The crimson sun dipped below the jagged peaks of the Windhowl Mountains, casting long shadows over Liuyun City. The bustling streets buzzed with activity as commoners rushed to complete their errands before the city gates closed for the night. Merchants barked prices, children laughed, and the distant clang of swords rang from sect training grounds.
In a cramped room on the outskirts of the city, a young man jolted awake. His chest heaved, sweat slicking his brow. He stared at the cracked wooden ceiling above him, his breaths uneven.
Shen Tian had died.
No, that wasn't right. He was alive, but this body wasn't his own. Memoriesâboth foreign and familiarâflooded his mind. The humdrum monotony of his modern life was now a distant past. In its place was the life of another Shen Tian, a youth born to a commoner family in this strange worldâa world steeped in cultivation, sects, and immortals.
"I transmigratedâŚ" he whispered, disbelief thick in his voice.
The memories of this world surged like a tide. Here, power was everything. The strong soared through the skies, split mountains with a flick of their sleeves, and lived for centuries, while the weak struggled to survive, chained to mortality.
Yet, this body he now inhabited belonged to one of the weakest. A young man stuck in the Body Tempering realm, barely having strengthened his limbs. His family was long gone, leaving him with nothing but a dilapidated house and a future devoid of hope.
"Great," Shen Tian muttered, sitting up. His hand brushed against the coarse blanket. "I transmigrated into a bottom-tier characterâŚ"
But just as despair began to creep into his heart, a strange sensation rippled through his mind.
A faint golden light emerged in his vision, hovering in midair. A scroll, ancient and ethereal, slowly unraveled before him. The characters on its surface glowed faintly, as if they were alive, their strokes imbued with mystic power.
Heavenly Simulation Codex
A voice, calm and commanding, resonated in his mind:
"Welcome, bearer. The Heavenly Simulation Codex allows you to simulate possibilities, foresee paths, and optimize your cultivation journey. The heavens may not favor you, but with the Codex, you may defy your fate."
Shen Tian's heart raced. A system? No, this wasn't some game-like guideâit was a heavenly artifact, powerful beyond mortal comprehension. The golden light pulsed again, and a panel of options unfolded:
"Option 1: Continue mundane cultivation.
Option 2: Join a low-ranked sect and begin an average life as an outer disciple.
Option 3: Take a riskâventure into the nearby Celestial Wind Forest in search of opportunity."
Shen Tian's eyes flicked over the choices. The first was a guaranteed path to mediocrity. The second wasn't much better; he'd rot away as a servant in some sect, mocked for his lack of talent. The thirdâŚ
His breath hitched. The Celestial Wind Forest was dangerous, teeming with spiritual beasts and untamed Qi, but it was also a land of opportunities. Treasures from ancient times and natural formations often lay hidden, waiting for the daring to claim them.
"I choose Option 3."
The scroll glowed brighter, and the world dissolved around him.
Simulation: Celestial Wind Forest
Shen Tian blinked as the air around him thickened with spiritual energy. He now stood on the outskirts of the Celestial Wind Forest, a vast expanse of towering trees whose canopies seemed to touch the heavens. Pale mist curled around ancient trunks, and the faint hum of Qi resonated in the atmosphere. The ground beneath his feet was soft with moss, dotted with glowing mushrooms that released faint luminescent spores.
The simulation felt unnervingly real. Every sound, scent, and sensation grounded him in this eerie forest. The distant cries of spiritual beasts echoed through the trees, and Shen Tian couldn't help but tense.
He adjusted his stance, recalling the meager training this body had undergone. His limbs were clumsy, his movements unrefined. "So this is what I'm working withâŚ" he muttered bitterly.
The forest wasn't just aliveâit pulsed with danger. His footsteps were careful, his eyes scanning for anything that moved. He passed a cluster of crimson-leafed Bloodshade Vines, careful not to touch them. These vines were infamous for their ability to drain the blood of any living thing that came too close.
Hours passed, or at least it felt like it. He found himself drawn toward a faint glow in the distance. The mist parted to reveal a shimmering pool of water, nestled in a grove of jade-like trees.
"A Heavenly Essence Pond!" Shen Tian gasped.
This natural treasure was a blessing for any cultivator. Bathing in its waters would cleanse the body of impurities, strengthening the foundation for cultivation. Even a talentless martial artist could gain a breakthrough after soaking in its essence.
But as he stepped closer, the atmosphere changed. The forest grew still, unnervingly quiet. A guttural growl rumbled from the shadows, and Shen Tian froze.
Emerging from the darkness was a massive Ironclaw Bear, its silver fur bristling and its golden eyes locked onto him. This was no ordinary beastâits Qi rippled with strength at the peak of the Body Tempering realm, far beyond Shen Tian's ability to fight.
The bear roared, shaking the air around it. Shen Tian's legs refused to move, terror gripping him as the beast charged.
The simulation froze.
The Heavenly Codex's voice resonated:
"Chance of survival: 40%.
Potential gain: Breakthrough in cultivation.
Risk: High. Direct confrontation with the Ironclaw Bear is ill-advised."
Shen Tian's surroundings dissolved, and he found himself back in his dimly lit room, panting. The simulation was over, but the fear from facing the bear still lingered.
The Codex glimmered faintly, offering him insights into his next steps:
"Prepare.
Strengthen your body.
Seek tools to tip the balance."
Shen Tian clenched his fists. The simulation had given him a glimpse of opportunityâand danger. The Heavenly Essence Pond could be his chance to rise above mediocrity, but only if he could survive to claim it.
"This world isn't forgiving," Shen Tian murmured. "If I want to live, I'll have to be smart. I'll need strength, and I'll need to plan."
The path ahead was treacherous, but Shen Tian felt hope. The Heavenly Simulation Codex wasn't just a toolâit was his key to rewriting his destiny.