Chapter 1: Rebirth in Douluo Continent
The world dissolved into a chaotic swirl of light and shadow, yanking Fang Shen from his familiar reality. One moment, he was a programmer on Earth, hunched over his laptop in a cramped apartment, the glow of code his only companion. The next, a sharp pain tore through his chest, and darkness engulfed him. He didn't know the cause—heart attack, accident, or something stranger—but when consciousness stirred, everything felt wrong. He was tiny, helpless, his limbs uncooperative. A baby's cry escaped his lips, startling him. His blurry vision caught a cracked wooden ceiling and a lantern's faint glow swaying in a draft.
Rough, calloused hands lifted him gently. An old man's face came into view—gray hair, weathered skin, and kind, tired eyes. "Hush, little one," the man murmured, his voice warm but gravelly. "Oh poor child! Old Li's got you now. You're safe."
Fang Shen's mind reeled. This wasn't Earth. The air hummed with strange energy, tingling against his infant body. Memories of his past life—coding, late-night coffee runs, a mundane grind—flooded back, but he had no clue where he was. As a newborn in a poor village, he couldn't wander or ask questions to figure out this world. Was it a novel's setting? A game? The uncertainty gnawed at him, but his heart thrummed with excitement. A new life, a fresh start—this was his chance to live something extraordinary. Mentally, he grinned, a spark of joy igniting at the possibilities.
The day passed in a haze of infant helplessness. Old Li cradled him, feeding him warm goat milk from a clay cup, its earthy tang unfamiliar but nourishing. "Good lad, drink up," Old Li said, smiling. "Goat milk's all we got, but it'll make you strong." Fang Shen swallowed, his mind buzzing despite his body's limitations. He wanted to know where he was, what this world held—spirit masters, cultivators, or something else? The thought sent a thrill through him, his mental grin widening. This was his playground, even if he didn't yet know its name.
Night fell, and Old Li tucked him into a worn blanket beside his straw mat in their small, drafty hut. As Old Li's soft snores filled the room, Fang Shen lay awake, his mind racing. A crisp, mechanical chime echoed in his mind, and a translucent blue panel flickered into existence, glowing softly in the dark.
[Immortal World Simulation System activated. Host: Fang Shen. Initialization complete.]
[System function: Once per month, simulate a life in an immortal cultivation world randomly. Select one random talent before simulation. Upon completion, choose one reward based on achievements. Results will be displayed as text based on host's mental state and decisions. First simulation available now. Proceed?]
Fang Shen's mental grin exploded into pure elation. A system! His heart sang—this was his cheat code, his edge in this unknown world. But first, he needed answers. Focusing his thoughts, he mentally asked, "What world is this?"
The panel pulsed, text appearing.
[Host is in Douluo Dalu, a martial soul cultivation world.]
Fang Shen's excitement surged. *Douluo Dalu*! The martial soul universe he'd binged as a light novel—spirit rings, Title Douluo, and epic battles. He knew its story: Bibi Dong's tragedy, Tang San's rise. Now, he could rewrite it. His mental grin sharpened, buzzing with possibilities. Unable to speak, he willed a "yes" to start the simulation. The panel shifted.
[Random talent selection initiated. Available talents:]
[1. Natural Spiritual Affinity: Able to absorb spiritual energy from surroundings automatically, nourishing body and mind. Enhances physical and mental growth.]
[2. I Cry Louder: Able to cry louder than other children, drawing attention and aid.]
Fang Shen nearly laughed, though his infant body only gurgled. I Cry Louder? Useless in a world of spirit masters. *Natural Spiritual Affinity* was tempting, but he hesitated. The system already gave him monthly simulations to grow stronger—passive absorption might be redundant. He needed something active to maximize his potential in Douluo Dalu's spirit power system. A tool to absorb soul power faster would outshine passive gains. He mentally selected the first option for now, eager to see the simulation's outcome.
[Talent selected: Natural Spiritual Affinity. Simulation started.]
[Day 1: You are born in a poor family in a remote immortal cultivation village. Your Natural Spiritual Affinity draws faint spiritual energy, strengthening your frail body.]
[Day 3: Your parents notice your unusual vitality. They believe you're blessed by the heavens.]
[Day 7: A wandering old man visits, sensing your affinity. He teaches your family a basic breathing technique to nurture your potential.]
[Day 10: You begin instinctively absorbing spiritual energy during sleep, growing stronger. The village elders take interest.]
[Day 14: A beast tide approaches the village. Your family flees, but the chaos overtakes them.]
[Day 16: At sixteen days old, you perish when a low-grade spirit beast attacks the village, unable to defend yourself.]
[Simulation complete. Achievements: Early Spiritual Awakening. Available rewards:]
[1. Natural Spiritual Affinity: Retain the talent permanently, allowing passive absorption of spiritual energy in the Douluo world.]
[2. Basic Breathing Technique: A method to refine internal energy, adaptable to spirit power cultivation.]
[3. 16 Days of Spiritual Absorbing: Gain the equivalent of 16 days of spiritual energy absorbed, boosting your initial spirit power.]
Fang Shen's excitement dimmed slightly at the simulation's grim end, but his programmer's mind stayed sharp. Sixteen days wasn't much, but the rewards were critical. Natural Spiritual Affinity offered passive growth, but the system's monthly simulations already ensured progress. The 16 Days of Spiritual Absorbing was a quick boost, fleeting and limited. The Basic Breathing Technique, however, was a game-changer. It allowed active control, letting him absorb soul power much faster than affinity could, especially in Douluo Dalu's spirit-centric world. He could refine it over years, outpacing others before his martial soul awakening. His mental grin returned, sharper and more determined. He selected the breathing technique, and a stream of knowledge flooded his mind—a method to circulate energy through meridians, perfectly adaptable to spirit power. His tiny body tingled as he tested it, a faint warmth spreading through him. This was power, and he was just getting started.
He lay there, Old Li snoring beside him, the panel fading. His heart raced with possibilities. He was a baby in a poor village, drinking goat milk to survive, but with the system and Douluo Dalu's secrets now confirmed, he was no ordinary child. He'd train in secret, grow strong, and meet the legends—Bibi Dong, Liu Erlong, maybe even saving them is possible. The monthly simulations would be his key, each one a chance to gain skills or power. For now, he'd play the part of a normal infant, hiding his potential until the time was right.
Days turned to weeks. Fang Shen—secretly practicing the breathing technique day and night resting just to drink goat milk and rest the meridians. Each session, sipping goat milk for strength, he felt his spirit power creep to level 0.3, then 0.8, remarkable for a child yet to awaken his martial soul. The village, a cluster of mud-brick homes near Wuhun City, buzzed with talk of Spirit Hall's awakening ceremony. Fang Shen listened, piecing together the timeline. This was before main plot, likely Bibi Dong's very early years. Spirit Hall was powerful but not yet tyrannical. He had time to prepare.
One morning, Old Li carried him to the village well, feeding him more goat milk as he chatted with neighbors. "This boy's sturdy for a foundling," he said proudly. "Might be a spirit master one day!" The villagers nodded, but Fang Shen kept his eyes half-closed, feigning innocence. Inside, he was filled. Level 0.9 innate spirit power was common not enough for a genius, but with the system and breathing technique, he'd aim higher. His martial soul awakening was six year away. Until then, he'd refine his soul power, ready to rewrite *Douluo Dalu*'s fate.
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