30: Horned snake and Qi Refining Level 8

Calculating the time, it had been a while since he had run a Simulation. Now that he had two extra Simulation attempts, he naturally had to use them. When he was playing chess in his previous life, he had sworn that he, Gu Yuchuan, would never die holding onto his wealth! Wealth is meant to be spent; if you don't know how to spend it, how can you earn it?

He found a hidden spot, activated his Invisibility, and began a new round of Simulations.

[Congratulations, Host, for starting the twelfth Simulation. Now beginning talent extraction.]

[Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling, the alarm clock rings, reminding the Host to remember to wash your hands before Drawing Cards.]

He slapped his head with his tail, his eyes full of annoyance; he had almost forgotten this ritual again. He manifested some water and thoroughly cleaned his tail, ensuring not a speck of dirt remained under any scale before continuing. He had been so careful; surely he would draw something good this time, right? It couldn't possibly be nothing again.

[White Talent: Scale Reinforcement; White Talent: Swiftness; Blue Talent: Enhanced Devour (Able to better convert the absorbed essence.)]

He happily leaped twice. He knew it; he wouldn't be an Unlucky One forever. He was a small European Emperor! Devour was his favorite talent right now. Both his cultivation and his Bloodline could continuously increase through Devour. Enhancing this talent would allow his strength to grow even faster.

[Day 1. You take Bai Ming and start heading back to the Cloud Sea Marsh. On the way, you encounter a Spiritual Plant. After consuming it, your Bloodline begins to evolve, making you a High-grade Demon Beast, a Horned Snake, and Awakening a new talent, Poison Mist.]

[Day 2. You finally return to the Yunxi River. You find Great King Hui She and hand in your mission, and you give Bai Ming an identity. Great King Hui She spoke some high-sounding words and subtly warned you not to go out recently. You returned and immediately started closed-door cultivation, instructing Jinli and Bai Ming not to leave either. The three of you began cultivating in seclusion together.]

[Day 3. The three of you continuously cultivate. You give Bai Ming and Jinli one Red Cloud Fruit each. They swear an oath using their Primordial Spirits to the Heavenly Dao that they will never betray you in this life. From this point on, they become your true subordinates.]

[Day 4. Jinli finally Breaks Through to the Qi Refining Third Layer Realm. You bestow upon him the name Bai Li, and he is very happy.]

[Day 5. While you are cultivating, a small fish comes over and says Great King Hui She is looking for you. You realize something is wrong—this Yao is not under Great King Hui She's command. You kill him.]

[Day 6. You are still cultivating. Bai Ming advances to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer and transforms into a Human Form. Her beauty leaves you stunned.]

[Day 7. While you are cultivating, a massive voice fills the entire Cloud Sea Marsh, saying, "Starting today, the Cloud Sea Marsh is on high alert, ready to go to war with the Human Race at any time." Waves stir in your heart, but you can only continue cultivating.]

[Day 8. A world-shattering battle erupts from the depths of the Cloud Sea Marsh. It is a battle between a Human Race Great Power and a Yao Race Venerable. The two Soul Transformation Stage powerhouses fight until the sky darkens and the earth shatters. Everyone awaits the result of the battle, including you.]

[Day 9. The battle ends. Both the Human and Yao Races simultaneously issue new orders, forbidding large-scale troop deployment. Clearly, the result of the battle was neither side winning—it was a draw.]

[Day 10. The Yunxi River forces are dispatched to attack a Beast Taming Sect outpost. This location is within one of their subordinate Mortal territories. Great King Hui She issues a Decree commanding you to accompany them. You go alone, leaving Bai Ming and Bai Li at home.]

[Day 11. The great army approaches. The opponent's defenses are resolute. During the Duel Between Generals, you defeat the strong with the weak, using your Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivation to kill a Qi Refining Eighth Layer Cultivator of the Beast Taming Sect. The Yao Race's Aura greatly increases. A major battle is imminent.]

[Day 12. Your Yao Race forces finally breach the stronghold. All the Cultivators die at the hands of the Yao Race. You seize the opportunity to Devour the essence of several Cultivators, successfully advancing to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer Realm. However, at this moment, a Foundation Establishment Elder of the Beast Taming Sect arrives and attacks you all. But the Black Tortoise Demon General was actually hiding among you and fought him. Unfortunately, you drew too much attention. That Elder was willing to sustain injuries just to kill you, and thus, you died by his hand.]

[This Simulation ends. Survival time: twelve days. Cultivation: Qi Refining Eighth Layer. Bloodline: High-grade Demon Beast Horned Snake. Evaluation: Even during special periods, you must act discreetly. Reward: 210 divine dragon points. (Breakdown: 60 points for surviving twelve days, 50 points for advancing one layer of cultivation, 100 points for advancing one Bloodline grade.)]

His expression was very grim. He never imagined that so many things could happen in just half a month; it was unbelievable. And that Foundation Establishment Elder of the Beast Taming Sect—a Foundation Establishment expert—actually condescended to attack him. Although the Elder probably died in the Simulation, that didn't count as revenge. He wrote the Elder down in his Little Notebook. Although his current cultivation was only at the Qi Refinement Stage, he believed his distance from Foundation Establishment would not be too far.

[Available for exchange from this Simulation: Blue Talent: Enhanced Devour (50 divine dragon points), Qi Refining Eighth Layer cultivation (50 divine dragon points), High-grade Demon Beast Horned Snake Bloodline (100 divine dragon points). Exchange now?]

There was no need to think about it. He immediately exchanged everything. With his massive fortune, he exchanged all 200 divine dragon points worth of items. Instantly, his Physical Body and Aura changed.

First was his body. His Physical Body was now four meters long and as thick as a basketball. Two horns had sprouted on his head, making him look extremely mighty. The color of his scales was also a more vibrant emerald green, just like the Jade-Scaled Green Snake he once was, but the defense looked far more adequate. Compared to the dark green, he preferred the current emerald green.

Although there were no poison-enhancing talents this time, he could feel that his Venom was much more potent. After all, according to records, the Horned Snake's greatest strength lay in its toxicity. Legend has it that in the Ancient Times, there were instances of Golden Core Stage Horned Snakes using their Venom to poison and kill Nascent Soul experts. He just didn't know if his current Venom could kill a Foundation Establishment expert; he would have to test it in a future Simulation.

The increase in cultivation also made his presence more substantial. If he advanced one more time, he could claim his own river on the outskirts of the Cloud Sea Marsh. Although Great King Hui She was quite good to him, it was all an investment, and he was living under someone else's roof. He would have to repay it later; otherwise, under Karma, the longer it went on, the more he would owe. He still wanted to be his own master, and that day wouldn't be too far off.

After stabilizing his cultivation, he got up and emerged. Bai Ming was trembling on the ground, suppressed by his Qi Refining Eighth Layer Aura. Only when he concealed his Aura did she stand up.

"Let's go. I'll take you home."