In Qianyuan Country, at the Lin family's mountain near Qingfeng City, a scenic cliffside is the training ground of a young boy. Dressed in black martial arts attire, he sits cross-legged on a massive rock, breathing in rhythm with the world around him. With each breath, he draws the ambient spiritual energy of heaven and earth into his body.

"Phew! I finally broke through to the third stage of the Postnatal Realm!"

After who knows how long, the boy suddenly opens his eyes. Sensing the nearly 30% increase in his inner energy, his face lights up with a glimmer of joy—although he quickly calms himself.

It's been sixteen years since he crossed over to this world. Coming from an era of abundant information and countless novels, Lin Zichen, though unable to delve into the deeper secrets of this world, has pieced together enough from rumors and family records to know that things aren't as simple as they seem here.

The land beneath Lin Zichen's feet is called the Tianwu Continent.

Vast and sprawling, it holds thousands of nations and countless sects. The nation he resides in, Qianyuan, alone holds over two billion people, covering a landmass even larger than Asia in his previous life.

Naturally, a country of such vast territory is not to be underestimated.

Just on the surface, Qianyuan boasts ten powerful warriors of the Celestial Realm, with likely many more hidden in the shadows.

According to Lin Zichen's understanding, the martial levels in Tianwu Continent—from weakest to strongest—are: Body Refinement, Postnatal, Prenatal, Master, Grandmaster, Celestial, and, in legend, the Reversion Realm.

Anything beyond these realms is still far beyond his reach.

"Having achieved the third stage of the Postnatal Realm, I'm strong enough to stand out among my peers in Qingfeng City. But in the broader Qianyuan, I'm hardly worth mentioning—I can't even make it onto the Qianyuan Heavenly Talent List."

Lin Zichen shakes his head, dispelling his chaotic thoughts, his gaze turning toward the distant horizon.

Perhaps due to the fact he's a reincarnated soul, Lin Zichen's natural aptitude and insight are exceptional. Coupled with his understanding of the importance of strength from his previous life, he has cultivated diligently, reaching the third stage of the Postnatal Realm at just sixteen.

But as the saying goes:

"Why should three generations of effort be surpassed by a decade of hard work?"

Although the Lin family is one of the top ten families in Qingfeng City, boasting several Prenatal Realm warriors, they're still no match for the truly powerful factions. When it comes to cultivation techniques and resources, Lin Zichen is at a disadvantage.

The same exceptional talent in a major power might already be at the sixth or even seventh stage of the Postnatal Realm by now.

"The gap in resources and techniques is just too vast."

Shaking his head, Lin Zichen directs his focus inward, looking at the unchanging aura within his mind. With a sigh, he murmurs, "Sixteen years... for sixteen years since I reincarnated, you've stayed like this. What kind of treasure are you?"

Despite his efforts, Lin Zichen has yet to uncover the secrets of the aura within his consciousness.

Still, the very thing that brought him to this other world must be an extraordinary artifact.

If he could somehow harness it...

"Forget it. Instead of waiting for this 'golden finger' to activate, I'd be better off returning to the family to claim my resource reward."

"My father did say he'd reward me with twenty lower-grade spirit stones when I reached the third stage of the Postnatal Realm."

Setting aside his errant thoughts, Lin Zichen remembers his father's promise, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes as he heads toward the Lin family residence at the base of the mountain.

On the Tianwu Continent, most Postnatal Realm warriors rely on medicinal herbs or food supplements to cultivate; using spirit stones for training is an extreme luxury, a practice no family in Qingfeng City can afford.

After all, spirit stones—especially lower-grade ones—are something most people will never even lay eyes on, let alone possess.

If someone were to trade with lower-grade spirit stones...

One alone could buy goods worth a hundred taels of gold.

"I wonder just how much faster I can cultivate with spirit stones?"

With this thought, Lin Zichen quickens his pace as he makes his way back.

One incense stick later

Returning to the family estate, Lin Zichen made his way straight to the grand hall where his father, Lin Shoucheng, the head of the Lin family, resided.

"Third Young Master."

"Greetings, Third Young Master."

Along the way, maids and servants greeted Lin Zichen respectfully as he passed. He nodded slightly in response, picking up his pace.

"Father."

Lin Zichen arrived at the main hall without any hindrance.

"Hmm?"

Hearing his son's voice, Lin Shoucheng, who was in the midst of family affairs, raised his head, smiling as he looked over.

"Oh? The third stage of the Postnatal Realm? Zichen, you've broken through?"

Sensing the aura radiating from Lin Zichen, Lin Shoucheng stood up abruptly, stepping forward and grabbing his son's wrist.

A moment later, his face lit up with unmistakable joy.

"The third stage of the Postnatal Realm—it's true! Wonderful! A sixteen-year-old at the third stage of the Postnatal Realm… Grandmaster-level potential, without a doubt!"

Lin Shoucheng was elated, his voice even trembling slightly.

After all, Grandmasters were prominent figures, famous throughout the entire Qianyuan Country, powerful enough to support a major faction. If the Lin family were to have such a supreme warrior, dominating Qingfeng City would be a matter of a single command.

"Zichen, this is the family's reward for reaching the third stage of the Postnatal Realm: twenty lower-grade spirit stones. And here are ten more from me, personally."

Once his excitement subsided, Lin Shoucheng produced the long-awaited reward, even exceeding the expected amount by ten stones.

Lin Zichen didn't hesitate to accept. As the family head, his father could afford this; while ten spirit stones would be a fortune to other Prenatal Realm warriors, for the family patriarch, it was only a small portion of his wealth.

However, as Lin Zichen took the spirit stones, about to thank his father, he suddenly felt a surge of brilliance from the previously quiet aura in his mind. In an instant, information poured into his consciousness.

"Immortal Clan Simulator?"

"Auto-bound to the Lin family?"

"Spirit stones can power the simulator to preview the family's future?"

"Wait, isn't this that little game I used to play before I crossed over?"

Seeing this 'artifact's' strange yet familiar description, Lin Zichen felt a mix of joy and disbelief.

Still, after years of dormancy, his golden finger had finally awakened. Who had time to think twice?

Collecting himself, he quickly took his leave of his father and returned to his private courtyard to begin exploring.