txolops Chapter 8 Simulation Ends
Chapter 8 Simulation Ends
"In your later years?"
Beyond the simulation, Zhou Qing looked on with a sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, a complex emotion encompassing both feeling and reflection).
Whether it's a Qi Refining cultivator, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, or even a Core Formation cultivator.
Both refer to old age or twilight years.
Once you enter old age, your vital energy and blood decline, making it difficult to even maintain your original strength, let alone break through to a higher level.
The maximum lifespan for a Qi Refining stage cultivator is 120 years.
Most Qi Refining stage cultivators suffer from hidden injuries from battles in their youth, and can only live to be over ninety years old.
Master Yun Dan lived to be over a hundred years old before passing away, which is indeed considered a long life.
For cultivators in the Qi Refining stage, the later years are generally considered to be around the age of seventy.
Once a cultivator in the Qi Refining stage passes the age of seventy, their Qi and blood will begin to decline.
Therefore, a Qi Refining cultivator who wants to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage needs to cultivate to the ninth level of Qi Refining perfection before the age of sixty.
Only in this way can one strive to reach the Foundation Establishment stage before old age.
Once you're over seventy, the hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage becomes infinitely slim.
[You realize you're entering old age, and suddenly, waves of excruciating pain surge from your lungs.]
In your youth, in your pursuit of rapid cultivation, you consumed many useless pills, accumulating a great deal of pill toxins in your body.
These erysipelas were all suppressed during your prime years, but now that you are in your later years, your qi and blood are declining, and the erysipelas are gradually invading your lungs and internal organs.
[Erysipelas has penetrated your lungs and internal organs, causing you unbearable pain and torment.]
In this situation, are you certain that you won't live past eighty?
Upon seeing this, Zhou Qing fell silent.
Swallowing the discarded pill was also Zhou Qing's decision.
After all, under those circumstances, with low-grade spiritual root aptitude, if one did not rely on discarded pills, most of their energy would be devoted to cultivating spiritual plants.
Before his later years, he probably wouldn't have even reached the fifth level of Qi Refining; he was likely still struggling in the early stages of Qi Refining.
One step slow leads to another.
Master Yun Dan recruits apprentices not to train them, but to put them to work.
They were only allowed to practice during their free time.
Therefore, Zhou Qing did not regret this decision.
As his thoughts raced, Zhou Qing continued to look at the constantly simulating virtual text.
As you enter old age, your Qi and blood decline, making it difficult to improve your cultivation.
[The erysipelas has erupted, invading your lungs and internal organs, causing you great mental and physical torment, and making it impossible for you to refine elixirs for an extended period.]
You've decided to leave the market and go for a stroll.
Although there are traces of cultivators around Wushan Market, Ouyang Shen, the market lord who is at the Foundation Establishment stage, is still alive.
Even those cultivators who had undergone tribulations dared not go too far.
In the fifty-sixth year, at the age of seventy-one, you secretly left the market town.
When you arrive at the foot of Wushan Mountain, you will see wisps of smoke rising from chimneys in the distance.
This piques your curiosity. You remember when you first came to Wushan Market, there were no ordinary people living at the foot of the mountain.
As you approach the source of the smoke, you discover a solitary house standing there.
You secretly activated a detection spell to confirm it wasn't a trap before proceeding.
A chubby-faced child is playing with a wooden sword at the doorway.
You walked over and asked gently, "What's your name?"
The chubby-faced child, about eleven or twelve years old, wasn't afraid of you, an elderly man with white hair, and replied, "My name is Big Tiger."
"Big Tiger?"
You smiled and asked, "What about your surname?"
You asked casually, but the child replied, "My surname is Zhou, and my name is Zhou Dahu."
"Surname Zhou?"
You were slightly taken aback.
[At the same time, we began to examine this child.]
You sensed a strange familiarity in the child's features.
"Who named you?" you asked.
"It's my grandfather. My grandfather's name is Zhou Dachun, so he named me Zhou Dahu."
The child noticed the change in your tone and said somewhat fearfully.
"Zhou Dachun?"
You fell silent.
Forty-three years ago, you brought Da Chun to Wushan, wanting to enter Wushan Market.
However, Da Chun is merely a mortal and cannot enter the market, so you arranged for Da Chun to stay at the foot of the mountain.
[At the time, you planned to go down the mountain after a while to arrange Da Chun's next steps, but you didn't expect that after becoming Master Yun Dan's apprentice, you would devote all your energy to cultivating spiritual plants and practicing cultivation.]
Over time, they forgot about making arrangements for Da Chun.
In your opinion, although Da Chun is not a cultivator, he is quite powerful and should leave on his own.
"Where is your grandfather now?"
You continued to inquire.
"My grandfather died when I was very young," the child whispered.
Why doesn't your grandfather leave this place?
[You asked]
"My grandfather said he'll wait for you here, young master... You didn't tell him to leave, so he won't leave..."
The child looked at you cautiously and answered.
"Da Chun..."
Zhou Qing sighed.
He glanced outside the door at the same time.
