Wu Ji Tian re-entered the capsule and let his consciousness drift.
The moment his eyes adjusted, he saw it—a completely different city.
The once empty streets, previously lined with lifeless buildings, now bustled with activity. A vibrant, breathing world filled with people, sounds, and movement.
The difference was staggering.
Wu Ji Tian slowly walked through the main pza, his gaze scanning every corner of the city.
A street vendor adjusted his stall, brushing dust off the wooden counter while muttering, "No customers today… Maybe I should offer a discount?"A pair of cultivators sat on the edge of a fountain, casually discussing martial arts techniques, one bragging about how he defeated ten opponents in a row.A young boy chased a spirit butterfly, ughing excitedly as he nearly tripped over himself, while his mother scolded him to be careful.A shopkeeper and a bcksmith NPC stood near a weapons stall, loudly debating the price of a bde.
Wu Ji Tian raised an eyebrow as he observed them.
Just yesterday, this pce had been lifeless—mere buildings without function, silent streets with no soul.
But now?
This was actually good.
The awkward stiffness from before was gone. NPCs now moved with purpose—reacting to their surroundings, expressing emotions, and conversing naturally.
It felt real.
—-------
As Wu Ji Tian strolled further into the market area, he noticed a particurly eager-looking merchant NPC standing beside a modest stall.
The old man rubbed his hands together with a sly grin the moment Wu Ji Tian approached.
"Ah, welcome, traveler!" the merchant greeted, eyes gleaming. "You seem like a man of fine taste! Perhaps you’d be interested in a rare artifact? Or maybe some high-quality cultivation robes?"
Wu Ji Tian smirked. "What do you sell?"
The merchant sighed dramatically, pcing a hand over his heart as if wounded.
"Ah, I wish I could say! But, unfortunately, the market has yet to be stocked. A tragedy, truly! A shopkeeper with no goods—what sorrow!"
Wu Ji Tian blinked.
…Did this NPC just break the fourth wall?
He leaned in slightly, studying the old merchant. Unlike normal scripted characters who simply repeated preset dialogue, this one adapted, as if he was aware of the current state of the city.
Before Wu Ji Tian could say anything else, the merchant sighed again, stroking his beard.
"Worry not, dear traveler! I have a feeling that soon, many fine wares will arrive!" He gestured at the empty stall dramatically. "And when they do, I shall be ready to sell you the finest treasures in the nd!"
Wu Ji Tian's lips twitched.
This guy was way too self-aware.
[NPC behavioral adjustments complete. Their responses will continue evolving based on interactions and pyer presence.]
Wu Ji Tian crossed his arms, genuinely impressed.
"Alright, this might actually be fun."
================
Wu Ji Tian walked toward the Training Grounds, curious to see how well the NPCs performed in combat.
The area was spacious, a rge open-air courtyard with a stone-paved floor, surrounded by towering walls engraved with spirit inscriptions. These inscriptions subtly pulsed with energy, absorbing stray qi from training sessions.
Wooden dummies stood at various sections, some old and battered, others newly constructed. On the outer edges, weapons racks dispyed an assortment of swords, spears, and staffs, waiting for use.
At the center of the arena, a sparring ring had been designated with faded white lines. Several NPC cultivators surrounded it, eagerly watching a duel in progress.
Wu Ji Tian approached, observing the combatants.
Inside the sparring ring, two cultivators were engaged in battle.
One was a young disciple wielding a simple iron sword, his expression filled with nervous determination. His opponent, an older, more experienced swordsman, moved with effortless precision, easily deflecting every strike.
Cng!
The young disciple lunged, his sword cutting a clean arc through the air. The older swordsman barely moved—just a slight shift of his stance, and the attack missed by a hair’s breadth.
"Too slow," the older swordsman said, stepping forward.
In an instant, his wooden sword blurred—three rapid strikes in succession.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
The young disciple barely managed to block two of them, but the third strike smmed into his ribs. He staggered, coughing.
"You rely too much on brute force," the older swordsman lectured, lowering his weapon. "Your technique cks fluidity. Strength alone won’t win battles."
The disciple wiped sweat from his brow, gritting his teeth. "Again!"
The surrounding NPCs murmured among themselves.
"That kid’s got spirit.""But his footwork is all over the pce. He’ll never nd a clean hit like that.""Master Yuan isn’t even using half his strength. This isn’t a fight—it’s a lesson."
Wu Ji Tian listened, fascinated.
These NPCs weren’t just fighting—they were learning, adapting, and giving each other realistic advice.
This was more immersive than he had imagined.
While the duel continued, Wu Ji Tian turned his gaze to the rest of the Training Grounds.
Several other NPCs were engaged in various forms of practice:
One group of disciples practiced their sword stances, moving in perfect sync under the guidance of an elder. "Your posture is unsteady! Focus on your bance!" the elder barked.
Another cultivator meditated near a glowing formation, absorbing ambient qi. "Understanding the flow of energy is just as important as wielding a weapon," he muttered to himself.
A burly warrior smashed his fists into a training dummy, sending shockwaves through the ground with each strike. "If your enemy survives the first punch, make sure they don’t survive the second!"
Two spear-wielding fighters cshed near the outer edges, their weapons spinning with deadly grace. Sparks flew as metal met metal.
Wu Ji Tian smirked.
This wasn’t just a basic training area.
