Chapter One: The Era of Universal Simulation

[The Life Lamp's energy is sufficient. You may initiate one more simulation.]

[Please note, no matter how many years are experienced in each simulated life, only one day will pass in the main world.]

[The higher the score in your simulated life, the more abundant the rewards.]

[By breaking the limits of your simulated life, you can obtain all rewards: rare treasures, cultivation methods, even immortality.]

[Would you like to ignite the Life Lamp and illuminate your second simulated life?]

Liquor City.

Qingyun First High School.

On the Anchor Square.

Three thousand sixteen-year-old youths sat densely packed on the Simulation Platform.

The Simulation Platform rose just over a meter high, its pitch-black surface refracting a spectrum of colors, radiating mysterious ripples of time and space.

Students participating in the simulated life could use the platform to anchor their souls and ignite the Life Lamp, thus entering the world of simulation, to experience a brilliant, dazzling alternate existence.

Amid the noise.

Lin Qiye let out a long, heavy breath. His handsome, chiseled features appeared especially cold and steady, exuding an innate calm and sense of security.

Yet the faint tremor at the corner of his eye, and the way his right thumb pressed hard against his index finger's knuckle, betrayed the tension within.

Beside him.

Chen Fan, his classmate of four years, wore his anxiety plainly on his sweat-dappled face.

"Brother Ye, we've already failed once. We only have one chance left..."

"If we fail a second time, the Life Lamp won't have enough energy for a third simulation. We'll be forced to attach ourselves to a Grand Traveler, relegated to breeding machines for life—not to mention suffering the Black Mist's corrosion, living only thirty years!"

"Do you... have... any confidence?"

Because of Lin Qiye’s habitual calm, Chen Fan instinctively looked to him for reassurance, as he always had.

But this time was different. Though Lin Qiye seemed composed on the surface, inside he was in utter turmoil, even a little pessimistic...

As a transmigrator, he'd seen through it all.

Life was riddled with tragedy, whether in reality or simulation.

You never knew whether tomorrow or disaster would come first.

For instance, Lin Qiye’s first simulation had been absurd and miserable.

[Age 0: You were born a boy, but premature and frail.]

[Age 1: Your family is poor. Seeing you sickly and unattractive, your parents throw you into a cesspit to drown. You die.]

His first simulation—utter carnage.

As a newborn, Lin Qiye hadn't even had time to struggle before the foul stench overwhelmed him, squandering a precious chance at simulated life.

If the second simulation turned out just as wretched—

He'd truly be finished!

Still.

To instill confidence in his friend, Lin Qiye forced a smile.

"Don't be afraid. We've already hit rock bottom; any step is a step upward. Come on! As long as luck is on our side and we're careful, we can definitely condense the Life Lamp Gem and defy fate!"

"No one can be unlucky forever!"

Hearing Lin Qiye’s words, Chen Fan nodded vigorously.

"Thank you, Brother Ye. You always make me feel more confident!"

Seeing his friend’s spirits lift,

Lin Qiye returned a gentle smile.

But inside... he was tormented.

His right thumb had squeezed his index knuckle blue.

Damn it!

Lin Qiye was unwilling—truly unwilling!

Having lived two lives, how could he resign himself to mediocrity?

Yet...

All three thousand youths present were failures from their first simulation.

After today, ninety-eight percent of them would leave in defeat, fade into the crowd, eke out a meager existence, and die young.

Tragedy in life is utterly unreasonable.

Suddenly.

Overhead, the school’s broadcast sounded.

[Students attempting your second simulated life, please anchor your souls to the Simulation Platform and ignite your Life Lamp.]

[With your soul anchored, you won’t get lost. Only then can your soul return with your body to the main world. Igniting the Life Lamp will illuminate your life’s journey, allowing you to foresee key events and make changes.]

[Remember, in your simulated life, be cautious and never careless. Break through your limits and you can become a true Grand Traveler, defying fate!]

As the announcement echoed out, the three thousand students felt their hearts leap into their throats.

