Even if her hand would not hesitate in the moment of the strike, there was always a flicker of unwillingness in her heart.
This world has always been thus: either the sheep die or the wolves. Either the weaker wolves starve, or the weaker sheep are torn apart. Perhaps this world is too cruel—yet for that very reason, it is beautiful.
"You've watched long enough. It's time you came out, Linghu Chong."
"This campaign was clearly led by you, and yet from start to finish you never once showed your face. Right up to the moment they died, they were still shouting your name."
Dongfang Bubai turned her head and looked toward a certain spot as she spoke in an even tone.
From the beginning, she had felt Linghu Chong's gaze on her. She had simply chosen not to say it aloud. Saving the finest prey for last is no bad habit.
"I didn't expect to run into another simulator in this world."
"I distinctly remember the initial display showed only me simulating this world."
"If not for the existence of the Absorbing Power Great Method, I wouldn't have seen through it."
"This, after all, is the martial art we simulators most desire when we run a simulation in a wuxia world."
"But it doesn't matter. If I kill you, I can obtain it all the same."
Along with that unhurried voice, a figure with a long sword on his back walked in from the distance—white brocade robe, handsome features, but a face set in cold lines, an aura like an iceberg.
"After seeing my strength with your own eyes, do you still think you can defeat me?"
Dongfang Bubai did not hurry to make a move. Her tone remained light.
"What I cultivate is the Xiaowuxiang Gong of the Xiaoyao Sect. It can indeed emulate the martial arts of the world, but compared with the Absorbing Power Great Method it still falls short. Nor can it, in terms of internal energy, absorb others' strength the way the Beiming Divine Skill does. In cultivation, I am naturally far inferior to you."
"As for techniques… 'Of all martial arts under heaven, speed is the only unbreakable.' Your speed far exceeds my expectations. Even with the Dugu Nine Swords, I dare not claim I can break your moves."
"So—I poisoned you."
At this, Linghu Chong's lips curved in a slight smile.
"By my count, the time should be just about up."
A few breaths after his words fell, Dongfang Bubai's brows drew together. She found she could no longer sense the internal energy within her body.
"For us simulators, there is only one purpose in coming to another world: to change that world's fate as much as possible."
"So I planned this war between the 'righteous' and the Demon Sect."
"In a wuxia world, the greatest change is to end the wuxia era itself, isn't it?"
"If the strongest fighters of all the great and small sects die out together, and the Demon Sect is annihilated, then this era ends. To return to how things stand now would take who knows how many years."
"What I didn't expect was another simulator besides me—and a strength as terrifying as yours."
"But under this toxin, even those immune to a hundred poisons will have their internal energy sealed for one full hour."
[Golden Fragrance Soft Jade]: Appears like gold, but feels soft to the touch, like the flesh of a young maiden, and carries a delicate fragrance. When dispersed into the air by a special method, it clings preferentially to those who possess internal energy. For a short time, the affected cannot use their internal energy.
Perhaps the blood-reek in the air masked Golden Fragrance Soft Jade's scent; perhaps Dongfang Bubai's confidence in her strength kept her from guarding against the toxin's intrusion. Either way, there was no doubt—she could not use her internal energy now.
"This is my final battle before breaking through to mid-tier simulator. So long as I get a high score for this world, I'll advance."
"So—would you please die for me?"
As he spoke, Linghu Chong smiled at Dongfang Bubai.
A silver gleam flashed, tracing a perfect arc through the air—
"Bang!"
Linghu Chong stared in disbelief at the long sword of pure light driven into his chest.
"You've misunderstood something. From beginning to end, I never once said I was a simulator."
"And besides—internal energy isn't important to me."
Dongfang Bai spoke in a faint voice, then set the Absorbing Power Great Method upon Linghu Chong.
Xiaowuxiang Gong, Dugu Nine Swords, Heavenly Mountain Plum-Plucking Hand—
Everything Linghu Chong had now fell into Dongfang Bubai's possession, including his essence, energy, and spirit.
"Bang!"
She tossed Linghu Chong's corpse aside, and the battlefield gained one more body.
"It's over."
Dongfang Bubai looked long at the mountains of corpses and the sea of blood at her feet, then turned to leave.
This was an end—and a beginning.
From this day onward, the rivers and lakes would bear the surname Dongfang.
Across the martial world there would be only one name—that of Dongfang Bubai.
No one knew how much time had passed when the disciples of the Sun and Moon Divine Cult, following Dongfang Bubai's orders, returned to the cult grounds. At the first sight on entering, they saw the earth covered in corpses.
Judging by their garb: Mount Hua, Mount Heng, Mount Tai, Mount Song, Shaolin—and even Linghu Chong, the man most heatedly discussed in the land of late for his "Repay in Kind—Use the opponent's own way against them." Their bodies were all here.
"Sun and Moon Divine Cult—invincible in battle!"
"Cult Leader Dongfang—accomplished in letters and arms!"
"For a thousand autumns and ten thousand years—unify the martial world!"
All of them knelt and shouted at the tops of their lungs. In their eyes there was no longer the fear and awe of old, but loyalty—and rapture. From this moment onward, they would be Dongfang Bubai's most faithful believers.
An unknown world. A mysterious space.
"—Hah."
Lin Chen snapped his eyes open, staring tensely straight ahead. His right hand went, of its own accord, to his chest—where the lightsaber had run him through in his memory.
He was the very same Linghu Chong from the world of Smiling Proud Wanderer just now.
He had thought this simulation was completely in his grasp; he had not expected such an upheaval.
"What was that light?"
He frowned, thinking back to the sword of light gathered in Dongfang Bubai's hand. It was somewhat like a lightsaber from a technological world—yet not quite the same. And why would a lightsaber from a technological world appear in a wuxia world?
Even for simulators like them, aside from their memories, they could only carry a few temporary talents purchased from the simulator as assistance. How could a lightsaber appear?
Could it be some kind of higher-grade talent?
But that didn't fit either. What talent could manifest a lightsaber?
Did he craft it himself?
A wuxia world doesn't have the materials… And why does he remember Dongfang Bubai condensing it herself?
But how could a human condense light out of nothing? He must be remembering wrong.
"Simulator—settle the run."
Lin Chen shook his head. If he couldn't make sense of it, there was no need to force it. The world is vast—there are too many things he doesn't understand. Fixating on them is no good.
This simulation had ended. Rather than brood over how another simulator had managed to use a lightsaber, he might as well look to his own harvest. Had he advanced to a mid-tier simulator?
[Simulation Ended]
[This life simulation will be stored in memory as a film. If you wish to view it, please browse at your leisure.]
[In this simulation, you exerted an enormous influence upon the fate of that world.]
(End of this chapter)