Feng Zhen sat cross-legged in the center of a dimly lit cave, his breathing steady and controlled. Around him, a faint halo of spiritual energy shimmered, drawn from the spiritual stone in his palm. His eyes remained closed, but his mind was elsewhere—immersed in the ever-expanding depths of the Ascension Simulator.
The translucent interface hovered in his vision, faint yet sharp, as if engraved into his consciousness.
[Simulation Progress: Cycle 37 Completed]
[Results: Early Core Formation achieved | Survival: 132 years | Major Insights Gained: 17]
[Do you wish to begin a new simulation?]
He stared at the notification, the weight of his last failure pressing on his shoulders.
132 years… and yet he'd failed to ascend. His simulated death had been as vivid as reality—blood staining the snow-covered battlefield as his enemies tore him apart.
Feng Zhen exhaled deeply, setting the spiritual stone aside. "It doesn't matter how many times I die," he muttered, his voice firm. "As long as I succeed in the end."
A small smile tugged at his lips as he glanced at his surroundings. Just weeks ago, he had been a near-crippled disciple in the Skybound Sect, scraping by with meager resources and insults from those who deemed him worthless. Now, thanks to the Simulator, he had surpassed the limits of mortal comprehension in mere days of real-world time.
Time Acceleration.
The single, miraculous feature that had changed everything. One day outside the simulation allowed him to live through years inside it. And with every cycle, he grew stronger—not just in cultivation, but in wisdom, strategy, and understanding.
His fingers brushed over the obsidian cube resting beside him. The artifact pulsed faintly, as if alive, and the screen updated with new options.
---
[Ascension Simulator: Cycle 38 Initialization]
Choose Starting Configuration:
1. Talent: [Rare]
2. Resources: [Moderate]
3. Path: [Custom - Path of the Flowing Mirage]
[Additional Modifiers Unlocked:]
Time Modifier: Accelerated Time Ratio – 1 day (real) = 10 years (simulation).
Objective: Survive for 150 years and reach Peak Core Formation.
---
Feng Zhen selected his options quickly. By now, he had mastered the opening phases. No need to waste time agonizing over the starting setup—he would adapt, as he always did.
As soon as he confirmed his choices, the familiar sensation of his consciousness being pulled into the simulation overtook him. The world dissolved, replaced by a new beginning.
---
The Simulation: Cycle 38 Begins
Feng Zhen stood in a bustling city at the foot of a mountain range, dressed in simple robes. The air here was thick with spiritual energy, and cultivators moved about, each radiating power.
Resources:
12 Spirit Stones
1 Mid-tier Manual: "Flowing Mirage Steps"
A Basic Spirit Sword
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The Flowing Mirage Path relies on deception and speed," he mused. "Perfect for evading pursuit… but I'll need a more offensive technique if I'm going to survive the later stages."
His mind raced through potential plans. The last 37 cycles had taught him hard lessons:
1. Don't draw attention too early.
2. Invest in alliances but avoid dependence.
3. Prioritize longevity over quick power gains.
With these principles in mind, Feng Zhen began exploring the city. He purchased cultivation herbs with his spirit stones, traded favors for a better lodging arrangement, and identified the sects and powers that ruled the region.
---
Real-World Interruption
A sudden knock at the cave's entrance jolted Feng Zhen from his immersion. His eyes snapped open, the simulation pausing instantly.
"Who's there?" he called out, masking his annoyance.
"It's Elder Shen," came the gruff reply. "Sect Master requests your presence. Now."
Feng Zhen frowned. His progress was ahead of schedule, but he couldn't afford to draw unnecessary suspicion. Reluctantly, he stood, storing the cube in a hidden pouch.
As he stepped out into the moonlit night, he reminded himself of one thing: Time was his greatest weapon. And he would use it to ascend, no matter what obstacles the real world threw at him.
...
The cold moonlight spilled over the rugged mountain paths as Feng Zhen followed Elder Shen. The grizzled elder didn't speak, his face set in a grim frown. Though curiosity burned within him, Feng Zhen remained silent, observing the man's tense posture.
The Skybound Sect wasn't known for its camaraderie. In fact, it was more like a den of predators, where the strong ruled and the weak were tools or fodder. The Sect Master rarely summoned anyone personally unless something critical—or dangerous—was at hand.
"Elder Shen," Feng Zhen finally ventured, his voice calm, "what does the Sect Master require of me?"
