter 26 Choice

[Who is the first to wake from the Great Dream? I alone know my life.]

Real world, rental apartment.

"Huff... huff..."

Li Ang sat up abruptly from the worn-out fabric sofa, his chest heaving violently.

Although his Physical Body in reality was already at the powerful Qi and Blood Seventh Stage, that phantom pain of being torn apart still made him break out in a cold sweat.

His pupils were in an extremely unstable state of trembling, his gaze hollow.

Just a second ago, he was in a dark and damp dead-end alley, watching that black-robed man wearing a Noh ghost mask proclaim the desperate "Blood Shadow Life Replacement" plan, feeling the icy chill of life slipping away.

But the next second, the noisy cries of the night market outside the window reached his ears.

This intense sense of spatio-temporal dislocation caused his brain to fall into a brief state of paralysis.

Li Ang instinctively raised his hand and glanced at the wall clock.

Ten-thirty in the evening.

"Only... less than two minutes have passed?"

Li Ang's voice was hoarse.

In the depths of his consciousness, he had just spent two magnificent years.

From the bitter cultivation of the second semester of his sophomore year to the earth-shattering escape in Sunset Canyon.

From becoming famous with a single strike on the College Entrance Examination stage to the desperate end on that rainy day.

"I'm back..."

Li Ang wiped his face, his fingertips touching cold skin, and his reason finally reclaimed the high ground.

"Blood Shadow Life Replacement... Two-Life Blood Soul Demon... the Soaring Realm Masked Man..."

He muttered to himself, engraving these blood-stained keywords one by one into his heart under the dim light.

Especially that final scene.

Teacher Wu Changhe, who usually treated him like his own son and was stingy but dared to risk his life for his students at critical moments, had been possessed alive and turned into a walking corpse.

There was also Liu Xiyue, who had long since been replaced, and that massive cult organization hidden behind the scenes—the Heart-Eroding Cult.

Li Ang clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. The pain caused the confusion in his eyes to completely dissipate, replaced by an unprecedented sharpness and icy chill.

"Since you've let me know the script in advance, then this play cannot be performed according to your version."

After calming his mind, Li Ang immediately awakened the System in his mind.

A pale blue light screen unfolded on his retina, and lines of golden text emerged, announcing the end of the novice period.

[Simulation ended.]

[Survival time in this simulation: 2 years.]

[Evaluation: S-rank!]

[Commentary: With a Mortal body, you planned the entire situation, intercepted the heavenly secrets in a desperate situation, and slew a Prodigy on the arena. You broke the curse of the commoners and reached the top as the top scholar. Although you ultimately fell to an irresistible force, this was not a failure of skill. Your will, wisdom, and decisiveness are enough to make the gods take notice.]

[Ding! Novice welfare period ended.]

[Full simulator functions unlocked, System upgrade complete.]

As a burst of brilliant golden light exploded, Li Ang found that the System interface had undergone a massive change.

The originally simple panel had become more exquisite, and the rules were completely new.

[Function 1: Perfect Extraction (Core Upgrade)]

Say goodbye to the "Choose One of Three" dilemma. From now on, after each simulation ends, the host will automatically receive all rewards (Realm + Martial Arts Experience + Memory and Experience) without needing to make a choice!

[Function 2: Talent Vault]

All talents that have appeared in simulations (whether selected or not) will be recorded in the [Talent Vault].

Before the next simulation begins, the host can consume "destiny points" to exchange for talents in the Talent Vault, but currently can only carry a maximum of two designated talents.

[Function 3: Destiny Mechanism]

1. Cooldown: After each simulation ends, a 7-day cooldown is required.

2. destiny points: The System's hard currency. Obtained by changing the established fate of important characters or events.

3. Point Usage: Exchange for designated talents.

[Current remaining destiny points: 300 (Novice S-rank evaluation settlement reward).]

Looking at these brand-new rules, Li Ang's heart pounded wildly.

"Full extraction... this is too overbearing!"

This meant he would never have to struggle between "cultivation" and "experience" again. Only children make choices; a cheater takes them all!

This meant his speed of becoming stronger would increase several times over!

Moreover, that [Talent Vault] was a god-tier skill.

Li Ang glanced at his attribute panel, his eyes burning.

His innate [Hardworking and Enduring (Green)] was only green, but its practicality was extremely high—a god-tier skill for a grinder.

If in the next simulation he could spend points to bring along the [Blade Path Genius (Blue)] he had randomly rolled before...

"[Hardworking and Enduring] guarantees the floor, and [Blade Path Genius] raises the ceiling."

"A grinder plus a Genius, that's the truly invincible combination!"

Li Ang took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to immediately exchange for a talent and go again.

Now was not the time to think about that; he had to deal with this harvest first.

[Rewards for this simulation have been issued (pending extraction):]

1. Martial Arts Realm

Description: Includes the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood (Crimson Gauze Realm) cultivation and the [Profound Water Spirit Body] reshaped by the dimensional secret treasure "heavenly river water lotus."

