Others Level Up, but I Pursue Cultivation!

[You had expected this day to come. You noticed the Shadow Protector at the back of the crowd, but you didn't intend to compromise directly. Your acting was seamless, pretending to be completely unaware.]

[Protector Zong simply sneered at your words. He stated that only Cultivators could make such elixirs, and you were one of the few Cultivators in this world.]

[Hearing Protector Zong's words, the surrounding Elders and Protectors all had unkind looks on their faces, secretly surrounding you as if they were worried you might escape.]

[From Protector Zong's eyes, you saw intense greed. You understood that he only wanted to know the secret behind your cultivation and planned to turn you into an elixir.]

[Of course, you wouldn't comply with his wishes. You retorted that there were definitely more Cultivators in this world than just you. For instance, Protector Zong in front of you was one, or perhaps there might be some in other instances as well... The only reason Protector Zong smeared you was to turn you into an elixir, achieving immortality for himself!]

[After hearing your explanation, the surrounding Elders and Protectors looked skeptical. They thought what you said made sense. After all, the fact that Protector Zong's lifespan was almost over was no secret among the higher-ups. When you first joined the Descending Sect, Protector Zong even requested that you be given to him as a reward, a purpose that was self-evident.]

[But later, you demonstrated your value. A highly potential Alchemist Elder and a Protector with a short lifespan—one could argue which of the two held greater value to the Descending Sect.]

[Seeing the changes in the attitudes of the surrounding Protectors and Elders, you took advantage of the situation, claiming it was all speculation without any concrete evidence.]

[The Elders nodded in agreement. Over the years, you had a decent relationship within the Descending Sect, frequently making vitality pills for some Elders who were willing to trust you.]

[But this matter was of great importance. A Protector still turned his gaze toward the Shadow Protector, asking whether he knew what you had been doing all these years.]

[You remained outwardly calm, though internally a bit nervous, ready to flee into the Spirit Field Blessed Land at any moment.]

[All the Elders and Protectors turned their attention to the Shadow Protector, and your heart hung in suspense.]

[To your surprise, the Shadow Protector only chuckled lightly and shook her head. She said you had been providing elixirs for the sect all these years; why should others maliciously speculate about you? She took out the Organ Refining Pill and compared it with the Essence-Nourishing Pill you had made.]

[She straightforwardly said that the alchemist who made the Organ Refining Pill had skills far exceeding yours, then let the other Elders and Protectors inspect it.]

[After testing them one by one, the Protectors nodded. Although both were spirit pills, the difference in crafting techniques was worlds apart, like the difference between a newly constructed roughcast house and a fully furnished one.]

[However, the Elders were too tactful to directly criticize your Essence-Nourishing Pill, only politely stating that the alchemy techniques varied.]

[Finally, after deliberation by the Elders and Protectors, it was concluded that this matter had nothing to do with you.]

[Only the raving old dog Protector Zong still wanted to bite back at you. He claimed the Shadow Protector was in cahoots with you and that both of you were traitors.]

[The other Protectors and Elders looked at him with eyes full of contempt. Everyone knew about the Shadow Protector's unwavering loyalty. She even idolized the "Master Race" and wanted to transform herself into one, so no one believed Protector Zong's accusations.]

[In your heart, you let out a sigh of relief. You were almost exposed by that old dog Zong.]

[At the same time, you glanced deeply at the Shadow Protector. You were very sure that she knew the elixir was made by you, yet she chose to help you conceal the truth at this moment. Though it didn't necessarily mean she was a traitor, it at least indicated that the Shadow Protector wasn't entirely loyal to the Descending Sect!]

[The Elders and Protectors left your residence one by one. Before the Shadow Protector turned to leave, she mouthed a silent message to you.]

[You had studied lip reading for a while, and you realized she was saying, "We're even now!"]

Su Xing was somewhat shocked to see this.

"The Shadow Protector is actually a traitor too? But where exactly is she a spy from? Could it be the Great Xia Military?"

Su Xing frowned slightly, then shook his head.

"If she were a spy from the Great Xia Military, the previous request for fifteen thousand Essence-Nourishing Pills would certainly not have gone unnoticed, and my identity would have been discovered."

"If she's not a spy from the Great Xia Military, then from where?"

Su Xing's heart was filled with questions, yet he felt more relieved than anything.

"Though I still don't know the true identity of the Shadow Protector, I can at least confirm that she's not completely loyal to the Descending Sect. This will undoubtedly bring many benefits in my future simulations!"

"If I can cooperate with the Shadow Protector, I can definitely significantly delay the doomsday in the simulated world..."

Su Xing's mind kept turning. He could simulate and had countless chances to make mistakes and learn. The Shadow Protector's identity was absolutely worth taking a risk for.

Su Xing made up his mind and took a deep breath before continuing his simulation.

[In the period that followed, you chose to act low-key, devoting almost all your energy to cultivation and alchemy.]

[In the fourteenth year, after relentless efforts, you finally completed the inscription of the ninth alchemy pattern.]

[When the Nine Revolution Golden Core was formed, you saw it gleaming inside your dantian, your body exuding a sense of perfection, a feeling of seamless integration. You felt as if the Nine Revolution Golden Core was meant to be, with anything less than that being imperfect.]

[Having refined the Nine Revolution Golden Core, you knew your task was complete. The doomsday was not far off; the Foreign Race might invade the real world in a few months or at most a bit over a year.]

[At this point, you had amassed tens of thousands of Essence-Nourishing Pills and planned to give them all to the Great Xia Military to see how much more time could be bought.]

[But before that, you decided to meet the Shadow Protector.]

[On a certain day, you arrived at the Shadow Protector's residence, where you found her cultivating. She sensed your arrival in advance and asked if you were ready to fully integrate into the Master Race.]

[You gently shook your head and then boldly asked the question on your mind. You inquired if the Shadow Protector was absolutely loyal to the Descending Sect.]

[The Shadow Protector remained silent for a long time after hearing this, then took off her mask. Her face was still exquisitely beautiful, but you noticed the fish-scale pattern of black skin appearing on her neck—a sign of her deep integration with the Shadow Beast.]

[The Shadow Protector chuckled softly, stating it would have been better if you had given her the Organ Refining Pill earlier. If there had been more elixirs in the past, perhaps everything would have been different.]

[She looked at you with a hint of envy and said, at least you still had a home to return to, a world that belonged to you.]