7: Chapter 7: Generous Rewards, Second Simulation

[Beginning to calculate rewards for this simulation...]

[Simulation Life Summary: Ordinary struggles, descendants continuing, lingering obsessions, ultimately returning to dust.]

[Rating: Grade C-Middle]

[Note: The grading scale is Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui, with Jia-Top being the best.]

[Evaluation: In the desperate situation of being locked as a Trash, relying on "Many Children, Many Blessings" to maneuver cleverly, gaining prosperity and stability in the mundane world, with numerous descendants, some of whom touched upon immortal destiny, this is already no small feat.]

[However, the obsession was too deep, failing to break through personal shackles, leaving regrets in the ending.]

[Based on the rating, distributing rewards:]

[Cultivation Feedback: Extracting 50% of the cultivation level at the end of the simulation, Half-step Qi Induction, and feeding it back to the host in reality.]

Chu Sheng felt a sense of Qi faintly circulating within his body.

Although he could not perform Qi Induction, his limbs and bones were filled with strength, far surpassing before.

He officially possessed the strength of a Sixth-Rank Martial Artist, as well as a unique pseudo-Qi sensation state.

[Skill Feedback: Obtained the incomplete scroll of Turtle Breath Retention Art, cultivation experience, and basic farming and housekeeping experience.]

[Item Feedback: None.]

[Simulation Point Reward: Completed the first simulation, additional reward of 100 Simulation Points.]

[Based on simulation performance, rewarded 35 Simulation Points.]

[Total obtained: 135 Simulation Points.]

[Achievement Unlocked and Rewards:]

[Mundane Prosperity (Green): Unlocked, reward 10 Simulation Points.]

[Prosperous Descendants (Blue): Unlocked, reward 25 Simulation Points.]

[Lingering Obsession (Gray): Unlocked, no Simulation Point reward.]

[Total Simulation Points: 170 points.]

[Special Settlement: Trait Retention]

[After each complete simulation, the host can choose to permanently retain one trait that played a role in that simulation and equip it to themselves in reality.]

[List of currently retainable traits.]

[Strong and Robust (Green)]

["Many Children, Many Blessings" (Colorful)]

Chu Sheng did not hesitate.

"Retain \"Many Children, Many Blessings\"! Immediately! Equip it right now!"

[Confirmed. The colorful ultimate trait \"Many Children, Many Blessings\" has been permanently bound to the host in reality.]

An indescribable sense of fortune quietly lingered around Chu Sheng.

Although it was intangible and formless, it made him feel as if the depths of his bloodline had been lit up.

"Hahahaha!"

Chu Sheng, behind the woodshed, couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"\"Many Children, Many Blessings\"! It really is equipped! Now I'm set! I can enjoy this blessing in reality too!"

He excitedly pulled up the simulator interface and saw new interactive options:

[Simulation Points: 170]

[Available Functions]

[Upgrade Prize Pool (Consumes 200 points): Increases the probability of high-quality random traits in future simulations.]

[Increase Slots (Consumes 500 points): In the next and future simulations, you can carry one additional self-selected trait into the simulation.]

[Refresh Traits (Consumes 50 points): Before the next simulation begins, you can refresh the trait draw results once.]

[Redeem Reality Buffs (Consumes varying amounts of points).]

"170 points... still a long way to go."

Chu Sheng calmed down, but the light in his eyes grew brighter.

"However, with [\"Many Children, Many Blessings\"] on me, should I also consider in reality..."

"Hmm, no, I'm still a servant right now; I must improve my situation first. For the next simulation, I need to plan my route carefully!"

He looked at the simulator interface, where new options had already appeared.

[Cooldown for the first simulation: 10 seconds]

[...]

[Do you want to consume 100 Simulation Points to immediately start the second life simulation?]

"Wait, no rush yet."

His consciousness returned from the vast simulated life, still feeling a bit dazed.

Chu Sheng quickly detached himself from the feeling of the simulation.

The bed was still the same bed.

But within his body, a sense of Qi was slowly circulating.

Sixth-Rank Martial Artist!

And that [\"Many Children, Many Blessings\"] fortune that was lingering around him in the nether.

"It really... was brought back."

He needed time to digest this.

Just as he was lost in thought, outside the moon gate of the woodshed courtyard.

A small, thin figure in maid's clothing, carrying a wooden bucket, laboriously shuffled inside.

A somewhat thin, but neat and agile figure.

"Big Brother Chu, you're here."

"Big Brother Chu? You... what's wrong? Are you starving? I, I still have half a steamed bun from this morning..."

As she spoke, she subconsciously wanted to reach into her bosom to grab something.

"It's nothing, I was just lost in thought. Getting water again? This bucket is too heavy, let me do it."

Xiao Huan was stunned for a moment, then whispered her thanks: "Thank you, Big Brother Chu."

"It's just a small effort."

Chu Sheng set the wooden bucket down.

"Is work going smoothly lately? The people in the West Courtyard haven't been giving you a hard time, have they?"

"It's, it's alright."

Xiao Huan seemed unaccustomed to Chu Sheng's concern.

"It's just that Young Master Lin Hao was in a bad mood a few days ago and broke a cup... but it didn't hit me."

She paused, as if remembering something.

"Big Brother Chu, you should be careful too. I heard that Young Master Lin Hao might come to inspect the firewood these next two days. The Steward told everyone to be alert and not to run into bad luck."