2. Martial Arts Experience

Description: Includes Basic Saber Technique Major Achievement, Nine Layers of Overlapping Waves Perfection, Eight Extremes Fist Bright Jin, Coiled Dragon Post Stance Entering Stillness, as well as all combat techniques and practical experience gained over the two years.

3. Memory and Experience (Automatically fused)

Description: Full details regarding the "Blood Shadow Life Replacement" plan, Heart-Eroding Cult intelligence, and a chronicle of major events over the next two years.

Looking at the first two options, Li Ang's breathing became rapid.

Although he was currently at the Qi and Blood Seventh Stage Perfection, already an unattainable Genius in the eyes of ordinary students.

But with just a click on this option, he could instantly leap across the Eighth Stage Beacon Fire and directly reach the Ninth Stage Crimson Gauze, even possessing an ability that would make countless people green with envy!

His finger hovered over the "One-Click Extraction" button, but Li Ang suddenly stopped.

His eyes flickered as his plans for tomorrow flashed through his mind.

"I can't extract it all."

"At least, I can't extract the [Martial Arts Realm] right now."

Li Ang was very clear-headed.

First, the issue of the commotion.

When he extracted the Seventh Stage last time, the sound of his bones popping was already quite loud.

This time it was the Crimson Gauze Realm of the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood, and it even involved the physical reshaping of the "Profound Water Spirit Body"!

In this old rental apartment where the soundproofing was practically non-existent, once extracted, it might cause a huge commotion, and he would definitely be taken away by the Special Affairs Bureau for dissection tomorrow.

Second, and most importantly—for tomorrow's big money-borrowing act.

Li Ang turned to look at the "borrowing draft" he had already written on the desk.

According to the plan, first thing tomorrow morning, he was going to school to find Wu Changhe. By demonstrating his "Qi and Blood Seventh Stage" Martial Arts Realm, he would strive for Old Wu's help to borrow that 1.2 million in life-saving money.

The Seventh Stage of Qi and Blood, while stunning, would still be within the Realm of a "human Genius" in Wu Changhe's eyes, given Li Ang's "reckless" personality and previous accumulation, though exaggerated.

But if he went there in the state of the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood with Crimson Gauze Cloaking...

Then seeing Wu Changhe tomorrow would probably not be a "surprise," but a "fright."

Overnight, jumping from the publicly perceived "Qi and Blood Third Stage Trash" directly to a "Ninth Stage Ability Minor Grandmaster"?

This had already exceeded the scope of a Genius; this was a monster, a freak.

Although Wu Changhe loved talent, he was also an old veteran of the Jianghu.

Being too abnormal is being demonic. At that time, not only would he be unable to borrow money, but he might also draw unnecessary suspicion.

"I must follow the script."

"First use the current Seventh Stage cultivation to get the money and solve the crisis with the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce. Then find a safe place to extract the Ninth Stage cultivation."

Having thought this through, Li Ang made his choice.

"System, extract [Martial Arts Experience]! Put [Martial Arts Realm] on hold!"

"Buzz—"

As the command was issued, a massive and gentle warm current instantly rushed into his mind, then flowed into his limbs and bones.

This time there was no physical agony, only a mystical sensation similar to an "Epiphany."

Li Ang closed his eyes.

In a daze, he seemed to have returned to the Cobble Beach in Sunset Canyon, back under the waterfall in Linchun County, and back onto the College Entrance Examination arena.

The angle of every saber swing, the vibration of every muscle, every bit of clever strength used to deflect force with the water current...

These images that originally only existed in his memory were now rapidly transforming into his body's instincts.

His fingers twitched unconsciously. Although there was no saber in his hand, that "Major Achievement Saber Technique" already engraved into his marrow had awakened within him.

A full ten minutes passed.

Li Ang slowly opened his eyes.

He casually picked up a ballpoint pen from the desk and gave his wrist a light flick.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The tip of the pen traced nine afterimages in the air, each one precisely pausing at the same point without the slightest error.

Nine Layers of Overlapping Waves—Nine-Fold Wave!

Although his current Qi and Blood Seventh Stage body could not exert the full power of the Ninth Stage, he had completely mastered this power-exertion technique.

Combined with his Seventh Stage Qi and Blood, his combat strength was still terrifying.

"Phew..."

Li Ang put down the pen, feeling the sense of control where his "consciousness was ahead" of his body.

"Even though my body hasn't reached the Ninth Stage yet, with my current Seventh Stage cultivation plus Major Achievement saber techniques, solving tomorrow's trouble is more than enough."

"Tomorrow."

Li Ang stood up, walked to the window, and pulled back the curtains.

Outside, the night view of Longnan City was still brightly lit.

But beneath those prosperous lights, dark undercurrents surged.

The shadow of the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce and the conspiracies of the Heart-Eroding Cult were all lurking crises.

"Old Wu, in this life, I won't let you be that backup insurance again."

Li Ang reined in all his thoughts and lay back on the bed.

He needed rest.

Although his spirit was very excited, for the sake of tomorrow's crucial "borrowing act," he had to conserve his strength and build up his energy.

"Sleep."

"Tomorrow morning, go to school and find Old Wu!"