Chapter 8: Simulation Complete

“Old age already?”

Outside the simulation, Zhou Qing felt a quiet wave of melancholy wash over him.

Whether they were Qi Refinement cultivators, Foundation Establishment cultivators, or even Golden Core masters, all cultivators eventually faced the same thing: old age.

Once a cultivator entered their twilight years, their qi and blood essence would begin to decline. At that point, let alone making a breakthrough, even maintaining their current strength became difficult.

The maximum lifespan of a Qi Refinement cultivator was around one hundred and twenty years.

However, most never lived that long. The battles and life-and-death struggles of their youth often left behind hidden injuries, and many died in their nineties.

For Alchemist Yun to have lived past a hundred before passing away was considered remarkably long-lived.

For Qi Refinement cultivators, old age generally began around seventy.

Once they passed that age, their vitality would start to fade.

That was why anyone hoping to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage needed to reach the peak of the ninth layer of Qi Refinement before turning sixty.

Only then would they have enough time to attempt the breakthrough before old age set in.

After seventy, the chances of reaching Foundation Establishment became vanishingly small.

[You realize that you have entered old age. And all of sudden, a sharp pain ripped through your internal organs.]

[In your younger years, you consumed a large number of waste pills to accelerate your cultivation, allowing pill toxins to accumulate inside your body.]

[During your prime, those toxins remained suppressed. But now that you’ve entered old age and your vitality has declined, they are gradually spreading into your lungs and internal organs.]

[As the pill toxins invade your body, you are subjected to unbearable pain and torment.]

[Under these circumstances, you are certain that you won’t live past eighty.]

Reading this, Zhou Qing fell silent.

After all, taking those waste pills had been his own choice.

Given the circumstances at the time, with his low-grade spiritual roots, he knew that without relying on them and while devoting most of his energy to cultivating spiritual plants, he would never have made meaningful progress.

Forget reaching the fifth layer of Qi Refinement before old age. He would probably still have been stuck in the early stage of Qi Refinement.

One slow step led to another.

Alchemist Yun didn’t take in apprentices to nurture them. He took them in to work.

They were only allowed to cultivate during whatever spare time they could find.

Because of that, Zhou Qing had no regrets about the decision he made.

As his thoughts whirled, Zhou Qing looked back at the illusory text that kept rolling out before him.

[Now in your old age, your declining vitality has left your cultivation stagnant.]

[The pill toxins erupt and spread through your organs. Your mind is constantly tormented, and you can no longer spend long hours refining pills.]

[You decide to leave the market town and wander outside for a while.]

[Although bandit cultivators still lurk around Wushan Market, its Foundation Establishment overseer, Ouyang Shen, is not dead yet.]

[Because of this, those rogue cultivators don’t dare push things too far.]

[Year 44. At the age of seventy-one, you secretly leave the market.]

[When you reach the foot of Black Mountain, you notice a thin plume of smoke rising in the distance.]

[The sight piques your curiosity. When you first came to Wushan Market, there hadn’t been any mortals living at the mountain’s base.]

[You head toward the smoke and discover a solitary house standing all by itself.]

[You quietly cast a detection spell and, after confirming it isn’t a trap, walk over.]

[A sturdy-looking boy is outside, playing with a wooden sword.]

[You approach him and ask kindly, “What’s your name?”]

[The boy looks to be eleven or twelve years old. Seeing only a white-haired old man, he isn’t afraid and answers, “My name’s Dahu.”]

[“Dahu?”]

[You smile. “And your family name?”]

[It was only a casual question, but the boy replies, “My surname is Zhou. My name is Zhou Dahu.”]

[“Zhou?”]

[You freeze for a moment.]

[At the same time, you take a closer look at the child.]

[Something about his features feels strangely familiar.]

[“Who gave you that name?” you ask.]

[“My grandpa did. His name is Zhou Dachun, so he named me Zhou Dahu.”]

[Sensing the change in your tone, the boy answers a little nervously.]

[“Zhou Dachun?”]

[You fall silent.]

[43 years ago, you brought Dachun with you to Black Mountain, hoping to enter Wushan Market.]

[But Dachun was only a mortal and wasn’t allowed into the market, so you settled him at the foot of the mountain instead.]

[Back then, you planned to come down the mountain after a while and make arrangements for Dachun’s future. But after becoming Alchemist Yun’s apprentice, all of your time and energy were consumed by cultivating spiritual plants and advancing your cultivation.]

[As the years passed, you gradually forgot about him.]

[In your mind, although Dachun wasn’t a cultivator, he was more than capable of taking care of himself. You assumed he would eventually leave on his own.]

[“Then where is your grandfather now?”]

[You continue questioning the boy.]

[“My grandpa died when I was very little,” the child says quietly.]

[“Your grandfather… why didn’t he leave this place?”]

[You ask.]

[“Grandpa said he was waiting here for Young Master… Young Master never told him to leave, so he wouldn’t leave…”]

[The boy glances at you cautiously as he answers.]

Dachun… Zhou Qing let out a long sigh.

He glanced toward the door.

