The sky above the vast courtyard of the Lin Clan was shrouded in gloomy clouds, much like the darkness that enveloped Lin Yuan's heart. The cheerful shouts of his peers reached his ears like a distant hum, each laugh deepening his solitude. He was only a few days away from turning eighteen, but while this milestone was a cause for celebration for most, for Lin Yuan, it was merely the beginning of an even more bitter reality.
At the age of eight, when he was subjected to the talent test like every other child, it was discovered that his spiritual root was completely clogged. This news, despite him being the third son of the Lin Clan's most influential Lord, Lin Quin, turned him into the clan's laughingstock overnight. Since his mother, Su Yun, was his father's concubine, no one dared to touch him openly; however, the hidden barbs, disdainful glances, and cunning bullying turned young Lin Yuan's life into a living hell.
The death of his mother by poisoning when he was ten shattered his already fragile world completely. Su Yun's death was the result of the insidious schemes of his father's main wife, Zhao Shi, but Lin Quin, as always, remained neutral, closing his eyes to all this injustice. His mother's body writhing in agony as she took her last breath was seared into Lin Yuan's mind, branding his young heart with an icy flame of vengeance. From that day on, only his loyal maid, Xiao Rou, remained; the sole witness to the bullying, the insults, and the cruel pranks of his half-brothers—Lin Feng and Lin Jian—and Lin Yuan's only pillar of support.
Living in the shadows, each day was harder than the last for Lin Yuan. Lin Feng's arrogant stares, Lin Jian's mocking smiles, and the whispers of the other clan members gnawed at his soul. Yet, somewhere inside him, a seed that no one could see or belittle was sprouting: a stubborn resistance and a will to survive, a legacy from his mother. There had to be a way to change his destiny.
Just at the peak of this despair, as his eighteenth birthday approached, a sudden fracture occurred in his mind. As if a veil of fog was lifted, memories from a completely different life began to flood in. Along with these fragmented memories from an unknown world, a mechanical voice echoed from the depths of his mind, carrying a whisper that would change his future forever:
[System Loading... 1%]
[%2]
[... 10%]
[... 25%]
[... 45%]
[... 65%]
[... 89%]
[... 99%]
[%100]
[Life Simulation System activated.]
[Say "Status" to open the system.]
Lin Yuan finally remembered who he was; he was a time traveler from Blue Star. Upon finally turning 18, he regained all the memories that belonged to him. Like all time travelers, he too possessed a golden finger.
"Even with a mediocre background, my rise to the heavens is inevitable with the system," he thought.
"Status."
[Life Simulation System]
[Current Version: 1.0]
[Host: Lin Yuan]
[Spiritual Root: Clogged (Anomalous State)]
[Current Realm: Body Tempering Stage 1]
[Talent: None]
[Simulation Chance: 1 (Replenishes every 24 hours, can be accumulated)]
[Say "Start Simulation" to begin the simulation.]
Due to his mediocre talent all these years, he had only reached the 1st stage of Body Tempering.
Lin Yuan reviewed his own pathetic status screen with a cynical smile.
"Now that I have the system, I can change my destiny."
He immediately called out to the status screen.
"Start Simulation."
[Starting Simulation...]
[Selecting Random Talents...]
[Please select one of the following three talents.]
[1. Heaven-Defying Comprehension (Unique)]
[2. Sense of Direction (White)]
[3. Minor Pain Tolerance (White)]
"Hahaha, I think I've used up all my luck from my previous life. System, of course, I choose the first option."
[Congratulations! You have selected "Heaven-Defying Comprehension (Unique)" as your talent.]
[Simulation Started.]
[Simulation Log]
[Age 18... You are a young man isolated in a remote courtyard of the Lin Clan due to your lack of talent. Your "Heaven-Defying Comprehension" talent has been activated.]
[... You gained a profound understanding of the clan's "Basic Body Tempering Technique." You perfected the technique instantly.]
[Age 19... Your cultivation speed increased exponentially. You sensed Qi for the first time and reached the peak of the Body Tempering Realm.]
[Age 20... You successfully broke through to the Qi Condensation Realm. You comprehended all the basic techniques in the clan library.]
[... You easily overcame the petty bullying and plots of your half-brothers. You continued to increase your strength in secret.]
[Age 25... You reached the final level of the Qi Condensation Realm. You began preparing to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. You found clues behind your mother's poisoning and started to investigate the origin of the poison.]
[Age 30... You successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. You are now one of the strongest among the clan's younger generation. However, you still haven't fully revealed your strength.]
[... You learned more about your mother's poison. You began to understand how the poison affected your spiritual root.]
[Age 35... You reached the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. You discovered some of the Lin Clan's hidden storages and resources. You tried new methods to accelerate your cultivation.]
[... You analyzed the various power balances and alliances within the clan. You understood the secret intentions of some elders and other household heads.]
[Age 40... You approached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm. You gained experience and combat knowledge by participating in a series of dangerous missions.]
[... You partially cleared the blockage in your spiritual root, but you could not resolve it completely. The mystery deepens.]
[Age 45... You broke through the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Your power causes even some of the clan's senior members to look at you with fear. You have made a solid plan for your mother's revenge.]
[Age 50... You tried to break through to the Core Formation Realm but failed. You have reached a bottleneck in your cultivation.]
[Age 55... You tried a new cultivation technique. This technique gave you some clues that could help solve the mystery of your spiritual root.]
[Age 56... You were attacked by an external clan. You fought a powerful enemy.]
[... You were heavily wounded by a powerful enemy.]
[... You breathed your last. Simulation Ended.]
[Simulation Ended.]
[Simulation Duration: 38 Years]
[Please Select One of the Following Rewards.]
[Option 1: Retain the Realm (Peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm)]
[Option 2: Retain the Memories (All knowledge and experiences gained in the simulation)]
[Option 3: Retain All (1% Probability to be selectable - Currently Unavailable)]
Lin Yuan's heart was pounding. "Heaven-Defying Comprehension" was an incredible talent, but he had already started with it. Retaining the realm seemed tempting, but his real power lay in his access to the system and this unique understanding.
The most valuable thing for him was the knowledge and experience he had gained over these thirty-eight years. This would form the foundation for every move he would make in the real world.
"I choose the second option. Retain the memories!" he thought with determination.
[Congratulations! You have selected the "Retain the Memories" option.]
[Integrating simulation memories into your mind...]
His mind blurred once more, but this time it wasn't a void, but rather an incredible flow of information and experience. The memories of thirty-eight years flowed through his veins as if he had truly lived them. The clan's secret passages, the weaknesses of his enemies, the finest details of cultivation techniques, and the clues behind the secret of his mother's poison... All of it was in the palm of his hand.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself once again in that gloomy courtyard of the Lin Clan. But he was no longer the same Lin Yuan. Although his body remained at the 1st Stage of Body Tempering, his mind had advanced thirty-eight years. In his eyes, there was a wisdom beyond his years, a ruthless determination, and a shimmering flame of vengeance. The old images of his half-brothers, Lin Feng and Lin Jian, trying to humiliate him were now meaningless to him.
While they were still playing their games, Lin Yuan had already foreseen all their moves.
"Lin Feng, Lin Jian, Lady Zhao... Your turn will come for all of you," he whispered quietly, clenching his fist. "Su Yun's revenge will be taken, and this world will witness the rise of Lin Yuan to the heavens!"