Ch-1: Bai Chenyu

" Mortal Shedding Realm, 3rd stage

A group of kids aged 7 to 12, all in purple robes, stood near a big monument used for measuring the Cultivation Realm of the Crystal Star Sect's disciples. A bunch of elders watched them closely.

"Next up, Su Yang," the elder in charge said with a hint of admiration in his voice. The noisy kids hushed, and even the elders seemed excited as they watched Su Yang approach.

A smug-looking boy, about 11 years old, walked up to the monument with his head held high and placed his hand on it. The monument vibrated, and some letters appeared on top.

"He's at the 7th stage of Mortal Shedding," someone exclaimed, rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

"No, you're not seeing things. He's really at the 7th stage of the Mortal Shedding Realm," another person confirmed.

"Indeed, that's the Su family's Supreme Elder's grandson for you," said someone who seemed familiar with the boy.

The Su Family, one of the 2nd class families in the Sky Kingdom, was even struggling to maintain its status.

"Yeah, I heard he awakened his spiritual talent at just 9 years old and made remarkable progress within 2 years. A real genius, I'd say," another person commented.

"I think he might even reach the Mortal Refinement Realm and move up from being a trial disciple to an Outer Sect Disciple within the next year," added someone else.

"Good, good, it seems your efforts have paid off," the elder remarked, stroking his beard and nodding with satisfaction as he observed the promising seedling, his expression growing a bit arrogant.

"Alright, you can go. Next, Su Chen," the elder said with a frown, shifting his gaze to a small, dejected-looking youngster approaching the monument. Su Yang wore a hateful and mocking expression.

"Trash like you should just give up," Su Yang taunted Su Chen as he passed by, causing Su Chen to clench his fists in anger.

As soon as Su Chen touched the monument, the text displayed: "Mortal Shedding, 1st Stage." A dejected expression washed over his face, and the elder looked at him with pity as the 11-year-old Su Chen walked away.

"Hey, isn't that the Su Family's underachiever?" someone remarked.

"Shh, lower your voice. Don't forget he's the son of the Su Family's Patriarch."

"It's a shame. When he awakened his spiritual talent at the age of 4, everyone thought he'd become the kingdom's top genius and elevate the Su Family from second-class to first-class family. Who would've thought that after 7 years, he'd still be stuck in the Mortal Shedding Stage?"

"Yeah, I heard Patriarch Su invested significant resources in his son, resources that could have nurtured many experts, but it only ended up fueling internal power struggles within the family."

A strikingly handsome 11-year-old boy stood amidst the crowd, his appearance so stunning that it could even make the most beautiful women envious. However, there was not a trace of emotion on his face.

This boy was Bai Chenyu, a reincarnator who had once lived on Earth. He had succumbed to an incurable illness and had volunteered for experimental procedures conducted by doctors and scientists, all enticed by the substantial amount of money offered. Knowing he didn't have much time left to live, he had passed away at the age of 18, never having experienced physical intimacy. Most of his time had been spent lying at home, immersed in web novels. As he lay in his bed reading his favorite cultivation novel, he took his last breath.

When he reopened his eyes, he found himself reborn into the very cultivation novel he had been reading, this time as an infant. According to his memories, the world of cultivation existed, but Earth, the place he had come from, had no spiritual energy to speak of.

Much like in his previous life, Bai Chenyu was an orphan in this one too. According to his memories, the sect's elders had discovered him and placed him in the sect's orphanage. Many such orphans were taken in by the sect in the hope of discovering a talented future disciple among them.

Bai Chenyu watched the unfolding drama before him. In the novel he was reading, the protagonist was Su Chen, who initially had a rather pitiful cultivation. However, at the age of 17, Su Chen would stumble upon an ancient cave and get the inheritance of an immortal, ultimately advancing from a trial disciple to an Outer Court disciple.

Trial disciples are cultivators between the ages of 8 and 18 who have awakened their spiritual roots. To become official disciples of the sect, they must attain the Mortal Refinement Realm by the age of 18 and be promoted to Outer Sect Disciples. Failing to achieve this means they will be expelled from the sect. The Crystal Star Sect is one of the most renowned sects in the Sky Kingdom

Meanwhile, we have the first antagonist in the story, Su Yang, who is jealous of the Patriarch for allocating so many resources to someone he considers a waste like Su Chen. Su Yang believes that he, being more of a genius, should be the one receiving special privileges, and this resentment fuels his hatred for Su Chen.

"Sigh, I have no intention of getting close to either of them," Bai Chenyu murmured, recalling the numerous times Su Chen had gotten himself into dangerous situations due to his impulsive behavior, situations he could have easily avoided.

The next morning, there came a knock on his door.

"Knock, knock."

"Open the door this instant, Bai Chenyu, and get to work!" an old, grumpy voice ordered, followed by the sound of impatient banging on the door.

"Coming, Elder Mu," Bai Chenyu mumbled, startled by the elder's irritated tone. He jumped out of his old, rickety bed that lacked even a pillow and made his way to the door. Every trial disciple had to live in a humble room until they were promoted to an Outer Disciple.

When Bai Chenyu opened the door, he was met with the disgruntled expression of a bald, unattractive elderly man.

"Here, take this broom and start cleaning the grounds," the elder instructed with a mocking smile.

Elder Mu was a cultivator at the Mortal Ascension Realm, on the cusp of advancing to the Core Formation Realm, and had been a part of the sect for many years. Bai Chenyu knew about his public role as the elder responsible for managing the trial disciples, but he was aware that this was merely a façade. In truth, Elder Mu was a sinister member of the Blood Sect, eliminating trial disciples with great potential and extracting their blood essence to strengthen his sect.

"Yes, Elder Mu," Bai Chenyu accepted the broom with little emotion. He was well aware that his fate would soon lead to a confrontation with Su Chen, the protagonist of the story. He saw no reason to become agitated by someone who would soon meet their end anyway. However, for some reason, he felt that he was being singled out more than the other disciples.

"Darn, how can he be so incredibly beautiful? Even the most stunning women can't compare. It's just not fair. Why am I stuck being ugly while he's this gorgeous? Even though he hasn't awakened his spiritual roots and isn't worth killing yet, I'll get to that later. For now, I'll make him suffer with more work," Elder Mu thought silently, his inner thoughts filled with malice. If Bai Chenyu had heard this, he would have been utterly dumbfounded he was being targeted for being more handsome than him

After Elder Mu departed, Bai Chenyu stretched, took the broom, and began cleaning the trial disciple residence. He watched with envy as the other disciples, who had already awakened their spiritual roots, practiced their techniques.

"Ugh, when will I awaken my spiritual roots? And where's my golden finger?" Bai Chenyu lamented for a while. After completing his chores, he was about to wander off and observe the disciples practicing their techniques when a sudden message appeared right in front of him, bringing him to a halt.

[ Ding, Heavenly Life Simulator On]