Unlike in the simulation, the present-day Dachun was still standing guard outside, protecting Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing had always known how loyal Dachun was, but realizing that he had spent an entire lifetime waiting at the foot of Black Mountain because of a single offhand instruction still moved him deeply.

“Dachun.”

Zhou Qing suddenly called out.

“Young Master.”

“Young Master.” Dachun stepped right in, answering with his usual honest grin.

“It’s nothing. I just wanted to see you.” Zhou Qing shook his head. “You can go back outside.”

“Alright.”

Dachun scratched his head. With his straightforward nature, he didn’t give it any further thought.

…

[You meet Zhou Dahu’s parents. After casually demonstrating a few spells, you propose taking Dahu with you.]

[You discover that Zhou Dahu possesses spiritual roots as well. Though they are only low-grade, entering the Qi Refinement stage should pose no difficulty for him.]

[His parents readily agree and are overwhelmed with gratitude toward you.]

[Taking Zhou Dahu with you, you do not return to Wushan Market. Instead, you travel to the capital of the Qian Kingdom.]

[Without realizing it, fifty years have passed since you left the capital.]

[The Fourth Prince, the man responsible for slaughtering the entire Zhou household, died long ago.]

[The emperor now ruling the Qian Kingdom is the Fourth Prince’s son.]

[You and Dahu walk through the bustling streets.]

[Everything looks almost exactly as it did fifty years ago.]

[You arrive in front of the former Zhou Estate.]

[But it is no longer called the Zhou Estate. It is now known as the Lu Estate.]

[The Zhou family, whose influence and prestige had spanned generations, has long since been forgotten.]

[Back then, the Zhou family not only held immense power at court, but was also known for its generosity, frequently helping the common people.]

[Yet now, not a single person remembers them.]

[You cast one final glance toward the imperial palace.]

[You have no intention of storming the palace to seek revenge.]

[For one thing, it simply isn’t possible. You are an aging fifth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator, and not one skilled in combat. Against the kingdom’s martial experts and vast armies, you hold little advantage.]

[Moreover, cultivators are stationed within the palace as well.]

[For another, there are more important things you still need to do.]

[Year 57. You are 72 years old. You return to Wushan Market with Dahu.]

[You meet with Yun Shu and entrust Dahu to her care, hoping she will look after the boy.]

[It is the first favor you have asked of anyone in decades. Yun Shu solemnly promises that as long as the Yun Clan Alchemy Shop exists, Dahu will always have a place there.]

[Year 58. You are 73 years old. The situation in Wushan Market grows increasingly unstable.]

[Even ordinary cultivators begin to realize the market has no future leadership and start liquidating their assets and fleeing.]

[Year 59. You are 74 years old. Rumors spread throughout the market that Overseer Ouyang Shen has already passed away.]

[The cultivators who remain immediately begin selling off their property at bargain prices.]

[Year 60. You are 75 years old. Black Mountain Market rapidly declines. More than half the shops close, and properties are offered at rock-bottom prices.]

[Yet no cultivator dares take them over.]

[Anyone with eyes can see what’s coming. Without a Foundation Establishment cultivator to oversee the market, who would dare gather here to trade?]

[Year 61. You are 76 years old. Your vitality continues to deteriorate. The pill toxins flare up more and more frequently, and you realize you likely have only a few years left to live.]

[Year 62. You are 77 years old. You are lying bedridden, your end drawing near.]

[Yun Shu and the senior members of the alchemy shop gather at your bedside.]

[For decades, you devoted yourself wholeheartedly to the alchemy shop. Everyone has seen the sacrifices you’ve made.]

[“Uncle Zhou…”]

[Yun Shu looks at you with grief in her eyes.]

[Her sorrow is genuine. Before Alchemist Yun passed away, he told Yun Shu that you were someone he could trust without reservation.]

[In the cultivation world, people worthy of absolute trust are exceedingly rare. Once you pass away, Yun Shu will lose one of the very few people she could rely on completely.]

[You force your eyes open and look toward Yun Shu.]

[“Any news on the matter I asked you to keep an eye on?”]

[“No. Overseer Ouyang hasn’t shown himself for several years now…”]

[Yun Shu answers immediately.]

[“I see…”]

[You slowly close your eyes again, your breathing growing weaker and weaker.]

[Seeing this, Yun Shu knows your final moments are approaching. She lets out a silent sigh.]

[Just then, someone comes rushing into the room in a panic.]

[“I told you, no matter what it is, Uncle Zhou is not to be disturbed right now…”]

[Yun Shu frowns and is about to reprimand him.]

[“It’s Overseer Ouyang…”]

[The cultivator blurts out hurriedly.]

[“Even if it’s Overseer Ouyang…”]

[Yun Shu’s brow remains tightly furrowed.]

[“Let him speak…”]

[Your consciousness is already sinking into darkness, but the moment you hear the words ‘Overseer Ouyang,’ you jolt upright from what was practically your deathbed.]

[“Overseer Ouyang has returned to the market. He’s accompanied by a newly advanced female Foundation Establishment cultivator and is currently wiping out the bandit cultivators around the market…”]

[With that crucial piece of information finally in hand, you close your eyes for the last time and peacefully pass away.]

[You have died.]

[Simulation Complete.]