Lin Hao? Inspecting?

Chu Sheng's heart stirred.

In the simulation, there didn't seem to be a plot point where Lin Hao came to the kitchen woodshed for an inspection at this time.

Was it because the changes in his aura and fortune had invisibly stirred the timeline?

Or was it purely a coincidence?

"I know, thank you for the reminder, Xiao Huan."

Chu Sheng nodded, his tone sincere.

"The top priority is to use the simulation experience to change my current reality as soon as possible."

Chu Sheng calmed down, his thoughts spinning rapidly.

However, trouble came quickly.

The next day, just after Chu Sheng finished chopping his share of firewood, the bully Liu San, who was in the same servant yard and bullied the weak while fearing the strong,

came sauntering over and threw a heavy axe with a clatter in front of Chu Sheng.

"Chu Sheng, you've been pretty free lately, huh? Go on, chop all these hardwood logs; the kitchen is waiting to use them tonight!"

Liu San squinted his eyes, his tone bossy and arrogant.

Chu Sheng didn't move; he just looked up at Liu San calmly.

"Brother Liu San, this is your job, right? I've already finished chopping my own firewood."

Liu San was stunned. He didn't expect this usually silent Trash to dare talk back, and he immediately became angry from embarrassment.

"Hey! Are you rebelling? If I tell you to do it, you do it! You dare to talk back?"

As he spoke, he reached out to shove Chu Sheng.

Chu Sheng's eyes narrowed, his feet unmoving.

When Liu San's hand pushed against him, it felt like it had collided with a hard stone.

Instead, he stumbled himself.

"You..." Liu San was startled and suspicious.

"Liu San."

Chu Sheng's voice was not loud.

"Work, we each do our own. If you want to slack off, find someone else. If you try to treat me like a soft persimmon again..."

His gaze swept over the heavy axe, then landed on Liu San's face.

"I'm actually not a very good-tempered person."

After saying this.

"Crack!"

With a crisp sound, a piece of hardwood as thick as a bowl beside him was chopped in two cleanly by this seemingly casual axe swing!

The cross-section was as smooth as a mirror.

The other servants in the courtyard were stunned.

Liu San's mouth hung wide open, his face turning pale with fear.

How much strength must that have taken?!

"Good for you, Chu Sheng... you've been hiding it well! Just you wait!"

He gritted his teeth and whispered, his eyes sinister.

That evening, just after Chu Sheng finished chopping firewood.

The woodshed courtyard door was pushed open, and Steward Lin Fu walked in with some people.

Behind him followed Young Master Lin Hao, fanning himself.

And that shifty-eyed Liu San cast a gloating glance at Chu Sheng.

"Chu Sheng!"

Lin Fu narrowed his eyes, looking him up and down.

"I heard... your strength has grown lately? You've got quite some skills, huh?"

Chu Sheng understood clearly; he knew Liu San had snitched.

Here we go again.

This Liu San, he really is a nuisance, and he even triggered the plot early.

He respectfully lowered his hands.

"Replying to Master Fu, I just have some brute strength, enough to work and eat."

"Brute strength?"

Lin Hao fanned himself.

"How come this young master feels that the way you look at people is different from before?"

Chu Sheng's muscles tensed slightly, then immediately relaxed.

"Young Master is joking. I just didn't want to be bullied all the time, so I got desperate. I'm still the same Chu Sheng; I wouldn't dare to change."

"Wouldn't dare to change?"

Lin Hao snorted and laughed, then suddenly lowered his voice.

"Chu Sheng, have you recently... picked up anything in the mansion or nearby? Or seen anything unusual, or any unusual people?"

"Young Master, Master Fu, I work in the woodshed all day, what could I possibly pick up? Unusual things... I really don't know."

Lin Hao said irritably to Lin Fu.

"Uncle Fu, I think this Liu San is just making noise. With his Trash appearance, could he have that kind of ability?"

Liu San, behind them, got anxious and hurriedly defended himself.

"Young Master, Master Fu, I saw it with my own eyes! His strength is really weird! Maybe... maybe he got some kind of benefit!"

Lin Fu pondered for a moment, then said sternly to Chu Sheng.

"The mansion hasn't been peaceful lately; a jade ruyi has been lost! Since you've been a bit unusual, keep your eyes peeled for me!"

He didn't finish, but the threat was very clear.

"Yes, yes! Master Fu, don't worry, I understand!"

Chu Sheng hurriedly replied.

His greatest reliance was the simulator and the "Many Children, Many Blessings" trait, both of which needed time to develop; he couldn't afford to break ties with Lin Hao and the others for now.

Lin Hao seemed to lose patience, waved his hand, and led his people away in a rush.

The woodshed returned to silence.

Chu Sheng slowly straightened up, no fear in his eyes, only calmness left.

"Jade ruyi stolen... Liu San snitching... Lin Hao suspicious..."

He quickly connected the information.

"However, after this warning, they shouldn't dig too deep into a servant like me with brute strength. The security in the mansion will definitely be tighter."

He looked at the simulator interface.

The Lin mansion is an old-established immortal cultivation family; it has many more twists and turns than Linjia Village.

"The second simulation must be done as soon as possible. This time, I must make good use of the information gap; not only to break the situation, but preferably to take this opportunity to..."

"Turn the tables, and by the way, deal with a petty person like Liu San."