Please support me on Patreon, where you can read a bunch of extra chapters, not just for this novel, but for all the novels I'm working on. I upload at least 2 times daily for most novels.
Patreon.com/ThatGreatStuff
******
[Himeko: Reliving cherished memories from the past is undoubtedly wonderful.]
[Himeko: However, due to the element of surprise, it often brings... moments of "shock".]
[Firefly: Yes, yes! Being caught off guard with everyone seeing my tipsy state was utterly embarrassing!!]
[Kafka and Silver Wolf felt similarly.]
[Witnessing simulations certainly has more benefits than drawbacks. Yet, encountering such shameful black history along the way is indeed mortifying.]
[March 7th: Really?]
[March 7th: Hehe... Personally, seeing this different side of everyone not only helps me understand them better but also strengthens our relationships!]
[Black Swan: Little March has a point.]
[Fu Xuan: After watching their simulations, I feel it's necessary to be more cautious.]
[Fu Xuan: But no matter how this venerable one thinks about it, I can't imagine what dark secrets I might have?!]
[Qingque: Great question! Me neither!]
[Black Swan: We'll find out by continuing. Perhaps Fu Xuan is unique and truly lacks any such history.]
[Fu Xuan: ...In any case, please don't jinx me with remarks like that.]
[Sparkle: Amused.]
[Black Swan: Before starting the next simulation, let's first hear Jingliu's thoughts on what she just watched.]
[Stelle: The traditional segment!]
[Jingliu: Thoughts, you say...]
[Jingliu: Can I express anything as long as it's genuinely what I'm thinking?]
[Black Swan: Of course.]
[Jingliu: Then, firstly, Su Qing belongs to me.]
[Firefly: !!???]
[Silver Wolf: Starting with a declaration of war, huh?!]
[Kafka: @Himeko, could you kindly take Jingliu down with you in mutual destruction?]
[Himeko: ...What should I even say to that?]
[Himeko: Would you be happy if we both leave this conversation together?]
[Kafka: Hm.?]
[Sparkle: Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Kafka actually looks so sunny and adorable!]
[Seele: ? It's clear how thrilled she'd be if it really happened!]
[Black Swan (smiling): While these reactions are understandable, let's focus on discussing the simulation itself, shall we?]
[Jingliu: Agreed.]
[Jingliu: The most profound feeling... naturally is that beautiful moments are always too fleeting.]
[Jingliu: We were cloud riders together for a thousand years without ever knowing each other. Then, after finally meeting and being together, it ended far too quickly.]
[Jingliu: My only solace now is having expressed my feelings truly when I had the chance.]
[March 7th: Yes, yes! People often say Jingliu is straightforward, but if not for that directness, everything might have concluded in the blink of an eye with the Shuhu War!]
[Jingliu: Indeed.]
[Jingliu: It's difficult to express with words the harmony between kindred spirits and that feeling of deep mutual understanding.]
[Jingliu: But the time spent with Su Qing truly felt like a moonflower blooming—my most cherished memories.]
[Jingliu: Just as he said, before the moonflower blossoms, one might think it is already beautiful enough. Yet only when it fully blooms do we realize how exquisite and unforgettable those moments truly are.]
[Silver Wolf: Kindred spirits? I get that. Su Qing and I shared interests, so rounding it up, I guess Su Qing and I were also kindred spirits. 😎]
[Silver Wolf: And regarding what was mentioned earlier, I've kissed Su Qing too. So, rounding it up, I could count as a lover as well. 😎]
[Herta: 🤔 You don't have any significant role on Xianzhou now, so rounding it up, you're basically Firefly.]
[Firefly: Hahahahahahaha?!?!]
[Silver Wolf: ...?!]
[Sparkle: Indeed.]
[Stelle: Indeed.]
[Jingliu also displayed a faint smile.]
[After spending so much time on this live stream, even she could appreciate some of its humor.]
