Chapter Three: I Possess an Immortal Cultivation Simulator

The woman's laughter was slightly grating. Xiao Bao let go of his hand and quietly stuck his tongue out at the wicked woman. Though young, he could see she was bullying his master. Turning around, he pinched a bit of incense ash from the table and sprinkled it into the tea.

"Sister, please have some tea."

He held out the cup to Zhao Ling, his big, watery eyes blinking, adorable and obedient. His round, shiny bald head was begging to be patted.

"Such a good boy." Zhao Ling accepted the cup, thinking that even in this impoverished countryside, such a refined child could be raised. She couldn't help but feel a little fondness for his talent.

Lin Ze glanced at Xiao Bao, shaking his head helplessly before turning to the cool and elegant young disciple before him.

He truly knew nothing about cultivation techniques, but so what? Wouldn't practicing them reveal all?

Su Bailu didn't believe her master could discern anything just by checking her pulse, but after a moment's hesitation, she obediently extended her hand. With Zhao Ling being so overbearing, even if her master made up a story, she felt obliged to support him.

The Daoist closed his eyes; his long, strong fingers gently rested on her delicate wrist, the touch warm and smooth.

Lin Ze gazed at the panel in his mind, feeling a surge of excitement.

[Would you like to add a character card: Su Bailu]

[Searching]

[Trust level condition met]

[Decomposing]

In an instant, four cards appeared on the panel.

[Su Bailu: Rare grade]

[Dongyue Breathing Technique: Medium skill card]

[Frost-Falling Leaf Sword: Basic skill card]

[Four Seasons Reincarnation Palm: Basic skill card]

The first-level simulator could only store three character and three skill cards, yet he had extracted so many just from Su Bailu.

Without wasting time, Lin Ze added the materials.

[Character card: Su Bailu]

[Skill card: Four Seasons Reincarnation Palm]

[Begin simulation]

[Simulation time: three months]

His perspective began to rise, and Lin Ze felt as if he were standing atop the clouds, overlooking the land below. Everything was vividly alive.

The view zoomed in—a small mountain village appeared beneath his feet.

Su Bailu and Zhao Ling set out together into the mountains, spending three days to enter a vast mountain range.

Standing atop a boulder for a moment, a rustic bronze door suddenly appeared ahead.

[New map unlocked: Dongyue Sect]

Time accelerated, yet Lin Ze could absorb all the information.

He saw Su Bailu return to her courtyard and begin closed-door cultivation. Her pale hands danced like dragons around her, a gentle breeze rising, as if spring had returned to the earth.

Progress was swift.

Within just one month, she had mastered the first form of the palm technique.

Lin Ze nodded; this cultivation method suited her perfectly. Dongyue Sect must have carefully chosen it for her.

But then, an unexpected change occurred.

Su Bailu frowned deeply, as if facing a difficulty.

Lin Ze pondered, reached out, and tapped—the god's-eye view shifted to first person, as if his soul had entered her body. Though unable to control her actions, he felt her emotions more intimately.

"Spring has passed, and the sun burns fiercely."

"To reach the second layer, I need a great replenishment of vitality, but I simply don't have enough rare resources."

She hesitated for a long time, then went out to accept sect tasks, hoping to earn some spirit stones.

Anxious, she took on more and more difficult missions.

Soon, the third month arrived. Su Bailu carried the head of a beast toward the sect, her expression haggard and tinged with despair. She finally gathered the resources needed for the second layer of the Four Seasons Reincarnation Palm, but the sect competition was nearly over.

The more she thought, the more discouraged she became. She didn't notice the sudden flash of a ferocious wolf face in the nearby thicket.

Rough claws, accompanied by the wind, stabbed straight at Su Bailu's abdomen.

With a dull sound, the woman lay twitching on the ground, her gaze dim, her body covered in glaring crimson.

[Simulation ended]

[No rewards obtained]

Lin Ze instinctively clutched his abdomen, a trace of horror lingering in his eyes.

She died just like that, all because of the choice of cultivation method?!

