BTTH Life Simulator System

Chapter 456: The Last Remnant Map*

Numerous powerful individuals entered various wormholes, each heading toward their respective destinations.

As these individuals gradually disappeared, leaving only Xiao Ming and Xuan Kong Zi, the latter noticed Xiao Ming's gaze fixed on a specific wormhole.

With a smile, Xuan Kong Zi inquired, "Your hometown is in the North-Western Region, right? Instead of just staring, why not take the opportunity to visit your family and friends? It won't take you much time, after all."

Turning his gaze away from the North-Western Region wormhole, Xiao Ming shook his head.

"Returning now wouldn't achieve much. I've already made arrangements for my Master and my clan there. They'll handle the necessary matters."

Among those who had gone to the North-Western Region was Venerable Tian Huo. Although his talent wasn't exceptional, with Xiao Ming's supply of pills, he had advanced to the eight-star Dou Venerate stage. It wouldn't take him long to reach the nine-star Dou Venerate stage.

Venerable Tian Huo had also taken back with him a Half-Saint level puppet that Xiao Ming had refined during his spare time, along with a specially-made spatial jade slip.

Furthermore, his partners Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin would return to the North-Western Region once the tasks he assigned to them were completed. Currently, anyone posing a threat to the Xiao Clan or the Jia Nan Academy had already been dealt with. The only exception was if the Hall of Souls dispatched a Dou Saint-level expert.

But Dou Saints were not cabbages within the Hun Clan. The Hall of Souls was merely a Hun Clan subordinate force, and the decision to mobilize a Dou Saint wasn't taken lightly.

It wasn't that Xiao Ming had no intention of seeing his Master, Elder Huo, and Medusa. It was just that he needed to visit the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe first. After all, quite some time had passed, so delaying his return slightly wouldn't matter much.

If they truly encountered a problem that they couldn't solve, Venerable Tian Huo could always crush the spatial jade slip, and Xiao Ming would return immediately.

Seeing that Xiao Ming had his own plans, Xuan Kong Zi didn't dwell on the matter. He changed the topic, saying, "Since that is the case, the decision is entirely yours. By the way, this old man has some news to share with you. The investigation you requested from us yielded some results."

Xiao Ming initially looked puzzled, but then he remembered the matter he was referring to. His expression turned pleasantly surprised.

"Has there really been progress with the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame's remnant map?"

Xiao Ming had already obtained three out of the four remnant maps of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. He only lacked the final one, which was likely held by a powerful expert within the Central Plains.

He had used the Pill Tower's resources to investigate this matter previously. After becoming the Heavenly Court Alliance Leader, he also informed Xuan Kong Zi of his intention to search for the map.

After all this time, it seemed that there was finally some progress!

"Yes, the map is in the hands of a lone cultivator in the Dou Venerate realm. Upon learning that we were looking for it, this person reached out to us proactively."

"However, I can't comprehend your purpose behind seeking the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. Isn't it widely known that every time the Demonic Flame Realm appears, it causes a huge commotion? Even if that map holds some extraordinary effect, the map in that person's possession is incomplete. The continent is vast, and gathering the remaining pieces won't be easy. Who knows, some of them might already be destroyed." Xuan Kong Zi's face, marked by numerous wrinkles, was filled with puzzlement.

Xiao Ming simply smiled in response. It was reasonable for Xuan Kong Zi to be perplexed, but he was too lazy to explain so much.

"That map holds significant value for me. Where is this person now?"

Well, in reality, it didn't hold much value for him at the moment. The Demonic Flame Realm wouldn't appear for many more years, and according to Xiao Ming's plans, he would undoubtedly be much stronger by then.

Even without the map, when the time came, having the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame in his possession would be akin to having a side dish to complement his meal. It required little effort at most.

However, since he had been searching for it for so long, it was time to secure it.

"In a few days, the Dou Venerate will come to our Holy Pill City," Xuan Kong Zi replied.

"If that's the case, then I'll wait."

...

(Warning: there is explicit sexual content below. There will be a *** at the beginning and end of the scene.)

Small Pill Tower, within a courtyard.

In a spacious room filled with the delicate fragrance of various medicinal herbs, Xiao Ming lay comfortably on a sumptuous bed. His mind began to wander through the events of the past few days.

As he waited for the last piece of the map, his life rarely moved at such a leisurely pace.

He would go every now and then to advise Ye Xin Lan, who was already a seventh-tier alchemist, and sometimes to other disciples as well.

Given his current strength and prestige, he could not only mentor genius disciples. Even if they were Elders, he could guide them if necessary.

At this moment, the Ye Clan, one of the Five Great Clans of the Pill Tower, had experienced prosperous growth in recent years, thanks in large part to the guidance he had provided to Ye Xin Lan over time.

