Chapter 2: Life Simulation

Yan Xiu stared at the golden hourglass floating before him, its sands flowing in an impossible, mesmerizing dance. His breath hitched as the words lingered in the air, glowing faintly like embers in the night:

[Would you like to start your first Life Simulation?]

"Life Simulation…" he murmured, his voice barely audible. "What's that?"

The words were unfamiliar yet strangely compelling, as if they carried a weight beyond his understanding. His fingers twitched involuntarily, his instincts screaming at him to respond.

But why?

He didn't know what it meant, nor could he fathom its implications. Was it some sort of hallucination? A fragment of the strange power he'd felt in the void? Or something else entirely?

Despite his confusion, he couldn't tear his eyes away from the glowing hourglass. Its presence was hypnotic, almost alive, and he felt a subtle pull, like a tether connecting it to his very being.

His mind raced with questions.

"Is this a test? A trap? Or… a gift?"

He hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't know what this "Life Simulation" entailed, but a part of him—a deep, primal part—yearned to say yes.

It wasn't a logical decision. It wasn't fear or curiosity driving him. It was something deeper, something instinctive, as though the hourglass was calling to his very essence.

Before he realized it, his lips were moving.

"Yes," he whispered.

The moment he spoke, the hourglass in the air began to spin faster, its golden sands cascading in an intricate rhythm. The glowing words shimmered, then shifted.

[Simulation Initiating…]

Yan Xiu felt a warmth radiating from the hourglass, but nothing else changed around him. He remained in the wooden hut, the faint scent of damp wood and herbs grounding him in reality. Yet his eyes were fixed on the new lines of text appearing in mid-air.

[Simulating Life: Yan Xiu]

[Cultivation: 7th Tempered Body Stage]

[Status: Trial Disciple of High Heaven Pavilion]

The words pulsed faintly, and then the simulation began.

[Year 1: With a fire lit under him by the looming threat of expulsion, Yan Xiu threw himself into cultivation. He trained relentlessly, using every resource available to him. Despite the limited support offered to Trial Disciples, his sheer determination allowed him to advance to the 9th Tempered Body Stage by the end of the year, earning him recognition among his peers.]

[Year 2: Realizing the three-year limit to reach the Initial Element Stage, Yan Xiu pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion. His efforts bore fruit, and he successfully broke through to the Initial Element Stage just before the sect's evaluation deadline. His advancement secured his position within the sect, but his foundation remained shaky due to the rushed breakthrough.]

[Year 3: One fateful evening, Yan Xiu ventured out of the sect to the Black Plum Village to buy rice after running out of food. On the way back, he came across an old man lying on the roadside, gravely injured and on the verge of death. Despite his instincts warning him to stay away, Yan Xiu chose to help the man.

In his final moments, the old man handed Yan Xiu a mysterious book, its cover inscribed with elegant, flowing characters: "Flowing Tide Secret Art." Before Yan Xiu could question him further, the old man passed away. Returning to his hut, Yan Xiu discovered that the technique within was a profound Water Attribute Secret Art, capable of amplifying one's control over elemental energy.]

[Year 4: With the guidance of the Flowing Tide Secret Art, Yan Xiu's cultivation advanced rapidly. By mid-year, he was on the brink of breaking through to the Qi Transformation Realm, a significant milestone that would elevate his standing within the sect.

However, before he could complete his breakthrough, disaster struck.

A powerful figure shrouded in mystery descended upon the High Heaven Pavilion. This individual, exuding an overwhelming aura, unleashed devastation upon the sect. Buildings crumbled, disciples scattered in terror, and screams filled the night. The sect elders and masters were powerless to stop the demon.

Caught in the chaos, Yan Xiu fought desperately to survive, but he was no match for the destruction that engulfed the sect. His life ended abruptly in the turmoil, his dreams of reaching greater heights snuffed out.]

The words faded into the air, leaving only the spinning hourglass before Yan Xiu's stunned gaze. His chest tightened as he processed the grim future laid out before him.

"That… was my life?" he whispered, his voice trembling. "I trained, I fought, and still…"

He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. The despair he felt during the void crept back into his heart, threatening to consume him.

But before he could spiral further, new words materialized in the air.

[Simulation Complete]

Grade: D

Evaluation: A life cut short by forces beyond your control. Progress was steady, but lack of preparation for external threats led to an early demise.]

Beneath the evaluation, another line appeared:

[Select a reward from this simulation:

1. Flowing Tide Secret Art

2. Battle Experience

3. Minor Water Attribute Affinity]

Yan Xiu stared at the options, his mind racing. Despite the tragic end of the simulation, a glimmer of hope remained. He could take something from that failure and use it to forge a new path.

"This…" he muttered, his gaze hardening. "This is a chance."

Yan Xiu's gaze shifted between the three options floating before him. Each one pulsed faintly, waiting for his decision.

He took a deep breath, calming the storm of emotions in his heart. "A Water Attribute Secret Art… something like that could give me an edge. Techniques like these are rare and valuable, even for Ordinary Disciples, let alone for a Trial Disciple like me."

The other options—battle experience and a minor Water Attribute Affinity—were tempting but lacked the same transformative potential. A Secret Art was the foundation for cultivation. With the right technique, he could unlock far greater achievements than through sheer determination alone.

After a brief pause, he nodded. "The Flowing Tide Secret Art is the best choice."

As if in response to his resolve, the glowing words shifted, the other options dimming until only the Secret Art remained.

Instinctively, Yan Xiu extended a hand, pressing his finger against the shimmering text. The moment he made contact, a wave of warmth surged through him, and the golden letters dissolved into a soft, radiant light.

Before he could react, the light coalesced into a physical object—a book.

It hovered in the air before him, its cover a deep, oceanic blue that shimmered like sunlight dancing on water. Intricate golden patterns resembling flowing waves adorned its surface, and bold, elegant characters were etched into the center: Flowing Tide Secret Art.

The book drifted gently into Yan Xiu's hands, its weight surprisingly real. The texture of the cover was cool to the touch, and the faint scent of sea salt lingered in the air.

"This… it's real," he whispered, marveling at the artifact in his hands.

As he opened the book, he found pages filled with detailed diagrams and ancient script. The illustrations depicted the flow of energy through the meridians, the formation of water-based energy constructs, and techniques to manipulate water essence in battle. Even a brief glance told him this was no ordinary technique—it was profound and intricate, far surpassing anything he had learned as a Trial Disciple.

But as he flipped through the pages, he noticed a faint golden glow lingering at the edges of the text, as if the book still carried the essence of its mysterious origins.

"This could change everything," Yan Xiu thought, a glimmer of hope reigniting in his heart.

The translucent hourglass in the air spun slower now, its sands settling as new words appeared before him.

[Reward claimed.]

[Simulation complete.]

The hourglass flickered, and for a moment, Yan Xiu thought it might vanish entirely. But it stayed, faint and quiet, as if waiting for his next step.

Yan Xiu tightened his grip on the Flowing Tide Secret Art and looked around the dimly lit hut. The simulation had been a warning—a glimpse of what could happen if he remained complacent.

"This life… it's not going to be easy. But I won't let it end like that simulation. If power is what I need to survive, then I'll seize it."

He stood, his resolve firm as he opened the book and began to study the first page. Every stroke of the script and diagram became etched into his memory, his mind focused on a single thought:

"I'll master this technique. No matter what it takes. Based on that simulation, I have only four years left, I don't if all of this is real, if this life is real, but I am not going to waste a single second of it!

To be continued...

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