I Have a Cultivation Simulator

["The Heavenly Talisman Sect it is."]

[You looked up toward the Heavenly Talisman Sect.]

[As a premier faction among the Five Side Sects of the Central Continent, the Heavenly Talisman Sect represented the talisman Dao. They walked the ancient path of talisman cultivators.]

[You had two main reasons for choosing them.]

[First, you had never revealed your talisman Dao attainments in this simulation. Joining as a talisman master true lord would prevent the outside world from connecting you to True Monarch Qingyuan.]

[True Monarch Qingtian of Wujian Hall might know of your talisman methods, but with his lifespan nearing its end, he would not dare leak heavenly secrets.]

[The master of the Heaven Monitoring Observatory in the Zhou Immortal Dynasty possessed divination skills surpassing True Monarch Qingtian's. However, divining your identity as a talisman grandmaster would exact a price no less than what True Monarch Qingtian had paid back then.]

[True Monarch Qingtian had only divined so many of your secrets because you had not yet become a Tier 4 Divination Grandmaster, and he had sacrificed a massive amount of his lifespan...]

[But since stepping into Tier 4 divination arts, you could actively obscure your own heavenly fate. Even higher-level Divination Grandmasters would have to pay a steep price to uncover secrets you had never revealed.]

[Second, among the numerous Rank 4 skills you had mastered, your talisman arts were second only to your alchemy.]

[Joining the Heavenly Talisman Sect as a Rank 4 Middle Grade talisman true lord would grant you better treatment and a higher status, benefiting your cultivation.]

[Furthermore, you had recently encountered True Monarch Wen of the Heavenly Talisman Sect, who had invited you to join.]

[This proved the sect currently welcomed external talisman true lords.]

[In contrast, Tiangong Island—representing the puppet path among the Five Side Sects—rarely recruited outside puppet grandmasters. Even if you wanted to join, you would have to wait a long time.]

[Two months later.]

[Outside the towering mountain gates of the Heavenly Talisman Sect.]

[Lines of cultivators waited for their turn to enter.]

[These cultivators were almost all Core Formation true persons. Most were at the early and mid stages, with a small number of Late-Stage Great True Persons.]

[They came either hoping to join the sect or to request a spiritual talisman...]

[As a premier faction in the Central Continent, the Heavenly Talisman Sect's influence radiated across the entire Human Realm. Even true persons from distant major domains generally knew of it if they had studied the talisman Dao.]

[Just then, a streak of light approached from the horizon and halted before the mountain gates.]

[As the light faded, a white-robed man stood suspended in midair.]

[He had a tall, slender build and profound eyes. His aura carried a touch of weathering and a certain mysterious bearing.]

["A true lord! It's a true lord!"]

[The Core Formation true persons below were startled, none daring to raise their heads to look directly at him.]

[Core Formation true persons in the Central Continent had many opportunities to see true lords, but that only deepened their reverence.]

[The more they sensed a true lord's aura, the more fear grew in their hearts. Sometimes, knowing more only made them realize how insignificant they were.]

["The Heavenly Talisman Sect..."]

[This white-robed man was naturally you.]

[You had not disguised yourself this time, choosing to reveal your true appearance.]

[The public persona you had maintained during your centuries in Wujian Domain had been slightly altered.]

[The Heavenly Talisman Sect was not like Jiuli Valley. If you masked your face and aura, they would easily see through it.]

[As for using Divine Ability Transformation to mimic someone else's appearance and aura? That ability had a time limit and could not be maintained indefinitely.]

[Since you planned to stay at the sect until the Late Nascent Soul Stage, you naturally would not choose that method.]

[You gazed at the Heavenly Talisman Sect from afar.]

[The sect's mountain gates were majestic and imposing. Beyond them, the headquarters spanned a million li, enveloped by an unprecedented grand formation.]

["Truly worthy of being a premier faction in the Human Realm."]

[You nodded inwardly. A million li? That was comparable to an ordinary major domain in the Eastern Wilderness.]

[And this was merely the area occupied by the sect's main headquarters. As for the grand formation covering this expanse... you guessed it was close to a Rank 5 grand formation, if not one already.]

