10: Secondary simulation

Gazing at the rewards after the simulation, Qin Chen finally snapped back to reality.

"Where is the Qinggang Sword?"

【Host, I have filtered out items that were too trashy for you.】

"That makes sense..." Qin Chen nodded.

That Qinggang Sword was indeed ordinary; the Qin Family armory had them, and they could be bought on the market for ten taels of silver.

Reflecting on the simulation, he walked to the window and looked up at the star-filled sky, feeling a chill still running down his back.

The final piece of information was truly shocking.

"That bronze mirror in the sky... what exactly is its origin?"

"To be able to hang above the firmament and collect departed souls..."

"This is definitely the work of an Immortal!"

At this moment, Qin Chen was certain that Immortals truly existed in this world.

Looking at the reward list, the second option was directly excluded. In reality, silver was the one thing he did not lack.

Although the memories and insights were tempting, improving his strength was the key for now.

"Select one!"

【Ding! Rewards being distributed...】

In an instant, a surge of energy poured in from his crown and rushed through his Meridians.

He heard his bones clicking and popping throughout his body, and his muscles swelled up as if being inflated.

In the blink of an eye, he had reached the Perfection of the Body Tempering Realm.

Even more wondrously, the maneuvering techniques of the Mizong Step and the variations of the Void-Piercing Sword Technique were as familiar as if he had practiced them thousands of times.

Now, he felt he could take on ten of his former self!

After calming his mood, Qin Chen sat cross-legged on the bed, preparing to continue the simulation.

Unfortunately, he could only simulate once a day, so he had to go to sleep early.

The next day, at the first light of dawn, he woke up impatiently to simulate.

【Ding! The second simulation begins...】

【After testing the simulation, you know you are already within a simulation.】

【You summarize the previous simulation process and keep the key factors firmly in mind.】

【Taking advantage of the pre-dawn darkness, you familiarize yourself with your newly Acquired power in the courtyard.】

【After daybreak, you immediately go to find your mother and ask her to help prepare the Medicinal Pill and supplies for breaking through to the Houtian Realm.】

【Your mother discovers that you are already at the Perfection of Body Tempering and is too shocked to speak.】

【She does not ask much, assuming you were intentionally hiding your strength—though, as a mother, how could she not know the truth about her own son?】

【Qin Yu continues to look at you with disdain and mocks you: "Tch, you only reached Body Tempering at eighteen, aren't you still trash?"】

【You gesture a middle finger at Qin Yu.】

【"If you have the guts, follow me to the martial arts arena, and let me teach you a lesson." Qin Yu drops this line and walks straight to the martial arts arena.】

【You are secretly pleased, thinking you can finally teach this younger sister a lesson—after all, Qin Yu is currently only at the Late Stage of Body Tempering, and you are confident you can beat her.】

【Your mother, Lin Xueping, not only does not stop you but actively volunteers to be the referee.】

【Arriving at the martial arts arena, you smugly beckon Qin Yu with your finger.】

【Qin Yu's eyes narrow, wind rises beneath her feet, and her delicate fist strikes directly at your face.】

【You tap your heels, activate the Mizong Step, and your body tilts like a shadow, easily dodging the punch.】

【But just as you are feeling smug—】

【She suddenly retracts her punch and a sweeping leg kicks out with a whistle.】

【You are shocked—】

【The momentum of the Mizong Step leaves you with no time to change direction.】

【With a "bang," you are kicked flying and roll three times on the ground before coming to a stop.】

【You scramble up, looking disheveled, and stare at Qin Yu in disbelief.】

【"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" You stomp your feet in anger. "My Realm is clearly higher than yours!"】

【Qin Yu crosses her arms and shakes her head: "Your movement technique is rigid, and you do not know how to predict. If you really encountered a veteran, you would be throwing your life away."】

【These words make you suddenly enlightened, but then you think—wait! This little girl is only eight years old, where did she get such seasoned experience?】

【Qin Yu seems to realize she let something slip and hurriedly giggles to divert the topic: "It was all taught to me by Mother, do not think too much about it~"】

【You stare suspiciously at your younger sister, always feeling that this girl is strange.】

