[Current balance: 3200. Do you want to start a Simulated Life?]
"Yes!"
After two simulations and six years of hardship, Li Ming had finally reached the level of an intermediate student.
By this world's standards, that was a pathetically slow progression—but Li Ming didn't care. His focus was absolute.
This was no longer just a struggle. This was a game—a brutal, high-stakes game of life and death. And in games, unlike reality, effort always paid off.
[Simulation begins...]
Age 21 — Already an intermediate student, you sell your property to aid your cultivation.
Age 22 — With the help of medicines, your cultivation progresses rapidly.
Age 23 — Medicines run out. Following the suggestion of a Martial Hall instructor, you join the HR Alliance and are stationed at a Wilderness Area base.
Age 24 — During a minor beast tide, you're torn apart by a Beast Soldier-level monster.
[Simulation ended. Choose one of the following rewards:]
1. Martial arts realm
2. Martial arts insights
3. Half a day of memory before death
Li Ming narrowed his eyes.
"This time, I didn't even make it to the 'noble'..."
"One."
No hesitation. The realm was what he needed.
[Simulation initialized...]
Age 21 — A top intermediate student under Martial Hall guidance; your cultivation speeds up.
Age 22 — You sell your property and buy auxiliary medicines.
Age 23 — Medicine depleted, progress slows.
Age 24 — A noble takes interest in your twin sisters. You resist. He kills you with a single punch.
Again.
Li Ming's face darkened. His strength had clearly improved—yet he still died.
To defy the Martial Hall and act this brazenly... his backer must be terrifying. A warlord-level martial artist, at least.
Fury simmered in Li Ming's eyes as his fists tightened.
[Simulation ended. Choose your reward:]
1. Martial arts realm
2. Martial arts insights
3. Half a day's memory before death
"One."
The path was clear—he needed power, not regret.
[Simulation begins...]
Age 21 — Top intermediate student, on the verge of advancement. You take your sisters and leave Yian District out of caution.
Age 22 — You become an assistant instructor under the HR Alliance. With medicine, your punch force reaches 600 kg, earning you high-level student status.
Age 23 — Continued progress.
Age 24 — While training, the noble appears again. You resist. Your punch force breaks 900 kg—pre-martial artist level. Still, you're killed in a single punch.
[Simulation ended. Choose your reward:]
1. Martial arts realm at age 24
2. Martial arts insights at age 24
3. Half a day's memory before death
"He's like a ghost—he still found us?"
Even after leaving the district, the noble had found them. Leaving Jiangnan Base City wasn't an option either. The world outside was chaotic, and intercity travel cost more than most people made in a year.
But now...
Pre-martial artist. Punch force: 900 kg.
"One."
As that familiar tingling sensation coursed through his muscles, Li Ming advanced. He had broken through.
He was no longer prey.
"I'll head to the Martial Hall to certify my level. If they don't give me the startup funds, I'll mortgage the house."
Throwing on his coat, Li Ming stepped toward the door.
"Brother, where are you going?"
Two graceful figures stood there—Li Xue and Li Yu, his twin sisters.
Li Ming grinned. These girls were his bottom line. Every simulation, every desperate resistance—it was all for them.
"Martial Hall."
"Be careful and come back early."
"Don't worry," he said with a confident wave.
As he walked away, Li Xue watched him leave with worry in her eyes.
"He still hasn't given up..."
She sighed, pulling her sister back into the store.
"Being a martial artist... can someone like us really reach that level?"
Yian District, Limit Martial Hall;
"Beep!"
Because Li Ming was already a beginner student of the Limit Martial Hall, he could directly swipe his card to enter.
"Li Ming? Why are you here? Haven't you given up yet?"
Laughter echoed across the courtyard. Students chatted on the lawn, inside the pavilions, and along the paths.
Li Ming ignored them all.
He knew who he was now.
No mockery could shake him.
He walked straight toward the high-level student teaching building.
Upon entering, the number of people was significantly smaller. In the hundred-meter-long and wide training hall, there were only a dozen or so people.
"This is the high-level student teaching building. Beginner students should go over there."
As soon as Li Ming entered, he received the attention of the dozen or so high-level students in the training hall. One of them, a bald man over 1.9 meters tall with a hideous scar on his face, approached and spoke.
"My strength has reached the high-level student stage, that's why I came in."
Li Ming's expression was calm as he responded softly.
"Are you sure?"
The bald, burly man looked at Li Ming, a hint of doubt in his eyes.
Wearing a beginner student ID, yet claiming to have the strength of an advanced student…
"Alright, there's nothing else going on anyway. You can give it a try. If you meet the standard, we'll go ahead and certify your advanced student status."
"Otherwise, it's not ideal to keep wearing a beginner student ID."
The bald, burly man simply scrutinized him for a moment, then smiled brightly and asked, "Fist Strength power or speed?"
"Fist Strength power first. I also want to see what level I've reached."
"Good."
The bald, burly man nodded slightly, then walked towards the Fist Strength testing machine in the training hall. At this moment, a burly man was swinging his fists in front of the machine. As his left and right fists violently struck the punching bag, a series of numbers flashed on the screen above:
876 kg, 894 kg, 815 kg, 907 kg…
"Stop for a moment."
"Yang Wu? What's up."
