【You have completed the guidance task for this simulation and obtained a new simulation opportunity.】

【Initial Equipment Traits: Simulator[Mythic], Photographic Memory[Purple], Treasure-Sniffing Nose[Purple], Low-Grade Bone Structure[Green], Effort Guarantees Reward[Green], Spider Sense[Green], Monster Aura[Green]】

【Simulation Start!】

【At dawn I left the White Emperor crowned with cloud, I've sailed a thousand miles through canyons in a day.】

【You broke free from the Black Stone Gang's shackles and personally sent them to their physical salvation.】

【After the Luoding Village massacre, you and Da Chun finally returned to Baiyun County.】

【Possessing the Treasure-Sniffing Nose and Monster Aura traits, plus knowing about the existence of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, you conceived a brilliant idea...】

【Year One, age eighteen.】

【Starting trait draw...】

【Draw successful!】

【「How Awesome Is Your Kun Ge?」(White): When you use skills like singing, dancing, rap, or basketball from the 「You're Too Beautiful」 trait, spectators will be deeply captivated by your personal charm.】

【Adjust traits?】

【Yes/No】

"Whoa? The trait effects are actually doing a martial soul fusion technique now?"

This was the first time Chen Yi had seen two traits having an explicit synergy relationship.

Unfortunately, they were both white-tier. The current Chen Yi wouldn't waste two slots on white traits.

【You selected No.】

【"The simulation started? Great! Ten Thousand Souls Banner! I'm coming! Hahaha!!!"】

【You rushed out of the house laughing, leaving Third Sister and Third Brother-in-law utterly bewildered.】

【You bought a fast horse in the county town and rode day and night without stopping, heading for Old Liu's hometown, Hongtong County in Wushan Prefecture of Bazhou.】

【"Old Liu is still doing odd jobs in the Suzhou Border Army right now! Ten Thousand Souls Banner! My precious! Wait for me! You belong only to me, Chen Yi! Hehehe!!!"】

"That Ten Thousand Souls Banner is really sinister. I haven't even gotten it yet, and I'm already showing signs of demonic corruption."

Chen Yi complained.

Of course, Chen Yi knew the Ten Thousand Souls Banner couldn't be *that* sinister. It was just the simulated version of himself getting a bit carried away.

But thankfully, with the simulation, the simulated self could scout the path first and figure out just how demonic the banner really was.

【Bazhou is located in the western part of the Central Plains, while Qingzhou is in the south-central region. The two provinces share a border.】

【Riding alone on your fast horse, you galloped across the great plains, hardly stopping for a moment along the way, reaching your destination in two months.】

【"Huh? Why can't I smell it? Am I still not close enough?"】

【The Treasure-Sniffing Nose was already equipped. If there was a supreme treasure nearby, you should be able to smell it.】

【You didn't know the exact location where Old Liu obtained the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.】

【You had no choice but to wander around Hongtong County, conducting a carpet search.】

【A few days later.】

【"I've basically covered the entire county. Although my cultivation realm isn't high, this is an Epic-tier trait after all. The detection range can't possibly be only a few hundred meters around me, right?"】

【Over these past few days, you didn't smell any supreme treasure scent, but you did see plenty of demonic aura left behind by monster activities.】

【This Hongtong County was also a place where monsters came for an all-you-can-eat buffet.】

【Fortunately, you could see the demonic aura and always managed to avoid them beforehand, so you didn't get into any trouble.】

【After much thought, you felt there was only one possibility.】

【"The Ten Thousand Souls Banner hasn't arrived yet."】

【Old Liu obtained the Ten Thousand Souls Banner in the seventeenth year.】

【As long as you didn't excessively interfere with the course of events, the development of this simulation should be similar to the last one.】

【As long as you could intercept Old Liu, you could obtain the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.】

【Therefore, you decided to return to Baiyun County first, ensuring nothing in Hongtong County deviated because of your presence.】

【"Seventeen years, I can wait! If I don't mess around with random drugs in this life, I won't die young like in the last one!"】

【Whipping your horse, you returned to Baiyun County.】

【After reaching Baiyun County territory, you remembered the agreement made with Shen Qingshan before the simulation.】

【"Take a trip around Baiyun Ridge to see where the monsters of Baiyun Ridge are hiding."】

【You rode your horse and wandered around Baiyun Ridge for several days.】

【Whenever you saw a wisp of demonic aura, you would follow the direction where that aura grew increasingly dense.】

【You discovered that demonic auras of varying colors all ultimately converged in three locations.】

【Clearly, these three places were the three lairs of the monster forces in Baiyun Ridge.】

【You didn't venture deep into the tiger's den. Relying solely on 「Photographic Memory」, you firmly memorized these three locations.】

【When you returned to Baiyun County Town, the Demon Slaying Lieutenant from the Prefecture Division and his inspection team had already taken up residence in Baiyun County.】

【The county town was festooned with lanterns and decorations, with firecrackers constantly going off.】

【You heard that the County Magistrate, who was so fat he could barely walk, personally went down to the ground to welcome them that day.】

【Even Feng Yucheng, who always wore a dark scowl as if everyone owed him two hundred taels of silver, bowed his proud head before the Prefecture Division's Demon Slaying Lieutenant, going fifty li outside the city to greet him.】

【Before providing information to the Demon Slaying Lieutenant, you felt you should first learn about this person.】

【What if he was in cahoots with Feng Yucheng and the others? Wouldn't you be walking right into the line of fire?】

【This Lieutenant was currently staying at the county town's posthouse, not some high-class place, just the standard accommodation for officials on business trips.】

【Their inspection work was scheduled to last half a month, so they hadn't left yet.】

【You inquired with some gossip-loving old-timers and learned that this Lieutenant had refused visits from all the local gentry and wealthy families in the county town.】

【"Normally, when an Imperial Commissioner arrives in a locality, it's a prime opportunity for overt corruption. He doesn't receive anyone, focusing solely on the inspection work? He's probably a good official..."】

【There certainly were corrupt officials in this world, but you shouldn't tar everyone with the same brush.】

【However, to be safe, you thought it would be better to write an anonymous letter and secretly deliver it to the posthouse.】

【When you returned to Third Sister's house, Third Sister was so angry she gave you a beating.】

【You had disappeared for even longer this time than after the village massacre, terrifying her.】

【You exchanged a glance with Shen Qingshan, who immediately understood.】

【"Chen Yun, Fourth Brother was busy with important matters."】

【"What important matters could an unemployed loafer possibly have?"】

【You forcefully explained, "Ahem... I was in seclusion, training."】

【Chen Yun said with exasperation, "Fine, fine, fine, bully me for not understanding martial arts. Alright, you were in seclusion! Could you please tell your sister next time before you go into seclusion, where you'll be secluding yourself and for how long, okay?"】

【After sending Third Sister away, Shen Qingshan said in a low voice, "Fourth Brother, were you investigating the monster lairs? Why didn't you discuss it with your brother-in-law? I could have mobilized my demon slaying team to help you."】

【"No need for such trouble. I've already investigated everything clearly."】

【"Fourth Brother, impressive skill! Did your mysterious master help you?"】

【"You could say that... The monster locations are all written in this letter. I plan to secretly deliver it to the posthouse tonight."】

【Shen Qingshan expressed that he didn't want you to get involved, lest it bring you trouble.】

【"Brother-in-law, are you going to deliver it yourself?"】

【Feng Yucheng might already be keeping an eye on Shen Qingshan by now. You felt letting Shen Qingshan deliver the letter wasn't a good idea.】

【Shen Qingshan, however, said, "Actually, I have an even more suitable candidate."】