Simulating Reality

Ye Qingxue’s face was a mask of disdain.

The moment she logged in, she realized who her host body belonged to—it was her own brother.

“Hehe, I never thought you’d make such a good woman. Honestly, Brother, I think you should just transition. Being a man is truly a waste for you,” Ye Qingxue teased.

“Go on, shoo. Your initial memories should be confined to the game’s data. Don’t come out and bother me unless it’s necessary,” Ye Qingyun retorted, rolling his eyes.

After he spoke, Ye Qingxue was immediately pulled back into the body.

“Stinky Brother, we agreed! You can’t always hog control. You have to let me take over the body sometime!” Ye Qingxue called out from within the body.

Ye Qingyun casually brushed her off, then walked to the window.

Through the pane, he gazed outside, his eyes sweeping over an incredibly bustling ancient street, flanked by densely packed houses.

The scene was breathtaking, a vivid recreation of a true ancient world.

A vibrant energy permeated everywhere, with hawkers’ stalls lining the roadsides.

A cacophony of shouts and calls filled the air, interspersed with the cheerful giggles of many young girls.

“Esteemed Sir, won’t you come inside and take a look? Our Crimson Jade Tower is the finest dance hall in town.”

“Young Master, you possess such distinguished talent! One can tell at a glance you are a man of profound wisdom. Do come to our Elegant Script Pavilion; all our ladies here are talents of the highest caliber.”

Outside the pavilions lining the streets, women dressed in vibrant, alluring attire were actively soliciting customers.

This was likely an ancient pleasure district, or ‘Flower Street’ as it was known – a hub for entertainment in ancient times.

Witnessing this scene, Ye Qingyun began to feel a headache brewing.

After all, his current identity placed him among these very women.

“Ugh! System, please tell me, what exactly is going on right now?”

With no other recourse, Ye Qingyun could only appeal to the system.

[Respected Player, greetings. You are currently located in Misty Rain City of the Song Kingdom, serving as a courtesan in Sweetwater Lane of the pleasure district. For detailed information, please consult your identity system.]

The system provided a general overview.

Upon hearing this, Ye Qingyun raised his hand and tapped a point in the air.

The next moment, the void rippled like water, then swiftly flickered, revealing a transparent character panel.

This panel displayed all of Ye Qingyun’s current information.

Name: Ye Qingrou (Commoner)

Age: 18

Strength: Vulnerable

Identity: Sweetwater Lane (Courtesan) (Headliner) (Official Courtesan)

Hidden Identity: Princess of a Fallen Kingdom (Fate Reverser)

Equipment: Rose Immortal Retention Skirt (Identity Set)

Inventory: Newbie Gift Pack

Skills: Music (Mastery), Dance (Mastery)

Wealth: None

Background: Princess of the Tang Kingdom. Following the Song Kingdom’s conquest of the Tang capital, the Tang harem concubines were captured. All men were executed, and the women were forced into prostitution.

“This is truly miserable,” Ye Qingyun muttered, a touch speechless. “But what’s this ‘Headliner’ and ‘Fate Reverser’ all about?”

He then tapped on the ‘Headliner’ information.

The ‘Headliner’ status referred to the most popular courtesan currently in Sweetwater Lane.

After reviewing the Headliner’s details, Ye Qingyun glanced at the hidden identity: Princess of a Fallen Kingdom (Fate Reverser).

[Fate Reverser]: A hidden identity within the game, known only to the player. This identity comes with special missions, allowing the player to choose to restore their nation and become its Empress.

Ye Qingyun was astonished.

He knew there were special identities in the game, but he never expected to encounter one himself.

This was a hidden identity quest.

The quest had no specific requirements beyond one: for Ye Qingyun to destroy the Song Kingdom and re-establish the Tang Kingdom.

However, this was not a task that could be undertaken at his current stage.

At this, Ye Qingyun rolled his eyes again, then shifted his gaze to his inventory.

This was what truly mattered to him right now.

He raised a hand and tapped open the gift pack.

[Hint: Player has obtained Inner Energy Fragment Scroll Pack, Basic Inner Energy Pack, Basic Martial Arts Pack.]

The Newbie Gift Pack contained only three items.

Ye Qingyun quickly opened each of them.

“This is really meticulously crafted,” Ye Qingyun mumbled. “But it must be the work of artificial intelligence, right? A human model couldn’t possibly be so flawless.”

“The Inner Energy Fragment Scroll Pack… I wonder which fragments are inside,” Ye Qingyun mused, curiously opening the pack.

The moment the pack opened, two selection options popped up before Ye Qingyun’s eyes.

