Chapter 1: Strange Game Console

(ps: New author, don't spray, don't spray, everyone can put their mind here, continue reading, there's a large backlog, feel free to enjoy!!)

Wang Xiu, who had just graduated, was worrying over the densely packed recruitment information on the computer screen.

"Majors don't match, no experience required, salary 3,500..." he muttered softly, feeling waves of helplessness well up in his chest.

He was an ordinary second-tier university graduate, studying history, a dead-end major, and wanted to find a decent job in a talent-rich big city, which was practically as hard as climbing to heaven.

Of the dozens of resumes he sent out, either they vanished like stones in the sea, or they were just this kind of dead-end job you could see the end of at a glance.

"Sigh, the rent is due again next month." Wang Xiu irritably scratched his head, leaned back, and collapsed onto that squeaky gaming chair.

This rented room of just over ten square meters is the entirety of his current struggle.

Just then, a "dong dong" knocking sound came from outside the door.

"Who is it?" Wang Xiu called out weakly.

"Express delivery!"

Wang Xiu wondered to himself, "I haven't bought anything lately; could it be a local specialty sent by my parents?"

He got up and opened the door; a delivery guy handed him a square cardboard box half a meter long.

"Hello, your delivery, please sign for it."

Wang Xiu looked at the waybill; the sender's information was blank, but the recipient's name and address were clearly written, and the phone number was correct down to the digit.

"Thanks." He signed the form in a daze and carried the box into the room.

The box wasn't heavy; he shook it lightly, and a faint clattering sound came from inside.

He fetched scissors to cut the tape; inside was packed with foam padding, and lying in the center was a black, rather antiquated-looking game console.

The game console looked like a product from the last century—square and straight, with a matte-feel casing, no branding, just a solitary power button and a few ports.

"What the heck? Who would be so bored as to send me this?" Wang Xiu took it out and turned it over and over to examine.

Besides the main unit, the box also contained a power cord and a connecting device that resembled a VR headset but was much thinner and lighter.

Out of curiosity, he still plugged in the power cord and connected that headset-like device to the main unit.

He pressed the power button, and a faint blue light on the main unit lit up.

Wang Xiu picked up the headset, hesitated a moment, then put it on his head.

His vision went dark, and then lines of antiquated seal script floated in the darkness, as if projected directly onto his retina.

【Family Inheritance Simulator】

【Detecting bloodline…】

【Bloodline detection successful, Wang clan bloodline, sequence confirmed.】

【Welcome you, 137th-generation inheritor, Wang Xiu.】

Wang Xiu's heart gave a jolt.

"Hey, this thing is pretty high-tech; how does it know my name?" He found it somewhat interesting; this prank wasn't cheap.

The text before his eyes gradually faded, replaced by an antiquated main interface; the background was an ink-wash style landscape painting, and the melodious sound of a guqin echoed in his ears.

The interface had only two options.

【Activate Inheritance】

【Exit Game】

Wang Xiu didn't even think; he focused his consciousness on "Activate Inheritance".

The screen shifted, entering an interface resembling a character creation screen.

But unlike ordinary games, this interface had only a single character model, locked and unmodifiable.

Next to the character model was a vertical column of text description.

【Name: Wang Jin】

【Identity: Wang clan ancestor (the first generation in the game)】

【Era: Tang Dynasty, first year of Shenlong】

【Life story: Obscure; he owned a residence west of the Divine Capital Luoyang, modest means, no official post, no achievements.】

【Current status: Healthy】

Wang Xiu froze.

"Wang Jin?" That name rang a bell. He racked his brain; it seemed to be the first name recorded in his family genealogy, said to be a Tang Dynasty person.

"What the heck? Using my family's ancestors as a game?" Wang Xiu laughed despite himself; this prank was too outrageous.

He found the game increasingly interesting, so he continued to look further.

Below there was also a "Newbie Benefit" button, flashing on and off.

He thought about it and clicked that button.

A virtual gift box opened before his eyes, and several items appeared.

【Newbie Gift Pack:】

【I. Strengthening Pill (Small) x3: Can slightly improve the character's physique.】

【II. Gold Sore Ointment (High Quality) x1: External wound medicine, remarkably effective against blade injuries.】

【III. Soy Sauce Beef Jerky x5: A tasty snack made with modern craft, can stave off hunger and satisfy cravings.】

【IV. Newbie Guide x1】

"What a mess of random junk." Wang Xiu looked at the soy sauce beef jerky, and his stomach growled involuntarily.

He instinctively opened the Newbie Guide.

【Guide:】

【1. This simulator aims to help the host bring glory to the family line and revive the clan. The host will, via consciousness control, experience and guide the life courses of past ancestors.】

【2. Everything the ancestors obtain in the simulator, including but not limited to wealth, items, and skills, has a chance to manifest in the real world.】

【3. History is unique; every decision the host makes will truly affect the course of history and the family's fate, so please act cautiously.】

【4. Running the simulator consumes mental energy; when the host feels fatigued, please exit promptly.】

【5. Good luck, heir.】

Wang Xiu read it word for word, and the absurd feeling in his heart grew stronger.

"Control the ancestor? And still be able to bring things into reality? Bullshit." He curled his lips, utterly disbelieving.

Nowadays, game advertisements are more exaggerated than the next.

However, this game's gimmick is indeed substantial. Playing as one's own ancestor, changing the family's fate, sounds pretty cool.

Anyway, job hunting is frustrating; might as well play this "Ancestor Simulator" to kill time.

He glanced at the character named Wang Jin, whose biography read "obscure and unknown," which gave Wang Xiu a strong sense of immersion.

Isn't he himself just an obscure and unknown graduate?

"Alright, ancestor, let's struggle together today! I want to see how this 'starting from nothing' works."

Wang Xiu, with a hint of playfulness and curiosity, focused his consciousness on the option at the bottom of the interface.

【Era Name Transition Simulation】

As he confirmed, the scene before his eyes instantly stretched, with countless lights and shadows flying past him.

The guqin sound in his ears disappeared, replaced by noisy human voices, the clatter of carts and horses, and a faint... smell of firewood?

When everything stabilized, Wang Xiu discovered he was standing in an ancient courtyard.

Gray bricks paved the ground, carved wooden windows, and a pagoda tree was planted in the corner of the courtyard.

He lowered his head to look at his "body," wearing a coarse linen robe and cloth shoes on his feet.

He tried to lift his hand, and the arms before him rose accordingly, with thin calluses on his palms.

"Holy shit......"

Wang Xiu couldn't help but blurt out a swear word; this feeling was too real!

He could clearly feel the sensation of wind blowing on his face, smell the mixed odors in the air, and even feel the uneven texture of the stone slabs beneath his feet.

This isn't a game; this is practically a soul transmigration!

Just as he was shocked beyond words, a gentle female voice came from the room behind him.

"Husband, it's getting late, the wind is strong outside, hurry inside."

Wang Xiu's body stiffened, and he mechanically turned around.

He saw a young woman in Tang dynasty attire standing at the doorway, looking at him gently, with a hint of concern in her eyes.

Her looks weren't stunning, but her features were delicate and her demeanor gentle, making her pleasant to look at.

Wang Xiu's brain instantly crashed.

Husband?

This... this is my ancestor's wife?

In other words... my ancestor's grandmother?