Chapter 1 The Activation of the Immortal Cultivation Simulator
"Li Changsheng, the fishing tax for this month is due tomorrow. Don't make Leopard Lord come looking for you himself!"
In the bustling market, a ruffian stopped a young boy dressed as a fisherman, speaking with disdain.
The people around them instinctively moved away, and the other fishermen kept their heads down, avoiding the scene.
"Don't worry, big brother. The fishing tax will be paid on time tomorrow. I won't make things difficult for you," Li Changsheng replied with a bitter smile.
He was originally an ordinary young man from Blue Star. To save a little girl who was crossing the road, he was hit by a car and transported to this alternate world.
Legends in this world spoke of immortals who could travel a thousand miles in a day and decapitate enemies from a distance, but Li Changsheng had never seen such beings.
He only knew that within the Canal Gang, there were warriors capable of taking on a hundred foes single-handedly. This was the foundation that allowed the Canal Gang to dominate the Silver Moon Lake for decades, unshaken.
The Canal Gang controlled the entire market around Silver Moon Lake. Not only did the fishermen have to give up 20% of their earnings from selling fish to the guild, but they also had to pay a fishing tax every mid-month.
Li Changsheng's father in this life had been beaten by Leopard Lord, the local boss of the Canal Gang who managed the Sanshui Ferry market, for being one day late with the fishing tax. He fell ill and passed away within three months.
When you're under someone else's roof, you have no choice but to lower your head.
Leopard Lord was a martial artist, albeit a low-level one. However, even a low-level martial artist was far beyond the capabilities of a malnourished fisherman like Li Changsheng.
"That's good then!"
The ruffian patted Li Changsheng's face, nodded in satisfaction, and let him go.
"I'm probably the most pitiful transmigrator ever!"
After distancing himself from the Canal Gang's thugs, Li Changsheng sighed deeply and murmured:
"Others who transmigrate become young masters of immortal families, heirs to noble houses, or at the very least, wealthy young men. But I'm just a miserable fisherman, struggling to make ends meet by fishing on my eighteenth birthday."
He had also thought about learning martial arts to change his fate, but the martial arts schools required dozens of taels of silver just to get started. The subsequent training required even more money, which was far beyond the means of a small fisherman like him.
When he was younger, he had inquired around and learned that the old cripple in the east of the city had been a Houtian-level warrior in his youth. Now, due to his disability, he could no longer exhibit much of his former strength, and because of his age, no one hired him. For just ten taels of silver, he would teach martial arts to the poor. Many martial artists in Witch Mountain City had learned from the old cripple.
But even ten taels of silver was beyond Li Changsheng's reach.
Just as Li Changsheng was trudging home in despair.
"Ding!"
"Detected that the host has reached the age of eighteen. Anti-indulgence system deactivated. Immortal Cultivation Simulator activated!"
A mechanical voice echoed in Li Changsheng's ears.
Before his eyes, a virtual panel appeared, displaying densely packed text.
[Immortal Cultivation Simulator System activated.] [Activation gift: One simulation opportunity.] [To use multiple times, you must purchase additional opportunities.] [A 20% handling fee will be charged for each recharge.] [Detected that the host has one unused simulation opportunity. Would you like to use the Immortal Cultivation Simulator now?]
'Is this my golden finger?'
Li Changsheng's face lit up with ecstasy!
After eighteen years of transmigration, the golden finger had finally arrived!
As an avid reader of novels, he had hoped to activate a golden finger when he first transmigrated. But after eighteen years of struggle, he had almost given up.
To think the golden finger activated today!
"However, this golden finger has a strong 'Big Goose Corporation' vibe," Li Changsheng muttered. "No, it's even worse than Big Goose Corporation. Big Goose just wants you to spend money, but this Immortal Cultivation Simulator even charges a 20% handling fee for recharging!"
"System, what are your functions?" Li Changsheng silently asked.
...
No response!
'So, it's not an intelligent system!'
Li Changsheng shook his head, but he didn't resent the system. After all, it was his only hope for a turnaround.
"Start the simulation!"
[Simulation started.]
[One day later, you pay this month's fishing tax to Leopard Lord of the Canal Gang and go out to fish. For several days, your catches are meager, and you grow dissatisfied.]
[On the ninth day, you continue fishing. At noon, a fierce storm hits, and you hurry back, taking shelter on a small island near Moon Bay. There, you unexpectedly find a freshly matured Bone Tempering Grass.]
[You return to the market. Knowing that you lack the strength to keep the Bone Tempering Grass, you sell it to the Canal Gang for ten taels of silver.]