Su Bailu anxiously watched her master; three months in the simulator were but a blink outside. She had no idea what Lin Ze had just experienced.

Zhao Ling hadn't yet brought the tea to her lips. Her sidelong glance mocked the middle-aged Daoist, eager to see what trick he was playing.

"Again."

Lin Ze steadied himself and placed the materials in order.

This time, he replaced the Four Seasons Reincarnation Palm with the Frost-Falling Leaf Sword.

[Begin simulation]

[Simulation time: three months]

Once more, the familiar scene—they returned to Dongyue Sect together.

Su Bailu entered closed-door cultivation, but this time, it was the sword technique in her hand.

In the first month, progress was slow.

She grew anxious but never slackened, until a touch of frost appeared on her sword tip.

Leaves fluttered down as she entered a mysterious state. Except for eating, sleeping, and practicing swordsmanship, she did nothing else. Even her demeanor became a little blank.

Another two months passed, and a chill emanated from her Dao sword.

Centered on her courtyard, nearby trees were covered in a thin layer of frost. The leaves pierced the earth like icy daggers, sunlight refracting as if they were dazzling crystals.

Su Bailu sheathed her sword and slowly walked toward the main hall.

Half a day later, she gazed coolly around—hundreds of outer sect disciples, none dared utter a sound.

"To grasp your own sword intent from a basic technique—reward!" The elder smiled, stroking his beard.

"From tomorrow, you may train in the inner sect."

Su Bailu accepted the Foundation Pill, her expression calm, only a faint smile flickering in her eyes.

[Simulation ended]

[Trust level: low]

[Reward: one Foundation Pill]

Lin Ze withdrew his fingers from her wrist.

"Master?" Su Bailu looked up, slightly disappointed. Only a few breaths had passed—no sect elder could see much in that time.

It was as she thought; her master was merely sulking with Senior Sister Zhao.

"Senior, are you done?" Zhao Ling sneered and raised the tea to her lips. "Go on, I’d love to hear what you’ve discovered—ugh!"

Her face twisted in bitterness as she glared at Xiao Bao, who had long since retreated. The little boy made faces at her, making her feel even more awkward, but she couldn't vent on a child and instead directed all her resentment at the Daoist in green robes.

"Not much to see," Lin Ze shook his head, choosing his words.

"It's all right, Master, I understand your intentions." Su Bailu hid her disappointment, kindly comforting him.

"Hmph." Zhao Ling rolled her eyes, about to say something, but Lin Ze continued, "Your vitality is lacking; palm techniques don’t suit you. These hands were born to wield a sword."

"I understand...hm?" Su Bailu had been distracted, but now suddenly looked up in surprise.

The two cultivation methods she held matched exactly what her master had said.

But she had never mentioned them to him!

Could he really discern the subtle traces of her training just by lightly touching her wrist?

"Nonsense!"

Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Ling scolded, "Junior Sister has made rapid progress in the Four Seasons Reincarnation Palm—after only three days she’s already grasped its basics. Yet when practicing swordsmanship, she’s clumsy and slow to learn. You’re just saying this because you saw her Dao sword at her waist, aren’t you?"

"Is that so?" Su Bailu hesitantly touched the sword hilt.

Senior Sister was right—she carried the sword because Dongyue Sect was originally founded on swordsmanship. Though the sect now embraced many disciplines, disciples still habitually carried swords.

"What counts as 'mastery'?" Lin Ze looked at Zhao Ling, withdrew his gaze, and focused intently on Su Bailu’s eyes, smiling gently:

"If the places you wish to go differ, why care for others’ definitions of mastery? Don’t be impatient—follow your own understanding."

He had watched from beginning to end, so he knew why her progress was slow.

Others trained in sword techniques; this little girl sought sword intent. Their goals were different—no need to compare cultivation progress.

"Master..." Su Bailu gripped her sword hilt, gazing into his steady eyes. She suddenly felt at peace and nodded.

"I understand now."

[Character card trust level increased]

[Character card rating raised to thirty-seven]