[Jingliu: Similarly, the moments shared with others, particularly during the High-Cloud Quintet's reunion, were immensely precious.]
[Jingliu: Initially, witnessing Bai Heng and Su Qing being resurrected as evil creatures again filled me with uncontrollable rage towards Yingxing Dan Feng.]
[Jingliu: ...However, now, it has somewhat eased.]
As Jingliu reflected, realizing that both Su Qing and Bai Heng remained alive might be the most significant reason for her Demonic Yin Body symptoms to diminish.
[Jingliu: As for Jing Yuan...]
Jingliu pondered briefly, condensing her thoughts into a single sentence:
[Jingliu: Yes, he truly bore a heavy burden.]
[Qingque: Absolutely! I've noticed too—General Jing Yuan indeed endured immense stress and pressure!]
[Qingque: With Su Qing and Bai Heng fallen into eternal slumber, Jingliu missing, his first task upon assuming command was handling Dan Feng's punishment, alongside issuing a warrant for Blade's arrest...]
[Qingque: Most crucially, despite enduring all these events, he not only avoided triggering his Demonic Yin Body but also took on Teng Xiao and Su Qing's responsibilities, serving diligently for eight hundred years!]
[Stelle: Saluting the legendary stress-resilient champion of Xianzhou—Jing Yuan!]
[Jingliu: Lastly, it naturally comes down to Bai Heng.]
[Jingliu: However, I've already expressed this earlier.]
[Jingliu: Love is indeed selfish, but I believe that both my camaraderie with Su Qing and my friendship with Bai Heng transcend such selfishness.]
[Silver Wolf: As expected, we end up back at this point!]
[Himeko: Actually, I think Jingliu makes a valid point. @Kafka]
[Kafka: ?]
[Himeko: Didn't you say you wanted to become friends with me?]
[Himeko: How about sacrificing a bit in this life so that in the next, we can truly get along well?]
[Kafka: ?? Are you sure you're aware of what you're saying? Why don't you sacrifice instead?]
[Bronya: Ha ha ha, even with Jingliu joining the fray, it seems Kafka and Himeko still target each other the most.?]
[Sparkle: Well, they've been at odds since the previous version; their mutual animosity runs deep.]
[Sparkle: With such longstanding rivals, no matter how many new enemies join the fray, they'll likely always target each other most intensely.]
[Jingliu: That's about all I wanted to share.]
[Jingliu: Experiencing it firsthand, being caught up in the moment, everything happened too swiftly for reflection.]
[Jingliu: Now, watching from an outsider's perspective, I truly gained much insight. Many emotional knots have untangled, and several burdens have been lifted.]
[Jingliu: So, @Black Swan, thank you. Revisiting these events through simulation was indeed a valuable experience.]
[Black Swan: You're welcome. It's also an honor for me to witness the past stories of Xianzhou's legendary figures.]
[Stelle: @Jingliu, remember, when expressing gratitude, use this emoticon (≧▽≦)!]
[March 7th: Ha ha! Yes, yes! Otherwise, it doesn't feel sincere! (≧▽≦)]
[Sushang: Oh right, I recall now! This emoticon is delightful! (≧▽≦)]
[Clara: (≧▽≦)]
[Bailu: (≧▽≦)]
[Many others also posted this emoticon. Seeing the sudden flood of text faces, Jingliu gently rubbed his forehead.]
[Jingliu: ...While I appreciate it, skipping those irrelevant bits of dark history would have been even better.]
[Black Swan: (Smiling) But they form a crucial part of these cherished memories, don't you think?]
[Sparkle: Wait, is Black Swan also a mischief-seeker?]
***
Evening approached.
"All right, all right, we're closing for today." Su Qing decided to shut early and begin a new simulation.
"You can't just rush your customers out!" Bailu patted her pocket, pulled out a few Strales, and placed them on the table. "Give me another cup of warm milk, extra sugar!"
