Fantasy Family Simulator (FFS)

"We understand, Father!" Thales said with a gleam in his eyes. "Could it be that the potion you took was of the Sacred Domain level? I once read a novel where the main character, a mage, was being hunted and fell off a cliff, only to find a Sacred Domain bloodline potion. After that, his cultivation speed skyrocketed, and he easily got revenge on those who had wronged him! It was really exciting!"

The more Thales spoke, the brighter his eyes became, and his tone grew more animated, as if he were placing himself in the shoes of the novel's protagonist.

Rhett's lips twitched slightly. Could it be that even in this world, stories like that were starting to appear? He thought about it and realized it was quite possible. After all, exciting plot points existed in many novels.

Even in his previous life, classics like Journey to the West had moments that brought satisfaction to readers, like when Sun Wukong mastered the 72 transformations and wreaked havoc in heaven, gaining the power of his fiery eyes.

Not to mention Robinson Crusoe, with its survival and farming aspects on a deserted island, which had also captured his interest in the past…

And as for the trope of finding treasure after falling off a cliff, wasn't that something that originated in The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber?

So, it wasn't out of the question that this world also had some talented writers who had summarized what made stories exciting and capitalized on that.

He shrugged, deciding not to continue this conversation. Instead, he ruffled Thales' hair and smiled, saying, "Who knows?"

After this brief chat, the three brothers gradually processed the fact that their father had become an Archmage. Soon after, they returned to their routines—sleeping for some, meditating for others.

Rhett, on the other hand, sat by the fire, staring at the flickering flames as if sensing a mysterious force drifting invisibly through the air.

This wasn't something tangible but rather a strange sensation that could only be perceived with the heightened mental powers of an Archmage, drawn by his bloodline.

"Hmm? Could this be my second innate spell?" A flash of surprise crossed Rhett's eyes.

Back when he was still a mage, Rhett had inherited the Earth Spike spell. Now that he had broken through to Archmage, it seemed that his bloodline's deeper potential had been awakened, allowing him to sense a second innate spell.

This time, the energy seemed to be circling his body.

Rhett immediately had a guess: "Could it be Stone Armor?"

He also thought, "Regardless of what the spell is, after this, there will be no more innate spells left for me to inherit."

After all, the bloodline potion he had taken back then came from a sixth-tier Rock Lizard, so inheriting up to a sixth-tier earth spell meant there wouldn't be anything more.

Moreover, from what Rhett remembered, the Rock Lizard only had two spells—Earth Spike and Stone Armor.

Stone Armor and Stone Light Shield, despite their similar names, had significant differences. The gap between a mage's and an Archmage's mental strength led to the Stone Light Shield being a simple protective layer that needed constant mental energy to maintain, with relatively simple magical patterns.

But Stone Armor, as its name implied, was like a suit of armor that clung to the body. Once cast, it could remain in place and offered a defense comparable to the Stone Light Shield.

"With Stone Armor, my defensive capabilities and overall safety will be greatly enhanced," Rhett thought, feeling a surge of excitement. He also knew that Stone Armor could coexist with Stone Light Shield, providing dual layers of protection. With both spells active, anyone attempting a surprise attack would have a hard time succeeding.

Even in direct combat, the margin for error would increase significantly.

The next morning.

After several days of clear skies, the snow on the mountain showed signs of melting. At the entrance of the cave, droplets of water dripped down, splashing onto the green rocks below.

Outside the cave, about a dozen meters away, Rhett stood beneath an ancient tree, its branches bare and dry. He was focused, preparing to practice Stone Armor.

Although he could use the simulation to master the spell without losing any real-time, he felt it wasn't necessary right now, especially since he might need to use Stone Armor in the upcoming hunts.

Even with his special bloodline enabling him to learn innate spells quickly, there was still a process involved. If he mastered the spell too swiftly in the simulation and then used it seamlessly in reality, it would seem strange and difficult to explain.

At that moment, Rhett felt the complex patterns formed by earth elements emerging around his body, wrapping around him. All he had to do was follow the established pattern to cast the spell.

Though the initial practice felt unfamiliar, it was much easier than deciphering the spell from scratch, bit by bit, from a spellbook.

After two hours of repeated practice, Rhett had internalized the process, embedding it deeply in his mind. With a concentrated burst of mental energy, the earth elements began to swirl around him, as if his body had become a magnet, attracting the elements tightly to his skin.

In the blink of an eye, Rhett had "changed skins."

That description wasn't far off, as he was now encased in a deep yellow armor. Every part of his body—his head, limbs, joints, even his groin—was fully protected.

It might not look stylish, but it was certainly practical!

Rhett glanced down at his body and moved around a bit, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

He could feel that the Stone Armor was incredibly sturdy—when he knocked his arms together, a dull "thunk" echoed. Yet, with a subtle adjustment of his mental energy, he could manipulate the earth elements at his joints, allowing him to move freely without the usual restrictions of metal armor.

This level of fine control was something only Archmage-level mental strength could achieve.

Rhett couldn't help but marvel, "They say that Grandmasters can even wield the 'Armor of the Earth,' with such incredible defense that even a Sky Knight's strike can barely scratch it."

After briefly fantasizing, Rhett quickly returned to reality. The path ahead had to be taken step by step, and while he had just become an Archmage, there was still a long way to go before reaching Grandmaster level.

Having mastered Stone Armor, Rhett began considering his next steps. With his breakthrough and newfound mastery of the sixth-tier earth spell, Stone Armor, even though his fourth-tier casting of it wasn't quite as strong as it would be at the sixth tier, he still had a significant advantage over others in his tier.

"So… it would be a shame not to explore the depths of the mountains now, wouldn't it?" Rhett thought.

Taking care not to be reckless, Rhett decided to perform another simulation to check for any unforeseen dangers.

"With my current strength, I should be able to explore deeper for quite some time, right? I wonder what I'll encounter…"

Curious, Rhett activated the system.

"Yes, simulate for one year."