Bao Chen slowly opened his eyes. Something felt different. Everything seemed clearer, more vivid, and strangely beautiful. His mind felt sharper, as if it had been cleansed. He could see wooden furniture, white glass medicine cabinets, and several beds. Morning light streamed through the windows.
What am I doing in Dr. Lee's house? he wondered.
Then confusion struck him. Who is Dr. Lee? Why do I even know him?
Suddenly, memories rushed back—like fragments of a forgotten dream.
In shock, he thought, Did I reincarnate? Or did I time-travel… maybe transmigrate?
But in the end, it didn’t matter. No matter how it happened, he was no longer in his original world.
He wasn’t like other protagonists. He had a family back home—an elderly mother and a blind father. His chest tightened as he stared at the floor. What will happen to them? Who will take care of them now?
Suddenly, a crisp sound echoed in his mind.
[Ding]
[Detecting the host is awake. Activating the Earthly Underworld Simulator.]
A translucent screen appeared before his eyes.
[System Name: Earthly Underworld Simulator]
[Host: Bao Chen]
[Status: Currently unknown. Please start the simulation to proceed.]
Seeing this message, Bao Chen’s blood boiled with excitement. His heart pounded in his chest. A golden finger! And it’s a simulator!
Simulators in stories could predict the future or simulate other worlds. He wanted to laugh out loud but stopped himself. He glanced around the room to see if anyone was nearby. Considering whether to check other rooms, he hesitated. No, I should start the simulation first. The simulated self will check, and I’ll know if there’s danger.
"System, start the simulation."
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[Does the host wish to start the simulation?]
"Start."
---
[Day 1]
You have transmigrated into a mysterious world of immortal cultivation. After waking up, you feel a little panicked. This world is far from your hometown. Your first goal is to blend in. Do not let anyone know you are a time traveler. Act like the old Bao Chen. You’re slightly afraid that other time travelers might exist and could try to kill you.
(Damn, this is a world of immortal cultivation… Bao Chen felt fear creeping in.)
You look around, trying to see if anyone is nearby. You spot people passing by, and they wave at you. You wave back. You search inside cabinets and check every corner of the room. After a while, you wonder if the people outside will call the doctor, so you decide to stay put.
Dr. Lee enters. He asks, "Do you know what happened to you? Did you see anything?" You answer his questions calmly, and he lets you leave. You suspect this is related to your time travel.
You search through your memories to learn more about the old Bao Chen. He was a hard worker, taking on any job he could find. He didn’t have a stable job until three days ago when a baker needed help. Bao Chen assisted him, and the baker offered him a job. Strangely, the baker reminds you of your old boss from your previous world—and he even has a daughter.
With nothing else to do, you decide to keep working at the bakery. It makes you seem normal and avoids suspicion. Later, you find out that Uncle Wong and a friend helped you when you collapsed. You decide to buy them some food as a way to thank them.
---
[Day 2]
You start looking for information. There are gaps in your memory—like the name of this world and the village you’re in. But asking strange questions might seem suspicious. If I suddenly start asking weird questions after passing out, that’s 100% suspicious. So you decide to act normal and wait for people to forget what happened.
---
[Day 3]
You go to work, keeping a low profile. You buy gifts for Uncle Wong and your friend to thank them.
---
[Day 4]
You continue working and go out drinking with your friend.
---
[Day 5 - 6]
You keep up the same routine, staying calm and making sure people forget about your strange behavior.
---
[Day 7]
You quietly begin asking around for information.
---
[Day 8]
While working, you find out the village is called Grass. Curious, you ask why. You learn the grass looks like sharp blades, so the village was named after them.
---
[Day 9]
You discover that Uncle Wong is a Power Artist and works as a village guard. Curious, you ask subtle questions and learn that Power Art is a special practice. By strengthening the body and using special materials, people can awaken unique abilities.
But what truly shocked Bao Chen was that Power Art wasn’t the only supernatural path in this world. There were also Taoists, Buddhists, and even powerful Scholars.
His eyes brightened, and he asked Uncle Wong to explain more.
With a prideful smile, Uncle Wong began:
“The first stage of martial arts is Strengthening the Body, Bones, and Tendons.
The second stage is Flesh and Blood Tempering.
The third stage is Skin Refining, where special powers are unlocked.
“Beyond Skin Refining, one enters the Power Realm, where the body is strong enough to fully contain and use special powers. At that stage, we call them martial artists.”
Bao Chen noticed the contradiction. Didn't it's supposed to be Power Art? He asked, and Uncle Wong explained, “Not everyone reaches the Power Realm. Those who stop at Skin Refining are called martial artists. Those who surpass it become true Power Art.”
Bao Chen also asked about the Taoists, Buddhists, and Scholars.
Uncle Wong explained that while their cultivation systems differed slightly, they shared similar realms:
1. Enlightenment Realm: Understanding the world and laying a foundation.
2. Qi Refining Realm: Gathering and refining Qi to progress.
For Buddhists, Qi Refining involves helping people and gaining good karma.
For Scholars, it requires cultivating a scholarly aura by studying, writing, and contributing to governance.
For Taoists, Qi Refining is achieved through meditation, understanding the Dao, and consuming Qi.
Taoists, though versatile, are jack-of-all-trades and master of none. Each path excels in different areas, but Taoists remain balance