Simulators love this

Xiao Menglan did not dwell on what just happened.

In fact, that unexpected embrace even brought her a faint sense of secret delight.

A few days ago, her junior brother Lu Jiansheng’s words had awakened her.

At her current cultivation level, what she feared most was not bottlenecks difficult to break through—

but inner demons.

Inner demons exist in everyone, even weak mortals.

But for cultivators, especially those above the Foundation Establishment stage, inner demons were like floods and savage beasts.

Some cultivators would rather fight to the death against an enemy stronger than themselves than face their own inner demons.

The more one avoided them, the stronger they grew.

It was obvious that Xiao Menglan’s inner demon was none other than her Dao companion who perished a century ago.

What had really happened that day?

Both were Golden Core stage cultivators, unmatched by most in the world.

What kind of peril could have left one dead and one gravely injured?

Xiao Menglan had never spoken of it to anyone—

not even to her closest sect leader senior sister or junior brother.

This became a secret buried deep within her heart—

and her most terrifying inner demon.

Upon reaching the Golden Core stage, cultivation no longer had so-called bottlenecks.

It flowed naturally.

With each transformation of the Nine-Turn Golden Core, a heavenly tribulation would be triggered.

Aside from the three disasters of wind, fire, and lightning, there was also the heart-devil tribulation that all cultivators dreaded.

Drawn by some unseen force, the hidden inner demons in one’s heart would pounce like bloodthirsty beasts.

They would destroy and devour the host’s mind—

and finally take their place.

This was what was called “deviation into demonic ways.”

Xiao Menglan dared not imagine what she would become if she succumbed.

According to the unspoken rule of all righteous sects—

those who fall into demonic ways must be slain.

Her own life or death was nothing.

But if she fell, what would become of her entire sect?

With the demonic path flourishing, sects like Changshengtian already watched the righteous factions with covetous eyes.

If she fell, she would become their accomplice.

Xiao Menglan would rather die than end up that way.

Therefore, this inner demon must be eradicated.

And the key to that… was Cao Xueyan.

Though she was reluctant in her heart, Xiao Menglan now had to slowly let Cao Xueyan take the place once held by her Dao companion.

“I’m sorry, Ruyu,” Xiao Menglan prayed countless times in her heart, begging forgiveness from the spirit of her late Dao companion.

“This is for the sake of the sect.

At least until my lifespan runs out, I cannot allow the heart demon to shake my Dao heart.”

Cao Xueyan, unaware she was about to be forced into replacing Xiao Menglan’s “white moonlight” Dao companion, only felt the atmosphere in the room grow heavier.

She and Xiao Menglan were unrelated.

Though absurd things had happened between them in the simulations, she had done nothing in reality.

But sharing a room with a Golden Core cultivator was stressful enough to suffocate her.

So much so that she couldn’t focus on cultivation or talisman drawing.

“No need to be so restrained.

Just act as if I don’t exist,” Xiao Menglan said lightly.

Easy for you to say, Cao Xueyan thought silently.

But she dared not voice it.

Suddenly, she remembered her simulation panel—empty of attempts.

Only through simulations could she grow stronger and protect herself.

She realized being passive was not enough.

This simulator seemed determined to sell her off—

so why not go along with it instead of resisting?

One day, if she too could become a Golden Core cultivator, why should she be so restrained, so cautious in word and deed?

Xiao Menglan looked at the approaching Cao Xueyan with some confusion.

For some reason, this child seemed different from before.

“Teacher, these past days I’ve studied talismans and encountered new questions.

May I take this chance to ask for your guidance?”

Her words carried seven parts allure and three parts flattery.

She slowly drew closer, stopping just two or three steps away.

“Just like that day,” she breathed, fragrant and teasing.

The distance between them was neither near nor far.

Close enough to reach out and take hold, yet suspended in ambiguity.

A little suggestive, but not too much—enough to itch the heart.

Cao Xueyan had never known such things before, yet now she seemed to grasp them instinctively.

Xiao Menglan fell silent instead, thrown off by her.

She admitted—

she was a little moved.

Before her stood a woman who bore shadows of her lost Dao companion.

So alike, yet completely different.

Wen Ruyu of the past was gentle, graceful, seemingly delicate—

yet never yielding, even in intimacy.

But now, the familiar yet unfamiliar figure before her acted in such a seductive manner—

it stirred something inside Xiao Menglan.

She could not help but wonder—

if Wen Ruyu were still alive, would she too seek to please her like this?

In a daze, Xiao Menglan once again reached out, unable to stop herself.

Her arm encircled Cao Xueyan’s waist—soft, boneless, fitting perfectly into her palm.

Hand over hand, she gently lifted.

Cao Xueyan, obedient and yielding, allowed herself to be guided.

From her dantian, her spiritual power was tenderly drawn out.

With the void as paper and fingers as brush, flowing talisman lines took shape.

Xiao Menglan especially favored this method of personal guidance.

Fearing Cao Xueyan might not hear clearly, she pressed her moist lips close to her ear, patiently explaining one point after another.

Under the “hands-on” teaching of a third-rank talisman master, problems that had puzzled Cao Xueyan for days suddenly became clear.

She glanced at her simulator’s panel—

as expected, another attempt was added.

She couldn’t help but let out a soft hum.

This shameless simulator loved watching this sort of thing.

Simulation attempts +1.

Now she could be free.

But Xiao Menglan did not think so.

She was completely immersed in this role-playing game, unable to pull herself back.

The arm around Cao Xueyan’s waist was like an iron clamp.

And worse, it grew bolder—

fingertips softly kneading her tender spots, sending shudders through her body.

Cao Xueyan endured the discomfort with effort, finally surviving this time of pain mixed with strange pleasure.

“Go review on your own.

Do not slack.

I will come again in a few days,” Xiao Menglan said, as if reaching her own limit.

But as a senior, she could not lose composure before a junior.

So she used her divine ability, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

The room was left with only Cao Xueyan… oh, and Mo Sheng.

Supporting herself, Cao Xueyan dragged her body to the bed, collapsing face-down.

She forced herself not to dwell on messy thoughts, instead reviewing what she had just learned.

She asked Mo Sheng to fetch a talisman paper, cut it properly, and place it on the desk.

Her fingertip glowed with a trace of spiritual power, which she lightly pressed onto the sheet.

Using the lingering feel left behind by Xiao Menglan—

ahem, the hand sensation—

Cao Xueyan attempted to draw a talisman pattern.

Stroke, outline, spiritual power evenly infused.

But most important of all—

the “rhythm” of the talisman.

Before, Cao Xueyan had never been able to grasp it.

But now…

Ha!

Success!

Her tense brows relaxed as she looked at the complete talisman on the paper, overjoyed.