The elder didn't look back. "You'll find out soon enough. Speak when spoken to. That's my only advice."
Feng Zhen's eyes narrowed, but he said no more. The old man's curt reply only deepened his unease.
---
The Sect Master's Hall
The grand hall was dimly lit, its high ceilings adorned with intricate carvings of soaring dragons and radiant phoenixes. At the far end sat Sect Master Bai Rong, a middle-aged man whose unassuming appearance belied the immense power radiating from him.
Around him stood several of the sect's top elders, each a figure of immense influence. Their eyes turned to Feng Zhen as he entered, scrutinizing him like a hawk eyeing a potential meal.
"Feng Zhen," Bai Rong said, his voice calm but heavy, like the rumble of distant thunder. "Step forward."
Feng Zhen obeyed, suppressing the instinct to retreat under the combined pressure of their gazes. "Sect Master," he said, bowing deeply.
Bai Rong leaned forward slightly, his dark eyes locking onto Feng Zhen's. "Do you know why I summoned you?"
"No, Sect Master," Feng Zhen replied honestly, though his mind raced. Had someone discovered the simulator? Did they know about his rapid progress?
The Sect Master smiled faintly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "The elders have brought me… troubling news. A strange pulse of energy was detected near the sect's boundaries a few nights ago—something ancient, something dangerous. It came from the direction of your usual cultivation grounds."
Feng Zhen's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a composed expression. "Sect Master, I'm unaware of such a disturbance. My cultivation has been… ordinary, to say the least."
A burly elder to the Sect Master's left snorted. "Ordinary, he says! And yet, in just a few months, this boy has gone from a struggling Qi Condensation cultivator to the peak of Foundation Establishment! Are we to believe such progress is natural?"
Feng Zhen clenched his fists, sensing the hostility in the elder's tone. He lowered his gaze, feigning humility. "I can only attribute my progress to diligence and some small fortune. If I've violated any sect rules, I accept whatever punishment the elders see fit."
"Enough," Bai Rong said, silencing the room with a wave of his hand. "I'm not here to accuse you—yet. But this anomaly concerns me. If it is connected to you, Feng Zhen, I expect the truth."
The silence that followed was suffocating. Feng Zhen's thoughts raced. The energy pulse they mentioned must have come from the Simulator during one of his breakthroughs. The artifact was powerful, but clearly not discreet enough to escape detection.
"I swear to the Sect Master," Feng Zhen said, carefully choosing his words, "I have no knowledge of any anomaly. If it pleases the elders, I will submit to an inspection."
Several elders exchanged skeptical glances, but Bai Rong waved them off. "An inspection will not be necessary—yet. But understand this, Feng Zhen: if I find you harboring something dangerous, not even the heavens will save you from my wrath."
The Sect Master's words hung heavy in the air, and Feng Zhen bowed deeply again. "I understand, Sect Master. I will do everything in my power to assist the sect."
Bai Rong nodded, dismissing him with a flick of his wrist. "You may go. But remain within the sect's grounds. Elder Shen will keep an eye on you."
Feng Zhen left the hall with steady steps, but inside, his mind was a storm.
---
In the Shadows
That night, Feng Zhen returned to his cave, his body tense with suppressed frustration. He activated the protective array around his cultivation chamber and pulled out the obsidian cube.
The artifact hummed softly, as if aware of the danger he faced.
"They're onto me," Feng Zhen muttered. "But they don't know enough—yet."
He sat cross-legged, staring at the cube. His rapid progress had indeed drawn too much attention, and now the sect's leadership was suspicious. Worse, the energy pulse from the Simulator had exposed him.
"I need to be more careful," he murmured. "If they ever find out about you…" He didn't finish the thought. The Simulator was his only edge, his only chance to rise above the sect's petty politics and crushing hierarchy.
His thoughts shifted to Elder Shen, who had been assigned to monitor him. The old man was no fool, and escaping his scrutiny wouldn't be easy.
"First step," Feng Zhen whispered, "is to regain their trust. I need to lay low—but not too low. If I act too weak, they'll dig deeper. If I act too strong, they'll grow more suspicious."
A subtle balance, then. He would use the Simulator, but sparingly. Every cycle had to count.
As the cube's familiar glow enveloped him, he made a silent vow: I will survive, both in this world and the next. And when the time comes, I'll ensure no one can threaten me ever again.
---