[ Task Initiated: Creating New Character in Timeline ]

[ Verifying: Access Area Control Connection ]

[ Alert: Connection Errors Detected ]

[ Adjusting: Reconfiguration Based on Player's Memory ]

[ Status: Loading... ]

[ Status: Loading Complete ]

[ Confirmation: Character Creation Now Complete. ]

Nie Li's consciousness gradually returned as he felt something prodding at him. Opening his eyes, he found himself staring at a red-haired six-year-old girl who was poking him with a small finger.

"Big brother wake up!" the girl exclaimed.

Nie Li managed a weak smile, still caught in the haze of his awakening.

"Hey, looks like you're in the afterlife with me," he said softly, the words slipping out before he fully grasped the situation. In his mind, he was still reconciling with the memory of his own death, the final moments before everything went dark.

"Looks like me and my family would be in the afterlife, happy and safe," Nie Li thought to himself, trying to find comfort in the idea. "Don't worry, Yu, even if we are dead, we are safe," he assured her.

Nie Yu, puzzled by her big brother's strange words, ran out of the room screaming, "Mom! Aunty! Brother Nie Li is saying scary things."

"Not so loud," Nie Li moaned, his head throbbing as he took in his surroundings. The familiar sights and smells of the shabby, musty room he had known all his life enveloped him.

"Couldn't I have gotten a better room in the afterlife?" he mumbled to himself, still half-convinced he was dead and now in the afterlife.

As Nie Li was lost in his thoughts, a gray-haired woman entered the room, her presence marked by the soft shuffle of her feet against the floor. She wore clothes that spoke of a simple, hardworking life—a plain cotton tunic that had seen many washes, faded to a soft shade of its original color. The fabric was thin in places, mended with careful stitches that told stories of frugality and practicality. Around her waist was a worn sash that had been tied and re-tied countless times, holding the tunic close against her body. Her trousers, too, were of a simple make, dyed in a practical, earthy tone that hid the wear and tear of daily chores. Her feet were clad in shoes made of woven straw, the kind that whispered of long walks in the fields and quiet endurance.

"Nie Li! Why are you scaring Yu?"

"M-Mom!" Nie Li exclaimed, his voice trembling as he rushed to hug her.

The flood of emotions was overwhelming; in what he believed was his last moments, he had accepted that he would never see her again. Now, here she was, tangible and real in his arms.

Xiao Yun, his mother, looked down at her son with a mix of worry and affection. She hugged him back, trying to comfort him, all the while thinking he was merely nervous about the big day ahead.

Guess, he is scared for his big day.

Nie Li and his mother remained locked in a tight embrace for a long moment.

Suddenly, Nie Yu, feeling left out of the moment, wrapped her small arms around their legs, giggling softly.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Nie Li couldn't help but smile at his little cousin's actions.

He was overwhelmed with gratitude for being in his mother's arms and receiving affection from his cousin.

Despite his efforts to stay composed, tears started to well up in his eyes as he looked up at his mother and saw the worry reflected there.

"Nie Li," Xiao Yun said softly, her voice pulling him back from his thoughts.

"Yes," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

"It's alright. It's going to be okay. It doesn't matter what your soul realm is, mama will still love you no matter what." Her words were like a balm, soothing yet startling, bringing everything to a crashing halt in Nie Li's mind.

All he could manage in response was a confused, "Huh?"

With a gentle smile, Xiao Yun leaned forward to kiss her son's forehead.

"Wash up and come down to eat. You need to be ready for the ceremony," she instructed.

As Xiao Yun walked out of the room, Nie Yu called out, "Aunty, hug!"

Xiao Yun smiled and obliged, leaving a still confused Nie Li behind.

"Did she not see that?"

Nie Li pondered, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. He glanced to the side and noticed a system window, an anomaly that seemed out of place in his simple world.

[ Simulation System Activation Confirmed ]

[ Current Location: Glory City ]

[ Memory Assimilation Completed Successfully ]

[ Action Required: Please Choose Among the Following System Types ]

[ Option 1: "Passive Observer" - System provides only passive benefits without direct interference in the world or player actions. Not recommended. ]

[ Option 2: "Autonomous Architect" - System offers full interference, achieving player's goals via AI control. Not recommended. ]

[ Option 3: "Guided Catalyst" - System intervenes partially, aligning with the player's interests for optimal simulation system utilization. Highly Recommended. ]

[ Please Make Your Choice ]

Nie Li stared at the floating system window in front of him, feeling utterly baffled.

To say he was confused would be an understatement.

Memories flashed through his mind—seeing this strange interface right before what he had thought was his death.

Could this system have something to do with his miraculous return to the past?

He pursed his lips, a mix of gratitude and unease swirling within him.

Grateful for the chance to relive his life, yes, but the presence of this system was starting to unsettle him.

What should I choose?

The idea of making a choice from this... thing felt absurd.

Tentatively, he reached out to touch the screen, only for his hand to pass right through it.

Okay, so this thing is only visible to me. I can't touch it, but it's powerful enough to bring me back from death and through time.

Nie Li thought, his mind racing.

The realization dawned on him that he couldn't just ignore the system out of fear or confusion.

It was too powerful, too valuable to be dismissed.

He examined the options once more, his gaze lingering on the third option, "Guided Catalyst." It seemed like the most balanced choice, offering guidance without taking complete control or leaving him entirely on his own.

"But how do I even select it?" Nie Li pondered, feeling slightly foolish. The answer came to him almost instinctively—"Maybe with my mind."

Concentrating, he mentally voiced his choice, "I select option 3."

Nie Li waited, half-expecting something dramatic to happen.

[ Selection Confirmed: Option 3 - "Guided Catalyst" Framework Initiated ]

[ Registration Complete: Player Nie Li ]

[ Objective Integration: Player Nie Li's Desires Identified as End Goal for Simulation ]

[ Commencing Overworld Simulation Process ]

[ Simulation Progress: 1% ]

[ Simulation Progress: 10% ]

[ Simulation Progress: 100% ]

[ Status: Simulation Activated ]

[ Narrative Key Points for Achieving End Goal; Simulated ]

[ Instructions: Select one of Optional Paths to Achieve End Goal of the Genesis Simulation ]

[ Name: Nie Li ]

[ Status: Peasant ]

[ Cultivation Level: White Soul Realm ]

[ Physique Level: None ]

[ Class: None ]

[ Race: Human ]

[ Health Points: 10 ]

[ Soul Force: 5 ]

[ Battle Power: 21 ]

[ Class Features: None ]

[ Allies: None ]

[ Equipment: ]

- [ Worn Torn Clothing ]

[ Description: Born to a farmer in the Heavenly Marks Family, a young boy harbors ambitions far greater than his humble origins suggest, along with a deep secret. He carries the burden of memories from a past life, where he witnessed the destruction of Glory City. Faced with the daunting task of altering destiny, he must navigate his new life's challenges. Will he succeed in preventing the catastrophe he once saw, or is history doomed to repeat itself? ]