Watching the charmingly naive dragon girl, Su Qing couldn't help but smile. He casually pocketed the Strales. "Sure, consider it accepted. However, this shop doesn't serve milk; let's treat these as a tip instead."
"Ah??" exclaimed Bailu.
Sushang and Guinaifen chuckled nearby. Amid laughter and conversation, they reluctantly left the shop as Su Qing prepared to close for the day.
Previously, only Sushang and Guinaifen frequented the establishment regularly. Now, there was an additional runaway dragon girl joining them.
Su Qing couldn't help but feel that if this trend continued, his place would increasingly resemble a casual gathering spot.
As usual, he first checked the results of the previous simulation:
[Simulation Rating: S+++ (2400)]
[Brief Analysis: Slain evil creatures +1000; Sealing Shuhu +1200; High-Cloud Quintet's contribution +200]
[Simulation Level: lv5 (100/1600) → lv6 (900/2000)]
[Simulation Level increased, Rewards Obtained: Foresight ×1, Weapon Upgrade ×1]
[Inherited Talents: Sword Control Art lv4 (90/100), Memory Palace]
[Acquired Items: Non-Grasp ×6]
This "Dreaming a Thousand Years" simulation ran exceptionally long, resulting in the highest score yet.
Interestingly, the points earned from sealing Shuhu were even higher than those gained from slaying ordinary evil creatures over a millennium.
[Herta: As expected from Abundance's powerful Emanator, causing so much disruption on Xianzhou single-handedly.]
Although this settlement was S+++, it seemed there might be an even higher level above it?
Getting such results for eliminating just one Emanator suggests that to achieve the next tier, I'd likely need to take out Yaoshi...
The High-Cloud Quintet also contributed an additional two hundred points.
Su Qing noticed that with each simulation settlement, similar "side quest" bonus points were awarded almost consistently.
This is probably because these side quests indirectly advance the main storyline.
For instance, exchanging sword techniques with Jingliu and protecting Bai Heng during his journey corresponded to insights gained through Star Forging. These interactions undoubtedly helped enhance their strength and ability to combat evil creatures.
Next, he examined the rewards obtained from leveling up in this simulation:
[Foresight: Within fifteen minutes, significantly enhances your innate talents and comprehension, greatly increasing the probability of upgrading or acquiring new talents.]
Impressive!
Two instances of "significantly."
Considering the value of "significant" improvements in simulations, using it now would likely result in a substantial boost immediately.
However, given such a valuable opportunity, it indeed makes sense to save it for a more critical moment.
[Weapon Upgrade: Enhances a weapon; choose one effect from the following: Sharpness, Swiftness, or Indestructibility.]
Considering thoughtfully, Su Qing realized that his six Non-Grasp swords could be treated as a set and upgraded simultaneously.
This decision posed some dilemma. The Non-Grasp swords were already incredibly sharp and rarely prone to damage.
Should he then opt for Swiftness?
After millennia of cultivation, his Sword Control Art stood as his highest-ranked talent. With merely a flicker of intent, he could effortlessly defeat numerous foes.
However, while his flying swords excelled against ordinary enemies, when facing truly formidable opponents, he lacked a decisive finishing move—a problem not easily solved by mere swiftness.
Thus, after pondering briefly, Su Qing decided there was no need to rush. He would take time to consider before making a choice.
[Stelle: Just curious, what level of strength does Su Qing roughly possess now, post-simulation?]
[Herta: Based on his past achievements, currently, he hovers around the capabilities of a newly minted Emanator.]
[Herta: His own analysis is quite accurate—strong in many aspects but temporarily lacking a definitive finishing move.]
[Herta: If he can command the Divine Monarch to compensate for this weakness, his combat potential should match that of a mid-tier Emanator.]
[Herta: For reference, Shuhu was a typical strong Emanator. It took the combined efforts of Black Hole, Divine Monarch, and High Elder to barely send it away.]
[Herta: Naturally, if Su Qing were willing to accept Abundance's blessing, it wouldn't be long before he too could join the ranks of strong Emanators...]
