Not long after, Chu Chen slowly woke up.
Looking around, he was still in this dim, cramped room.
The only difference was that he was now lying on a soft bed, and the iron chains that had bound his limbs were nowhere to be seen.
"Wait! That old eunuch wouldn't..."
Chu Chen quickly reached out and felt himself.
"Still here! That's good!"
Recalling the events of before, Chu Chen still felt a chill down his spine.
After all the effort he had put into weaving a lie, and finally tricking Han Yuan, if he were still to be castrated, wouldn't that make him a complete fool?
As he was thinking this, Chu Chen suddenly noticed a brand-new eunuch robe placed beside him.
"He must be pretending to help me with the formalities, trying to fool the other eunuchs in the Department of Ceremonial Purity!"
Chu Chen knew that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, he had now become a eunuch with his "roots" intact, a fake eunuch.
Despite this, Chu Chen could only remain in the room honestly for now, unable to move freely.
If anyone saw someone who had just been castrated walking around with ease, it would surely arouse suspicion.
Han Yuan had also disappeared somewhere, and had not been seen for a long time.
Bored, Chu Chen decided to enter the system and start another simulation.
"With the boost from the clever plan, my life simulation should go much smoother this time!"
[Life Simulation Loaded! Protagonist: Chu Chen!]
[In the year you turn twenty-two, you are selected to enter the palace and are about to become a eunuch.]
[Through your silver tongue, you successfully deceive the head of the Department of Ceremonial Purity, preserving your manhood, but the imperial city is heavily guarded, and with your current abilities, escape is impossible.]
[So you decide to first enter the palace as a fake eunuch, and then seize an opportunity to escape.]
[With the secret assistance of Eunuch Han, you are assigned to clean the Imperial Study, a relatively easy task.]
[One day, while cleaning, you encounter a stunningly beautiful woman. After conversing, you learn that she is the Head of the Imperial Household, Lin Wanru.]
[Due to your handsome appearance and eloquent speech, you are greatly favored by the Head Steward, and you soon become familiar with each other.]
[During your conversations, you learn that the Imperial Study hides a secret manual of cultivation techniques, left by the founding emperor. It contains all sorts of rare cultivation methods, and once mastered, your strength will advance by leaps and bounds.]
[For the next few days, you continue to clean while secretly searching the Imperial Study.]
[Your efforts are rewarded. After a week, you finally find the "True Essence Profound Skill," and discover it to be a rare, legendary golden secret manual!]
[After obtaining the manual, you begin to cultivate in secret, displaying exceptional talent, and your strength quickly reaches the Intermediate Martial Realm.]
Hearing this, Chu Chen immediately felt a surge of joy.
"That's more like it! With my intelligence, I should at least be able to enter the ranks of cultivators!"
"Reaching the intermediate level in just a few days, I'm sure I'll soar to success later! Continue!"
[One day, Princess Xin Yue visits the Imperial Study. After meeting you, she is captivated by your appearance and demeanor, and takes you back to the Qingming Palace to serve as her attendant.]
[In Qingming Palace, you develop feelings for a celestial beauty of a maidservant.]
[However, your affair with the maidservant is soon discovered by the princess, and your identity as a fake eunuch is exposed.]
[Deceiving the princess is a grave offense, and you are sentenced to death, at the age of twenty-four.]
"What?! Dead again!"
Upon seeing this ending, countless curses flooded Chu Chen's mind!
This simulation had finally shown some promise, so why did he still end up falling victim to Princess Xin Yue?
He had even lived shorter than the first time!
This Qingming Palace was truly his burial ground!
What a waste, to have such incredible luck at the start and find a legendary golden item, only to meet such an end!
"No! If I ever really enter the palace in the future, I must stay far away from this princess!"
[Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the life simulation! You may choose one of the following three rewards!]
[Universal Knowledge: The host's knowledge reserve increases exponentially, excelling in poetry and prose, possessing great talent.]
[Divine Culinary Skills: The host's culinary skills are greatly enhanced, mastering various cuisines at a level far surpassing imperial chefs.]
[Unblocked Meridians: The host awakens their spiritual roots, laying the foundation for future cultivation.]
Looking at these three skills, Chu Chen pondered for a long time.
Given his current predicament, the first two skills would naturally be the most beneficial.
If his talent were appreciated, he might even be entrusted with important responsibilities and rise through the ranks!
If not, becoming an imperial chef would surely guarantee a comfortable life!
But then he considered, this world was full of cultivators. Without some means of self-defense, relying solely on his vast knowledge might not lead to great achievements!
After much deliberation, Chu Chen ultimately chose "Unblocked Meridians."
Although this skill might not have a significant immediate impact, when combined with that golden cultivation manual, the results would undoubtedly be substantial!
[Congratulations to the host for successfully unlocking the reward! The skill has been automatically replaced!]
As soon as the system's voice faded, a bright light flashed before Chu Chen's eyes.
The next second, the light struck Chu Chen, and a mysterious aura surged into his body.
Chu Chen could clearly feel the aura circulating within him, quickly seeping into his meridians.
A warmth began to spread, and as the temperature rose, Chu Chen's clothes became soaked with sweat.
But he felt no discomfort; instead, he experienced an indescribable sense of ease.
Soon, all the meridians in his body were unblocked, and his dormant spiritual roots awakened.
Chu Chen immediately felt light and nimble, and his strength increased considerably.
"The body of a cultivator is truly different from that of a mortal!"
[Congratulations to the host for successfully awakening spiritual roots! Hidden reward "True Essence Cultivation Method" unlocked!]
"Hidden reward? Isn't this that legendary golden item!"
Seeing the cultivation method added to his equipment slot, Chu Chen was so excited he could have jumped for joy!
Fortunately, he had chosen "Unblocked Meridians." If he had chosen "Universal Knowledge," the hidden reward might have been a collection of three hundred poems!
While the old eunuch had not yet returned, Chu Chen quickly opened the True Essence Cultivation Method and began to study it carefully.
Following the instructions in the manual, Chu Chen sat cross-legged and began to calm his mind and refine his qi.
Just as the life simulation had stated, Chu Chen's talent was exceptional, and he quickly succeeded in forming a core of spiritual energy.
This alone surpassed many others.
But Chu Chen knew that possessing a spiritual energy core was only the first step.
The manual contained over a hundred cultivation methods, and each required immense effort!
To master them all would undoubtedly be a monumental undertaking!
"I must keep this a secret and not let anyone find out!"
Chu Chen exited the system. After a period of cultivation, he felt somewhat tired and fell asleep.
"Chu Chen... Chu Chen!"
Not long after, Chu Chen, in a daze, seemed to hear a voice calling his name by his ear.
But when he opened his eyes, he saw a pale and terrifying face!