I Have a Cultivation Simulator

Buzz—The illusory text rapidly began to reform.

[Name: Zhou Qing]

[Race: Human]

[Strength: Mortal]

[Age: 16]

[Talent: None]

[Simulations Remaining: 1]

...

At that same moment.

"I see... I can consume a simulation attempt to simulate the future. It ends either when I actively choose to exit, or when I die in the simulation."

"At the end of each simulation, I can choose to inherit all the cultivation, realms, memories, and skills I attained within it."

"If I don't choose to inherit them, I can instead bring back a single treasure I acquired during the run."

"Plus, depending on my performance, I can earn a new talent after each run?"

Zhou Qing held his breath. Before crossing over to this world, he had played his fair share of simulation games.

If he really could run simulations here, his future was absolutely limitless.

"What am I waiting for? Let's start the simulation."

Zhou Qing steadied his nerves and, without a second thought, chose to start.

Whoosh.

The illusory text rapidly shifted.

[Year 1: At sixteen, you began studying the Qi Guiding Art day and night.]

[In your free time, you sought out your father, Zhou Shizhong, and mentioned your concerns about the First Prince personally heading to the northern battlefield.]

"This feeling?"

Zhou Qing stroked his chin. Although the simulated future was presented in text...

...he realized that, so long as he willed it, he could actively interfere with his own choices within the simulation.

Or rather, whenever his simulated self faced a dilemma, he would be required to step in and make a choice.

[Upon hearing your concerns, your father Zhou Shizhong looked deeply gratified, remarking, "My son has finally learned to care about court affairs."]

[Afterward, he explained why the First Prince had taken such a course of action.]

[First, the First Prince possessed the strength of a Martial Grandmaster, capable of fighting a hundred men alone on the battlefield. Combined with his royal status, his personal presence in the north meant the barbarians would be driven back within a year at most.]

[Though elderly, the old emperor was still hale and hearty; living another eight to ten years would be no problem at all.]

[Driving back the barbarians would help the First Prince further consolidate his status and prestige, granting him a massive advantage for inheriting the throne.]

[Second, among the other princes, practically none were competent.]

[The old emperor had nine children in total: six princes and three princesses.]

[Aside from the First Prince, the rest simply lacked prestige.]

[Listening to your father's explanation, you remained somewhat worried. Still, seeing his confident expression, you knew it wasn't appropriate to keep pressing the issue.]

[As the youngest young master of the Zhou Family, your status was certainly high, but it was only status. You had very little decision-making power within the family.]

[And even if you convinced him, what then? The First Prince had made his decision. Everyone inside and outside the imperial court knew he was heading to the northern battlefield. If he backed out now, it would deal a severe blow to his reputation.]

[You could only hope everything went exactly as the First Prince predicted, ending in a swift and decisive victory up north.]

[To prepare for the worst-case scenario, you secretly set up over a dozen "secret bases" hidden in various corners of the capital, stocking them with enough food, water, silver, and identification papers.]

[You hoped these "secret bases" would never need to be used.]

[Six months later, with a grand send-off from civil and military officials, the First Prince departed for the northern battlefield.]

[Year 2: At seventeen, you faintly sensed the obscure Qi permeating heaven and earth.]

[You then attempted to draw this Qi into your body.]

[The hardest part of cultivating the Qi Guiding Art was the first step—sensing the existence of Qi.]

[As long as one could sense it, it meant they possessed a Spirit Root, giving them the potential to become an immortal cultivator.]

Seeing this, Zhou Qing felt a surge of excitement.

His biggest fear had been lacking a Spirit Root.

Now, it seemed his luck in this life wasn't too bad.

"I wonder what tier my Spirit Root belongs to..."

Zhou Qing mused.

According to the descriptions in the Qi Guiding Art, Spirit Roots were divided by grade.

The lowest was naturally the Low-Grade Spirit Root, followed by the Mid-Grade Spirit Root and High-Grade Spirit Root.

