Which one should I choose?

Cao Xueyan was just about to start another simulation when suddenly there was a knock at the door.

“Is Senior Sister Cao here? Deacon Song asked me to inform you—the elder from the Inner Sect is already waiting at the Deacon Hall. It concerns the important matter of peak selection!”

The disciple outside the door was only at the fourth level of Qi Refining.

He usually ran errands at the Deacon Hall, delivering messages for others.

But situations like today were rare.

Among thousands of Outer Sect disciples, how many could reach the late stage of Qi Refining in their lifetime?

Most simply cultivated until old age and weakness, then voluntarily descended the mountain.

Hearing the voice, Cao Xueyan immediately jumped off the bed and opened the door.

Seeing the person, she first offered thanks:

“Thank you, Junior Brother, for coming all the way here. I’ll set out at once.”

This senior sister is really easy to talk to, the errand disciple thought to himself.

“Not at all, not at all. Does Senior Sister have anything else to prepare? I don’t mind waiting here.”

“…Then perhaps wait just a moment longer?”

Cao Xueyan thought about it.

Going straight to meet an elder like this seemed a bit careless.

“Allow me to freshen up first.”

“Of course, of course. Please, Senior Sister.”

The disciple hurriedly stepped aside.

Cao Xueyan went outside, drew some water from the vat, and washed her face.

Then she took out a bronze mirror and a wooden comb from her storage pouch.

These two items had been gifts from her parents before she ascended the mountain, carrying deep significance.

That was why she kept them with her at all times.

After a simple wash, her spirit and energy looked noticeably improved.

Cultivators contained spiritual energy within, and needed no powder or rouge to maintain their appearance.

So-called Beauty Pills or Ageless Pills were meant for mortals, using herbal essence and spiritual energy to preserve fleeting mortal youth.

The waiting disciple knew it was rude, yet could not help stealing glances at her from the corner of his eye.

Truthfully, though he had been in the sect for several years, he had never seen a female cultivator with such temperament.

Qi Refining disciples had not yet transcended the mortal state.

They still hungered, still felt cold, still had physical needs, and could not completely control their desires.

But Foundation Establishment was different.

With lifespans of over two centuries, they could preserve their youthful appearance at will.

Their minds sat firmly on the spiritual platform, unmoved by worldly temptations.

Only after reaching Foundation could one truly understand what kind of immortality they pursued.

Senior Sister Cao before him, even when about to meet an elder, bore no sorrow or joy in her eyes, no arrogance or servility, her temperament detached and refined.

Especially her gaze—profound, deep, and difficult to read.

The more inscrutable she seemed, the more she stirred curiosity in others.

People couldn’t help but want to know more about her.

But in truth, Cao Xueyan’s attention was fixed on the simulator screen only she could see.

Quick simulations didn’t take much time.

By the time she finished freshening up, it was already complete.

At this moment, she was staring at the text, lost in thought.

【At the age of 20, you broke through to the late stage of Qi Refining and successfully entered the Inner Sect.】

【When choosing which peak to join, you felt that Pill, Artifact, and Formation Peaks were all bad choices. Especially Formation Peak—even thinking of joining it made your body tremble, drained of strength.】

【For the sake of your cultivation path and future happiness, you chose the Talisman Peak.】

【Talisman Peak had long suffered from lack of talent. Hearing that a disciple was willing to join, the Peak Master herself—a graceful and charming woman—came down the mountain to bring you back.】

【The Peak Master treated you well, her words gentle and refined, like a spring breeze.】

【You became her apprentice, cultivating while learning the art of talisman-making.】

【At the age of 25, you successfully reached entry-level in talisman crafting and earned your master’s favor.】

【The Peak Master wanted to take you as her disciple. You gladly agreed. Within days, a grand ceremony was held on Talisman Peak.】

【At the age of 26, under the guidance of your master, a Core Formation cultivator, your cultivation and talisman skills improved rapidly.】

【At the age of 28, your cultivation reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, and you could already craft high-grade first-rank talismans.】

【Your master was delighted. That night, just the two of you drank and sang under the moonlight.】

【The spiritual wine she brought was beneficial to cultivation, but its aftereffects were strong. By midnight, you were drunk.】

【In your drunkenness, you threw yourself into your master’s arms and confessed your feelings.】

【Your master rejected you. She injected a strand of spiritual power into you, instantly sobering you up.】

【Awake, you recalled what had just happened. Ashamed, you fled back to your room.】

【You knew her rejection wasn’t due to the master-disciple relationship. It was because she once had a Dao partner. The two of them had been the envy of the sect, but on a journey for fortune, only she returned. Since then, she had never been close to anyone again.】

【At the age of 35, even without reaching Foundation Establishment, you successfully crafted a second-rank talisman. The entire peak was shaken, praising your rare talent.】

【Your master asked what reward you wanted. Be it cultivation techniques, pills, or artifacts, she could provide them.】

【Once again, you expressed your feelings. Once again, she refused.】

【Instead, she personally sought an exquisite Foundation Establishment Pill from Pill Peak, a precious protective artifact from Artifact Peak, and a custom offensive-defensive formation from Formation Peak.】

【You sensed her feelings hidden beneath the cold refusals. From then on, you decided never to bring it up again, serving her loyally as a disciple for life.】

【At the age of 40, news spread of many talented disciples being assassinated by demonic spies, stirring fear throughout the sect.】

【One night, someone infiltrated Talisman Peak, intent on killing you.】

【At the crucial moment, the talismans your master placed outside your room activated. A Core Formation cultivator descended, brimming with murderous intent.】

【But the assassin carried a treasure that could trap even a Core Formation cultivator—a great bell carved with sinister runes. It trapped your master.】

【Before the sect’s other experts arrived, the assassin shattered your protective talismans, formation, and artifact, then drove a sword through your chest.】

【Dying, you collapsed. The assassin fled. Your master broke the bell and rushed to your side.】

【You never spoke your feelings again. You died peacefully in her arms.】

【After your death, your master volunteered for the frontline against the demonic cultivators. In the end, she self-detonated her Core, perishing with two enemy Core Formation cultivators.】

【Evaluation: Your cultivation talent was ordinary. Yet, you could craft second-rank talismans as a Qi Refining cultivator, showing promise in this path. Sadly, after being rejected twice, you buried your feelings and never fulfilled them. A pity. Perhaps next time, you should try approaching your master’s former Dao partner instead—who knows, you might succeed.】

【Reward: Cultivation Points +120】

“Senior Sister, what’s wrong?”

The disciple’s voice pulled Cao Xueyan back to reality.

She quickly brushed away the tear threatening to fall and explained:

“Ah? Nothing. The comb just pulled my hair—it hurt a bit.”

“Senior Sister will soon be an Inner Sect disciple. Even a strand of your hair will be more precious than me. Please take care when combing.”

The disciple joked appropriately—not too distant, not overstepping.

Cao Xueyan followed the joke with a smile:

“This comb means much to me, but it’s quite worn. Someday, I’ll go down the mountain to find a finer one.”

“Great! When you do, find me. I was born in a cultivation market below the mountain—I know the place well!”

Chatting as they walked, they soon reached the Deacon Hall.

“Senior Sister, Deacon Song and the elder are inside. I won’t go in.”

The disciple bowed and left.

Cao Xueyan stood alone outside the main hall, her expression complex.

Which peak should she choose?

Pill, Formation, Artifact, or… Talisman?

The simulator’s words spun in her mind.

Her face showed no change, calm and unyielding.

But inside, she was panicking