[Ruan Mei: In my view, Yaoshi's deep affection for him seems not solely due to Potential Unleashing.]
[Herta: Hmm, I agree.]
[Herta: The Aeon perceives much that we cannot, who knows what His thoughts might be?]
Su Qing was well aware of his own capabilities.
The strength gained from the golden Talent [Kill] could be retained even after exiting simulations.
This manifested not only in increased base attributes but also in improved combat skills, insights, and various other aspects.
Combined with the Sword Control Art, Potential Unleashing, and Ether Editing, his current prowess made handling most enemies relatively effortless.
Therefore, there was no rush. Both rewards this time were one-time use, so he would wait for better opportunities to employ them.
As for the Luck Booster Gum, he decided to save it until the next opportunity to unlock a golden Talent, using it then together with the gum.
[Qingque: As always, steady wins the race! So incredibly steady!]
[Simulation Location for this session: The Jade Pavilion of Xianzhou.]
[Brief Summary: Yu Que is one of the six flagship vessels of the Xianzhou Alliance, serving as its eyes gazing upon the star sea, dispersing the mists along their voyages.]
[Main Quest: Become a Diviner and achieve as much success as possible.]
Hmm?
Although the simulation location has changed to a different Xianzhou ship, it's still within the Xianzhou Alliance.
And last time I was the main character; this time, am I going to be support?
Su Qing finds it quite acceptable. Each session should offer something new. While engaging in combat is exhilarating, he has been doing so for a millennium now. Trying out a support role would provide a fresh experience.
[Fu Xuan (noticing key elements): So, Su Qing will become a Diviner again. Could he possibly be my fellow disciple or brother?]
[Black Swan: Who knows? ~]
Next, it's time to choose his talent for this session.
[Profound Divination (Purple): Enhances your ability to predict fortune and misfortune through divination, significantly improving your aptitude related to divinations.]
[Treading Luck's Path (Purple): Utilizes intuition to foresee the future, allowing you at times to make correct choices based on instinct alone.]
[Genius Envied by Heaven (Blue): Slightly increases all your aptitudes but reduces your lifespan, preventing you from living past 25 years.]
[Diviner (Blue): You develop an affinity for divination, slightly enhancing your aptitude when performing divinations.]
[Gifted with Fortune (Blue): Focus on good deeds without concern for personal gain. When aligned with the benevolent faction, slightly improves your luck.]
[Affable Nature (White): Your friendly demeanor slightly increases the goodwill others feel towards you.]
[Furry Ears Enthusiast (White): You have a fondness for furry ears, which moderately enhances the favor gained from those with such features.]
[Qingque: The final talent, once again ripe with potential for ridicule.]
[Tingyun: ...Ahem, this talent indeed seems, somewhat peculiar?]
[Huohuo: (rubbing ears) (trembling)]
[Yukong: ...]
[Sparkle: How would these beast ears count? Does installing cat ears on oneself qualify?]
[Firefly: ???]
[Stelle: Interesting! Based on the descriptions, it might actually work?]
Both purple talents this time seem promising. As usual, Su Qing decided to strengthen them first for evaluation.
[Profound Divination (Purple++): Using divination to foresee fortune or misfortune, greatly enhances your aptitude related to divination and moderately increases the accuracy of your predictions.]
[Avoiding Calamity and Seeking Fortune (Purple++): With intuition inspired by foresight, you often make correct choices based on gut feelings, bordering on precognition.]
These two talents were both excellent, but considering this specific simulation, the first seemed more directly applicable.
However, upon reflection, Su Qing leaned towards the second one.
Between these two talents:
The former is an active skill, requiring deliberate use to take effect.
The latter is a passive skill, constantly active at all times.
To give an example, using Profound Divination would indeed allow predictions about the future after spending time on divining.
But during combat, how would it help decide the next move to make? In cooking, when should ingredients be added at the right moment? In gaming, which path through a maze should be chosen?
