Preparation

As Strider stared at the ten spirit stones disappearing into the void, a pulse of energy vibrated through his surroundings, and the Demon God Simulator sprang to life.

The foggy system space materialized around him once more, shrouding him in an eerie yet oddly familiar atmosphere.

The system interface glowed faintly before presenting him with a prompt:

"Simulation initialized. Do you wish to start?"

Without hesitation, Strider confirmed.

[Choose one Talent:]

[Little Dark Lord: Grants high cultivation speed in the dark element, amplifying progress in demonic cultivation.]

[Little Lucky Boy: Enhances luck by +100, leading to serendipitous opportunities and favorable outcomes.]

[Little Sword Genius: Enables the user to learn sword techniques 20 times faster than others.]

Strider carefully considered his options. Each talent was valuable in its own way, but his decision had to align with his long-term goal—ascending to the next stage of Ghostling evolution and reaching the power of a Wraith.

Little Dark Lord was the obvious choice for his demonic cultivation path. With his dark element affinity as a Ghostling, this talent would directly enhance his growth.

Little Lucky Boy was tempting; luck was a game-changer, especially in unfamiliar simulated worlds.

However, Strider deemed it unnecessary for the time being. Without understanding the world he would be entering, he couldn't count on luck alone.

Little Sword Genius was the least relevant. As a Ghostling, he didn't rely on weapons. His power lay in his supernatural techniques—movement, defense, and attack—all of which evolved with his demonic cultivation.

Strider selected Little Dark Lord without hesitation.

[Little Dark lord selected]

[Ding!!!]

The system acknowledged his choice with a faint hum, and the simulation began to weave its reality around him.

Thinking about the next evolution he was a little excited.

After spending 100 system points he was able to find the ritual needed for next evolution from a Ghostling.

The next evolution of a peak Ghostling leads to a Wraith.

Strider's goal in this simulation was crystal clear: to evolve his Ghostling form into a Wraith.

According to the Demon God Catalogue, a Wraith was a significant evolution for a Ghostling and was equivalent to the Energy Accumulation Realm, the second stage of human cultivation.

The catalogue also described Wraiths as unparalleled entities in their realm.

Their strength far exceeded ordinary cultivators of the same stage, making them a force to be reckoned with.

If Strider could reach the peak of Wraith during this simulation, he would possess power rivaling even the strongest Energy Accumulation cultivators.

What's more, the techniques granted by his demonic evolution would allow him to hold his own against a weaker Core Building Realm cultivator, the third stage of cultivation.

Strider's ambitions didn't stop there. The Stoneheart Empire's top cultivators—those from the marquis and duke families, as well as the royal family—rarely ventured out of their territories.

They relied on Core Building Realm cultivators for protection, but these powerhouses seldom interfered in the lives of commoners or the lower aristocracy.

This meant that Energy Accumulation Realm cultivators dominated most of the empire. Strider knew that if he could reach the Wraith stage, he would gain the freedom to roam the empire without fear.

However, he wasn't just aiming for freedom; he sought spirit stones.

Only through collecting spirit stones he can recharge the system faster and increase his strength through more simulation.

According to the catalogue, a Wraith at its peak wielded strength unmatched in the Energy Accumulation Realm.

If he succeeded, he could elevate the Cromwell family's standing, shield Silvia from external threats, and ensure the family's prosperity for generations.

Strider clenched his fists in determination. This time, I won't leave the simulation until I've achieved my goal, he resolved.

The environment around him began to shift from the foggy system space, indicating the simulation was starting.

Strider's focus sharpened as he contemplated his plans for earning spirit stones through official channels while maintaining anonymity.

His thoughts revolved around creating a proxy identity that he could use with different appearances, made possible by the shape-altering abilities of a Ghostling.

This would ensure that any actions he took to secure spirit stones or engage in other endeavors could not be traced back to him or his family.

The safety of his family was his top priority, as he wanted to avoid any consequences that could arise from his future activities.

Strider understood the delicate balance he needed to maintain.

If he succeeded in this simulation and achieved the peak of Wraith—equivalent to the 2nd stage energy accumulation realm—he planned to meet with his great-great-grandfather, Alex Cromwell.

Strider wanted to reveal his progress while ensuring his demonic nature remained a secret.

The revelation of him reaching the energy accumulation realm would bring hope and pride to his family, but exposing his true form as a Ghostling could lead to disaster.

His great-great-grandfather and other family members might mistake his transformation for demonic possession, which would likely result in their attempts to eradicate him.

To avoid suspicion, Strider decided he would only use Ghostling techniques sparingly and subtly while maintaining his human form.

By channeling his Ghostling abilities through his human body, the techniques would appear to be ordinary yin qi-based methods, which were not uncommon in the cultivation world.

However, he knew he needed to be cautious, as using his full strength could release demonic qi, risking exposure.

The consequences of being identified as a demonic entity were too severe to risk, especially with the Empire's strict stance against demons.

While these thoughts occupied his mind, he felt the environment around him stabilize. The simulation world had fully materialized, pulling him into its reality.

Strider immediately stopped his train of thought and began assessing his surroundings. His sharp instincts and awareness kicked in as he scanned the area, taking note of every detail.