Although he never took her as an official disciple, in the eyes of many, Ye Xin Lan was considered his unacknowledged disciple.

Thanks to this, the Ye Clan's status naturally skyrocketed, attracting the envy and jealousy of many clans.

When he learned of this, he simply smiled faintly, not taking it too seriously. He felt it was unnecessary to explain. Although he had not officially taken Ye Xin Lan as a disciple, there was a certain mentor-disciple bond between them. Moreover, the Ye Clan acted wisely, and as long as they did not misuse his name for illicit actions, he saw no reason to intervene.

Moreover, he genuinely liked Ye Xin Lan's innocent personality.

"Judging by your expression, you're thinking about another woman, aren't you~?" a soft, alluring voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts, causing Xiao Ming to snap his head towards the right side of the bed.

Lying beside him was a woman with a figure that could only be described as jaw-dropping. Her fiery red hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her exquisite face was adorned with phoenix-like eyes. She wore only a few undergarments, and it was abundantly clear that they weren't chosen for a good night's sleep but rather for seduction, enhancing her allure in a way that was more captivating than if she were completely bare. Upon closer inspection, faint reddish marks could be seen on her exposed, creamy skin...

"I didn't know you had developed the ability to read minds, Ying'er," Xiao Ming replied with an amused tone, not denying his thoughts. Instead, he showed a peculiar expression as he looked at the enchanting woman sharing the bed with him.

This woman, of course, was Cao Ying.

To understand how they had ended up in this situation, one must go back a few days.

The second day of waiting had left Xiao Ming with little to do, so he made the decision to visit some of his old friends, including the woman he hadn't seen since her abrupt departure during their previous encounter.

The two's relationship had been somewhat ambiguous over the past few years. They shared a deep connection in terms of personality, perhaps too deep, in Xiao Ming's opinion. It was no surprise that whenever they met, one could almost cut the sexual tension between them with a knife.

If they had seen more of each other, things might have escalated much sooner.

Some time ago, he had come across entries in the simulator that hinted at a fleshy relationship between him and Cao Ying, but he had never paid attention to them. After all, those entries were far ahead in the simulation's timeline and seemed unlikely to occur in reality. Cao Ying also stopped acting flirtatiously in front of him after their first encounter. As a result, he had never considered anything remotely similar to what the simulation suggested.

Thus, without really thinking about it, he had gone to see her.

The visit continued the next day and the next... And before they knew it, they were in the current situation...

"Pfft, I was just taking a wild guess. You've got a whole harem of beauties, so odds are you're thinking about one of them right now, aren't you?" Cao Ying couldn't contain her laughter as she responded.

With an arched brow and a graver expression, Xiao Ming spoke. "How do you feel about that, then?"

Seeing his serious demeanor, Cao Ying's smile remained as she leaned in closer. "What's there to ponder? I came last, and I knew what I was getting myself into from the start, I mean, since the moment I saw that two stunning women accompanied you to the ceremony on that occasion. Your other women should be the ones concerned about me. At the very least, I am confident that Sister Xian'er will not intimidate me."

Xiao Ming's grave expression disappeared as he chuckled and tapped her forehead with his finger. "You're not taking this seriously. What happened to the cunning Ying'er from before?"

"The 'cunning Ying'er' would never have gained a place in your heart, would she?" Cao Ying pouted as she rubbed her forehead.

"You call wearing those undergarments not being cunning, huh?"

"Hehe, a bit of strategy isn't a bad thing, you know." Cao Ying was not embarrassed in the least. After all, her little trick had proved to be incredibly effective.

Xiao Ming found himself momentarily lost for words. Their interactions over the past few days had become increasingly natural, like going back to the old days, and the incident from their previous encounter had not been brought up, as if it had never happened. Cao Ying had been dressed in her alchemist's robe throughout those days, so he definitely didn't see this coming.

She'd effectively turned the tables on him this time.

Noticing his expression, Cao Ying shifted her still trembling legs and climbed on top of him, turning to face him with a calm expression that Xiao Ming found all too familiar.

"In these days that we've been talking, I've come to understand. You had reservations about getting involved with me, didn't you?" She lightly traced her finger across his chest.

Xiao Ming let out a slight sigh upon hearing her words. In truth, ever since their last encounter when Cao Ying had been caught off guard by him and had fled in nervousness, he had been aware of the impact his actions had on her. He had been reflecting on it ever since.

She was almost the same age as him, having just turned 23. Knowing how astute and dedicated she was, even without his intervention, she would become one of the continent's top alchemists. 

At the very least, he felt it would be unjust to her if he accepted her only to be unable to devote enough time and attention to her. Xiao Ming didn't want to be that selfish as to take her only as some sort of trophy. He preferred to stick to certain principles, at least when it came to relationships.

