Looking down, he saw the miniscule trees and patches of fog shifting in the air, which made him swallow hard. His back pressed firmly against the rough, cold surface of the mountain wall as he started moving to the right, believing it was the correct path to the cave.
For five hours that felt like an eternity, he painstakingly navigated the hazardous ledge. As a cultivator, Xuan Ji had extraordinary stamina and strength that far exceeded that of a mortal, allowing him to sustain through such grueling conditions for days on end. However, the mounting dread of an accidental fall was gradually becoming a more formidable foe than the physical exertion.
The logical part of his mind continuously reminded him that this was just a simulation; even a fall from this height wouldn't result in actual death. However, that hardly did anything to diminish his fear. On the contrary, it was this all-consuming terror that started to eat his mental fortitude and physical strength.
The dreadful realization that he was at a dead end and had to retreat, traversing the same life-threatening precipice, seemed to suck the remaining strength out of him. His psychological resilience began to crumble.
"After five hours of clinging to this ledge, staring at the terrifying view below, all I found is a dead end," Xuan Ji muttered. His voice was imbued with an almost tangible heaviness, reflecting his internal struggle. He lifted his eyes to the vast expanse of the sky, the mirror of his soul reflecting a blend of exhaustion and sorrow. His body remained glued to the mountain wall, as if it was the only thing standing between him and the end.
However, despite the overwhelming despair threatening to consume him, Xuan Ji knew he had to persevere. He understood that no matter how deep his sadness, or how overpowering his fear, he had to continue. He needed to find the cave that was his ticket out of this situation.
Taking a deep, calming breath, he gathered his shaken will and changed direction. This time, he committed to moving towards the left side of the ledge with renewed determination.
As nightfall draped the world in darkness, the stars scattered across the sky served as his only source of light, twinkling as if guiding him. The moon's ethereal glow contrasted against the chilly wind.
Xuan Ji continued his journey for what seemed to be an additional seven to eight hours. Suddenly, his back, which had been firmly against the wall for hours, felt nothing but empty space. He lost his footing and tumbled backwards.
Almost instinctively, Xuan Ji scrambled up, eyes wide as he recognized his surroundings. "Finally! I've found the cave. I was worried that I had made a mistake in choosing the ledge," he breathed out, relief washing over him like a refreshing wave.
He didn't waste any time and immediately proceeded to inspect the cave in its entirety. He had arrived sooner than in previous simulations, so he was careful to look for any changes. To his relief, everything seemed exactly as he remembered, including the golden gate that he had stumbled upon before.
Once again, Xuan Ji found himself standing before the peculiar handprint. A fleeting thought crossed his mind, "Could I open it this time?" He placed his hand on the handprint with a hopeful heart. But alas, the result was the same as always: failure.
"Only the beggar can unlock it," he murmured, the glint in his eyes revealing a hint of ruthless determination. "I'll have to wait, but this time, that beggar won't leave alive." With his plan slowly taking shape in his mind, he began his search for an appropriate place to set up camp for him to live.
This time, he was well-prepared. He had brought a variety of vegetable and fruit seeds for food, coconut seeds for hydration, stones to ignite fire, a pan for cooking, and a variety of spices to enhance the taste of his meals.
[Age 10: You consumed the herb you had stolen from the snake, aiding in your advancement to Body Tempering realm level 2.]
"What is wrong with this simulator? Why label it as 'stolen'? It was more of a claim," Xuan Ji declared righteously. "The herb was never the snakes to begin with."
[Age 11: You continued your cultivation, but placed greater importance on understanding the scroll.]
[Age 12: Despite your persistent efforts, you have yet to reach the elementary stage of understanding the scroll.]
[Age 13: After countless hours of dedication and hard work, you're still unable to reach elementary level of the scroll. Moreover, you're still far from reaching the Body Tempering level 3.]
"Why is this scroll so challenging?" Xuan Ji mused; frustration apparent in his voice.
"Including the time from previous simulations, I've been studying this scroll for over 15 years now, yet I've not even reached the elementary level. Although my comprehension might be inferior to others, it should still allow me to reach at least the introductory stage of high-grade human level techniques over 15 years."
His thoughts then turned towards a more pressing question, "Could this be an earth-level technique? How could a puny demonic cultivator have something so precious? Could he have stolen it from a fallen cultivator? Considering his injuries, could he have been pursued by one he'd robbed this technique?"
"If that's true, that person will definitely try to track down the demonic cultivator, and in doing so, he might end up coming to village. This situation is quite worrisome."
A wave of unease washed over Xuan Ji, his thoughts going back to his village, his parents. Feeling trapped inside the cave, he had no power to escape, relying solely on his cultivation as the only way out.
Even if he did manage to leave, against a potential opponent who possessed Earth level technique, was possibly in the Qi gathering realm or beyond. And his current Body Tempering level wouldn't stand a chance.
[Age 14: Sensing the imminent arrival of the beggar, you stopped cultivating and began to put your plan into action.]