I Have a Cultivation Simulator

Rows of illusory text shifted continuously.

They finally settled on a single line: [Simulation Ended].

Zhou Qing closed his eyes, the life he had just lived flashing rapidly through his mind.

This fifth simulation was his longest yet—he had lived for over a thousand years.

If he hadn't devoted himself to comprehending the art of Divination, he estimated he could have lived another two hundred years.

But with no hope of a breakthrough, an extra two centuries held little meaning.

It couldn't compare to the preemptive advantage of a Rank 4 Middle Grade divination technique.

The higher the realm, the more important the art of Divination became.

In the fifth simulation, if Zhou Qing hadn't possessed his divination technique, he never would have known that True Monarch Chongtian held ninety-nine percent of the primary and auxiliary ingredients for the Five Saints Ultimate Transformation Pill.

The art of Divination gave Zhou Qing the initiative. Even if he didn't use it to plot against others, it ensured he wouldn't easily fall into their traps.

Furthermore, the improvement to his divination technique was permanent, applicable to both reality and every subsequent simulation.

The loss of lifespan, however, was confined strictly to that specific simulation.

Naturally, Zhou Qing felt no regret.

'I just don't know where Heavenly Lord Powang ultimately hid, or how far the Demon Abyss Realm's plan to invade the Human Realm has actually progressed...'

Zhou Qing mused to himself.

Clearly, the sword cultivator Heavenly Lord from Heavenly Sword Peak attacking the Great Snow Mountain later on had verified the authenticity of his whistleblower letter.

Truthfully, seeing that Heavenly Lord from Heavenly Sword Peak clash with Heavenly Lord Powang had completely caught Zhou Qing by surprise.

He had written every word of that whistleblower letter with absolute certainty, but in reality, apart from confirming that the Great Snow Mountain true lord who had come seeking pills was either a demonic cultivator or a demonic creature...

...he had absolutely no proof for any of his other claims.

He had simply written the letter assuming the absolute worst-case scenario.

He just hadn't expected reality to mirror his speculation so closely. The Great Snow Mountain truly did harbor massive problems.

Based on the Great Snow Mountain's situation, Zhou Qing naturally deduced that the Demon Abyss Realm still hadn't given up on invading the Human Realm.

This was corroborated by his time guarding the Demon Cave in the Wujian Region. He had captured that unique demoness alive and found her carrying a precious Fourth Tier High Grade Soul-Nourishing Jade.

If they had no ulterior motives, why would the Demon Abyss Realm send such a precious treasure into the Human Realm?

The supreme factions of the Human Realm were also largely aware of the Demon Abyss Realm's covetous gaze. Thus, when taking the Heart-Inquiry Trial to join a supreme faction, the very first question asked was always whether one had any ties to the Demon Abyss Realm.

'The Demon Abyss Realm...'

Zhou Qing's thoughts churned, but he wasn't too worried.

So what if the Demon Abyss Realm really launched an invasion? At the very least, across the thousand years of his fifth simulation, he hadn't seen it happen.

This meant that even if a true invasion occurred, it would be a thousand years from now.

With such a vast expanse of time in reality, how many simulations could he run before then?

After merely five simulations, Zhou Qing already stood at the pinnacle of the Human Realm's near-ancient era, having stepped into the ranks of Late Nascent Soul Stage Great Cultivators. If he ran another few dozen or few hundred simulations, he couldn't even fathom how strong he would become.

'Therefore, I can test all kinds of things in the simulations. But in the real world, I must keep as low a profile as possible. First, to avoid causing any ripples that might affect future simulations, and second, to guarantee my safety in reality...'

Zhou Qing thought.

Theoretically, by inheriting everything from the fifth simulation, Zhou Qing would become an unmatched Late Stage Great Cultivator sweeping across the Human Realm.

In the Taiyuan Region, even if all the Nascent Soul true lords combined their strength, they couldn't withstand a single slap from him.

Yet Zhou Qing still wouldn't do anything to draw attention.

