I Have a Cultivation Simulator

After caressing Li Yan a while longer, Zhou Qing finally brought up the main topic.

"Yan'er, we're changing our cave dwelling."

The spiritual energy grade of the spiritual vein at the Purple Bamboo Forest Cave Dwelling was simply too low. In this environment, the cooldown time for a simulation attempt was nearly five months.

That Third-Order High-Grade spiritual vein cave dwelling in the savage region was clearly a better choice. It would drastically shorten the refresh cooldown for each simulation attempt.

Of course, Zhou Qing would only change spiritual vein cave dwellings if it was absolutely safe, without a single shred of risk.

Zhou Qing had monitored that spiritual vein cave dwelling in the savage region for many years during his fourth simulation. He only planned to relocate there in reality after confirming it repeatedly.

If there had been even a slight risk, Zhou Qing wouldn't have considered it; at worst, he would just wait a few extra months at the Purple Bamboo Forest Cave Dwelling.

"Wherever Master goes, Yan'er will go..."

Li Yan pressed against Zhou Qing's chest, her voice soft and sweet.

Now, however, Li Yan considered herself to be her Master's person. His position in her heart far exceeded the Purple Bamboo Forest.

Moreover, because of the Primordial Yin Treasure Physique's demand for high-quality spiritual energy during its awakening, leaving the Purple Bamboo Forest would inevitably cause Li Yan to fall into a coma from spiritual energy starvation. If it dragged on, she might even die.

Yet in Li Yan's mind, the thought of refusing or resisting Zhou Qing's words didn't even exist. If he told her to die right now, she would obediently do so.

"Mm."

Zhou Qing glanced at Li Yan.

In reality, even though Zhou Qing hadn't used the Demon Planting Art on Li Yan, she still submitted to him from the bottom of her heart.

This stemmed from the past few months in reality. By engaging in spiritual communion with Li Yan every night, Zhou Qing had subtly influenced her with his powerful soul.

This influence wasn't absolute control, but rather a deep emotional bond, akin to that of closest family.

With my current soul, which surpasses the Core Formation Stage, engaging in spiritual communion with Yan'er will inevitably influence her on an even deeper level.

Even if Yan'er steps into the Nascent Soul Stage in the simulation, she will still remain highly devoted to me. Combined with other control methods...

Zhou Qing pondered.

A mind-control method like the Demon Planting Art had too many limitations.

Unless Zhou Qing was willing to let Li Yan remain at the Core Formation Stage forever, he had to attempt gentler methods of control.

Most importantly, everything Zhou Qing did was within the simulation, granting him limitless trial and error.

Even if unexpected variables arose, he could correct them in the next simulation.

If it didn't work once, he would just do it again.

This is perfect. I can test this on Yan'er first to prepare for enslaving and controlling True Person Biyue later.

Zhou Qing mused.

Once he broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage, True Person Biyue's Heavenly Infant Fruit would be useless to him. Zhou Qing wouldn't mind letting her break through to the Nascent Soul Stage first before suppressing her to attempt enslavement.

With the experience of his third simulation, Zhou Qing was certain that under normal circumstances, True Person Biyue could advance to the Nascent Soul Stage.

Zhou Qing could absolutely make this his goal, laying out plans, preparing, and scheming well in advance.

Compared to other true persons capable of reaching the Nascent Soul Stage, True Person Biyue's greatest weakness was her lack of a true lord backing her.

If a Nascent Soul seed from Taiyuan Palace broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage, True Monarch Zixu would definitely be nearby to protect them. If Zhou Qing were only at the early Nascent Soul stage, he likely wouldn't have any chance of getting close.

"That should do it. Let's head out now."

Zhou Qing stood and walked toward the cave dwelling's exit.

"Ah? So soon?"

Li Yan blinked in surprise. She had thought they would relocate a bit later.

But seeing Zhou Qing stand, Li Yan got up to follow without a second thought.

The area immediately outside the cave dwelling was still within the bounds of the ashram, covered by a Tier 2 grand array.

With a shift of Zhou Qing's will, an ark-shaped flying artifact materialized in the air ahead.

The ark artifact was over a dozen zhang long, its hull faintly etched with mysterious patterns.

Just hovering there, it emitted a faint pressure enough to make Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators tremble.

This flying ark artifact was Tier 3. Zhou Qing had spent several shichen crafting it, using the treasures and resources he'd obtained from those bandit cultivators.

Over the centuries of his fourth simulation, Zhou Qing's artifact forging attainments had reached Tier 3 Low-Grade. Forging a Tier 3 Low-Grade flying artifact was a breeze; he didn't even need a dedicated forging room.

Relying solely on his own core fire, he could successfully forge a Tier 3 Low-Grade flying artifact.

In the cultivation world, flying artifacts were easy to sell. Zhou Qing wouldn't lose out by forging a flying artifact in reality and selling it in the simulation.

"This is..."

Li Yan's beautiful eyes went wide when she saw the flying ark artifact. She remembered having once seen a flying artifact from afar.

