Chapter 57

Gu Yang, with a slightly nervous heart, once again opened the system.

【Do you want to use the Life Simulator? Using it once will cost 20,000 gold.】

Seeing the high number of 20,000, his heart skipped a beat. It had suddenly quadrupled, truly unreasonable.

His current balance of 180,000 instantly left him with only nine simulations.

Fortunately, he had anticipated this and quickly calmed down. He closed the system, closed his eyes, and began to familiarize himself with the true essence within his body.

From the Fourth Rank to the Third Rank, it was a qualitative change. The original true qi had transformed into true essence, which felt completely different from before.

At this moment, a thought spontaneously arose in Gu Yang's mind, "I am so powerful!"

He felt that his strength was more than ten times greater than when he was at the Fourth Rank.

...

When the carriage arrived home, Gu Yang had already mastered the manipulation of the true essence within his body, able to control it at will.

By now, it was already late.

He got off the carriage, and in a flash, appeared outside Xu Ruomei's room. He pushed the door open and saw her sitting on the bed, her face pale, struggling to hold on.

The Essence Lock Bracelet was specifically designed to restrain the top three ranks of experts. Even though she was at the Fourth Rank and practiced an unparalleled technique, her strength far exceeding that of a typical Fourth Rank, she could not resist it.

Gu Yang walked forward, placed one hand on the Essence Lock Bracelet, and channeled true essence into it. After a moment, it absorbed enough true essence and finally calmed down.

This Essence Lock Bracelet was like a living thing, activating at fixed times every day, and would not stop until it had absorbed enough true essence.

If not for his help, Xu Ruomei would have already damaged her fundamental essence.

"You..."

Although Xu Ruomei's true qi was sealed, her eyes were still sharp. She looked at Gu Yang with a mix of surprise and doubt.

At this moment, Gu Yang gave her a completely different feeling, a sense of pressure she had never experienced before.

This pressure was very familiar to her, a characteristic of top three rank martial artists who had condensed their martial will.

He had actually reached the Third Rank?

Moreover, his true essence had changed in nature, no longer the pure yang true qi, but now like a flame, possessing a hint of spirituality, similar to the power of a Divine Realm expert.

In just one day, why had he undergone such a tremendous change?

Xu Ruomei simply could not understand.

"Rest well."

Gu Yang left a message and turned to leave.

His attitude towards Xu Ruomei had unconsciously changed.

During the twenty-four simulations today, at the critical moment, Xu Ruomei had always fought to save him, which changed his view of her.

Although she had acted like a heartless woman, before severing her ties to the secular world, she was still a person with feelings and righteousness.

It could only be said that the *Red Dust Sword Technique* she practiced was too inhumane.

After returning to his room, Gu Yang closed the door and suddenly looked out the window, saying to himself, "As expected..."

This time, he had a vague feeling of being watched. When he entered Xu Ruomei's room, this feeling became even clearer.

He even caught a glimpse of the general direction of the observer.

The strong expert nearby who was watching was clearly the sword slave by Xu Ruomei's side.

This person had already come over but had no intention of rescuing Xu Ruomei, allowing her to suffer from the Essence Lock Bracelet, living in the house of someone who could be considered his mortal enemy.

From this cold and ruthless behavior, one could roughly see what kind of sect the Sword Palace was.

"Second Rank..."

Gu Yang reached out to touch the hundred-refined steel saber beside him, feeling a bit eager to try.

He was very eager to test the power of the *Nine Heavens Phoenix Dance* technique, to see if it could match a Second Rank expert.

However, he quickly suppressed this impulse.

"It's not time yet."

Gu Yang said to himself, loosening his grip on the saber.

He was now at the Third Rank, but his combat skills and saber techniques were still at the Fourth Rank level. Fighting a Second Rank expert was clearly not enough.

He opened the system again.

【Do you want to use the Life Simulator? Using it once will cost 20,000 gold.】

Each time it cost 20,000, causing him some pain.

"Yes."

【At the age of 22, you have already reached the Third Rank, ranking seventh on the Hidden Dragon List, and are renowned throughout the world.】

【One day, the third of the six villains of Plum Mountain came to seek revenge. Before he could enter the door, he was killed by the city guard commander, who then presented a letter, inviting you to a banquet hosted by the governor.】

【Another day, the eldest son of the Lin family personally came to apologize, presenting the key to the Essence Lock Bracelet and a large number of gifts. In his words, he probed your lineage.】

【Half a month later, you took Su Qingzhi to the capital and parted ways with Xu Ruomei, who had recovered her cultivation.】

【You prepared to join the Heavenly Heart Martial Hall, but Cheng Tianxin refused to take you as a disciple, instead treating you as a fellow disciple. You discussed saber techniques with him daily, and your saber skills improved day by day.】

【Two months later, you received a letter from Ling Ling, saying that her enemy was in the capital and it was inconvenient for her to come, so she stayed in Ping Prefecture City waiting for you.】

【One year later, Su Qingzhi's identity was exposed. A mysterious expert sneaked in, trying to kidnap her, but you killed him on the spot.】

【One and a half years later, Guo Taiping, ranked seventh on the Heavenly Pride List, came to challenge the hall. Cheng Tianxin was no match for him and was about to be killed when you intervened, forcing him back with one saber strike but being injured in the heart by a sword.】

【Half a month later, Cheng Tianxin, who was recovering from his injuries, was poisoned and killed. The entire Heavenly Heart Martial Hall was in an uproar, and during the chaos, Cheng Qingyu mysteriously disappeared, leading to the disintegration of the Heavenly Heart Martial Hall.】

【After that, you quietly left the capital with Su Qingzhi. A powerful expert suddenly appeared, trying to kidnap Su Qingzhi, but Xu Ruomei happened to be there and repelled the enemy.】

【Xu Ruomei escorted you back to Ping Prefecture City. For several years, your injuries never fully healed.】

【One day, Ling Ling broke through to the Second Rank and challenged Guo Taiping, killing him in dozens of moves.】

【Several years later, you devoted yourself to the path of the saber. One day, you died from mental exhaustion, at the age of 30.】

After reading this life, Gu Yang's brows furrowed.

What was this Hidden Dragon List?

From the looks of it, he had just broken through to the Third Rank and immediately made it onto the Hidden Dragon List. Then, within a few days, the Fang and Lin families had received the news.

How did the people who made the list know he had broken through?

Gu Yang was puzzled. He was not a showy person and had not told anyone about his breakthrough.

Xu Ruomei must have noticed it earlier. Could she have been the one to leak the information?

【Simulation complete. You can retain one of the following:】

【1. Martial realm at the age of 25.】

【2. Martial experience at the age of 30.】

【3. Life wisdom at the age of 30.】

This time, the ages for the realm and experience were different.

This was understandable. At 25, he was at his peak. After that, due to his injuries, his condition was not good. The system automatically chose the peak period.

Without hesitation, Gu Yang chose the second option.

He had chosen to go to the Heavenly Heart Martial Hall to practice saber techniques.

From the results, he was still no match for a Second Rank expert like Guo Taiping.

PS: It's New Year's Eve, wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year. May you all have a great year ahead.