Bai Yang

June 19, 2056, a dormitory at Jiangnan First Military Academy.

After a quick shower and brief rest, Bai Yang looked at his muscular physique in the mirror. His face was handsome, but his expression was deeply weary.

He had just turned nineteen, a freshman in the elite class.

Daily martial arts training pushed him nearly to physical exhaustion, leaving only the evenings for rest.

Three years ago, an accident had thrown him into the world of Swallowed Star, where he became a minor extra with almost no screen time.

Bai Yang's original self had once passed the preliminary martial artist assessment alongside the protagonist, Luo Feng, shared a meal with him, and then vanished from the story.

If not for the mysterious Light Shadow Earth that appeared in his mind after the transmigration, activating his memory, he wouldn't even recall that they had ever crossed paths. But since he knew now, he had to seize the opportunity.

As long as he hitched a ride on Luo Feng's coattails, even [Immortal] was no longer a distant dream.

In this world, Immortal-level powerhouses had a baseline lifespan of trillions of epochs.

One epoch was 10,081 years—that was a lifespan measured in units of [myriad]!

"With direct immortality, I could buy my own planet, play the local tyrant, and do whatever I want—why not?"

Bai Yang struck a few poses in front of the mirror. This character, whose lines and scenes had been cut entirely from the anime adaptation, had been gifted a handsome face by the production team. Paired with his current muscular build, it was an asset with plenty of uses.

The graceful fox-eared girls, cat-eared girls, and elven maids out in the universe were quite tempting to think about.

But he couldn't afford to dwell on the future right now. The top priority was still improving his strength—otherwise, big trouble was coming.

The threat from that balding supervisor this afternoon still rang in his ears:

"Punching power: 791 KG, Speed: 19.3 M/S! Bai Yang, this time you don't even meet the standard of a senior cadet!

If you fail the test on the 25th, you're going into the regular class for closed training! Don't even think about taking the preliminary martial artist assessment! I can't afford the shame!"

Bai Yang sighed, wrapped a towel around his waist, walked out of the bathroom, and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Even now, recalling that bastard's sneer and tone made him want to punch him square in the face.

"The future the system simulated has finally arrived. This is going to be tough."

He got up and washed an apple. With a slight flick of his fingers, the fruit floated in midair.

Picking up a fruit knife, he casually sliced toward it.

After the blade's flash, the entire apple was peeled, then split itself into twelve pieces, each falling neatly into the fruit bowl.

Bai Yang picked up a toothpick, stabbed a piece, and ate it slowly, thinking about what to do.

As a transmigrator, he naturally had a cheat of his own.

That mysterious Earth in his mind, besides enhancing his memory, could also project a light screen displaying text:

[Earth Defense System]

Current Simulation Count: 0

Countdown: 27 Minutes

Earth Points: 1

This system could randomly simulate the experiences of members from various organizations on "Earth" and grant their abilities.

In the three years since he transmigrated, including the newcomer gift, he had obtained two abilities and one [True Simulation].

[Sword Saint Society]: Ordinary Member—Swordsmanship (B-Rank)

[Tsukuyomi Organization]: Test Subject—Psychokinesis (D-Rank)

A year ago today, he had also been lucky enough to draw a chance to simulate the future.

"This simulation is [True Simulation], duration: 5 years!"

[Age 18: A severe illness before transmigration left you weaker than in the original story. You studied and trained desperately, finally getting into the elite class of Jiangnan First Military Academy.]

[Age 19: Due to a hidden ailment, your performance is extremely unstable, and many suspect you cheated your way in. Failing Supervisor Geng's test, you miss the preliminary martial artist assessment and lose your chance to cross paths with Luo Feng.]

[Your cousin Bai Sheng arrives at the school to take you to Kyoto Base City. You refuse, and he subdues you by force.]

[At Kyoto Hospital, you are diagnosed with adrenal dysregulation syndrome, caused by a genetic defect combined with forced cultivation.]

[Uncle Bai Pianyong is deeply guilt-ridden, feeling he failed to take care of you and let down your father. He uses the Bai family's resources to keep you in a long-term special care ward for recovery.]

[Age 20: After prolonged treatment, you are finally discharged. But your constitution is far weaker than before, and becoming a martial artist seems hopeless.]

[Age 21: You try to secretly train again, but your condition relapses, landing you in the hospital unconscious. This disrupts your plans. The shelter isn't prepared in advance, and when the Golden Horned Behemoth attacks the major base cities, monsters spread from Tianjin City to Kyoto Base City.]

[Bai Sheng charges desperately into the beast tide to save you and dies. Then you follow...]

[This simulation ends early.]

[Earth Points +1]

Holy shit.

Bai Yang was completely stunned when he saw it. What kind of unlucky bastard was this original body?!

No wonder in the original story he only showed up for the preliminary martial artist exam—otherwise, even without mastering the Genetic Energy Cultivation Method, how could he have never dared to participate in the actual combat test and just vanished forever?

Bai Yang punched the bed hard. Everything was heading toward this hopeless future!

If he didn't pass the school test on the 25th, he wouldn't be able to go to the preliminary martial artist exam and wouldn't meet Luo Feng.

Even if he kept this physical condition, he couldn't pass even if he tried.

The standard for a preliminary martial artist was a punch force of 900 kilograms and a speed of 25 m/s. He could hardly reach that now.

The next simulation time was just after midnight tonight.

This system gave Bai Yang a huge headache. Its definition of "Earth" was extremely broad.

It seemed that as long as an organization claimed to be protecting Earth, it would be included.

So even an organization like [Tsukuyomi Organization], which was villainous, counted.

But its selection range also seemed extremely narrow.

Two times in a row, it had only picked characters from "One Punch Man," with no variety at all.

Where were the Avengers, the Justice League, the Land of Light?

What about Doraemon's Time Administration Bureau?

The sword technique and telekinesis he'd obtained were too weak. They could only help him cut fruit or play some small tricks.

How much help could abilities at this level be in this terrifying world?

While he still had time, he pulled out his phone and started browsing, suddenly noticing he had an email.

He checked the sender—Uncle Bai Pianyong!

Thinking back on the past three years, Bai Yang couldn't quite describe his feelings toward this gray-haired old man.

As someone from the older generation who had lived through the Grand Nirvana Era, his uncle was old-fashioned in his ways and sometimes a bit cold and distant.

Although he was grateful for the care and attention his uncle had given him, the awkward identity of a transmigrator made Bai Yang try to avoid meeting this elder as much as possible.

Their communication was often done through email.

Opening it to read carefully, the other party was indeed advising him again to stop practicing martial arts and focus on recovering his health first.

Everything was just as the simulation had predicted!

Taking advantage of the upcoming summer break, his cousin would come to pick him up from Kyoto Base City and take him to receive the best medical resources in the country.

"The plot is about to start! How can I leave now!? It can't be cured—this is a dead end."

Bai Sheng's strength as a high-level battle general was a full two major realms above his current level!

Bai Yang's only option was to gamble with [Earth Points], which the system said could enhance rewards.

Soon, midnight passed, and June 20th arrived!

"System, use 1 Earth Point!"

The countdown in Bai Yang's mind finished, and a prompt appeared:

"This simulation begins...

Congratulations, host! Randomly selected [Monster Association] ultimate lifeform: Monster King Orochi!"

"This simulation has ended. Please choose:

1. Orochi's ability and cultivation

2. Orochi's insights on power

3. Orochi's true memories

4. Earth Points +1"

Jackpot!

Bai Yang was ecstatic and immediately shouted in his mind, "I choose Orochi's ability!"