[That night, Leopard Lord leads a group into your home and slits your throat!] [You are dead!] [Simulation ended. You may retain one of the following:]
[Option one: Cultivation level at age eighteen.] [Option two: Cultivation combat experience at age eighteen.]
Bone Tempering Grass was a rare spiritual herb that was extremely valuable even to Houtian-level warriors. The last time someone found it near Silver Moon Lake was decades ago. Who would have thought that Li Changsheng would have the fortune to stumble upon one while seeking shelter from the storm?
Li Changsheng frowned slightly.
The choices he made during the simulation were logical. If he had brought the Bone Tempering Grass ashore, it would have been impossible to avoid the Canal Gang's eyes. Selling it to them was the only way to survive.
What surprised him was that the Bone Tempering Grass, which was worth two hundred taels, only fetched him ten taels, and even then, he had attracted the attention of Leopard Lord!
"Choose option two," Li Changsheng whispered softly.
As he made his choice, bits of fishing experience entered his mind. Although they were minor, Li Changsheng could clearly feel the difference.
Home!
Without hesitation, Li Changsheng rushed back to his dilapidated thatched hut in the fishing village. In a corner of the outhouse, he dug up a black cloth bundle buried in the soil.
He didn't mind that the bundle had been buried in the outhouse and quickly retrieved it.
Back in his bedroom, he unwrapped the black cloth, revealing several pieces of broken silver and copper coins.
[Detected that the host possesses money. Would you like to recharge now?]
"Recharge five taels of silver."
Li Changsheng winced at the thought.
Over two decades, he and his late father had only managed to save a little over ten taels of silver, most of which had been left by his father for his future marriage. Now, five taels were gone in an instant.
[Recharge successful. Balance: 4 credits.] [Would you like to use the Immortal Cultivation Simulator now? One use costs 1 credit.]
'How ruthless. That's one simulation opportunity gone.'
Li Changsheng sighed inwardly, but without hesitation, he whispered:
"Start the simulation."
[Simulation begins.]
[On the second day, you pay the Canal Gang's fishing tax and rest at home to recuperate.]
[On the eighth day, you search for Bone Tempering Grass on a small island near Moon Bay but find nothing.]
[On the ninth day, a fierce storm with thunder and lightning hits. Stimulated by the lightning, the Bone Tempering Grass unfurls, and you successfully obtain one. Continuing your search, you find another one a hundred meters away.]
[You take both Bone Tempering Grass plants deep into Silver Moon Lake, boil them into a medicinal porridge, and consume it all in one sitting. Since you have no martial arts training, the energy from the porridge remains dormant in your body.]
[On the second day, you return to the market as usual. After selling your catch, you take all your money to Black Mountain City to find the old cripple.]
[You pay ten taels of silver and learn the Mountain Splitting Fist from the old cripple.]
[Although you can't afford the medicinal baths required for learning the Mountain Splitting Fist, the energy from the Bone Tempering Grass allows you to progress rapidly.]
[The old cripple mistakes you for a prodigy and teaches you everything he knows.]
[Three months later, the energy from the Bone Tempering Grass is exhausted, and you barely manage to grasp the basics of the Mountain Splitting Fist.]
[Another month later, due to your slow progress, the old cripple kicks you out.]
[You return to Silver Moon Lake, fishing while practicing your martial arts.]
[At forty, you finally break through to the Houtian stage, becoming an early-stage Houtian warrior and gaining some renown in Witch Mountain City.]
[At fifty, your energy begins to decline, and you lose hope of further advancement. You settle in Witch Mountain City and take on a few disciples.]
[At fifty-seven, due to years of training without medicinal baths, the hidden injuries in your body flare up, and you die!]
[Simulation ended. You may retain one of the following:]
[Option one: Cultivation level at age fifty-seven.] [Option two: Cultivation combat experience at age fifty-seven.] (PS: Option one increases your level, while option two improves skill proficiency and combat experience.)
What the hell? After cultivating until fifty-seven, I only reached the early Houtian stage, and then died from hidden injuries!
Li Changsheng frowned slightly but soon exhaled deeply and made his choice without hesitation.
"Choose option one!"
Boom!
A warm, stream-like energy surged from his dantian, quickly spreading throughout his body. It took half a moment before it gradually subsided.
"So this is internal energy?"
Feeling the immense power within, Li Changsheng suddenly struck out with his palm.
Crack!
The bamboo bed that had accompanied him for more than a decade shattered into pieces.
Staring at the broken bed, Li Changsheng murmured:
"Finally, I have the power to protect myself!"