Fate Simulation

Emperor Soul Village, in the southwest of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Morning light had only just broken through, and the wind across the wilderness still carried a hint of chill, but the clearing at the center of the village was already bustling.

Nearly everyone from the village's three hundred-odd households had turned out, packing the space normally used for drying grain so tightly that not even water could trickle through.

This year's martial soul awakening ceremony was about to begin.

The village chief, Old Tom, wore a long robe washed pale and stood at the very front of the crowd, rising onto his toes from time to time to peer toward the village entrance.

Behind him, seven or eight children aged six or seven stood in a row. Some had little faces flushed with excitement; others clutched the hems of their clothes in nervousness.

"He's here! He's here!"

Someone shouted, and the crowd parted of its own accord.

A young man in a fitted white outfit strode toward them. He looked to be in his early twenties, with handsome features and the steady bearing unique to a soul master. Wherever he passed, the villagers lowered their heads, their eyes filled with awe.

"Grandmaster Su Yuntao!" Old Tom hurried forward to greet him, his back bending a little without his realizing it.

Su Yuntao's expression remained calm. Clearly, he had long since grown accustomed to such scenes.

He nodded slightly and walked straight to the center of the clearing, his gaze flashing like lightning as it swept across the children.

"Come with me!"

With that, he turned and entered the wooden hut set aside for martial soul awakenings.

Old Tom led the children in after him.

"My name is Su Yuntao, a level twenty-six soul grandmaster, and I will be your guide." His voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly. "I will awaken your martial souls one by one. Remember, whatever happens next, do not be afraid."

After speaking, he took six black stones from the bundle he carried and arranged them in a hexagon on the floor.

"The first child on the right, step inside."

The awakening ceremony proceeded quickly.

"A hoe. No soul power. Next."

"A cucumber. No soul power. Next."

"A heather flower. No soul power. Next."

One child after another left the hexagonal formation looking disappointed. Old Tom's brow furrowed ever more deeply.

Emperor Soul Village had not produced a soul master in many years.

Finally, it was the turn of the boy second from last in the line.

His name was Su Yi. He had refined features and a thin frame, with an old shirt washed pale wrapped around his slender shoulders. His expression held a composure far beyond his peers, like a silent stalk of green bamboo, utterly out of place amid the bustle around him.

He was not a native of this world, but a transmigrator from another.

In the six years since coming to the Douluo Continent, he had gone from initial bewilderment and ignorance to seeing things as clearly as a blazing fire. He had long since understood this world's iron law-strength reigned supreme, and martial souls were the foundation.

Without a powerful martial soul or innate soul power, one was destined to be nothing more than an ant among the teeming masses.

He had been looking forward to this day for a long time.

"Child, it's your turn."

Su Yi drew a deep breath, suppressed the thoughts surging through his mind, and stepped into the Hexagonal Array, coming to a stop at its center.

Soul power surged at Su Yuntao's fingertips as he poured it into the black-stone array once more. Brilliant golden light flowed into Su Yi's body like water.

In an instant, Su Yi felt his blood boil. Warm soul power filled every limb and bone, as though something within him could hardly wait to burst free of his body.

He instinctively held out his right hand.

The pale green image of a blade of grass slowly emerged from his palm.

Its leaves were slender and delicate, their veins faint as gauze, trembling gently amid the surging soul power.

Utterly ordinary, with nothing special about it.

"Martial soul: Blue Silver Grass."

Su Yuntao spoke instinctively, his tone filled with the indifference of long familiarity.

Blue Silver Grass, the most common and typical plant on the Douluo Continent, was trash among trash martial souls, with virtually no value for cultivation.

He had intended to declare it devoid of soul power outright, but yesterday's experience in Holy Soul Village surfaced in his mind.

Yesterday, in Holy Soul Village, he had met a child who had likewise awakened Blue Silver Grass. The difference was that the child possessed innate full soul power.

Su Yuntao paused, then still took a Crystal Ball from inside his clothes and handed it over. "Place your hand on it and channel your soul power into it."

Su Yi did as instructed, slowly pouring his meager soul power into it.

A moment later, a faint white light lit up within the Crystal Ball, like a dying candle in the wind that might go out at any moment.

"Hmm... innate level-one soul power."

Level one.

Su Yi's heart sank.

Sure enough, a trash martial soul paired with trash soul power.

