16. 10 simulation attempts, activate.

Noah Drake

Looked at the compass in his hand.

"No mythical item, huh."

This time, it landed on the Mountain Protection Array and a few items to complete the manor, and even included a chair...

He set the chair next to the table and sat down on it. The feeling was much more comfortable.

But...

The function of this Mountain Protection Array is to shield the manor from external attacks; the greater the energy consumption, the stronger the defense, up to the level of the Tribulation stage, the highest level in this world.

But, why would I need this array when I have the protection of the heavenly law... And it even consumes spirit stones every month... Spirit stones are regarded as the currency for system transactions; everything requires spirit stones...

"Such a waste..."

His stomach growled. He hadn't eaten anything all day. Time to see if there was anything to eat...

"Zhao Yu, what are you looking at? Sweep."

He waved the compass in his hand.

"Do you like it? As long as you remain loyal and diligent, I won't treat you unfairly..."

...

The kitchen was empty... Other than the kitchen utensils, there were no ingredients... Really? A table without a chair, and now a kitchen without ingredients.

"System, there's nothing to eat..."

The system does not have the function of supporting the host; please find your own food and sustain yourself.

"Well... there's only one solution left."

He went to the main courtyard.

"Zhao Yu, go gather firewood and find something to eat. Hmm... It's been a long time since I've had anything; I'm craving something... Quickly, and I'll reward you with the compass from earlier."

While picking leaves in the yard, Zhao Yu was slightly stunned.

'Just now, did he say he was craving food...? And that posture...! One hand holding a jar of sugar, the other dipping and licking with an air of elegance. But this is his manor. That question should be mine to ask, shouldn't it?'

Zhao Yu felt something wasn't quite right but still responded honestly.

"Manor Lord, my storage pouch is broken, and all the items are gone; I don't have anything.

Or... just now, I saw some wild vegetables that I used to eat as a child...

If you don't mind, let me show off my skills for you to try."

Noah's eyes filled with doubt when he heard that. His voice was challenging and suggestive.

"You know how to cook... Alright... The kitchen's over there."

A while later.

The food on the table... was just a single dish of boiled greens. In fact, it was two types of greens boiled together.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

While eating.

Unexpectedly, it was delicious. Delicious... Both sweet and salty... perfectly seasoned.

"This is good..."

"Ah, here's your identity token. Take it; from now on, there's no need for formalities. I don't like such formalities, just call me Manor Lord. No need for all this 'senior' and 'junior' talk... Come, sit down and eat with me."

Zhao Yu could only sit down after hearing that. (Not wanting to go against the Manor Lord's wishes.)

"Thank you, Manor Lord, for your generosity."

"Chief Steward Zhao, you need to propagate this type of vegetable urgently... What I mean is, tomorrow you need to plant a garden of these vegetables. So that we have clean vegetables to eat in the future."

Zhao Yu obediently nodded.

"Yes, I will plant a garden of these vegetables tomorrow."

Noah frowned, waved his hand, and said seriously.

"Drop the 'I, your humble servant' stuff, just call me Manor Lord."

Being addressed as a humble servant by an elder felt odd...

When the night meal was finished, the candlelight illuminated the room, but Noah still felt it unfamiliar...

Meanwhile, Zhao Yu stared intently at the identity token, appearing curious. This golden token—what material was it made of? It felt solid and cool... It wasn't just an ordinary item...

Seeing the Core Formation cultivator eyeing the token curiously, Noah ...

"Ah, and that token. Raise the token with both hands, look up to the sky, and shout loudly,

'The manor is eternal, long live the Manor Lord, token activate'...

and you'll enter a unique space. Only those of the manor can enter. Go ahead, try it."

In Zhao Yu's heart, he screamed... Heresy... but outwardly, he remained calm.

"May I ask something, Manor Lord? Earlier, when you took out the compass... I mean, you appeared so divine... those glittering stones in your hand... I just wanted to say, it was impressive..."

This guy knows how to flatter...

"That? I keep my word... Here, take it... You are now part of the manor... As long as you enter that unique space, you'll know how to do it."

...

"Try it; I'm here. If you don't understand something, I'll help you..."

Zhao Yu... 'Needed help?'

He took a deep breath. Who am I?! There's nothing I haven't experienced, and I can't let the Manor Lord down... This is trivial...

With both hands, he reverently held up the token and shouted loudly.

"The manor is eternal, long live the Manor Lord, token activate..."

...

Nothing happened... His face felt a bit hot

...

Zhao Yu ' what's wrong with you'...

Noah, sitting beside, muttered.

"System, what's going on with this story?"

Zhao Yu's manor membership is not yet recognized by the token, as his mind is too unsettled.

