The Fool’s Demonic Path

[Loading Life Simulation Program…99%]

[100%]

[Ah! Welcome, the Life Simulation System is at your service.]

The familiar voice resonated in Mingqian’s ears once more.

Unlike his first encounter, which had left him utterly bewildered, he now possessed a distinct advantage: experience.

[Simulation Count: 1 (Pending Use)]

[Usage Confirmed, World Locking In Progress]

[World Locked, Target: Cultivation World]

For this particular simulation, the host’s innate abilities would not be disabled, a concession granted due to the inherent dangers of this chosen world.

Talents were now being generated.

‘They have been generated,’ the system announced, ‘Please select from the following options.’

The system further explained, ‘Talent tiers are ranked U, R, SR, SSR, and UR, corresponding to an incremental point value from 1 to 5. You may choose any combination of the randomly generated talents, accumulating a total of 8 points.’

[One Hundred Thousand Volts (U): You perpetually carry a significant charge of static electricity, which may manifest with surprising, even miraculous, effects in unforeseen circumstances.]

[The Fool (UR): As the Fool, you are endowed with the profound insight to pierce through all worldly illusions. Should you choose to embrace it, you could ascend to the zenith of human intellect. Yet, it must be remembered that the Fool’s wisdom is ultimately but the wisdom of ignorance.]

[Discernment (SR): Perceiving the underlying essence beyond mere appearances comes effortlessly to you.]

[Demonic Cultivator Spirit Root (SSR): You possess an inherent, formidable talent for demonic cultivation, a gift so potent that scarcely any righteous cultivator could hope to rival your innate aptitude.]

[Mixed Spirit Root (SR): While it does not possess the raw power of the Demonic Cultivator Spirit Root, with diligent and focused cultivation, you could still carve out a path to considerable achievement among righteous cultivators.]

[Concealment (R): Your ability to hide is extraordinary, allowing you to elude the detection of even terrifying, formidable beings.]

[Physical Salvation (SR): You are imbued with an immense compassion, finding it impossible to ignore the plight of those who suffer.]

[Absolute Defense (???): A barrier capable of utterly repelling an Immortal Emperor’s assault. Error: Not selectable.]

Mingqian’s gaze swept over the array of talents.

The sheer volume of options this time was surprisingly vast, almost dazzling him.

‘What should I choose?’ he mused. ‘The Fool? That appears to be the highest-tier talent.’

Having selected such a collection of ineffectual skills during his previous simulation, Mingqian was resolute in his ambition to achieve significant breakthroughs in cultivation this time.

He had initially intended to select Absolute Defense, yet no matter how many times he attempted to click on it, the option remained unresponsive.

‘Demonic cultivation, then? What does it matter!’ he thought, a flicker of resolve in his eyes. ‘As long as I can elevate my strength…’

With that thought, he decisively chose the talents [The Fool] and [Demonic Cultivator Spirit Root].

[Selection complete. Begin immediately?]

“Activate!”

The familiar sensation of detachment washed over him again, accompanied by the return of the familiar narrative voice.

This time, however, he seemed to catch a faint, peculiar static, though it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

[Loading complete, Foundation Value: S, World matched.]

[Attention: You must achieve a perfect ending.]

[You absolutely must achieve a perfect ending.]

The weather today was splendid.

Having deliberately ignored the barrage of insults hurled at you in the work group chat, you resolved to grant yourself a much-needed day of respite.

You meticulously packed your belongings, preparing to venture out and witness the grandeur of the wider world.

However, an inexplicable roar erupted from an unknown direction.

As you instinctively looked up, a massive truck was hurtling directly towards you.

Yet, the truck never made impact.

You merely experienced a heart-stopping jolt of fear.

Naturally, you did not perish; instead, you found yourself transmigrated into an entirely new world.

You experienced a perfect transmigration.

Opening your eyes, you discovered yourself in a realm suffused with ethereal qi and pervasive spiritual energy, your body feeling remarkably unchanged.

Gazing at your familiar reflection in the water, you resolved to forge a path of significant achievement in this new world.

However, a stark realization dawned upon you: you possessed no identification, no money, not even a beggar’s bowl to begin your new life.

Nevertheless, as a seasoned transmigrator, you remained unperturbed, choosing instead to meticulously assess your immediate environment.

