[Dream Talent for this Simulation: Sacrifice Allies, Boundless Power (Purple)]
[Each time an ally or companion dies, your cultivation level will increase proportional to their strength.]
[As the saying goes, ‘Better them than me.’]
[Allies may perish, but you must survive.]
[Let them go in peace; your stronger self will avenge them!]
[Note: Killing allies directly with your own hands will not grant any cultivation gains.]
As the purple light gleamed brilliantly before him, Ye Yu’s expression stiffened.
What a talent—‘Better them than me.’
The logic was sound. Letting others die to further oneself?
It was undeniably effective but also undeniably cruel.
Ye Yu shook his head, unable to stomach the idea. Then again, if he were to be cruel, why not fully embrace it?
He resolved to become the ultimate ally terminator.
"Join me as my ally! Don’t think of it as dying—it’s simply helping me train," he mused. "Sounds better, doesn’t it?"
Still, the restriction of not being allowed to kill allies directly with his own hands was indeed a drawback.
As Ye Yu pondered his options, a familiar pull engulfed him.
[Age 0: Ye Yu is born in the Demon Realm, at Fenghun Pass.]
[When Ye Yu opens his eyes, he sees a man and woman with horns on their heads gazing at him with loving eyes.]
Ye Yu’s expression turned odd.
Why is this dream starting in the Demon Realm? What does this mean?
[Age 8: Ye Yu adapts to life in the Demon Realm.]
The Demon Realm was barren, its lands painted in hues of crimson. Hierarchy was strictly enforced, and strength was paramount.
Those without power or of low cultivation were treated as laborers, no better than ants.
Here, the Demon Realm resembled a fusion of the mortal world and the heavenly realm.
There were demons of lower cultivation levels, akin to mortals, but also demons with power rivaling that of celestial beings.
The cultivation stages below the Ascension Realm were the same as in the mortal world. Beyond Ascension, however, the stages became:
These stages corresponded to the eight realms of celestial cultivation.
In the Demon Realm, the term ‘Demon Royalty’ signified pure and noble bloodlines, accompanied by supreme authority.
The Demon Realm was far from unified. Various factions vied for dominance, engaging in constant conflict.
Only those of noble lineage could become rulers in this chaotic land.
Thus, Bai Miaoleng, possessing sufficient strength, could indeed carve out her own territory and become a Demon Lord.
This revelation surprised Ye Yu. Previously, when Bai Miaoleng referred to herself as the rightful princess of the Demon Realm, he had thought it was an empty title.
Who would’ve guessed its weight carried such significant implications?
Compared to Bai Miaoleng, Ye Yu’s identity in this dream was far more ordinary.
His father, Ye Zhen, was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, while his mother, Wu Ling, was only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.
Their cultivation wasn’t impressive, but neither were they at the very bottom of the social ladder.
Ye Zhen often undertook missions to hunt demonic beasts, using the rewards to sustain the family. However, acquiring higher-level techniques or magical artifacts was an impossible dream.
[Age 12: Ye Zhen takes Ye Yu to Fenghun Pass's Demon Stone.]
Here, a giant Demon Stone assessed the innate talent of children.
Talent was categorized into three levels: A, B, and C, with each further divided into upper, middle, and lower tiers.
Those who scored B-lower or above would be taken in by recruiters from larger cities and nurtured carefully.
Conversely, those below B-lower, or in the C category, were left to train on their own in the pass.
To the elites, anyone below B-lower was deemed unworthy of cultivation resources.
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Their fate was to survive or perish on their own.
Ye Zhen was deeply anxious as he brought Ye Yu to be tested.
As a demon himself, Ye Zhen knew how harsh life was for those at the bottom of the hierarchy.
He fervently hoped that Ye Yu would display sufficient talent to escape the impoverished and desolate Fenghun Pass.
However, dreams seldom align with reality.
Under the Demon Stone’s scrutiny, Ye Yu’s talent was quickly assessed: B-lower.
It wasn’t a favorable result.
Without some extraordinary stroke of fortune, Ye Yu’s potential likely capped at the Core Formation stage.
Ye Zhen was heartbroken but hid his disappointment, reassuring Ye Yu with patience and kindness.
"Don’t be disheartened. Talent isn’t everything. This is just the beginning.
Perhaps, like the protagonists in demon novels, you’ll encounter a great master or stumble upon rare treasures that will overturn the limits of your talent. In time, you might even become a legendary powerhouse."
Ye Yu’s lips twitched at the motivational speech.
Heartfelt pep talks are all well and good, but let’s not overdo it.
Ye Zhen’s expression of profound sadness made his forced optimism all the less convincing.
For a moment, Ye Yu felt the urge to comfort his father instead.
Talent? Who needs it?
With so many simulations under my belt, when have I ever relied on talent?
The traditional "steady cultivation" approach wasn’t Ye Yu’s style.
The simulation talents alone were more than enough to send him soaring.
Of course, such thoughts were his secret.
Ye Yu swallowed his words of comfort and obediently returned home with Ye Zhen.
[Age 18: Ye Yu becomes a full-fledged demon.]
Due to his mediocre talent, his strength had only reached the late Qi Refinement stage.
Yet Ye Yu remained unfazed.
On his birthday, he quietly slipped out of Fenghun Pass, determined to take up the same line of work as his father—hunting demonic beasts.
Outside the pass, many savage and bloodthirsty demonic beasts roamed.
Their hides and inner cores were highly valuable, fetching significant prices in Fenghun Pass.
They could be exchanged for cultivation techniques, magical artifacts, or anything else one desired—assuming the hunted beasts were worth the price.
This was Ye Yu’s first venture outside Fenghun Pass.
The surrounding wilderness was teeming with low-ranking demons.
Most were of modest strength but sought to hunt demonic beasts to gain combat experience and earn resources for their cultivation.
Ye Yu’s goal was clear: find a sufficiently large hunting party to join, one that would allow him to put his dream talent to good use.