45: Chapter 45 Finally, First Grade

Su Jiuchuan nodded, effectively agreeing to this duel.

He just didn't know why Young Master Lin Yanyi wanted to schedule the duel for three days later, though even if he knew, he wouldn't care too much.

In fact, Young Master Lin Yanyi was a descendant of the Lin family, one of the five ancient Great Wei families. The Cultivation Technique he practiced was a top-tier one—the Sacred Origin Technique. This Cultivation Technique emphasized fostering a heart of certain victory through constant trials, aiming to enter the Innate stage only when one's state of mind reached Perfection.

This Cultivation Technique had too many requirements, the most important being the state of mind reaching Perfection. Many Lin family Disciples practiced this Cultivation Technique, but achieving Perfection in one's state of mind was simply too difficult, so much so that only one Senior from the Lin family five hundred years ago had relied on this Cultivation Technique to enter the Xiantian Realm.

And now, the Lin family had once again produced this brilliant and talented Young Master Lin Yanyi, who was the most promising person to reach Perfection in his state of mind once more.

Therefore, after Young Master Lin Yanyi reached the First Grade, he challenged the young talents of the ten cities, all to temper his heart of certain victory. Now that he had heard of a Genius like Su Jiuchuan, who had actually defeated the veteran First-grade Martial Artist City Lord Guan Lin by leaping across Ranks,

he couldn't help but feel competitive again. Although his opponent was currently only a Second-grade Martial Artist, he did not take him lightly at all.

These three days were meant to notify the famous Martial Artists in the vicinity of Tianshui City. He wanted to defeat this Genius under everyone's gaze and, amidst the gasps of the crowd, perfect his own state of mind.

...

Su Jiuchuan left Zuixian Restaurant, found an inn, booked a superior room, and checked in.

He found a chair, sat down, brought up the System, and chose to start the simulator.

[Do you wish to use the Life Simulator? Each use consumes 5000 points.]

Yes!

[At eighteen, you became a Second-grade Martial Artist and arrived at Tianshui City. Young Master Lin Yanyi invited you to a duel in three days.]

[Three days later, you went to accept the challenge. After ten moves, you were killed by Young Master Lin Yanyi. You died at the age of eighteen!]

Su Jiuchuan couldn't believe his eyes; he had died in just ten moves.

He had originally thought that with the Saber Intent he had cultivated, he could at least put up an even fight, but he hadn't expected it to be so fast.

[Simulation ended. You can retain one of the following options.]

[1. Martial Arts Realm at eighteen.]

[2. Martial Arts experience at eighteen.]

[3. Life wisdom at eighteen.]

He chose 2.

A memory of the fight appeared in his mind. Su Jiuchuan couldn't help but gasp; Young Master Lin Yanyi was truly too strong. He had also mastered Sword Intent, and that Sword Intent was even more powerful.

During the battle, he had died after the opponent shattered his Saber Intent.

Su Jiuchuan regretted agreeing to this duel.

Young Master Lin Yanyi felt like a cheater; he was only eighteen, yet far stronger than City Lord Guan Lin. Moreover, he wasn't even sure if he could have beaten City Lord Guan Lin.

But for his Saber Intent to be shattered, what did that mean?

It meant that the opponent possessed a much stronger martial will than his own.

Su Jiuchuan let out a long breath. He knew his strengths. Now that he had the simulator, his greatest advantage was time. Since this way didn't work, he would continue to simulate.

[At eighteen, you became a Second-grade Martial Artist. Young Master Lin Yanyi and you agreed to a duel on the arena in three days.]

[That night, you escaped from Tianshui City. You found an oasis in the desert to Cultivate diligently.]

[Twenty years later, Young Master Lin Yanyi found you and killed you with a single strike. You died at the age of thirty-eight.]

Twenty years of bitter cultivation still wasn't enough.

This time, Su Jiuchuan chose Martial Arts Realm, accumulating little by little, to close the gap in Realm first.

Continue simulation.

[Thirty years later, Young Master Lin Yanyi found you on the grasslands and killed you with a single strike. You died at the age of forty-eight.]

[Sixty years later, Young Master Lin Yanyi found you on Azure Dragon Mountain and killed you with a single strike. You died at the age of seventy-eight.]

Su Jiuchuan was somewhat devastated. He had been stuck in the Second-grade Realm for a hundred years and still hadn't broken through.

This Aptitude was truly...

He calculated that his current balance could still support over twenty more simulations. Su Jiuchuan hardened his heart, "I don't believe I can't break through."

Continue simulation.

[You escaped Tianshui City and headed to the grasslands, tempering your martial arts among the Hu people.]

[At twenty-one, you killed several Second-grade Martial Artists on the grasslands in succession, angering the Hu leadership, who dispatched a Xiantian Martial Artist to hunt you down.]

[At twenty-three, you had been fleeing for two years while being hunted by this Xiantian Martial Artist. Feeling mentally and physically exhausted, you decided not to run anymore and fought to the death. In this battle, you cast aside thoughts of life and death, and finally, at the very last moment of your life, you achieved a Breakthrough and became a First-grade Martial Artist. You died at the age of twenty-three.]

Su Jiuchuan let out a long breath. "If Aptitude isn't enough, you have to use your life to make up for it." At least he had finally entered the First Grade.

[Simulation ended. You can retain one of the following options.]

[1. Martial Arts Realm at twenty-three.]

[2. Martial Arts experience at twenty-three.]

[3. Life wisdom at twenty-three.]

This time, without any hesitation, he directly chose 1.

The Qi and blood in his body suddenly accelerated, and finally, several Acupoints were unblocked. Su Jiuchuan felt his True Qi circulating endlessly throughout his body, and his whole being felt lighter.

Is this the feeling of being First Grade?

Su Jiuchuan checked his current balance, which was still 116,688 points.

Let's continue!

[Do you wish to use the Life Simulator? Each use consumes 10,000 points.]

It doubled again!

Su Jiuchuan was speechless; it was too expensive!

Now he only had enough for eleven more simulations.

Unfortunately, this was a monopoly business, and he couldn't negotiate the price.

He had to choose yes.

[At eighteen, you became a First-grade Martial Artist. Young Master Lin Yanyi and you agreed to a duel in three days.]

[Three days later, you fought Young Master Lin Yanyi for ten moves before being killed by him. You died at the age of eighteen.]

Su Jiuchuan found it hard to believe this time; he was already a First-grade Martial Artist, so why was he still killed in ten moves?

This time, he chose Martial Arts experience.

The scene of the duel appeared in his mind again. That vast, invincible Sword Intent crushed down directly, shattering his Saber Intent; it was unstoppable.

It still didn't work, and there were only ten simulation chances left.

But things had come to this, and he couldn't really run away. If he flinched before the battle, his martial faith would collapse.

Continue the simulation!

[At eighteen, you became a First-grade Martial Artist. Young Master Lin Yanyi and you agreed to a duel in three days.]

[That night, you escaped Tianshui City and headed to the desert to temper your saber techniques.]

[One day, a sandstorm arose in the desert. While avoiding the storm, you fled into an oasis in a sorry state. Here, you were inadvertently discovered by someone to be carrying a treasure map.]

[Half a month later, a Xiantian Martial Artist chased you down and demanded you hand over the treasure map. You refused and were killed on the spot. You died at the age of eighteen.]

A treasure map?

Only then did Su Jiuchuan remember that when he obtained the saber, he also had that treasure map left behind by Ouyang Xian.