[They say that heroes are emerging, rebelling against the Qing Dynasty. In order to suppress this matter, the dynasty, in the name of eliminating bandits and criminals, has deployed millions of soldiers into various provinces within its territory. One of such provinces was the state of Zhou, where you all resided.]
[The emmissaries also said that the bandits are uniting into an alliance with the major rebel armies as a response to the actions of the dynasty. They are requesting you to join them and fight against the Dynasty.]
[In response, your father described the enmity with the ghostly entity and fair-skinned individuals. Hearing that there were ghostly entities, the emissaries did not show any fear.]
[They told you that those people come from the Western Region, and are not ghostly entities but ghost hunters. The Qing Dynasty has recently invited numerous ghost hunters from the West into their territory. They are working together to eliminate the rebel group and bandits.]
…
"Ghost hunters?"
Li Hao was shocked yet again!
"Is this world so advanced? Containing multiple races…"
'So the western region of this world had fair-skinned people?'
This was somewhat similar to the world he came from. But, if that is the case…
"Then what about the Southern Region?"
…
[The emissaries said that you would get a certain amount of protection from the alliance if you joined. After some discussion, the Golden Eagle Brotherhood under your father agreed to join the alliance.]
[Age 18: One year after joining the alliance, you and your father completed various missions within the alliance. Gathering young men from villages and training them, killing martial artists from the imperial army. You honed and developed your combat experience on the battlefield.]
[You learned that due to panel enhancement, your strength is promoted directly to the peak of each realm, and it makes you unbeatable within the limits of your realm. The drawback being thatmyou could not practice any martial arts.]
[Your father broke through and became an Initial-level Bone Tempering Realm Martial Artist. At this time, some ghostly shadows blackened the sky above your alliance base, attempting to infiltrate it, but a huge saber light appeared and repelled the intruders.]
[Age 19: Without being able to practise martial arts, your realm remained stuck at the peak of the Skin Hardening Realm. Some people lost interest in you. Zhenhao(Father) started taking higher-level missions from the alliance. You followed him every time, but could not accomplish much.]
[After realizing this, you stopped and took missions independently. Your goal is to have as much influence as possible.]
…
Reading the texts till here, Li Hao scratched his head in frustration.
"This is certainly a problem."
The panel provided him strength, but it also did not allow him to practise martial arts independently. Was it a bad thing or a good thing? He could not determine. It was designed by him for a game in the past, but in the current scenario, there were certain modifications that even he could not understand.
'Am I being used as a pawn by some bigshots?' This is a mystery that he must solve later.
What was happening in his previous world?
Just before his transmigration, rumours were circulating on the internet about dark portals gobbling people and objects.
An internationally renowned scientist disappeared during a visit to an African safari zone. It was said that he was gobbled up by a dark portal.'
Rumour has it that it was the first ever appearance of such a strange phenomenon!
Li Hao still had a faint hope of travelling back to his world one day. But for now, he continued staring at the lines of text appearing on the panel.
As for his goals? For now, he suppressed them deep within his heart.
…
[Age 20: As you gained contribution points while completing mission after mission, your father was conscripted into a major war between the Imperial army and the rebels.]
[Age 21: After a one-year battle, your father returned alive. He has already achieved mid-level Bone Tempering Realm in Bull Strength Technique.]
…
"So early!?"
Li Hao clearly remembered that in the previous simulation, his father had only broken through to the mid-level after he reached the age of twenty-six.
But this time, Li Hao barely reached twenty-one years of age, and his father had already broken through!
This led him to contemplate something. "Is this due to facing considerable pressure during the war?"
Well, that would mean his father had amazing talent, which is a good thing to know.
"Maybe, joining the alliance may be a better option than hiding away in some village." The premise is that he could acquire a lot of money within the alliance.
He continued staring at the panel screen.
…
[After returning from a year-long war, Zhenhao (Father) earned enough contribution points to exchange for a High-tier martial arts technique from the alliance. He was about to ask for a medicine or treasure that could help you cultivate martial arts, but you stopped him in time and let him choose a martial arts technique that suited him.]
[Age 22: After a few months of searching, you finally found a suitable martial arts technique named "Musk Ox Essence Strength Technique". With this, Zhenhao would not have to train from scratch. He would be able to continue from the Peak Bone Tempering Realm of the Bull Strength Technique itself.]
[Age 23: Both of you, including the members of the Golden Eagle Brotherhood, continued taking missions from the alliance, often working together in a group.]
[Age 24: There were repeated attempts at infiltration from ghostly entities, but they were defeated each time by a huge saber light coming from the depths of the alliance situated within Chenyang prefecture.]
[Age 25: You continued taking missions as usual…]
[Age 26: Your father broke through and became a high-level Bone Tempering Realm martial artist.]
[By this time, the attacks from ghostly entities had become frequent. Your father was now able to repel those entities himself.]
[A few days later, a large shadow appeared above Chenyang Prefecture's alliance base. Its size easily blocks off the moon's view. Your father had to retreat into the base.]
[A huge saber light appeared, but was easily dispelled by the shadow. Just then, from the depths of the base, an old man with a white beard walked out, holding a large saber in his hand.]
[The shadow and the old man both engaged in a fight, resulting in a draw. The shadow retreated, and the old man walked back into the base. "You father and son duo must improve quickly. I can't save you the next time." His last words before disappearing into the base.]
[Being saved from such a crisis, a sense of urgency arose within Zhenhao's heart. It was the same for you. Fortunately, all of you, including the other members within your alliance base combined have managed to accumulate enough contribution points to exchange for a right to gain protection from an expert from the main base. For doing so, he must arrive and reside within Chenyang prefecture's bandit alliance base.]
[After this, your base is continuously attacked by ghostly entities. Your father puts in a lot of effort to deal with them, which greatly affects your mission completion efficiency.]
[Age 27: Suddenly, at some point in time, you realized that a large army of Imperial soldiers was marching towards your base. There were fair-skinned individuals mixed among them who transformed into ghostly entities and charged inside the base.]
[The old man holding a saber walked out and ran away, but was soon pursued by a group of enemies. Later disappearing from view. Zhenhao tried his best, but was not able to handle everyone alone. During the battle, you lost your consciousness. Before falling, you watched as your companions died one after another. At the time, your father was being besieged by a group of soldiers and ghostly entities...]
[ A few weeks later, an unknown expert descends from the sky. Seeing the annihilation, the expert sighs and leaves. He noticed you were alive, but decided against saving you.]
[You died…]
[Simulation Ends!]
[During the simulation, you've had limited influence over the world, only affecting lives within Qingfeng County.]
[Your advice to wait for the emissaries helped the Golden Eagle Brotherhood join an alliance of Bandits and Rebels as members. Taking part in an event affecting a Dynasty, but your existence as a whole was not significant to the event.]
[Due to your support, Zhenhao was able to attain a higher strength in this life. Your existence affected a limited number of people within your contact in a small location of the Chenyang prefecture, which is also a small place compared to the vast Qing Dynasty.]
[Calculating Rewards…]
[Points Awarded: 359]
…
Looking at the results, Li Hao could not keep his calm.
"Damn that expert!" Did not even spare an effort to save him at the end! If that expert had shown even a bit of empathy, he could have survived and earned more simulation points.
But life is like this only. It does not always go according to one's expectations. Thinking so, he sighed and focused on a more important detail. His whole gang survived one year longer in this simulation. And, his father even reached a realm higher in martial arts.
'It seems joining the alliance is the better option.'
Upon realizing this, he has now decided that in every future simulation, he must choose this pathway. There may be chances for flexibility, but, that could wait at least till he becomes strong enough.