YongCheng City of Qingcheng County,
In a small courtyard,
At the moment, Lin Chen's mind was lingering on the words of that young man: "Lin Chen. You! Should! Die…!" Just from the words, he could feel the vengeance contained within them. It felt as if they were lifelong enemies, but in reality, he didn't even know him.
Regarding this, he asked the system, "System, has he been reincarnated from the future, which happened to be conducted within the simulation?"
[Ding! No, Host.]
[Reincarnation is something that happens when a person from a different universe—possessing all previous memories—travels to a parallel universe similar to the one he lived in—with major or minor differences.]
[And being reborn from the future happens when a person's soul accidentally steps into the River of Time and, floating on it, travels to the past—with all future memories intact—without any difference.]
[Note: The chances of being reborn are even rarer than a soul traveling to a parallel universe—so-called reincarnation—and it happening in your universe? Impossible.]
[And about why he wants to kill you so desperately, it must be because he—with his family—has died at the hands of one of your variants that exists in his previous universe.]
"Hm… so you want to say that he hasn't come from the future at all and every time—within the three-thousandth year of simulation—he will recover his previous-life memory. Then, how am I supposed to grow?"
[Don't worry, Host. This thing won't be a problem with the next upgrade.] the system replied.
"Ohh… is it? Then I'm excited." Lin Chen said, relieved with the system's answer.
"But system, why did you say it is impossible to be reborn in this universe? And didn't you say that I am a chosen one? Then aren't I supposed to be the only one in existence, like other chosen ones? Then from where do my variants come from?" After a long pause, Lin Chen bombarded questions one after another.
[Ding, Host. The reason being reborn is impossible in your world is because, trillions of years ago, an unknowingly strong being locked the River of Time, because of which no one in your universe can return to the past—it will only flow towards the future.]
[And about you being a chosen one? I only want to say that you are more than that. But who said that you can only be one in existence? That's all bullshit!]
[And Host, be honest, if there were no twists and turns, then would it be enjoyable to you?]
[I'm asking you guys, too.] the system—breaking the 4th wall—said, as if he knew someone was listening in the dark.
At the moment, while the system was talking to us, Lin Chen understood something and said, "Heh~, and here I was wondering why I haven't faced a setback till now. So, all along, you were planning for an epic and growth-stopping antagonist for me. Well played, system. Well played!"
"But you're right, the journey wouldn't be enjoyable at all." At last, Lin Chen agreed.
"But system, though I can understand that the Heavenly Dao of Xuantian Realm was obsessed with me, why would it need my permission to make a move on me? And why did the Will of the Universe help me?" Lin Chen asked the question that troubled him the most.
[Well… Host, have you ever wondered, despite being this handsome, why there was only one time when you have been pinned to the bed by a girl?]
Listening to the system, Lin Chen began to think and felt the system was right. From his memory, he knew there were many strong female cultivators in Holy-Sword Sect—many even stronger than him in the early stage—but all of them, despite being obsessed with him, did not dare approach him with ill intentions and only waited for him to make a choice.
At that moment, the system continued:
[Well… it is all because of your strong character, because of which, if anyone with the intention to pin you to bed approaches, they feel an instinctive fear from you.]
[And the reason why the Heavenly Dao waited for your approval instead of forcing you is because it was well aware of your character—that being forced is something you don't like—and if you really were forced, then sooner or later—after gaining enough strength—you would kill or die with the one who forced you. And so, it waited until you gave it permission, whether formal or genuine.]
[And about the reason why the Will of the Universe bound the Heavenly Dao and stopped it is because it understood that your words weren't genuine. And mainly, it understands for whom it was created.]
"Uhm… system, stop flattering me and let's talk about the most awaited question." Lin Chen ignored the last line entirely and asked, "System, what did you mean by multiple Nascent-Souls in one body? Is there a method? And can we merge multiple Laws in one Nascent-Soul? And another very important question: is the Yin-Yang Law Source mandatory to form the Nascent-Soul?"
[Hehe~ Host, you finally understood. I didn't expect you to realize it this quickly.] The system said in a mischievous tone.
"Why? You haven't simulated this?" Lin Chen replied casually yet savagely.
[Ehm… let's forget it. I should answer your questions first.]
[Yes, Host. Within a body, you can cultivate multiple Nascent-Souls at a time. As for the method, it depends on you to find it.]
[And well… you can merge multiple Laws in one Nascent-Soul. And because the method is simple, I'm going to describe it here and now.]
[Host, there are two methods to cultivate multiple Laws into one Nascent-Soul:]
[First: cultivate and merge multiple Laws into one and merge it with your Nascent-Soul.]
[Second: search for the Law Source of multiple Laws—or use different Law Sources with the same density to consume.]
"Ohh… I didn't expect it to be this easy." Lin Chen said in amazement.
Now, after receiving all the answers, Lin Chen again tried and asked, "System, can you tell me how to condense that foundation of Qi-refining realm?"
