In small town within a fast world mainly ruled by cultivators.
Zhen Wu walked unseen through the bustling town, his presence masked by the Perfect Ghost Technique. Even the Universal Will would find it impossible to detect him now. His body remained in his palace, a flawless clone occupying his place, while his incorporeal form shadowed the target he had discovered hours earlier.
Before him was a young man with all the hallmarks of a nobody, He was lean, his disheveled hair lending him a roguish charm. His demeanor, though confident, was marred by a subtle desperation. Zhen Wu observed as the young man strode down the cobbled streets, seemingly lost in thought but periodically glancing at a gleaming, ethereal interface only he could see.
"Alright," the young man muttered under his breath. "The simulation says I'll need to perfect this sword technique by tomorrow. Got it." He reached for a sheathed blade at his side and practiced a swift, fluid motion. Though crude, his movements carried surprising sharpness for someone so green.
Zhen Wu's expression remained impassive, but his mind churned. This one practices techniques far beyond his apparent capability. Yet there is no sign of excessive training or the use of external artifacts. Curious.
The young man paused his swordplay, scanning the street. His eyes caught sight of a woman walking briskly past, her gaze averted. Zhen Wu noted the faint tension in the man's body as he called out.
"Liya! Wait!"
The woman stopped, her shoulders stiff. She turned, her expression both annoyed and wary. "What do you want now, Jian?"
Zhen Wu followed silently, his gaze narrowing as the interaction unfolded.
"I just wanted to apologize," Jian said, his voice laced with earnestness. "I know I overstepped yesterday."
"Overstepped?" Liya scoffed, folding her arms. "You mean when you tried to lecture me about cultivation methods, only to get knocked flat on your back?"
Zhen Wu's lips twitched into the faintest smirk. The young man's arrogance had clearly led to his humiliation.
"I wasn't trying to lecture you," Jian said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I just… wanted to help."
"Help?" Liya's eyes flashed with disdain. "I don't need help from someone who can't even stand their ground."
Jian flinched, but his resolve didn't waver since his cheat was activated last day. "I've been working on that. Look, I know I'm not there yet, but I'll prove myself."
Liya rolled her eyes and walked away without another word. Jian watched her retreating form, determination hardening his features. "The simulator says she'll need my help tomorrow," he murmured to himself. "I'll be ready."
Zhen Wu's interest deepened. The boy's strange behavior wasn't mere arrogance; it was guided by foreknowledge. This "simulator" he referenced had given him not only insight into the future but also skills and techniques beyond his current level, including his own Heavenly Foundation method.
Zhen Wu scaned this entire world for a copy of his own work, this his surprise there was indeed one next to a skeleton of cultivator in a deep cave, however that place is countless kilometers away from the spot, in the wilderness, obviously this young man didn't cross all the distance.
More importantly he could see that the dust on the skeleton and the copy of his technique was not touched at all for long years, so where would've he obtained it.
Zhen Wu could sense the copy and is was the only one we within the surrounding galaxies.
" Curious! how did he get it?"
....
The young man continued his journey, his path seemingly random but, to Zhen Wu's trained eyes, deliberate. He stopped at a small merchant stall, purchasing a vial of rare medicinal herbs, then headed toward the town outskirts.
As Jian reached an isolated clearing, he drew his sword again. "Let's see… in The simulation this next step is key." He moved into a sequence of strikes, his form precise, almost mechanical. Each motion carried a hint of future mastery, as though years of practice had been condensed into moments.
Zhen Wu remained motionless, his golden eyes tracking every detail. He's using borrowed strength somehow. This is not natural progress.
Jian suddenly stopped, glancing at the interface again. "Wait… A fight tomorrow? Against… Oh no." His face paled, and he muttered rapidly. "I'm not ready for that. Not even close."
He paced nervously, the sword clutched tightly in his hand. "What do I do? If I lose, I… No, I'll just run the simulation again. It'll give me something. It always does."
Zhen Wu's mind sharpened at the admission. A treasure that rewrites destiny and grants knowledge of future events? No wonder the Universal Will is involved.
The young man opened his interface again, scrolling through options visible only to him. "huh? I didn't live long this time! Well let's pick : Perfect Parry? No, too defensive. Lightning Step? Maybe… Ah, there it is. 'Moment of Clarity.' That should tip the scales."
He selected the ability, and a subtle ripple of energy surrounded him. Jian closed his eyes, inhaling deeply as newfound calm overtook his features. When he opened them, they were steady, his earlier panic replaced by quiet confidence.
Zhen Wu watched, his curiosity mingled with irritation. The boy's reliance on this simulator was blatant, and yet the Universal Will had chosen him as a pawn in its schemes. What annoyed Zhen Wu more was the thought of what else this treasure might be capable of.
The moon rose high, casting pale light over the clearing. Jian sheathed his sword and began walking back toward the town. Zhen Wu followed at a leisurely pace, his steps soundless, his presence unfelt.
This pawn is dangerous not because of his own strength but because of the hand that moves him, Zhen Wu thought.
As Jian disappeared into the town, Zhen Wu paused at the edge of the clearing, his gaze lingering on the path the boy had taken. The pieces were falling into place, but the full picture remained elusive. For now, he would continue to observe, unraveling the threads of this plot one by one.
With a quiet hum of power, Zhen Wu vanished, leaving only the faintest ripple in the night air.