Phoenix City, the dungeon of the Fang Family.
Awakening leisurely, Fang Yuan felt his entire body in pain, almost unbearable.
"Ah! It hurts... What's going on?"
Fang Yuan instinctively opened his eyes, drawing in a cool breath, bewildered by the intense pain throughout his body.
However, the scene before him left Fang Yuan astonished.
He found himself in a cramped and narrow cell, though there were no torture devices on his body.
Through the cell's gap, he could see rows of oil lamps flickering on the wall, illuminating the entire dim and damp dungeon.
Looking down, he saw the floor made of bricks stained with dirt and blood.
And now, he lay on a dilapidated wooden bed, wearing tattered ancient clothes.
There were bruises on his body, evidence of a severe beating.
"What is this?"
Fang Yuan was perplexed.
He remembered going home to sleep after work; how did he end up in a place like this upon waking?
"Could it be that I've traversed into another world?"
Fang Yuan realized that his skin seemed rejuvenated, even though his body was currently in agony. Despite the pain, he felt a surge of energy.
Suddenly, Fang Yuan groaned and clutched his head as intense pain struck. He furrowed his brows, and beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.
In his mind, memories began to surface.
After a while, Fang Yuan exhaled slowly, his expression somewhat dazed.
"So, I've truly traversed..."
The thought crossed Fang Yuan's mind, leaving him somewhat speechless.
In his previous life, he was just an ordinary person. How did he suddenly end up here in this world?
"Fortunately, my parents passed away in my previous life, and I have no close relatives. Otherwise, I'd feel guilty...I just didn't expect that this world would also possess extraordinary powers..."
Fang Yuan, realizing from his memories that he had traversed into an ancient world with the existence of martial arts, contemplated his current situation.
Martial arts Masters could move mountains, cut rivers, defy gravity, and challenge entire nations with a single hand. Meanwhile, he was merely a novice in the study of martial arts.
The original host’s name was also Fang Yuan. His mother passed away two years ago, and he had no siblings. Due to his father’s betrayal of the Fang family, he ended up in the Fang family dungeon and was used as bait to lure his father out...
As Fang Yuan became aware of these memories, he felt a sudden tightness in his chest.
What kind of joke was this? He had just arrived, and was he about to die?
From the original host’s memories, Fang Yuan learned that since his mother's death, his father, Fang Tianzong, had changed drastically – becoming unpredictable, hot-tempered, and ruthless.
Given his father's current temperament, Fang Yuan had little confidence in him. He doubted that his father would come to his rescue.
"Ding dong! The Fantasy Simulator activated!"
Just as Fang Yuan sank into despair, a mechanical voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
A semi-transparent box popped up in front of him, along with streams of information flooding his mind.
Seeing the text on the box and the sudden appearance of information in his mind, Fang Yuan's mood lifted.
"The Fantasy Simulator allows my consciousness to enter a simulated world, experience a new life, and embark on a fresh story, encountering various life experiences."
"In the Simulator World, even if I die, there will be no punishment. It's just the end of the story, ready to start a new one."
"Moreover, everything I gain in the simulator story has a chance to be brought back to the real world!"
"Points..."
Fang Yuan's mind stirred, and the simulator panel in front of him instantly changed, revealing a new interface with several numbers.
"Simulator points: Ten."
"Ten is enough to start a new world and begin a new life."
Fang Yuan muttered to himself.
"If I can grow and develop in the Simulator World, then bring back the powers from the simulator to reality, my current predicament will be easily resolved..."
Fang Yuan's eyes flickered.
Just as he was about to attempt to activate the Fantasy Simulator, a creaking sound of a door opening interrupted him.
Turning towards the door, Fang Yuan saw a figure with a worried expression walking toward him.
Standing in front of his cell, Fang Jingyun looked at him with slightly reddened eyes. "Brother Fang, endure it for now. I've already pleaded with father, and I believe it won't be long before you're released."
Fang Yuan shook his head slowly in response to her words.
He had already recognized the person before him.
The charming Fang Jingyun was the youngest daughter of the family head, similar in age to him, and they had been close since childhood.
However, Fang Yuan didn't believe that Fang Jingyun could save him.
After all, the commotion caused by Fang Tianzong, which led to the family head taking such actions, couldn't be resolved by a small plea from his daughter.
She can't see the Fantasy Simulator in front of me...
Seeing that Fang Jingyun ignored the simulator interface, Fang Yuan calmly said, "I appreciate your kindness, but according to what I know, your father has already said that if my father doesn't return to the family by the fifteenth of next month, I will be publicly executed. Jingyun, it’s all over."
With that, Fang Yuan slowly closed his eyes.
He preferred not to say much. After all, he was not the original host, and there might be differences in the way they talks and acts. Talking too much would raise Fang Jingyun’s suspicious since she and the original host had known each other for years.
Seeing Fang Yuan's reaction, Fang Jingyun bit her lip and took out a book. She placed it on the floor through the small window on the door, and then turned and left.
Hearing her footsteps gradually fade away, Fang Yuan opened his eyes and saw the book on the floor.
Fang Yuan was slightly surprised and picked it up.
"Burning Blood Secret Technique?"
Seeing the four words on the cover of the book, Fang Yuan paused, then opened the book and began to read.
After a moment, he exhaled deeply. "She is considerate..."
Fang Yuan had already learned the function of the Burning Blood Secret Technique in his hands. By stimulating acupoints with his mind, damaging his own body, it could unleash potential, adding three or four times the physical strength.
However, this technique was too damaging to the body. It would greatly deplete one's Yuan-Qi, which was detrimental to the foundation of martial arts. Unless the technique was Mastered to perfection, it would be difficult to unleash potential at will without damaging Yuan-Qi.
"Unfortunately, even with this technique, I still can't escape from this dungeon with my current strength."
Fang Yuan understood Fang Jingyun's intentions; she wanted him to escape, to fight for his life.
"Still, I have to rely on my Fantasy Simulator."
His eyes gleamed, and he immediately opened the simulator with his mind.
"I’m ready. Let's start now!"
With that thought, Fang Yuan mentally clicked on the Fantasy Simulator.