They were all failures from the first trial.

If they missed this last chance, their lives would end as nothing more than indentured laborers.

This was the moment that would decide their destinies.

And as a transmigrator, how could Lin Qiye settle for mediocrity?

"Damn it! It’s do-or-die! If you won’t submit, fight! I refuse to believe I’m doomed to be a failure forever!"

Lin Qiye spat on the ground, his eyes flashing with fierce, unyielding resolve.

This time.

No matter the initial hand he was dealt, he would defy fate and triumph!

With that thought,

Lin Qiye gritted his teeth and murmured,

"Anchor the soul. Ignite the Life Lamp. Illuminate the simulated life!"

As his words fell,

The Simulation Platform blazed with brilliant light.

Lin Qiye was enveloped in a cocoon of primordial radiance.

[Soul strength anomaly detected. Awakening permanent SSS-level talent: 'Genesis Simulation'—Genesis Simulation.]

[Genesis Simulation can simulate anything. The more knowledge mastered, the more exquisite the simulation. However, each simulation consumes Destiny Points (Destiny Points are gained by altering key fate events. Current Destiny Points: 100...)]

The sudden voice

Left Lin Qiye stunned.

A permanent SSS-level talent?

Genesis Simulation?

Isn’t this the golden finger every transmigrator dreams of?

Lin Qiye was overwhelmed with excitement.

He hadn’t even had time to explore his golden finger.

The system prompt chimed again.

[Simulated life begins! The Life Lamp burns, illuminating your fate—]

[In this world, there is no spiritual energy, only technology. Some nations are at war, some stagnant, some struggle to rise after humiliation.]

[Age 0: You are born into an ordinary city family, a boy.]

[Age 2: You are struck by a strange illness, becoming a hydrocephalic child with diminished intelligence.]

[Age 9: You remain developmentally delayed and mentally impaired.]

[Age 15: You drop out of school. Your parents, worn with worry, fall ill and pass away.]

[Age 16: Relatives seize your family home; you become a street beggar.]

[Age 17: Mentally impaired and hydrocephalic, you also develop a fatal disease common in youth.]

[Age 18: Your terminal illness erupts. After endless suffering, you die beneath an overpass.]

[Evaluation: The rope always snaps where it's thinnest; misfortune seeks out those most afflicted. Your life is a thorough tragedy. Hydrocephalic, mentally impaired, orphaned, dispossessed, impoverished, terminally ill in youth... The fact you survived to eighteen is itself a miracle.]

[Would you like to enter the simulated life and defy fate?]

Lin Qiye, still excited a moment ago, read through this brief and bleak life.

He was completely numb.

Age 2: hydrocephalic. Age 9: mentally impaired. Age 15: parents dead. Age 16: beggar. Age 17: terminal illness. Age 18: death.

Utterly miserable.

In a life with not a ray of hope, could fate really be defied?

Why did the illness strike?

Why hydrocephalic, mentally impaired?

And the terminal youth disease—no matter what, that was supposed to be incurable!

Terminal means uncurable—by definition...

To clear this simulation, he would need to survive the sudden illness at age two, endure his parents’ deaths, and overcome the terminal disease at eighteen!

All three events were nightmare-level challenges.

Lin Qiye’s face was ashen.

He could only pin his hopes on his permanent SSS-level talent.

"Genesis Simulation talent—can it simulate a viable plan?"

Lin Qiye wanted to test the power of his Genesis talent.

[With 100 Destiny Points, a complete plan cannot be simulated. You should use simulation choices during your life.]

His subconscious quietly advised him.

Lin Qiye pondered deeply.

He’d follow his intuition.

He was not wealthy—so every bit of strength must be used at the crucial moment, not wasted.

With that in mind,

Lin Qiye exhaled deeply, his gaze steely: "Begin the simulation! I will defy fate!"

As the words left his lips,

The system prompt sounded.

[Entering simulated life. All scientific knowledge from the main world is now blocked and cannot be transferred into the simulation. Simulated life officially begins...]