I Can Copy Everything Without Limit Chapter 1
In the cloak of midnight, a draft snaked through the attic's window cracks, causing the solitary candle to flicker erratically. Amidst this unsteady luminescence, a pair of exceptionally complex eyes was visible.
What could be seen in their depths?
They held a potent blend of resignation, stark terror, utter helplessness, unyielding defiance, burning rage, and even a sliver of disbelief. This intense storm of emotions, concentrated in a single gaze, vividly portrayed the inner pandemonium Wei Lulin was experiencing at that precise moment.
Wei Lulin inhaled deeply, then slowly released the breath. He extended his left hand, noting its slender paleness starkly contrasted by the hardened skin on his thumb and forefinger, and a bitter, silent shake of his head followed.
“Never in my most outlandish imaginings did I conceive that a transmigration blunder, straight out of a web novel, would actually befall me. Is this cosmic joke a stroke of luck, or merely a cruel twist of fate?”
With a sigh, Wei Lulin rallied his resolve and rose to his feet. He pushed open the attic window, allowing the crisp night air to wash over his face. Gazing into the vast distance with a forlorn expression, his thoughts inevitably drifted back to the life he knew before this bewildering journey.
In his prior existence, he had been a software programmer, crafting digital solutions for a living. His occupation was decidedly mundane, his social interactions minimal, and his aspirations were quite humble.
His life’s ultimate objective was refreshingly straightforward and practical: to labor diligently and secure a modest dwelling in the capital city by the age of thirty-two, to find a partner who was demure and kind rather than strikingly beautiful, to raise a cherished child, to relocate his aging parents to the city for their care, and to spend his remaining years in peaceful contentment.
His aspirations were firmly rooted in reality, yet the concrete world proved unyielding.
Decades of relentless economic reform had fueled China's meteoric rise, with property values escalating at a comparable pace. Compounded by the deliberate inflation of housing costs by speculators seeking exorbitant profits, the financial burden of living in the capital had become astronomical.
For the typical wage earner, a lifetime of industrious effort might scarcely be enough to procure even a single bathroom in a home. Yet, Wei Lulin possessed remarkable aptitude and an indomitable spirit, prepared to brave considerable difficulties in pursuit of his ultimate goals.
After six years of disciplined savings, his bank account had accumulated a seven-figure sum, sufficient for the initial down payment on an eighty-square-meter apartment. However, he steadfastly refused to allow homeownership to dominate his life or to diminish the quality of existence he envisioned sharing with his parents, compelling him to continue his tireless work.
Just six days prior, he was assigned a critical overtime project: to develop data analytics software for an international trading firm, with a strict five-day completion window.
The software itself was uncomplicated, and the coding was rudimentary, but the time commitment was substantial. Initially, he harbored doubts about his physical capacity to withstand such an ordeal, but the company’s enticement of a fifty-thousand yuan bonus swiftly allayed any reservations, and he enthusiastically embraced the assignment.
For three consecutive days and nights, he forewent any semblance of proper rest, snatching merely an hour or two of sleep when sheer exhaustion overwhelmed him, and subsisting on infrequent bowls of instant noodles when hunger gnawed at him.
The debilitating confluence of sleep deprivation, inadequate nutrition, and excessive physical and mental strain proved fatal; he ultimately collapsed and succumbed at his workstation. Upon regaining consciousness, he discovered himself in an utterly alien setting, his mind inundated with the recollections of another individual.
His innate capacity for swift adaptation to unfamiliar circumstances aided him in confronting the stark reality of his transmigration. Furthermore, the physical vessel he now occupied bore his own name, thus alleviating some of the initial disorientation in this new existence.
His most profound apprehension centered on his parents back on Earth, and how they would possibly endure the devastating news of their son’s abrupt demise.
The Endless Forest, a notorious entity among the eight Forbidden Lands scattered across the Eternal Continent, presented an unfathomable labyrinth of dangers, with its deepest reaches remaining shrouded in mystery. Inhabited by countless ferocious Magical Beasts, it was universally regarded as an inviolable sanctuary, strictly off-limits to humanity—a veritable treasure trove destined to remain eternally untamed.
These Forbidden Lands were intrinsically linked with mortality, yet they simultaneously concealed fortunes beyond the scope of mortal comprehension.
Untouched and unmarred by human intrusion, the Endless Forest preserved its pristine grandeur, abundantly stocked with Celestial Materials and Earthly Treasures. Ancient chronicles recounted tales of wondrous artifacts residing within its borders, capable of reversing death itself, and even whispered of transcendent relics that bestowed immortality under the sun's embrace.
As the age-old adage profoundly states: Intense desire possesses the potent ability to drive mortals to the brink of madness.
In their relentless pursuit of the boundless riches concealed deep within the Endless Forest, innumerable souls have gambled their very lives, venturing into its perilous depths, all fueled by the fervent aspiration of achieving overnight prosperity and irrevocably altering the trajectory of their fated destinies.
Owing to the remote geographical positioning of the Endless Forest, situated far removed from any established human habitations, influential factions and enterprising individuals established rudimentary settlements on its periphery. These outposts functioned as vital logistical hubs, enabling courageous warriors to replenish their provisions and conduct essential repairs, thereby circumventing any critical expenditure of time during their ambitious quests for ultimate riches.
