Chapter 45: Reactions

[Fourth Simulation Beginning…]

As Zhou Sheng'an returned to his senses, the entries on the panel refreshed.

"Something's off. This system is acting a bit too independently… and why are those women making different choices from before?" Zhou Sheng'an propped up his chin, pondering for a moment.

This system was too important to him. He couldn't afford to take it lightly.

After a brief silence, Zhou Sheng'an nodded slightly and said, "If I'm not wrong, I'm probably not the only one with a system! That would explain why my future is shifting in different directions."

"And the way Spirit Hall is handling my theories must also be influenced by this."

He quickly grasped the core of the issue.

If the system wasn't unique to him, then he had to be even more careful.

In the simulation, he had stolen the spotlight. Those women who witnessed his brilliance—how would they react to him?

Just thinking of someone like Bibi Dong, that lunatic, made it impossible not to take this seriously!

"System, who else can participate in the simulations?" Zhou Sheng'an asked softly.

[...]

"There's not even a system manual?" Zhou Sheng'an frowned.

"But one thing's certain—the system must have appeared on the Douluo Continent because of me. Since I'm already relying on guesses, those natives definitely wouldn't know the truth either!"

"In other words, to avoid being targeted, I can just pretend I don't understand how the system works."

"Right! If anyone finds out I can also take part, even if others don't do anything, Bibi Dong will definitely kill me!"

Zhou Sheng'an shivered at the thought. For the sake of his life, he needed to quietly grow stronger in secret!

He opened the simulation panel again and selected "auto-run."

To him, this was just a game—though a very rewarding one. The panel allowed him to set a general direction for the simulation's outcome.

"Let's treat it like starting from scratch!"

"I don't even know what kind of entanglements I had with those women. If conditions allow, I'll keep a low profile this time, observe the customs of different regions… If I run into danger in the future, it'll make it easier to escape. Then… sleep!"

Zhou Sheng'an pulled up his blanket and drifted off into a sweet sleep.

…

While Zhou Sheng'an slept soundly, the chain reaction he set off left many goddesses across the continent wide awake.

During the first two simulations, Zhou Sheng'an's deepest connection had been with Qian Renxue. Because of that, most of the goddesses hadn't paid him much attention—he was just a theory master, after all. They didn't really care, using the simulations solely for their own futures.

But in the third simulation, the ending caused by the Grand Sage Master was too drastic!

The entire power structure of the Douluo Continent had been upended!

Heaven Dou fallen!

Star Luo fallen!

Spirit Hall destroyed!

These three major events—without experiencing the simulation themselves, none of them could've imagined it, even if they broke their heads thinking!

Moreover, Zhou Sheng'an's own brilliance had already carved a shining chapter in soul master history. The divine miracle he left at Hangu Pass, the wildfire of his scholarly travels across kingdoms—all of it would be forever etched in the annals of history.

That night, the goddesses couldn't sleep.

Their bloodshot eyes wide open, they all began simulating!

…

Liu Erlong couldn't sleep either.

But it wasn't because of the goddess simulation system—she still hadn't participated in a single simulation. She thought of it as just a psychological illusion caused by her longing for Yu Xiaogang.

"So annoying! I was already irritated, and now he keeps popping up in front of me!"

"This is all Zhou Sheng'an's fault! Who gave him the right to say that about Xiaogang? He doesn't even know Xiaogang! Arrogant little brat—if he meets Xiaogang in person, he'll eat all those words!"

"I wonder if Xiaogang received my letter. Sigh, I hope Flender can really find him."

Liu Erlong sighed again and again. Looking at the beautiful black-haired woman in the mirror only made her feel worse.

Such a beautiful body, and not a single man had ever touched it.

"Pretending to be so prim back then… and now…" Liu Erlong bit her lip hard and silently made a decision.

If she reunited with Yu Xiaogang, even if it meant tossing away her pride, she'd definitely take him!

Just then, a commotion came from outside.

Liu Erlong glanced out the window. Her room faced the girls' dormitory, and a few windows there had lit up. Silhouettes were moving inside.

"What's going on?"

Knock knock knock…!

The door was suddenly knocked.

Yin Shu's voice called from outside.

"Dean, congratulations! Classmate Jiang Zhu just broke through Level 30! She set a new record for our academy!" Yin Shu's voice was full of excitement.

Jiang Zhu was a support-type soul master, and their cultivation was slower than other types.

Breaking the Blue Tyrant Academy's record—this could be used as a great promotional tool for the school.

"Good, good. Once she stabilizes, I'll personally take her to hunt for her soul ring!"

Liu Erlong shouted, then added irritably, "Alright, now go."

"Yes…"

Yin Shu responded, his tone tinged with disappointment.

He could feel it—Dean Liu had lost her original drive. He didn't know what was weighing her down so heavily.

If this continued, it would hinder the academy's development.

Blue Tyrant Academy wasn't just Liu Erlong's—it carried the collective hopes of all the commoner-born teachers here.

…

Meanwhile, deep in the core region of the Star Dou Forest…

A girl in pink clothing sat on the shoulder of a massive black gorilla, her long legs swinging. The scorpion braid behind her head fluttered in the night wind, landing right on the gorilla's nose.

"Achoo!" the Titan Giant Ape sneezed, like thunder rolling through the air.

Below him, the mirror-like lake rippled with waves.

The next moment, the surface broke open, and a giant bull's head emerged.

Its eyes shone like lanterns. With a curious expression, it asked:

"Sister Xiao Wu, what's wrong?"

Sky Azure Bull Python looked at her in confusion.

Xiao Wu sighed, her face tinged with disbelief.

"Da Ming, Er Ming, I told you before—something new appeared in my mind… it let me see the future. And this time, what I saw was just too shocking!"

"Spirit Hall was destroyed! Did you know that?"

"I'm so happy! That woman must've died too!"

Xiao Wu giggled as she spoke.

Da Ming asked in confusion, "Is that future really possible?"

"There's no solid proof, but I have a feeling it's real! Da Ming, if we help him, maybe we can finally avenge my mother! And he's a theory master—he might be able to help you two as well!"

Xiao Wu said excitedly.

"Sister Xiao Wu, you're not planning to…" Da Ming's heart skipped a beat.

"That's right! I'm going to find him! There's still more than half a year until I graduate. When the time comes, I'm not going to Shrek with Brother San—I'm going to find that person!" Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled.

"Do you know where he is?"

"Most likely at Blue Tyrant Academy in Heaven Dou City!"

"Sister Xiao Wu, you can't! Heaven Dou City is the capital of the human Heaven Dou Empire. There might be Titled Douluo there—if one of them spots you, it'll be a disaster…" Da Ming quickly tried to dissuade her.

Xiao Wu shook her head with a smile. "It won't be that unlucky!"