Chapter Sixteen: Abandoned at Birth, Surviving the Nightmare
However, Lin Qiye's first life was not much better.
Lin Qiye defied fate to the extent of conquering cancer itself! In the end, he still couldn't cure that terminal illness and died young at the age of thirty. Had he not suffered from cancer, Lin Qiye could have lived for at least a thousand years—perhaps even achieving an SSS-level evaluation would not have been out of reach.
By comparison, his second life was slightly more optimistic.
At the very least, his lifespan could now be extended indefinitely.
Of course, that optimism only went so far—the beginning was simply too wretched.
He started out at zero years old as an abandoned infant, with all his talent and wisdom locked away, useless!
Lin Qiye sighed helplessly.
“But the harsher the starting point, the higher the score after I defy fate and change my destiny!”
“So… Genesis Simulation, give me a flawless plan to break through this predicament.”
[This simulation requires 100,000 Life Points…]
“Stop right there!”
“I’ll just take things as they come.”
Lin Qiye shook his head.
His intuition told him that his 50,000 Life Points should be used sparingly. After all, even the most perfect plan can’t keep up with unexpected changes.
After all, simulating life isn’t as simple as playing a game!
Reality is unpredictable!
One must be cautious, avoid any accidents, and always adapt to changing circumstances!
With that thought, Lin Qiye abandoned the simulation.
“Let’s enter life directly. This time, without the threat of a terminal illness, I must live a thousand years at least and earn an SSS-level score!”
With a surge of emotion, Lin Qiye initiated his second round of walking the path.
[Commencing the walk—Life Simulation formally begins!]
…
“Waaah—”
“Waaah—”
“Waaah—”
In the weeds of the slums,
A gaunt woman roughly cut the umbilical cord, then wrapped the wrinkled infant in a blanket she’d picked up.
“Damn it, crying so loudly the moment you’re born—how annoying!”
Her face was pale as she set Lin Qiye down in the roadside grass, then staggered away, vanishing into the night.
Darkness loomed.
Lin Qiye felt an ache in his heart; his sense of security was gone.
Darkness, hunger, and cold swept over him.
He was driven to wail desperately.
But Lin Qiye held it in.
He did not burst into loud cries.
He only opened his mouth wide, filling his lungs with fresh air.
So cold.
So hungry.
He wanted milk.
Lin Qiye smacked his tiny lips.
An infant gets hungry quickly.
And he had no idea how long he would have to wait in the grass!
Scientifically, a baby will die within three days without food or water.
But Lin Qiye knew he couldn't last three days.
Because after three days without nourishment, he would suffer brain damage, intellectual disability, or even possibly lose the use of his legs.
Lin Qiye sighed inwardly.
“I have to save myself… but how?”
“First, I must watch for passersby at all times. Most will ignore me, but that old woman will adopt me. I must cry loudly when she arrives.”
Lin Qiye calculated carefully.
This was his only chance at survival—he had to seize it!
He was a bit nervous.
He feared he would miss the only person who could save his life.
But—
Suddenly, a spark of surprise flashed through his mind.
“Wait! How could I forget? This is a world where spiritual energy will awaken. Maybe I can use the Qi Refinement Technique to draw in the world’s aura and prolong my life for now!”
With this in mind, Lin Qiye immediately activated his Genesis Simulation talent.
“Simulate whether spiritual energy exists in this world, and if I can cultivate the Qi Refinement Technique.”
[This simulation consumes 850 Life Points (73,850 Life Points remaining)]
[Simulation result: The spiritual energy in this world is extremely thin, and the era of spiritual awakening has not yet arrived. Do not attempt to cultivate the Qi Refinement Technique as an infant.
However, as a newborn, you still possess a breath of innate energy and unparalleled Dao Bones. With this, you can deduce a method to nurture innate energy.]
Lin Qiye seized this sliver of hope.
“Immediately simulate a method to nurture innate energy.”
[This simulation consumes 40,000 Life Points (73,000 remaining)]
“Such a terrifying cost?”
Lin Qiye hesitated for a moment, but ultimately spent the points.
His intuition told him that this simulation would be incredibly beneficial.
After all, deducing the Qi Refinement Technique only took 2,000 Life Points, but this one required twenty times that.
It would surely produce a treasure technique of immense benefit!
Lin Qiye was full of anticipation.
