Activating Real Simulation

Cao Xueyan’s process of establishing her foundation took more than a month in total.

Inside her dantian, the lotus-shaped Dao Foundation had twenty-seven petals in total, and she needed to open three of them to count as successfully building her foundation.

She successfully opened the first petal on the very first day.

The second petal took more effort, costing her more than ten days.

As for the third petal, Cao Xueyan kept cultivating until now, and only just moments ago did she succeed in opening it.

The instant all three petals formed, Cao Xueyan felt something move in her heart, as if both her body and soul had undergone sublimation.

The spiritual power inside her dantian had never been so full.

If before, she was like a bowl full of water, forced to use her spells sparingly.

Then now, she was like a water vat brimming with liquid — no matter how much she used, there was no need to worry.

Of course, besides the increase of spiritual power, the most iconic change of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was divine sense.

Divine sense resides in the cultivator’s Niwan Palace.

During her breakthrough, the accumulated spiritual power directly flushed open the palace.

Her divine sense broke free from its confinement and was now able to leave her body.

Cao Xueyan immediately felt an indescribable and boundless freedom, as if there was nowhere under heaven she could not go.

Cao Xueyan opened her eyes and exhaled the last wisp of turbid qi from her body.

Foundation Establishment was an innate Dao Foundation — the impure postnatal qi within her body would never again contaminate her.

Despite having been in seclusion for over a month, she did not feel the slightest hunger.

Now that she had built her foundation, she could also go without ordinary food.

In other words, her body now formed a small world of its own, self-sustaining.

As long as she cultivated, she needed little to no external nourishment to maintain her physical needs.

Only now, having stepped into Foundation Establishment herself, did she truly comprehend this principle.

“Your Dao Foundation is complete?” Xiao Menglan’s voice sounded beside her.

During this time, she had not left her side even once, deeply afraid something might go wrong in the process.

To forge an innate Dao Foundation was to snatch fortune from Heaven itself.

If one’s luck was insufficient, no matter how perfect the preparations were, if Heaven refused, one would still fail.

Conversely, if one possessed sufficient fortune, even building the foundation in a hurry without preparation would still proceed smoothly.

Although Xiao Menglan had long anticipated this outcome, seeing her disciple truly reach Foundation Establishment still filled her with emotion.

Looking back on the events a month ago, it felt as though Heaven itself had been urging her disciple to break through quickly.

“Master!” Cao Xueyan suddenly knelt before Xiao Menglan and bowed deeply.

“Everything I have today is thanks to your guidance.”

“This grace, I will never forget for the rest of my life!”

Xiao Menglan hurriedly helped her up.

“What are you doing?”

“Do you think I helped you just to demand repayment from you in the future?”

“Of course not, Master.”

Xiao Menglan smiled.

“If you truly wish to repay me, then achieve great heights.”

“If one day you successfully form a golden core, then when I walk out into the world, let that be your repayment.”

After saying this, she could no longer restrain her impulse.

She reached out, pulled Cao Xueyan into her arms, and whispered, “You frightened me so much that day.”

Her tone just moments ago had been that of a master.

But now, it was the tone of a Dao companion.

Xiao Menglan played two roles at once.

Yet she felt it was double the happiness.

“You child… you always manage to surprise me with something different.”

“Master, I—”

Whatever Cao Xueyan wanted to explain was interrupted when Xiao Menglan suddenly kissed her.

The words melted back into her throat.

The long-missed kiss was not long.

But Cao Xueyan drank from it as if starved.

Her eyes blurred.

Her body softened instantly.

She nearly collapsed into Xiao Menglan’s embrace.

She couldn’t help thinking — did her master put some spell on her tongue?

Otherwise, how could just one kiss make her body turn weak?

“You don’t need to explain.”

After gently satisfying a bit of her longing, Xiao Menglan spoke softly.

“This is your own secret.”

“You don’t need to tell me.”

“Throughout history, countless geniuses have appeared.”

“There is nothing your master has not seen or heard.”

“Really?”

Cao Xueyan of course did not believe Xiao Menglan could possibly know about the simulator.

After a moment of intimacy, Xiao Menglan continued.

“Your breakthrough was indeed abrupt.”

“You should consolidate your realm for a year or so before announcing it.”

“Also, your Foundation Establishment Banquet should be prepared soon.”

“That banquet… is it really necessary?”

Cao Xueyan’s expression stiffened slightly.

The last ceremony had already made her feel extremely awkward.

This time would surely involve more guests.

“Don’t worry, I know you dislike crowds.”

“It will be small — just a few elders and peak masters.”

“Ah, hopefully by then your Martial Aunt Qin has already returned.”

At the mention of Qin Ximo, Cao Xueyan couldn’t help asking.

“Master, while I was in seclusion, did Martial Aunt send any news?”

Xiao Menglan smiled.

“There was word a few days ago.”

Cao Xueyan immediately asked.

“What did she say?”

“You child, why are you so excited?”

Cao Xueyan realized her slip.

She quickly explained.

“Of course I admire Martial Aunt’s strength and fame.”

“That is true.”

“Your Martial Aunt once faced a Golden Core demonic cultivator before a crowd and shattered his demon-marked core into pieces.”

“She seems to have learned news regarding ancient ruins and likely went to seek an opportunity to break into Nascent Soul.”

“If she succeeds, those demonic cultivators stirring chaos will no longer pose a threat.”

This should have been something to rejoice over.

Yet Cao Xueyan felt both joy and fear.

“There is news… which means she is still alive.”

At this moment, the simulator stirred.

“Master, I feel I still need to enter seclusion again to stabilize my realm.”

Xiao Menglan already knew her disciple’s realm was extremely stable.

But since this situation was not unprecedented, she allowed her to go.

The cultivation chamber was quiet and cold.

The stone floor was carved with a Spirit Gathering Array.

Spirit stones were left thoughtfully by Xiao Menglan.

But Cao Xueyan did not come here to cultivate.

Romantic Cultivation Simulator — Start!

【Congratulations to the host for breaking through to Foundation Establishment, achieving your first major milestone.】

【As encouragement, you are awarded 100 simulation attempts.】

One hundred attempts.

Cao Xueyan almost shouted out loud.

She checked the panel.

Host: Cao Xueyan.

Realm: Foundation Establishment, First Layer.

Simulation Attempts: 100.

Cultivation Points: 0.

She immediately looked for the new function.

【Enable Real Simulation?】

【Warning: Real Simulation consumes 1 attempt per real day.】

【When attempts reach zero, simulation ends automatically.】

So that was why it gave her so many attempts.

This new mode consumed attempts like flowing water.

And she had been waiting for this.

She selected Enable Real Simulation.