17: Chapter 17 Genius

After the three of them finished eating, Su Jiuchuan passed the Cleansing Heart Formula to Xue Mingcai.

Watching her walk to a corner of the cave and sit down to begin to Cultivate.

"Su... Jiuchuan, um..." Zheng Xinyue seemed hesitant to speak.

"Is there something on your mind? Just say it!" Su Jiuchuan actually had some good feelings toward Zheng Xinyue; after all, someone who keeps their promises is rare in any era.

Zheng Xinyue hesitated for a long while before saying, "Technically, my strength is low, and there are some things I really shouldn't say."

Su Jiuchuan chuckled inwardly. For an eighteen-year-old, reaching the Realm of a Ninth-Rank Martial Artist couldn't exactly be called a Genius, but it should be considered normal progress.

The proud and pampered girl Su Yuanjiang had described now completely lacked confidence.

"I don't know why you hide your strength. Whether it was when dealing with Liu Heihu or Qingxu, your strength should have been greater than theirs, yet you relied on other methods."

Su Jiuchuan was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized that Zheng Xinyue was afraid of embarrassing him and hadn't directly called the methods despicable.

"I've heard my father say that a Martial Artist values the Concept of courageous advancement and should use opponents to constantly hone one's own Dao. If you frequently use methods outside of martial arts to win, over time, you will lose the heart of a Martial Artist."

"I shouldn't really be saying these things, but a Genius like you should have higher pursuits."

After saying this, she stopped speaking.

Su Jiuchuan then realized that, coming from a later age, he was too focused on efficiency when dealing with enemies. As long as he got the desired result, he didn't care about the methods.

However, this was a high-martial arts world, and it had its own rules.

If one relied too heavily on other methods in battle, it would indeed be difficult to immerse one's mind in the Cultivation Technique, and it would be hard to improve in the Dao later on.

What's more, he knew his Aptitude was actually extremely poor; he feared the road ahead would be even harder to walk.

What Zheng Xinyue said was indeed from the bottom of her heart.

Su Jiuchuan was about to apologize, but he saw Zheng Xinyue also closing her eyes to practice, so he decided not to disturb her.

He then thought about how he had killed Lan Guping, so how should he proceed in the future?

Fortunately, he had found some money on Lan Guping, otherwise he wouldn't even have the chance to use the simulator now.

[Life Simulator, each use consumes 1000 points of money. Do you wish to use it?]

Yes.

[At eighteen, you have become a Fifth-Rank Martial Artist. In the outskirts, you killed Lan Guping, and you intend to head to Xuzhou to rendezvous with Su Yuanjiang and the others.]

[Three days later, you arrived in Xuzhou City. When you found the branch of the Fuyuan Escort Agency, you discovered that Su Yuanjiang and the others had not arrived.]

[You made inquiries everywhere and finally found out. It turned out that a few days ago, Su Yuanjiang and the others had a conflict with Lu Cheng, from a martial arts family in Xuzhou, outside the city, and were arrested.]

[You prepared to go to their door to demand their release, but you met Lu Cheng on the way and asked for them. The other party immediately had his guards attack, and after a few Moves, you were killed. You died at the age of eighteen!]

Hmm? Who would have thought that Xuzhou City would also be unsafe!

Besides, Su Yuanjiang and the others weren't people who looked for trouble; how could they have clashed with some family?

[Simulation ended. You can choose to retain one of the following items.]

[1. The martial arts Realm at eighteen.]

[2. The martial arts experience at eighteen.]

[3. The life wisdom at eighteen.]

Su Jiuchuan chose 2; he wanted to see what kind of strength the other party had.

Immediately, a memory of the battle surfaced in his mind. The whole process was very brief; he only held out for five Moves before being struck in the chest by a palm.

This must be at least the cultivation of a Fourth-Rank.

Perhaps he should try to get that ten thousand taels of silver from the Third Prince first. Only with money could he improve his cultivation, and only then could he solve the problem in Xuzhou.

[Current balance is 1066 points. Each simulation consumes 1000 points of money. Do you wish to simulate!]

He could still simulate once, so he chose Yes.

[At eighteen, you have already become a Fifth-Rank Martial Artist. After killing Lan Guping, you intend to head to Xishui City to exchange for the ten thousand taels of silver first.]

[Upon arriving in Xishui City, you found the Western Prince's Mansion and showed the jade pendant given by the Third Prince.]

[The other party was very straightforward and agreed to give the money, but only if you stayed at the mansion. You refused and intended to force your way in, but you were subdued by the Second-Grade Head Guard.]

[A year later, the Third Prince arrived in Xishui City and saw you. He didn't complain about your previous unreasonable behavior, but instead recruited you to become a Guest Elder. Knowing that refusing wouldn't end well, you had no choice but to agree.]

[At twenty-two, you are still a Fifth-Rank Martial Artist. The Third Prince is very disappointed in you, so he sends you to the army to become a centurion and sends you to suppress King Yu's rebel army.]

[At twenty-six, you accumulate meritorious service and become a chiliarch. Amidst countless life-and-death struggles, you successfully comprehend the five sword Moves on the page of gold foil you obtained from Lan Guping.]

[At twenty-eight, you integrate the sword Moves into your saber technique.]

[At twenty-nine, you finally encounter King Yu's main force. After a fierce battle, you are killed. You die at the age of twenty-nine.]

Su Jiuchuan let out a long sigh. Indeed, the royal family's money is not easy to take!

In this simulation, although he got the money, he wouldn't be let off easily.

Unexpectedly, his Dao did not progress, and in the end, he was sent to the battlefield to become cannon fodder.

Without hesitation, he chose 2.

Immediately, countless combat memories were poured directly into his mind, and a saber Move emerged. This was the Move he had spent over a decade comprehending.

It seems that going directly to Xishui City to ask for money won't work either!

Su Jiuchuan was in a dilemma: there was a strong enemy in Xuzhou City, he couldn't escape from Xishui City, and worst of all, he had no money.

It really is true that without money, one cannot take a single step!

Just as he was thinking this, suddenly, a strong fluctuation of Qi burst forth from Xue Mingcai not far away. Su Jiuchuan looked up and saw the Qi and blood in her body churning; it was obvious that an acupoint in her body had been opened.

Is this her advancing to the Ninth-Rank?

The old Taoist Qingxu actually sent someone with this kind of Aptitude to win people over? He must have water in his brain.

Is this what a Genius in this world is like? Then Lan Yue, the older brother of Lan Guping who became a First Grade expert at twenty-two, was probably just like this!

Zheng Xinyue also noticed the movement from Xue Mingcai. With her extraordinary insight, she understood what was happening and couldn't help but feel a bit disheartened.

Thinking back to when she became a Ninth-Rank expert at seventeen, Chief Escort Master Zheng Nanhai was very happy, feeling that her future in the Dao of martial arts would far surpass his own.

That Su Jiuchuan was about her age but was already a Fifth-Rank expert—that she could accept.

But now, looking at a young girl right before her eyes who had never touched the Dao of martial arts, she had become a Ninth-Rank Martial Artist in just a couple of hours.

Could it be that she was truly a good-for-nothing?

At that very moment, both of them felt a deep sense of inferiority!