I have a cultivation simulator

Chapter 5 The Emergence of the Secret Realm

Zhou Qing looked at the three choices in front of him.

Option three was ruled out immediately.

So far, Wushan Market is the most suitable place for a cultivator like him with no background to make his way in the world.

Other forces? Either sects or immortal cultivation families.

Extremely xenophobic.

He pondered for a moment.

Zhou Qing gave up on option two.

Becoming a disciple of a master alchemist, weapon maker, or talisman master would certainly be the best option.

However, Zhou Qing was unable to cover the expenses for the apprenticeship ceremony and other related costs.

You can't really be a spirit farmer for over ten years? Saving spirit stones without eating or drinking?

That would be too much of a sunk cost. What if something unexpected happens along the way? Wouldn't all our efforts be wasted?

compare to.

For Zhou Qing, becoming an apprentice was undoubtedly the most suitable choice.

Although I've lost my freedom, at least I can learn something immediately.

Furthermore, they can obtain the protection of a certain alchemist, weapon maker, or talisman master.

Option 1

Zhou Qing stared at the illusory characters and made her choice.

The virtual font changes again.

You've decided to become an apprentice.

Currently, there are three artisans in Wushanfang Market recruiting apprentices.

[These are Master Yun Dan, Master Lu Qi, and Master Zhao Fu]

[Among them, the spiritual contracts signed by Master Yun Dan's apprentices are the most demanding, requiring them to sell themselves into servitude for thirty years.]

[Zhao Fushi's spiritual contract only requires him to sell himself for ten years, while Lu Qishi's requires fifteen years.]

After careful consideration, you have decided to become Master Yun Dan's apprentice.

Among all the arts of cultivation, alchemy is undoubtedly the most widespread. Every cultivator relies on elixirs throughout their cultivation journey.

This is also the reason why Master Yun dared to set the spirit contract at thirty years.

Of course, this is also related to the fact that Master Yun is a high-grade alchemist, while the other two are only mid-grade weapon makers and mid-grade talisman makers.

Top-tier alchemists are among the best in the entire Wushan Market; they are highly sought-after craftspeople.

You are heading to the alchemy workshop where Master Yun Dan resides.

There aren't many cultivators willing to become Cloud Alchemist's apprentices; including you, there are only four.

[After all, a thirty-year indenture is too harsh; the lifespan of a Qi Refining cultivator is not much different from that of an ordinary mortal.]

[Selling oneself for thirty years at once? Very few cultivators could accept that.]

You looked at the middle-aged cultivator sitting in the main seat of the alchemy workshop.

This middle-aged cultivator, with a thin face, was none other than Master Yun.

"Alright, now that you're here, you must know my rules."

[Master Yun stood up, his gaze falling on you and the other four.]

"This is a spirit contract, sign it."

[With a wave of his right hand, Master Yun summoned four spirit contracts.]

"The next thirty years will be divided into three phases."

"Ten years to cultivate the spirit, ten years to control the fire, ten years to condense the elixir."

[Master Yun Dan spoke.]

[Quickly sign the spirit contract and listen obediently.]

The so-called "spirit cultivation" refers to the nurturing of spiritual plants.

Spiritual plants are the main raw materials for alchemy. Every alchemist who wants to refine good pills must be proficient in the art of cultivating spiritual plants.

Controlling fire, however, involves the actual alchemy process, especially the condensation of the elixir, which is the final step in alchemy.

"You don't need to feel wronged. As long as you complete the above three stages, becoming a low-grade alchemist is not difficult."

After finishing speaking, Master Yun got up and left.

[You have officially become Master Yun Dan's apprentice and begun the first stage: Ten Years of Spiritual Cultivation]

Seeing this, Zhou Qing composed himself.

"Thankfully, it's only thirty years in a simulation..."

Zhou Qing sighed inwardly.

Selling oneself for thirty years is indeed too high a price to pay; otherwise, given Master Yun's reputation, he wouldn't have only a few apprentices.

However, for Zhou Qing, thirty years was just a simulation; in reality, it would only be a fleeting moment.

You have been assigned one acre of spirit field, where several commonly used medicinal herbs for alchemy are planted.

[A seasoned apprentice will begin teaching you how to cultivate these spiritual plants.]

[In the eleventh year, you are twenty-six years old. You have basically adapted to apprentice life and spend all your time cultivating spiritual plants, except for cultivation.]

"Brother Zhou."

A young man walked over and greeted you warmly.

The young man's name was Ye Feng, and he was also an apprentice of Master Yun Dan, one of the four apprentices who entered the sect at the same time as Zhou Qing.

Because Ye Feng's learning ability was relatively slow, he was often scolded by the senior apprentice who taught him how to cultivate spirits. Once, you couldn't stand it anymore, so you gave Ye Feng a few pointers during your spare time.

Having lived two lives, your learning ability goes without saying.

[From then on, Ye Feng clung to your coattails, calling you "Brother Zhou" all day long, and following your lead without question.]

"This is a fasting elixir."

Ye Feng handed you the fasting pills for that month.

