In the end, the red dragon channeled its grief and indignation into appetite, draining every last drop of the True Dragon Immortal Wine.
It drank itself into a stupor.
Drank until it knew no dragon affairs.
Its slovenly sleeping posture was enough to make anyone who saw it laugh.
Xu Xi swept a glance around the red dragon's dwelling, then looked at the drunken dragon form. After leaving some cultivation resources behind, he traversed space and returned to Yanshan City.
……
Time flowed onward.
As the number of simulations increased and his real-world cultivation grew more diligent, Xu Xi's strength gradually reached a limit.
Multiple transcendent systems coexisted within his body.
He could see the path ahead.
Yet he couldn't reach the supreme pinnacle.
Whether it was immortal cultivation, magic, or any other system, all were stuck just one step—or even further—from the ultimate apex.
No matter what he tried, he couldn't attain supremacy.
"Am I lacking time?"
"Or tempering?"
After long contemplation, Xu Xi felt it might be related to the simulator within him.
He returned once more to the Sea of Possibilities.
Attempting to ascend the Path.
Perhaps the key to achieving supremacy lay in this very Path.
Yet he failed again.
No matter what Xu Xi tried, he remained as before—unable to approach the Path. It seemed something was missing to complete the final ascent.
"What exactly is lacking…"
"Strength? Temperament? Status? Or… time?"
Xu Xi summoned the simulator's interface, staring at it for a long while.
Every character on it.
Even the corners of the screen.
All were in their most familiar forms, unchanged—except for one thing: the natural cooldown time for simulations.
A staggering ten thousand days in real time.
So long it was disheartening.
Because the wait was so prolonged, Xu Xi had been using transcendent items to exchange for new simulation attempts.
"Could this be it?"
Xu Xi pondered, suspecting this might be the answer.
……
"Elder Brother's conjecture is likely correct."
"I agree with the Mentor's perspective."
"In that case, I'll wait with you, Sir."
"Master, would you like some soup?"
"Regardless, I shall protect the Great Sorcerer."
After hearing Xu Xi's speculation, the five girls found it quite reasonable and decided to wait alongside him.
They too were curious.
About the truth and nature of Xu Xi's seemingly omnipotent "cycle."
What was its origin?
……
To hasten the end of the ten-thousand-day countdown,
Xu Xi reduced his simulation attempts.
Devoting more time to the real world—Earth.
But occasionally, he would still accompany the girls for brief diversions within simulations.
Compared to the real world,
Life simulations had many conveniences—like freely choosing which realm to visit, or facing no true mortal danger.
"Elder Brother, could you accompany me for one?"
As if prearranged,
No one else appeared—only Xu Moli, on a radiant and vibrant morning, made this request of Xu Xi.
"Of course."
Xu Xi smiled and agreed.
Soon after,
Xu Xi activated the life simulation, and together with Xu Moli, they arrived in a mortal world.
Here, there were no immortal cultivators, no mages, no martial artists, and no sorcerers.
Simple. Unadorned.
Nothing extraordinary—just mortals living their lives, much like ancient times in Earth's Huaxia.
Xu Xi and Xu Moli settled down temporarily, living as mortals in mortal ways. Dull and flavorless, as if dreaming back to the early days of his first simulation.
"Does Elder Brother think I'm strange?"
"Not at all."
Hearing Xu Xi's answer, a faint smile blossomed on Xu Moli's face as she sat on the aged wooden threshold, idly tracing circles with her finger.
The scorching summer heat rolled in waves.
Pedestrians in the city hurried along.
Xu Moli watched this scene and softly explained to Xu Xi why she had chosen such a mortal world:
"Elder Brother remembers, right?"
"At the amusement park, you said you always felt sorry for me."
"Because you thought life in Blackstone City was too harsh."
"You wanted me to have a better life, to be happy, to have endless sweets—so you took me to the Heavenly Sword Sect…"
"But I…"
Her slender figure sat on the threshold.
Once, the height difference had let her legs swing freely; now, grown longer, they rested firmly on the ground.
Her voice carried a thousand thoughts.
Regret. Resentment. Love. Sorrow.
"Elder Brother, I was always holding you back."
"In Blackstone City, I caused so much trouble. In the Heavenly Sword Sect, I was your burden."
"I never wanted that…"
Her expression tinged with melancholy, she leaned naturally, resting her head on Xu Xi's shoulder.
"From that time on, I kept wondering."
"If not for Heaven's Misfortune, if not for immortal cultivators… would our lives have been better?"
"Living out mortal lives as mortals."
Hearing this,
Xu Xi understood why the girl had specifically chosen a mortal world.
He reached out, ruffling her hair: "A very willful thought."
"But Elder Brother will indulge Moli, won't you?"
"Mm."
"I knew it—Elder Brother is always the best to me." Her tone held a playful lilt, her upturned lips lovely.
She grew even bolder.
Clutching Xu Xi's arm.
Voicing a wish unchanged since childhood: "Life is too troublesome. Moli only wants to be with Elder Brother. No need for friends, no need to think of anything else."
Tap—
"Elder Brother, that hurts~~~"
Xu Xi withdrew his finger with a sigh, chiding gently: "Moli, you still need to think of things beyond just me."
"No one's life is meant to be lived solely for another."
"I know," the girl nodded obediently.
Whether she truly meant it or not—only she knew.
Later,
Xu Xi and Xu Moli continued talking. She asked: "Elder Brother, what were you thinking when you saved me back then?"
What was he thinking…
Xu Xi recalled the rescue during his first simulation, gazing at the distant blue sky: "It was chaos. If I had to say… I wasn't thinking anything."
"Nothing?"
"Mm. I just wanted to save you, so I did."
The summer sun shone brilliantly, casting the streets into stillness, its light dappled and intermittent.
Xu Moli rested her head on Xu Xi's shoulder, watching the quiet summer scene.
Indeed.
No one's life is meant to be lived solely for another.
Unless that very life exists only because of that other person.
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
lities. One day, Qi Yuan was buying groceries when he unfortunately came face-to-face with a monster. Just when he thought he was going to die on the spot, he suddenly heard the monster's thoughts... "This aura, he's definitely not an ordinary master!" "So terrifying, so terrifying." "A fight with my back against the wall, I can't take it anymore." Qi Yuan: Ah, no one told me that my awakened ability isn't telepathy, but rather the stronger my enemies imagine me to be, the stronger I truly become. PS: Zhou Hai in the first chapter is not the protagonist.
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
