47: Simulation Development

At this moment, Gu Yuchuan was still unaware that such a major event had occurred in the core of the Cloud Sea Marsh. Lying on his bed, the silk sheets were soft and comfortable. He was currently pondering what to do in the future. To be fair, he really didn't want to get involved in the war; after all, he had a cheat and didn't need to risk his life in war for a future.

That was why he was pursuing Artifact Refining; technical talents never had to be on the front lines, no matter where they were.

He thought about it and felt that this path was viable, so he decided to run a Simulation to see if this direction would actually work.

He took a good bath and lit a stick of graded Meditation Incense. This incense could calm the mind and spirit. He hoped to draw an Artifact Refining talent this time. Although he was already an Artifact Refiner, he could feel that his talent was just average—enough for now, but definitely insufficient for the future.

He used his tail to bow toward the heavens: "Three Pure Ones above, Buddha, Goddess Nüwa, Jade Emperor, I beg of you, let me draw an Artifact Refining talent. If that doesn't work, Muhammad, Yahweh, please bless me as well. I beg of you." Only after finishing his prayers did he start the Simulation.

[Congratulations Host on starting the fourteenth Simulation. Beginning talent extraction.]

[Ring, ring, ring! The alarm is sounding to remind the Host: remember to wash your hands before drawing cards.]

He had already bathed and burned incense this time, so there was naturally no need to do it again. As the fragrance spread, he felt extremely calm, as if sitting atop the clouds with a gentle breeze blowing past, making all the world's worries vanish without a trace.

[White talent: Scale Reinforcement; White talent: Swiftness; Blue talent: Artifact Refining Master (Your talent in Artifact Refining is sufficient for you to become a Tier 3 Artifact Refining Master).]

He cried out in excitement; even the incense couldn't keep his mind steady. That was a Tier 3 Artifact Refining Master—someone capable of refining Magic Treasures! If he advanced to the Golden Core stage and became a Tier 3 Artifact Refining Master, even Nascent Soul Stage experts would have to address him as Master Gu. Excellent, he had gained another asset for his rise; he was thrilled.

[Day 1: You take the Magical Artifacts you refined to see the Black Tortoise Demon General, informing him that you are now an Artifact Refiner and plan to open a shop. The Black Tortoise Demon General agrees and is willing to endorse you, guaranteeing the safety of Linlang Pavilion, but he demands ten percent of the profits. You agree. After you leave, the news that Bright Stream has an Artifact Refiner and is opening a shop spreads throughout the periphery of the Cloud Sea Marsh. Your name becomes known to most.]

[Day 2: You begin preparing for the opening of Linlang Pavilion. You refine five more green snake poison needles. Although the stock is low, you feel it is barely enough. You are confident you can make this work. You pick Bai Ming to be responsible for Linlang Pavilion's affairs with you; after all, who doesn't like a beautiful shop assistant?]

[Day 3: You originally intended to open, but the fighting begins. The entire periphery of the Cloud Sea Marsh goes to war with the Beast Taming Sect, interrupting your opening plans. Before you can even go to the Black Tortoise Demon General, he sends a message saying you can avoid participating in the war at the cost of five Low Grade Magical Artifacts per month, but you must send a Mid Qi Refining Stage subordinate to represent you. You readily agree, reward Pei Yu with a heart-protecting mirror, and send her off.]

[Day 4: You refine several Magical Artifacts overnight to pay the price for not participating in the war this month. Linlang Pavilion officially opens. By noon, all Magical Artifacts are sold out. Your net profit exceeds a thousand Spirit Stones, making you very happy. The pressure of war has caused many Yao Beasts to convert all their wealth into combat power.]

[Day 5: You continue refining Magical Artifacts, which are instantly snatched up. You obtain the refining blueprint for a Medium Grade Magical Artifact, the Phantom Sound Bell. You spend a day comprehending it, but you lack the Materials.]

[Day 6: You finally obtain all the Materials and refine the Phantom Sound Bell. It is bought by a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining demon for the high price of five hundred Spirit Stones. You start a custom-made business for Phantom Sound Bells: three sets of Materials for one bell. Although your cultivation time has decreased, the massive influx of Spirit Stones has still increased your cultivation speed significantly.]

[Day 7: A Yao Beast uses a Magical Artifact from Linlang Pavilion to defeat a stronger opponent, shocking the Yao Race. Your fame grows even larger. Countless Yao come to buy Magical Artifacts to increase their strength. You set a new rule: only two custom orders for Phantom Sound Bells per day.]

[Day 8: You continue refining. Your wealth is now staggering, and your fame has even begun to grow among the Human Race. You have someone bring a Phantom Sound Bell to Pei Yu, hoping she can return alive.]

[Day 9: A Foundation Establishment expert from the Human Race comes to sabotage. Fortunately, the Black Tortoise Demon General had already prepared countermeasures. Although Linlang Pavilion is destroyed, you survive. You take the opportunity to close Linlang Pavilion for a month to lie low.]

[Day 10: You cultivate in seclusion in the Flood Dragon Palace. You have many Spirit Stones now. Using a large number of Spirit Stones for cultivation, your progress is very close to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.]

[Day 11: You are still cultivating.]

[Day 12: The Phantom Sound Bell has played a significant role on the front lines. A Medium Grade Magical Artifact can be decisive in the hands of Early and Mid Qi Refining Stage Cultivators. Although you closed Linlang Pavilion, your fame continues to rise.]

[Day 13: A Human Race Cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Foundation Establishment Stage sneaks into Bright Stream and kills you.]

[This Simulation has ended. Survival time: 13 days. Cultivation: Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Bloodline: High-grade Demon Beast Horned Snake. Evaluation: A little snake blinded by wealth and fame. Achievement unlocked: Budding Artifact Refiner. Reward: 115 divine dragon points (65 points for 13 days of survival, 50 points for the achievement).]

He let out a long sigh. This Simulation was his most glorious moment, but just as the System said, his strength couldn't support such fame. Spreading himself too thin would only get him targeted. If it weren't for the war, even the Yao Race would probably have been envious of him. It seemed the scale of Linlang Pavilion needed to be controlled—at least, he absolutely couldn't do this until he reached Foundation Establishment. Otherwise, the end would be death.

[Available for exchange from this Simulation: Blue talent: Artifact Refining Master (50 divine dragon points). Exchange? Phantom Sound Bell Refining Blueprint (50 divine dragon points).]

Was there even a need to think? He definitely exchanged them immediately, taking both items in full. This talent was enough to ensure he wouldn't lack resources for his future cultivation. Now he had the Bloodline, resources, and Aptitude; all he lacked was time to convert these things into strength. His path to the clouds was already built; he just had to step up it one pace at a time.

However, as for the next step... he still needed to deliberate carefully.