Rumor had it that there were even rarer talents above the High-Grade Spirit Root, but those were far beyond what the Qi Guiding Art could record.

[After a night of hard work, your attempts to draw Qi into your body yielded little result. But you didn't give up; instead, you were full of drive.]

[The next day, while strolling through the estate, you saw your father Zhou Shizhong walk out with a grim expression. Your eldest brother Zhou Wen and second brother Zhou Wu also looked deeply troubled.]

[You hurried over and asked what had happened.]

["His Majesty suddenly fainted. All the imperial physicians have been summoned to the palace."]

[Your second brother, Zhou Wu, said in a hushed voice.]

[This was a top-secret matter within the palace. Only because Zhou Shizhong was a commander in the Imperial Guard did he catch wind of it early. And Zhou Wu, as the second young master who shadowed his father daily, learned of it as well.]

[Learning that the old emperor had suddenly collapsed, your brow twitched with unease. You felt a major event was about to unfold.]

[That night, you had Dachun stand guard outside your door at all times.]

[The first half of the night passed without incident. Just as you thought everything would blow over, you faintly heard the sound of violent clashes.]

[Followed immediately by screams of slaughter.]

[Finally, a deep voice rang out:]

["Zhou Shizhong has committed treason and colluded with the enemy! Spare no one in the Zhou Estate!"]

[You jolted out of bed, realizing that your worst fears had come true.]

["Dachun!"]

[You pushed open the door, intending to have Dachun escort you out of the estate.]

[But Dachun wasn't outside. The sounds of battle must have drawn him away.]

[Without hesitation, you fled the room and made for the back door of the estate.]

[Regardless of whether the Zhou Family could hold off the attackers, saving yourself was your top priority.]

[Not long after you left the room, dozens of towering, armored figures arrived.]

[The towering figure in the lead had eyes like torches and spotted you instantly.]

["Take him!"]

[The dozens of armored men rapidly closed in.]

[Despair filled your heart. With your frail frame, once surrounded, there would be zero chance of escape.]

[However, you realized the enemy didn't seem to want you dead; otherwise, they wouldn't have given the order to 'take' you.]

[Just as the towering armored figures were about to catch you...]

["Young Master!"]

[A furious roar echoed.]

[It was Dachun.]

[His mountain-like frame planted itself firmly behind you, blocking the path.]

["Run, Young Master! I'll hold them off!"]

[Dachun charged right into the dozens of armored figures.]

[Swords flashed and shadows danced.]

["Run!"]

[You didn't hesitate. This was a chance Dachun bought with his life.]

[Those dozens of armored figures were fully armed, while Dachun didn't even have a decent weapon. Charging in like that was begging for death.]

"Good Dachun!"

Outside the simulation, Zhou Qing was deeply moved. He had always known Dachun's loyalty was unquestionable.

But seeing Dachun trade his life just to give him a chance to escape still stirred his heart.

[Soon, you slipped through the back door and left the Zhou Estate.]

[This back door was incredibly well-hidden; even most of the servants in the estate didn't know it existed.]

[After leaving, you didn't run around blindly. Instead, you followed a memorized route to one of your pre-prepared "secret bases."]

[Over a year ago, you had prepared over a dozen of these bases, scattered all across the capital.]

[You never expected to actually use them today.]

[Inside the modest courtyard, you caught your breath. This base was tucked into a corner of the capital, yet you could still hear the sounds of slaughter echoing.]

[Your heart was heavy with worry. You had escaped, but what about the countless others in the Zhou Estate?]

[But you could barely protect yourself right now. You had no power to care for anyone else.]

[Several hours passed. Suddenly, you saw a dark shadow dart inside.]

["Damn it!"]

[You paled in shock. Had the enemy tracked you here through some trail you left behind?]

[But you quickly realized that the darting shadow, clad in tattered clothes, was actually Dachun.]

["Dachun!"]

[Your eyes went wide. "You're not dead?" you blurted out.]

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