[You have chosen to start previous life…]
[Your personal attributes are...]
[Name: Xuan Ji]
[State of mind: 1]
[Fortune: 1]
[Perseverance: 2]
[Background: 2]
[Talent: Sword]
[Hint: If any attribute reaches zero, the probability of death will be greatly increased.]
[Your simulated life has officially begun –]
[Countdown: 10, 9... 0!]
[Simulation begins!]
[Age 0: You've just been born into a merchant family, with your father leading the family business.]
[Age 1: Your first year was just like any other baby's.]
[Age 2: You began your cultivation, just like in the previous simulation.]
[Age 3: You progressed a bit faster this time around. Instead of the 10 years it had took you to reach Body Tempering level 1 in last simulation, you can now reach Body Tempering level 1 in just 9 years.]
[Age 4: Throughout the year, you diligently cultivated. When a demonic cultivator attacked your village, a passing cultivator intervened but was ambushed by the demonic cultivator and they both died. Once again, you chose not to warn the righteous cultivator about the impending surprise attack. Instead, you waited for both him and the demonic cultivator to perish, so you could claim their belongings.]
[Age 6: After two years of dedicated cultivation, you've achieved a breakthrough, reaching Body Tempering Level 1. This success came few months sooner than in the previous simulation.]
Xuan Ji was casually swinging on a tree-tied swing, thinking, "My cultivation speed has increased a bit this time. I'm not entirely sure why, but could it be that I've become more accustomed to this body?"
[Age 7: As your cultivation journey goes on, you decide to give your father a low-grade human-level cultivation technique. You claim to have found it buried underground while you were playing in the mud. Thus, improving your Family Background by 1.]
[Age 9: You've used up all your resources and, just like in the previous simulation, you leave home, leaving behind a letter as your farewell.]
…
Xuan Ji perched high in the tree, concealed by the dense leaves. He was watching the snake, just like before. He located the serpent's spot rather quickly this time.
He had been considering why the snake had returned in the last simulation. Was it because it wasn't hungry and had only briefly left, only to be caught upon return? Or did the snake already know about Xuan Ji, deliberately leaving him to lure him into a trap?
The latter seemed unlikely. "Why would the snake allow him so much time to dig up the medicinal herb? After all, removing the herb from the ground would drastically reduce its medicinal potency unless it was stored in a jade box.
Regardless of the reason, Xuan Ji had made a different plan this time. He wouldn't wait for three days like he had done in the previous simulation. Instead, he would seize the opportunity and gather the herb on the first day.
He waited for a few hours before the snake opened its eyes and slithered off towards the forest, disappearing from sight.
Without wasting any time, Xuan Ji leapt from the tree, sprinting towards the medicinal herb. The plant was truly a beauty to behold, but he didn't allow himself to be distracted by its appearance. He quickly but carefully uprooted the herb, placing it in the jade box, and then put the box into his space bag. His actions were swift, thanks to his past experiences.
With no time to spare, Xuan Ji moved swiftly towards the cliff, his objective clear in his mind. He aimed for the cave where he had met his demise in the previous simulation. He ran as fast as he could, not daring to look back. Whether the snake had noticed him or was now chasing him, he wasn't sure nor did he care. His only focus was to run.
Soon, he found himself near the familiar cliff. Scanning his surroundings, Xuan Ji quickly spotted a nearby tree. Without hesitation, he climbed up its branches, using the foliage to hide himself. As he settled in the tree, Xuan Ji made an effort to calm his racing heart. He reassured himself that the snake wasn't pursuing him this time.
The reason for climbing the tree was simple: he was unsure about the exact location of the cave and searching for it would take time. The thought of the snake coming after him and pushing him off the cliff again was terrifying. After all, he survived the last fall only due to the wind's timely push.
Thus, his first move was to observe the snake's reaction before searching for the cave. He planned to see if the snake would return to the cliff within the next two days. If it didn't show up, he would begin his search for the cave from above the cliff.
...
Cautiously, Xuan Ji began his descent down the cliff. He used a strong rope as his guide, making his way down to a narrow ledge on the mountain's side. His heart pounded in his chest as he navigated the perilous terrain, but once he reached the safety of the ledge, a sense of relief and triumph washed over him.
After waiting for two days, the snake did not return. However, he had heard many loud hisses during this time, likely from the snake being angry for his herb stolen. As a result, he decided to extend his observation period by another two days. Despite his vigilance, the snake didn't appear on the cliff.
Feeling a sense of relief, Xuan Ji decided to lower his guard and begin searching for the cave. He attempted to spot the cave from his position but had no luck. The view from up here offered him only a sea of tiny forest below.
Finally, after many hours, Xuan Ji managed to spot the ledge where he had previously fallen. However, he couldn't see the cave. So, he decided to climb down using the rope he brought along for his journey. His plan was to navigate through the ledge to find the cave.
Now, he stood cautiously on the narrow ledge.