Martial Peak: Life Simulator

Yan Xiu's body twisted as he plunged into the golden abyss.

Gravity was meaningless. Time lost its grasp. Seconds stretched into eternity, and yet, no impact came. The endless descent gnawed at his senses, filling his mind with the unsettling thought—would he fall forever?

Then, suddenly—

Thud!

Pain jolted through his body as he slammed onto solid ground. Dust billowed around him as he groaned, his vision spinning. He lay there, breath ragged, before pushing himself up.

An underground cave stretched before him, dimly illuminated by the faint golden light that still lingered from the portal above. The air was thick with an eerie stillness, as if time itself had frozen in this place.

Surrounding him were dozens of statues—but they weren't ordinary.

They resembled humanoid warriors, forged entirely from stone, with thick, blocky limbs and featureless faces. Their rigid bodies had a rough, angular design, as if crafted for battle rather than decoration.

Yan Xiu's eyes narrowed. Are these just simple statues?

He took a cautious step forward, the sound of his boot against stone echoing eerily. The oppressive silence settled over him like a shroud.

Then, a soft golden shimmer flickered in the air behind him.

Yan Xiu spun around, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword. Before his eyes, another golden portal rippled into existence. His breath hitched as a figure tumbled out.

A girl.

She landed with surprising grace, her boots tapping against the cave floor as she steadied herself. Unlike him, she didn't seem fazed by the fall. She brushed off her dress, straightened her posture, and turned her gaze toward him.

Yan Xiu took in her appearance. She had chestnut-brown hair tied into twin ponytails, warm yet sharp amber eyes, and a composed demeanor. Her outfit—a white and gold dress with a short cape draped over her shoulders—gave her an air of refined elegance.

Her golden flower-shaped earrings swayed slightly as she approached.

When she finally spoke, her tone was calm, unwavering.

"Greetings," she said, stopping a few feet away. "I'm Du Yishuang from Storm Manor. I'm at the 6th Qi Transformation Stage."

Yan Xiu's eyes flickered with recognition. Storm Manor… One of the two main rivals of the High Heaven Pavilion.

His grip on his sword loosened slightly, but he remained cautious. The Inheritance Cave was no ordinary place. Just because they had ended up together didn't mean they were allies.

Taking a steady breath, he straightened his posture.

"Yan Xiu," he responded. "High Heaven Pavilion. 3rd Initial Element Stage."

Du Yishuang's expression faltered, a brief "Ah..." escaping her lips as she assessed Yan Xiu. The disparity in their cultivation levels was evident, and she hadn't anticipated being paired with someone of a lower stage.

But before she could continue, three more golden portals materialized around them. From each emerged a disciple, their arrivals punctuating the cave's eerie silence.

The first was a young man with brown hair, his demeanor confident yet respectful. He stepped forward and introduced himself, bowing slightly.

"Nie Yong, disciple of the High Heaven Pavilion, 4th Qi Transformation Realm. Greetings."

Following him was a striking young woman with long, flowing blonde hair that cascaded over her shoulders. Her blue eyes held a calm intensity, and her voluptuous figure was accentuated by the elegant robes of the High Heaven Pavilion. She carried herself with a grace that spoke of both strength and poise.

"Lan Chu Die, disciple of the High Heaven Pavilion, 7th Qi Transformation Realm. Greetings."

Lastly, a tall, broad-shouldered young man emerged, his presence imposing. His dark hair was cropped short, and his sharp features gave him a stern appearance. He wore the attire of the Storm Manor, and his voice was deep and resonant.

"Zuo An, disciple of the Storm Manor, 5th Qi Transformation Stage. Greetings."

Yan Xiu and Du Yishuang exchanged glances before introducing themselves in turn.

Nie Yong wasted no time. With a grin, he slung an arm around Yan Xiu's shoulder, pulling him in close like they were longtime friends.

"Hey, junior brother," Nie Yong said, his tone lighthearted yet laced with an unmistakable condescension. "This place is pretty scary, huh? Who knows what kind of dangers lurk in the shadows? With your strength..." He let out a dramatic sigh. "I don't think you'll last very long. So why don't you let your senior brother protect you, huh?"

Yan Xiu forced a polite smile.

"Thanks for the concern, senior brother..." he began.

But inwardly, he scoffed. He had already seen through this so-called senior brother of his. That perverted glint in Nie Yong's eyes the moment he laid them on Du Yishuang and Lan Chu Die had told Yan Xiu everything he needed to know. He wasn't offering protection out of kindness—he was just trying to impress the girls.

Yan Xiu continued, "But—"

But before he could finish, a tap landed on his shoulder.

Yan Xiu immediately turned back and to his surprise, it was that guy.

"Yang Kai," he immediately began, with a slight pause, ready to continue. "7th Initial Element—"

Before he could finish his introduction, Nie Yong's voice cut in, sharp and surprised.

"Yang Kai?" he exclaimed, his eyes wide. "I'm Nie Yong from the Disciplinary Hall, remember me?"

Yang Kai's brow twitched at the familiar name. He sighed inwardly, already sensing the drama that was bound to follow. Yan Xiu had a feeling his previous encounters with Nie Yong hadn't been pleasant. Yang Kai opened his mouth to respond but was cut short again.

This time, it was a soft voice that reached his ears—a light chuckle that seemed strangely welcoming.

"Hey!"

Yang Kai's gaze snapped toward the sound, his eyes widening in recognition. The young woman standing before him had long, flowing blonde hair and blue eyes that shone with an unmistakable warmth. She smiled at him, clearly amused by his surprise.

"Hey, it's you!" Yang Kai responded, unable to suppress a grin.

Lan Chu Die let out a soft laugh. "What a coincidence, right?"

Her tone was light, but her presence exuded strength and elegance. Yang Kai felt an odd sense of comfort, even though he barely knew her.

It wasn't long before the others made their introductions as well.

When it came to Yan Xiu, he hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to approach Yang Kai, but finally gave a polite bow. "Yan Xiu, High Heaven Pavilion, 3rd Initial Element Stage."

Yang Kai chuckled softly, his gaze flicking back to Yan Xiu.

"Oh, so I'm not the weakest here, huh?" Yang Kai quipped, his smile widening. His arm casually wrapped around Yan Xiu's shoulders in a manner that, unlike Nie Yong's earlier gesture, felt far more genuine.

Yan Xiu stiffened for a moment at the unexpected familiarity but couldn't help but feel a subtle warmth in the gesture. He glanced at Yang Kai, puzzled, his mind racing. This guy seems like a good person, why did my soul hate him so much then?

To be continued...

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I'm re-reading Martial Peak to be more precise. Also, did I make this chapter too detailed? It should be only a simulation so I should've described the most important things, my hand got too carried away. Tell me if I should change it, I'll rewrite it immediately!

Be sure to check out my original novel Hyperborea!