But compared to this ark-shaped flying artifact, it was the difference between clouds and mud.

"We will ride this ark to our new cave dwelling in a moment," Zhou Qing said with a smile.

"Okay..."

Li Yan curiously inspected the ark artifact and nodded obediently.

"Before that, however, there is one last step to complete."

Zhou Qing looked at Li Yan. "Yan'er, wait here for a moment."

With that, Zhou Qing vanished from his spot.

When he reappeared, he was already outside the underground spiritual vein.

The underground spiritual vein beneath the Purple Bamboo Forest Cave Dwelling was Tier 3 Low-Grade.

"The spiritual vein's origin..."

Zhou Qing's expression turned slightly solemn. Forming hand seals, he drew upon the surrounding power of heaven and earth and began to sever a piece of this Tier 3 spiritual vein's origin.

Spiritual veins were born of heaven and earth. Severing a spiritual vein's origin required not only an extremely high cultivation base but also a profound understanding of heaven and earth.

Zhou Qing's strength surpassed the Core Formation Stage, making him akin to a quasi-true lord. Coupled with his Third-Order High-Grade array attainments and his comprehension of heaven and earth grand arrays, he was able to partially sever the spiritual vein.

Of course, Zhou Qing only severed a tiny fraction—less than one ten-thousandth of the spiritual vein's entirety. It wouldn't have any impact on this Tier 3 Low-Grade spiritual vein.

It would fully recover in a few decades to a century.

The Purple Bamboo Forest's spiritual vein ashram was ultimately a Tier 3 spiritual vein ashram. Even if Zhou Qing relocated, he wouldn't outright abandon this spiritual vein ashram.

In the simulation, whether he sold it to another faction or used it as a stronghold for his own forces, it was the most beneficial choice for him.

During his fourth simulation, Zhou Qing had spent over a century in this very spiritual vein cave dwelling. He only rarely returned after moving to Profound King Island.

Even so, the Purple Bamboo Forest Cave Dwelling later became one of the important strongholds for the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce. At the end of the Two Regions War, Zhou Qing sold it at a high price to a newly risen Core Formation level force.

It could be said that he had squeezed every bit of value out of this spiritual vein cave dwelling, inside and out.

"That should be enough..."

Zhou Qing retracted his right hand. A ball of spiritual energy pulsed faintly in his palm—it was the minuscule fraction of this Tier 3 spiritual vein's origin.

"Seal!"

Zhou Qing looked at the spiritual vein below, used the power of heaven and earth to set up an array, and swiftly sealed the gap where he had severed the spiritual vein.

If the gap wasn't sealed, the origin of this Tier 3 spiritual vein would continuously leak. This would cause the spiritual vein's grade to drop, eventually degrading into a Tier 2 or Tier 1 spiritual vein...

Zhou Qing had severed the spiritual vein's origin to seal it inside the ark, using it to set up a miniature mobile spiritual vein within the flying artifact.

This action served two purposes.

First, to shorten the cooldown time for simulation attempts as much as possible.

Zhou Qing wasn't entirely satisfied that the Tier 3 Low-Grade spiritual vein in the Purple Bamboo Forest Cave Dwelling only reduced the simulation cooldown to just over four months and twenty days.

However, compared to the standard two or three years of cooldown time in a normal spiritual energy environment outside, the Purple Bamboo Forest Cave Dwelling was still quite good.

By installing the spiritual vein origin from beneath the Purple Bamboo Forest Cave Dwelling into the flying artifact to create a Tier 3 Low-Grade mobile miniature spiritual vein, Zhou Qing could continue enjoying the same cooldown reduction while traveling to the Third-Order High-Grade spiritual vein cave dwelling in the savage region.

This way, he could ensure, to the greatest extent, that the cooldown time for his next simulation would be minimized.

As for the second purpose, it was for Li Yan.

Li Yan's Primordial Yin Treasure Physique was currently in its awakening phase and hungered immensely for pure spiritual energy. Leaving the Purple Bamboo Forest Cave Dwelling for a long time would severely affect her.

Housing a Tier 3 Low-Grade miniature spiritual vein inside the flying artifact now solved Li Yan's problem as well.

In truth, laying out a miniature spiritual vein was incredibly extravagant. Taking the clump of spiritual vein origin Zhou Qing had extracted as an example, it would only last a month at most.

After a month, this ball of spiritual vein origin would be completely exhausted.

But if left inside the spiritual vein itself, this origin would hardly suffer any consumption.

Therefore, in the cultivation world, anyone capable of establishing a mobile spiritual vein was at least a Core Formation Stage true person, or even a mid-to-late stage true person to start with.

Ordinary true persons, especially False Core True Persons, simply couldn't afford such consumption.

A mobile miniature spiritual vein replicated the most crucial spiritual pressure of a spiritual vein environment, making it far more efficient than simply absorbing spirit stones.

Whoosh!

Having retrieved the spiritual vein's origin, Zhou Qing returned to the surface.