He suddenly raised his head and looked at Su Yuntao expectantly. "Lord Soul Master, how is my martial soul?"

After all, there was an old rule in transmigration circles-"One word of 'trash' from Brother Tao, and the Divine Realm gains another god."

Su Yuntao froze. Meeting those eyes filled with anticipation, he swallowed the words "trash martial soul" that had already reached his lips.

He cleared his throat and spoke tactfully. "Your martial soul... has passable potential. Innate level-one soul power gives you a foundation for cultivation, at least. Work hard, and you still have hope of becoming a soul grandmaster in this lifetime."

Passable potential... hope of becoming a soul grandmaster.

The corner of Su Yi's mouth twitched, and he gave up all hope.

That assessment was even more despair-inducing than simply calling it a trash martial soul.

He lowered his head and silently walked out of the array, his face dejected.

Behind him, Su Yuntao continued calling, "Next."

The awakening ceremony soon ended.

Of the eight children, Su Yi alone possessed soul power.

Old Tom held the martial soul certificate, turning it over and reading it several times, a smile spreading across his face.

Blue Silver Grass, innate level one-even if his aptitude was poor, he was still a genuine seedling of a soul master!

"At least there's one."

He crouched down and gently patted Su Yi's head. "Little fellow, don't lose heart. Just being able to become a soul master already puts you far above ordinary people. In a while, Grandpa will take you to the Soul Master Academy."

"I'm fine, Grandpa Chief."

Su Yi forced a smile, said goodbye to Old Tom, and headed straight home.

His home stood at the easternmost edge of the village, a lone adobe house with peeling walls and roof thatch that swayed in the wind.

His parents had died long ago, and he had survived only through the help of the village chief, Old Tom.

Pushing open the battered wooden door with a creak, Su Yi was just about to collapse onto his bed when a crisp, cold mechanical voice suddenly rang out in his mind-

[Ding-host's martial soul awakening detected as complete. Binding Fate Simulation...]

[Binding successful!]

Su Yi stiffened. His previously dim eyes instantly blazed with wild joy.

A cheat!

His cheat had finally arrived!

As a transmigrator who had read countless webnovels, he had almost thought he would disgrace his predecessors.

Fortunately, though his cheat was late, it had arrived just in time.

He quickly shut the door, held his breath, and focused his mind on examining the translucent panel that appeared in his head.

[Simulator name: Fate Simulation]

[Host: Su Yi]

[Martial soul: Blue Silver Grass (trash), innate level-one soul power]

[Current soul power level: 1]

[Available simulations: 1]

[Begin simulation?]

As he looked at the translucent panel before him, the corners of Su Yi's mouth slowly lifted.

Six years.

He had finally lived to see it.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his excitement, and silently said, Yes.

[Please select a Fated One: 1. Bibi Dong, 2. Qian Renxue, 3. Xiao Wu, 4. Zhu Zhuqing, 5. Ning Rongrong...]

A long list of names appeared. Su Yi raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "System, what does Fated One mean?"

[Fated One: During this simulation, the host's fate will become deeply entwined with the selected Fated One's. The deeper the bond and the greater the alteration to fate, the higher the rating upon completion of the simulation.]

[Upon completion of the simulation, the selected Fated One will receive the simulation's memories in full, producing real effects in the real world. Please choose carefully.]

Su Yi looked at the explanation thoughtfully.

After the simulation ended, the Fated One would receive its memories.

In other words, everything he did within the simulation would truly affect that person's perceptions and feelings in the real world.

"What is the rating used for?"

[Simulation ratings are divided into S, A, B, C, and D. The higher the rating, the richer the final rewards.]

Su Yi nodded and looked back at the list of Fated Ones.

His gaze swept across the names.

Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong...

Su Yi shook his head.

He glanced at his Blue Silver Grass martial soul, then finally shifted his gaze to the bottom of the list.

"I choose number ten, Ah Yin."

[Selection successful. Fated One: Ah Yin (Blue Silver Emperor).]

[Simulation beginning!]

[Drawing talent...]

[Draw successful!]

["Top-Tier Comprehension" (Golden Legendary): Self-Created Soul Skills-aren't those something you're born knowing how to make?

You possess top-tier comprehension unmatched in the world. Never forgetting what you see is a basic skill; mastering things without a teacher is your true ability.]

Su Yi's eyes lit up.

"If talent falls short, comprehension will make up the difference!"

This time, he was taking flight!