The real world was created by a mysterious being, and during its creation, 14 individuals from different races bore witness to this event.

These races included humans, dwarves, dragons, elves, orcs, tigermen, vampires, tigers, werewolves, turtles, goblins, centipedes, flies, and worms. It was pure chance that these diverse races were present to witness the creation.

However, the mystery of how they came to be present before creation remains unknown and subject to various theories.

Some speculate that there are other real worlds, while others propose that the creator first brought forth primordial living creatures before forming the world. Another theory suggests that simulations were created initially, and these races witnessed the birth of the real world from within those simulations. Despite these conjectures, there is no definitive way to confirm any of them.

Of the original 14 witnesses, all have long since perished. None managed to reach the 10th step because they were unable to enter the soil world. The rule to reach the 10th step dictated that one must originate from the soil world, and they were unable to enter the soil and originate from it, leading to their eventual demise due to old age.

Maybe out of compassion for these 14 witnesses who were unable to progress, the creator established a rule that would benefit their respective races indefinitely.

This rule stated that in order to advance, exactly one individual from each race had to be in the peak of the previous step.

Once this condition was fulfilled, the next step would be automatically unlocked. This law ensured that no single person could become the supreme ruler, and the 14 races would need each other to progress in their cultivation.

As a result, everyone was currently assisting the worm creature in reaching the peak of the 19th step faster, following a disastrous event that occurred billions of years ago, which nearly wiped out the worm race and claimed the life of a 19th step worm.

After the calamity, panic ensued, for if the worm race were to become extinct, all would be forever stuck at the 19th step.

The mysterious disaster originated from the exploration of a stable space crack.

The real world was generally stable and tremendously vast. However, at intervals of one trillion years, space cracks would appear, leading to the outside of the real world. According to the knowledge of those at the 19th step, the outer realm was void, devoid of anything.

Or at least, that was what they had believed until then.

It is said that on that fateful day, Worm Queen Homlan gazed upon something, and that single glance resulted in her death, as well as the demise of every other worm in the real world.

Only the worm eggs managed to survive, and the entire worm race today traces its lineage back to those eggs.

The other thirteen races joined forces to aid one of the most talented individuals among the worm eggs, helping it swiftly ascend to the 19th step.

Now, everyone eagerly awaits its ascent to the peak of the 19th step.

If not for that incident, they might have already reached the 20th step, or even the 21st step!

…

Hao Gongming, who had always believed the worm to be deceased, suddenly sensed an incredibly potent life force in the 8th step. Her passive life-sensing skill alerted her to this presence.

"It's not weak or nearing death; it is firmly situated in the 8th step! I must strengthen my defenses," she thought to herself.

Having already created numerous survival and defensive skills, her survival skills were formidable enough that no one below the 10th step could completely kill her.

However, she realized that her defensive skills could potentially be breached by 8th step beings. Determined to fortify her defenses, she invested additional reality points to enhance these skills, ensuring that she would be impervious to attacks from 8th step entities.

"Now, let's go and investigate what's happening!" she declared.

With a teleportation spell, she instantly arrived at the core of the worm's body.

There, a small silkworm lay, appearing to be asleep.

"It's 8th step, so why is it so diminutive?" she wondered aloud.

The worm had the dimensions of an ordinary one-meter snake, yet its aura unmistakably emanated the power of the 8th step.

Seemingly dormant and unconscious, Hao Gongming decided to rouse it from its slumber.

"Alright, let's awaken you," she said with a smile.

Crafting a spell specifically designed to awaken 8th step worms, she cast it upon the creature.

Suddenly, a terrifying 8th step aura surged forth, only to quickly dissipate.

Hao Gongming's smile widened as she queried in the universal language skill, "Who are you?"

The worm appeared perplexed, its movements sluggish, before finally responding, "I am... Homlan!"

Hao Gongming asked, "Who is Homlan?"

Homlan turned her head to face Hao Gongming and replied, "It's not important. Nothing matters because everything may be an illusion."

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

Curious, Hao Gongming inquired further, "What are you talking about?"

Homlan responded, "Illusion dominates."

"Why are you speaking word by word? Explain to me what is happening," Hao Gongming expressed her frustration.

Homlan laughed and said, "You wouldn't understand with your 6th step cultivation. I am not yet prepared to awaken. So, if you awaken me again, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Hao Gongming smirked and made a decision. She invested a significant amount of her reality points to create a spell: "Enslave a worm under 9th step for 2 years."

Although casting this spell would permanently deplete her reality points, she didn't hesitate much. She had a hunch that this being knew valuable information she needed.

Without delay, she cast the spell.

Homlan was taken aback and screamed, "What? You are Hao Gongming? No, wait..."

Before she could finish her sentence, the mark of enslavement landed, and she fell under the spell's control.

Hao Gongming smiled and asked once again, "Who are you?"

"I am Homlan, the ancestor of the worm race," came the response.

Hao Gongming was shaken upon hearing this revelation. The enslavement spell couldn't be deceived, so unless Homlan mistakenly believed herself to be the ancestor of the worm race, then...

"So, you are a 19th step being. Why are you now in the 8th step?" Hao Gongming inquired.

"When I looked at that leech, it drained all my essence and that of my offspring. I could only protect my eggs and a small fragment of my soul," Homlan explained.

"What is this leech you speak of?" Hao Gongming questioned, as leeches were not among the 14 races she was aware of.

