Pei Xuanjing had a grim expression on his face after viewing this simulation outcome.
This time he hadn't been trapped in the small city, even though he had killed Zhang Zhiyi, he managed to avoid the Zhang Family by leaving early.
But to his surprise, due to an unfortunate turn of events, he ended up dying at the hands of the bandits.
Out of all his simulations, aside from the last one where he was surrounded and killed by the Zhang Family, all of his remaining deaths were at the hands of these bandits.
These bandits seemed like they were destined to be his nemesis.
However, after viewing the simulation results, some of Pei Xuanjing's frustrations were alleviated.
[Simulation ended, you can choose to keep one of the following rewards.]
[One: Seventh Stage Martial Arts Realm.]
[Two: Third level cultivation experience of "Yi Wood Skill."]
[Three: Exchange 100 Taoyun for one Human Yuan Pill.]
After a moment of contemplation, Pei Xuanjing made his decision.
Over the past half a year, in addition to refining Taoyun, he hadn't stopped cultivating the "Yi Wood Skill", and has developed some thoughts about how to cultivate the third stage.
If he chooses the first option, his realm will be elevated to the seventh grade. Which means the cultivation of the third stage of the "Yi Wood Skill" will be a matter of course.
However, the third option, the Human Yuan Pill, arouses a strong longing in Pei Xuanjing.
It is worth knowing that for Martial Artists to strengthen themselves through cultivation, aside from skills, resources are needed.
So what are resources?
Naturally, it means wealth and Heavenly and Earthly Treasures.
Most Heavenly and Earthly Treasures cannot exert maximum efficacy when directly consumed, and Martial Artists can only absorb less than 10% to 20% of their power.
Therefore, most Heavenly and Earthly Treasures are generally used in combination with other medicinal materials to refine Elixirs.
According to the evaluation of the Great Ming imperial court, there are three grades: Human Yuan Pill, Earth Yuan Pill, and Heavenly Yuan Great Pill.
These three grades of elixirs are respectively used by Ninth-grade Martial Artists in the lower, middle, and upper Realms.
The Human Yuan Pill works best for Martial Artists in the lower three Realms.
Although the pills are good, they are not cheap either. Each pill costs at least a hundred taels of gold.
Moreover, these pills are always in short supply, and independent practitioners even don't have access to purchase them.
According to the information Pei Xuanjing has, the last time a Human Yuan Pill appeared in the small town he lives in was five years ago.
They say it's hard for a scholar born in poverty to become successful.
However, for Martial Artists, poverty even deprives them of opportunities for growth.
While some people may breakthrough to the rank of Ninth-grade Martial Artist due to extraordinary talents, most Martial Artists afterward tend to choose to join a force, or establish their own forces to gather resources for themselves.
The environment at the Six Gates favors cultivation. This is absolutely no joke.
As far as Pei Xuanjing knows, today's top experts almost all either come from various forces or are backed by major forces.
Even those few individuals who are known to be lone wolves, although they haven't joined a force, had received legacies from their predecessors on their way to success.
This is why Pei Xuanjing is holding on to his alliance with Everlasting Observance's forces at present. Despite the numerous conveniences provided by the Life Simulator, doesn't every facet of life require money?
Martial Artists progress in cultivation is like sailing upstream. If you don't move forward, you fall back.
If you're busy every day, merely struggling to survive, where would you find the time for cultivation?
From another perspective, if he hadn't inherited the Everlasting Observance, where would he have had the opportunity to view those skill manuals left behind by his predecessors? Where could he sit calmly everyday, reading and practicing martial arts, wholeheartedly refining Taoyun?
Pei Xuanjing sighed, regretting that 100 Taoyun was too expensive and beyond his means.
"Choose the first reward."
As soon as he finished speaking, Pei Xuanjing could feel the Inner Qi around him flowing into his body and permeating every bone, nourishing and strengthening his skeletal structure.
An hour later, the flow of Inner Qi within his body calmed down, but his entire skeleton had undergone a transformation. His bones had become sturdy, dexterous, better at dealing with impacts, and his piercing power was much stronger.
When he stood up, he found that he had grown three inches taller out of nowhere, even his previously loose Daoist robe had become a close fit.
He clenched his fists and swung them through the air, stirring up a gust of wind. Between every move and stillness, his muscles and bones simultaneously sounded with a low hum.
The hum of muscles and bones is a sign that a Seventh-grade Martial Artist's external cultivation of muscles, bones, and skin is complete.
Next, he must convert his Inner Qi into True Qi, and start nourishing the viscera, bone marrow, internal organs, this is the middle phase of the seventh grade.
But at this moment, he suddenly felt an intense wave of hunger.
He called Mr. Xu, had him promptly bring in prepared food, and started devouring everything.
A table full of medicinal dietary dishes, made of various tonic medicinal materials and mixed food, was quickly eaten up by Pei Xuanjing. Only then did his hunger subside.
After this experience, he realized that while the Life Simulator could assist him in advancing his realm, it was not a simple process of imparting knowledge, but a process of conversion or catalysis.
During this process of advancing realms, everything that was consumed was actually provided by himself, not created out of thin air.
It seems that the next time he uses the simulator to upgrade his realm, he needs to prepare medicinal dishes or elixirs in advance.
It's a good thing that he was prepared for this time, usually consuming a constant supply of medicinal dishes, resulting in his body being full of energy thus only causing a bit of hunger. If he is caught off guard next time, it might lead to physical deficiency and damage to his foundation.
Pei Xuanjing reminded himself mentally.
A month later, as Pei Xuanjing was reading the skill manual and refining Taoyun, Mr. Xu brought a piece of news concerning the task he had previously assigned to Mr. Xu.
"What are his conditions?" asked Pei Xuanjing.
Mr. Xu stated the other party's request, "He said he could sell the skill manual, and will not ask for money, but he needs you, Master Guan, to help him make a breakthrough."
Pei Xuanjing tapped the armrest of his chair with his fingers, deep in thought.
After thinking for a while, Mr. Xu continued, "I know a bit about his identity. The reason he has fallen to this point has something to do with the Zhang Family."
The Zhang Family.
Upon hearing this, Pei Xuanjing made a prompt decision, "We can agree to his request."
Everlasting Observance does not have a deep foundation, it was already unexpected that it could support him in refining so much Taoyun. For his future cultivation, he needs to continue acquiring more skill manuals no matter what.
Since this individual holds a grudge against the Zhang Family, if Pei Xuanjing helps him breakthrough and become a Ninth-grade Martial Artists, the Zhang Family's attention will be drawn to him in the days to come.
Although the Zhang Family doesn't pose a direct threat to him at the moment, Pei Xuanjing doesn't forget that he is the one who killed the head of the Zhang Family, Zhang Zhiyi.
Rather than waiting for the Zhang Family to find him, it's better to keep them busy with some issues first.
Why wouldn't he seize this win-win opportunity?