[The Heavenly Talisman Sect's legacy traced back to ancient talisman cultivators. In that ancient era, their lineage had produced Heavenly Monarchs at the Deity Transformation Stage.]

[All of the current Five Side Sects in the Central Continent had a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch in their background. The four great merchant chambers were the same. It went without saying for One Peak, Two Bodies, and Three Dharmas—there was a high probability they had living Heavenly Monarchs overseeing them in the present day.]

[You waited outside the sect for a moment, making no effort to conceal your aura.]

[Before long, a Nascent Soul true lord from the sect flew up to welcome you.]

["Fellow Daoist, what brings you to our Heavenly Talisman Sect?"]

[The Nascent Soul true lord, a middle-aged man with a rigid face, squeezed out a smile as he looked at you.]

[Even in the Central Continent, Nascent Soul true lords stood high above the masses. Not even a premier faction would dare slight one.]

["I hail from the Southern Sea Territory. Having just arrived in the Central Continent, I hope to join your esteemed sect..."]

[You stated your purpose directly.]

[As for your origins... you naturally made them up.]

[The Southern Sea Territory was different from the Eastern Wilderness, the Northern Plains, and the Western Desert. It bordered the deep ocean, and many of its Nascent Soul true lords spent most of their lives cultivating in the depths of the sea, never setting foot on land.]

[Because of this, true lords from the Southern Sea Territory were the hardest to investigate.]

["You wish to join our Heavenly Talisman Sect..."]

[The receiving true lord was not surprised.]

[When Nascent Soul true lords from other domains came to the Central Continent, they inevitably had to join a faction if they intended to stay long-term.]

["May I ask why fellow Daoist has chosen our Heavenly Talisman Sect?"]

[The receiving true lord probed.]

["Ever since I began cultivating, I have been deeply interested in the talisman Dao..."]

[You raised your hand and casually drew a rune in the empty air. A terrifying amount of worldly spiritual energy gathered, instantly forming a Rank 4 Lower Grade talisman.]

["A Rank 4 Talisman Grandmaster? Drawing a Rank 4 Lower Grade talisman in the void requires at least Rank 4 Middle Grade talisman mastery..."]

[The receiving true lord was shocked. Even within the Heavenly Talisman Sect, Talisman Grandmasters who had reached the Rank 4 Middle Grade were extremely rare, and that included the talisman cultivator true lords.]

[Talisman cultivator true lords nurtured their own natal spirit talismans, giving them a massive advantage in talisman crafting compared to other talisman masters.]

["Hahahaha! Please come in, fellow Daoist."]

[The receiving true lord immediately beamed with a warm smile and welcomed you into the Heavenly Talisman Sect.]

[Any other Nascent Soul true lord wanting to join the sect would undoubtedly face multiple layers of tests and background checks to ensure they did not harbor malicious intent or ulterior motives.]

[But a talisman master? And a Rank 4 Middle Grade Talisman Grandmaster at that? Was there any need to question their motives?]

[The Heavenly Talisman Sect was the very source of the Human Realm's talisman Dao. It was perfectly normal for a talisman master to join!]

["So this true lord is actually a Talisman Grandmaster!"]

["Rank 4 talisman arts... I wonder if I will ever be able to touch that level in my lifetime..."]

[The dozen or so Core Formation true persons below murmured among themselves, their tones filled with both awe and envy.]

[Soon, you arrived at the sect's main hall.]

[The addition of a Rank 4 Middle Grade Talisman Grandmaster naturally caught the immediate attention of the sect's upper echelons.]

[The vice sect master of the Heavenly Talisman Sect was already waiting there.]

[He stood tall with chiseled features, yet he exuded absolutely no magical power, looking exactly like an ordinary mortal.]

[But with just a brief glance, you could clearly tell that he was a true lord at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage Peak. His magical power and divine sense were significantly stronger than True Monarch Chongtian's had been back in the day.]

["Hahaha, I did not expect fellow Daoist to not only possess Rank 4 Middle Grade talisman mastery but also be a Mid Nascent Soul Stage true lord."]

[Seeing you, the vice sect master's face lit up with pleasant surprise.]

