Martial Peak: Life Simulator

The 3,000 Worlds—a vast, unfathomable sea of stars where countless realms drift like scattered petals upon an endless cosmic river. Each world, a universe unto itself, teeming with life, power, and the echoes of ancient legacies. Some shone with divine brilliance, where Celestial Palaces towered above the clouds, their inhabitants wielding forces that could shatter the heavens. Others lay in ruin, their skies choked with the remnants of forgotten wars, their lands scarred by the ambition of those who sought dominion over fate itself.

Within one such world lay a seemingly small yet infinite cave, its entrance unassuming but its interior defying spatial logic. The walls shimmered with an ethereal light, casting shifting shadows that danced like phantoms. The air was thick with ancient energy, resonating with the whispers of forgotten epochs.

At the heart of this enigmatic cavern sat a man in quiet meditation. He appeared in his prime, his features strikingly handsome. Long black hair cascaded down his back, and his piercing black eyes held a depth that seemed to encompass the cosmos itself. Dressed in simple yet elegant robes, he exuded an aura of profound wisdom and latent power.

The man's presence was a paradox—both a part of the cave and distinct from it, as if he were the master of this boundless domain and yet its humble guest. His serene expression betrayed no hint of the thoughts or plans that might be unfolding within his mind.

In the silence of the cave, time seemed to stand still, the boundary between the present and eternity blurred.

The man's lips parted, his voice a whisper that carried through the cavern like a ripple across still water.

"Gu Qingyao."

The name, soft yet resolute, seemed to linger in the air, weaving itself into the very fabric of the cave. And in that instant, something stirred.

Before him, golden words materialized from the void, glowing with an ethereal radiance. Their brilliance was neither blinding nor weak, but perfect—words that existed beyond the constraints of ink and parchment, beyond time itself.

[Yes, master?]

The man's gaze remained steady, unwavering. Without hesitation, he spoke once more.

"Show me the progress of my Temporal Clones."

The golden words shimmered, their light pulsing like the heartbeat of an unseen force.

[Yes, master.]

The golden words pulsed, their light coalescing into a structured form—a list stretching across the air, each entry radiating a faint, celestial glow.

[1st Temporal Clone: Saint King Realm

Location: Unending Star Field, Demonic Crimson Sect]

[2nd Temporal Clone: Dao Source Realm

Location: Star Boundary, Fire Dragon Palace]

[3rd Temporal Clone: Origin Returning Realm

Location: Boundless Azure Star Field, Cloud Mist Pavilion]

[4th Temporal Clone: Emperor Realm

Location: Starfall Continent, Evernight Valley Palace]

[5th Temporal Clone: Origin King Realm

Location: Eternal Moon Star Field, Crimson Night Sect]

…

[33rd Temporal Clone: Transcendent Realm

Location: Shadow Veil Star Field, Forsaken Moon Sect]

...

The list continued, growing longer and longer, detailing the various clones and their meager advancements across the 3,000 Worlds.

The man exhaled sharply, frustration flickering in the depths of his black eyes.

"All of them are still weaklings…" he muttered, his voice laced with impatience. His fingers twitched slightly, a sign of the mounting tension that simmered beneath his composed exterior.

He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, his gaze cold and piercing.

"I even gave them the Heavenly Fate Chronicle Art, and they still haven't reached a decent level…"

A hint of urgency crept into his tone, his hands clenching into fists.

"I don't have much time before Yang Kai finds me! They are too slow!"

His words echoed through the endless cave.

The man's frustration boiled over as he clenched his fists, his aura surging for a brief moment.

"Fuck! At this rate—"

His words cut off abruptly. His sharp black eyes narrowed as something caught his attention on the still-scrolling list before him.

Golden words continued to etch themselves into existence, but one entry stood out among the countless others.

[3978th Temporal Clone: Initial Element Realm

Location: Azure Mist Realm, High Heaven Pavilion

This Temporal Clone has met Yang Kai]

The man's frustration vanished in an instant, replaced by wide-eyed astonishment. His breath caught, his mind racing to process the golden words that had just appeared before him.

Then, a slow, wicked smile spread across his face.

"Hah… hahaha!" A low chuckle escaped his lips, growing into a full-blown laugh that echoed through the endless cavern. His previously clenched fists relaxed, fingers running through his long black hair as exhilaration surged through him like wildfire.

"So… one of my Temporal Clones has met Yang Kai? In the past, no less?"

His black eyes gleamed with a manic light, brimming with excitement. "Hah! This is perfect! The very thing I've been searching for, and it fell into my hands just like that!"

He took a sharp breath, controlling his laughter, though his chest still trembled with thrill. His Temporal Clones were fragments of himself, scattered across time, each living their own lives and forging their own paths. But there was one constant among them—his unrelenting, all-consuming hatred for Yang Kai.

That hatred transcended time itself.

And now, one of his clones had encountered Yang Kai at an earlier point in time.

That meant only one thing.

He could now determine Yang Kai's level and location during that period.

He could analyze his strength, his flaws, his vulnerabilities.

And, if fortune smiled upon him—perhaps this clone could even kill Yang Kai's past self.

A sneer played on his lips. Of course, he knew the fundamentals of Time Laws. Even if a Temporal Clone managed to slay Yang Kai in the past, it wouldn't affect the present. Yang Kai, as he existed now, wouldn't even flinch.

But it would still be satisfying.

It would be a symbolic victory. A way to spit in that bastard's face across time itself.

The man's breath quickened as he leaned forward, his black eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Gu Qingyao, show me the information of the 3978th Temporal Clone!"

The golden words pulsed once before rearranging themselves, shifting into a new set of details.

[Sure, master.]

[3978th Temporal Clone: Yan Xiu

Race: Human

Age: 16 years old

Realm: Initial Element

Bloodline: None

Special Physique: None

Secret Art: Flowing Tide Art

Martial Skills: None

Location: Azure Mist Realm, High Heaven Pavilion]

The man read through the information swiftly, his sharp gaze absorbing every detail.

His fingers tapped against his knee as his mind worked through the information. "Initial Element Realm… so fucking weak, but that doesn't matter. The realm he's in seems to have little Qi."

His smirk widened. "And he's already met Yang Kai. If he is in such a realm as well, he shouldn't be that strong, right?"

A spark of intrigue flashed in his eyes. His Temporal Clones were independent yet connected. They weren't aware of their origins, yet the essence of his being remained within them—the same hatred, the same desires, the same unyielding pursuit of power.

If Yan Xiu had met Yang Kai, then that hatred would surface sooner or later.

Perhaps… this clone might kill Yang Kai.

The man chuckled darkly, the sound reverberating through the cavern like a whisper from the abyss. His black eyes gleamed with a sinister light as he leaned back, fingers drumming against his knee in a slow, thoughtful rhythm.

"Hehe… Gu Qingyao, keep an eye on this clone."

The golden words pulsed in acknowledgment, their radiance unwavering.

[Yes, master.]

A deep satisfaction settled in his chest. Of all the thousands of Temporal Clones he had scattered across time, this one—Yan Xiu—had just become the most important. A piece on the board that could finally move against Yang Kai, no matter how insignificant killing an alternate version of him was.

The man smirked. "Now then… let's see what fate has in store for you, Yan Xiu."

With a wave of his hand, the golden words dissolved into nothingness, leaving him once more in the vast silence of the infinite cave. But this time, that silence was filled with anticipation.

"Well... for us..."

To be continued...

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