Noah Drake... ' furrowed his brow. Could it be' ...

"Try calming yourself. Again."

"Still not working?"

"Change your posture, try meditating..."

"Still no result?"

..

Zhao Yu's expression hardened, ears reddened, and he whispered.

"You're not joking with me, are you...?"

'He... didn't believe' , Noah felt as if his goodwill was being trampled on...

"I'd lie to you...?"

... Silence...

Noah calmed down and spoke gently.

"You need the token's recognition to be considered an official member... Maybe there's something holding you back that the token disapproves of..."

"I think your mind is too chaotic, so the token hasn't recognized you yet. Relax and stay calm, and it should work... Reflect in your room or try sitting under the banyan tree outside."

...

Lying in his room... Looking through the window... The sky, cloudless, the stars twinkling brightly.

"No moon tonight... It feels so unfamiliar... This all seems like a dream... This Zhao Yu, despite being at the Core Formation stage, isn't as I imagined... Yeah... I must try to go home soon..."

"System, open inventory."

I have 10 simulation attempts... I still need to find a new identity marker to unlock missions...

For now, I'm safe...

"Let's start by strengthening my power..."

"Item for 10 simulations, activate."

Life simulation. Function to strengthen internal foundation.

During the simulation, the host will enter a dream, experiencing life once, and at the end, the host will retain all experience and knowledge from that simulation.

A reminder that useful traits such as bravery, courage, cunning can be enhanced during the simulation, up to a maximum of 3 traits. In exchange, the opposite traits will decrease. Simply put, if the host has 7 courage points and 5 cowardice points, after enhancing courage, the host will have 10 courage points and 2 cowardice points.

Subsequent simulations retain 1/10 of the foundation from previous simulations for the next time.

Events in the host's simulation are entirely random.

If awakened during the dream, the simulation will end immediately and may lead to unwanted side effects in reality, such as headaches or dizziness.

Confirm use...

"Confirm."

"Setting up process..."

...

Entering the simulation in 5 minutes...

He covered himself with a warm blanket... Closed the door... Prepared everything.

3, 2, 1, entering...

...

At the same time, in another room, Zhao Yu was meditating on the bed.

"My mind is disturbed... because of what? My past? The present? Or the future...?"

"It can't be! My cultivation method is unique. Once the mind becomes chaotic, my cultivation base will disperse like the wind."

Or try the strange tree.

Wait. Why do I need to be recognized by the token to become an official member? I need to escape this place... But leaving now feels wrong... After all, he did heal me, even the internal injuries... Moreover, he doesn't seem bad... I'm not someone ungrateful...

...

In this seemingly ordinary manor, only that tree stands out as exceptional.

"This must be the 'Banyan' tree the Manor Lord mentioned." The branches glowed mystically, arranged in layers, emitting a faint, calming fragrance in the quiet night, enchanting...

"This must be a treasure too."

Sitting under the tree, the fragrance passed by, recent memories surged back... And he suddenly felt clarity.

This manor, the Manor Lord, at most, has a bit of eccentricity, unorthodoxy, strangeness... But overall, it isn't that bad. It can only be said that the Manor Lord is peculiar... But which senior isn't peculiar... It's not that I can't accept it... Seems like I foolishly misunderstood the Manor Lord...

...

Still not it...? So it's not that reason.

Staring at the token. What's holding me back?

Suddenly, a vision of his sacrifice to save a disciple appeared...

"What is this?"

A faint voice echoed in his mind.

"Cowardly, weak, lacking confidence in oneself, hiding behind the facade of a genius... You're afraid to face your sect, afraid of responsibility, so you chose to run... And that reason of sacrificing for a disciple? Perfect, wasn't it?"

... Silence... The voice faded... Zhao Yu was stunned.

"Yes, it turns out I've just been deceiving myself... Under the immense pressure from my fellow disciples, the sect, my master..."

Suddenly, all the visions disappeared, and he returned to reality.

Looking at the token in his hand, a connection had formed... Zhao Yu held the token reverently with both hands, raised it, and shouted:

"The manor is eternal, long live the Manor Lord, token activate."

Immediately, the space around him shifted within a 3-meter radius... Clouds swirled, and knowledge about the manor, tasks, privileges, poured into his mind... He spoke calmly.

"Unveil the gathering of realms..."

Finished, in his hand was a sword called the Steadfast Heart Sword, which became sharper the stronger and more determined the mind was...

'I don't practice swordsmanship... Could it be that the Manor Lord wants me to refine my mind?'

Zhao Yu looked at the tree before him, then turned towards the Manor Lord's room. His eyes were determined...

' He not only saved my body but also my soul... And yet, I... This debt must be repaid'

He bowed deeply...