["Mid Nascent Soul Stage?"]

[The receiving true lord who had brought you in felt his pupils contract.]

[An Early Nascent Soul Stage true lord and a Mid Nascent Soul Stage true lord were two entirely different concepts. The latter possessed the power to kill the former.]

[You looked at the vice sect master with a smile.]

[You had not bothered to hide your mid-stage cultivation. After all, the Heavenly Talisman Sect was a premier faction in the Human Realm with a foundation likely reaching the Deity Transformation level. Even if you tried your best to hide it, you might not succeed.]

[Rather than that, it was better to be open about it.]

[A Mid Nascent Soul Stage true lord... was incredibly rare in any local region of a major domain.]

[But across an entire vast territory, like the Eastern Wilderness Domain or the Northern Plains Domain, there were still quite a few.]

[Looking at the entire Human Realm, the numbers would naturally be even higher.]

[Revealing your mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation would not risk exposing your true identity.]

[After all, you had chosen to join the Heavenly Talisman Sect, which was completely different from your persona as the alchemy grandmaster True Monarch Qingyuan.]

[Other true lords would never associate you with True Monarch Qingyuan.]

["With your strength and talisman mastery, you will receive the treatment of a First-Grade guest elder upon joining our Heavenly Talisman Sect. However, the prerequisite is that you must pass the Heart-Inquiry Trial."]

[The vice sect master spoke truthfully.]

[The so-called Heart-Inquiry Trial was something you had also experienced when you joined Jiuli Valley in the past. It involved answering a few questions that did not pry into personal secrets. Answering honestly was all it took.]

[If you lied or hid anything, it would be detected.]

[Although joining as a Talisman Grandmaster bypassed many tedious vetting procedures, the necessary Heart-Inquiry Trial could not be skipped.]

["Alright."]

[You gave a slight nod. Naturally, you had investigated the entire procedure before coming.]

[The vice sect master brought out a bronze mirror and suspended it at the top of the grand hall. He then asked, "Does fellow Daoist have any ties to the Demon Abyss Realm, and do you know of any demonic entities that have infiltrated the Human Realm?"]

["I have absolutely no ties to the Demon Abyss Realm. While suppressing a certain Demon Cave in the past, I killed many demonic creatures, but that is all. Nor do I know of any demons infiltrating the Human Realm..."]

[You answered immediately. At the same time, you realized that the peak factions of the Human Realm had always maintained strict precautions against the Demon Abyss Realm—they might even be aware that demonic creatures had already infiltrated the Human Realm.]

["No issues..." The vice sect master confirmed that the bronze mirror had not changed and breathed a slight sigh of relief.]

[As long as you had nothing to do with the Demon Abyss Realm, you were a power the Heavenly Talisman Sect could absorb.]

["The second question: what is your true purpose and plan for joining the Heavenly Talisman Sect?"]

[The vice sect master continued his inquiry.]

["I am looking for a stable Fourth Tier High Grade spiritual vein. If I cultivate to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage Peak in the future, I can attempt to break through to the Late Nascent Soul Stage..."]

["Besides that, I am hiding from enemies hunting me down..."]

[Your tone was calm, and everything you said was essentially the truth.]

[The vice sect master nodded slightly. Your answers were perfectly reasonable. Any Mid Nascent Soul Stage true lord would try to prepare for a breakthrough to the late stage.]

[As for hiding from enemies? It was impossible for a true lord to have smooth sailing throughout their entire cultivation journey. They were bound to have made many enemies.]

[This was entirely normal.]

[As long as you had no ties to the Demon Abyss Realm, the Heavenly Talisman Sect could accept you even if your enemies were other premier factions.]

[With the Heart-Inquiry Trial concluded, the vice sect master's expression relaxed, and his gaze grew much warmer.]

["May I ask how to address fellow Daoist?"]

["My surname is Zhou." You gave your real surname.]

[You certainly could not use the title True Monarch Qingyuan.]

[Going by one's surname was very common in the cultivation world.]

[Your real surname had not been exposed at all in this simulation, so you did not have to worry about the Zhou Immortal Dynasty catching on.]

