Divine Mask: I Have Numerous God Clones

Lucas stood in silence, his mind racing with the overwhelming revelation the system had just dropped on him. The notion that a 9-star cultivator's core could evolve into the very source of life itself left him reeling.

It changed everything he thought he knew about cultivation. But despite the weight of this new information, something didn't add up. The memories from his past life nagged at him.

"I've met one or two 9-stars before," Lucas muttered, narrowing his eyes in thought, recalling the powerful figures he had encountered. "And I even found a transcendence cultivation manual once. Are those different from what you're talking about, system?"

The system let out a condescending scoff, its voice dripping with arrogance. [Different? Of course, they're different, you clueless fool. The so-called '9-stars' you met in your past life? Pfft, they were fake 9-stars. Pathetic imitators.]

Lucas raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Fake? What do you mean, fake?"

The system's laughter echoed in his mind, smug and shameless. [Oh, you sweet summer child. You really thought those people were true 9-stars? How cute.]

[Let me break it down for you: yes, they were stronger than 8-star cultivators, but they weren't the real deal. Becoming a 9-star isn't just about being powerful. It's about evolving your core into the source of life itself. Those frauds you met didn't come close to that.]

Lucas frowned, realizing he'd misunderstood the nature of those powerful cultivators. "So you're saying they were just... stuck? They had reached the limits of 8-star but never fully crossed over?"

The system let out a mocking sigh. [Exactly! You could say they were standing at the doorstep of true power, knocking like fools but never stepping through. They touched the limits of 8-star cultivation, but they didn't have the guts or knowledge to break through properly.] The system's voice grew smugger by the second, clearly reveling in Lucas's ignorance.

Lucas clenched his jaw, his irritation growing. "And what about the transcendence cultivation manual I found? That was supposed to be the pinnacle of power."

The system paused, and Lucas could almost feel the disdain dripping from its next words. [That trash? Please. That manual did break the limit of 8-star cultivation, but it did so incorrectly. A sad excuse for real transcendence.]

Lucas's frown deepened. "Incorrectly? What does that even mean?"

The system's response was quick, as if it had been waiting to rub this in. [Ah, you poor, naïve host. Breaking the limits the wrong way is like building a house on quicksand.]

[Sure, you might get something that looks strong for a while, but eventually, it'll all sink. The cultivators who used that manual did break through, but their method was flawed. They gained power, but they were doomed from the start.]

Lucas's curiosity turned to unease. "Doomed? How?"

The system let out a slow, deliberate sigh, as if it were trying to explain something exceedingly simple to a small child. [Host, host, host... When you break the limit incorrectly, you mess up the very foundation of your cultivation. Sure, those fools got stronger—but they're on borrowed time. After a few thousand years?] The system chuckled darkly. [They'll start to deteriorate.

Slowly. Painfully.]

Lucas listened intently, his mind grappling with the implications. The idea of achieving transcendence only to wither away was unsettling, to say the least.

The system continued, its tone turning almost predatory, as if relishing in the knowledge it was imparting. [They'd wither away and die. The so-called 'transcendence' they clung to wasn't real. True transcendence, my dear, hopeless host, isn't just about brute strength or a longer life. It's about transcending life itself.]

Lucas could feel the weight of the words pressing down on him, each one sinking deeper into his consciousness. His brow furrowed as he began to understand what the system was getting at.

The system's voice became smug, enjoying Lucas's slow realization. [Real transcendence comes when your core evolves into the source of life—a power that lasts eternally, far beyond any flawed method those fake transcendents ever used.]

Lucas remained silent, absorbing the gravity of the system's revelation. The weight of immortality, true and unshakable, began to form in his mind. What he had encountered in his past life wasn't real transcendence—it was a temporary escape.

The system pressed on, sounding almost gleeful now. [Those fake transcendents you encountered? They only delayed the inevitable. They gained some time, maybe a few thousand years, but they were still bound by the limits of their flawed methods. When their borrowed time ran out, so did their lives. All that power, wasted.]

Lucas nodded slowly, his expression grim as the truth settled in. "So, the core that evolves into the source of life is the real goal. It's the key to true immortality," he said, his voice more certain now.

The system, never missing a chance to boast, practically purred in response. [Yes, host. A true core, one that becomes the source of life, is the most powerful force in the entire universe.]

[It ensures that even if your body is shattered and your soul obliterated, the core will recreate both from nothing. That's real immortality, the kind those fake transcendents could only dream of.]

Lucas felt a shiver crawl down his spine as the magnitude of his aim began to crystallize. Immortality, true transcendence—not just escaping death but becoming something far beyond it. His journey was not just about gaining power but about defying the very concept of mortality itself.

The system, feeling particularly triumphant, paused for a moment, almost savoring the dramatic impact of its words before adding in a more serious tone.

[There's something else you need to know about this process, but...] it trailed off, its voice taking on a teasing quality, [I'll explain it once you've fused with the blank core.]

Lucas's curiosity flared, but he suppressed the urge to push for more details. He knew the system well enough to realize it wouldn't reveal anything further until the time was right. Instead, he focused on the task at hand.

"Alright," Lucas said, glancing down at the transparent blank core in his hand. "So, how do I use this core?" His voice was steady, though the excitement bubbling beneath the surface was undeniable.

The system chuckled, its arrogance returning in full force. [Finally, asking the right questions! Oh, don't worry, dear host, I'll guide you every step of the way. After all, you'd be hopeless without me.] The mockery in its tone was unmistakable.

Lucas rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. As irritating as the system was, it had proven its worth countless times. He braced himself for what was to come, knowing that this next step would bring him closer to the immortality he now truly understood.