7: Chapter 7 Second Simulation

Jiangnan, Yanyu City.

In the dilapidated Zhongyi Martial Arts Hall, a youth dressed in coarse cloth clothes named Chen Sheng was sweating profusely, practicing his fist techniques over and over again in the courtyard.

The youth was thin and frail with a sallow complexion; he was the simulated identity of Li Changsheng, who had just transmigrated.

This was a low-martial Jianghu world, with no peerless experts who could fly or tunnel through the earth, only ordinary hand-to-hand combat and crude martial arts.

His identity was the last apprentice of the Zhongyi Martial Arts Hall.

The hall master had passed away from illness three years ago, and the fellow disciples in the hall had long since dispersed.

He was the only one left guarding this ruined courtyard, barely scraping by by doing odd jobs for others.

"Since I'm here, I might as well live well."

Chen Sheng, the simulated identity, inherited a bit of Li Changsheng's will.

He knew very well that this simulated life was his opportunity to become stronger.

There was still a copy of the "Basic Fist Technique" and a half-scroll rubbing of the Spirit Ape Fist passed down by the hall master in the martial arts hall, which were his only reliance.

Without hesitation, Chen Sheng began his day-after-day of bitter cultivation.

In the early morning, just as the sky was turning grey, he would get up to practice his fists, polishing every Move of the "Basic Fist Technique" repeatedly, striving to perform every movement to the limit.

In the evening, he would sit cross-legged and, according to the Spirit Ape Fist Mind-Cultivation Technique's mnemonics, guide the weak sense of Qi in his body to slowly circulate through his Meridians.

Days passed one by one; spring went and autumn came, and the cold gave way to the heat.

He didn't have extraordinary talent, but he possessed perseverance far beyond that of ordinary people.

When hungry, he gnawed on cold, hard buns; when thirsty, he drank well water from the courtyard; when tired, he lay on a cold wooden board bed, taking a short rest before continuing to Cultivate.

Ten years of sharpening a sword, yet its frost-bright blade remains untested.

In the blink of an eye, twenty years had passed.

Chen Sheng's "Basic Fist Technique" had long since reached the Transcendent level; a single punch thrown was simple and unadorned, yet it contained thousands of pounds of force.

That half-scroll of the Spirit Ape Fist had also been forcefully cultivated by him to the seventh layer of the Houtian Realm! Although the True Qi in his body wasn't particularly deep, it was incredibly condensed and circulated freely.

Another seven years passed.

During this period, Chen Sheng recruited disciples and managed the martial arts hall, and the Zhongyi Martial Arts Hall gradually grew stronger. Relying on his reputation, the hall became somewhat famous locally.

He hadn't neglected that half-scroll of the Spirit Ape Fist either; it was now at the ninth layer of the Houtian Realm, and it was difficult to make any further progress.

For the next three years.

He traveled out into the Jianghu, relying on his solid martial arts to act heroically, helping the weak and curbing the strong.

He had once defeated dozens of mountain bandits; he had also killed a tyrannical bully with a single punch in the middle of a bustling market.

Gradually, in the Yanyu City area, Chen Sheng forged a resounding reputation.

In just a few years, under his leadership, the martial arts hall had also developed rapidly and gained great fame.

People called him "Iron Fist Li," praising his fist techniques as divine and his martial arts as superb.

However, the upper limit of this world was ultimately too low.

That half-scroll of the Spirit Ape Fist was also limited; without further content, his cultivation no longer improved.

Without more Advanced martial arts Secret Manuals or Heaven And Earth Treasures to assist him, his path of martial Dao had already come to an end.

During a trip out, he met with an accident and unfortunately passed away.

[Simulation Ended]

[Life Summary: Li Changsheng, died at the age of forty-three, superb fist techniques, famous martial arts hall, died unfortunately.]

[Evaluation: B]

[Inheritable Options:]

[1. Fist Technique Mastery] Practiced the Basic Fist Technique to the Transcendent level, reaching a high level of attainment in fist arts. Cultivated the Spirit Ape Fist for thirty years, the fist technique is exquisite and circulates at will.

[2. Leadership Wisdom] The ability to manage a martial arts hall as its leader, manage disciples, and expand the group's influence and reputation in the surrounding area.