["Ah, so it is Daoist Zhou."]

[The vice sect master smiled. "Upon joining our Heavenly Talisman Sect, you will enjoy..."]

[The vice sect master then gave a detailed introduction to your compensation.]

[With your strength and skills, you would automatically become a First-Grade guest elder upon joining the sect.]

[The Heavenly Talisman Sect's guest elders were divided into nine grades.]

[Grade One was the highest, and Grade Nine was the lowest.]

[A First-Grade guest elder was entitled to a Rank 4 Middle Grade spiritual vein cave dwelling. In the future, when attempting to break through to the late stage, you would have access to the sect's Fourth Tier High Grade spiritual vein cave dwellings.]

[Every ten years, you would receive a salary from the sect along with the corresponding contribution points.]

[These contribution points could be used to exchange for a variety of precious resources within the sect.]

[Of course, as a guest elder, you also had obligations. You were required to craft a specific number and quality of talismans every ten years.]

[These talismans would not exceed your skill level, and you would earn corresponding contribution points for completing the tasks.]

[Over half a day later, having finished your registration, you smoothly settled into your spiritual vein cave dwelling.]

[This was a Rank 4 Middle Grade spiritual vein cave dwelling within the sect, covering hundreds of li. It could easily supply enough spiritual energy for two or three Mid Nascent Soul Stage true lords to cultivate.]

[Beneath the Heavenly Talisman Sect lay a massive spiritual vein bordering on Rank 5, providing the sect with an abundance of spiritual vein cave dwellings.]

[Year 486. You were 503 years old.]

[Before you knew it, several years had passed in the Heavenly Talisman Sect.]

[During this time, you adapted to the pace of life here. Since the Heavenly Talisman Sect was a premier faction in the Human Realm and had no real enemies, your life was quite relaxed.]

[You had long since gathered all the resources needed to cultivate to the mid-stage peak, so there was no need for you to run around earning more.]

[Year 496. You were 513 years old.]

[You had firmly established yourself in the Heavenly Talisman Sect and gotten to know the other true lords.]

[You obtained definitive intelligence confirming the rumors: Heavenly Monarch Shuiyue was indeed passing away in meditation, and it would happen within fifty years at most.]

[Year 506. You were 523 years old.]

[Your alchemy mastery was nearing the peak of Rank 4 Middle Grade.]

[Year 516. You were 533 years old.]

[The Water Source Blessed Land, one of the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands, opened. True Monarch Huanye, ranked fourth among the Ten Great bandit cultivators, appeared in the blessed land, snatched the Heart of the Water Source that had been nurtured within, and drifted away.]

["True Monarch Huanye?"]

[You stroked your chin as intelligence regarding this Late Nascent Soul Great Cultivator flashed through your mind.]

[True Monarch Huanye was most proficient in soul illusion arts. Her illusions were enough to make a Great Cultivator of the same tier sink into oblivion in an instant.]

[The opening of the Water Source Blessed Land was incredibly secretive. Who knew where True Monarch Huanye had obtained the information, but she had actually staked out the location in advance.]

[The Water Source Blessed Land was controlled by the Myriad Laws Sect, one of the Three Dharmas. The sect had even dispatched a Late Nascent Soul Great Cultivator to guard it beforehand, yet they still had their prize stolen right out from under them by True Monarch Huanye.]

["Proficient in soul illusion arts..."]

[You wondered which public Late Nascent Soul Great Cultivator True Monarch Huanye might secretly be. Was she from the four great merchant chambers or the Five Side Sects? Or was this simply internal infighting among the Two Bodies and Three Dharmas?]

[Year 526. You were 543 years old.]

[You were halfway through your cultivation at the Mid Nascent Soul Stage. In two hundred years at most, you would reach the Nascent Soul Middle Stage Peak.]

[Year 536. You were 553 years old.]

[You were in secluded cultivation when suddenly, an inexplicable throb of apprehension struck your heart. You quietly opened your eyes.]

["Such a shift in the worldly aura..."]

[You carefully sensed the changes between heaven and earth as a single thought surfaced in your mind.]

[That Heavenly Monarch Shuiyue... had passed away in meditation.]

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