[Please select your Inner Energy Fragment Scroll. Current Inner Energy Fragment Scrolls are divided into Orthodox Inner Energy and Demonic Inner Energy.]

The system prompted.

This was a choice of paths, allowing the player to decide whether to become an orthodox martial artist or a demonic martial artist.

“Qingxue, should we follow the orthodox path, or the demonic one?” Ye Qingyun asked his sister.

Seeing Ye Qingyun consult her for an opinion, Ye Qingxue didn’t hesitate for a moment.

“That’s a no-brainer! We absolutely have to be a demonic enchantress! Brother, with your background and current profession, you’re perfectly suited to be one,” Ye Qingxue declared with utmost seriousness.

Ye Qingyun’s mouth twitched.

“If you keep talking to me in that snarky tone, I guarantee you won’t be coming out again,” Ye Qingyun threatened.

At his threat, Ye Qingxue immediately fell silent.

Nevertheless, Ye Qingyun heeded Ye Qingxue’s advice, choosing the demonic cultivation method.

[Demonic Cultivation Method selected successfully. Please select your Cultivation Method Fragment Scroll.]

The system prompted once more.

The next moment, a series of books, each bearing a name, floated before Ye Qingyun’s eyes.

These were all top-tier cultivation methods from the demonic path, though each was merely a fragment.

Unless a complete set was gathered, they couldn’t be practiced.

‘Which one should I choose?’ Ye Qingyun deliberated.

Currently, ten cultivation methods were available for Ye Qingyun to choose from: the Heavenly Demonic Tome, Yin-Yang Demonic Art, Heaven-Defying Evil Art, Blood Sea Divine Art, Heaven Devouring Art, Seven Emotions and Six Desires Art, Sacred Demonic Scripture, Undying Underworld King Art, Ten Thousand Ghosts Summoning Art, and God-Slaying Record.

Ye Qingyun reviewed the descriptions of each book.

He recognized some of them, while others were unfamiliar.

The Heavenly Demonic Tome, Heaven Devouring Art, God-Slaying Record, Blood Sea Divine Art, and Sun-Moon Demonic Art were all officially noted as incomplete fragments.

Only twenty such books existed throughout the entire game.

The first player to obtain a complete cultivation method would acquire this peerless divine art—a special event for the server launch.

As he continued browsing, Ye Qingyun’s gaze settled upon the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Art.

“The Seven Emotions and Six Desires Art, a demonic cultivation method created by a grand master of the demonic path. This art emphasizes acting on one’s impulses. Upon successful cultivation, it allows control over an enemy’s thoughts and emotions.”

Ye Qingyun was drawn to this cultivation method.

He immediately selected the fragment, as it was recommended by the system, which stated it was highly suitable for his current identity.

[Congratulations, Player! You have obtained the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Art Fragment. You may cultivate it once all fragments are collected.]

The system notified him.

After selecting the fragment, Ye Qingyun opened the Basic Cultivation Method Pack.

It offered only two options: the ‘Sitting-in-Oblivion Art’ and the ‘Creation Art’.

The Sitting-in-Oblivion Art’s attributes were more suited for an external martial arts path, while the Creation Art’s attributes aligned better with an internal martial arts path.

The game itself distinguished between these two paths: internal and external.

Players possessed five types of attributes: Arm Strength, Physique, Agility, Inner Breath, and Aura.

Inner Breath and Aura were internal cultivation attributes, while Arm Strength and Agility were external cultivation attributes.

Physique, however, was a shared attribute.

Ye Qingyun’s current base attributes were those of an ordinary person.

All his foundational attributes were below ten points, adjusted according to his professional identity.

For example, Ye Qingyun’s attributes were:

[Arm Strength: 1, Physique: 5, Agility: 10, Inner Breath: 0, Aura: 0]

Naturally, there was no Inner Breath or Aura since he hadn’t cultivated internal energy.

His Arm Strength was only one point, which was normal for a woman, as female strength was typically lower.

A Physique of five represented standard female resilience, whereas male characters usually had ten points.

As for his exceptionally high Agility, it was because the character, Ye Qingrou, was a courtesan who had danced for ten years, naturally leading to high Agility.

To illustrate, if a player’s identity were that of a butcher, their Arm Strength and Physique would undoubtedly be high.

“The Agility is quite high, though,” Ye Qingyun remarked.

He then selected the Creation Art and immediately learned it.

[Hint: Player has learned Creation Art and officially embarked on the path of cultivation.]

After learning the internal energy technique, Ye Qingyun could feel his body suddenly gaining some strength, no longer feeling fragile.

He then glanced at his attributes once more.

[Arm Strength: 4, Physique: 8, Agility: 12, Inner Breath: 5, Aura: 3]