"Master."

Li Yan stood obediently in place, waiting.

She called out immediately when she saw Zhou Qing appear.

With a raise of his hand, Zhou Qing merged the spiritual vein origin from his palm into the flying ark artifact.

"Come on up, Yan'er."

With a mental command, Zhou Qing sent Li Yan into the ark.

Then he looked back and surveyed the Purple Bamboo Forest Cave Dwelling.

For a cultivator, moving cave dwellings was extremely simple. Important items were already stored in their storage bags long ago, so they only needed to pack up roughly when leaving.

Thus, there was nothing left to take from the Purple Bamboo Forest Cave Dwelling.

Zhou Qing circulated his mana, silently sweeping it over the Purple Bamboo Forest ashram to erase the traces of his presence.

Finally, he left behind a Tier 2 puppet to guard this spiritual vein ashram before entering the ark himself.

To the outside world, the Purple Bamboo Forest was merely a Tier 1 spiritual vein ashram. Guarded by a Tier 2 puppet, it couldn't be any safer.

Not to mention it was protected by a Tier 2 array.

When it came time for his fifth simulation, Zhou Qing would return here. Whether he sold it or used it, he would decide based on the circumstances at the time.

A Tier 3 Low-Grade spiritual vein cave dwelling had too many uses. Whether as a true person's private dwelling or a faction's stronghold, it was exceptionally fitting.

Zhou Qing had purchased this Purple Bamboo Forest for the price of a Tier 1 spiritual vein cave dwelling back then. It could be called an incredible bargain.

Upon entering the ark, Zhou Qing saw Li Yan looking around in wonder.

The space inside the ark was quite large, spanning hundreds of ping, and teemed with spiritual energy. It felt no different from a standard spiritual vein ashram.

"Let's go."

Zhou Qing wrapped an arm around Li Yan and sat down casually.

In the next instant.

The ark zipped away in a flash, ascending above the clouds and speeding toward the savage region.

"Wow!" Li Yan's eyes widened. She was only at the early Qi Refining stage, so her divine sense could barely extend beyond her body. However, a mirror reflection array had been installed inside the ark, allowing cultivators within to easily view the outside scenery.

Thus, Li Yan knew immediately that the ark had left the Purple Bamboo Forest Cave Dwelling.

"Master, why does Yan'er..." Li Yan blinked her beautiful eyes.

"It's no different here than in the Purple Bamboo Forest. Once we reach our new cave dwelling, Yan'er will be even more comfortable," Zhou Qing said with a smile.

That new cave dwelling in the savage region rested on a Third-Order High-Grade spiritual vein. After Zhou Qing's modifications, the spiritual vein's grade would likely approach Tier 4.

For the Primordial Yin Treasure Physique, which yearned for pure spiritual energy, it was simply a dreamland.

Whoosh. Among the clouds, the ark flew swiftly. The mysterious array patterns engraved on its surface nearly completely concealed the flying artifact's aura.

Unless a Core Formation Stage true person scanned it closely with their divine sense, they wouldn't spot this ark at all.

Although the flying artifact Zhou Qing forged only barely met the threshold for Tier 3, the profound mysteries involved in it far surpassed what a standard Tier 3 Low-Grade flying artifact could compare to.

The Dao of Artifact Forging and the Dao of Arrays, fusing and combining with each other... the effects they can unleash...

Zhou Qing's thoughts churned. In forging this flying artifact, he had utilized his array attainments, carving numerous miniature arrays onto its surface to guarantee its various functions and quality.

Without the enhancement of these miniature arrays, this flying artifact wouldn't have reached Tier 3.

The deeper I comprehend the hundred cultivation arts, the more I feel they can complement each other to some extent.

Zhou Qing thought to himself. For instance, before he broke through to Core Formation, the talisman array techniques he had mastered could unleash might akin to a False Core.

Another example was this very flying artifact, which involved not just the Dao of Artifacts, but also the Dao of Arrays.

Otherwise, there was a high probability it wouldn't have reached the artifact level.

"Hm?"

Zhou Qing's heart stirred as he sensed faint ripples of mana coming from below.

His divine sense silently blanketed the area.

It was a group of bandit cultivators attacking a merchant caravan.

By now, the merchant caravan had been completely slaughtered by the bandit cultivators. The leading bandit chief, an Early Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, was joyfully tallying the spoils.

These bandit cultivators only know how to kill all day long.

Zhou Qing shook his head inwardly.

At the same time, several mid-to-late Tier 2 puppets dropped silently from the ark artifact, closing in on the group of bandit cultivators below.

Although Zhou Qing looked down on these bandit cultivators, even the smallest mosquito was still meat. How could he refuse something delivered right to his door?

Of course, before Zhou Qing struck out against bandit cultivators, he would perform a divination. Only after confirming that they had no backers or background would he make his move.

With Zhou Qing's current divination skills, even if those bandit cultivators below had the backing of a Nascent Soul level force, he would be able to vaguely sense the anomaly.

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