Generations upon generations, and even across centuries, these hamlets burgeoned into vibrant towns, eventually evolving into grand cities. From such origins, Lindorin Town was established. Located within Yao Country, its founding was the product of joint endeavors by the Yao royal lineage and the three dominant families. After hundreds of years, what began as a humble village has now expanded into a megacity, boasting a permanent populace exceeding 100,000 souls and tens of thousands of transient visitors.
At the core of Lindorin Town, along the thoroughfare known as Central Street, a meticulously constructed pavilion of Level Two prominence could be found. A striking signboard graced its facade, proclaiming with pride the name “Wei’s Pharmacy.”
Within the main hall on the ground floor, a handsome young man of slender build greeted patrons with a welcoming smile. Positioned behind the sales counter, he diligently elucidated the properties and costs of various medicinal herbs.
This young gentleman was none other than Wei Lulin, who, subsequent to transmigration, found himself inhabiting a new world. His innate composure and steadfast character served as anchors, enabling him to navigate the initial bewilderment and disorientation. He swiftly embraced his new existence and embarked on a fresh life path.
As fortune would have it, he discovered that not only did his new corporeal form bear the same surname, Wei, but his given name, Lulin, also remained unchanged, considerably smoothing his adaptation to this new role.
However, the humble position he now occupied brought him considerable dissatisfaction; he was but a descendant from a collateral branch of the Wei family, one of the three preeminent families in Yao Country.
“Lulin, I must step out briefly, so kindly oversee the shop in my absence,” instructed an elder, making his way down the stairs, just as Wei Lulin was earnestly detailing the benefits of a particular herb to a clientele.
“Esteemed Shopkeeper, please be assured, I shall diligently manage the establishment while you are away,” Wei Lulin responded respectfully to the elder.
Despite the elder’s advanced years and his moderate cultivation prowess, his extensive experience had been instrumental in propelling Wei’s Pharmacy within Lindorin Town to its current stature.
“A true pity,” the elder remarked, a trace of regret creasing his visage as he regarded the diligent and well-mannered Wei Lulin.
The discerning Wei Lulin perceived the elder’s sorrowful expression and swiftly grasped the underlying reason for it.
The world into which Wei Lulin had been reborn was known as the Eternal Continent, a domain reminiscent of antiquity.
The complete extent of the Eternal Continent remained a mystery to Wei Lulin, yet he understood that this realm was fundamentally distinct from Earth, the world of his prior existence.
In this world, bereft of contemporary technology, Cultivation was the singular pursuit, commonly designated as the route to eternal life. Oral traditions spoke of formidable cultivators capable of manipulating the very elements with a simple gesture.
Here, the absence of overarching laws dictated a paradigm of survival for the fittest, wherein might made right. To attain standing and security, one’s strength had to be perpetually augmented.
Wei Lulin had reached the age of seventeen. At sixteen, he had undergone his family’s assessment and ascertained his Cultivation Talent to be High Level Grade Eight. While such aptitude was relatively commonplace across the Eternal Continent, within Yao Country, and specifically among the Wei family, it was deemed exceptionally superior.
Cultivation Talent was meticulously classified into three overarching grades and ten distinct levels, yielding a total of thirty proficiency tiers. The lowest rung was Inferior Grade Ten, while the zenith was Superior Grade One.
In Yao Country, the individual possessing the most celebrated talent was Lin Linyao of the Lin Family, one of the three major clans, who boasted a Middle Level Grade Eight talent. Within the Wei family’s ranks, the figure with the most exceptional talent was their Patriarch, Wei Bochen, whose inscription registered at Low Level Grade Eight.
Under typical circumstances, Wei Lulin’s High Level Grade Eight Cultivation Talent would have commanded considerable notice within the family, even considering his status as a member of a collateral branch and his lack of parental backing or influential connections.
Alas, on the third day following his Cultivation Talent evaluation, whilst indulging in leisure outside the perimeter of the Yao Country Capital, he inadvertently became witness to a ferocious confrontation between two exceptionally potent masters.
The true might of these combatants was beyond the comprehension of the insular populace of Yao Country, however, the devastating repercussions of their titanic struggle were unmistakable.
Even though the engagement transpired at immense altitude, the residual shockwaves brutally afflicted him with grievous injuries. His survival was nothing short of miraculous; yet, his Meridians sustained irreparable damage from the battle’s fallout, rendering him utterly incapable of Cultivation.
Having absorbed the entirety of the deceased Wei Lulin’s accumulated recollections, he was intimately cognizant of every event that had transpired. Despite his profound sense of injustice, fate had rendered him powerless to alter his circumstances.
Across the vast expanse of the Eternal Continent, spiritual energy flowed abundantly, and miraculous Celestial Materials And Earthly Treasures were commonplace. However, artifacts possessing the ability to mend damaged meridians were exceptionally scarce and considered treasures of the utmost rarity. Considering Wei Lulin's standing and the substantial influence wielded by the Wei family, such invaluable items were simply unattainable, compelling him to suppress his growing bitterness.
With a sigh, Wei Lulin managed to dissipate the oppressive weight within his chest. He brought his mind to a state of calm focus and recommenced his task.