While Profound Divination sounded impressive,
he couldn't possibly perform a divination for every single decision, could he?
[Fu Xuan: This venerable one suddenly feels somewhat targeted...]
Focusing solely on the path of divination, Profound Divination would be more suitable.
However, as a passive skill, Avoiding Calamity and Seeking Fortune had broader applicability.
[Qingque: Suddenly, I really want Avoiding Calamity and Seeking Fortune too!]
[Qingque: With this, wouldn't I always draw better cards when playing?!]
[Fu Xuan: ...Using such a remarkable talent just for that?]
[Fu Xuan: Su Qing's choices regarding talents are always blessed dilemmas.]
[Fu Xuan: In essence, what all diviners strive for with immense effort and countless calculations is simply these four words: Avoiding Calamity and Seeking Fortune.]
[Fu Xuan: This type of innate ability allows you to bypass the laborious process and directly sense fortune or misfortune...]
[Fu Xuan: Regardless of opportunistic diviners like Qingque, most ordinary diviners would be extremely envious and jealous of such a talent.]
[Stelle: Yes! It's practically like instantly sensing the correct answer while solving problems!!]
The talents generated in this simulation were all quite decent.
"Profound Divination" complemented "Auspicious Fortune," while "Avoiding Calamity and Seeking Fortune" paired well with "Diviner."
To make it more versatile, Su Qing chose the purple "Avoiding Calamity and Seeking Fortune." As a complementary talent for this session, he also selected "Diviner."
[Diviner (Blue+): You have a strong affinity for divination, significantly enhancing your aptitude when performing divinations.]
That should suffice.
With Growing Genius and Theoretical Deduction, Su Qing could further elevate his divination abilities. Additionally, Avoiding Calamity and Seeking Fortune is likely to dramatically increase the accuracy of his divinations.
Having chosen his talents, Su Qing opened the equipment menu and equipped Non-Grasp in the weapon slot.
Then, closing his eyes, the scene before him shifted rapidly, eventually settling on a celestial ship resembling Luofu.
The simulation began.
[Age 0: You are born, named Su Bu.]
[Stelle: Is it 'Bu' as in radish (luóbo)?]
[March 7th: Stop messing around! Clearly, it's 'Bu' from divination (bǔsuan)!]
[Age 2: Your hometown is destroyed by evil creatures. After you and your family are saved by an Xianzhou, you relocate to the Jade Tower Immortal Ship.]
[Seele: Ah? So this time, Su Qing isn't destined for eternal life anymore?]
[Black Swan: Seems that way.]
[Age 10: In both divination and combat, you exhibit extraordinary aptitudes far surpassing the norm.]
[Age 18: You join the Cloud Knights.]
[Age 18: On your first expedition, despite achieving military honors, whenever engaging with Abundance or battling evil creatures, you feel constantly watched by some unseen presence.]
[Age 19: You embark on another expedition. This time, during encounters with evil creatures, the sensation of being observed becomes even more pronounced.]
[Age 19: You leave the Cloud Knights, abandoning martial pursuits for scholarly ones, and subsequently pass the examination to enter the Divination Commission in the same year.]
[March 7th: What's going on with Su Qing's experiences here?!]
[Herta: Yaoshi has set his sights on him, I suppose.]
[Herta: To Yaoshi, a few hundred years are just the blink of an eye. Suddenly realizing that the Emanator he sought not long ago is still alive must be intriguing.]
[Herta: His situation is quite intriguing—seems like he's excessively favored by the Aeon Star. (laughs)]
[Herta: It probably took either becoming a general with the Divine Monarch's protection or obtaining an equivalent Hunting Blessing to shield himself from Abundance's gaze.]
At age 25, due to your divination achievements, you were promoted.
At age 30, for further accomplishments, you became an experienced Diviner.
At age 40, despite additional merits, advancement was hindered by limitations of your short-lived race.
