I Have a God Simulator

"Please wait in the carriage for a moment. Next."

Zhur Hu cautiously approached the Fire Steam Carriage, opened the door, and sat inside.

Slime Mod’s recruitment drive for Sand City continued.

The second applicant was a female Lumin named Lu Zhi. Slime Mod quickly reached an agreement with her and told her to wait in the Fire Steam Carriage as well.

The next one was another familiar face.

The newcomer introduced himself. "I am Binn Ji. I’ve visited Sand City before, so I have some understanding of it."

Slime Mod asked, "What skills do you specialize in?"

"I’m skilled in tomb engineering. I can independently construct Black Tombstones, have taken care of many Ghosts, and built three Tier Two Tombstones and one Tier Three Tombstone... I also have extensive experience leading Ghouls."

"I’m sorry."

Slime Mod replied, "The skills you’ve mastered would be more practical in the Ghost Realm. Sand City’s current needs are more focused on transforming the desert and increasing agriculture. I hope we can work together in the future."

"I can learn! I can learn, I’m a fast learner!" Binn Ji tried to press his case.

"I admire your initiative."

Slime Mod emphasized, "However, rules are rules. Even as the mayor, I must recruit talent according to Sand City’s foundational plan. I can’t break the rules just because I personally admire you. That would be unfair to everyone else, especially those who abide by the rules. Don’t you agree?"

Its seasoned reply left Binn Ji speechless.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make things difficult for you. I’m not that kind of... I just... I’m sorry." He timidly stepped aside.

"Next."

Luh Yao took a sip of tea as he watched.

’It’s a good thing Sand City has Slime Mod. Anyone else, even Isabel, couldn’t have handled that so smoothly. A graceful rejection is a skill in itself. How could he be this slick without years of experience as a Master?’

Luh Yao was personally more interested in Binn Du than Binn Ji.

During the Ghost Realm’s first visit to Sand City, Binn Du was the real backbone and decision-maker.

However, Binn Du did not participate in this recruitment drive.

Luh Yao checked the backend and found Binn Du in front of a cluster of tombs not far from Pillar Mountain.

He was leading a dozen or so members of the Funeral Race and over a hundred Ghouls in relocating a group of tombs. They arranged the Black Tombstones into a rectangular enclosure and had begun to build the Ghost Realm’s first city.

’Luh Yao felt another surge of approval for him. Every race had its share of ambitious pioneers.’

’This was supposed to be a public recruitment, but in reality, all the candidates had been pre-screened and recommended by the two Divine Kingdoms. It was understandable. The two Gods naturally hoped the talent they sent out would eventually return to help build up their own Divine Kingdoms, rather than leaving for good. That’s why they only sent people they could trust.’

In the end, Sand City recruited seven foreign workers: five Lumin, one Bamboo Person, and one member of the Funeral Race.

Among the recruits were old acquaintances Lu Shan of the Lumin and Zhur Hu of the Bamboo People; the former envoys from the Bamboo Reed Kingdom had come back.

The sole member of the Funeral Race was also worth mentioning.

This person, named Binn Jiao, seemed dull-witted and dazed. He was short and resembled a small zombie.

He said, "I can treat sick Ghosts."

Slime Mod hired him on the spot.

The Ghost population among the Yao Race was steadily growing. They had many unique advantages: they didn’t require much space, nor did they need food or water... But the difficulty of healing them had always been a problem.

From the earliest founder of Magic Potions, Yaoshao, to Prophet Yaopu who worked closely with the Ghosts, and even the extremist Sinners’ Sea Breaker, none of them had managed to truly solve this problem.

To this day, once a Ghost was injured, it meant permanent damage and Weakness, with no way to achieve any substantial recovery.

The appearance of Ghost Armor greatly reduced the chances of Ghosts getting injured. But with a large number of Ghosts participating in various trades and industries, the frequency of their injuries began to rise again.

Luh Yao clicked on this member of the Funeral Race.

...

[Funeral Race LV16] Binn Jiao [Weakness]

Life Value: 161/857

Mana Value: 259/443

Damage: 8

Defense: 7

Speed: 7

[Tombstone Builder]

Can create the special building [Black Tombstone].

