《How a big shot simulate (Oneshot)》


 Chapter 01 Zhen Wu

    The stars shimmered faintly in the endless void, their brilliance dulled by the towering structures that dominated Zhen Wu''s celestial domain. Suspended in the fabric of space, the kingdom was a masterpiece of cultivation and cosmic engineering, a self-contained paradise that only Zhen Wu could have forged. Endless spirals of silver and gold, radiant gardens blooming with eternal flowers, and streams of shimmering energy flowed between floating palaces. It was a world crafted not to impress but to shelter, built for his family and loyal subjects.


    At the heart of this kingdom stood the Grand Pavilion, where Zhen Wu resided. Despite the opulence surrounding him, the man himself was the epitome of simplicity. Seated cross-legged on an emerald cushion, Zhen Wu''s black robes billowed slightly as if touched by an unseen breeze. His silver hair cascaded down his back, the strands reflecting light like polished steel. His eyes were warm yet carried an unfathomable depth, as if he had witnessed the birth and death of countless stars.


    A soft carefree smile lingered on his face as he enjoyed the peaceful scenery around him.


    However, beyond the calm exterior was a power so vast it could shatter entire Galaxies with ease. Few dared to think of him as a man, he was a legend, an existence beyond mortal comprehension. Stories of his exploits had transcended generations, whispered in awe and fear.


    Zhen Wu, once known as a terror across the galaxy, was now an old man, or at least that is the visage he liked to keep to numb his enemies, to cultivators of The Sovereign stage like him appearance was changeable with a single thought.


    Thinking of his enemies Zhen Wu couldn''t help but feel annoyed although the smile on his face didn''t change.


    He would deal with them eventually one way or another, after all he already killed a few of them, even though supposedly they were at the peak of the cultivation Journey one realm higher than him.


    ....


    The peace was suddenly broken by the approach of a servant, who flew down at high speed, landing in front of him steadily.


    "My Lord, a visitor requests an audience. She claims it is a matter of great importance."


    Zhen Wu raised an eyebrow, amused. It was rare for anyone to disturb his solitude, let alone someone bold enough to seek him out. "Let her in," he said calmly.


    Moments later, a young woman entered the pavilion. She was tall, with sharp, intelligent eyes and an aura of cultivation that marked her as extraordinary. Though she was at the same sovereign realm as Zhen Wu''s current stage, she didn''t dare show any disrespect, the fear in her eyes evident.


    She can''t be blamed for it though, as his reputation was too shocking.


    Years ago when Zhen Wu first established his kingdom declaring himself as a new sovereign, Paragons had tested him.


    The first had come with an offer: join the Paragons as a subordinate. Zhen Wu''s answer had been swift and merciless. The Paragon vanished, his death a whispered legend.


    The second Paragon had sought answers or vengeance, if Zhen Wu was after his friend''s disappearance, but the result was the same. Zhen Wu had beaten him to death in full view of countless witnesses this time. It was a brutal warning: even the universe''s mightiest were no match for him.


    The other Paragons had learned their lesson. They left him alone, wary of provoking his wrath. Still, Zhen Wu knew that if they united against him, even he couldn''t stand against their combined strength. Thus, he remained in his space kingdom, unbothered but watchful.


    Back to The woman as she knelt respectfully. "Lord Zhen Wu," she spoke, her voice steady but edged with urgency, "my name is Liu Mei. I have come to seek your aid in a matter that concerns my family."


    Zhen Wu gestured for her to rise. "Speak freely, What is it you seek?" and stand up, they should''ve told you, I don''t like man kneeling to other man. "


    She heard about Zhen Wu a lot and in detail, but in her nervousness she forgot everything.


    After standing up, She hesitated, as if weighing her words carefully. "my mother unable to reach the Sovereign realm she died over 20 years ago, but it''s not about her, but It is about my younger brother that she left for me to raise. He was born without the ability to cultivate, a cruel twist of fate in a world where strength determines survival. I''ve exhausted every method, consulted countless experts, but none have been able to help him."


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Her gaze sharpened. "I have learned of a technique you created in your youth, one that allows even those without natural aptitude to cultivate, the Heavenly Foundation Method.


    I seek permission from you to use it. My brother''s life depends on it."


    Zhen Wu''s smile faltered for the briefest of moments. The technique she spoke of was one he hadn''t thought of in millennia. It was one his greatest triumph and a reminder of his humble beginnings, a time when he, too, had faced the despair of being unable to cultivate.


    Zhen Wu leaned back, his expression softening with nostalgia. "Ah, that old thing. A technique I created when I was still a boy, barely past my teens. I almost forgot it existed."


