4: Chapter 4: The Long Accumulation and Waiting

[You run at high speed, but your heart is filled with frantic complaints.]

"Holy crap, that scared me to death! Not sleeping in the middle of the night, playing cosplay on the mountain peak, and even playing a cold Fairy—I almost threw out my old back!"

"Is something wrong with this woman? Why do I keep running into her? Could it be that my damn, nowhere-to-be-placed charm is something even a Foundation Establishment Stage expert can't resist?"

Tang Xun, from his God's-eye view, watched his "self" in the simulation with a complex expression of lingering fear mixed with smugness, and was thoroughly amused.

This was the kind of simulated life he wanted to see!

Tense and exciting, with a bit of a mischievous, wicked sense of humor.

[Su Qinghan stood in place, watching your disappearing back, the hint of confusion in her eyes deepening.]

[A Menial Worker, a Mortal in his forties whose vital energy should theoretically be starting to decline—why did he have such speed?]

[She was certain that in that instant, she hadn't felt any spiritual power fluctuations from you.]

[Pure, physical strength.]

[This was not normal.]

[She had lived for many years and seen countless Mortals, but she had never seen one like you.]

[The first time you met, you tried to sell her Chinese cabbage.]

[The second time you met, you swept past her like a gust of wind.]

[You, this Menial Worker named Tang Xun, had successfully caught her attention.]

[But it was only curiosity. She was a high-and-mighty Inner Sect Prodigy, a future Golden Core Elder, while you were just a Mortal with a lifespan of barely a hundred years.]

[Your life paths were destined not to cross further.]

[She quickly put this little episode behind her and continued her cultivation.]

[And you, after confirming that Su Qinghan hadn't chased after you, slowed your pace and continued your great undertaking of night running.]

[Your life entered a brand new phase: growing vegetables by day, running laps by night, and drawing cards every year, never tiring of it.]

[Age fifty: You are now a complete old man. In the Laborer Courtyard, there is no one left with more seniority than you. The new little Menial Workers all respectfully call you "Grandpa Tang."]

[With the buffs of [Full of Energy] and [Swift Steps], your body remains robust. You run with vigorous power, capable of chasing after a group of twenty-year-old lads all by yourself.]

[This year, you drew a white trait that left you between laughter and tears—[Crows Mouth].]

[Trait: Crows Mouth (White)]

[Effect: Bad things you occasionally say have a certain probability of coming true. (The greater the difference in power, the smaller the probability.)]

[You looked at this trait and fell into deep thought.]

["This thing... seems a bit interesting."]

[You decided to find someone to test it on.]

[The first person you thought of was Wang Hao.]

[That's right, that Wang Hao who used to bully you like a dog—he wasn't dead yet.]

[More than thirty years had passed, and he was still stuck at the third level of Qi Refining, not even touching the threshold of the middle stages of Qi Refining. Because his Aptitude was too poor and he had no background, he had become an errand boy for an Outer Sect Manager. His status was even lower than before, and he could only throw his weight around in front of Utility Disciples.]

[You found an opportunity, and as he passed by your vegetable patch, you "casually" greeted him.]

["Yo, Senior Brother Wang, the weather is nice today. Where are you off to? You'd better be careful not to trip on flat ground and knock out your front teeth," you said with a chuckle, your face full of "well-intentioned" reminders.]

[Wang Hao was now too lazy to deal with you, the "vegetable maniac." He gave you a look of disdain, spat, and cursed, "You old fogey, mind your own business!"]

[After saying that, he swaggered away.]

[You watched his back and prayed silently in your heart, "Work once, just once!"]

[Then, in full view of everyone, the perfectly fine Wang Hao tripped over his own feet and fell flat on his face with a "thud."]

[When he scrambled up, grimacing in pain, his mouth was full of blood, and his two front teeth were gone.]

[The surroundings fell silent for an instant, followed by an explosion of uproarious laughter.]

[Wang Hao clutched his mouth, filled with shame and rage. He turned back to glare at you fiercely, as if he wanted to eat you alive.]

[But you just spread your hands innocently, your expression surprised, as if saying, "See, I warned you, didn't I?"]

[The real-life Tang Xun laughed so hard he rolled around on his bed upon seeing this.]

["Hahaha! Nicely done!"]

[This [Crows Mouth] trait was practically tailor-made for a fun-seeker like him!]