The burly man looked up at the bald, burly man, his swinging fists not stopping. After striking the bag for more than ten more punches, he finally stopped, wiped his sweat, and asked in a booming voice.
"That young man said he's reached the advanced student standard and wants to give it a try."
Yang Wu pointed at Li Ming and replied.
"That's great, come on, come on."
Seeing it was a newcomer, the burly man didn't linger. With a slight nod, he stepped aside, yielding the spot to Li Ming.
Li Ming didn't waste a moment. Taking a deep breath, he focused all his strength and threw a full-force punch at the punching power testing machine.
Beep, beep, beep!
Three sharp beeps echoed through the training hall.
Yang Wu and the burly man beside him stiffened, their eyes narrowing.
They both knew that sound.
It only meant one thing—a punch exceeding 1,000 kilograms.
Their eyes snapped to the machine's display.
1124 kg.
"You've been hiding your true strength!" Yang Wu exclaimed, disbelief in his voice.
Li Ming, who wore the ID of a beginner student and had just claimed to be at an advanced level, had thrown a punch that matched a pre-martial artist's standard.
It was absurd.
Even Li Ming hadn't expected this result. Excitement surged through his veins. He unleashed a flurry of punches, roaring with exhilaration. In mere seconds, he had struck the punching bag more than ten times.
The machine displayed a cascade of numbers:
1004 kg, 981 kg, 1073 kg, 947 kg…
Average punching force: Over 1,000 kg.
On the fourth floor of the advanced student building, a black-haired middle-aged man stood at the skylight, observing the training grounds below.
Suddenly, he heard the familiar beep, beep, beep sound.
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Hm?"
"That sound… must be the basic punching machine downstairs. It only rings like that at 1,000 kg or more."
"Could it be Yang Wu again?" he mused aloud. "He's the only one who usually hits that number. Maybe he's improved."
Without delay, the man moved—disappearing in a flash.
He descended two flights of stairs in the blink of an eye. For someone of his caliber—a Commander-Level Warrior—such distances meant nothing.
"Instructor."
"Instructor Jiang."
Respectful voices greeted him as he entered.
But his eyes locked on the youth pounding the punching machine.
"Who is this kid?"
The black-haired middle-aged man looked at Li Ming, who was swinging his fists and smashing the Fist Strength testing machine, and frowned slightly.
It wasn't Yang Wu, and he was even wearing a beginner student ID.
"I don't know."
Yang Wu shook his head, then explained the whole story to Jiang Nian.
Recognizing the man, Li Ming quickly stepped back and saluted. After all, he'd been part of the Martial Hall for three years—he knew who Jiang Nian, the instructor and Hall Master, was.
"No need for formalities," Jiang Nian said, waving a hand. "Let's test your speed. Brute force alone doesn't make a martial artist."
He dragged Li Ming to the speed testing track, eyes gleaming with interest.
Still, he didn't complain. He inhaled deeply, steadied his breathing… then launched forward.
He bolted down the sixty-meter track like an arrow loosed from a taut bowstring.
26.7 m/s.
Jiang Nian stroked his chin, eyeing both the speed display and the badge on Li Ming's chest.
Consistent 1,000+ kg punches. 26.7 m/s sprint.
Even if his neural reaction time was slightly below average, this boy could still pass the pre-martial artist standard with ease.
"Li Ming, 21. No records of genetic energy cultivation," an assistant reported.
"A 21-year-old pre-martial artist... impressive."
Jiang Nian nodded in approval. "Not a genius, but certainly excellent."
"Li Ming," he said, "you've already met the standards. After you pass the warrior exam, would you consider joining Limit Martial Hall?"
"Yes," Li Ming responded without hesitation. "I plan to take the assessment on April 1st."
Between the army, HR Alliance, and Martial Halls, Li Ming preferred the latter. They were freer, less strict—and more negotiable.
Of course, the other factions weren't off the table.
As long as they paid well.
Five minutes later, Li Ming stood at the Martial Hall's entrance, an advanced student ID tucked into his pocket.
No starting capital yet. That would come after the pre-martial artist assessment and signing the warrior contract—on April 1st, just two days away.
Until then, he had two options:
1. Wait.
2. Mortgage the only property he owned—the home his parents left behind.
It felt like a multiple-choice question.
In truth, it was a single-answer test.
"Hello, I want to mortgage some property. Where can I do that?"
Li Ming headed straight to the HR Alliance.
Unlike banks, the HR Alliance handled broader transactions, especially for warriors. For someone like Li Ming, on the verge of becoming one, they were the fastest option.
"Sorry, sir," the receptionist said politely, "we only serve warriors. For property mortgages, you'll have to visit a bank."
"I'm an advanced student of Limit Martial Hall," Li Ming replied calmly. "My strength already meets the pre-martial artist standard. I'll be taking the assessment on the 1st. Could you make an exception?"
"One moment, please. I'll speak with my supervisor."
"Thank you. I appreciate it."
Moments later, a middle-aged supervisor approached. After confirming Li Ming's ID, he ushered him into a private testing room. The room had equipment nearly identical to the Martial Hall's.
A few tests later—
All results confirmed. Li Ming met and exceeded pre-martial artist standards.
The mortgage was approved immediately.
And with a handshake and a smile, the supervisor made his pitch:
"If you pass the assessment, the HR Alliance would be honored to have you."
After all, in this world, no faction ever had enough warriors.