As the power of the 1st layer of the Spirit Fusion Realm settled within Lucas, he marveled at the system's ability to transfer cultivation seamlessly, without alerting anyone or causing the usual disturbances in the outside world.
This silent, magical progress made him more curious about the system itself.
After some internal exploration, he felt a golden wheel connected to his soul.
While he could sense its presence, it remained intangible, just out of reach.
Lucas instinctively knew that breaking through to the Emptiness Ascension Realm would unlock the secrets of this mysterious golden finger.
Fueled by this revelation, Lucas felt his determination to grow stronger intensify.
With the power of the Nine Simulation System backing him, he initiated another simulation without hesitation.
"Start 3rd simulation," Lucas commanded.
The familiar countdown began.
[Starting 3rd simulation.]
[5, 4, 3, 2, 1...]
---
Year 30,334: Lucas, now 20, stood at the 1st layer of the Spirit Fusion Realm. Knowing the future, he maintained his low profile, surviving the Ashura Demonic Cult's attack in Year 30,360.
Once again, he chose to continue cultivating in secret, focusing on increasing his strength.
---
Year 30,420: At the age of 106, Lucas had reached the 9th layer of the Spirit Fusion Realm, just one step away from breaking through to the Emptiness Ascension Realm. His progress had been steady, and now he stood at the threshold of true power. However, before making the final leap, Lucas decided to perform a divination, hoping for guidance.
To his surprise, the divination failed for the first time, leaving him feeling uneasy and anxious.
Despite his misgivings, Lucas trusted his intuition.
He decided to attempt his breakthrough in the capital Veridonia of the Human Empire, believing that his instincts would guide him through any challenges.
As he began his breakthrough, something unexpected occurred—three powerful figures appeared: the old ancestor of the Human Empire, along with the ancestors of both the Elven and Beastmen Empires, all of whom were at the Emptiness Ascension Realm.
Instead of opposing him, they stood by, offering guidance and encouragement. Their unexpected support immediately aroused Lucas' suspicions, but he continued with the breakthrough, knowing he couldn't afford to stop.
His doubts were confirmed when, just as he was about to complete the breakthrough, three unknown demonic Emptiness Ascension powerhouses launched a surprise attack.
It became clear to Lucas that the three ancestors had allowed him to proceed because they needed his power to maintain balance. If the demonic powerhouses were to gain another Emptiness Ascension cultivator, the balance of power between the empires would be disrupted.
Allowing Lucas to break through ensured that the Human, Elven, and Beastmen Empires could counter any future threats from the Demon Empire.
Lucas, now fully aware of the situation, refocused on his breakthrough.
With the guidance of the three ancestors and his own immense talent, he successfully passed through the River of Time, completing his ascension to the 1st layer of the Emptiness Ascension Realm.
With his breakthrough complete, Lucas joined forces with the three ancestors, and together they repelled the demonic powerhouses, driving them back to the Demon Empire.
The simulation ended there, with Lucas standing victorious.
---
[Simulation ends.]
Lucas opened his eyes, now holding the power of the 1st layer of the Emptiness Ascension Realm in the real world, along with the insights he had gained during the simulation.
His newfound strength was immeasurable, and for the first time, he fully understood the true power wielded by those at the peak of this world.
At the Emptiness Ascension Realm, cultivators could travel through the River of Time, granting them near-immortality.
This allowed them to share their power with past and future versions of themselves, making them almost invincible.
Their mastery over time meant that any move they made could alter the entire course of history, reshaping reality itself.
Everything in the world could be seen as an illusion, easily manipulated by those at the Emptiness Ascension Realm.
Lucas now understood why those in this realm were so feared and respected. Their power was absolute, and to oppose them was to oppose the very fabric of reality.
No wonder they were considered immortal and nearly impossible to kill.
But beyond the power of this realm, Lucas also came to a startling realization about his golden finger—the mysterious system that had been guiding him all along.
Through his insights, he learned that the golden wheel was actually the complete legacy of a 9th layer peak Emptiness Ascension Realm cultivator, someone who had willingly abolished all their cultivation in pursuit of a realm beyond Emptiness Ascension.
This legendary figure had discarded their power to explore the higher truths of existence, searching for a path beyond the limits of even the strongest in the world.
By sheer luck, Lucas had stumbled upon this legacy during his transmigration to this world.
Now, that same legacy had become his greatest weapon and the key to his rise in power.
The Nine Simulation System, as it turned out, was the remnant of that cultivator's lifelong pursuit, a tool designed to train a successor capable of continuing the journey to higher realms.
With this newfound knowledge, Lucas felt more determined than ever.
He now had the power of the Emptiness Ascension Realm, but there was still a higher realm waiting to be discovered, a realm that transcended everything he had known.
His journey was far from over, and with the golden wheel guiding him, Lucas knew that he was destined for something far greater than he could have ever imagined.