[Although it was only white and had a tiny probability, its effectiveness at disgusting people in key moments was top-tier!]

[Wang Hao angrily wanted to come and cause trouble for you, but you were well-prepared.]

[With [Swift Steps] equipped, he, a minor Cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining, might not actually be able to catch you in a race.]

[While running, you even looked back to "show concern" for him: "Senior Brother Wang, don't chase so fast. You just took a fall; don't go and break your leg now!"]

[As soon as you spoke, the fuming Wang Hao slipped. He stumbled again, and although he didn't fall, he severely sprained his ankle, howling in pain.]

[Now, he completely didn't dare to chase anymore.]

[He watched your back as you sped away, a hint of fear appearing in his eyes for the first time.]

[This old fogey... is cursed! He knows sorcery!]

[From that day on, Wang Hao would take a detour whenever he saw you, never daring to be arrogant in your presence again.]

[You successfully resolved a historical grievance that had lasted over thirty years, putting you in a great mood.]

[You decided to keep the [Crows Mouth] trait for now, just in case. But you didn't dare equip it lightly, fearing you might accidentally curse yourself one day.]

[The decade from age fifty to sixty was the most comfortable ten years you had ever lived.]

[You became the true "Supreme Emperor" of the Laborer Courtyard. No one dared to provoke you, and everyone was polite when they saw you. The scale of your vegetable patch grew larger and larger, and your night-running career never ceased.]

[Your body, with the support of the two traits, was robust, unlike that of an elderly person.]

[The annual card draws remained a sea of white.]

[Age fifty-one: [Insomnia]. You silently complained that this was the antonym of the [Good Sleep Quality] you had drawn in reality.]

[Age fifty-two: [Poor Sense of Direction].]

[Age fifty-three: [Bragging is Free].]

[...]

[Age fifty-nine: [Age Spots].]

[Tang Xun looked at this string of traits, already beyond the point of complaining.]

[Was this System picking a fight with him? Why were all the draws exclusive packages for the elderly?]

[Looking at your face in the mirror—furrowed with wrinkles and covered in spots—and your graying hair, you couldn't help but feel deeply moved.]

[In the simulated life, you were almost sixty years old.]

[You witnessed the growth of several generations of Azure Cloud Sect Disciples, saw once high-spirited Geniuses fall into mediocrity, and saw unremarkable Disciples soar to the heavens.]

[Wang Hao had his legs broken due to a mission failure, becoming a complete cripple, and was driven down the mountain.]

[Of the followers who were with Su Qinghan back then, some succeeded in Foundation Establishment and became Inner Sect Disciples, while others, like you, wasted their years and eventually faded into obscurity.]

[As for Su Qinghan, she had long since become a legendary figure. It was said she had succeeded in Core Formation and become one of the youngest Elders of the Azure Cloud Sect, spending most of her time in seclusion and rarely appearing in public.]

[In the entire Azure Cloud Sect, it seemed only you remained that Menial Worker busy in the vegetable patch.]

[You were like a living fossil, witnessing the passage of time.]

[But your heart never grew old.]

[Because you knew that everything you did was to accumulate strength for a great goal.]

[You had already accumulated over forty white traits and one green trait. Your body had also been trained to the limit of a Mortal.]

[You were waiting, waiting for an opportunity that would allow you to truly step onto the path of immortality.]

[On your sixtieth birthday, you didn't drink wine or cook.]

[You bathed and changed, sitting cross-legged on your bed, your heart as calm as still water.]

[You felt it; today would be different.]

[You summoned the wheel and began your forty-second card draw.]

[In reality, Tang Xun also sat up straight, his expression more serious than ever before.]

[Here it comes!]

[The wheel spun frantically, flashing with various colors.]

[Your heartbeat accelerated bit by bit with the rotation of the pointer.]

[White, white, still a vast expanse of white...]

[The speed of the pointer gradually slowed down.]

[Just as it was about to stop in the white area, it trembled violently once more, just like last time, and then tenaciously and stubbornly surged into the green area!]

[Another green trait!]

[Your breath hitched.]

[You stared intently at the line of text about to emerge, your heart pounding as if it would leap out of your throat.]

[Could it be? It must be!]

[Amidst the emerald green light, a line of large characters slowly took shape.]

[Congratulations, you have obtained a Rare Grade trait—Five Elements Spirit Root!]