The azure sky hung high with an orange-red sun, its warm rays bathing every inch of Yanshan City.

Just like before.

After the simulation ended, Xu Xi wasn’t in a hurry to start the next one.

Instead, he took a break in the real world.

Indulging in those mundane yet heartwarming daily routines.

"Now… only Servia remains."

In the courtyard, sunlight invaded the empty, silent room, spilling into every corner and making the glass doors of the display cabinet gleam brilliantly.

Xu Xi stood before the cabinet, gazing at the five compartments and the items placed within each.

A flicker of reminiscence passed through his eyes.

Nostalgia.

Distraction.

A daze.

Finally, all these emotions dissolved into a soft chuckle. "Have I grown too old-minded from spending too much time in the simulated worlds?"

"Lately…"

"I’ve become a bit sentimental, often recalling the past."

"Tch."

He opened the glass door of the cabinet.

Xu Xi’s eyes swept over the items one by one—the candy jar, the wand, the paper flower, the numbered tag, the grimoire.

Each object carried its own story.

Some sorrowful.

Some joyous.

Those distant memories, etched into the items by the passage of time, manifested as the sweetness of candy, the scorch marks on the blackened wand…

"Speaking of which…"

"Shouldn’t my life as a sacrificial offering be over by now?"

"After all, with Mo Li and the others helping in the simulations, it’s practically impossible for me to die."

The thought amused him.

It felt surreal, like a dream come true.

"The Soft Life Simulator is terrifyingly overpowered."

With a dust-clearing spell clinging to his palm, Xu Xi gently brushed over the five items in the cabinet before closing the door again, quietly admiring the interplay of sunlight and glass.

As he stared, his mind wandered once more.

Pondering, contemplating, amidst the boundless sea of possibilities across countless timelines.

That mysterious path.

Where did it truly lead?

"Never mind, it’s too early to think about this now." Xu Xi summoned the simulator panel, eyeing the lengthy cooldown timer before deciding to ignore it for the time being.

Twenty-seven years.

Less than half had passed.

No rush, no rush.

……

……

Half a month later.

The last of the chosen heroes finally made her request to Xu Xi.

"Servia, have you decided which world you want to simulate?"

"Yes, Great Sorcerer."

The girl’s face bore a blend of qualities—fearless courage, poised serenity, and a comforting gentleness.

With a hint of shyness, she made her request.

To simulate a true, traditional hero’s journey, just like the ones in storybooks.

"Can I, Great Sorcerer?"

"Of course."

Xu Xi agreed with a smile, and under Servia’s eager, curious gaze, he initiated a new world simulation.

This was a smaller-scale world.

No transcendent immortals.

No gods or demons reigning above mortals.

Everything was the perfect embodiment of a classic fantasy adventure.

A greedy dragon kidnapping a princess, a demon king bent on world destruction, a holy sword destined to choose its hero, and countless otherworldly monsters and human adventurers.

Xu Xi and Servia arrived at the very beginning of the hero’s tale.

The undying demon king, seemingly revived from a distant past, was about to unleash another wave of death upon the Holy Light Continent.

"Hurry, hurry!"

"For the first time in centuries, the Holy Sword selection has begun again!"

"Whoever pulls the sword from its pedestal will become the continent’s revered Holy Sword Hero!"

The news spread like wildfire.

Countless self-proclaimed worthy adventurers flocked to the village where the sword was kept.

Encircled by ancient forests and roaring rivers, the treacherous terrain and the sword’s divine protection had long kept the village isolated.

But on this day, it was packed with hopeful challengers.

One after another, they gripped the hilt with fervor, straining to pull the sword free and prove themselves.

"Damn it!"

"Why won’t it budge?!"

No one succeeded.

This was only natural.

The Holy Sword, ordained as the world’s mightiest power, wasn’t meant to be drawn so easily.

"Servia, do you want to try?"

Night fell.

The crowds had dispersed, leaving the selection grounds bathed in serene moonlight.

The sword emitted a soft, golden radiance, warding off evil like a miniature sun.

Unnoticed, Xu Xi led Servia by the hand to the sword’s resting place.

"Yes, Great Sorcerer."

Servia gave a small nod.

Much of her reason for choosing this world was to experience the Holy Sword selection—a childhood dream.

Click—

Click, click—

Her slender fingers wrapped around the hilt.

With the slightest tug—no effort at all—the sword slid free.

"Hero Servia, setting forth!"

Holding the sword aloft, she shouted into the quiet night, declaring her arrival to the stars above.

Her voice rang bright and exhilarated.

But before Xu Xi could comment, Servia sheepishly sheathed the sword back into its pedestal.

"Great Sorcerer, please forgive my foolishness."

The hero cleared her throat, masking her embarrassment.

"I don’t mind…"

"But Servia, aren’t you going to take the sword and slay the demon king?"

Xu Xi didn’t believe Servia would falter under the sword’s power, nor did he think her kind heart would ignore the demon king’s threat.

To this, Servia replied:

"Great Sorcerer, didn’t you say it yourself? A true hero isn’t defined by their tools."

"Even without this sword, I’ll always be your hero."

"So this is enough."

She smiled.

Bright and confident.

Drawing the sword had been about fulfilling a childhood fantasy, not about the title of "hero."

Compared to being the world’s chosen champion, she’d rather be Xu Xi’s hero alone.

"But you’re right too."

"Since we’re here, the demon king should be dealt with."

Servia pondered briefly.

She decided on a speedrun to the finale.

This simulation was a rare chance for some sweet alone time with the Great Sorcerer—she wouldn’t waste it on trivial side quests.

"Great Sorcerer, please wait for me. I’ll be back soon."

Action followed thought.

After bidding Xu Xi farewell, Servia vanished, tearing through space to the far end of the continent in a single step.

At that very moment.

The world’s ultimate villain, the demon king of darkness and evil, had just awoken from eternal slumber, preparing to revive his monstrous army.

"Keh-keh-keh!"

"Keh-keh-keh-keh!"

"Tremble, despair, foolish mortals! This king shall rule this world!"

Seated upon his throne deep within his castle, the demon king cackled, envisioning his dominion—until a radiance brighter than the sun descended from the night sky.