GA: Chapter 175 – Perhaps This World Is Too Cruel—And Yet, Because of That, It Is Beautiful
Even when striking without mercy, something within her always stirred—an unwillingness that couldn't be fully extinguished.
This was simply how the world worked. Either the sheep died or the wolf did—either the weaker wolf starved, or the weaker sheep was torn apart. Perhaps this world was too cruel. And yet, because of that, it was beautiful.
"You've been watching until now. You may as well come out, Linghu Chong."
"You orchestrated this entire purge, yet from start to finish you never showed your face. They were still calling your name when they died."
Dongfang Bai turned her head toward a particular spot and said it calmly.
She had sensed Linghu Chong observing from the beginning—she simply hadn't mentioned it. Saving the best prey for last was hardly a bad strategy.
"I hadn't expected to encounter another Simulator in this world."
"I distinctly recall the display showing me as the only one simulating this world at the start."
"If not for the Star-Absorbing Technique, I might never have seen through you."
"The one martial art every Simulator running through wuxia worlds wants most."
"Though it doesn't matter. Once I kill you, I'll have it all the same."
Accompanied by an unhurried voice, a figure approached from nearby—a white brocade robe, a long sword across the back, features refined and handsome, yet the expression utterly cold. He carried himself like a glacier.
"After witnessing my strength, you still believe you can defeat me?"
Dongfang Bai didn't rush to act, and said it lightly.
"The art I have learned is the Carefree Sect's Minor Formless Skill. It can mimic any martial art under heaven—but compared to the Star-Absorbing Technique, it falls well short. And unlike the North Sea Divine Art, my inner force cannot absorb another's. In cultivation level, I am naturally far inferior."
"As for technique—no technique under heaven can withstand pure speed. Your speed far surpasses my imagination. Even with Dugu Nine Swords in hand, I can't claim I could break your moves."
"So I poisoned you."
At this, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Linghu Chong's mouth.
"If you calculate the timing—it should be taking effect about now."
A moment after Linghu Chong's words fell, Dongfang Bai's brow furrowed slightly. She could no longer sense the inner force within her body.
"For us Simulators, there is only one purpose in coming to another world—alter that world's fate as thoroughly as possible."
"So I planned this war between the orthodox sects and the Holy Cult."
"In a wuxia world, what greater alteration is there than ending the age of wuxia itself?"
"When every peak force among the sects—great and small—is dead, and the Holy Cult is destroyed, this era ends. To return to its current state would take who knows how long."
"What I hadn't anticipated was another Simulator appearing alongside me. Your strength is genuinely fearsome."
"But beneath this poison, even someone immune to all poisons will have their inner force sealed for one shichen."
[Golden Fragrant Soft Jade]: In appearance like gold, but soft to the touch as silk, carrying a delicate fragrance. When dispersed into the air through a specific technique, it binds preferentially to those who carry inner force, temporarily sealing it.
Perhaps the blood-soaked air had masked the Golden Fragrant Soft Jade's subtle scent. Or perhaps Dongfang Bai had been too confident in her own strength to notice the poison creeping in. Regardless—Dongfang Bai could no longer use her inner force.
"This is the final battle I need to break through to intermediate Simulator. If I score high enough in this world, the breakthrough succeeds."
"So—would you be willing to die for my sake?"
As he spoke, Linghu Chong smiled at Dongfang Bai.
A flash of silver light cut through the air in a perfect arc.
Bang.
Linghu Chong's eyes went wide in disbelief. His gaze dropped to his chest—where a sword of pure light had been driven through him.
"You may have misunderstood something. I never said I was a Simulator."
"Also—inner force is not particularly important to me."
Dongfang Bai said it evenly, then immediately applied the Star-Absorbing Technique to Linghu Chong.
The Minor Formless Skill. Dugu Nine Swords. Tianshan Branch-Breaking Hand.
Everything Linghu Chong had—in this moment, it all became Dongfang Bai's. Vital essence and spirit included.
Thud.
She tossed Linghu Chong's body aside. One more corpse joined the battlefield.
"It's over."
Dongfang Bai looked long and deep at the mountain of bodies and sea of blood at her feet, then turned and walked away.
This was an ending. And a beginning.
From this day forward, this jianghu belonged to Dongfang.
The entire jianghu would know only one name.
Dongfang Bubai—the Invincible.
After some time, the Holy Cult's followers returned to the cliff as Dongfang Bai had commanded—and the first thing they saw was bodies covering the ground.
By their robes: Huashan, Hengshan, Taishan, Songshan, Shaolin—and even Linghu Chong himself, the man whose name had been on every tongue across the jianghu as the one who returned blows with their own methods. All of their bodies lay here.
"The Sun Moon Holy Cult is invincible!"
"Our Divine Leader is supreme in all things!"
"For ten thousand ages—unified under the heavens!"
Every one of them knelt, voices raised to the sky. Gone from their eyes was the old fear and awe—replaced by something fiercer. Loyalty. Devotion bordering on madness. From this day forward, they were Dongfang Bai's most devoted followers.
In an unknown world, a mysterious space.
"Hah—"
Lin Chen's eyes snapped open. He looked ahead with tension, his right hand instinctively moving to his chest—to the place where, in his memory, that sword of light had pierced through him.
He had been Linghu Chong in the Smiling Proud Wanderer world.
He'd believed this simulation was entirely within his control. He hadn't anticipated a variable this large.
"What exactly was that light?"
He frowned, replaying the image in his memory—the sword of light that had condensed in Dongfang Bai's hand. It resembled the lightsabers of technological worlds, yet was distinctly different. And why would something from a technological world appear in a wuxia world?
Even for Simulators, beyond memories, they could only bring temporary talents purchased from the Simulator as support. How could a sword of light appear?
Some high-level talent, perhaps?
But that didn't fit either. What talent could manifest a sword of light?
Did she fabricate it herself?
There were no materials for that in a wuxia world. And why did he remember it as something Dongfang Bai had condensed herself?
But how could a human being condense light on their own? He must be misremembering.
"Simulator—begin settlement."
Lin Chen shook his head. If he couldn't understand it, there was no point forcing it. The world was vast and full of things beyond his comprehension. Fixating on any one of them was counterproductive.
This simulation was over. Rather than dwelling on how the other Simulator had produced a sword of light, it was better to check his own gains—and whether he had broken through to intermediate Simulator.
[Simulation Complete]
[This life simulation will be stored as memory in cinematic format. Access it at your discretion.]
[In this simulation, you produced a significant impact on the destiny of this world.]