It was a living, breathing battlefield where cultivators honed their skills in different ways.
Feeling curious, Wu Ji Tian stepped toward the sparring ring. The ongoing fight had just ended, with the young disciple panting on the ground, exhausted.
Wu Ji Tian cracked his knuckles.
"Mind if I give it a try?"
The older swordsman, Master Yuan, turned to him and gave a respectful nod. "You wish to test your skill?"
Wu Ji Tian grabbed a wooden sword from the nearby rack, giving it a few experimental swings. "Yeah. Let’s see how good the system made you."
Master Yuan’s eyes gleamed with interest. "Very well. But don’t expect me to go easy on you."
The surrounding NPCs perked up, sensing something different about Wu Ji Tian. Unlike the others, he wasn’t an NPC—his presence felt unique, foreign.
The duel began.
Master Yuan struck first.
His movements were fluid, precise, and incredibly fast. He was leagues above the young disciple from earlier—his attacks flowed like water, each strike a calcuted effort to break Wu Ji Tian’s defense.
Cng!
Wu Ji Tian blocked, sidestepped, and parried, his instincts honed from countless fights in the real world.
The older swordsman pivoted, twisting his wrist mid-strike—an advanced feint meant to mislead opponents.
Wu Ji Tian didn’t fall for it.
Instead, he countered with a swift upward ssh, forcing Master Yuan to take a step back.
The watching NPCs murmured in surprise.
"That newcomer is strong!""He blocked Master Yuan’s attack!""Who is this guy?"
Master Yuan’s eyes twinkled. "Impressive. Your technique is refined."
Wu Ji Tian smirked. "I try."
The battle continued, their movements a blur of cshing wood and shifting footwork.
However, it didn’t take long before Wu Ji Tian found an opening.
A sudden burst of speed—he dodged to the side, bringing his sword down in a decisive blow.
Thwack!
Master Yuan stumbled back, pausing before finally letting out a chuckle. "Defeated. Well done."
The NPCs erupted in murmurs, clearly impressed.
Master Yuan sheathed his wooden sword and gave a slight bow. "I look forward to fighting you again."
Wu Ji Tian smirked, tossing his practice sword back onto the rack.
"Same here."
He left the arena, gncing back one st time.
Wu Ji Tian nodded in approval.
This was far better than he expected. Not only were the NPCs moving realistically, but they were even learning from their own fights—or at least acting like they were.
========
Wu Ji Tian walked toward the city gates, taking in the new additions. While the City now had bustling streets, market stalls, and a training ground filled with aspiring cultivators, something was still missing—order. A city without w was just chaos waiting to happen.
With a thought, he accessed the Build Mode interface and selected City Guard Deployment.
[Generating City Guards…]
A moment ter, armored figures materialized at key positions. At the main entrance, two guards in polished chest ptes and spirit-engraved bracers stood at attention, their sharp eyes scanning the horizon. Each was equipped with a spear and a short sword, their posture disciplined and unwavering.
A few more patrolled the city streets in pairs, moving with purpose. They weren’t just static pceholders; they engaged with their surroundings.
One guard stopped to inspect a vendor’s permit, nodding in approval before moving on.
Another casually exchanged a few words with a passing cultivator, asking about any disturbances.
A patrol team helped direct lost NPCs, ensuring smooth movement through the streets.
Near the training grounds, a group of city guards sparred against each other, refining their techniques. Their movements were precise, their battle stances firm—though Wu Ji Tian could tell they were still just basic AI.
Curious, He stepped forward casually, blocking the path of one of the patrolling guards. “Hey, mind sparring for a bit?”
The guard paused, gripping his spear tightly. His expression remained neutral, but his posture shifted slightly into a defensive stance. “Citizens should refrain from unnecessary combat within city limits.”
Wu Ji Tian raised an eyebrow. Interesting. The guards already have a rule system in pce.
“What if it’s for training?” he asked, smirking.
The guard studied him for a moment before nodding. “Training duels are permitted under regution. If you wish to test your strength, prepare yourself.”
Wu Ji Tian grinned. Now we’re talking.
The guard took a stance, spear leveled. In a swift motion, he lunged forward, the tip of his weapon cutting through the air.
Wu Ji Tian sidestepped with ease, letting the attack pass harmlessly by his shoulder. The guard adjusted quickly, shifting his grip and sweeping his spear in a horizontal arc.
Wu Ji Tian ducked, narrowly avoiding the strike. Not bad, but still predictable.
Another guard, seeing the duel, decided to join in. He came in with a downward ssh of his sword, aiming for Wu Ji Tian’s fnk. Without missing a beat, Wu Ji Tian twisted, catching the attacker’s wrist and redirecting his momentum.
The first guard recovered and thrust his spear again—this time, faster and more precise.
Wu Ji Tian smirked. Good. They’re improving.
He deflected the strike with the back of his hand, then stepped back. “Alright, I’ve seen enough.”
The guards paused, lowering their weapons.
[NPC Combat AI Adjusting Parameters Based on Opponent’s Skill Level…]
Wu Ji Tian narrowed his eyes as he felt a shift in their stance. So they’re adapting, huh?
He smirked, cpping his hands together. “Not bad. You’ll do well keeping troublemakers in check.”
The guards gave a polite nod before returning to their patrols, leaving Wu Ji Tian to admire the city that was slowly coming to life.
