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Life Simulations: Rise of the Overlord

Bab 1: Awakening the Life Simulation System

Azure Continent, Eastern Region.

In the small courtyard of the declining Ling family, 16-year-old Ling Tian practiced diligently under the morning sun. His breaths were even, his movements precise, but there was a lingering frustration in his heart. Despite his efforts and hard work, he was still stuck at the Skin Tempering stage of the Body Tempering Realm, while his peers had long surpassed him.

Ling Tian's thoughts drifted to his past. Originally from Earth, he had transmigrated to this world at the age of ten, awakening his past life's memory in a weak cultivation family. Unlike the protagonists in the stories he read, who often received miraculous gifts or "golden fingers," he had none. His talent was mediocre at best, and he struggled to progress in his cultivation.

The Ling family, once a significant clan, was now in decline. Their strongest member, Ling Tian's father, Ling Xiao, was merely at the Innate Realm, a level far below the true powerhouses of the Azure Continent. This continent was vast, divided into five regions, each ruled by formidable sects and clans. The Ling family resided in a corner of the Eastern Region, constantly under pressure from stronger families.

Ling Tian sighed, pausing his practice to gaze at the sky. His father, Ling Xiao, was a stern yet caring man, always pushing Ling Tian to achieve more despite his low talent. His mother, Mei Lin, was gentle and supportive, a beacon of warmth in the harsh world of cultivation. His younger brother, Ling Feng, was a bright child with potential, already at the Muscle Tempering stage despite being only ten years old.

The Body Tempering Realm is the first realm of cultivation, focusing on refining the physical body to withstand the rigors of higher cultivation levels. It has 5 stages: Skin Tempering, Muscle Tempering, Bone Tempering, Blood Tempering, and Marrow Tempering. Each stage enhances specific aspects of the body, ensuring the cultivator can channel spiritual energy effectively without sustaining damage.

Those with high talents can quickly progress through this realm, while those with mediocre talents will most likely spend their entire lives hovering around this level.

Just as Ling Tian was about to resume his training, a sudden voice echoed in his mind, clear and mechanical:

"Ding! Life Simulation System activated. Welcome, Host!"

Liu Chen blinked in confusion, looking around to see if anyone was around him. Seeing no one, he focused inwardly, and a translucent panel appeared before his eyes.

Ling Tian froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. Could it be? The long-awaited "golden finger" had finally appeared! The Life Simulation System's interface materialized before him, displaying two functions.

Function 1: Free Daily Simulation.

Function 2: Paid Simulation using Spiritual Stones, with a 100% chance of obtaining talents and simulation rewards.

The system explained that Ling Tian could simulate his life once daily for free. Each simulation would provide him with detailed records of his potential future, along with an evaluation of his life. Paid simulations could be performed using Spiritual Stones, with the advantage of getting to choose a talent at the start of the simulation and the cost increasing as his cultivation level rose and the number of simulations performed increased.

Eager to test this newfound power, Ling Tian selected the free simulation option.

[Simulation Starting...]

[Year 1: At the age of 16, you continue your training diligently, but progress is incredibly slow. Despite your best efforts, you remain at the Skin Tempering stage. Your family, though supportive, grows increasingly concerned about your lack of advancement.]

[Year 2: You intensify your training regimen, incorporating medicinal baths and herbal supplements to aid your progress. However, your talent remains low, and you barely make any noticeable improvement. You struggle to break through to the Muscle Tempering stage and stay at the Skin Tempering stage.]

[Year 3: Despite experimenting with different body cultivation techniques, your progress remains sluggish. You barely manage to approach the peak of the Skin Tempering stage. Your frustration grows, but so does your determination.]

[Year 4: At the age of 20, you finally reach the peak of the Skin Tempering stage. However, it takes you nearly the entire year to break through to the Muscle Tempering stage. The gap between you and your peers continues to widen.]

[Year 5: With your newfound strength, you start to participate in minor family missions, assisting in various tasks. Your contributions, though small, earn you some recognition within the family. Your progress in the Muscle Tempering stage is agonizingly slow. You manage to strengthen your muscles slightly, but you are far from reaching the next level. Your family's concern deepens, but they continue to support you.]

