Swallowed Star: The Genius Battle Begins

Straightforward summary:

No heroine. The protagonist never fawns over anyone and focuses entirely on cultivation, self-improvement, and researching his abilities.

His golden finger is a “Simulation Ability,” which initially lets him simulate ten years. Here is a brief example:

[This simulation has ended.]

[Choose what to inherit.]

[1. Physical inheritance (cultivation advances to Apprentice Rank Five)]

[2. Soul inheritance (your swordsmanship fundamentals are perfected, your movement reaches a subtle level, your combat experience improves slightly, along with various other knowledge and experience)]

[3. Give up the gains from this simulation]

As the story unfolds, the truth behind the Simulation Ability will gradually emerge, taking the form of “ability development,” or in other words, “ability upgrades.”

The story begins several years before the Genius Battle in which Luo Feng competes.

…

Excerpt from the proper synopsis (too many words to fit):

On the scale of the universe, a mediocre person's entire century is worth less than a genius's instant.

Hun Zhen considers himself mediocre. He must seize the opportunity of the Genius Battle if he hopes to rise to greatness in a single leap.

And yet…

In the training room, Rong Jun swung his saber, drenched in sweat, his gaze unshakably firm. “My rival isn't just Bolan. There's also Hun Zhen!”

Amid the snowstorm, Bolan finally came to his senses. His shock and disappointment swept away, he resolved, “If we both follow the path of time and space, I may never catch up with Hun Zhen in this lifetime.”

In the Blood Luo Secret Realm, the Celestial Eclipse Palace Master looked at Luo Feng. “If you can surpass Hun Zhen in this lifetime, that alone would be a tremendous achievement.”

Looking back, Hun Zhen suddenly realized that he had become an imposing peak, far beyond the reach of the geniuses in their eyes.

…

Also known as Swallowed Star: Starting with Simulations, Swallowed Star: Starting by Surpassing Bolan, and Swallowed Star: Starting with 3,000 Times Cultivation Acceleration…