The sense of reality receded like the tide.
“This simulation lasted even longer than the last one. It felt like living an entire lifetime.”
After the simulation ended, Lai En felt as though he had woken from a long, drawn-out dream.
“But at least I managed to get my hands on the antidote.”
Just as Lai En was acclimating to the memories, the System notification finally chimed.
[Simulation complete]
[Level at end of simulation: LV.40 Aberrant Goblin General Dali’ang]
[Achievements unlocked: Prodigy, Embrace of the Cult Priestess, Memory of Mevys, Tower Master, Natural Death]
[As a rising star of great promise in the territory, you were first abandoned by your father, then trapped by a mysterious tower. You could have become a great contributor to the Moen Empire, yet that tower confined your entire life.]
[You did not give up. Instead, you chose to continuously improve your abilities in every way until your death.]
[You inadvertently intervened in the life of the High Priestess of the Secret Cult. Without a doubt, her life will continue to revolve around you.]
[You became a scar in the heart of the legendary mage Mei Wei Si. She buried every clue about you, along with that innocent affection, within that tower steeped in sorrow. However… when you meet again, can she truly let go?]
[Overall rating: S]
[Rewards obtained: Initial Talent Lottery Ticket (Gold), Initial Equipment Lottery Ticket (Gold)]
[Available for use in the next Otherworld Simulation]
“Double Gold!”
Lai En had guessed the rewards would be substantial when the simulation ended, after all, he had genuinely lived out an entire “lifetime.”
“Too bad I couldn’t bring that Magic Ring back this time…”
Of course, Lai En merely felt a twinge of regret.
Ai Luo Wen could be poisoned to death at any moment. The Antidote was something he absolutely had to prepare.
[Host’s simulation rating has reached S-rank for the first time. The System has been upgraded!]
“The System upgraded?!”
Lai En had thought the simulation rewards were already generous enough, after all, that gold-tier Magic Ring could allow someone with extremely low Talent to learn Four-Tier Magic.
But this time, the rewards didn’t just include a gold Talent and gold Equipment—the System itself got upgraded too.
[Host performed exceptionally well during the simulation. The System’s Safe Box has been fully upgraded. You may now bring back three items]
[The System’s starting simulation level has also been increased from LV.1LV.5 to LV.5LV.10]
“Wait, what?”
The Safe Box had already proven incredibly useful. It had bailed him out countless times during simulations.
Now it was being upgraded to allow three items at once. That was a leap in quality.
[Experience from this simulation will be delivered shortly]
Lai En heard the level-up chime and knew a surge of energy was about to wash through his tiny embryonic body.
“I leveled up this much. This is going to feel amazing.”
Just as Lai En prepared to receive the flood of Experience, Ai Luo Wen was fast asleep.
A pair of maids happened to pass by Ai Luo Wen’s courtyard. They had risen before dawn and were heading out to purchase supplies.
The moment they reached the courtyard gate, a blinding radiance burst forth from within.
“What’s going on?!”
“Look! It’s Lady Ai Luo Wen’s room.”
Inside the room, Ai Luo Wen’s belly blazed like a sun, erupting with immense light.
The maids naturally had no idea that the light came from your leveling up.
Later, rumors about Ai Luo Wen began circulating through the Inner Palace. Some claimed she had dreamed of the Sun God, and that the child in her womb carried the Sun God’s Blessing.
Others believed Ai Luo Wen had been hiding her true strength, and that she might have been using magic that night.
But you, the mastermind behind it all, simply reveled in the sensation of growing stronger from leveling up.
[Level up complete]
Lai En contentedly opened his status window.
[Though an embryo, still a Goblin General (Lai En)]
[Level: LV.40]
[Lifespan: 2 months]
[Talents: Assimilation (Blue), Forest Hunter (Green), High Endurance Physique (Green), Limb Regeneration (Blue), Hatred Immunity (Blue), Cold-blooded Lethality (Purple), Moon God’s Gaze (Blue), Goblin Heavy Dependency (Purple), Gaze into the Abyss (Green), Magic Vision (Blue), Intelligence Supremacy (Purple)]
[Battle Techniques: Lightning (Purple): Proficiency 6000/10000, Armor Break (Purple): Proficiency 6000/10000]
[Magic: Third-tier Lightning Magic Mastery, Fourth-tier Lightning Magic Initiation]
[Current items: Myriad Foot Gold Bar (Green), Xima’s Antidote Recipe (Blue), Demon Blood Dagger (Purple), Xima’s Antidote (Blue)]
“Come to think of it, Goblins really are my benefactors. Every time I hit a wall, Goblins show up to solve it.”
Although the Goblin race was naturally depraved, once under Lai En’s mental control, they could count as a decent fighting force.
“If there were Goblins in the real world for me to control, they’d be a solid combat asset too.”
Lai En had considered this before, but getting a pregnant woman to a Goblin Nest was a tall order.
The consorts in the Inner Palace who wanted Ai Luo Wen dead had certainly dreamed up countless assassination methods, but sending her to a Goblin Nest was too twisted even for them.
“Now that I have the Antidote, let’s find out who’s really responsible for poisoning Ai Luo Wen.”
Although Lai En was already level forty and had the power to help Ai Luo Wen secure her footing in the Inner Palace, he couldn’t gamble on the fact that he would definitely be born.
“I’ll treat this Reality Simulation as an intelligence-gathering mission.”
After two Otherworld Simulations, the System granted one Reality Simulation opportunity. Lai En planned to observe what would happen to Ai Luo Wen if she weren’t poisoned to death.
“If I really run into a problem I can’t solve, I’ll save the Reality Simulation for later. That’s basically the same as Death Return.”
“I have infinite chances to make mistakes.”
While Lai En’s heart surged with excitement, the consorts in the Inner Palace would never have dreamed that it was the child in Ai Luo Wen’s belly protecting her.
“Reality Simulation, activate!”
Just like the last Reality Simulation, Lai En activated the simulation and chose to rest immediately, preparing for what lay ahead. He had to stay fully alert and gather all kinds of intel.
Of course, he didn’t forget to place the Gold Bar on Ai Luo Wen’s pillow. Everything had to be exactly the same as the previous simulation.
Mei Lu Xi Na, the consort who had challenged Ai Luo Wen at the Tea Party.
She was one of the three most powerful consorts in the Inner Palace, and her swordsmanship was exceptional. Legend said she was a Half-step Sword Saint.
Ni Na, the friend and maid Ai Luo Wen had befriended at the Tailor Shop.
She possessed unwavering loyalty and was someone capable of protecting Ai Luo Wen. Lai En decided to do everything in his power to help her grow stronger so she could better serve Ai Luo Wen.
Of course, this was also your goodwill toward Nina’s faithfulness.
And finally, that poisoning maid.
Although Lai En had experienced two Otherworld Simulations, upon returning to reality, real-world memories took precedence over those from the Otherworld Simulations.
He still remembered the maid he had killed with a blade made of insect shells and bone.
Her face was etched clearly in Lai En’s memory.
“This time, I’ll make you die a worse death!”
Lai En almost lost control and discharged arcs of Lightning Magic, but he was inside Ai Luo Wen’s belly right now. One stray bolt could easily end her life.
“How inconvenient!”
Lai En cursed grumpily as he drifted into slumber.