He wouldn't even let a single cultivator know he existed.

Steadying his mind, Zhou Qing began recalling his attempt to break through to the Deity Transformation Stage at the very end of his fifth simulation.

In the Central Continent, every supreme faction had compiled the insights and experiences of past Late Stage Great Cultivators who had attempted the breakthrough to the Deity Transformation Stage.

However, no matter how abundant another person's experiences were, they still belonged to someone else.

Every Late Nascent Soul Stage Great Cultivator was entirely unique. Their physical bodies, Nascent Souls, spiritual forms, and divine souls were all different.

Naturally, the trials they faced when attempting Deity Transformation were just as varied.

But the insights Zhou Qing possessed came from his own personal attempt.

They matched him perfectly.

'The first hurdle of Deity Transformation is converting the Nascent Soul into a Primordial Spirit... I haven't yet reached the Late Nascent Soul Stage Peak, so my divine soul and spiritual body are severely lacking in strength... making it incredibly difficult to smoothly transform my Nascent Soul into a Primordial Spirit...'

Having experienced this hurdle firsthand, Zhou Qing now deeply understood exactly what level of strength a divine soul and spiritual body needed to support this transformation.

'If I successfully cultivate to the Late Nascent Soul Stage Peak, my divine soul and spiritual body will surge significantly. Then, my hopes of passing the Nascent Soul to Primordial Spirit threshold will be vastly higher...'

Zhou Qing mused.

The difficulty of cultivating in the Late Nascent Soul Stage had exceeded his expectations.

Even after stepping into the Late Stage for two or three hundred years, he still hadn't reached the Late Nascent Soul Stage Peak.

'The Lotus Heart Seed...'

Zhou Qing made up his mind. In the next simulation, he would no longer choose this spiritual item as his reward for the aptitude test in the Ghost Realm Trial Field.

The assistance the Lotus Heart Seed provided during the Late Nascent Soul Stage was lower than what it offered during the early and mid stages. It held no value for him anymore.

Compared to the Lotus Heart Seed, the Rank 5 spiritual items on the reward list held far greater value for Zhou Qing, who was already at the Late Nascent Soul Stage.

Like that drop of Blood of the Heavenly Phoenix.

If Zhou Qing used Divine Ability Transformation to refine that drop of Blood of the Heavenly Phoenix, transforming into the Deity Transformation-level peak True Spirit immortal beast, the Heavenly Phoenix, it would bring an absolute qualitative leap to his overall strength.

The only uncertainty was whether that drop of Blood of the Heavenly Phoenix was considered blood essence.

Ordinary blood and blood essence were vastly different, especially when it came to his Divine Ability Transformation.

Another example was the Sword Lord's Manuscript ranked at the very top. Through it, he could catch a glimpse of the Human Realm's absolute zenith during the ancient era.

'I am confident I can pass the Nascent Soul to Primordial Spirit transformation. I just need to cultivate to the Late Stage Peak. With my foundation, my innate chances are already quite high, and coupled with various external aids...'

Zhou Qing frowned slightly. 'But the ensuing Annihilation Tribulation and the Five Elements Lightning Tribulation...'

The three hurdles of Deity Transformation were the Nascent Soul to Primordial Spirit transformation, the Annihilation Tribulation, and the Five Elements Lightning Tribulation.

The Annihilation Tribulation was an upgraded version of the Heart Demon Tribulation. It was exceedingly terrifying, and many top-tier Great Cultivators had fallen at this very step.

'In the next simulation, if my physical body can step into the Fourth-Order Late Stage, or even the Fourth-Order Peak, my hopes of surviving the Five Elements Lightning Tribulation should increase significantly...'

Zhou Qing fell into deep thought for a brief moment.

In the fifth simulation, after his Body Refining cultivation had stepped into the Rank 4 Mid Stage, it had stagnated, hitting a bottleneck.

Unless he relied on the supreme Body Refining medicines produced in Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands, Zhou Qing had no confidence in making any further progress in his physical cultivation.