Lifting your gaze, you observed a soft, incessant rain falling over the city.

Pedestrians scurried past, shielded by their oil-paper umbrellas, none deigning to cast even a fleeting glance in your direction.

Yet, none of this mattered to you.

Offering yourself a silent encouragement, you struggled to your feet.

Lightning cleaved the sky, followed by the rumble of thunder, as if immortals themselves were traversing the heavens.

Spiritual energy, sword-flight, and fearsome demonic beasts were all tangible realities.

By night, the presence of immortal caves and the pervasive atmosphere of cultivation solidified the impression: this was undeniably a world of cultivators.

In the distant panorama, mountains were wreathed in layers of ethereal qi, their slopes dotted with immortal caves of varying sizes.

The sheer abundance of spiritual energy flowing within them was enough to inspire profound awe.

Suddenly, a searing bolt of lightning cleaved a mountain peak, a clear sign that someone was undergoing a tribulation.

Earth-shattering thunderclouds amassed overhead, coalescing into furious streaks of lightning that poured down upon the summit.

This realm was governed by cultivators, with every soul yearning to join their ranks.

Mortal cities flourished under the cultivators’ protection, and the common people’s world resonated with praises for the names of righteous cultivators.

‘Ugh, couldn’t they have given me a better starting point for this simulation?!’ he grumbled aloud.

Even that fellow from Mushoku Tensei had a home, didn’t he?

This was akin to drawing a caveman in a gacha game’s opening pull.

Mingqian shivered, shedding the rainwater clinging to him.

This mortal city, much like those in his previous simulated world, harbored foul-smelling shadows in its dark corners, yet boasted magnificent splendor in its illuminated areas.

Compared to his previous life, where he had begun as a duke, this current existence was undeniably rather grim.

Mingqian couldn’t shake the feeling that the system was deliberately antagonizing him; even its pronouncements seemed slightly more verbose than before.

‘Hmph,’ he exhaled slowly. ‘Regardless, I must first secure my survival before I can even begin to contemplate cultivation.’

In this world, utterly devoid of both power and financial means, he found himself embroiled in unforeseen difficulties.

Fortunately, however, elemental magic remained at his disposal.

[And so, you took your first step.]

After numerous inquiries, you finally ascertained the city’s name: Azure Cloud Immortal Land.

This city thrived under the direct aegis of the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect, functioning as a vassal of a mortal dynasty.

Every five years, immortals would descend to test the aptitudes of potential disciples and take them into their fold.

The Azure Cloud Immortal Sect itself, celebrated for its abundance of celestial maidens, commanded half the entire continent.

To the south lay the Unclaimed Lands, appearing to be a refuge for wicked individuals.

This world, it became clear, was not as pristine or glorious as you had initially envisioned.

You resolved to trade your physical labor for coin.

Your efforts bore fruit, yielding a paltry sum of a few copper coins.

Consequently, you settled in the slums, simultaneously earning a meager living and meticulously observing the activities of the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect.

****

A year elapsed.

During this period, you successfully amassed enough funds for extensive travel, while also acquiring a fundamental understanding of this world’s workings.

[This world is a massive matriarchal society.]

The populace depended entirely on the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect for their livelihoods; indeed, the greater the sect’s power, the more stable their lives became.

Celestial maidens occasionally descended to the mortal realm, and whispers claimed that among them existed terrifying entities, beings with one foot already firmly planted in the divine realm.

Within the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect’s hallowed grounds, abundant natural spiritual qi circulated, and countless heavenly treasures were available for selection.

The sect’s cultivators worshipped the Jade Maiden, revering her as the Ancestral Matriarch.

The Ancestral Matriarch’s singular pursuit was justice, and her followers were sworn to eradicate all forms of evil.

Cultivators who did not pledge allegiance to the Jade Maiden were branded as miscellaneous cultivators.

And those who were neither, the truly unaligned, were deemed demonic cultivators, cast as vile targets destined for subjugation.

This world, it became starkly apparent, operated under a rigid, dichotomous system of ‘us’ versus ‘them.’

You were struck dumb.

It turned out you were precisely one of these so-called demonic cultivators, your very talent a blatant Demonic Cultivator Spirit Root.

‘I… how have I become the villain again?!’

‘System! You—’