    The woman nodded. "It is unmatched. My brother¡­ This method could grant him a future."


    Zhen Wu chuckled. "Do you know how long it took me to create that technique? Fourteen years. I was just a boy on a weak little planet, surrounded by ignorance and mediocrity. I didn''t even have the qualifications to cultivate, but I was determined to rise above it all. That technique was my first step."


    The woman swallowed nervously. "I know its value, which is why I have not dared to let my brother practice it without your permission. I am willing to pay any price for it."


    Zhen Wu''s smile grew predatory. "Any price, you say? "


    "I will give you the technique," he said, his voice playful, "on one condition. Marry me, and I will make it yours to teach as you see fit."


    The proposition hung in the air like a thundercloud. Liu Mei''s composure cracked for the first time, her eyes widening in shock. "Marry you?" she echoed, incredulous.


    "Yes," Zhen Wu replied, his tone as calm as ever. "You seek to take something of immense value from me. In return, I ask for something equally valuable. Consider it an exchange of trust."


    Liu Mei clenched her fists, her mind racing. "I¡­ cannot. I respect you, Lord Zhen Wu, but I cannot make such a decision lightly."


    He nodded, un perturbed, His smile unchanged "Then offer me something of equal worth."


    After a moment of silence, she spoke. "I have three suns, condensed using a long lost forging method. Each is a treasure of immense power. Will that suffice?"


    Zhen Wu''s eyes gleamed with interest. "Three suns, you say? Very well. That will do."


    After pocketing the things Zhen Wu felt like he should honor business professionalism, at least he felt like it this time.


    "Do you know why I didn''t let some of my children practice it, even with their low talent? "


    " No I don''t. "


    " because it is dangerous," he continued. "It defies the natural order, forcing the heavens to yield where they would otherwise deny. Those who practice it risk enraging the will of the universe, I won''t guarantee your brother''s safety if he were to attempt it."


    Liu Mei''s expression darkened, but she did not waver. "I understand the risks, my lord. But I cannot abandon him. He is my family."


    Liu Mei paused for a moment then spoke again with hope in her voice.


    "So Why did the will of the Universe allowed you to practice it then, is it because you made it or for some other reason."


    Zhen Wu''s expression darkened, his silence pressing down like a tangible force. His guest froze mid sentence, her body locking in place as if the very air had turned to stone.


    A cold shiver ran down her spine, her breath catching in her throat.


    The temperature plummeted, and the faintest tremor in the walls betrayed the rising intensity of his anger.


    His power seeped into the room, invisible but suffocating, causing the candles to dim as though recoiling from his presence.


    She swallowed hard, eyes wide, but dared not speak again, knowing her mistake had just drawn a silent storm.


    "I will let this incidence slide as ignorance this time, as for your question."


    Zhen Wu paused for a moment speaking in a much sharper tone


    "allowed me! That worm didn''t allow me anything, it simply didn''t know I even existed back then.


    If it did it would''ve done everything it could to delete the planet i was born in!."


    Zhen Wu noticed the stunned expression on his guests face, and feeling amused he decided to enlighten her a bit more, as for the information he was about to leave being too dangerous for her poor little life, he didn''t care about that.


    " You know I am famous for killing two paragons, But in fact I ended the life of three."


    Liu Mei eyes widened to Zhen Wu''s amusement as he kept speaking.


    "My first one was way before I became a sovereign, she was called the holder of Secrets or something like that, anyway she is dead now and I get to name her whatever...


    Ah back to the story.. She came after me like a madman, where I was literally hanging out in drinking tea, saying that I am a dangerous person and so what not...


    Long story short, I escaped and she followed, until we left the known universe...


    there at the middle of absolutely nowhere, I was able to turn the tables and end her.


    But sadly, I was so injured that normally it would of been impossible to progress anymore, still with different unique methods resources skills and techniques I was able to reach the Sovereign Realm but no further....


    That''s why the paragons wanted to test me after i started my kingdom, they suspected I killed her ...


    Ah look at me babbling, all of that is not the point.


    The point is that she chased me far enough that I found a new universe with a different universal will.


    To be exact it''s the same universe just different territories, like countries in a small planet, but on a much bigger scale. an endless scale.


    And there I discovered Secrets! those things called wills of the universe, are mere creatures, worms in fact...


    They aren''t omnipotent as you think they are. "


    " Do you understand. "


    Zhen Wu ended his words with a smile.


    Liu Mei gulped nodding slightly, she wished she didn''t hear his words that contain so many secrets, each one so dangerous it could end her life.


