Chapter 1

In the early morning, the rain fell steadily, enveloping the entire Liu Family Village in a curtain of rain.

Under the eaves at the door, Er Ya sat on a bamboo stool, her hands supporting her chin, constantly looking out at the alley entrance.

Finally, a tall figure appeared at the alley entrance.

Er Ya's eyes lit up, and she jumped off the stool, calling out brightly, "Brother Gu Yang, it's raining today, so we won't go into the mountains, right? Come and continue the story of Sun Wukong. What happened after he was trapped under the Five-Finger Mountain?"

The man named Gu Yang lifted his head and smiled, revealing his white teeth, "I'll tell you next time when I have the chance. The caravan has arrived, and I need to sell the mountain goods."

Er Ya watched his departing figure, her face flushing, and she thought to herself, "Brother Gu Yang is so handsome. If only I could marry him someday..."

Thinking of this, she felt both shy and sweet.

She was eleven years old this year, and according to the village custom, she would be eligible to marry in two years.

...

Gu Yang hadn't walked far when he encountered a middle-aged woman who greeted him warmly, "Gu Yang, what do you think about the girl I mentioned last time?"

"I must tell you, she is the best girl in the surrounding villages, both beautiful and virtuous. The threshold of her house is almost worn out by people coming to propose. She has chosen you, and she said she doesn't need any dowry, just a few pounds of cured meat as a token..."

Gu Yang looked at the enthusiastic woman and smiled bitterly, "Aunt Jiu, I'm a bit of a wanderer and don't want to delay the girl. Please decline for me. I still need to go back and get the mountain goods..."

Saying this, he hurried away.

"Hey, I haven't finished talking yet..."

...

...

After getting rid of Aunt Jiu, Gu Yang let out a sigh of relief.

The girl she mentioned was only fourteen but was already well-built. He couldn't handle her.

Suddenly, he smiled bitterly, "To be a穿越者 (穿越者 means '穿越者' in Chinese, which can be translated as '穿越者' in English, but in this context, it means 'a person who has traveled through time or space') and end up like this, I must be the only one."

He had a huge secret in his heart. He was not from this world but from Earth, having traveled through time two years ago.

Moreover, it was a very rare type of穿越 (穿越 means '穿越' in Chinese, which can be translated as '穿越' in English, but in this context, it means 'time travel').

For two years, he hadn't even left the beginner's village.

This village, called Liu Family Village, was located deep in the mountains. It was so remote that it took a day and a night to reach the nearest market.

The people of Liu Family Village had moved to these vast mountains to avoid heavy taxes and labor duties.

Two years ago, Gu Yang had traveled through time to a nearby forest and almost starved to death. Fortunately, the people of Liu Family Village had taken him in.

He had lived there for two years, learning the local language and how to hunt and farm to integrate into this world.

In the mountains, information was scarce. So far, he only knew that the country was called the Great Zhou.

Liu Family Village was in the Jiangzhou region, located in the Lian Mountains.

Moreover, this world had powerful individuals who could fly and leap great distances.

The best hunter in the village, Liu Shitou, who had saved him, could kill a leopard with one punch.

According to Liu Shitou, this was just basic skill, and it was nothing compared to the true experts.

Gu Yang had repeatedly begged, and Liu Shitou had finally agreed to teach him the family's martial arts.

After nearly two years of practice, his body had become stronger and his strength had increased, but he had yet to feel the qi sensation that Liu Shitou had mentioned.

Liu Shitou consoled him, saying that he was too old and had missed the best time to practice, which was why his progress was so slow.

However, Gu Yang knew that was only part of the reason. His aptitude must also be very poor.

If nothing unexpected happened, he would never become a martial artist in this life.

However, Gu Yang did not completely give up.

He still had a trump card.

When he traveled through time, a panel appeared before his eyes, called the "Life Simulator."

This should be his golden finger.

However, this golden finger was not yet usable. Every time he opened it, a message would pop up: "Insufficient balance, please recharge."

He had tried various methods, and the only thing that could be used to recharge was the currency of this world.

So far, he had recharged over 8,000 coins, which was equivalent to more than 8 taels of silver.

Gu Yang believed that as long as he kept recharging, he would eventually save enough to use his golden finger.

At this moment, he had arrived home.

...

In such a remote mountain village like Liu Family Village, a caravan would only come every few months to buy fur, herbs, and other goods.

Gu Yang brought the things he had saved over the past few months, the most valuable of which was a complete sable fur.

After some haggling, he sold everything for more than 2 taels of silver.

This price was definitely a loss.

But there was no choice; it was a buyer's market.

If he didn't sell to them, he would have to barter at the nearest market, where no one used silver. These traveling merchants had brought silver only because he had specifically asked them to.

After selling his goods, Gu Yang returned home and closed the door.

He opened the system, took a deep breath, and chose "Recharge."

The 2 taels of silver in his hand instantly disappeared.

[Recharge successful, current balance: 10.3.]

[Do you want to use the Life Simulator? Using it once costs 10 points.]

When Gu Yang saw this message, his eyes moistened.

After two years, he had finally saved enough to use his golden finger.

He eagerly clicked "Yes."

Instantly, lines of text appeared before his eyes.

[At 20, you were stranded in Liu Family Village and taken in by the villager Liu Shitou.]

[At 22, you decided to join a caravan and venture out. On the way, you encountered a hunting team and were hunted. You jumped into a river and narrowly escaped with your life.]

[Severely injured, you were saved by a merchant surnamed Wang. To repay his kindness, you worked as an accountant in his shop for five years.]

[At 27, you saved enough money to buy the *Xuan Yuan Gong* and began your cultivation.]

[At 37, after ten years of practice, you finally achieved the first level and became a 9th-rank martial artist.]

[At 40, your employer offended a 7th-rank martial artist, who attacked and killed you, ending your life.]

...

Is that it?

After reading this, Gu Yang was speechless.

It took him over ten years to become the lowest rank of martial artist. His aptitude was truly abysmal.

In other words, without the golden finger, his life would be like this.

Was he the worst穿越者 (穿越者 means '穿越者' in Chinese, which can be translated as '穿越者' in English, but in this context, it means 'time traveler') of this generation?

[Simulation complete. You can retain one of the following.]

[1. Martial realm at age 40.]

[2. Martial experience at age 40.]

[3. Life wisdom at age 40.]

Seeing this, Gu Yang was overjoyed.

In other words, he could immediately possess the martial realm, martial experience, or life wisdom of a 40-year-old in the simulated life. He could choose one.

What a great deal!

Without hesitation, Gu Yang chose the first option.

For him now, the most important thing was the martial realm.

As the saying goes, practicing martial arts without cultivating is ultimately futile.

Cultivation was the key.

In the next moment, Gu Yang felt a warm current flow through his body. In his mind, the incantation of the *Xuan Yuan Gong* first level naturally surfaced.

His internal true qi responded as if he had practiced for ten years.

He had now entered the ranks of 9th-rank martial artists.

"Is it really that easy?"

Gu Yang was still incredulous. Suddenly, he punched the door frame, and with the flow of true qi, he heard a loud bang as his fist penetrated the door frame.

He looked at his unharmed hand and the hole, feeling a surge of excitement.

He knew that from this moment on, the hard times of the past were gone forever.