"Just this once. There won't be a next time. If this happens again, I'd rather risk the unknown in reality than use this cheat. I'll seal it away forever. Mark my words!"

Chen Pingchuan's face was grim and his brows were tightly furrowed. His voice, tinged with both anger and reluctant compromise, echoed throughout the warehouse.

Yet, the warehouse remained deathly still. The simulator was as unresponsive as ever, like a cold, inanimate object.

Chen Pingchuan stood there alone, as if talking to himself.

In fact, this wasn't the first time he had tried to determine if the simulator possessed any form of intelligence. His previous attempts had all ended in failure, but he remained vigilant.

He had spoken out this time because the simulator's upgrade notification was just too contrived. How could it be such a coincidence that the system prompted an upgrade the very instant he obtained one million simulation points?

Moreover, the amount required for this upgrade happened to be his exact current limit. Even if one million was the threshold for an upgrade, the next one couldn't possibly require another million, could it? If that were the case, Chen Pingchuan would surely put the simulator on ice forever, never to be used again.

As the anger trait continued to be absorbed and assimilated, and under the influence of his divine self, Chen Pingchuan's mind grew increasingly sharp. It made him suspicious of everything around him, and not the slightest anomaly could escape his perception.

Not upgrading the simulator means waiting for a seven-day cooldown, which means I won't be able to use simulations to evade danger in the near future. Instead of waiting for the simulator's cooldown to end, I'm better off upgrading it now to maximize my time. Of course, I can't rule out another possibility: perhaps misfortune only strikes me when I'm using the simulator. It's just like that TV show where the protagonist used the Demon King's Ring to turn invisible and avoid danger, but in doing so, revealed his position to the Demon King. So, for the next few days, I might just be safe.

Chen Pingchuan rubbed his forehead. Constantly contemplating the simulator's impact was putting his brain into overdrive and giving him a slight headache.

Forget it. It doesn't matter if the simulator has feelings or not. According to the principle of fair and equivalent exchange, the talents and skills I've gained were all paid for with simulation points. I didn't get them for free, so they most likely can't be taken back. It's like a sugar-coated bullet—I'll swallow the coating and spit the bullet back out.

"System upgrade!"

Chen Pingchuan ultimately decided to upgrade the system now. While his concerns about the simulator lingered, he had to admit he couldn't let fear paralyze him; life had to go on. Having grown accustomed to foreseeing the future, giving up the simulator now would genuinely make him panic.

[Ding! Deducting 1,000,000 simulation points.]

[Simulator upgrading. Please wait patiently. Remaining time: 322:42:21]

"Damn it, that long!"

Seeing the notification of a cooldown period lasting more than two weeks, Chen Pingchuan was struck with a pang of regret. He'd died mysteriously in his last simulation and still hadn't figured out the cause. Now he was facing a two-week lockout. He feared that before he could simulate and uncover the truth, his real-world self would meet a grim end.

Run! Run now! The sooner, the better! The farther, the better!

Chen Pingchuan made his decision in an instant.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion, like a clap of furious thunder, ripped through the air.

It was followed by…

RAT-A-TAT-TAT...

The rapid, dense staccato of gunfire played out a symphony of death against the silent night sky.

Just as Chen Pingchuan resolved to leave, this series of sounds from outside left him no time for second thoughts. He clearly remembered seeing a missile launcher hidden under a green tarp in Nightingale's specially modified off-road vehicle on the way to the Spring City White Crystal Mine. An explosion of this magnitude made it obvious that Nightingale had deployed heavy weaponry to swiftly eliminate her enemies with overwhelming force.

"My time is running out," Chen Pingchuan muttered, knowing he had to make a choice, and fast.

Should he leave the Spring City White Crystal Mine immediately, or should he pursue his second fated opportunity?

Indeed, the very reason he had so decisively upgraded the system was because of the second Energy Crystal warehouse within the mine.

From the name "Password Crystal Stone Warehouse," one could guess that its Crystal Stone reserves were undoubtedly far greater than the warehouse he was currently in.

Fortune favors the bold. If I don't go for it now, a chance to get this many simulation points might never come again. It's now or never!

His mind made up and fully aware that the critical situation allowed no hesitation, Chen Pingchuan spun around and swiftly exited the Crystal Stone Warehouse.

Beside the doorway, amidst the scattered bodies of the guards, he quickly crouched down. After his eyes swept over the corpses, he picked up a few small, easily concealable pistols.

It had to be said that for ability users below Level 4, the lethality of firearms was terrifying. These portable, easy-to-use, and surprisingly powerful weapons were a nightmare for low-level ability users and often the key to an unexpected victory.

After securing the weapons, Chen Pingchuan widened his eyes slightly, got his bearings, and then sprinted toward the location he remembered.

To his surprise, raiding the hidden warehouse went much more smoothly than he had anticipated.

There weren't many guards stationed there to begin with. Furthermore, Nightingale's sudden assault had created a massive commotion, drawing the attention of some of the warehouse guards and creating the perfect opportunity for Chen Pingchuan to launch a sneak attack.

Of course, his own attributes were also a critical factor.

Aside from his strength, all his other physical stats had already surpassed the peak of Level 2. Strictly speaking, Chen Pingchuan could, for all intents and purposes, be considered a Level 3 Genetic Warrior.

Coupled with the advanced firearms proficiency granted by his "Weapon Master" talent and the near-miraculous skill "Light-Fingered," taking out the guards of the hidden warehouse felt as natural as a fish in water.

[Ding! Bloody Plunder skill effect successfully activated, Strength attribute +0.2]

[Ding! I Am Heavenly Dao talent effect successfully activated, Agility attribute +0.1]

[Ding! I Am Heavenly Dao talent effect successfully activated, Strength attribute +0.1]

[Ding! Bloody Plunder skill effect successfully activated, Constitution attribute +0.1]

...

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