As for those Body Refining medicines from the Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands... Zhou Qing would have to fight and snatch them from the supreme factions of the Central Continent.

The true lord-level core cultivation resources were things the supreme factions would never easily relinquish. If he wanted them, he had to take them by force.

In a way, the Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands had been left to future human generations by the mighty Heavenly Lords of the ancient era. Those supreme factions had only gained control of their entrances by fighting for them in the first place.

Trying to reach the Late Nascent Soul Stage Peak or even attempt the Deity Transformation breakthrough purely through ascetic cultivation? Even an Innate Dao Fetus couldn't accomplish such a feat.

Zhou Qing had no background and no backing. If he wanted to raise his chances of breaking through to the Deity Transformation Stage, his only option was to fight for the resources.

During the fifth simulation, Zhou Qing had specifically gathered intel on the exact opening times of various Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands over the past few centuries. His plan was to lay in wait and plunder them ahead of time during the next simulation.

How had that purple-eyed true lord ultimately managed to break through to the Deity Transformation Stage? Aside from the covert backing of the Demon Abyss Realm, it was also because he had plundered a massive haul of key resources from the supreme factions.

The most critical, core resources were practically impossible to trade for, even through bartering.

'The Annihilation Tribulation... It is said that the legendary Great Cultivators of the ancient era didn't find this stage too difficult to pass. Those legendary Great Cultivators possessed certain means that surpassed normal limits, which proved useful against the Annihilation Tribulation...'

Zhou Qing's thoughts expanded.

'Legendary Great Cultivator' didn't refer to a specific cultivation realm; it was a classification of combat prowess.

The same went for 'ordinary Great Cultivators' and 'top-tier Great Cultivators'.

A Great Cultivator at the Late Nascent Soul Stage Peak wasn't necessarily a top-tier Great Cultivator; the latter required one's combat power to meet an extraordinary standard.

Zhou Qing only felt confident that he would reach the level of a top-tier Great Cultivator at the Late Stage Peak because his own foundation in every aspect far exceeded that of ordinary Great Cultivators.

In reality, a portion of Late Nascent Soul Stage Great Cultivators would never touch the threshold of a top-tier Great Cultivator, even if they had the chance to cultivate to the Late Stage Peak.

While Zhou Qing's thoughts were churning, the previously halted illusory text began shifting once more.

[Please choose one of the following to inherit:]

[1. All cultivation bases, realms, techniques, cultivation arts, memories, etc., from the simulation.]

[2. One treasure belonging to yourself from the simulation.]

Staring at the illusory text hovering at the bottom of his vision, Zhou Qing naturally felt no suspense over what to choose.

It was definitely option one.

At any time, a cultivation base, realm, and techniques were the true foundation.

He would only consider inheriting a crucial treasure if his cultivation base and realm hadn't progressed a single inch during the simulation.

'Option one!'

Zhou Qing declared silently in his heart.

In a flash.

An aura materialized out of thin air within Zhou Qing's dantian.

This aura rapidly fused into his physical body and Golden Core.

Zhou Qing's physique, his dharma power Golden Core, his spiritual sense, and his divine soul... empowered by this aura, they all rapidly began to surge.

More accurately, it wasn't a surge.

It was a restoration.

Hum—

In the blink of an eye, Zhou Qing's physical body stepped into the Rank 4 Early Stage.

Then it breached the Rank 4 Mid Stage. Two golden seal characters surfaced from the depths of his flesh and blood; they were none other than his body cultivation divine abilities.

In the fifth simulation, Zhou Qing had awakened a total of two body cultivation divine abilities: 'Qi and Blood' and 'Transformation'.

'Mhm... The transformation forms refined from nearly twenty types of beast king blood essence are still here...'

Zhou Qing felt a wave of reassurance. At the end of his fifth simulation, he had paid a hefty price to collect the specific beast king blood essence he wanted.

Now, alongside the Divine Ability Transformation, these beast king blood essences had been brought entirely into reality with him.

Compared to the changes in his physical body...

