[Immersive Mode Activated, Life Simulation Loading Successful!]
As the final prompt disappeared, Ningguang vanished from sight.
Having experienced a life simulation before, Nathan was already quite familiar with this consciousness-expanding sensation. In his consciousness, only a brief moment had passed, yet he had already left the Jade Chamber's room.
He now found himself outdoors in an open space, occasionally hearing noise and commotion. A gentle sea breeze carried a faint salty smell. The world created by the simulator felt just as real as ever.
"So now... which period of Liyue is this exactly?"
According to the system's arrangement, Nathan was now a merchant who had traveled through six nations. And Liyue, his hometown that he had never visited before, was the final stop on his journey.
His current location was the Liyue Harbor that he knew so well in reality. Looking around, there wasn't much difference from what he remembered.
The harbor was still teeming with people. Merchants, tourists, and workers filled every corner. Nathan was naturally familiar with all of this.
These scenes alone couldn't determine the time period of this simulation. The best way to confirm would be to look at the sky above.
Nathan raised his head. Liyue's sky was perfectly blue. The sunlight was brilliant, without a single cloud - perfect weather for going out. However, the sky was missing one iconic structure: the floating Jade Chamber, Ningguang's private palace.
Seeing this, Nathan furrowed his brow slightly. If the Jade Chamber didn't exist, there were two possible time periods in Liyue's history.
One was during the normal game storyline, when Ningguang sacrificed the Jade Chamber to stop Osial, the Vortex God. The other possibility was early in Liyue's history, before Ningguang became one of the Qixing.
Given the choice, Nathan would definitely prefer the former. After all, for someone like him who had crossed over, knowing the storyline was his biggest advantage.
However, after passing through the harbor and arriving at the street called Chihu Rock, he discovered things weren't as he had hoped. The streets on both sides of Chihu Rock weren't as prosperous as he remembered. The surrounding shops were scattered sparsely, and the street width didn't match what he knew from reality.
These changes led to an obvious conclusion - this life simulation took place before the game's storyline.
[You've just arrived in Liyue and witnessed its prosperity. Now you need to find a business partner to establish your venture!]
"So the main task now is to find a partner?"
Hearing the information in his mind, Nathan pondered. If that was the case, he should find Ningguang first.
The reason he focused on Ningguang was simple - she was the key figure who triggered the life simulator. From his experience in the previous simulation, this life scenario must revolve around her.
So the urgent task was to find Ningguang before she became one of the Qixing.
Walking slowly along Chihu Rock's street, he contemplated how to find her. Without the Jade Chamber as a landmark, locating her would be challenging.
"Come look, come see what we have!"
Just then, a familiar hawking voice caught his attention. It came from a narrow alley lined with neat small shops. And among those shops, he spotted a familiar figure.
"Hello, may I ask what you're selling here?"
Nathan had entered the alley and approached the shop where he heard the voice. Being set as thirty years old by the system, he was startled by his own mature voice when he spoke.
Standing across from him was Ningguang in her prime youth. In this period, before becoming one of the Qixing, she lacked the mature and noble air she would later possess. Though brimming with youthful energy, she was still strikingly beautiful.
As Ningguang in the shop was about to answer with a smile, she was interrupted by the neighboring shop owner.
"Sir, I can tell you're not from Liyue. Her food is expensive and tastes terrible - don't let yourself be fooled!"
It was an older middle-aged woman, now earnestly explaining to Nathan.
"That's right! There are so many snacks in Liyue, sir. You should look elsewhere!"
The shop owner on Ningguang's other side joined in agreeing with the middle-aged woman.
This puzzled Nathan - were they trying to compete with Ningguang? But looking at their shops, they mostly sold miscellaneous goods, which wouldn't compete with Ningguang's food stall at all.
"Is what you're saying true?"
Nathan asked with apparent doubt, though his peripheral vision remained fixed on the young Ningguang. Despite their disparagement, she showed no signs of anger.
"Of course it's true. See how she's not even defending herself?"
Hearing Nathan's question, the middle-aged woman became even more animated.
At that moment, his Mind Reader ability activated. From the woman's tone and subtle movements, he instantly concluded she was lying.
"Heh, another man attracted by her beauty!!!"
The Mind Reader talent revealed even more - Nathan could hear the middle-aged woman's inner thoughts.
"Is that so? Thank you for your advice!"
Hearing Nathan's response, both shop owners' lips curled into slight smiles.
"However... I decline. I want to properly taste these flavors you despise!"
His next words made their expressions sour.
"Sir, why would you..."
"I'm sorry, but I'm best at saying 'no' to self-important people!"
After giving the middle-aged woman a cold look, Nathan turned his attention back to Ningguang. His response had brought a smile to her beautiful face.
"I'll buy it all! Everything in your shop - I, Nathan, will take it all!!!"
A/N- leave powerstones and reviews guys ... 100 powerstone today and i will upload 5 extra chapter