Chapter 273: An Eighteen-Year-Old Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch?

He stared at the illusory text hovering in his vision.

Zhou Qing was in an excellent mood.

Before starting the simulation, however, he extended his divine sense to sweep the outside world across a radius of tens of thousands of li.

He wanted to be certain he would not be disturbed during the simulation.

These days, Zhou Qing had Li Yan with him, and the two of them lived permanently inside the grotto-heaven fragment.

The fragment itself lay hidden in a dense forest somewhere in the Eastern Wilderness Domain.

Compared to the outside world, the fragment was suffused with spiritual energy on par with a fifth-tier spirit vein.

It was like a paradise secluded from the mortal world.

'Now that I can carry this grotto-heaven fragment with me, it's essentially a miniature independent world...'

Zhou Qing suddenly recalled seeing a similar portable miniature world on the reward list of the Ghost Realm Trial Field during the previous simulation.

At the time, he had been quite drawn to it. A portable miniature world was extraordinarily convenient for a cultivator, equivalent to owning a mobile cave dwelling.

Yet now, Zhou Qing had refined such a miniature independent world himself. All manner of living things could grow within it, and its spiritual energy was abundant.

A miniature independent world was something only a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch had the power to open up.

True, Zhou Qing had taken a shortcut with his miniature independent world, relying on an existing grotto-heaven fragment to complete it and saving himself a massive amount of time.

Even so, anyone below the level of a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch would struggle to fashion a complete miniature independent world no matter how many grotto-heaven fragments were laid before them.

For instance, Zhou Qing had integrated an intact Tier 4 spirit vein into it. Such a feat looked simple enough, yet a Late Nascent Soul Stage Great Cultivator would feel their scalp go numb just watching it.

Spirit veins were nurtured by heaven and earth. Extracting an entire spirit vein intact was tantamount to contending with heaven and earth itself—something none below a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch could accomplish.

That was to say nothing of his subsequent modifications to the fragment's interior, smoothing out its turbulent space—another feat only a Heavenly Monarch could manage.

"Let's begin."

Zhou Qing gathered his thoughts and confirmed that he would not be disturbed.

Then he started the simulation without further delay.

Hum—

The illusory text rapidly shifted and expanded. [Year 1: At eighteen years old, you are already a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch. You are the undisputed strongest in the Human Realm, overlooking its vast expanse.]

[Beyond that, you have mastered numerous Tier 5 arts and a vast array of Tier 4 arts. Your erudition is unmatched throughout the history of the Human Realm.]

[With a thought, you appear inside the grotto-heaven fragment. Not far away, Li Yan is happily bustling about, absorbed in arranging the cave dwelling.]

[You do not reveal yourself. Watching the busy Li Yan, you fall into deep thought.]

[During the sixth simulation, under your guidance, Li Yan smoothly reached the Late Nascent Soul Stage Peak, and after Heavenly Monarch Qingcang passed away in meditation, she attempted to break through to the Deity Transformation Stage.]

[Yet it ended in failure. Even though you had Li Yan leave behind all her breakthrough experience before she died, can that experience truly help her reach the Deity Transformation Stage in this simulation?]

[Hope remains slim.]

[In terms of cultivation talent and life experience, Li Yan is far inferior to the late-stage Great Cultivators raised by the top factions of the Central Continent.]

[As for her constitution, Li Yan has only the Primordial Yin Treasure Physique. It is an 'altruistic' physique that benefits her own cultivation less than even an ordinary heavenly spiritual root.]

[Without you, Li Yan would likely struggle even to reach the Nascent Soul Stage, let alone the Deity Transformation Stage.]

[Li Yan is not like you, able to perfectly inherit everything from each simulation. Even with the experience and insights left behind from previous simulations, stepping into the Deity Transformation Stage will still be as difficult as ascending to heaven for her.]