    Feeling boredom Zhen Wu stopped playing with her and summoned an ancient scroll from the void, its surface glowing with intricate runes. "This technique is bound by a curse," he explained. "All my techniques are, and only the ones I allow can practice any of them safely. ."


    He made a series of complex hand seals, and the runes on a certain part of the scroll faded into nothingness. The technique was now free to be used without consequence.


    Taking out a different scroll he threw it to her.


    "Take it,"


    Liu Mei bowed deeply. "Thank you, Lord Zhen Wu. I will not forget your kindness."


    As she turned to leave, Zhen Wu watched her go, his expression playful.


    He had a feeling today''s matters weren''t that simple and he didn''t intend to let it be.


    Taking out one of his observation artifacts, a black ink mirror, he started operating it.

 Chapter 02 Whispers of time

    Liu Mei left Zhen Wu''s pavilion with the scroll in her possession, her mind heavy with the weight of what had just transpired. The celestial pathways of Zhen Wu''s kingdom were alive with energy, swirling with a brilliance that reflected the might of the being who ruled here. She paused briefly at the edge of a crystalline bridge, gripping the scroll tightly.


    The cost had been steep. The three suns she had offered were irreplaceable treasures, each forged from the core of dying stars. Their loss wasn''t just personal, it would weaken her standing within her sect, and perhaps even invite rivals to challenge her position.


    Or even worst, the two paragons of her Sect would feel offended or threatened by her actions, but as the image of her brother''s hopeful face surfaced in her mind, her resolve hardened.


    "This will be worth it," she whispered to herself, before stepping onto a shimmering portal that would return her to her homeworld.


    Liu  Mei''s arrival in her sect was met with murmurs. She was a rising star the newest high elder, admired and envied in equal measure. Her abrupt departure and equally sudden return from that place that even paragons fears, had only fueled speculation. The sect''s normal elders eyed her with curiosity but chose to remain silent, their standing too low to comment on the matter.


    .....


    She found her brother, Liu Han, in the secluded courtyard he often frequented. The boy, barely twelve, sat under a flowering tree, his eyes closed as he tried, fruitlessly to cultivate.


    "Han," Liu Mei called softly, her voice carrying both affection and urgency.


    His eyes snapped open, lighting up at the sight of her. "Sister! You''re back!"


    She knelt before him, holding out the scroll. "Han, I found a way."


    His gaze shifted to the scroll, confusion and excitement mingling on his face. "What is this?"


    "A technique," she explained. "One that will allow you to cultivate, even with your condition. But¡­" She hesitated, the weight of Zhen Wu''s warning echoing in her mind. "It''s not without risks."


    Han''s expression grew serious. "Sister, I''ve lived with the shame of being a burden to you for years. If this can give me the strength to stand beside you, I''ll take any risk."


    Her heart clenched at his words, but she nodded. "Then let''s begin."


    ....


    The technique was unlike anything Liu Mei had ever encountered. As she guided Han through the initial steps, she marveled at its intricacy. It required a precise balance of energy manipulation and mental fortitude, pushing the boundaries of what was considered possible.


    For Han, the process was excruciating. The technique forced his dormant meridians to awaken, flooding his body with energy that it had never been meant to contain. He gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face as he endured the pain.


    Liu Mei stayed by his side, her own energy stabilizing his erratic flow. Hours passed like this, the courtyard bathed in the golden light of their combined effort.


    Finally, as dawn broke over the horizon, a faint aura began to emanate from Han''s body. It was weak, barely perceptible, but it was there, a sign that the technique had succeeded.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "You did it," Liu Mei said, her voice filled with pride and relief.


    Han opened his eyes, tears streaming down his face. "I¡­ I can feel it, Sister. I can feel the energy."


    ....


    Unbeknownst to them, their efforts had not gone unnoticed. Far above, in the void between realms, two figures watched the scene unfold.


    The first was a man cloaked in shadows, his face obscured but his presence radiating an unsettling power. "So, Zhen Wu has released his technique, she must of pain a great price. " he said, his voice a low growl.


    The second figure, a woman draped in silken robes that shimmered like moonlight, frowned. "It seems the girl''s desperation outweighed her caution. This could disrupt the balance."


    The man chuckled darkly. "Balance? That''s always been an illusion. Zhen Wu''s interference has set events in motion that cannot be undone. The boy''s fate is now tied to forces beyond his understanding."


    The woman''s gaze remained fixed on Liu Mei and Han. "Then we must decide. Do we intervene, or let destiny take its course?"


    The man smirked. "For now, let''s watch. This could be¡­ entertaining."


    ...


