Chapter Fifteen Second Life: The Revival of Spiritual Energy, The Descent of the Divine Race

Listening to the icy beauty’s test, Lin Qiye smiled.

Other newcomers might have been tempted and lost their composure at the lure of a Silver Reincarnation Card, but in Lin Qiye’s eyes, the card was nothing special.

Is a Silver Reincarnation Card really that valuable? Sorry, but I, “Unaware of Card Value” Lin Qiye, beg to differ.

He shook his head inwardly. Of course, Lin Qiye didn’t show off his own resources; instead, he feigned consideration for a while before firmly refusing.

“I trust my own judgment. There’s no need to owe someone a favor like that.”

Lin Qiye’s unwavering attitude even took the icy beauty by surprise.

She hovered above the floating island.

Not long after, a petite female Grand Voyager walked over to the icy beauty’s side. With just a look from the icy beauty, she took her leave.

“My name is Jiang Shaoyao. I am Lady Xue’s steward. I’ll be taking care of you both from now on,” the woman introduced herself.

“As Grand Voyagers, you are both entitled to reside in a private villa by the heavenly lake atop the mountain.” She pointed to a villa not far away.

“Lady Xueye’s floating island is divided into two layers: the mountain summit and the base. The base is where the commoners reside, while the summit and lake area house only ten Grand Voyagers. The villa is equipped with a high-quality Soul Anchor Platform, allowing both of you to freely traverse the myriad worlds.”

“If you’re not venturing into a simulation, you’re obliged to stand guard at night and fend off the anomalies emerging from the black mist. This is your only duty as residents here. In all other matters, Lady Xue will not compel you.”

Lin Qiye nodded his farewell to the steward and moved into the villa with Chen Fan.

Inside, Lin Qiye smiled faintly. “That Lady Xue isn’t from Li City. She’s hiding a lot of her background. She must be from one of the super-cities—perhaps even an S-class prodigy.”

Chen Fan was astonished. “Brother Ye, how can you tell?”

“My intuition told me. My intuition is extremely accurate. That’s also why I turned down that six-figure investment.”

Lin Qiye was confident in his SSS-class permanent talent, which had gifted him with razor-sharp instincts.

Chen Fan trusted Lin Qiye implicitly. “Brother Ye, I believe you. Even if it’s tough starting out, a person should rely on themselves in the end.”

Lin Qiye nodded slightly. “It never hurts to be cautious. Once you tie your interests to others, you lose control over your own fate. It’s best to remain a lone wanderer, quietly growing stronger.”

Chen Fan agreed wholeheartedly.

That night, the principal sent out invitations, calling upon all this year’s newly promoted Grand Voyagers for a gathering. Lin Qiye couldn’t refuse and attended the event with Chen Fan.

The guests were split into two factions: the Academy and the Outlanders. There were forty-seven Grand Voyagers from the Academy, and one hundred and six from the Outlanders.

As Lin Qiye entered, every gaze in the room fell upon him in an instant.

“That’s the S-class prodigy from the Academy, Lin Qiye? He’s quite handsome. I wonder if I could win him over? I’ve got the curves of a Courtesan from the Red Tower, the strength of a Water Margin hero, and exquisite skills.”

Some voluptuous girls flirted brazenly with Lin Qiye, but he ignored them all.

“I hear he refused investments from veteran Grand Voyagers—over a hundred thousand walk points! What nerve.”

“He’s seriously ungrateful. With that much investment, he could buy a Silver Card, a Bronze Card, and plenty of resources to rise quickly.”

“He underestimates the benefits of backing a powerful patron. I’m only A-class, not as gifted as Lin Qiye, but with my sponsor’s help, I’ll surpass him tenfold.”

“Tonight, many of our Outlander leaders are pouring more resources into A-class talents. We’ll rise swiftly.”

“The big shots say that S-class prodigies can still fall during a world walk...”

The Outlander talents whispered among themselves, quietly radiating hostility.

The conflict between Outlanders and the Academy had always simmered.

The word had gone out among the Outlander leaders: they would not allow an S-class prodigy from the Academy to rise. If anyone encountered Lin Qiye in a world walk, they were to take him down—and there would be rich rewards for doing so.

Thus, the eyes of the A-class Outlanders burned with ambition, each determined to trample Lin Qiye and rise to fame.

As Grand Voyagers, every simulation was rife with endless possibilities. Talent wasn’t everything. An A-class talent might pull off a miraculous feat and suppress an S-class prodigy. An S-class might slip and meet a tragic end. More importantly, the Outlanders had powerful backers behind them, fueling their hopes.

Lin Qiye, by refusing all help, was seen as a lone wolf—one likely to meet a miserable end.

Lin Qiye, of course, noticed the hostility in the Outlander talents’ eyes. Hostility was only natural. Every world walk could span decades, even centuries, and the experiences could twist a person’s character, breed cruelty, or foster kindness.

Thus, to make enemies was normal—Lin Qiye didn’t care. Still, should they cross paths in the myriad worlds and come into conflict, he would show them what true ruthlessness meant.