[Watching Li Yan not far away, you decide that in this simulation, you will no longer simply have her study those past insights. Instead, you intend to let this possessor of the Primordial Yin Treasure Physique inherit her memories from the previous simulation.] [Near the end of the sixth simulation, right before Li Yan attempted her breakthrough to Deity Transformation, you made a point of looking through her memories.]

[Now, you need only copy those memories into Li Yan's current divine soul to artificially create someone who has been 'reborn.']

[With an entire lifetime of experience to draw on, the benefit to Li Yan should far exceed merely letting her study the insights left behind from previous simulations.]

[Complete memories encompass far more than just cultivation. They will make Li Yan's future path incomparably clear.]

['Memory transplantation...']

[You fall into deep thought. The divine soul memories of living beings are incredibly complex. The slightest carelessness will result in irreversible consequences.]

[This is not Soul Searching. Soul Searching merely views the original memories, while memory transplantation alters them, and can even change the recipient's cognition to a certain extent.]

[However, the power gap between you and Li Yan is simply too vast. You are a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch, while Li Yan is merely at the Qi Refining Stage. Transplanting a segment of memory into her divine soul will not be difficult.]

[After the grueling cultivation of the previous simulation, you know full well that relying on yourself alone to reach the Early Peak of the Deity Transformation Stage and break through to the Deity Transformation Middle Stage is out of the question without five to eight simulations.]

[Under these circumstances, Li Yan is crucial. If this possessor of the Primordial Yin Treasure Physique can cultivate to the Deity Transformation Stage, her first wisp of Primordial Yin Qi—nurtured over one or two thousand years—will undoubtedly be an immense help to your cultivation.]

[Thus, you earnestly hope Li Yan can step into the Deity Transformation Stage, as it has a direct bearing on your path of the Dao.]

[Furthermore, after reaching the Deity Transformation Stage, even the Primordial Yin Qi that Li Yan naturally nurtures day to day will have a decent effect on you.] ['Let's begin.']

[With a thought, your divine soul power begins to spread.]

[This is only an attempt on your part. Even if unexpected complications arise, you can live with them—after all, you are inside a simulation and always have the chance to start over.]

[Whoosh—]

[In the middle of her work, Li Yan suddenly freezes, then collapses to the ground.]

[Steadily, you begin integrating the memories of the Li Yan who cultivated to the Late Nascent Soul Stage Peak in the last simulation into her present divine soul.]

[Of course, you also make a few slight adjustments to those memories so that they better match the opening of this simulation.]

[Because the sheer volume of memory is too vast, you lightly seal the memories of the final few centuries. As Li Yan's cultivation base slowly rises, those seals will gradually come undone.]

[Once you finish all this, it is not long before Li Yan slowly stirs awake.]

["Didn't I die while trying to break through to Deity Transformation? Now..." Li Yan opens her eyes in confusion and looks around.]

[The cave dwelling brimming with spiritual energy and the deeply familiar surroundings quickly bring Li Yan to a single realization: 'I've been reborn? Reborn back when I was still in the Qi Refining Stage?']

[Li Yan finds it hard to believe. Talk of reincarnation exists in the cultivation world, and many cultivators even pin their hopes on the next life.]

[But rebirth? Returning to the past? Li Yan has rarely heard of such a thing, nor is there any concrete proof.]

[Yet, everything happening before her eyes, and the memories in her mind—as vivid and real as if she had lived an entire lifetime—leave Li Yan with no choice but to believe it.]

[Whoosh—]

[Li Yan forms hand seals with both hands and casts a spell.]

[It is a Qi Refining Stage spell that, in her memories, she only came across by chance decades later and memorized simply because she found it interesting.]

[If her memories were false, she should not be able to cast a spell acquired centuries later in her memories.]

['I actually cast it?']

[Li Yan is thrilled. This means the secret art is real, and the memories of a past life in her mind are also real!]

['In my past life, I failed to live up to Master's guidance and died while transforming my Nascent Soul into a Primordial Spirit...']

