Chapter 2: Talents, Your Innate Talent Is Uncommon

Upon seeing this, Su Xing was momentarily stunned.

Su Nian'an was his younger sister, and they had grown up together. How could she have suddenly passed away?

Filled with doubt, Su Xing continued reading.

"[Your parents told you that Su Nian'an died during a leveling session in a virtual copy.]"

"[You were overwhelmed with grief, drowning your sorrows in alcohol and a haze of dreams.]"

"[Your good friend Yu Yan found you. He lamented your sister's death.]"

"He comforted you, pulling you out from the depths of sorrow."

"He bestowed upon you a substantial sum of money, which you used to invest in a shop specializing in professional equipment."

"Quickly, you amassed wealth and became a renowned second-hand equipment merchant in Kyoto."

"Three years later, shocking news arrived—your good friend Yu Yan had also passed away."

Su Xing fell into silence upon reading this.

Yu Yan was his university roommate and his closest friend during his college years.

Moreover, Yu Yan was a hidden professional, considered a prodigy in the entire Kyoto Professional University. How could he have died like this?

"[You attended Yu Yan's funeral.]"

"At the funeral, you learned that Yu Yan died during a virtual copy."

"You found out from classmates that over the years, most of your peers had died in these copies."

"You were shocked. What kind of copies were these, that they claimed the lives of hundreds of powerful professionals?"

"But they were unwilling to disclose more."

"A sense of unprecedented crisis erupted within you. You resolved to cultivate diligently."

"You spent a year advancing to the ninth level of physical refinement."

"You continued to practice, but progress became increasingly difficult."

"In frustration, you shifted your focus back to your business."

"An abrupt market fluctuation caused the prices of restorative potion-like items to soar, while your equipment remained unsought."

"You went bankrupt. At thirty-two, your youthful ambitions had faded."

"Carrying thirty million in savings, you prepared to retire to your hometown."

"Four years later, you became a wealthy figure in the village."

"The village matchmaker, seeing you single, wanted to introduce you to a lovely girl from the village."

"You glanced at the girl, politely declining the offer."

"You thought life would continue peacefully this way."

"One day, while lounging in your courtyard, you looked up to see a colossal beast darkening the sky."

"In a trance, you witnessed several golden figures soar toward the creature and attack."

"The beast opened its mouth, swallowing the entire nation of Daxia."

"You died at the age of thirty-six!"

"The simulation ended!"

"The initial simulation rewards are available for collection. You can choose one of the following rewards: Talent Holder (Innate Talent) or Ninth Level of Physical Refinement (Cultivation)."

Observing the simulation results, Su Xing sank into contemplation.

Fifteen years later, a powerful monster descended upon the real world, devouring the entire nation of Daxia!

Such a formidable monster was unheard of by Su Xing.

Perhaps there wasn't a single professional among the entire human race capable of resisting it.

At this realization, Su Xing bitterly smiled to himself: "So, fifteen years later is the end of the world... Alas, after thousands of years of resistance, the human race was ultimately extinguished by the demonic race."

Su Xing sighed, but then shook his head.

"Who knows what will happen in fifteen years... It's best to focus on the present!"

Su Xing turned his gaze to the two rewards he could choose from and fell into a dilemma.

Talent Holder, an innate gift, or the Ninth Level of Physical Refinement, a cultivated ability— which should he choose?

After deliberation, Su Xing resolutely declared, "I choose the Talent Holder!"

Simultaneously, an imperceptible change seemed to occur within Su Xing; his senses became more acute.

"So, this is what it feels like to possess an innate talent?"

Suddenly, Su Xing noticed something and discreetly glanced down.

"Oh? Is there such a fortunate occurrence for one's talent to be different from the norm?"

He chose the innate talent because it was randomly acquired, and his yearning for cultivating immortality couldn't allow him to miss such a gift.

As for the Ninth Level of Physical Refinement, while it was commendable for the present Su Xing, he believed that if he continued simulating in the virtual realm, reaching the ninth level again wouldn't be difficult.

After selecting the talent, Su Xing intended to continue the simulation but received a prompt from the system.

"[Ding! This simulation consumes 200 energy points. Current simulation energy: 0. Cooldown for simulation time is in progress. Please recharge energy and simulate again in one week.]"

Su Xing remembered then that each simulation required energy and had a one-week cooldown period.

The cooldown was easily addressed; he only needed to wait for a week. But how could he acquire energy?

"[Ding! This simulator can absorb all energy-containing materials, converting them into simulation energy!]"

Upon hearing this, Su Xing's heart stirred. Hastily, he retrieved a dozen or so pieces of white equipment.

"Absorb!"

"[Detected white equipment, sharp dagger. Successfully absorbed, gained 5 energy points.]"

"[Detected white equipment, the Princess's gauntlets. Successfully absorbed, gained 8 energy points.]"

"[Detected white equipment…]"

"[...]"

"[Simulator remaining energy: 103 points.]"

Su Xing's expression darkened upon receiving the notification.

Despite numerous pieces of white equipment contributing 9 energy points at most and some as little as 2 points, the simulator's energy had only been restored to 103 points, nearly half the required 200!

"Darn it, even one piece of white equipment costs at least a thousand Daxia coins. Blast it, I've spent tens of thousands in the blink of an eye?"

Su Xing felt a pang of regret, yet he still produced over a dozen more pieces of equipment, replenishing the energy to 205 points.

"Ah, I've nearly exhausted the collection of equipment I've gathered over these three years. Further replenishment might require actual purchases!"

Su Xing sighed, but fortunately, over these three years, he frequently ventured into copies to earn money, accumulating several hundred thousand in savings.

"Better buy more white equipment to recharge the energy!"

Su Xing fetched his phone, spending several hours.

He purchased over a hundred white equipment pieces on the professional's online trading platform, converting them all into energy.

"[Remaining energy in the simulator: 713 points.]"

Observing the displayed energy in the simulator, Su Xing felt content.

"Now, all I need to do is wait for a week!"

Knock knock knock!

Just then, a chubby figure entered the dormitory.

"Old Su, there are six freshman girls waiting outside the dorm for you... one of them is quite attractive! Hehe, you're quite the player!"

The speaker was Yu Yan, also known as Fatty Yu, a hidden professional as a fire mage, known as the Blazing Mage!

Su Xing understood that the freshman girls, whom Yu Yan had brought, were here for his service. Therefore, he cast a complex glance at Fatty Yu.

"I know, they're here for me to guide them through the copy! I'll be back in the evening, remember to save me some dinner!"

Su Xing patted Fatty Yu's shoulder and left the dormitory.

At the dormitory entrance, Su Xing spotted six beautifully dressed freshman girls.

Su Xing straightforwardly stated, "Do you all understand the rules? For the next copy, it's 2,000 coins per person, and any equipment or items obtained during the session belong to me!"

Several girls nodded in agreement, but one, with delicate features and a simple appearance, hesitated.

Su Xing noticed this but didn't address it directly, simply saying, "Come with me then!"

Soon, they arrived at a copy called "Ten-Mile Slope" on the outskirts of the city.

This particular copy constantly refreshed a creature known as the "Wild Boar Spirit."

With levels ranging from bronze 5 to 10, it provided substantial experience for new professionals but posed a considerable challenge.

However, for Su Xing at the sixth level of physical refinement, it was akin to dealing with children.

An hour later, several of the girls had leveled up.

Su Xing successfully received his ten thousand coins in payment and then looked at the hesitant girl who still hadn't paid.

"Um, senior... I'm a bit short on money at the moment, could I…"

(End of this chapter)