Volume 1, Chapter 17 – The System’s Virtual Space

Seeing that after taking more than ten lashes, Shi Feng’s expression remained unchanged, without the slightest hint of pain, Shi Lan finally let out a small breath of relief.

Well, of course—Shi Feng carried great fortune on his shoulders, without the slightest sign of dying young. There was no way he would just die halfway here.

Just as Shi Lan was watching Shi Feng being punished, the system’s notification sounded in her mind.

【The newbie quest transition period has ended. The main storyline quest is about to begin. Please, Host, choose your cultivation route.】

【Route One: An empress revered by all under heaven.】

【Route Two: A Demon Lord feared by all living beings.】

【The Host’s choice will greatly influence the missions the system assigns. The system hopes the Host will consider carefully.】

“What kind of impact will it have?” Shi Lan asked silently, a vague unease rising in her heart. She kept feeling this sudden choice the system was throwing at her was anything but simple.

【Please explore it on your own, Host.】

“Can I not choose?”

【The system can give the Host half an hour to think it over. Once the time is up, the cultivation route will be randomly selected by the system.】

Shi Lan felt a bit torn. The system was giving her far too little information. To make a decision that might affect her for a very long time based on just this scrap of information—no matter how she thought about it, she didn’t feel confident at all.

By this time, Shi Feng had already taken nearly two hundred lashes. The guards carrying out the punishment were so exhausted they’d already swapped out twice, yet other than some redness on his back, there was nothing unusual at all. His expression was as calm as ever.

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Standing to the side, Shi Tianlu understood at once—Shi Feng’s cultivation had definitely taken another great leap forward.

This speed of improvement couldn’t help but make Shi Tianlu feel a bit like the older wave being pushed onto the shore by the younger. At the same time, it made him even more determined to send Shi Feng to the Sacred Martial Immortal Sect. Letting talent like this be buried in Tenglong City was far too wasteful.

The reason Shi Tianlu was so intent on cultivating Shi Feng still had a bit of selfishness in it. If Shi Feng could grow up, then for the Shi family, for his descendants, he would be a powerful umbrella of protection.

As for the matter between Shi Lan and Shi Feng, Shi Tianlu was actually against it.

Because the gap between the two of them was far too great…

If Shi Feng truly entered the Sacred Martial Immortal Sect in the future, his rise from then on was sure to be meteoric. Becoming a true powerhouse on the martial path would only be a matter of time, while Shi Lan definitely wouldn’t be able to go far on the martial path.

If something really did happen between Shi Lan and Shi Feng, it might still be fine right now, but as time passed, the distance between the two would only grow wider and wider.

For Shi Feng, that was still manageable. But for Shi Lan, it would surely cause immense harm, perhaps even become a lifelong source of pain.

Shi Tianlu had no expectations for Shi Lan at all. He only hoped she could pass her life peacefully and steadily under his wings.

As for Shi Feng, on the road to becoming strong, he did not need that much romance and sentiment.

“I choose the first one.”

Not even half of the allotted half hour had passed before Shi Lan made her choice. Being revered by all under heaven certainly sounded better than being feared by all living beings.

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【Cultivation route confirmed.】

【Main storyline quest fully activated.】

【Main storyline quest issued: Within one month, break through to the fourth stage of the Body Tempering Realm.】

【Quest completion reward: two chances at a basic lottery draw; Dust-cleansing Pill x1. Quest failure: Host will be erased; system will enter self-destruct sequence.】

Shi Lan sucked in a cold breath. Her current cultivation was still some distance short of even the first stage of the Body Tempering Realm. To reach the fourth stage in a month was basically hell-level difficulty.

Before Shi Lan could recover from her shock, the system’s icy voice sounded again.

【Side quest triggered: As the future empress, the Host must always hold herself to strict standards. In the empress’s life, there must not be the slightest stain.】

【Because of the Host’s suggestion, Shi Feng and the others have been punished. Though they were at fault themselves, the Host should not completely wash her hands of it. She bears a responsibility she cannot fully shirk and ought to receive some punishment.】

【To prevent your dao heart from being tainted, please personally request punishment, Host.】

【Quest completion reward: unlock the system’s virtual space. Quest failure penalty: permanent seal of the system’s virtual space.】

After hearing the system’s notification, Shi Lan couldn’t help but furrow her brows.

“What is the system’s virtual space?”

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【An important method to assist the Host’s growth. For details, please explore it on your own, Host.】

Whether she succeeded or failed this side quest, it was tied to the “system’s virtual space,” and it was even described as an important method to assist her growth. No matter how she looked at it, it was obviously something incredibly important.

But to ask for punishment herself—was she out of her mind?

She’d taken someone out to visit a brothel and somehow ended up asking to be punished for it? Granted, Shi Feng really had been implicated because of her…

Glancing at the iron whips whistling up and down, then at her own thin frame, Shi Lan’s heart trembled. If one of those landed on her, would she even be able to stand back up?

“Father, today’s incident began because your child acted on a momentary whim. Your child cannot shirk the blame. Please punish me as well.”

Gritting her teeth, Shi Lan spoke decisively. She didn’t want to give up such an important means of support, and besides, Shi Tianlu couldn’t actually beat her to death… right?

“Of course you can’t just walk away from this. Visiting a brothel in broad daylight—what kind of conduct is that! I’ll settle accounts with you later!” Shi Tianlu gave a cold snort, his expression dark.

In his impression, Shi Lan had always been a very well-behaved child, but starting from yesterday, her behavior had become more and more out of line. If he didn’t rein her in now, what would become of her?

Shi Lan was so speechless she almost choked. So Shi Tianlu had never planned on letting her off from the start.

“Patriarch, the Eldest Young Master has a frail body; he can’t withstand the lashes!” Shi Feng’s expression changed slightly, and he couldn’t help but speak up.

Shi Tianlu said nothing more, quietly waiting for all three hundred lashes on Shi Feng to be finished.

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Once the punishment ended, Shi Feng calmly put his clothes back on as if nothing had happened. Just as he was about to speak, Shi Tianlu beat him to it and announced Shi Lan’s punishment.

“From this day on, Shi Lan is grounded for three months. She is not allowed to leave the Residence!” With that, he flicked his sleeves and left.

Thinking she was going to be whipped, Shi Lan was stunned for a moment, then finally let out a long breath of relief. Not going out for three months was nothing.

【Side quest complete. System virtual space unlocked.】

Listening to the system’s chime, Shi Lan walked over to Shi Feng and asked with a hint of curiosity, “Shi Feng, can you tell me just what level your strength is at?”

Those ordinary guards had turned into that miserable state after twenty lashes, yet Shi Feng had taken a full three hundred and still looked like nothing had happened. As for the difference in strength, anyone who wasn’t blind could see it.

“A little stronger than a regular guard.” Shi Feng made a small gesture.

Hearing this somewhat perfunctory answer, Shi Lan was not very satisfied, but she had no mood to banter with Shi Feng right now. She needed to go back and study this system virtual space.

With a slightly excited heart, she returned to her own quarters and summoned the Empress-raising System panel. On the panel, a new option labeled “Virtual Space” had already appeared.

Shi Lan tapped on the virtual space. A tugging force surged up from the depths of her very soul, and her vision went black. When she opened her eyes again, she was already in a vast, white expanse.