71: Eight simulations

[Ding! The eighth simulation begins...]

[After confirming the start of the simulation, you immediately fell asleep.]

[You woke up to find the sun already high in the sky, opening your eyes groggily.]

['Damn, it's already noon?' You couldn't help but exclaim.]

['Indeed, a golden nest or a silver nest is not as good as one's own humble abode.' You couldn't help but sigh with emotion.]

[You activated the Illusionary Form Technique to transform into the appearance of a sixty-year-old man, found Fragrant Lord Qiao, and instructed her to purchase a batch of medicinal herbs needed to refine the obstacle breaking pill and the realm breaking pill.]

[Upon hearing that you could actually refine these two Medicinal Pills, Fragrant Lord Qiao was overjoyed and personally went to procure them.]

[With nothing else to do, you reverted to your original appearance, swaggered through the main entrance of Tianxiang Pavilion, and slumped into a private room on the second floor, listening to music and watching performances.]

[The one attending to you was still that Xiao Ya. While massaging your legs, she coquettishly complained, 'Young Master Qin, what exactly is wrong with me? Why won't you redeem me from my contract?']

[You lightly pinched her fair thigh with your toes——]

['Ah!' She cried out in pain.]

['Distance creates beauty. Isn't it nice for me to visit you occasionally?' you said with a smile.]

['Young Master, you're so mean!' she pouted and complained.]

[Seeing her expression, you couldn't help but let out a 'snort-snort' pig-like chuckle.]

[That night, you didn't return home, instead staying in Tianxiang Pavilion's Advanced guest room.]

[On the bed, Xiao Ya was sound asleep, her clothes in disarray, revealing her fair arms and long legs.]

[Meanwhile, you stood on the balcony wrapped in a towel, bare-chested, showing your abdominal muscles, quietly gazing at Longyang Town's silent night.]

[You couldn't help but sigh—this kind of life, free from fighting and killing, is truly comfortable.]

[Longyang Town was vastly different from Nanjiang City. Once night fell, it became quiet and pitch-dark, with hardly anyone on the streets, which rather displeased you.]

[Unlike Nanjiang City's Riverside Street—where thousands of lanterns pierced the long night, painted boats seemed to crush the starry river, bustling with noise and excitement all night long, and even the river water seemed soaked in the gorgeous hues of rouge and gold.]

[You still felt that a big city suited your preferences more!]

[The next day, Fragrant Lord Qiao spent over a million taels to purchase twenty crates of medicinal herbs, covering more than two hundred precious varieties.]

[On the third day,]

[The news that the Three Great Factions of Nanjiang City had been wiped out overnight spread throughout all the towns and villages under its jurisdiction, causing panic among many martial arts families.]

[You noticed that your father, Qin Xiuwen, hadn't left the house all day and had ordered the mansion gates to be tightly shut, refusing visitors.]

[However, unexpectedly—Nanjiang City's City Lord, Kuang Yuntao, publicly announced: the three families had perished due to internal strife, resulting in mutual destruction.]

[This news reassured many, and the various towns and villages, as well as Nanjiang City, gradually returned to their usual calm.]

[On the fourth day,]

[You refined all twenty crates of medicinal herbs into ten obstacle breaking pills and three realm breaking pills, and instructed Fragrant Lord Qiao to deliver two obstacle breaking pills and one realm breaking pill to Qin Xiuwen.]

[Fragrant Lord Qiao was once again both shocked and overjoyed, expressing immense gratitude to you.]

[However, this time, you did not let her see your true appearance.]

[On the fifth day,]

[You bid farewell to your family, preparing to set off for the imperial capital.]

[Your parents and sister saw you off all the way to the exit of Longyang Town.]

['Remember, don't cause trouble. If you encounter difficulties, send a letter home,' Lin Xueping said, looking at you with a face full of worry.]

['If you can't make it, come back early!' Qin Xiuwen said sternly.]

['Don't worry!' you replied with a relaxed smile, nodding repeatedly.]

[Just as you turned around, about to leave——]

['Wait!' Qin Yu suddenly called out to you.]

[You smiled and turned back, ready to hear her sarcastic remarks.]

