Lin Fang showed a facade of shock on his face, but inwardly, he remained unimpressed. He had, after all, once read a novel about a child cultivating even in the womb, refusing to be born.
The Supreme Elder's stern expression finally softened, seeing Lin Fang's feigned shaken look. "Still, those monsters haven't appeared in thousands of years," he said, trying to comfort his new disciple.
Seeing Lin Fang's expression return to normal, the old man waved his hand. Two items shimmered into existence: a simple-looking ring and a golden badge engraved with the words Supreme Elder in bold characters.
Lin Fang took the ring, his eyes gleaming with stars. "Could this be..." he murmured, excitement bubbling within him.
The Supreme Elder laughed, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Indeed! That is a spatial ring." He then explained patiently, "Let it absorb a drop of your blood to bind it, then use your spirit sense to control the space inside."
Lin Fang followed his master's instructions. A drop of blood melted into the ring, and his spirit sense entered its depths. Inside, he found dozens of shiny, iridescent stones and a bunch of small, white pills.
With his vast novel-reading experience, Lin Fang already knew what those stones were. Yet, he adopted a curious expression, asking his master about them.
The Supreme Elder explained that these were low-grade spirit stones. They were used by cultivators to absorb spirit qi far faster than simply drawing it from the air. He clarified that spirit stones were divided into four grades: low, mid, high, and peak, according to the density and quality of the spirit qi contained within. As for the pills, those were qi stabilizing pills, used after breakthroughs to stabilize the normally volatile qi.
'I don't think I would ever need those,' Lin Fang thought. After all, his simulated cultivation was always as stable as a rock.
"As for that badge," the old man continued with a patient expression, "it can be used to access all three floors of the Whispering Wind Pavilion."
Lin Fang bowed deeply in respect. "Thank you, Master!" he said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. He then turned and left the peak, leaving his master with a face full of smiles, pleased with his new disciple's progress.
...
Once he reached his villa, Lin Fang wasted no time. He rushed inside, the sheer size of the place still a marvel, even after his past life's experiences. He sat cross-legged on his king-sized bed, a familiar excitement bubbling within him, and called out, "Status window!"
[Endless Slaughter Simulator]
[Host: Lin Fang]
[Age: 18(37)]
[Cultivation realm: Qi refining level 1]
[Techniques: Brilliant Core Scripture(mastered), Flame heart technique(mastered), The Radiant Sun Technique(mastered), Falling star blade(small achievement)]
[Talents: calm and collected(blue grade), Superieur martial body(blue grade), sword genius(green grade)]
[souls: 29]
Lin Fang's brow furrowed slightly as he studied the numbers. 'Only 29 souls left,' he mused. 'And a new simulation costs 32.' A new problem had presented itself.
He couldn't reap souls inside the sect; killing was strictly prohibited unless it was a matter of life or death. And leaving the sect was out of the question for now. A strict rule stated that only Qi Refining Level 4 cultivators could take missions outside the sect. He was a fish in a well, for the time being.
'Looks like I'll have to cultivate normally for a while,' he thought, a rare hint of resignation in his expression. Still, he quickly regained his composure. 'Even without the simulator, a mid-grade spirit root cultivates at an insane speed.'
He sat down cross-legged on the bed, a determined glint in his eyes. He sent word to his servants not to disturb him. Lin Fang then closed his eyes, ready to begin his seclusion and push his cultivation forward.
...
In another luxurious villa, not far from Lin Fang's, Zhao Wuqing sat with a warm smile plastered on his face. Opposite him, an inner disciple named Sun Yao fidgeted nervously.
"Brother Yao, congratulations on reaching Qi Refining Level 4 and becoming an inner sect disciple," Zhao Wuqing said, his voice smooth as silk, yet carrying an unspoken weight.
Sun Yao's hands faintly trembled as he hurriedly thanked him. Everyone in the sect knew of Zhao Wuqing's fearsome reputation. He was a man who appeared mostly kind, but could transform into a vicious beast the moment you slightly disagreed with him.
'A smile that hides a dagger,' Sun Yao thought, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. He had heard chilling rumors that made his blood run cold.
He even once heard of an outer sect disciple who had unknowingly sat at Zhao Wuqing's usual dining table. Later that evening, that disciple was 'unintentionally' crippled in a random sparring session. The sect had dismissed it as an accident, but everyone knew the truth.
Sun Yao swallowed hard, forcing himself to meet Zhao Wuqing's gaze, trying to appear calm despite the fear gnawing at his insides.
Zhao Wuqing took a slow sip of his spirit tea. "This tea is not bad," he casually remarked, his eyes, however, were anything but casual as they turned, calculating and cold, towards Sun Yao. "Brother Sun Yao, I have a little favor to ask of you."
Sun Yao replied without a moment's hesitation, his voice almost too eager. "It's my honor to help Senior Brother Zhao!" He knew better than to refuse.
Zhao Wuqing's smile barely touched his lips. "I want you to 'spar' someone," he said, emphasizing the word 'spar' with a subtle, chilling weight.
Sun Yao instantly understood. A predatory glint entered his eyes. "Just say the word, Senior Brother! I would make sure to properly 'spar' this bastard."
"I want you to spar Lin Fang," Zhao Wuqing dropped the bomb, his voice a low, dangerous murmur.
Sun Yao's face went pale. His hands, which had just been eager, now shook uncontrollably. "B-B-But..." he stammered, feeling like he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Defying Zhao Wuqing was out of the question; that was a path to ruin. But crossing the new star of the sect, the Supreme Elder's personal disciple, was also courting death.