[Ghost Physician LV3]

Uses their own body to contain a damaged Ghost, gradually healing it at the cost of their own Life Value.

...

’Luh Yao felt a twinge of regret. As expected, there was no such thing as a perfect candidate.’

This Ghost Physician’s ability was impressive, but healing Ghosts required consuming his own Life Value, making it a trait with a heavy cost.

Ghouls, who came from the same origin, had the [Decaying Food] trait. They had tough hides and could quickly recover spent Life Value and Mana by eating.

But the Funeral Race could not. This was the price they paid for gaining intelligence and the ability to build the [Black Tombstone]—they had walked a different Path of Evolution.

’Luh Yao guessed the Ghost Realm had sent Binn Jiao to Sand City hoping to use the Yao Race’s power to heal him, since his physical condition was already so poor.’

Slime Mod questioned Binn Jiao and learned that the Funeral Race had several dozen more Ghost Physicians, but they had no intention of going to Sand City.

The Funeral Race’s population was too small for formal professions to have developed, and the Ghost Physicians couldn’t even heal themselves.

Luh Yao, however, was happy to accept this candidate.

The Yao Race couldn’t cure Ghosts, but they were very experienced at treating living creatures. Even if they couldn’t fully restore Binn Jiao, they could use Magic Potions and other medical arts to improve his condition.

The Ghost Realm and Sand City were, in a way, complementary in the field of Medical science.

Sand City’s first recruitment at Pillar Mountain thus came to a successful conclusion.

Meanwhile, the joint recruitment drive hosted in Sand City by Blo and Zhur Nan was a completely different story.

To make them more conspicuous, Slime Mod had a temporary stone platform built for them next to the city gate, ensuring Blo and Zhur Nan would be the first thing people saw.

A tall, conspicuous wooden sign was erected next to the platform, with words written in the script of the Yao Race:

Recruiting for the Ghost Realm and Bamboo Reed Kingdom. Excellent compensation. All are welcome to apply.

However, the passing residents of Sand City only gathered to watch from a distance, mostly just talking amongst themselves.

"I heard the Ghost Realm is full of graveyards. It’s gloomy, there’s no Sun, and it’s muddy everywhere... You can’t even dry your clothes after washing them, and you’re covered in mud every day. How could anyone live like that?"

"That’s not all. Master Yan Jiu wrote a letter back to the Martial Cultivation Association describing what it’s like inside those Black Tombstones. He said there are some kind of soft, slimy bugs crawling around, and not even a bed. The tombs are damp and musty, worse than a barn."

"Well, I’m definitely not going then. Sand City may not compare to Yao City or Yan City, but at least our beds are clean. Amenities don’t have to be perfect, but cleanliness is a must."

Blo’s face darkened as he struggled to suppress his rage.

Meanwhile, a smiling emoji popped up over the head of Zhur Nan next to him, with a few musical notes floating around it. He was enjoying the Ghost Realm’s predicament, happily humming a little tune.

Another Little Elf said, "What about the Bamboo Reed Kingdom? I hear the weather is nice there, and the mountain scenery is beautiful."

"That’s true. Mr. Yu Gu said the scenery is beautiful."

"You’re leaving out the rest, aren’t you? I asked Mr. Shaker from the Rose Garden. Mr. Yu Gu said the scenery is great, *but* the public infrastructure is still extremely primitive. There are no proper roads, so you have to climb the mountains, and there are no vehicles whatsoever—not even the most basic oxcarts or camel carts."

"That’s right. And I heard their diet is mainly bamboo... and rats."

"Rats?"

Question marks popped up over the crowd’s heads. ’That’s just too primitive...’

One of them gathered his courage, walked up to the stone platform and asked, "Excuse me, do people in the Bamboo Reed Kingdom eat rats?"

"They’re not rats! They’re bamboo rats!"

Zhur Nan, who had been smiling just a moment ago, couldn’t hold it in anymore. An angry, fuming emoji appeared over his head. "Bamboo rats are not rats! They’re a delicacy!"

The Yao Clan People were worldly and not easily intimidated.

"If they’re not rats, why are they called rats? Why not call them bamboo pigs, or bamboo sheep?"

Zhur Nan exploded in anger. "Are you deliberately trying to pick a fight!"