【Your mother, Lin Xueping, walks over with a smile to smooth things over: "Do not be impatient, you just lack combat experience. Cultivating martial arts cannot be rushed."】

【"Your movement technique needs to maintain the optimal distance from your opponent; it is not the case that the closer you are, the better." Your mother patiently guides you.】

【Then, your mother explains in detail the pros and cons of fists, kicks, blades, movement techniques, and hidden weapons.】

【The more you listen, the more you understand; it turns out there are so many nuances to the Dao of martial arts.】

【You recall that during your first simulation, with no one to guide you, you were practically a noob.】

【The current problem is the same—you possess the strength of the Realm, but cannot unleash your true power.】

Qin Chen looked at the simulation content and nodded thoughtfully:

"It seems the third type of reward is not bad either."

"If I encounter an evenly matched opponent, those combat experiences will come in very handy."

"But it is best not to fight those of the same Realm; if I can crush them, I should not fight hard."

"This younger sister of mine... is not simple."

As an observer, Qin Chen became suspicious of his younger sister.

Since something as outrageous as the System exists, it would not be strange if his younger sister were a Rebirth.

If this were an ordinary martial arts world, he certainly would not think this way.

But after knowing about that mysterious bronze mirror in the sky, Qin Chen felt that anything was possible.

Where are there any Geniuses or Prodigies?

Either they are cheating, or they are a Rebirth!

【A quarter of an hour later, your mother prepares the "Body Tempering Pill" and eighteen kinds of precious medicinal herbs for you—Blood Ginseng, Jade Tendon Grass, Green Vein Vine...】

【These can not only help you break through to the Houtian Realm but are also necessities for subsequent Cultivation.】

【You boil the herbs into a bowl of medicinal soup and take it with the Body Tempering Pill.】

【Suddenly, a massive surge of energy rushes through your body, impacting your twelve main Meridians.】

【As long as you clear the Meridians to form a Small Circulation, you can derive Internal Energy—this is the hallmark of the Houtian Realm!】

【You have long known the martial arts Realms by heart—】

【Houtian Realm: Internal Energy fills the Dantian until Perfection.】

【Xiantian Realm: Internal Energy transforms into Innate True Qi.】

【Grandmaster Realm: True Qi condenses into a Protective Aura, extending three zhang to form a "Grandmaster Domain."】

【Great Grandmaster: True Qi transforms into True Essence, can condense phantom images for attacks, briefly traverse the air, and live for two hundred years.】

【According to the archives of the Imperial City Guard, there are no more than five Great Grandmasters in the Yan Dynasty.】

【Whether there are stronger individuals in other Dynasties is unknown.】

【Until half an hour later,】

【A powerful Aura erupts from within you, shattering the medicinal tub.】

【You are bare-chested, revealing your lean, muscular arms and eight-pack abs, and quickly grab your clothes to put them on.】

【Feeling the power within your body, you finally understand why the Body Tempering Realm cannot defeat the Houtian Realm—they are simply not on the same level!】

【You smile at Qin Yu, who walks in: "Shall we spar again?"】

【"Yo, you broke through to the Houtian Realm and now you are cocky? You only know how to bully an eight-year-old girl." Qin Yu rolls her eyes.】

【You say to your mother: "Let us not hold a banquet for my Breakthrough to the Houtian Realm."】

【You are now heavy-hearted and do not want to be too high-profile.】

【In the past, you would have desperately wanted the whole city to know—that you, Qin Chen, were no longer trash!】

【Your mother laughs: "You only reached the Houtian Realm at eighteen, what kind of banquet should we hold?"】

【Qin Yu adds insult to injury: "Exactly, you even thought you were a Genius; is an eighteen-year-old in the Houtian Realm really worthy of a banquet?"】

【Strangely, hearing your younger sister's mockery now, you actually feel it is endearing.】

【You affectionately rub her head, but Qin Yu swats your hand away in disgust and walks off, pouting.】

【In the following days, you seem like a changed person.】

【Every day, apart from practicing martial arts, you meditate.】

【You discover that meditation allows your heart to settle, and you no longer resist enduring hardship.】