    Back in Zhen Wu''s kingdom, the great cultivator sat in quiet meditation. The celestial energies of his domain hummed around him, reflecting his calm demeanor.


    An unsssuming mirror floating in front of him, showing his guest that just left, and the boy next to her.


    Zhen Wu kept a faint smile as he tried to piece out the puzzle, everything should be related to the younger brother, or at least it looks like it.


    He could see that while using the Heavenly Foundation method the boy has attracted something unseen to his body most probably something beneficial to his growth, Zhen Wu couldn''t probe deeper not wanting to alert the two Paragons watching, although he didn''t really care what''s happening to the boy''s body.


    What he couldn''t pin point what does it have to do with himself, is the boy another pawn used against him?


    ....


    Suddenly The room fell silent, the air thick with the weight of unseen forces, as a whisper rippled through his thoughts. A faint, distant murmur, like a breeze across a vast, forgotten land, brushed against his consciousness.


    ''.. trickery.''


    The words were unclear, almost unintelligible, but they carried a warning, an urgent pull that lingered long after the whisper faded.


    Zhen Wu''s smile didn''t change but his mind raced with thoughts.


    What just happened was no ordinary trick. It was the Whispers of Time, a technique above even the Paragon level, one of his most enigmatic creations.


    The whisper came again, sharp this time, echoing from a distant future or past that he could not pinpoint. The voice seemed to beckon, wrapping itself around the edges of his thoughts, guiding him toward something unknown.


    Zhen Wu sat motionless, smile unchanged, digging into the temporal currents that only he could access. The room, once warm and alive, felt suddenly colder. The walls, as if reflecting his focus, seemed to warp, shifting imperceptibly. His senses sharpened, attuned to the shifts of the universe itself. He had made this technique to warn him of monumental events, ones that could alter the course of his existence.


    He could sense the faintest trace of danger, something lurking just beyond the horizon of his perception.


    The whispers ceased, leaving behind an unsettling stillness.


    ''Trick... Trickery, could it be...a bait, all what happened recently was to diverge my attention... But from what and why? .''


    ...


    Zhen Wu sat cross legged in the heart of his vast, silent palace. The air hung heavy with tension, the echoes of the Whispers of Time still reverberating in his mind. His expression was calm, but his golden eyes gleamed with sharp intensity, dissecting the cryptic warning. "Careful tricks," it had whispered, as if mocking him.


    The grand hall around him felt unnaturally still, as though the palace itself awaited his next move. Zhen Wu''s mind raced, piecing together fragments of knowledge. His guest''s visit, her polite fear, the ancient technique she had sought, everything now seemed part of a larger, unseen web.


    With a flick of his wrist, the air before him shimmered, revealing a luminous scroll marked with intricate runes.


    This was his creation, the Scroll of gold, etched with his own blood and soul long ago. It connected to all of his techniques, allowing him to monitor its users.


    Only his strongest techniques were never recorded and thus never linked to The Scroll of gold such as ''the Whispers of time'' & ''the perfect ghost'' and the strongest of them all ''eye of reality''.


    There were other techniques and manuals that were unrecorded but the heavily Foundation method was recorded.


    Zhen Wu focused, weaving his essence into the scroll. Two names appeared. His guest and her brother, as expected. But then a third presence emerged. His brows furrowed, and his aura darkened as realization struck: the third name was no coincidence.


    The times matched perfectly. Both her brother and this unknown figure had begun practicing the technique at the exact same moment the curse seal had been undone.


    Zhen Wu demeanor changed completely as he stood up, his lips curled into a cold smile.

 Chapter 03 The anomaly

    In small town within a fast world mainly ruled by cultivators.


    Zhen Wu walked unseen through the bustling town, his presence masked by the Perfect Ghost Technique. Even the Universal Will would find it impossible to detect him now. His body remained in his palace, a flawless clone occupying his place, while his incorporeal form shadowed the target he had discovered hours earlier.


    Before him was a young man with all the hallmarks of a nobody, He was lean, his disheveled hair lending him a roguish charm. His demeanor, though confident, was marred by a subtle desperation. Zhen Wu observed as the young man strode down the cobbled streets, seemingly lost in thought but periodically glancing at a gleaming, ethereal interface only he could see.


    "Alright," the young man muttered under his breath. "The simulation says I''ll need to perfect this sword technique by tomorrow. Got it." He reached for a sheathed blade at his side and practiced a swift, fluid motion. Though crude, his movements carried surprising sharpness for someone so green.


    Zhen Wu''s expression remained impassive, but his mind churned. This one practices techniques far beyond his apparent capability. Yet there is no sign of excessive training or the use of external artifacts. Curious.


