Chapter 86: The Cycle of Rebirth, Incineration of the Body, a Hundred Lifetimes of Samsara!

“Is this... the simulation space?”

Within the Dou Emperor Simulation Space, a voice echoed—not just one, but many, reverberating thickly in this space, each word clear as day.

All around, there was only darkness.

"So dark! How are we supposed to simulate anything like this?"

A woman's voice followed, unmistakably belonging to Mary.

"I have no idea..." Mark’s mind felt blank.

Just as the two stood bewildered, a flash of light erupted, instantly transforming the darkness into a realm of data.

Then a mechanical voice announced, "Welcome, pioneers, to the Dou Emperor Simulation Space of the Hall of Reincarnation. I will now separate you into two spaces."

As the voice faded, the two were separated, yet each remained in the same room.

"Mary!"

"Mark!"

Neither of them understood what had happened.

Suddenly, their vision went black. When they opened their eyes again, they found themselves in the midst of a vast desert.

"This... is this a desert?" Mark stared wide-eyed ahead.

"No, wasn’t I just in the simulation space? How am I in a desert now?" Mark crouched and scooped up a handful of sand. The grains felt real, not at all artificial. "This... this is real sand!"

"Hello, rookie!"

The mechanical voice sounded again.

"Who are you?" Mark asked quickly.

"I am a formidable presence within the simulation space. My codename is One. You may call me One Emperor, or Instructor! I will now devise a training regimen best suited for you based on your situation. To do that, I must collect your data. Next, you will endure an agony of burning flesh like never before. Please choose your challenge!"

A series of data-text appeared before Mark.

[Five-Star Dou Emperor, Seven-Star Dou Emperor, Eight-Star Dou Emperor, Nine-Star Peak Dou Emperor.]

"Wait, I’m only a One-Star Dou Emperor! Why are there no options below Five Stars? And... where’s Six Star?"

Mark cried out. If he’d guessed right, this meant he was to challenge a Five-Star Dou Emperor. But he was just a One-Star—wasn’t this suicide?

He had to get to the bottom of this.

"Anything below Five-Star is trash. As for Six-Star, I don’t like them so I took them out. Less nonsense, hurry and choose, or I’ll pick the strongest for you!"

Instructor One’s tone dripped with disdain.

"The strongest?" Mark was speechless. He glanced at the options—the strongest was...

"Nine-Star Peak Dou Emperor?" Mark blurted out without thinking.

"Ding! Selection confirmed. Challenge target: Nine-Star Peak Dou Emperor!"

"Simulation initiated!"

Hearing this, Mark instantly sensed trouble. He flailed his hands frantically. "No, no! I didn’t mean to choose that! How could I possibly win?!"

"Once spoken, it is chosen! The selection cannot be changed unless you win or are defeated!" One Emperor declared.

"And rookie, mind your tone. Here, I am the most... no, the second most important! You will address me as Instructor! Otherwise, you’ll suffer! Prepare for battle—do not hold back! Use everything you know, and even what you don’t! Otherwise, you’ll regret it. You’ll be beaten until you wish you were dead," the Instructor warned.

"Why am I so unlucky?" Mark wanted to cry but tears wouldn’t come.

"Forget it. If I’m going to die, then so be it. Let’s fight!" Mark slapped his own cheeks to steel himself.

Boom!

The aura of a One-Star Dou Emperor burst forth in all its pitiful glory.

"Let’s..."

"Go!"

A figure materialized before Mark—his eyes fierce, his frame imposing, muscles rippling over every inch of his body.

"Rookie, let me see your strength! I hope you’re not too weak, or this will be dreadfully dull!"

The man’s rough voice was filled with bloodlust.

Boom!

The aura of a Nine-Star Peak Dou Emperor erupted.

In that instant, sandstorms swept across the desert.

"So... so strong!"

"I... I can’t move!"

"My legs... they’re shaking!"

"I... I’m afraid?!"

Just from the man’s aura, Mark felt utterly powerless, like an ant that could be snuffed out with a pinch.

"Rookie! Though you possess the cultivation of a Dou Emperor, you lack the temperament and pride befitting one! Do you understand now why the Dou Emperor Hall Master sent you here?"

As his words faded, the man vanished and reappeared, blasting Mark away with a single punch.

"Ah!!"

He was utterly unprepared for the blow, pain exploding through his body as if every bone had shattered.

"Don’t think it’s over. You’re a man! A man must act like a man!"

"Eighteen Palms of Reincarnation!"

The man pursued Mark’s tumbling form.

One palm!

Two palms!

Three palms!

...

Seventeen!

Eighteen!

Boom!

"Ahhhhhhh!"

"Ahhh!"

Blood sprayed from Mark’s mouth as each of the eighteen palms slammed into him, every inch of his body wracked with devastating impact.

He crashed heavily into the sand, spitting blood once more. His hands, feet, back, and waist were all stained red.

Mark stared blankly at the sand, his hands and eyes trembling uncontrollably.

"Ay, this body is so weak—can’t even withstand a beating," the man’s rough voice rang out as he shook his head at Mark’s limp form.

...

"So much pain... such agony!" Mark lay sprawled in the sand, the pain far surpassing anything the energy-mixing pill had ever brought him, exceeding his body’s limits. The suffering was truly unbearable.

"Is this the end for me? Am I just going to give up after the first try?" His vision dimmed, and he felt himself slipping into unconsciousness. Suddenly, his palm clenched fiercely, and he forced his eyes open.

"No, I can’t give up! I finally got this chance—I can’t just let it go!"

"Even though it hurts, this is training my will!"

"Ha, maybe if I get beaten enough, I’ll get used to it."

"He was right. I only reached Dou Emperor by relying on medicine. I don’t yet possess what a true Dou Emperor should have. I... I absolutely cannot give up!"

Mark screamed silently in his heart.

In his mind, a light appeared.

"What’s this? The Reincarnation Codex?"

The light stopped, revealing within his mind a manual radiating four beams of light—Reincarnation: Burning Body.

"Reincarnation... Burning Body? Is this a body-tempering technique?" Mark muttered.

Reincarnation: Burning Body—A hundred lives reincarnated! Break and rebuild; grow stronger under pressure!

"A hundred lives reincarnated! Break and rebuild; grow stronger under pressure!"

Mark recited the words from his memory, his eyes widening with realization.

He was indeed experiencing a hundred cycles of reincarnation! All the joys and sorrows, the pains and tribulations, the sweet and bitter, love and hatred, all the karmic threads of the mortal world flashed before him!

"Who would have thought this boy could trigger Reincarnation: Burning Body, to experience a hundred reincarnations..." The man looked at the youth before him with mild astonishment.

"The Hall Master’s judgment is truly sharp. I must cultivate him even more diligently for the Hall Master," the man muttered, a stiff face breaking into a slight smile.

Elsewhere—

Mary’s situation was better compared to Mark’s, for she hadn’t chosen the Nine-Star Peak Dou Emperor.

She had no idea what ordeal Mark was enduring.

She was currently undergoing training under a Five-Star Dou Emperor.

Perhaps because Mary was a woman, her opponent’s projection was also female.

"Get up! Continue!"

A seductive voice rang out.

Mary, sprawled on the ground, struggled to her feet. Blood trickled from her lips, her hair disheveled, her appearance miserable—but still far better than Mark’s. She bit her lip and stood up.

"Reincarnation Palm!" Mary shouted with effort.

"Reincarnation Palm," the woman echoed, lips curling in a faint, mocking smile.

Their palms collided.

Boom!

(End of Chapter)