['Now that I can start over, things definitely won't end the same way.']

['I must step into the Deity Transformation Stage. Only then can I be of help to Master.'] [Li Yan steadies herself, resolute determination settling over her pretty face. She rises to her feet at once, intending to tell her master about her rebirth.]

[Although in the memories of her past life, her master was an exalted Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch who looked down over the vast Human Realm, seemingly omnipotent...]

[Perhaps her memories could still be of some use to him.]

[Even after starting over, Li Yan's feelings for you have not changed in the slightest.]

['It looks good so far.']

[You stand a short distance away, the space around you distorting as you give a slight nod.]

[Li Yan is adapting very well and has essentially accepted the reality of her 'rebirth.']

[In truth... the biggest flaw of memory transplantation is that memories misaligned with the recipient's personality will cause rejection.]

[For instance, if you were to transplant memories of taking joy in helping others into a cruel and ruthless cultivator, something so contrary to their own nature would inevitably arouse their suspicion and make them doubt whether those memories were real.]

[However, the memories you transplanted into Li Yan were her very own. Every future action and decision in those memories aligns perfectly with her original personality.]

[This is also the reason Li Yan accepted her 'rebirth' so quickly.]

['I'll hear what Yan'er has to say a bit later.'] [You watch Li Yan head toward your cave dwelling, naturally aware that she intends to tell you everything about her rebirth.]

[You do not plan to see her right away. For one, you need to head to the Ghost Realm Trial Field immediately; for another, you want to give her time to think things over.]

[Whoosh—]

[You leave the grotto-heaven fragment.]

[Your figure emerges into the outside world, and you promptly stow the grotto-heaven fragment away.]

[Ripples surge through space, and your figure vanishes once more.]

[When you reappear, you are already standing outside Nether Mountain.]

["Dachun."]

[Your divine sense cascades down like sunlight, enveloping Dachun, who is currently dozing outside the gates of the Zhou Family estate.]

[Following the same method, you transplant Dachun's memories from the previous simulation into the divine soul of the present Dachun, who is still a mortal.]

[Exposing what happened in the previous simulation could invite all manner of variables and unexpected complications.]

[Li Yan is easy enough to handle, as she will stay within the grotto-heaven fragment and won't be able to contact the outside world.] [But Dachun... during the various stages of the Ghost Realm Trial Field, he will inevitably interact with outside cultivators to some degree.]

[Yet you are no longer the cautious cultivator you were in earlier simulations.]

[Today, you stand at the absolute pinnacle of the Human Realm. So what if Dachun's memories are exposed? Who in the entire Human Realm could possibly do anything to you?]

[Not to mention, you are currently in a simulation. No matter what happens, you can always start over.]

[Although Dachun stepping into the Deity Transformation Stage would aid you far less than Li Yan, after spending time with him through so many simulations, you still hope this old friend can become a Heavenly Monarch.]

[At the very least, Dachun is entirely loyal to you, always striking wherever you point.]

["Huh?"]

[The dozing Dachun suddenly snaps awake. "Where is this?"]

[During his sound sleep just now, a new set of memories surfaced in his mind—a magnificent, sweeping lifetime in which he cleared every trial of the Ghost Realm Trial Field.]

["Young Master!"]

[Suddenly remembering something, Dachun shoots to his feet.]

[Unfortunately, Dachun is not Li Yan. Not knowing where you are, he can only pace around in anxious circles.] [You likewise plan to attend to Dachun later. After transplanting the memories into his divine soul, you head straight into Nether Mountain, channel a secret art, and descend into the Ghost Realm Trial Field.]

[In truth, with your current strength, you could sense the Ghost Realm Trial Field and slip inside even without channeling the secret art, though you still lack the confidence to shake the trial field as a whole.]

[The Heavenly Monarch who opened the Ghost Realm Trial Field was definitely beyond the Deity Transformation Early Stage—very likely a Deity Transformation Late Stage Heavenly Monarch. His command over the essence of space is beyond what you can match.]