['Hug me before you go!' she blushed and managed to say.]

[You widened your eyes—was this really your sharp-tongued sister?]

[Smiling, you walked closer, crouched down, and hugged her tightly.]

[After letting go, Qin Yu said lightly, 'Don't cause trouble for me, okay? I don't want to have to avenge you when I grow up.']

[You smiled and nodded: 'Don't worry, I definitely won't cause you any trouble!']

[Gazing at your family, you secretly vowed—to protect them, ensuring they live long, safe, and happy lives.]

[After leaving, you used the Illusionary Form Technique to take on the appearance of an old man and hurried to the designated relay station to meet Fragrant Lord Qiao.]

[Immediately, you wrapped your arm around her slender waist, released your True Essence to gently envelop her, and slightly bent your knees——]

['Boom!' With a deafening sonic boom, you transformed into a streak of light, flying straight toward the direction of the imperial capital.]

[With your cultivation at Heavenly Human Realm Perfection, this journey of over three thousand kilometers took only half an hour.]

[You dove down from high altitude. Beneath your feet, the imperial capital initially appeared as a small black dot, then rapidly expanded, eventually transforming into a magnificent city resembling a colossal beast crouched upon the earth.]

[At the center of the imperial capital stood the majestic golden-roofed imperial palace. Four main roads, each ten zhang wide, extended straight from its four gates, connecting directly to the four city gates in the east, south, west, and north.]

[Both sides of the main roads were crowded with towering restaurants, merchant guilds, and martial arts halls. Pedestrians and carriages flowed through the streets like streams of ants.]

[Following the direction indicated by Fragrant Lord Qiao, you flew straight into the depths of the Martial Arts Academy, finally landing in a courtyard with exceptionally tight security.]

[This courtyard was located in the very core of the Martial Arts Academy. Its blue-brick walls were noticeably taller than those elsewhere, and four sword-bearing guards stood solemnly at the entrance.]

[Inside the courtyard, artificial hills and flowing water surrounded a training ground. On the weapon racks hung sweat towels that were not yet dry. A half-drunk cup of warm tea rested on a stone table, and a person sat there, seemingly deep in thought.]

[This person was none other than the actual ruler of the Yan Dynasty—Xiao Tianci.]

[As soon as you landed in the courtyard, Xiao Tianci immediately looked at you alertly—you appeared to be in your sixties, yet your steps were steady, your demeanor calm and composed, exuding an air of ease.]

[After all, he was experienced. With one glance, he knew you were no ordinary person and not to be underestimated.]

['Your Excellency, why have you intruded into my courtyard without reason?' he asked warily.]

[You simply waved your hand: 'Go and summon the other Great Grandmasters of the Yan capital. This old man has matters to instruct.']

['Your Excellency is being rather presumptuous...' Xiao Tianci's expression turned displeased.]

[Before he could finish speaking, your figure suddenly moved. In an instant, you closed in, circulated your vast True Essence, and pushed out a palm strike——]

[He was sent flying backward by a tremendous force, completely out of control.]

[But the next moment, you circulated your power again, condensing a giant palm phantom that grabbed him out of the air and pulled him back.]

[After steadying himself, Xiao Tianci felt a chill run through his body; his back was already soaked with cold sweat.]

[He was secretly shocked, realizing your strength had reached the legendary Heavenly Human Realm.]

[In that brief moment, he felt you had completely seized control of even the energy of heaven and earth, leaving him utterly powerless to resist.]

[If you truly intended to take his life, it would probably be as easy as crushing an ant.]

[This suffocating feeling of being on the brink of death was something he hadn't experienced in over a hundred years.]

['This old man dislikes idle talk,' you glanced at him. Killing him in a simulation had long since lost its appeal.]

[Moreover, someone had to handle certain matters; you couldn't personally deal with every trivial issue.]

[Xiao Tianci quickly regained his composure, hurriedly cupped his hands, and said, 'Thank you, Senior, for showing mercy. I will personally go and invite them immediately.']

[A shrewd person like him naturally understood what to do.]

[As for what he truly thought in his heart, you didn't care—in a world where strength reigns supreme, any schemes or plots are less decisive than a single palm strike that can obliterate everything.]