The Fasting Pill is an essential elixir for cultivators; consuming one will keep one from hunger for half a month.

Every time you go to collect the Bigu Pills, Ye Feng will collect them for you and give you the best quality ones.

You naturally know Ye Feng's intention in doing this; he simply wants you to teach him a little longer, so you didn't refuse.

In the twelfth year, at the age of twenty-seven, while cultivating spiritual plants, you secretly left behind several of the highest quality 'waste pills'.

Waste pills are the product of a pill refiner's failed attempt. They contain many impurities and are not suitable for cultivators to consume.

Therefore, the uses of discarded pills are either to be buried in spirit fields to cultivate spirit plants, or to be fed to spirit pets and beasts.

However, nothing is absolute. Some discarded pills are of relatively good quality, and if a cultivator occasionally consumes one, it won't cause much harm.

Just like expired food on Earth in my past life.

You secretly kept a few of the highest quality defective pills for yourself, naturally.

[In the thirteenth year, you are twenty-eight years old. With the continuous cultivation of spiritual plants, you have gained a deeper understanding of the growth of spiritual herbs.]

[In the fourteenth year, you will be twenty-nine years old. As Master Yun Dan's apprentice, you are naturally allowed to live in the market town and enjoy its spiritual energy resources. Although it is only a first-grade low-level spiritual vein, it is still far superior to the spiritual energy outside.]

[In the fifteenth year, you are thirty years old and have entered the second level of Qi Refining.]

"You've reached the second level of Qi Refining?"

A smile appeared on Zhou Qing's face.

Five years is twice as fast as going from the first level of Qi Refining to the second level of Qi Refining compared to going from the mortal realm to the first level of Qi Refining.

This level of achievement is due to two main factors: firstly, the rich spiritual energy within the market area.

Zhou Qing's previous cultivation environment was in the mortal Qian Kingdom, where spiritual energy was scarce, which is why it took him ten years to enter the Qi Refining stage.

Besides the spiritual environment, it was also related to Zhou Qing's frequent consumption of high-quality discarded pills.

[In the sixteenth year, you are thirty-one years old. Continue to dedicate yourself to cultivating spiritual plants and practicing your spiritual cultivation.]

[In the seventeenth year, at the age of thirty-two, you realized the difficulty of advancing from the second to the third level of Qi Refining, and you increased the frequency of consuming waste pills.]

[Taking waste pills can easily lead to the accumulation of pill toxins in the body, but in order to reach the third level of Qi Refining as soon as possible and gain hope of breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, which is the middle stage of Qi Refining, you are willing to pay some price.]

[In the eighteenth year, you are thirty-three years old. The spiritual plant you cultivated has gained the approval of Master Yun Dan, and you have received a reward of ten spirit stones.]

In the nineteenth year, at the age of thirty-four, you have become increasingly adept at cultivating spiritual plants.

[In your twentieth year, at the age of thirty-five, you have already reached the peak of the second level of Qi Refining and plan to break through to the third level in a few more years.]

In the same year, a major event occurred in Wushan Market.

[A hidden paradise has emerged in a canyon not far from Wushanfang City.]

By the time you learn of this, many cultivators have already obtained numerous valuable resources from that secret realm.

The matter of the secret realm not only caused a huge impact in Wushan Market, but also attracted other cultivation forces and independent cultivators from the surrounding area.

Although you are quite curious about that secret realm, you have no intention of going there to compete for it.

[As a mere Qi Refining Level 2 cultivator, my strength is far too weak.]

However, you have memorized a great deal of information about that secret realm. Your non-participation in this simulation does not mean you will not participate in the next, or the one after that.

That evening, Ye Feng found you.

"Brother Zhou..."

Ye Feng sat in front of you, hesitant to speak.

"Just say what you need to say."

You spoke first.

"I'm planning to explore that secret realm..."

Ye Feng shared his thoughts.

[It turned out that Ye Feng was extremely tired of cultivating spiritual plants day after day in the alchemy workshop.]

Ye Feng was terrified of this kind of life where he could see the end from the beginning.

Therefore, upon learning of the emergence of the secret realm, he conceived the idea of ​​going there to contend for it.

"You've only just entered the third level of Qi Refining..."

You frowned at Ye Feng, "And what about the spirit contract?"

Before becoming an apprentice, Ye Feng naturally signed a spiritual contract that would sell himself for thirty years.

[Leaving the alchemy workshop without Master Yun's approval will result in a backlash from the spiritual contract.]

"I've already spoken with Master Yun, and he's willing to let me leave, as long as I can come up with one hundred spirit stones..."

Ye Feng said in a bitter tone.

Hearing this, you finally understand why Ye Feng sought you out.

[I've come to borrow spirit stones.]

You gaze at Ye Feng, lost in thought.

[You have spirit stones. Since becoming an apprentice for ten years, you have often received rewards from Master Yun for your excellent cultivation of spirit plants.]

But should we lend it to Ye Feng?

You thought of how Ye Feng had served you faithfully for the past ten years.

[Finally decided to lend fifty spirit stones to the other party]