The changes in his dharma power Golden Core were far more violent.

Within Zhou Qing's dantian, cracks began to appear on his perfectly round Flawless Gold Core, and a chubby Nascent Soul spiritual body was nurtured and born.

Immediately after, this chubby Nascent Soul spiritual body rapidly grew stronger.

Early Nascent Soul Stage.

Mid Nascent Soul Stage.

Late Nascent Soul Stage.

Power capable of toppling mountains and overturning seas was instantly achieved.

Going from the Core Formation Stage to a Late Nascent Soul Stage Great Cultivator took merely a few breaths.

Moreover, because the scope of the inheritance encompassed his memories and cultivation realm, he possessed perfect mastery over all of his power; there wasn't the slightest sign of losing control.

'The Second Nascent Soul is here too?'

Zhou Qing looked inward at his dantian and discovered that right beside his primary Nascent Soul, his Second Nascent Soul—which had also reached the Late Nascent Soul Stage—was present as well.

'I knew it. The true essence of the Second Nascent Soul isn't an external object, but something condensed through the secret art I cultivate.'

'Since it's from a secret art, it can naturally be inherited over.'

A smile appeared on Zhou Qing's face. Although he didn't have another Nine-Star Ancient Soul Fruit to nourish his Second Nascent Soul...

...just the inherent strength of a Late Nascent Soul Stage Second Nascent Soul was enough to save him from dealing with a lot of petty chores.

At the very least, if his primary Nascent Soul had to leave his body to handle matters, his Second Nascent Soul could hold the fort, ensuring his physical shell wouldn't be ambushed.

'Wait, this Second Nascent Soul...'

Zhou Qing carefully observed his Second Nascent Soul, faintly noticing something.

Since he had already inherited all of his memories from the simulation, Zhou Qing naturally knew exactly what his Second Nascent Soul looked like within it.

Right now, the Second Nascent Soul in his dantian was far purer compared to the one in the simulation.

This purity gave Zhou Qing the feeling that his Second Nascent Soul was no different from his primary Nascent Soul. Aside from its level of stability, it was identical.

'Could it be that the Second Nascent Soul inherited into reality has been completely cleansed? From now on, does the possibility of it betraying me or developing an independent consciousness no longer exist...'

Zhou Qing thought to himself.

In the Human Realm, a Second Nascent Soul refined through the secret art had a chance of rebelling if it strayed from the main body for too long or experienced some massive stimulation.

The Second Nascent Soul secret art Zhou Qing cultivated came from the Mountain and Sea Lineage. It specifically addressed this flaw, making the chance of betrayal exceedingly low.

But no matter how low, the possibility still existed.

However, after undergoing the process of being inherited into reality, the Second Nascent Soul had completely merged with him, acting just like his own limbs, utterly eradicating any possibility of betrayal or independent consciousness.

'To think inheriting it into reality would come with this extra layer of benefits?'

Zhou Qing marveled inwardly. He had long known that everything he inherited would be free of hidden dangers, but he hadn't expected it to have an effect like this.

Was completely wiping out the possibility of betrayal also considered a form of 'no hidden dangers'?

Hum— The illusory text continued shifting.

[Currently evaluating the experiences from your latest simulation...]

Seeing this, Zhou Qing's expression turned serious as he stared intently at the illusory text.

The talent settlement at the end of each simulation was the part Zhou Qing looked forward to the most.

He had already experienced the inheritance of his cultivation base, realm, techniques, cultivation arts, and memories in the simulation, so he had a prior estimation of what bringing them into his main body would be like.

Though his mood was fantastic, it couldn't be called a pleasant surprise.

But the talent settlement was entirely unknown.

'In this simulation, I stepped from the Core Formation Stage into the Nascent Soul Stage and cultivated all the way to the Late Nascent Soul Stage. My leap in strength exceeded any of the previous four simulations. The talent evaluated this time shouldn't be too bad, right...' Zhou Qing's gaze filled with anticipation as he watched the constantly shifting illusory text.

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