"Detected a golden-thread nanmu wood chair—exchange yields 500 energy points.""Detected Hetian jade ruyi scepter—exchange yields 600 energy points.""Detected several silk brocade outfits—exchange yields 500 energy points."…As for silver notes, he had checked them already; they barely provided any energy—no matter how large the denomination, each was worth just 1 energy point.
Jiang Yifeng realized that the simulator measured the energy contained in the item itself, not the value assigned to it by humans. After going through the items, his previously luxurious and elegant room was completely emptied, and the simulator's energy value displayed. Not as much as he had imagined, but enough for now.
Jiang Yifeng immediately exchanged for the Tianxuan Temple coordinates (on the map). Some energy remained. Holding the map in his hands, he gave it a quick glance. Tianxuan Temple, nestled in the Evergreen Mountains, was thousands of kilometers from Qingshan City. Even now that he had the exact coordinates, traveling there by carriage in reality would take months. Riding a horse would be faster—but he didn't know how to ride.
Thinking of the bandits he had encountered in the simulation, Jiang Yifeng decided it was safer to stay in Qingshan City in reality and use the simulator whenever possible. He should still be able to find the information he needed there.
Looking at his last chance for simulation, Jiang Yifeng made a plan in his mind. This time, he couldn't openly investigate the cultivators. First, he would quietly seek out Tianxuan Temple to see if he could uncover any useful information—ideally enough to set him on the path of cultivation. If nothing about cultivation could be found, he would start learning martial arts himself. Currently, he was far too weak; hiring bodyguards every time was inconvenient. Without improving himself, even in the simulator, he would be stuck.
Once his target was clear, Jiang Yifeng muttered:"Start simulation."
[Simulation attempt 1 consumed, remaining attempts: 0][Drawing a white talent costs no energy; drawing a green talent costs 1000 energy points. Draw a green talent?]
"Draw green talent." Jiang Yifeng didn't hesitate.
[Ding! 1000 energy points deducted. Remaining energy: X. Green talent drawing in progress…][Congratulations! You've obtained the talent: Fitness Expert.][Fitness Expert (Talent): Your training yields significantly better results than ordinary people.]
Seeing this talent, Jiang Yifeng's eyes lit up. Was the simulator giving him a cheat code? He had just thought about improving his strength—and it immediately offered a talent that enhanced his physical fitness. Perfect!
[Simulation #3 begins][After the first two simulations, you realize the dangers of this world. This time, you are truly determined to improve yourself.][But first, you plan to make a trip to the Evergreen Mountains to check on that small temple.][That day, you went to Wu Family Martial Arts School and asked Wu Youdao to accompany you.][Perhaps because you only invited him, Wu Youdao didn't immediately agree. He made it clear he was the head of the martial arts school, not a bodyguard.][So you casually threw out a million silver notes. Wu Youdao's expression changed. He admitted he was technically just a bodyguard—the "school head" role was part-time.][You smiled faintly, arranged to depart early the next morning, and thought to yourself: money really makes things easier.]
The next day, at dawn, you arrived at Wu Family Martial Arts School. You handed Wu Youdao the prepared straw hats and face masks, signaling him to hide his identity.
Wu Youdao thought it was unnecessary, but having learned from the last simulation, you insisted on keeping things covert.
Finally, the two of you stealthily left Qingshan City wearing hats and masks. After walking 20 kilometers that day, you and Wu Youdao found an open space to camp. Exhausted, Wu Youdao suggested buying a carriage in the next town. You almost agreed, but recalling dying twice in the simulations, you shook your head. You reminded yourself not to slack off—every moment must be used to improve.
That day's walk was tiring, but you could feel your physical condition improving. Normally, someone who had never exercised would suffer swelling and pain in the calves after such a long walk, but now, apart from being tired, you felt fine. You realized this must be the effect of the Fitness Expert talent, which strengthened your resolve to train harder.
On the third day, nothing significant happened—you trudged 23 kilometers.Fourth day: 25 kilometers.Fifth day: 27 kilometers.…By the sixtieth day, you could walk 90 kilometers with ease.
In reality, Jiang Yifeng was shocked. Was the Fitness Expert talent really this powerful? In just two months, a weakling who collapsed after 20 kilometers had improved to easily walking 90 kilometers in a day. Excluding time for meals and sleep, this was already beyond former hiking enthusiasts—or even professional athletes. Jiang Yifeng whispered, "Amazing," and glanced back at the simulation panel.
[Wu Youdao has noticed your progress.][He calls you a martial arts prodigy and asks if you want to learn from him; his annual tuition is normally 900 silver notes.]You knew Wu Youdao was sparing no expense for talent. Normally, the Wu Family Martial Arts School charged 1,000 silver notes a year, never discounted. Even with few students, he never lowered prices. Everyone called him greedy—yet now he was offering a discount, which was rare.
You politely declined for now, thinking you would consider it after returning to Qingshan City. Your priority remained finding Tianxuan Temple—you might even find a cultivation opportunity there. Once that happened, who needed martial arts?
Wu Youdao didn't push. You continued on your journey.
By the third month, you and Wu Youdao officially entered the Evergreen Mountains. You encountered bandits again. Wu Youdao fought dozens single-handedly without losing ground, while you—though your fitness had greatly improved—still lacked combat skill and could only flee in disarray. After a prolonged fight, the bandits eventually retreated. Thanks to your enhanced physical ability, you escaped unscathed, albeit messily.
By the fourth month, you finally reached the coordinates marked on the map. But seeing the site, you were puzzled.
You remembered that in the last simulation, the temple was described as a small, intact temple. Yet here, it was a ruin. You were very confused.
In reality, Jiang Yifeng was also baffled. How could the same coordinates produce two different scenes? The simulator coordinates should be accurate. Could it be the timing?
"Ah, the two trips were at different times!" Jiang Yifeng suddenly realized. In the simulator, he had gone to the coordinates in the fourth month, while the previous simulation was set in the eighth year. Perhaps at that earlier time, the site was still a ruin. Only in the following years was Tianxuan Temple built on this location.
Considering this, Jiang Yifeng looked at the simulator again.
[You realize that the timing may be off. This trip is several years earlier than the last.][Tianxuan Temple may not yet exist.][Feeling a bit disappointed, you wonder if this trip will be wasted.]
The ruins didn't seem small, but they weren't enormous either, covering a few hundred acres. You couldn't imagine what this place had originally been used for. If it had been a sect, it would have been small; if it were a mansion, who would build it deep in the mountains?