    The young man paused his swordplay, scanning the street. His eyes caught sight of a woman walking briskly past, her gaze averted. Zhen Wu noted the faint tension in the man''s body as he called out.


    "Liya! Wait!"


    The woman stopped, her shoulders stiff. She turned, her expression both annoyed and wary. "What do you want now, Jian?"


    Zhen Wu followed silently, his gaze narrowing as the interaction unfolded.


    "I just wanted to apologize," Jian said, his voice laced with earnestness. "I know I overstepped yesterday."


    "Overstepped?" Liya scoffed, folding her arms. "You mean when you tried to lecture me about cultivation methods, only to get knocked flat on your back?"


    Zhen Wu''s lips twitched into the faintest smirk. The young man''s arrogance had clearly led to his humiliation.


    "I wasn''t trying to lecture you," Jian said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I just¡­ wanted to help."This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "Help?" Liya''s eyes flashed with disdain. "I don''t need help from someone who can''t even stand their ground."


    Jian flinched, but his resolve didn''t waver since his cheat was activated last day. "I''ve been working on that. Look, I know I''m not there yet, but I''ll prove myself."


    Liya rolled her eyes and walked away without another word. Jian watched her retreating form, determination hardening his features. "The simulator says she''ll need my help tomorrow," he murmured to himself. "I''ll be ready."


    Zhen Wu''s interest deepened. The boy''s strange behavior wasn''t mere arrogance; it was guided by foreknowledge. This "simulator" he referenced had given him not only insight into the future but also skills and techniques beyond his current level, including his own Heavenly Foundation method.


    Zhen Wu scaned this entire world for a copy of his own work, this his surprise there was indeed one next to a skeleton of cultivator in a deep cave, however that place is countless kilometers away from the spot, in the wilderness, obviously this young man didn''t cross all the distance.


    More importantly he could see that the dust on the skeleton and the copy of his technique was not touched at all for long years, so where would''ve he obtained it.


    Zhen Wu could sense the copy and  is was the only one we within the surrounding galaxies.


    " Curious! how did he get it?"


    ....


    The young man continued his journey, his path seemingly random but, to Zhen Wu''s trained eyes, deliberate. He stopped at a small merchant stall, purchasing a vial of rare medicinal herbs, then headed toward the town outskirts.


    As Jian reached an isolated clearing, he drew his sword again. "Let''s see¡­ in The simulation this next step is key." He moved into a sequence of strikes, his form precise, almost mechanical. Each motion carried a hint of future mastery, as though years of practice had been condensed into moments.


    Zhen Wu remained motionless, his golden eyes tracking every detail. He''s using borrowed strength somehow. This is not natural progress.


    Jian suddenly stopped, glancing at the interface again. "Wait¡­ A fight tomorrow? Against¡­ Oh no." His face paled, and he muttered rapidly. "I''m not ready for that. Not even close."


    He paced nervously, the sword clutched tightly in his hand. "What do I do? If I lose, I¡­ No, I''ll just run the simulation again. It''ll give me something. It always does."


    Zhen Wu''s mind sharpened at the admission. A treasure that rewrites destiny and grants knowledge of future events? No wonder the Universal Will is involved.


    The young man opened his interface again, scrolling through options visible only to him. "huh? I didn''t live long this time! Well let''s pick : Perfect Parry? No, too defensive. Lightning Step? Maybe¡­ Ah, there it is. ''Moment of Clarity.'' That should tip the scales."


    He selected the ability, and a subtle ripple of energy surrounded him. Jian closed his eyes, inhaling deeply as newfound calm overtook his features. When he opened them, they were steady, his earlier panic replaced by quiet confidence.


    Zhen Wu watched, his curiosity mingled with irritation. The boy''s reliance on this simulator was blatant, and yet the Universal Will had chosen him as a pawn in its schemes. What annoyed Zhen Wu more was the thought of what else this treasure might be capable of.


    The moon rose high, casting pale light over the clearing. Jian sheathed his sword and began walking back toward the town. Zhen Wu followed at a leisurely pace, his steps soundless, his presence unfelt.


    This pawn is dangerous not because of his own strength but because of the hand that moves him, Zhen Wu thought.


    As Jian disappeared into the town, Zhen Wu paused at the edge of the clearing, his gaze lingering on the path the boy had taken. The pieces were falling into place, but the full picture remained elusive. For now, he would continue to observe, unraveling the threads of this plot one by one.


    With a quiet hum of power, Zhen Wu vanished, leaving only the faintest ripple in the night air.