Nearby, the principal took his seat. “Do you sense the atmosphere? Where there are people, there is strife—even within the Academy, interests clash. This banquet is just to warn you that the world is perilous.”

Lin Qiye nodded and endured the gathering in silence.

Back at the villa, Lin Qiye browsed the marketplace. Weapons of Silver rank went for over a hundred thousand walk points. The cheapest Silver Reincarnation Card cost that much, too. Cards like Lin Qiye’s Dragon-Elephant Physique were priced at five hundred thousand. Even a fragment of a Bronze-level cultivation method demanded an astronomical eighty thousand walk points.

“If I sell the three pages of ‘Qi Refinement Technique,’ I could get two million!” Lin Qiye was stunned.

He did a rough calculation—an S+ reward was worth several million walk points. Of course, that was likely because he had triggered a spiritual revival.

He analyzed quietly, continuing to browse the store. “There’s a lot of good stuff, but it’s all too expensive! I can’t afford anything yet. I’ll have to earn walk points during the next simulation.”

“Tomorrow, I’ll begin my second journey. I must secure an SS-class reward and push my strength to Gold rank!”

Lin Qiye knew that in a world plagued by black mist, Silver-level power was nowhere near enough. Protection might suffice for a time, but he couldn’t live under someone’s shelter forever. He needed top-tier strength to control his own destiny.

With that resolve, Lin Qiye lay down to sleep.

The next day, he woke refreshed.

Chen Fan was already knocking at the door. “Brother Ye, want to go shopping? We could buy a few pretty maids.”

Lin Qiye: “...”

“I’m not going. I’m about to start my next journey.”

Chen Fan was shocked. “You’re starting again right away? Aren’t you afraid of failing? If you fail once, your Life Lamp Gem loses half its energy. Fail twice, and you’ll have to wait a year to recover!”

“I’m not afraid!” Lin Qiye’s eyes blazed.

With the power of Genesis Simulation, Lin Qiye was brimming with confidence. He feared weakness far more than failure—without strength, he could not survive in the main world.

As he was now, he was just a student under someone else’s protection, too weak even to use his floating island for fear of being targeted. But if he had Platinum-level power, he wouldn’t need to look over his shoulder; he could suppress both Outlanders and the Academy alike.

That was why Lin Qiye was desperate to grow stronger.

“I’m about to simulate my second life. See you tomorrow.”

Chen Fan hurriedly tried to stop him. “At least check the forums for some guides.”

Lin Qiye shook his head. “The high-quality guides on the Voyager Forum cost a fortune in walk points—too expensive! I have to earn some walk points first!”

With a sigh, he retreated to the depths of the villa, sat on the Soul Anchor Platform, and began anchoring his soul for his next journey through the myriad worlds.

[Life Lamp Gem energy sufficient. You may traverse the myriad worlds at any time.]

[You currently possess the Silver Body Card—Dragon-Elephant Physique, Silver Wisdom Card—Cosmic Insight, and may bring the first three pages of the ‘Qi Refinement Technique’ and all knowledge of the field of biology into your journey.]

[Your weapon, the Extreme Flame Ring-Handled Blade, can be brought into the journey, but requires certain conditions to unlock.]

[Would you like to begin your journey and start a new simulated life?]

[Please note, each journey’s world and identity are randomly generated.]

[Please note, cultivation cannot be brought in. You will be born a frail infant, with countless chances of dying prematurely.]

[Please confirm carefully: do you wish to begin your journey in the myriad worlds and enter a simulated life?]

Lin Qiye drew a deep breath.

“Yes.”

[Simulated Life Initiated! The Life Lamp burns, illuminating your path—]

[This world is lacking in spiritual energy. Martial arts have faded. Technology is advanced—guns and cannons can kill even hardened masters. Sadly, the capitalists and aristocrats treat human life as worthless. The wealth gap is vast; the rich live in palaces, while the poor cling to life in the slums...]

[Age 0: Your single mother abandons you in the roadside weeds at birth. Luckily, an old woman picks you up.]

[Age 1: A rat chews off one of your ears. Traumatized, you become withdrawn.]

[Age 3: Living in the slums with your grandmother, you’re injured in a drunken brawl. She saves you, but you’re left with a limp.]

[Age 4: Beaten while scavenging for trash, your left hand is left useless.]

[Age 6: Slapped by a thug, you lose hearing in your left ear.]

[Age 8: Your grandmother is murdered. Bereft and alone, you survive by scavenging.]

[Age 10: The Axe Gang fights erupt in the slums. You’re caught in the crossfire—your left leg is chopped off, but you survive.]

[Age 11: Spiritual energy returns; the gods descend. The world changes. A mysterious organization detects unparalleled potential in you and forcibly strips it away.]

[Age 12: You eke out another year, dying miserably in a pitch-black dungeon. Rats and maggots feast on your corpse.]

[Commentary: Your life lasted only twelve years, a string of tragedies. Aside from the faint light your grandmother brought, your days were utter darkness. Even rats and maggots fared better than you.]

“Well, so I’m meant to struggle for survival, am I?” Lin Qiye was dumbfounded.

Nightmare mode from birth—worse than the first life.

At least in the first life, he had good parents!