In the heart of Magic City, Shawn had become one of Grayson's greatest "life-saving talismans."
Some matters could not be hidden from him. His assistance was absolutely necessary.
Thus, a certain degree of honesty was required.
However, contacting the Lu family directly—or mobilizing additional high-end combat forces—was out of the question.
Grayson understood the situation clearly.
This third iteration of himself within the Villain Simulator wasn't aiming for a flashy, high-profile confrontation.
No.
It was a calculated retreat.
A carefully orchestrated disappearance.
If he recklessly summoned reinforcements, it would inevitably alert the "mastermind behind the scenes."
The Lu family was a celestial clan, a towering beacon in the Ironwood Empire.
Every move they made attracted attention.
Especially figures who had surpassed the sixth level of transcendence—dispatching even one such figure would instantly set off alarms among their enemies.
Worse still, it might provoke direct intervention from the Grey family—another celestial family with suspected ties to the conspiracy.
And if someone from the "Heavenly Realm" moved against him...
Grayson shuddered at the thought.
With only one Life-Saving Blood Escape Talisman in his possession, there was no guarantee he could escape a divine hunter.
For now, his goals were simple:
Expose all hidden threats in Magic City.
Eliminate them cleanly.
Survive.
After all, in the simulated world, he could act fearlessly.
Here, in reality, he only had one life.
"If I'm not mistaken," Grayson mused to himself, "my simulated self intends to fake his death, vanish entirely, and ignite the fury of the Lu family to sweep clean the entire city."
He knew himself too well.
He wasn't truly selfless—not even close.
There was always a deeper calculation.
And sure enough, as the simulation unfolded, it confirmed his suspicions.
After fully winning Shawn's loyalty, Grayson had posed a new question.
"Does the Lu family have any assassins stationed in Magic City with a body shape similar to mine?"
Shawn had answered immediately, providing detailed information.
Grayson had nodded to himself.
It made sense. A noble family like the Lu clan would naturally maintain a network of secret agents across the Ironwood Empire.
Without wasting time, he had instructed Shawn to secretly summon one of those assassins.
[You understood clearly: the enemy wouldn't simply abandon their killing plans. Therefore, you decided to escape the battlefield altogether.]
In short order, Shawn returned, bringing a young assassin to meet him.
Grayson sized him up with a calm, calculating gaze.
Thin build.
Nimble steps.
An adaptable appearance.
Perfect.
Summoning the power of his "Shadow Mimicry," Grayson cast a veil of transformation over the young man, reshaping him to perfectly resemble Grayson himself.
[This young assassin would become your stand-in. For the next few days, he would live your life, walk in your shadow—and ultimately, die in your place.]
It was a grim mission.
A heavy burden to place on another's shoulders.
And yet, when Grayson explained the likely outcome, the assassin didn't flinch.
Instead, he bowed deeply and said, "Please, just promise me that my sister will live a life of peace and wealth."
His name was Su Meng.
His sister's name, Su Mei.
Grayson promised solemnly.
The Lu family would take care of her for life.
Another piece fell neatly into place.
Next, Grayson had Shawn request an enormous quantity of training materials under the guise of personal cultivation.
Martial arts manuals.
Taoist techniques.
Forbidden curses.
All of it, of course, was for Grayson's own use.
[You remained cautious, unwilling to reveal the monstrous speed of your cultivation to outsiders.]
At the same time, Grayson used his bloodline to transmit a message directly to his elder brother—Grayson, the eldest son of the Lu family.
Not a cry for help.
Not the plea for vengeance he had made in the second simulation.
No, this time, he was careful.
["Brother," he said through the bloodline link, "I've been feeling uneasy lately. I heard you have a Life-Replacing Blood Escape Talisman. Could you lend it to me? I'll return it when I come back."]
A simple request, couched in fear, not strength.
Grayson had no intention of starting a storm in the Ironwood Empire's capital.
Not yet.
If he could quietly secure a second life-saving talisman, his chances of survival would double.
The preparations were nearly complete.
Retreating to the underground secret chamber, Grayson sat cross-legged.
From Luke's storage bag, he withdrew a mountain of resources and began cultivating in earnest.
[Overnight, your cultivation advanced rapidly—from the early stage of the supernatural realm to the middle stage. Your "Shadow" and "Dragon Elephant Tyrant Body" arts both grew stronger.]
The power flooding through his veins was intoxicating.
But Grayson knew better than to lose himself in it.
He tempered his excitement.
Patience was the key.
The following morning, a heavy knock sounded at the chamber door.
Grayson rose smoothly, pulling open the stone slab to find Shawn waiting outside, a broad grin on his weathered face.
"Master Grayson," Shawn said respectfully, "good news. Your brother personally sent the Life-Replacing Blood Escape Talisman—and all the supplies you requested."
He held out a warm, pulsating talisman, still glowing faintly with protective energy.
Grayson took it reverently.
A rare warmth spread through his heart.
His elder brother never delayed when it came to matters concerning him.
Never hesitated.
Never second-guessed.
Even in the simulated world, Grayson could feel the unshakable familial bond that tied him to his brother.
Now, with two Life-Saving Talismans secured, even a surprise attack from a celestial ancestor wouldn't spell certain death.
Finally...
Finally, he could breathe a little easier.
From Shawn, Grayson received a fresh storage bag as well.
Scanning it with his mental power, he found a treasure trove of cultivation resources and several jade slips shimmering with martial and Taoist techniques.
An embarrassment of riches.
He sat back down, sorting through the contents carefully.
[You calculated: fully digesting these resources could push your strength significantly higher.]
But Grayson's focus wasn't on raw cultivation.
It was on the jade slips.
His heart burned with urgency.
[Having raw power without proper fighting techniques was meaningless. Without killing moves, he would remain little better than a novice.]
Up until now, he'd been relying on instinct, agility, and the raw power of his bloodline.
That wouldn't be enough for what lay ahead.
Sitting cross-legged once more, Grayson closed his eyes.
He pressed the first jade slip to his forehead.
Ancient runes flared.
Knowledge poured into his mind like a roaring river.
Martial arts.
Taoist spells.
Curse techniques designed to cripple the soul.
Grayson absorbed it all with frightening speed.
[You vowed to make up for all your shortcomings. To forge yourself into a true weapon—one the masterminds lurking in Magic City would never see coming.]
He would no longer be a passive pawn shuffled across someone else's chessboard.
From this moment on...
He would be the one moving the pieces.
He would be the shadow behind the game.
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