Several seconds later,
Lin Qiye’s thoughts trembled—
[Simulation successful: You have obtained the Dao Repository Technique (includes the preservation of one breath of innate energy, which nourishes the body and forges an innate divine physique. Only newborns with Dao Bones can cultivate this.)]
“The Dao Repository Technique… what a treasure!”
Lin Qiye immediately began practicing the technique.
As a newborn, his breath of innate energy was still pure, and he possessed Dao Bones.
Thus,
The Dao Repository Technique began to circulate rapidly within him.
He keenly sensed that his innate breath, once a diffuse type of special spiritual energy, was now, under the refinement of the Dao Repository Technique, transformed into nine threads of innate true qi that he could control at will and which would never dissipate!
Then,
The nine threads of innate true qi swiftly coursed through every part of Lin Qiye’s body, nourishing his limbs and organs.
At the same time,
The thin spiritual energy in the air was drawn toward him, slowly trickling into his body.
With the nourishment of innate true qi and spiritual energy,
Lin Qiye’s wrinkled skin began to fill out, becoming fair and rosy.
His eyes were clear and dark, like black gemstones.
He no longer felt so cold, though he was still a little hungry. His tiny fists now had some strength.
He was now equivalent to a month-old infant.
Much stronger!
“This Dao Repository Technique is truly heaven-defying! I must continue to nourish my body!”
Lin Qiye was overjoyed; he hadn’t expected such remarkable results!
He buried himself in cultivating the Dao Repository Technique, all the while listening for footsteps nearby.
Suddenly,
Lin Qiye’s heart clenched.
He heard the barking of wild dogs!
This was bad!
Wild dogs in the slums could eat people!
Lin Qiye immediately held his breath.
But he knew—
Holding his breath was useless.
Wild dogs have a keen sense of smell, and the blood from his umbilical cord would lead them straight to him.
Hope faded from Lin Qiye’s heart as he listened to the patter of four paws approaching, step by step.
Closer.
Closer.
The wild dog reached Lin Qiye.
Their eyes met.
A pair of green, vicious eyes fixed on Lin Qiye, as if he were a delicious morsel of meat.
Suddenly, Lin Qiye bared his gums and unleashed a shrill, eerie cry.
Within it was a trace of spiritual energy, giving it a piercing, uncanny quality.
Startled, the wild dog tucked its tail and fled, whimpering as it ran.
Clearly,
The wild dog, frightened by Lin Qiye’s deliberate outburst, was scared out of its wits.
It seemed as if even its soul was trembling—it would not dare return.
“Humans fear beasts, but beasts fear humans even more,” Lin Qiye thought.
“But I am, after all, just a baby—I must remain on high alert, I cannot sleep. No matter how exhausted I am, I cannot sleep! I must not sleep!”
His eyelids grew heavier…
He forced himself to stay awake, continuing to practice the Dao Repository Technique.
Strands of spiritual energy seeped into his organs, restoring a little of his strength.
But he was still terribly tired.
After all, he was just a baby.
Crucially, Lin Qiye hadn’t grown teeth—he couldn’t bite his tongue to use pain to stay awake.
He could only rely on his scant willpower to resist.
Hold on.
Hold on.
Don’t sleep.
If he fell asleep, he would surely die.
Lin Qiye dared not close his eyes.
As it turned out, staying awake was the right choice—soon after, he encountered seven more wild dogs.
They wanted to eat him.
Fortunately, with his trace of spiritual energy, he could frighten them away.
Otherwise, he shuddered to think what would have happened!
Two hours passed.
Lin Qiye was on the verge of sleep, his spirit utterly depleted.
Endless darkness threatened to swallow his consciousness.
“What now? Will the old woman never come? Am I going to be eaten by wild dogs? My forty thousand Life Points! If I die now, it’s all wasted!”
Lin Qiye was filled with unwillingness.
With the last dregs of his will, he forced his eyes open.
His eyes shone with a desperate desire to live.
Even one more second!
Just one more second!
Lin Qiye fought against his limits.
Suddenly,
Footsteps approached!
From their pace, it was an old person.
“Is it the old woman who will save me?”
“I really hope so. I can’t hold on much longer… If it’s not her, I’ll surely die!”
Thinking this, Lin Qiye burst out in loud wails, his cries echoing in the night.
Kind soul, please save this child—I beg you!