...

[Ghost Realm Trial Field]

[After entering, you sweep your gaze around.]

[As a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch, even if you are not confident you could shake the trial field, you still grasp most of the profound mysteries contained within.]

[During the last simulation, after becoming a Heavenly Monarch and mastering the fourth layer of the Divine Origin Void Crossing Great Art, you also returned here once, attempting to coax some information out of the guardian.]

[After looking around for a moment, you take a single step forward and arrive atop the high platform.]

[The Armored Guardian has already opened his eyes, staring at you as if facing a formidable enemy.]

[Your Deity Transformation cultivation base was discovered the instant you entered. The Ghost Realm Trial Field can immediately detect the cultivation realm of all who enter.]

["Heavenly Monarch."] [The Armored Guardian speaks.]

[Throughout the hundred thousand years of the near-ancient era, Heavenly Monarchs have occasionally entered the trial field.]

[They mostly came out of curiosity, wanting to uncover the true depths of this place.]

[Every Heavenly Monarch was a peerless genius who looked down upon the Human Realm, and they all wanted to see if they could refine the Ghost Realm Trial Field for themselves.]

[Unfortunately, over these hundred thousand years, even the successive Heavenly Monarchs from Heavenly Sword Peak were helpless against it.]

["Mm."]

[With a slight nod, you say directly, "I want to take part in the trial."]

[At those words, the Armored Guardian immediately falls silent.]

[The ultimate purpose of opening the Ghost Realm Trial Field was to nurture Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarchs in preparation for a future invasion from the Demon Abyss Realm.]

[Yet you are already a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch, and you still want to take part in the trial?]

[What is the meaning of this?]

[The Armored Guardian remains silent for a long while before speaking. "Heavenly Monarch, trial-takers in the Ghost Realm Trial Field must have a divine soul under two hundred years of age."] [Eligibility for the Ghost Realm Trial Field is not granted to just any cultivator—first, one must pass an aptitude test, and second, there is an age limit.]

["Do I not look like someone under two hundred?"]

[You look at the Armored Guardian and ask.]

["..."]

[The Armored Guardian falls silent.]

["Begin the test."]

[You say directly.]

[The Armored Guardian remains silent for a moment, a faint red light surging in his eyes.]

[An inexplicable fluctuation emerges, washing over you.]

[You immediately lower your defenses of your own accord, allowing the Armored Guardian's aptitude test to examine you.]

[If you hadn't done so, the guardian's probing methods wouldn't have been able to touch you at all. As a Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch, even if you just stood there, the spiritual pressure of your Primordial Spirit alone would be enough to shrug off the vast majority of attacks in the Human Realm.]

... [Time passes]

[The red light in the Armored Guardian's eyes flickers and intertwines, running check after check on you.]

[In the rules of the Ghost Realm Trial Field, there is no stipulation that Deity Transformation cultivators cannot participate in the trials.]

[After all, the age limit alone is enough to bar any Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarch.]

[Thus, even when you asked to take the aptitude test, the Armored Guardian did not refuse.]

[At worst, he could simply wait until the aptitude test results came out and reject you on the grounds that your divine soul age did not meet the requirements.]

[Over the past hundred thousand years, other Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarchs had also asked to take the aptitude test, hoping to bluff their way through.]

[Several hours later.]

[The red light in the Armored Guardian's eyes slowly begins to subside.]

[The Armored Guardian pauses for a moment before reading out the test results.]

[Every step being carried out right now follows a 'program' set in advance by the Armored Guardian.]

["Dharma cultivation aptitude test complete—"] ["Race: Human."]

["Cultivation Base: Fifth Tier Early Stage."]

["Age: Eighteen years old..."]

...

[Eighteen years old?]

[The Armored Guardian's gaze snaps back to you, the subsided red light surging up once more, tinged with a faint trace of bewilderment.]