Spiritual Stones and First Paid Simulation

Ling Tian returned to his residence within the clan as night fell. The moonlight cast a serene glow over his surroundings, but his mind was focused on the task at hand. He first consumed the Azure Leaf and Heaven's Vein Grass, feeling a surge of energy enhancing his talent. The herbs left a bitter taste in his mouth, but he could clearly feel a slight increase in his body's aptitude. With renewed vigor, he opened the scroll and read through the Nine Heavens Primordial Refinement technique.

The technique was intricate and profound, promising to bestow a special physique known as the Nine Heavens Primordial Body upon mastering its nine layers. Ling Tian wasted no time and began practicing it immediately. The night passed quickly as he practiced the Nine Heavens Primordial Refinement Technique. Immersed in the profound movements and breathing exercises, he felt the qi in his body circulating more smoothly.

As dawn broke, the first rays of the sun filtered through his window, pulling Ling Tian from his meditative state. He stretched, feeling the subtle changes within him. The Nine Heavens Primordial Refinement technique had indeed enhanced his talent. Though still at the first layer, his senses were sharper, and the qi flowing through his body was smoother.

He proceeded with his morning routine practice, each movement more precise and fluid than before, and his control over his qi had noticeably improved. After finishing his practice, Ling Tian rested for a while and reflected on his future path. Ling Tian recalled that in the previous simulation, it took him 18 years to break through to the second layer and 86 years to reach the third layer of the Nine Heavens Primordial Refinement Technique. He believed that the subsequent layers would take even more time and would only become more challenging.

Pondering ways to accelerate his progress, Ling Tian realized that obtaining spiritual stones and activating a paid simulation seemed the most viable option. Determined, he decided to start the daily free simulation with the goal of finding methods to acquire Spiritual Stones.

[Simulation Starting …]

[Year 1: At the age of 16, you decide to explore the marketplace in the city, seeking opportunities to gain valuable resources. After arriving at the bustling market, you wander through the bustling market that was filled with stalls and shops selling a variety of items. You navigated through the crowd, examining weapons, pills, and cultivation techniques.]

[As you browse the marketplace, you come across a store crowded with people. Intrigued, you push through the crowd and find a stall surrounded by jade stones of different colors and sizes. You learn that these jade stones are typically found on the periphery of spiritual stone mines and have a slim chance of containing spiritual stones. People could purchase these jade stones and open them at the store or home]

[You count the money you have on yourself and decide to try your luck. You randomly choose one jade stone and request the shopkeeper to open it. The shopkeeper calls for a professional who specializes in opening jade stones. With precision, the professional split the stone in half, revealing five spiritual stones embedded within.]

[The professional exclaims, "This... there are five spiritual stones!" Excitement surged through the crowd. but you quickly noticed the attention you had attracted. Surrounded by people eager to see the spiritual stones, you felt a few malicious gazes. You hurriedly escaped from the crowd, sensing someone following you.]

[Entering an alley, you find yourself surrounded by five men, all at the peak of the Muscle Tempering stage. Despite your best efforts, you couldn't resist their coordinated attacks. Before you succumb to their attacks, you hear one of them say, "Kid, don't blame us. Blame yourself for exposing and carrying these treasures around." You're dead.]

[Simulation Complete.]

[Evaluation: The marketplace offered a viable method to obtain spiritual stones, but carelessness in exposing your newfound wealth led to your demise. Exercise caution when handling valuable items in public.]

Ling Tian opened his eyes, absorbing the information from the simulation. He had found a way to obtain spiritual stones but also learned the dangers of exposing such treasures. He reviewed the events carefully and prepared to execute his plan in the real world.

He headed to the marketplace, his steps purposeful. Upon arrival, he navigated the stalls with ease, finally finding the store that sold the jade stones. He picked up the jade stone he had chosen in the simulation, purchased it, and returned home without drawing any attention.

Back at his residence, he carefully opened the jade stone, mimicking the professional's technique from the simulation. After considerable effort, the stone split, revealing five crystal-clear spiritual stones. Ling Tian quickly retrieved them and discarded the debris of the jade stone, his heart racing with excitement.

Holding the spiritual stones, he spoke inwardly, "Simulator, I want to do a paid simulation." The simulator responded:

[Ding, discovered five low-tier spiritual stones in the host's possession. Do you want to pay one low-tier spiritual stone for one paid simulation?]

Ling Tian responded, "Pay."

[Ding, Simulation starting...]

A new screen appeared before him, showing a refreshed talent pool.

[Ding, Talent Refresh Successful, congratulations to the host for refreshing two Talents. You can choose one of them.]

[Hard Worker (white): Your determination helps you persist through tough training.]

[Good Memory (white): You remember things slightly better than most people.]