[3. Jianghu Experience] Traveled the Jianghu for three years, well-versed in the ways of the world, and possessing a certain level of adaptability.

[Host, please choose one achievement to inherit.]

[The simulation is over?]

Li Changsheng's consciousness withdrew from the low-martial Jianghu world and returned to the wooden bed of the Li Family.

With his eyes closed, the memories of thirty years of practicing fists in the simulated life still remained in his mind.

The day-after-day of throwing punches, the warmth of the True Qi flowing through his Meridians, the satisfaction of settling scores while traveling the Jianghu—everything was as clear as if he had experienced it personally.

"Thirty years... such a realistic simulation."

Li Changsheng opened his eyes; there was a bit more vicissitude in his gaze, yet it also revealed a sharp light.

These thirty years of simulation gave him a new, most basic yet solid understanding of the martial Dao. Now, his mind was filled with the essence of the "Basic Fist Technique" and the experience of circulating the Spirit Ape Fist.

[Host, please choose one achievement to inherit.]

The System's notification sound rang out again.

Li Changsheng's gaze fell upon the three achievements without the slightest hesitation.

[3. Jianghu Experience] was useful, but for the current him, it was far less important than strength;

[2. Leadership Wisdom] seemed good, but that was, after all, the wisdom of leading a small martial arts hall with limited staff and simple relationships; in this complex world, it would likely be far from enough.

Only [1. Fist Technique Mastery] was the most suitable choice for him right now!

The Basic Fist Technique seemed simple, but in his simulated life, he had practiced it to the Transcendent level. Furthermore, he had also forcefully practiced that half-scroll of the Spirit Ape Fist to Perfection!

Every Move and style contained the purest martial Dao intent and valuable experience. This kind of fist technique attainment could be completely transplanted into this world!

"I choose to inherit [Fist Technique Mastery]!"

[Ding! Selection confirmed, beginning inheritance...]

[Inheritance successful! The host has obtained [Fist Technique Mastery]: practicing the Basic Fist Technique to the Transcendent level, with fist art attainment reaching a high level. Having Cultivated the Spirit Ape Fist for thirty years, the fist technique is exquisite and circulates at will.

As the System's notification sound faded, a massive stream of information surged into Li Changsheng's mind.

Countless insights, techniques, and experiences regarding fist arts were instantly integrated by him, as if he were receiving a divine revelation.

At the same time, his body involuntarily trembled slightly.

His limbs, which were originally somewhat weak, seemed to be filled with power.

He could even feel that as long as he was willing, his Cultivation of the Spirit Ape Fist could soon improve by one or two minor Realms.

Li Changsheng casually threw a punch; the wind from the fist whistled, its power far exceeding what it once was.

He suddenly got off the bed and, ignoring the weakness of his newly healed Meridians, walked to the open space in the middle of the room.

He took a deep breath, recalling the feeling of practicing fists in his simulated life, and slowly raised his fist.

There were no flashy Moves, only the most basic punch of the Spirit Ape Fist.

The punch went out, and the wind rose!

A punch that seemed ordinary actually carried a charm like flowing clouds and moving water.

The fist cut through the air, making a soft "chi" sound, its power far beyond what it was before.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Li Changsheng said "good" three times in a row, his face full of excitement.

The power of this punch was even stronger than he had anticipated!

In a short time, he had already reached the fifth layer Perfection of the Houtian Realm.

With this achievement of [Fist Technique Mastery], he was no longer his former self.

On the path of fist technique Cultivation, he now had the capital to establish himself!

At this speed, it wouldn't take long to reach the sixth layer of the Houtian Realm.

On the day after Li Changsheng visited Li Changhu, Li Changhu was already able to get out of bed and walk.

Li Changhu's Meridian blockages had basically completely disappeared.

Three more days passed, and Li Changhu began to Cultivate again.

Upon practicing, he found that the circulation of Internal Energy was indeed smoother than before.

In the following ten-odd days of Cultivation, it was equivalent to more than a month of his previous Cultivation.

"Brother Changsheng..."

On this day, Li Changhu stood outside Li Changsheng's courtyard, hesitating to speak.

Since that day's treatment, he felt awkward every time he saw Li Changsheng.

Previously, he had looked down on this cousin and had even intentionally made things difficult for him.

Now, this person was his savior.

"Come in."

Li Changsheng's voice came from inside the courtyard.