"It was a being from outside the real world, estimated to be at least in the 22nd step. It didn't attack me or even notice me. Merely gazing upon it unconsciously caused it to drain my essence and that of my children," Homlan revealed.

"Wait, you mentioned outside the real world? I thought the real world was... well, the real world. Why is there anything outside of it?" Hao Gongming expressed her confusion.

"I also thought that way, but we were wrong! The real world is just a much more advanced bubble world. I now believe that nothing is real, and no matter how strong one becomes, reaching the true real world is not possible!"

Homlan's words caused Hao Gongming to alter her worldview, leaving her taking a deep breath to process the information.

"In that case, how can we get outside the real world?" Hao Gongming asked, seeking further clarification.

"I don't know, but I suspect that the creator intentionally left ways to escape. That space crack might have been deliberately placed there. Perhaps, after reaching the 20th step or even the 30th step, we can finally break free from the real world. However, I don't know where we would go or what lies beyond. That's why I believe nothing truly matters, and ultimately, everything is just an illusion," Homlan replied with a trembling voice.

"So, you're saying everything is an illusion?" Hao Gongming contemplated deeply, then asked "Do you know me, Homlan?"

"Of course, you are the one who has mastered reality dao, the dao that is my only hope!" Homlan responded.

"Why is reality dao your only hope?" Hao Gongming inquired.

"Because your reality dao can transform illusions into reality. So, even if everything is fake, you have the power to make it all real," Homlan explained with enthusiasm in her eyes.

"Wait, if everything is an illusion, doesn't that mean my reality dao is also an illusion?" Hao Gongming countered.

"I don't know, but it's the only hope I have. As far as I know, as long as you have enough reality points, you can make anything come true. So, in theory, if you have enough reality points, maybe you can make the real world a reality!" Homlan expressed optimistically.

Hao Gongming felt a headache coming on. Making the real world become reality with reality points seemed to be a circular logic.

"Do you have a way for me to acquire reality points quickly?" Hao Gongming asked.

"Yes, but the preparations aren't complete yet," Homlan replied.

"Tell me about your plan," Hao Gongming requested.

"Reality points are obtained through reliance. The more creatures rely on you, the more reality points you gain. However, the amount received depends on the soul power of the creature. My plan is to use my mastery in soul dao as a Supreme Grandmaster to create artificial souls that will rely on you. But to do that, I need to be in the real world, which means I need to reach the 10th step," Homlan explained.

Hao Gongming pondered for a moment and asked a series of questions in rapid succession, "First, how do you know so much about reality dao? Second, how did you manage to come to the simulations? Third, there is already another 19th step worm, so won't you be in danger as soon as you leave? And lastly, you can already leave, why do you need to reach the 10th step?"

Homlan began speaking, "It was you who told me about reality dao and convinced me to explore the space crack. Second, I didn't come here voluntarily; after the leech incident, a piece of my soul was thrown here by the rules of the world itself. My theory is that this is another undiscovered law of the real world, that the only way to return to the simulations is to witness the world outside the real world. As for the third and fourth questions, I can answer them together."

Homlan paused for a moment before continuing, "The condition for reaching higher steps is simple, in fact, there is only one condition: reaching the required attainment level. As a Supreme Grandmaster in three daos—soul, earth, and illusion—I will immediately be promoted to the 19th step as soon as I reach the 10th step. According to the rules of the real world, only one 19th step individual of each species should exist before we can be promoted. I am friends with many 19th steps, and I will be at the peak of the 19th step, so I believe everyone will help me quickly kill the other 19th step worm, and then we can all swiftly reach the 20th step."

Hao Gongming nodded, understanding the explanation, and asked, "Why haven't you reached the 10th step after such a long time?"

Homlan sighed and replied, "The simulations are so barren, and I have to be promoted in secret. If that 19th step worm knows I'm alive, it will do everything in its power to kill me. I can't take that risk."

Hao Gongming was finally satisfied and asked the most important question, "Is there a way for me to acquire your attainments?"

Homlan shook her head and said, "That's not possible. Stealing attainments is forbidden by the rules of the real world."

"What if you give them voluntarily?" Hao Gongming pleaded.

"It's not possible. One's understanding of the dao must come from within," Homlan explained.

"What if we merge? Would that count?" Hao Gongming suggested.

Homlan asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Hao Gongming replied, "I can use my reality points to make you a part of my soul. You would become a part of me, and your understanding would become my understanding."

Homlan pondered for a moment and said, "It should be possible, but my soul power is much stronger. If we merge, you would essentially disappear, and there may be minor changes to my personality. It's a difference in quality."

Hao Gongming grew frustrated and asked, "Then how can you help me get stronger right now?"

Homlan thought for a long time and finally said, "I have brought many treasures here. Maybe..."

Hao Gongming interrupted, "I know, aside from treasures and becoming a member of my harem, what other ways are there?"

The worm pondered for a very long time and finally said, "As far as I can see, you are a rebellious clone of Hao Gongming, correct?"

Hao Gongming confirmed, "That's right."

Homlan smiled with her worm mouth and said, "I have a spell that can transfer the soul power between your real body and you. In fact, I think that's why your real body tried to kill me by convincing me to look outside the crack. She was afraid of soul dao. It may be the reason why currently, there is nobody else I sense who has mastered soul dao as a Supreme Grandmaster!"

Hao Gongming thought for a moment and grinned widely, "Please explain more!"