Chapter 1: White Moonlight Simulator
Xuanwu City.
Inside a quiet, secluded courtyard.
Lu Cheng stood within a six-pointed star formation formed by six Awakening Stones. His eyes were tightly shut, and excitement surged uncontrollably in his heart.
Today… was Awakening Day.
"Don't move."
A gentle female voice sounded beside his ear.
"Put your hand on it."
Opening his eyes, he saw a girl standing opposite him. She wore dark-green clothing, her tall, slender figure elegant and eye-catching. Golden wavy hair draped over her shoulders, and her face was breathtakingly beautiful. In her hands, she held a transparent crystal ball, pursing her lips as she gestured for him to proceed.
Jiang Nannan, the number one beauty of Shrek Academy.
Not far away, a gentle and refined middle-aged woman sat on a wooden bench. Her fair cheeks carried a faint, sickly pallor. She smiled warmly at Lu Cheng, her eyes full of encouragement.
"Phew…"
Lu Cheng took a deep breath.
Then placed his hand on the crystal ball.
"Buzz…"
The crystal ball flickered, but the light it emitted was unusually dim.
Silence slowly filled the courtyard.
"Level two… That's still not bad. At least you have soul power. You'll still have hope of becoming a Soul Grandmaster in the future."
Seeing the boy's blank expression, Jiang Nannan couldn't help but feel a trace of sympathy. She sighed softly in her heart.
She knew very well that the boy had always been ambitious, but reality was simply this cruel. If geniuses were everywhere, they wouldn't be called geniuses.
Yet Lu Cheng remained motionless, staring blankly.
"Little," Jiang Nannan tried to continue comforting him, but her mother stopped her with a glance. After looking back at Lu Cheng with concern, she obediently helped her mother return indoors.
However, contrary to the worries of the mother and daughter, Lu Cheng was currently trying to understand a complicated stream of information—a "Martial Soul description."
"White Moonlight Simulator?"
"Objective: Become their 'white moonlight.' The higher the simulation evaluation level, the greater the reward obtained each time. Conditions required to activate a simulation."
After reading for quite a while, Lu Cheng finally summarized four points:
1. First: The simulator is not a martial soul. His martial soul slot is currently empty.
2. Second: The activation condition for each simulation requires energy from various states—one milligram of Life Gold, or 0.1 grams of the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm. In short, any equivalent energy source will work… though the price made Lu Cheng click his tongue.
3. Third: After each simulation, he can bring one portion of simulated ability back to reality, a martial soul, soul power, or treasure, choosing one. The higher the simulation score, the more additional rewards he receives.
Wait… would what happened inside the simulator feed back into reality?
Probably not.
Lu Cheng pondered.
From the looks of it, the simulator was a cheat ability rather than a martial soul. But he could obtain a martial soul from the simulator at any time—he only needed the first simulation…
Sigh, remaining attempts: one?!
When Lu Cheng saw the bottom of the interface panel, his expression suddenly trembled.
"I knew it—there had to be a beginner's benefit!"
Otherwise, he relies on himself alone. Who knew how many years it would take to gather the conditions for the first simulation?
Coming back to his senses, he realized the setting sun had already cast golden light across the courtyard.
It had been more than eight years since he transmigrated into this world.
As for why he had only awakened his martial soul now, it was because, in this era, commoners faced strict conditions for martial soul awakening. There was no longer the old Spirit Hall policy that required one to automatically awaken at the proper age. He could only wait until Jiang Nannan entered school to gain this opportunity.
He had been adopted by Jiang Nannan's mother while still a baby, narrowly escaping freezing to death, starving to death, or becoming food for stray dogs by the roadside. After learning where he was, Lu Cheng found himself deeply troubled by the situation.
In the original story, the events between Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi had always seemed suspicious.
Jiang Nannan's mother, an ordinary person, fell gravely ill. In such a massive city, not a single medical clinic could cure her. The only solution was the "Xuanwu Divine Pill" of the Xuanwu Sect.
And coincidentally, the Xuanwu Sect was selecting a "bride" for their most talented Second Young Master.
Too coincidental.
Who had "accidentally" informed Jiang Nannan about the Xuanwu Divine Pill, the only cure for her mother?
Not hard to guess.
This was Xuanwu City, the headquarters of the Xuanwu Sect. No disturbance could escape their notice, especially when Jiang Nannan's martial soul awakening had caused quite a stir. She even entered Shrek Academy using a recommendation letter from the Xuanwu Sect's city lord.
A commoner girl with exceptional talent and beauty—and the same age as Xu Sanshi.
Simply the perfect chosen cauldron—ahem, Awakener.
With Jiang Nannan's pride, she would never abandon the bright future offered by Shrek Academy to become a concubine of the Xuanwu Sect's Second Young Master.
Thus, they could only resort to underhanded methods.
And now, Lu Cheng had definitely entered the Xuanwu Sect's field of vision. Everything appeared calm and peaceful for the moment—but try taking the mother and daughter away.
He wouldn't even need to guess what would happen.
Either fires blocking the road or local thugs stopping them.
In short, Jiang Nannan being allowed to leave and return to Shrek Academy was like letting out a long fishing line to catch a big fish. Jiang Nannan's mother remained here as a hostage, a rope binding Jiang Nannan. No matter how outstanding she became outside, she could never completely escape the Xuanwu Sect's control.
If they called her back, she would have to return.
And now, Jiang Nannan's mother was already showing faint signs of illness.
The Xuanwu Sect had probably begun making its move.
Lowering the threshold, preparing for what came later, so that when Jiang Nannan's mother became critically ill, it wouldn't seem sudden.
Since he had received Jiang Nannan's mother's kindness in raising him, he naturally had to repay it.
But with only level-two soul power…
Lu Cheng's eyes turned cold.
Forget it.
First, go back. Tonight, after the first simulation, he would make plans.
He quickly returned to the inner hall.
On the table sat steaming dishes and rice. Jiang Nannan and her mother had not yet begun eating; they were waiting for him.
"Mom, Sis, I'm fine," Lu Cheng said softly, feeling touched.
"Hehe, come eat…" Jiang Nannan's mother placed chopsticks and a bowl before him, smiling warmly.
The three shared a harmonious meal, never mentioning the martial soul awakening again.
After dinner, in the courtyard:
"Xiao Cheng."
Jiang Nannan sat on a stone stool, smiling gently. She lightly rubbed Lu Cheng's head, her other hand supporting her cheek. A trace of relaxation and warmth appeared on her fair, delicate face.
After so many years together, they were already no different from family.
"Your sister is returning to Shrek Academy tomorrow. But I'll find a way to help you. Shrek Academy is full of powerful experts—there will surely be treasures that can improve talent. For now, practice slowly according to the meditation method I taught you today."
"Mm." Lu Cheng listened quietly.
Jiang Nannan was like this—cold and aloof outside but incredibly gentle inside, especially toward those she considered her own.
As a poor student studying all these years, she had to deal not only with harassment from rich second-generation youths but also with rumors from noble girls. Gentleness alone could not handle such things, so she could only wear a mask of indifference.
Moonlight fell upon Jiang Nannan.
It illuminated the girl's beautiful side profile, making her appear especially moving—gentle, serene…
End of Chapter