At age 50, after achieving significant accomplishments, promotion remained impossible due to short-lived race restrictions...
At age 60, following major achievements, you received commendations and a large number of Strales...
[Subsequently, viewers witnessed how Su Qing repeatedly achieved significant merits over several decades but still could not advance further.]
[Guinaifen: This resembles Yingxing's experience somewhat. One in the Artisanship Commission, the other in the Divination Commission, both unable to lead their respective departments due to lifespan constraints.]
[Bronya: But isn't Su Qing a member of the short-lived race now? How come at 80 years old, he still looks so young?!]
[Ruan Mei: The physical breakthrough brought about by Potential Unleashing greatly extended his lifespan, even as a short-lived individual.]
[At 80 years old, one day, you feel a sudden intuition as Avoiding Calamity and Seeking Fortune takes effect. Instead of heading to your usual workplace at the Divination Commission, you unexpectedly divert course towards a quiet courtyard within the premises.]
[There, you discover the current Grand Diviner struggling near the brink of Demonic Yin influence. Once again, Avoiding Calamity and Seeking Fortune guides you; following the flow of energy, you gently tap their shoulder, awakening them from peril.]
[The Grand Diviner expresses immense gratitude towards you. Naturally, after many years together in the Divination Commission, you have become well-acquainted.]
[With a sigh, the Grand Diviner says, "Now, both your divination skills and experience meet the requirements to succeed as the Grand Diviner. Alas, you are not an eternal life being, and having surpassed half a century, there is insufficient time remaining." ]
[Reflecting on the vitality within you, you perform a quick calculation and respond, "Indeed, I estimate I can live for approximately another hundred years or so."]
[Seele:"Just about".]
[Bronya:"Just about"!]
[Greatly astonished, the Grand Diviner conducts his own calculations and even calls upon members of the Alchemy Commission for verification.]
[Upon confirming this truth, considering your numerous contributions over the years and the debt of gratitude for saving his life, along with the fact that he himself should indeed retire...]
[After much contemplation and consultation with the general, the contemporary Grand Diviner made a decision that defied ancestral traditions.]
[A century is not insignificant. During times of war, many generals held their positions for far less than a hundred years.]
[Thus, at the age of 80, you were chosen as the successor to the Grand Diviner. In the same year, amidst the fringes of Demonic Yin's influence, the current Grand Diviner retired, officially making you the Jade Watchtower's new Grand Diviner.]
[Stelle: Wow, Su Qing actually managed to become the Grand Diviner! Impressive!]
[Qingque: Only he could pull it off!]
[Fu Xuan: This situation is indeed highly exceptional. It required favorable timing, advantageous circumstances, and harmonious support—all elements were crucial. However, having a short-lived race lead one of the Six Sovereigns is already a remarkable feat. Even if the scoring concluded now, I doubt the points would be low.]
[Sushang: But we're just getting started here!]
[For Xianzhou, a century is neither long nor short. While overseeing the Divination Commission, you must also seek out your successor.]
[After careful consideration, you decide:]
[A. Choose any suitable individual who catches your eye as the successor.]
[B. Given the nature of the Divination Commission, base the selection on divination results.]
[C. Prioritize ability and character; determine the successor through thorough examination.]
[D. Combine both approaches—use divination alongside assessment, weighing all factors comprehensively.]
[Silver Wolf: Alright, alright, I've glimpsed the future.]
[Silver Wolf: Next, Su Qing undoubtedly takes Fu Xuan as her disciple. Then, during Fu Xuan's training, they develop a deep bond.?]
[Natasha: Yet little Silver Wolf's predictions seem quite unreliable...]
[Stelle: Bet with Silver Wolf, and you'll starve for three days straight. Bet against Silver Wolf, and you'll own a villa by the sea!]
[Silver Wolf: Hey!]
[March 7th: What other progression could there be?]
[March 7th: If we reverse Silver Wolf's guess... does it mean their bond develops not during the training period?]