Martial Peak: Life Simulator

Yan Xiu's eyes flicked between the options, his mind racing as he weighed the potential benefits.

Battle Experience was tempting. It would undoubtedly enhance his combat skills, perhaps even save his life in the near future. But compared to the other two rewards, it simply wasn't enough.

His gaze lingered on the first option: Flowing Sword Art. It was a technique he had created during the simulation, one that perfectly complemented his Flowing Tide Secret Art. Choosing it now would save him months of painstaking effort and grant him immediate proficiency, but…

He turned his attention to the second option: A bottle of Dragon Transformation Pond's water.

The allure of the golden liquid was undeniable. His simulated self had stumbled upon it by sheer luck, narrowly avoiding detection by Immortal Ascension Realm experts who could have easily ended him. The water's effects had been extraordinary—strengthening and purifiying his body, refining his essence, and supercharging his cultivation. It was an opportunity he might never encounter again, at least not without immense risk.

His heart pounded as he deliberated, the weight of the decision pressing on him. The Flowing Sword Art is something I can create again if I put in the time. But the Dragon Transformation Pond's water… That's beyond my current reach. My simulated self managed to get into the cave just because the two guards were drinking. Even if I get stronger, it would still be a gamble to obtain it. Defeating those two won't certainly be easy.

Yan Xiu clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. "The water," he murmured, his voice steady. "I choose the bottle of Dragon Transformation Pond's water."

The golden text shimmered in acknowledgment, then faded away. A radiant light materialized before him, condensing into a small, intricately designed jade bottle. Yan Xiu reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he grasped it. The bottle was cool to the touch, its surface etched with ancient runes that seemed to hum faintly with energy.

Yan Xiu's enthusiasm overflowed as he uncorked the jade bottle, the rich aroma of the Dragon Transformation Pond's water immediately enveloping him. The essence was so potent that it seemed to stir the Qi within his body.

He hesitated for a moment, the excitement dimming as a critical thought struck him. "Ehm… how do I use it?" he muttered to himself, furrowing his brows. "Should I just pour it all over my body? In the simulation, I just entered the pond, and the effects happened naturally. But this bottle… it's not enough to submerge myself in."

A brief pause later, another idea surfaced. "Should I drink it?" His eyes flickered with doubt. "No… that could kill me," he concluded firmly.

Yan Xiu began pacing, muttering potential ideas under his breath, until suddenly, inspiration struck. His eyes lit up. "Simulate the next few minutes!" he shouted eagerly.

The golden words instantly reappeared:

[Simulating the next few minutes will take up 0.000006 years. Would you like to proceed?]

Yan Xiu didn't hesitate. "Yeah, simulate myself pouring the Dragon Transformation Pond's water all over my body!"

[Simulating a certain action will require triple the amount of Temporal Energy. Would you like to proceed anyway?]

At this, Yan Xiu's curiosity deepened. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Triple the energy? That makes sense… altering the future in a certain way must be much harder than passively naturally letting it happen. My simulated self wouldn't have dared to risk wasting the water… he's me after all!"

With a decisive nod, he said, "Yes!"

[Simulation Initiating…]

Golden text began to unravel before his eyes, displaying a vivid account of the next three minutes.

[Minute 1: Yan Xiu carefully uncorked the bottle, holding it reverently as if it were a divine relic. He took a deep breath before tilting it, allowing the liquid to flow over his body. The golden water clung to his skin, sinking into his pores almost immediately. The sensation was odd—neither cold nor hot, but rather a neutral, soothing coolness that spread evenly across his flesh.]

[Minute 2: The effects began to manifest. The Dragon Transformation Pond's water started to work on his flesh, muscles, and bones, strengthening them subtly. The soothing warmth it exuded seemed to radiate outward, filling him with a calm, steady energy. His body felt lighter, stronger, and more resilient, though the changes were not yet dramatic.]

[Minute 3: The transformation accelerated. The water's essence surged into his meridians, flooding his dantian with such intensity that it was almost overwhelming. The simulation showed Yan Xiu's cultivation breaking through to the 8th Tempered Body Stage in a flash, only for him to immediately cross into the 9th Stage. The brief moment spent at the 8th Stage was so fleeting that it felt as if he'd entirely skipped it.]

Yan Xiu's breathing quickened as the simulation ended, his mind racing with the possibilities. "Pouring the water over my body was incredible," he murmured, a spark of excitement lighting up his eyes. "But what if drinking it yields even greater results?" He couldn't contain his curiosity.

"Simulate myself drinking the Dragon Transformation Pond's water!" he exclaimed, his voice brimming with determination.

The golden text appeared once more:

[Simulating yourself drinking the Dragon Transformation Pond's water will require 0.000018 years. Would you like to proceed?]

"Yes!" Yan Xiu confirmed without hesitation.

[Simulation Initiating…]

[First Minute: Yan Xiu unscrewed the bottle's cap, the faint hum of energy emanating from within growing louder. He tilted the bottle to his lips and took a cautious sip. The water slid down his throat like molten gold, warm and heavy. As he continued to drink, the liquid spread through his body, moving strangely, as if it had a will of its own.

It circulated through his limbs, his chest, and his head, leaving a trail of faint heat in its wake. Yan Xiu shivered at the sensation—it was both invigorating and unsettling.]

[Second Minute: The warmth circulating inside him surged suddenly, igniting into an intense heat. It felt as though a fiery torrent was coursing through his veins, strengthening his flesh, muscles, and bones with every passing moment.

The water didn't stop there. It began working on his Acupuncture Points, clearing obstructions and refining them. His Qi Pathways widened and stabilized, becoming more robust, and his Dantian—his very core of cultivation—pulsed with energy, expanding to accommodate the influx of power.]

[Third Minute: The strengthening continued, but it wasn't just his internal systems that were changing. Yan Xiu's body started to reject impurities, black sludge seeping out of his pores. A wave of nausea hit him, and he leaned forward, vomiting a torrent of impurities his body had harbored for years.

The moment the impurities left his system, he felt weightless. His body seemed to hum with newfound vitality, his Qi roaring like a river. The energy reached a critical point, and then—

Boom!

He felt his cultivation surge as he broke into the 8th Tempered Body Stage, the breakthrough so fast it was as though he skipped the stage entirely. The energy continued to build, and he ascended to the 9th Tempered Body Stage in the blink of an eye.

But it didn't stop there. With a final burst of power, Yan Xiu felt an immense change within him. He entered the Initial Element Realm.]

To be continued...

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How was this chapter? Liked my idea of making Yan Xiu use the Life Simulation to simulate situations like this?

Remember to check out my original novel Hyperborea!