Cao Ying reassured him with a gentle smile, "Don't fret about me. Do you really think I'd be hurt if you had to leave tomorrow? Or that I'd expect you to stay here, juggling Alliance duties like my Master? Let me tell you, what I admire most about you is your adventurous spirit. How could I possibly fault you for doing what made me fall in love with you? If I end up being a moth drawn to your flame in the future, so be it. I want to be with you."

Xiao Ming looked at her in surprise for a moment before shaking his head with a smile, "...You'd probably make a better Alliance Leader than me with your silver tongue. But you're right; I've been overthinking this."

It had been a similar situation with Medusa, and in the end, hadn't everything worked out just fine? So why hesitate any longer?

Chuckling, Cao Ying replied provocatively, "Your mind may overthink it, but your body? Oh, there were no complaints last night, hehe~"

"You little temptress. I guess I was taking it easy on you last night."

"Mhmm..."

Cao Ying's face was scooped up by Xiao Ming, who drew her in for a steamy kiss. Their tongues were practically begging for each other's saliva as if they'd been missing out for a lifetime.

In truth, Cao Ying's seduction would never have worked if Xiao Ming wasn't already smitten. They both knew it. Her outfit was simply, so to speak, the key that opened Pandora's box.

It was akin to presenting a gourmet five-course meal to a starving man and saying, "Don't take a bite."

"You are now my woman," Xiao Ming said as they parted, wiping away a strand of saliva that had formed between them. "But I can't promise to marry you any time soon, and it's best if only a few people know about us, such as your Master."

It might seem stringent, but as long as the Hall of Souls and the Hun Clan continued to exist, this was the safest arrangement. Anyone close to him would be in constant danger. His other partners had the means to protect themselves and kept their whereabouts concealed from the enemy, but Cao Ying's situation was different. She remained at the Small Pill Tower, which Xiao Ming was certain still had hidden spies. Without caution, a plot to kidnap her in the future could easily become a reality.

Cao Ying wouldn't make things difficult for him either. Still panting a bit, she said, "I understand the situation, and even if you proposed to me, I would refuse to become a burden. Plus, you've got other sisters waiting, right? I wouldn't want them to resent me... Even if I'm just a concubine in the end, I'd be fine with that. But..."

Suddenly, she sat up, still straddling him, her expression gradually turning seductive. "You know, as the Alliance Leader, it's impolite to leave things unfinished... and last night's activities are far from over..."

******

******

...

It took a couple more days for Xiao Ming to finally meet the Dou Venerate. He received the final remnant map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame from this person's hands in exchange for a nine-colored Eighth-Tier Pill.

Within his mansion, Xiao Ming's hand made a slight gesture, causing the surrounding space to quietly distort.

Then, with a flick of his finger on his storage ring, a collection of tattered ancient maps floated out, eventually suspending in front of him.

Observing these worn and ancient maps, Xiao Ming was suddenly reminded of Xiao Chen, who had been left behind in the Demonic Flame Realm within the Xiao Clan.

'Because of the incomplete maps, the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame has controlled numerous experts. It's unclear who divided the maps or even if it was the Demonic Lotus Saint itself. That wouldn't make sense, though.'

Speaking to himself, Xiao Ming meticulously started fitting together the fragmented maps following their patterns.

His speed in assembling was impressively swift. In a short time, a complete map gradually took form under his focused gaze.

As the last piece settled into its place, the assembled map displayed a simple arrangement of mountains and rivers. However, these patterns seemed ordinary, lacking a specific destination or route. They resembled a casual sketch of a landscape.

Xiao Ming didn't pay much attention to this; the map wasn't meant to be used to locate the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.

All at once, a ball of Heavenly Flame surged into Xiao Ming's palm, encasing the ancient map.

Xiao Ming's Heavenly Flame resulted from the fusion of six different kinds of Heavenly Flames, possessing the power to incinerate mountains and boil oceans.

However, the map showed no signs of turning into ash. As the flames intensified, the patterns on the map began to brighten gradually, as if they were on the verge of breaking free.

Whoosh...

A swooshing sound echoed as the flames roared, and their intense heat caused the surrounding space to distort.

As the flames burned fiercer, the patterns on the ancient map grew brighter. At a certain moment, the map trembled, and the lines on it surged upwards, transforming into ancient characters suspended in the air before Xiao Ming.

Two moons appear at once to fill the sky.

Nine planets form at grand array on high.

The all engulfing tide gives birth.

Demonic flame descends again to earth.

"Two moons appear at once to fill the sky, nine planets form at grand array on high... This natural phenomenon won't occur for several more years."

Xiao Ming cast a brief glance at the inscribed words before directly touching the ancient map. The instant his hand made contact, the demonic lotus pattern on the map suddenly wriggled, resembling a living entity. It then transformed into a streak of lightning and shot directly into his brow!