The crowd scattered in fear.

A smiling emoji popped up over Blo’s head. "Don’t get angry. It’s pointless."

"My friend Zhur Nan, we’re here to recruit people. You just scared them all off."

A tangled mess of scribbles appeared over Zhur Nan’s head. "’The way I see it, we’re not going to recruit anyone! Nobody in Sand City will want to leave!’"

"It’s difficult, I admit, but we have to try. Didn’t talented people like Nong Lei and Yu Gu come to us on their own before?"

’Luh Yao watched with curiosity.’

’Could they really recruit anyone looking like that?’

And someone actually came.

And it was a heavyweight.

The applicant held up a notebook. "My name is Uluu. I’m one of the Wuzi People, and I’m a Geologist and an Archaeologist. My skills include geological surveying, archaeological excavation, mineral appraisal and identification, and piloting Earth Traveling Boats and Fire Steam Carriages. I’m fluent in the languages and scripts of the Wuzi and the Ancient Bo Race, and I’m well-versed in Theology and History. I can also skillfully repair metal tools, draw maps, and I have some knowledge of engineering and Medical science..."

"We’ll take him for the Ghost Realm!"

"The Bamboo Reed Kingdom welcomes you!"

The two Apostles faced off, ready to fight over this prime candidate.

Blo was the first to calm down. "Let’s not fight. Why don’t we first hear what Mr. Uluu’s goals are?"

Zhur Nan nodded and also looked at Uluu.

Uluu wrote on his board: "I want to go to the Ghost Realm and the Bamboo Reed Kingdom to conduct geological surveys. I want to see if the local areas truly lack metal ores, which would be the reason their civilizations never developed Refining techniques."

Both Apostles were rendered silent.

In the end, Uluu hoped to start with the Ghost Realm, which was more skilled in engineering and excavation.

Before long, another applicant came forward on their own.

"My name is Matthews. I’m a Writer."

"I specialize in Writing. My work, *Crystal Empire*, has already been published and has gained a bit of a reputation in Yao City and Yan City."

The newcomer, clad in Ghost Armor, stood ramrod straight. "I wish to travel to the Ghost Realm and the Bamboo Reed Kingdom to record the various Legends and History of the two Divine Kingdoms with pen and paper, so that their stories may be told and passed down, just like the greatest Writer of all, Pawa."

’Luh Yao was momentarily speechless.’

’Using an alternate identity to praise himself, huh?’

’Just an impartial observer here, but Pawa is *definitely* the greatest Writer ever.’

The two Apostles had competed fiercely for Uluu, but when it came to a seemingly useless Writer, Zhur Nan’s enthusiasm was visibly low.

In the end, Blo accepted this Ghost Writer.

"I have one more, somewhat impudent request. My wife, Mina, and my assistant, this Backpack Cactus Shaka, also wish to accompany me."

A short lady walked over, followed by a Backpack Cactus laden with bags.

Luh Yao took a look. Above the unfamiliar woman’s head, the display read: [Symbiotic Tree Demon LV26] Jody.

’Jody knew the Transformation Technique. She had changed her appearance and was also using an alternate identity.’

The moment he saw the Tree Demon, Zhur Nan’s attitude did a complete one-eighty. "Ma’am, might you consider our Bamboo Reed Kingdom? You would absolutely love it there—it’s a paradise for all kinds of trees!"

"I’m sorry, but I must stay with my husband," Jody said politely.

Blo, on the other hand, was overjoyed. "Welcome! A warm welcome to you all! The Ghost Realm welcomes the three of you!"

In the end, only these four came forward during the entire recruitment drive in Sand City. Everyone else just spectated and made small talk.

Although this cross-kingdom recruitment had been a rocky process, the results were quite good for the two Divine Kingdoms.

’Luh Yao felt that something wasn’t quite right.’

He took a look at the Golden Field’s backend.

After the first volume of *Crystal Empire* was published, the sequel had been thirty years overdue. Yao City had even issued a bounty for the worldwide search of the missing Writer, Matthews.

’Pawa was pulling the same old trick, ditching his series and running off again.’

’Unlike last time, when he faked his suicide to escape, this time he’d even upgraded his technique. He brought his wife along to flee to another world and lay low.’