I have a cultivation simulator

"You've entered the Qi Refining stage?"

Beyond the simulation, Zhou Qing was filled with excitement.

The Qi Refining stage is the beginning of cultivating immortality, and those who reach this stage are called immortal cultivators.

"However, it took me ten years to condense a complete 'qi' and enter the Qi Refining stage..."

Zhou Qing touched his chin.

His spiritual root aptitude is probably not very ideal.

"Never mind, although it took ten years in the simulation, in reality, as long as I choose to end the simulation now, I can immediately inherit the Qi Refining stage cultivation..."

Zhou Qing felt happy.

Ten years of simulation, a fleeting moment in reality.

What does spiritual root aptitude count for?

"Keep going, keep going!"

Zhou Qing looked again at the constantly changing illusory font.

After entering the Qi Refining stage, you vaguely sensed changes in the world, but you couldn't quite put your finger on what those changes were.

[You know very well that this is because your cultivation level is not high enough. The Qi Refining stage is divided into nine levels, and you are currently only a Qi Refining Level 1 cultivator.]

[You take out the "Qi-Inducing Technique" and start reading it again.]

After entering the Qi Refining stage, you vaguely sensed that this "Qi Guiding Technique" seemed to have changed.

Finally, as you stare at the last page of the "Qi Induction Technique," your cultivator's perception tells you that this page contains an extremely rare amount of "Qi."

[You try to channel the 'qi' gathered within your body into the last page of the 'Qi Guiding Technique'.]

Suddenly, the pages began to blur, and a map appeared.

The map is marked with various cultivation factions, large and small, as well as some dangerous locations.

"That ancestor of the Lin family certainly considered everything thoroughly," you thought to yourself as you looked at the map.

This map will definitely be of great guiding value to cultivators who have just embarked on the path of cultivation.

[You look at the map and discover that the closest cultivation force, or rather, gathering place for cultivators, to the Qian Kingdom is called "Wushan Market".]

The map also includes some information about "Wushan Market".

You have already decided to go to 'Wushan Market'.

On the path of cultivation, wealth, companions, methods, and land are essential. To go further, one must interact with other cultivators.

【Wushan Market is built on a second-tier spiritual vein, and cultivating in that environment often yields twice the results with half the effort】

Your spiritual root aptitude is not ideal. If you wish to pursue the path of immortality, you will need greater access to external environmental resources.

As for avenging your parents and brothers? The Fourth Prince is now the Emperor of Qian Kingdom, not someone a mere Qi Refining Level 1 cultivator like you can contend with.

You need stronger capabilities.

[You take Dachun and head to Wushan Market, following the directions on the map.]

Two months later, you and Dachun finally arrived at Wushanfang City.

【Wushan Market is built atop Wushan Mountain, shrouded in mist and protected by a protective array.】

Only true cultivators can pierce through the clouds and enter within.

You settled Dachun at the foot of the mountain.

[Da Chun is not a cultivator. Even with your guidance, he will be discovered and expelled once he enters the market.]

【Wushan Market covers an area of ​​ten miles, with terraced spiritual fields on the outside and a network of well-arranged streets inside, featuring diverse architectural styles.】

You see cultivators constantly coming and going in and out of the market.

At the entrance to the market, monks are on guard; anyone entering the market must register.

[You displayed Qi Refining stage cultivation fluctuations and received an identity token from the guarding cultivator.]

"Those who enter the market are not allowed to stay overnight, nor are they allowed to meditate or absorb spiritual energy, unless they stay in an inn or rent a cave dwelling. Those who disobey will bear the consequences themselves."

The guard's tone was cold.

【"clear."】

You naturally understand the reason for this request.

This is to prevent cultivators from entering and "free-riding" on the spiritual veins here.

The amount of spiritual energy emitted by each spiritual vein has an upper limit.

[Upon successfully entering Wushan Market, you immediately felt an abundance of spiritual energy fluctuations.]

You resisted the urge to immediately begin meditating and started observing your surroundings.

As you're new to the world of cultivation, your most pressing task is to find a stable 'job' that earns you spirit stones.

Spirit stones are the universal currency in the cultivation world. Cultivators need spirit stones for cultivation, and they also need spirit stones to set up formations...

Over the next two months, you inquired everywhere and finally obtained some useful information.

Firstly, Wushan Market recruits spiritual farmers year-round.

The so-called "spiritual farmer" is essentially the same as an ordinary farmer.

However, what the spirit farmer needs to take care of are the spirit plants.

A large number of spiritual plants are planted around Wushan Market.

The job of a spirit farmer is to use cloud and rain magic to irrigate the spirit plants at specific times, based on their growth status.

Simply put, farming requires a lot of time and the income is not high, so no cultivator with any ambition would do it.

A spirit farmer who tends ten acres of spirit fields earns around thirty spirit stones a year.

"Ginfant?"

You don't want to be a Gin farmer.

Farming is a dead end. Any cultivator can become a spirit farmer with just a few days of practice.

This job is highly likely to be replaced.

Most importantly, the earnings are too low.

[Only thirty spirit stones a year?]

Your goal is not spiritual farming, but true skills, such as alchemy, weapon crafting, and talisman drawing among the various arts of cultivation.

This is the most sought-after skill.

[Wushan Market does indeed offer opportunities to learn these skills]

The first method is to become an apprentice. Prepare an apprenticeship gift and go to the market to become an apprentice of a certain alchemist, artifact maker, or talisman master.

According to the information Zhou Qing had gathered, even the cheapest apprenticeship gift would still require five hundred spirit stones. Moreover, it wasn't enough to just give the gift; after becoming an apprentice, one would need to pay a certain number of spirit stones every year as 'tuition fees'.

The second option is to become an apprentice.

Within Wushan Market, many alchemists, artifact craftsmen, and talisman masters are recruiting apprentices.

Although apprentices are not required to pay a formal apprenticeship fee, they must serve the alchemists, weapon makers, and talisman makers at all times.

Before becoming an apprentice, one will sign a spiritual contract, selling oneself to an alchemist, weapon maker, or talisman master for the next ten to thirty years.

Compared to disciples, apprentices have no choice and must obey orders completely.

Of course, during the ten to thirty years of servitude, apprentices can also learn some real skills and techniques while serving.

Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. The first one is naturally better, but it requires a substantial fortune, which ordinary cultivators cannot afford.

In terms of a spirit farmer's income, five hundred spirit stones would require a spirit farmer to save for more than ten years without eating or drinking.

You are deep in thought, facing a crucial decision.

The next moment, outside the simulation, the illusory text in front of Zhou Qing rapidly changed, offering three choices.

Part 1: Choosing to become an apprentice

【Second: Choose to accumulate spirit stones and then use them to find a master】

【Three: Choose none of them. If this place doesn't want me, there are plenty of other places that will. Leave Wushan Market and try my luck somewhere else】

Each of these three choices can influence the final outcome of this simulation.