After weighing the pros of each talent, Ling Tian chose "Hard Worker."

[Ding, the Talent Hard Worker (white) was selected. Simulation Starting …]

[Year 1: With Hard Worker talent, you cultivated the Nine Heavens Primordial Refinement Technique diligently.]

[Year 3: You are still practicing the technique and have reached the peak of the Bone Tempering Stage.]

[Year 4: At 20, you reach the peak of the first layer of the Nine Heavens Primordial Refinement Technique. You break through to the Blood Tempering Stage.]

[Year 9: Your persistence bore fruit as you reached the peak of Marrow Tempering at the age of 25 and the second layer of the Nine Heavens Primordial Refinement technique.]

[Year 14: By the age of 30, you awakened your Dantian and reached the Awakening Stage of the Innate Realm, extending your lifespan to 200 years.]

[Disciples from the Fiery Fire Sect arrived in the city to recruit new members. You qualified to enter the sect with your brother, but after careful consideration, you decided to stay behind. Watching your brother leave with the sect's disciples, you felt a pang of loneliness but remained resolute in your decision.]

[Seeking a place suitable for secluded cultivation, you ventured deep into the nearby forest and found a secluded valley with abundant spiritual energy. There, you dedicated yourself to practice.]

[Year 24: At the age of 40, you continued practicing the Nine Heavens Primordial Refinement Technique, steadily increasing your cultivation and expanding your Dantian.]

[Year 34: At the age of 50, your Dantian reached its limit, and you advanced to the peak of the Awakening stage of the Innate Realm.]

[Year 38: At 54, your cultivation continued to increase steadily and you are advancing steadily in the second layer of the Nine Heavens Primordial Refinement Technique.]

[Year 44: At 60, the Hard Worker talent activated, allowing you to begin opening and clearing your first meridian, advancing to the Connection Stage of the Innate Realm.]

[Year 49: At 65, you reached the third layer of the technique, further enhancing your talent and accelerating your cultivation progress.]

[Year 54: At the age of 70, you cleared all your body's meridians, establishing a stable connection between your Dantian and them. This allowed for a smooth flow of spiritual energy throughout your body, and you advanced to the Integration Stage of the Innate Realm.]

[Year 74: At 90, your Dantian was filled with purified spiritual energy, and you reached the peak of the Innate Realm.]

[Year 79: At 95, your innate realm was perfected to the extreme, and you began breaking through to the spiritual realm. The Spiritual Realm is characterized by the liquefaction of spiritual energy stored in the Dantian. This realm focuses on increasing the density and potency of spiritual energy. However, you should have gone to the outside world to search for a cultivation technique because from the spiritual realm and onwards, practicing a cultivation technique is necessary as it can liquefy the spiritual energy faster, and enhance it giving a special characteristic that makes cultivators stronger and enhancing one's combat level allowing one to leapfrog while challenging others. So although you will be the weakest Spiritual Realm cultivator, being safe and capable of practicing on your own in seclusion is far better]

[Year 80: You begin the process of condensing spiritual energy into a liquid form]

[Year 87: By the age of 103, 1/3 of the spiritual energy in your Dantian turned into liquid form, increasing its potency, and you advanced to the initial stage of the Spiritual Realm extending your lifespan to 500 years.]

[Year 104: At 120, the Hard Worker talent activated again, allowing you to reach the fourth layer of the Nine Heavens Primordial Refinement Technique, further enhancing your talent and accelerating your cultivation progress.]

[Year 114: By 130 years of age, you continued the liquefaction process, converting more spiritual energy into liquid.]

[Year 124: At 140, 2/3 of the spiritual energy in your Dantian was now liquid, allowing for more powerful techniques, and you advanced to the intermediate stage of the spiritual realm.]

[Year 134: At 150, you heard roars and cries of beasts. Exiting the secluded valley to observe, you saw a battle between a giant draconic elephant and a female cultivator. From their auras, you sensed they were likely in the Purple Mansion Realm. Their attacks devastated the surroundings, killing many beasts in their path. You decided to escape the forest, but the giant beast's foot missed a step, crashing down toward you. Despite your resistance, you were crushed into a pulp. You're dead.]

[Simulation Complete.]

[Evaluation: Your persistence in living a secluded life coupled with your talent and the Nine Heavens Primordial Refinement Technique allowed you to reach the Intermediate Stage of the Spiritual Realm but at the same time you were the weakest Spiritual Realm cultivator due to the lack of a cultivation technique and a careless aftermath accident led to your demise]

[These are the following rewards:

- The intermediate stage of the Spiritual Realm (weak due to the lack of a corresponding cultivation technique).

- Comprehension and experience of the Nine Heavens Primordial Refinement Technique (till the fourth layer).

- White Talent: Hard Worker.

You can choose one of them only]