[No.] the system replied, flatly.
"Then system, can you at least tell me how many realms with that foundation have been invented?" Lin Chen asked.
[Currently, if counted properly, then just within your own universe, from Qi-refining realm to Immortal Realm of that foundation have been discovered.]
"Ehh… that many, already?" Lin Chen was momentarily surprised.
[There's no need to be shocked, Host. Because the universe you live in is something in itself.]
But this only made him feel more depressed.
"Hey system, where have you sent me? It's not like other simulators who travel to the weakest world of the weakest universe within the weakest multiverse at all. Boo~hoo."
Seeing him cry, the system consoled him:
[Host, don't worry. Some of the future realms of that foundation depend on the support built in the early stage—while their condensation method remains the same as Supreme Foundation.]
[And about traveling to this universe? It is the best thing that could happen, because here you can find every power system in existence.]
Hearing this, Lin Chen quickly wiped his tears and smiled brightly.
The system responded with: [Speechless.]
Right now, all his questions had ended, and he began waiting for the system to issue rewards.
While waiting, his thoughts wandered:
"After the ascension of Xia Ruo Bing and Xia Bingming, the Combat Ranking System still didn't evaluate me as the strongest in the Xuantian Realm. Then the one to rank first must be the mysterious figure, or that white-robed figure from the Ancient Ruins… or the terror in the Southern Deep Forest."
At that moment, a voice pulled him out of thought:
[Ding, reward settlement completed. The host can choose five of the following rewards.]
---
(All reward options — grammar-corrected but unchanged)
[Purple Talent: Maniac.]
[Purple Talent: Puppeteer.]
… (Click to see further talents.)
[Cultivation: Mahayana Realm (Supreme Foundation with all Qis), Soul Strength.]
[Experience: Marrow-Cleansing Experience (Immortal-Grade Spirit Root of Wood), Combat exp, Muscle memory, Technique proficiency {Blood-Devouring Demonic Technique (White Tiger's Blood), Great Burning Heaven Technique (Immortal Root of Fire, Nirvana Flame), Eternal Sutra of Myriad Qi (Origin: Self-created), Myriad Poison Arts (100,000 poisons consumed), etc.} Practicing experience {two-third mastery over Sword Domain, Level 18 Law of Poison, Nine Elemental Law, Level 23 Flame Law, Level 23 Flame Sword, Level 12 Killing Fire, Level 12 Killing Sword, Frost Domain (Minor), 7th-grade Puppeteer, 8th-grade Alchemist, Yin-Yang Flame Law, Yin-Yang Wood Law, many Laws merged with Yin-Yang Law, etc.}]
[Resources: 8 trillion Spirit Stones, Ghost Gathering Jade Box, Bow of Teleportation, Trial Tower, Imperial Scripture of Time, System Origin, Sword of Desolate Heaven, many cultivation resources, Practice Room, Blood-Devouring Demonic Sword (Spiritual Treasure), huge amount of puppets (grades 1–7), large amount of pills (grades 1–8), Purple Thunder Sutra, Eternal Sutra of Myriad Qi, etc.]
[Detailed memory of everything you saw.]
[Deep Simulation Memory: In addition to your own memory (feelings), gain the complete life experiences of the Old Man and Flame Immortal.]
[Note: Though you will feel the emotions of yourself in simulation, they will not affect your temperament even in the slightest. Instead, choosing Deep Simulation Memory strengthens your emotional barrier, very useful for long-term cultivation—your endurance toward loneliness and emotional disturbances becomes stronger.]
---
Looking at the introduction of the last reward—Deep Simulation Memory—which piqued his interest, Lin Chen said, "System, I didn't expect there to be a hidden feature of the Deep Simulation Feature, and a very useful one at that."
Sidelining Cultivation and Detailed Memory, he directly picked Talents, Experience, Resources, and Deep Simulation Memory as his rewards.
Soon after the power-up and memory integration ended, he asked the system to introduce the Sword of Desolate Heaven.
[Sword of Desolate Heaven (Divine Grade): A sword born from the desolation and loneliness of countless years. This sword can absorb surrounding Qi into its Cultivation Space and turn it into Desolate Qi, which can only be manipulated by the Scripture of Desolation that comes with it.]
[Note: Various features remain to be discovered.]
"Hm… 'various features remain to be discovered'? Let's uncover that in the future. But before that, can you tell me the method to subdue this sword?" Lin Chen asked.
[Host, the method to subdue it was simple. You just had to focus your mind on the gem inscribed on its hilt, and you would be directly sucked into the Trial Space, where you must showcase your will and either obtain it or turn into nothingness.]
"Wait a second—wasn't this what I was going to try in the simulation but got distracted when the trade request from the Shen Family was accepted?"
"Well… let bygones be bygones. Let's move toward the future."
Saying this, he put the memory aside and ordered the system to upgrade directly.
[Ding, upgraded to Level 12 successfully. The upgraded function is explained below…]