Unlike in the simulation, Da Chun is now guarding the door, protecting Zhou Qing's safety.
Although Zhou Qing had long known that Da Chun was incredibly loyal, he was still deeply moved that Da Chun had waited for him at the foot of Wushan Mountain for his entire life simply because of a single sentence.
"Da Chun".
Zhou Qing suddenly spoke up.
"Young master."
Da Chun immediately pushed open the door and came in, replying in a simple and honest manner.
"It's nothing, I just wanted to see you."
Zhou Qing shook his head. "Go out."
"it is good."
Da Chun scratched his head, his simple mind not giving it much thought.
......
[You met Zhou Dahu's parents, used a few spells, and then proposed to take Dahu away.]
[You've discovered that Zhou Dahu also possesses spiritual root aptitude, albeit a low-grade one, but he should have no problem reaching the Qi Refining stage.]
Zhou Dahu's parents naturally had no objections and were extremely grateful to you.
Instead of returning to Wushan Market with Zhou Dahu, you came to the capital of Qian Kingdom.
Unbeknownst to you, fifty years have passed since you left the capital. The fourth prince, who murdered the entire Zhou family back then, has long since passed away. The current emperor of Qian Kingdom is the son of the fourth prince.
You walk along the bustling street with Big Tiger in your arms.
Everything seems exactly the same as it was fifty years ago.
You have arrived at the former Zhou residence.
This place is no longer called the Zhou Residence, but the Lu Residence.
Fifty years ago, the Zhou family, which had been prominent for generations, had long been forgotten.
The Zhou family not only wielded immense power in the court, but they were also known for their philanthropy and frequent acts of charity to help the common people.
Now, however, no one remembers the Zhou family.
You glanced one last time in the direction of the palace.
You have no intention of storming the palace to seek revenge.
[Firstly, it's impossible. Even in their later years, a Qi Refining Level 5 cultivator is still not skilled in combat and doesn't have much of an advantage against worldly experts and large armies.]
Moreover, there are cultivators stationed within the palace.
Secondly, you have more important things to do.
In the fifty-seventh year, at the age of seventy-two, you returned to Wushan Market with the Great Tiger.
You met Yun Shu and handed Da Hu over to her, hoping to receive her care.
[This is the first time in decades that you have made such a request. Yun Shu solemnly promises that as long as the Yun Clan Pill Workshop exists, Da Hu will be there.]
[In the fifty-eighth year, you are seventy-three years old. Wushan Market is becoming increasingly chaotic. Ordinary cultivators are also realizing the hidden danger of the market having no successors, and they are starting to sell their assets and flee.]
[In the fifty-ninth year, you are seventy-four years old. Rumors spread in the market that the market lord, Ouyang Shen, has passed away. The remaining cultivators who are still persisting immediately began to sell off the market's assets at rock-bottom prices.]
[In the sixtieth year, when you are seventy-five, Wushan Market has rapidly become desolate, with most shops closing down and being sold at extremely low prices, but no cultivator dares to take them on.]
[It's obvious to anyone with eyes that Wushan Market is probably doomed. Without a Foundation Establishment cultivator in charge, who would dare to trade and gather here?]
[In the sixty-first year, at the age of seventy-six, your vital energy and blood are increasingly depleted, and the frequency of erysipelas attacks is greatly increasing. You realize that you don't have many years left to live.]
In the sixty-second year, you are seventy-seven years old, lying on your bed, not far from your end.
Yun Shu and other high-ranking members of the Pill Workshop have come to your bedside to see you.
For decades, you have devoted yourself wholeheartedly to the Danfang, and everyone has witnessed it.
"Uncle Zhou..."
[Yun Shu's gaze towards you revealed deep sorrow.]
This is indeed Yun Shu's genuine expression of emotion. Before Master Yun passed away, he told him, "You are someone I can absolutely trust."
In the world of cultivation, there are very few people you can absolutely trust. Your passing away is equivalent to Yun Shu losing one person she could absolutely trust.
"I asked you to keep an eye on it, any news?"
You barely opened your eyes and looked at Yun Shu.
"No, Master Ouyang Shen hasn't shown his face for several years..."
Yun Shu immediately said...
"I see..."
You slowly close your eyes, your breath growing weaker and weaker.
Seeing this, Yun Shu knew you were about to pass away, and sighed inwardly.
Just then, a figure rushed in in a panic.
"I told you, no matter what, you can't bother Uncle Zhou..."
Yun Shu frowned, about to reprimand him.
"It's Master Ouyang..."
The cultivator who rushed in spoke quickly.
Even if it's Master Ouyang...
Yun Shu frowned.
"Let him speak..."
[Your consciousness was almost fading into darkness, but upon hearing the words "Master Ouyang," you immediately sat up in shock.]
[“Master Ouyang has appeared in the market, accompanied by a newly promoted female Foundation Establishment cultivator, and is currently clearing out the troublemakers around the market…”]
With this crucial information in mind, you finally closed your eyes and passed away peacefully.
【you are dead】
[This simulation has ended]