[Year 6: At 22, you continue to struggle. You barely make it to the mid-level of the Muscle Tempering stage. Your peers are advancing rapidly, leaving you further behind. Despite this, you do not lose hope and continue to push forward.]

[Year 10: The next four years are a relentless struggle. By the age of 26, you finally reach the peak of the Muscle Tempering stage, but it takes all your effort and resources. You begin the arduous process of Bone Tempering, knowing the road ahead is long and difficult.]

[Year 15: Progress through the Bone Tempering stage is excruciatingly slow. You face numerous challenges and setbacks, but your resolve remains unbroken. By the age of 31, you are still in the early stages of Bone Tempering.]

[Year 20: At 36, you manage to reach the mid-level of Bone Tempering. Your body becomes slightly stronger, but the gap between you and other cultivators your age remains vast. Your family continues to support you, though their hopes waver and keep declining.]

[Year 25: By the age of 41, you finally reach the peak of Bone Tempering. The process has been grueling, and your progress is painfully slow. You start to focus on Blood Tempering, hoping for a breakthrough.]

[Year 30: The Blood Tempering stage proves to be even more challenging. You barely manage to reach the early stages by the age of 46. Your family's support becomes more strained, but you persist, driven by sheer willpower.]

[Year 35: At 51, you make it to the mid-level of Blood Tempering. Your progress remains slow, but you refuse to give up. Each step forward is hard-fought, and you continue to push your limits.]

[Year 40: By 56, you reach the peak of Blood Tempering. Your body is significantly stronger, but the road to Marrow Tempering is fraught with difficulties. You press on, determined to achieve your goals.]

[Year 50: At 66, you are still struggling through the Marrow Tempering stage. Your progress is slow and arduous, but you refuse to be defeated. You accumulate many injuries during the process. Your family's support wanes, but your resolve remains unshaken.]

[Year 55: You face numerous challenges from rival families in your city. Although your talent is low, your combat experience and cunningness help you survive these encounters. You continue to progress within the Marrow Tempering Stage.]

[Year 60: By 76, you finally reach the mid-level of Marrow Tempering. Your progress has been painfully slow, but you have gained valuable insights and experiences. You continue to strive for improvement, despite the overwhelming odds.]

[Year 70: At 86, you are still at the mid-level of Marrow Tempering. Your body bears the scars of countless battles and hardships, but your spirit remains unbroken. You continue to push forward, determined to reach the peak.]

[Year 80: By 96, you finally reach the peak of Marrow Tempering. Your progress has been incredibly slow, but your perseverance has paid off. However, your age and the toll of years of struggle have left you weary.]

[Year 90: At 106, you attempt to break through to the Innate Realm. The process is grueling and fraught with challenges. Despite your best efforts, you are unable to make the breakthrough, hindered by your low talent and accumulated injuries.]

[Year 100: By 116, your health begins to decline. The years of struggle and slow progress have taken their toll. You focus on passing your knowledge and experience to younger family members, ensuring the Ling family's survival.]

[Year 101: You pass away peacefully in your sleep, surrounded by family. Though your progress in cultivation was slow, your perseverance and dedication left a lasting impact on the Ling family.]

[Simulation Complete.]

[Evaluation: Despite your low talent, your unwavering determination and strategic use of resources allowed you to reach the peak of the Body Tempering Realm. Although you spent your whole life in the Body Tempering realm and could not break through to the Innate Realm, your contributions ensured the Ling family's survival and growth.]

Ling Tian absorbed the information, his mind racing with possibilities. The simulation confirmed his fears about his low talent but also highlighted his previous speculations about him spending his entire life in the Body Tempering Realm.

After a few moments, he closed the system interface and continued his daily morning routine. He repeated his movements over and over again hoping to lessen the distance from the Skin Tempering Stage to the Muscle Tempering Stage.

As he was practicing, Ling Tian reviewed in his mind the system's functions once more. The free daily simulation was an invaluable tool, providing insights into potential futures, guiding his path forward, and a danger prediction tool. The paid simulations, though currently out of reach due to his lack of spiritual stones, promised guaranteed rewards and talents.

"Tomorrow," he whispered to himself, "I'll try to find a way to increase my cultivation speed."